Player Discussion Ryan Spooner Part V

[Greek_physique]

Now you are confusing DK with Spooner.
DK reminds me of Phil Kessell where he will put up points but be on the ice for twice as many against.

That's a little harsh......DK has regressed, but he's still an effective 2 way player.....Kessel is one dimensional. Bad comparison IMO.

 

[ODAAT]

Now you are confusing DK with Spooner.
DK reminds me of Phil Kessell where he will put up points but be on the ice for twice as many against.

I`m tough on DK but your statement is incorrect and the proof is in the link provided which I zipped over to so I could see if, in fact, his +/- is as bad as you claim

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=78644

This season, he`s been awful but..

 

[Gator Mike]

Now you are confusing DK with Spooner.
DK reminds me of Phil Kessell where he will put up points but be on the ice for twice as many against.

Holy Recency Bias, Batman.

Krejci is not having a particularly strong year defensively (few Bruins forwards are), but holy crap... the guy has received Selke votes on multiple occasions, he's led the league in plus/minus twice, and the only reason he doesn't take more defensive zone faceoffs is because the Bruins have this guy named Bergeron on their team.

Phil Kessel is - for the most part - a black hole of defensive suck. If he weren't quite as gifted as he is at the other end of the ice, he'd basically be Ryan Spooner.

 

[GoBs]

This is Spooner thread correct?

 

[BruinDust]

Holy Recency Bias, Batman.

Krejci is not having a particularly strong year defensively (few Bruins forwards are), but holy crap... the guy has received Selke votes on multiple occasions, he's led the league in plus/minus twice, and the only reason he doesn't take more defensive zone faceoffs is because the Bruins have this guy named Bergeron on their team.

Phil Kessel is - for the most part - a black hole of defensive suck. If he weren't quite as gifted as he is at the other end of the ice, he'd basically be Ryan Spooner.

Except he embraced being converted to the wing as a professional after playing C most of his amateur career.

Spooner still sulks about playing the wing.

 

[Ratty]

Holy Recency Bias, Batman.

Krejci is not having a particularly strong year defensively (few Bruins forwards are), but holy crap... the guy has received Selke votes on multiple occasions, he's led the league in plus/minus twice, and the only reason he doesn't take more defensive zone faceoffs is because the Bruins have this guy named Bergeron on their team.

Phil Kessel is - for the most part - a black hole of defensive suck. If he weren't quite as gifted as he is at the other end of the ice, he'd basically be Ryan Spooner.

My sentiments, exactly. It's the old "what have you done for me lately" attitude.

 

[b in vancouver]

I don't know if it's strength, compete, work ethic or positioning or all of them - but he just loses so many one-on-one battles. That and too many soft passes.

I've never been an Eberle fan whatsoever, the poster child for everything that was wrong with Edmonton, for a lot of the same reasons - plus Ebs turning the puck over as he tried to go one on three - but Eberle is/was more gifted so people washed over it a bit. Spooner isn't good enough to ignore his deficiencies. He still has time to turn it around - but the clock has been ticking for awhile.

 

[ODAAT]

I don't know if it's strength, compete, work ethic or positioning or all of them - but he just loses so many one-on-one battles. That and too many soft passes.

I've never been an Eberle fan whatsoever, the poster child for everything that was wrong with Edmonton, for a lot of the same reasons - plus Ebs turning the puck over as he tried to go one on three - but Eberle is/was more gifted so people washed over it a bit. Spooner isn't good enough to ignore his deficiencies. He still has time to turn it around - but the clock has been ticking for awhile.

for me, it`s less about losing those battles, it`s more about willing to get into them which he doesn`t/hasn`t been willing to do consistently.

At the very least, engaging should be the expectation, far too often over his few years, I`ve watched Spoons do the fly by, hoping the puck is pried loose by a teammate. I don`t think it`s a coincidence that when we see him battling along the boards (winning or losing) his overall game tends to feed of it. When he flies by, so too does his effectiveness in other areas

I saw him specifically on two occasions last night being the first Bruin to get to the attack, won neither of those two battles but forced the Sharks D-man to make a play quickly and that`s good, needs to be more of it and done consistently.

 

[BruinDust]

for me, it`s less about losing those battles, it`s more about willing to get into them which he doesn`t/hasn`t been willing to do consistently.

At the very least, engaging should be the expectation, far too often over his few years, I`ve watched Spoons do the fly by, hoping the puck is pried loose by a teammate. I don`t think it`s a coincidence that when we see him battling along the boards (winning or losing) his overall game tends to feed of it. When he flies by, so too does his effectiveness in other areas

I saw him specifically on two occasions last night being the first Bruin to get to the attack, won neither of those two battles but forced the Sharks D-man to make a play quickly and that`s good, needs to be more of it and done consistently.

Hopefully he feels a bit more comfortable using his speed more on the forecheck to put some pressure on the opposing D. It's not always about trying to flatten the D-man, just put some panic in his decision making.

One of my biggest beefs with Spooner is he doesn't utilize his speed enough when the puck is not on his stick. And his speed can be a tremendous asset and weapon when he chooses to use it.

 

[ODAAT]

Hopefully he feels a bit more comfortable using his speed more on the forecheck to put some pressure on the opposing D. It's not always about trying to flatten the D-man, just put some panic in his decision making.

One of my biggest beefs with Spooner is he doesn't utilize his speed enough when the puck is not on his stick. And his speed can be a tremendous asset and weapon when he chooses to use it.

exactly, I look at the Merlot line, Campbell was clearly more comfortable playing physical than Spooner is but Soupy wasn`t a guy with blazing speed but he was quick enough to, often put heat on a D-man and engage. You don`t have to knock a d-man through the glass to be effective, look at Marchand, another quick guy who causes a D-man fits when they go back to retrieve a puck

 

[BNHL]

exactly, I look at the Merlot line, Campbell was clearly more comfortable playing physical than Spooner is but Soupy wasn`t a guy with blazing speed but he was quick enough to, often put heat on a D-man and engage. You don`t have to knock a d-man through the glass to be effective, look at Marchand, another quick guy who causes a D-man fits when they go back to retrieve a puck

And that's the problem with speedy players,it takes a lot of effort to utilize it regularly,and many are not wired that way.

 

[BMC]

Except he embraced being converted to the wing as a professional after playing C most of his amateur career.

Spooner still sulks about playing the wing.

Unless he does something about his disastrous inability to win a face off he either has to remain a winger if he wants to stay in the NHL or go back to playing C in the AHL. It's up to him.

And he's not that great of a winger either, the guy just won't go into the dirty areas to fight for the puck. I'm not saying he should be a freight train out there but damn it get in there and work for that puck.

 

[wintersej]

for me, it`s less about losing those battles, it`s more about willing to get into them which he doesn`t/hasn`t been willing to do consistently.

At the very least, engaging should be the expectation, far too often over his few years, I`ve watched Spoons do the fly by, hoping the puck is pried loose by a teammate. I don`t think it`s a coincidence that when we see him battling along the boards (winning or losing) his overall game tends to feed of it. When he flies by, so too does his effectiveness in other areas

I saw him specifically on two occasions last night being the first Bruin to get to the attack, won neither of those two battles but forced the Sharks D-man to make a play quickly and that`s good, needs to be more of it and done consistently.

Spooner is good with the puck on his stick. Spooner is bad at getting the puck on his stick.

 

[b in vancouver]

for me, it`s less about losing those battles, it`s more about willing to get into them which he doesn`t/hasn`t been willing to do consistently.

At the very least, engaging should be the expectation, far too often over his few years, I`ve watched Spoons do the fly by, hoping the puck is pried loose by a teammate. I don`t think it`s a coincidence that when we see him battling along the boards (winning or losing) his overall game tends to feed of it. When he flies by, so too does his effectiveness in other areas

I saw him specifically on two occasions last night being the first Bruin to get to the attack, won neither of those two battles but forced the Sharks D-man to make a play quickly and that`s good, needs to be more of it and done consistently.

Agree - and that's were I mentioned 'compete'. Don't know a better word for it.
My problem is when he's kind of a half step off and just kinda leans forward with a weak stick check and stuff like that.

I don't really know how to say that. I've played thousands of games of hockey (and other sports) and have played with all kinds of guys like that - who put in just enough effort to look like they're trying but not that extra bit that will make them succeed. Talent is great - but it only takes you so far. Spooner is at a point in his career (and at his level of talent) needs to be in there every single shift.

You can talk about kids needing time to figure it out, coaching, line mates, opportunity, patience, etc. But that player needs to be showing the drive to get better. I haven't seen that with Spooner. I think he needs to spend a few games in the press box

-- I think it was pretty telling when he was on the ice and the centre got thrown out of the dot yet he still wasn't the player to come in to take the face-off. He was the third option on the third line to take a face-off in the offensive zone after playing centre for most of his career - with a new coach. That's someone who hasn't worked on the deficiencies in their game.

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

Except he embraced being converted to the wing as a professional after playing C most of his amateur career.

Spooner still sulks about playing the wing.

I'm sick of this soap opera. Is he a center? Well no, he can't do anything defensively and he has his wingers take faceoffs for him. Is he a winger? Well no, he "doesn't like it".

It's not the coach that's preventing Spooner's success, it's Spooner.

 

[jgatie]

Agree - and that's were I mentioned 'compete'. Don't know a better word for it.
My problem is when he's kind of a half step off and just kinda leans forward with a weak stick check and stuff like that.

I don't really know how to say that. I've played thousands of games of hockey (and other sports) and have played with all kinds of guys like that - who put in just enough effort to look like they're trying but not that extra bit that will make them succeed. Talent is great - but it only takes you so far. Spooner is at a point in his career (and at his level of talent) needs to be in there every single shift.

You can talk about kids needing time to figure it out, coaching, line mates, opportunity, patience, etc. But that player needs to be showing the drive to get better. I haven't seen that with Spooner. I think he needs to spend a few games in the press box

-- I think it was pretty telling when he was on the ice and the centre got thrown out of the dot yet he still wasn't the player to come in to take the face-off. He was the third option on the third line to take a face-off in the offensive zone after playing centre for most of his career - with a new coach. That's someone who hasn't worked on the deficiencies in their game.

You are absolutely correct. There are two types of players in sports. The first are those who work on skills they excell at because it's easy and they like it. They'd rather dipsy-doodle dangling drills at the end of practice than anything else.

Then there are those who work on skills they lack, because it's hard and they want to be the best at everything. They are taking 100 faceoffs with an asst. dropping the puck because they didn't get it right the first hundred times. They are the ones working on footwork when they have feet of lead, like Chara (not to mention Tom Brady) did in the off-season.

It doesn't matter if you are a 4th line plugger or a superstar, that is it, there are no other types, in any sport. Crazy enough, these two can be found at all levels of skill, though I posit the true superstars, not to mention overachieving pluggers, are the latter rather than the former. The latter gets you Patrice Bergeron and Sydney Crosby, not to mention Terry O'Reilly and Martin St. Louis. The former gets you Phil Kessel and Ryan Spooner.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

He is, always have been and probably will ever be a PP specialist.

 

[BruinDust]

I'm sick of this soap opera. Is he a center? Well no, he can't do anything defensively and he has his wingers take faceoffs for him. Is he a winger? Well no, he "doesn't like it".

It's not the coach that's preventing Spooner's success, it's Spooner.

Absolutely.

 

[b in vancouver]

You are absolutely correct. There are two types of players in sports. The first are those who work on skills they excell at because it's easy and they like it. They'd rather dipsy-doodle dangling drills at the end of practice than anything else.

Then there are those who work on skills they lack, because it's hard and they want to be the best at everything. They are taking 100 faceoffs with an asst. dropping the puck because they didn't get it right the first hundred times. They are the ones working on footwork when they have feet of lead, like Chara (not to mention Tom Brady) did in the off-season.

It doesn't matter if you are a 4th line plugger or a superstar, that is it, there are no other types, in any sport. Crazy enough, these two can be found at all levels of skill, though I posit the true superstars, not to mention overachieving pluggers, are the latter rather than the former. The latter gets you Patrice Bergeron and Sydney Crosby, not to mention Terry O'Reilly and Martin St. Louis. The former gets you Phil Kessel and Ryan Spooner.

95% agree - but there's a third type.
That's when a player just can't see what's missing in their game. They just can't make that mental leap to understand that they're missing this 'thing' and that it's what they need to be working on. - whether that's killer instinct, stick handling, shot, shooting more, passing, being selfish - whatever - they understand themselves as a particular kind of player and it's hard to break. You see this with kids, adults, everyone who's ever played any sport ever at any level.

 

[ODAAT]

Totally off topic and maybe one of our fans here in my age category or older can answer, but wasn`t Guy Lafleur a centerman at one time before taking his smokes, speed and skill to the wing? Not for a long time but I thought he played C in Junior

Could and most likely am totally wrong but thought I heard this one time

 

[BNHL]

95% agree - but there's a third type.
That's when a player just can't see what's missing in their game. They just can't make that mental leap to understand that they're missing this 'thing' and that it's what they need to be working on. - whether that's killer instinct, stick handling, shot, shooting more, passing, being selfish - whatever - they understand themselves as a particular kind of player and it's hard to break. You see this with kids, adults, everyone who's ever played any sport ever at any level.

I think there are players all in between the 2 extremes,from those who work incessantly on weaknesses all the way to players who never work on weaknesses. There's as many types as there are players. I have no idea how hard Spooner works on faceoffs.

 

[ODAAT]

I think there are players all in between the 2 extremes,from those who work incessantly on weaknesses all the way to players who never work on weaknesses. There's as many types as there are players. I have no idea how hard Spooner works on faceoffs.

gawd, part of me wishes to read he rarely works on them, at least then there would be a legit reason for being so awful on them

I don`t get it, I have him on the dot in NHL17 and he`s lights freaking out

 

[duffy]

That's a little harsh......DK has regressed, but he's still an effective 2 way player.....Kessel is one dimensional. Bad comparison IMO.

Not from what I have seen so far this season! I only missed 2 games this year and DK has been border line brutal in most. He is listed as a 2 way forward but Ive yet to witness it. In the game against the Leafs his line had a recorded 4 shots on net with none being considered a scoring chance yet he was on the ice for 4 of the Leafs goals.
I don't think its harsh to be compared to Kessell because Kessel actually has a chance to score where as DK finds ways not to.

 

[duffy]

I`m tough on DK but your statement is incorrect and the proof is in the link provided which I zipped over to so I could see if, in fact, his +/- is as bad as you claim

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=78644

This season, he`s been awful but..

I never look at stats because they don't give an accurate read on an individual player.
I did check your link and was surprised he was only a -13 but holy crap batman is that what we want from our #2 center.

 

[Alan Ryan]

He is, always have been and probably will ever be a PP specialist.

That's the best description for Spooner--a power play specialist. He is a liability 5 on 5.

I hope the Bruins can move him at the deadline. He is an RFA this summer and should not get another Bruins contract.