Recalled/Assigned: Soderblom recalled by the Wings

[Winger98]

Rasmussen is fine, he’s slightly overpaid but remember last year he had 33 points in 75 games. He’d having a down year for sure but he’s capable of better. Sometimes when I see him with the puck he plays just so risk adverse, a guy like him is probably still undoing what Lalonde did to his development and told him how to play. He brings size and PK to our team, even if he’s just on the 4th line I’m okay with him.

And since starting to play center full time again around game 46, he's been 52% on faceoffs. If he and Soderberg can pair up to be a long term fixture in our bottom6 they are going to be a problem for people, especially if we can keep a guy like Berggren paired with them, someone who can take advantage of the space those two create in the offensive zone.

 

[Snuggs]

Eww.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

I was thinking that last night while watching the game. Ras's stick is where plays go to die.

It's become more obvious as that line plays better. When he gets the puck he seems so eager to get rid of it that it often ends up being a bad play.

It may take a while to de-Lalonde Ras...let's see what T-Mc can do with him, Moose looked so much more promising 2 seasons ago...with 2/3's of the Redwood line reunited...I am hopeful something good may develop as Elmer and Burgers get used to him (or the other way around).

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

It may take a while to de-Lalonde Ras...let's see what T-Mc can do with him, Moose looked so much more promising 2 seasons ago...with 2/3's of the Redwood line reunited...I am hopeful something good may develop as Elmer and Burgers get used to him (or the other way around).

I wish I were as optimistic. Ras is 25 years old. I feel like this is just the player he is.

But I’d love to be wrong.

 

[Winger98]

I wish I were as optimistic. Ras is 25 years old. I feel like this is just the player he is.

But I’d love to be wrong.

I want Ras to be more, but even if this is what he is... long as he doesn't get too expensive he's not a bad piece in the bottom6.

At the same time, if we can use him to upgrade, I wouldn't be against it. But he's not a guy I'd just shoot off into the sun.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

I wish I were as optimistic. Ras is 25 years old. I feel like this is just the player he is.

But I’d love to be wrong.

I am not expecting a top 6 center from him, but if the wings can get a reliable bottom 6 center whom can move up on in real pinch, that would be awesome. Like Veleno, he seems most at home at center...but...he does need to start burying some of these opportunities and not be where the puck goes to die...I hope T-Mc keeps with consistent line mates until the TDL and see what develops.

I just feel that whenever he gets settled, something bad happens and he misses a chunk of time, he'll never be a bruising PF despite his size, but I think he can be a solid contributor. He may be 25, but I still think he has some development capacity yet untouched...he has yet to recover skating wise from last major injury, it has been a while, but these things can take time.

That said, if another team thinks so too and wants to try to unlock it, I would be OK with packaging him up in a hockey trade.

 

[HoweFan]

Somebody here said he thought Elmer would score more in the NHL than in the AHL. I kinda rolled my eyes. They are a much more astute judge of talent than me obviously. Glad they were right cause Elmer is one of my favs

 

[1878rgw]

Rasmussen had Blashill, Simon and Lalonde as pro Coach, for Veleno it's the same without the year in Sweden.

 

[Gniwder]

Rasmussen had Blashill, Simon and Lalonde as pro Coach, for Veleno it's the same without the year in Sweden.

Yeah, just imagine the look on their faces when Todd told them to "just f'ing play hockey, you've done it your whole lives". I could see Raz and Joey just staring at each other wondering what to do, lol.

 

[FabricDetails]

 

[Henkka]

This is getting ridiculous. Since Mclellan took over:

 

[Henkka]

Ya he look really good out there and looks like someone we need. Can we really let a 6'8 forward with his physicality and skills go ???

Been pushing for a call up for him even before his recent ahl surge cause I always said he'd be someone who'd play better in the NHL with better talent than AHL and can see his age and was thinking he'd actually might be let go at seasons end.

You said it.

 

[Henkka]

the real question is, how does this affect our prospect rankings? time for another poll

Pretty sure Elmer will be out from the voting, after 29 career games already.

 

[redwingsfannn9191]

You said it.

Like

Pretty sure Elmer will be out from the voting, after 29 career games already.

Out from the voting???

 

[Oddbob]

It may take a while to de-Lalonde Ras...let's see what T-Mc can do with him, Moose looked so much more promising 2 seasons ago...with 2/3's of the Redwood line reunited...I am hopeful something good may develop as Elmer and Burgers get used to him (or the other way around).

If he looked any different I would have hope, but he looks like the exact same player as under Lalonde. To me him, Tank and Holl are the only ones who don't look like they improved at all with the coaching change. I would also add that Talbot looks less confident in net with Todd for whatever reason. Everyone else looks better, even Veleno looks slightly more engaged.

 

[Oddbob]

Somebody here said he thought Elmer would score more in the NHL than in the AHL. I kinda rolled my eyes. They are a much more astute judge of talent than me obviously. Glad they were right cause Elmer is one of my favs

Even in his first NHL stint he definitely has skill with the puck, and it left me excited for untapped offensive potential. He looks even better now. One thing about the NHL is they have been saying lately, in the NHL everyone is where they are supposed to be, and in the AHL they aren't. A number of players have made this type of comment lately. There is also a lot more skill in the NHL, and the AHL is a lower scoring league so that also brings offence down. Are there even 10 AHL regulars at a ppg? Last I checked I thought there were 7 or 8 guys that had just barely a ppg and then it goes down from there.

 

[19 for president]

Soder's skating looks so much improved. Not only is the speed better but his balance seems a lot better. His first call up very much felt like he was Homering it to certain areas of the ice and then making things happen from there, because he couldn't keep up while moving. He has always had great hands but now I feel like he is making plays while moving both from a defensive and offensive perspective. Add to that his increased physicality and he very much looks like an NHLer and one that as noted above could be someone that scores more at an NHL level but the puck and players are where they are supposed to be.

Hope he keeps building on his play. His reach just opens up so much for him.

 

[Ulysses31]

a lot of us b huge elmer supporters all along, shame on ppl thought he waiver fodder

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

If he looked any different I would have hope, but he looks like the exact same player as under Lalonde. To me him, Tank and Holl are the only ones who don't look like they improved at all with the coaching change. I would also add that Talbot looks less confident in net with Todd for whatever reason. Everyone else looks better, even Veleno looks slightly more engaged.

T-Mc is still in the evaluation phase(s) as I do not think he has even settled on all of his dedicated pairings for lines yet to determine the 4-6 interchangeable parts based on opponent. I think Todd is trying to set it up such that the top 3 RWs will have dedicated centers so that the LWs can be moved around, with Compher out, Ras is getting a shot to play with Kane...let's see if the coach rolls with it for a few games.

The wings are winning, so it helps a little, but other than the top line of Larking and Raymond pairing (and likely Marco for the rest of the season), not sure the coach has figured out the rest of the line up yet.

Talbot sort of tailed off a little last year with the Kings after the New Year too...the upcoming 2 week break may help him more than the rest of the team, but other than a couple of off games, Talbot has looked solid to serviceable to me.

 

[LongTimeDRWF]

Soder's skating looks so much improved. Not only is the speed better but his balance seems a lot better. His first call up very much felt like he was Homering it to certain areas of the ice and then making things happen from there, because he couldn't keep up while moving. He has always had great hands but now I feel like he is making plays while moving both from a defensive and offensive perspective. Add to that his increased physicality and he very much looks like an NHLer and one that as noted above could be someone that scores more at an NHL level but the puck and players are where they are supposed to be.

Hope he keeps building on his play. His reach just opens up so much for him.

The other biggie I see with Elmer is his vastly improved defensive awareness in all zones. He did miss a pinch cover last night, for the first time that I noticed since he got back up, but usually he is the forward covering, even if it wasn't his wing.

He is helping to clog up the neutral zone and unlike his first call up, he covers the front of the net if both D go behind or he loses his check, I bet the coach is to very happy to have the big guy up, I don't see him going back down now.