what's the problem of Vrbata ???

3 pts in 11 games??? who plays on his line ??? how much ice time per game ??? why this lack on production ???

thanks

hyped/overrated? :p

If you look at Vrbata's shot totals you will see that he is having to make the perfect shot in order to score. The puck just simply isn't going in for him. However, I wouldn't be too worried about Radim because that shot is going to start going in eventually when the Hurricanes powerplay starts clicking better. Both the shots that have gone in for Vrbata this year have been absolute lasers.

Radim plays the point on our powerplay and right now we're an NHL worst 30th in the league if I remember correctly. At even strength, Radim plays on the 2nd line with Rod Brind'Amour and Erik Cole.

Vrbata has played the point on the powerplay and has not looked comfortable at all there. Its a work in progress. Otherwise he is the one player on the Hurricanes that might be shooting the puck too much. I have seen Vrbata take quite a few shots from bad angles that are right at the goaltender's chest.

The lines have been juggled all season and the entire team has struggled to score goals, except for Vasicek. That having been said, Vrbata is still one lucky bounce away from being on a 20 goal pace. The Canes don't have much NHL quality depth on the left wing. That will give Vrbata a chance to play a full season. After he's played 80 games we can decide if he's overrated.

Otherwise he is the one player on the Hurricanes that might be shooting the puck too much.

I don't think it's a bad thing at all to shoot the puck alot. That's how you get scoring opportunities. It's when you aren't shooting the puck enough that I would think there is a problem.

3 pts in 11 games??? who plays on his line ??? how much ice time per game ??? why this lack on production ???

thanks

He has the game amount of goals and points as Francis. Goal scoring is not exactly the Hurricanes forte.

I assume you are asking for fantasy purposes? If so, I wouldn't be too worried.

The only problem Vrbata has ever had with his shooting is his decision-making. When he's playing confidently, he will wait for someone to drive the net before shooting. When he's uncomfortable, he just throws it on net, unscreened, from anywhere. That's the easiest way to tell how Vrbata feels about himself on the ice. I think he's looked pretty good with Brind'Amour and Cole, even though I read awhile back that he didn't play well with those two. Both Brind'Amour and Cole drive the net and stay there to screen and Vrbata gets shots through to reward the screen.

And I hate Vrbata on the point of the PP; it's a waste of creativity and Maurice isn't the only coach to waste a talented player on the point. The good thing is that Vrbata has better defensive awareness than some forwards on the point (Kovalev comes to mind), but the bad thing is Vrbata has always looked more comfortable playing the half boards on a PP. When you're on the point, you can't even try any stickhandling moves because one pokecheck leads to a breakaway and that has hamstrung Vrbata so far. He does have some nice moves in his bag of tricks, but he can't use them on the PP, which sucks because the PP is when you have more time and freedom to try things. Vrbata on the point is a stupid experiment of Maurice's and all I can do is hope he gives up on it sometime soon.

The only problem Vrbata has ever had with his shooting is his decision-making. When he's playing confidently, he will wait for someone to drive the net before shooting. When he's uncomfortable, he just throws it on net, unscreened, from anywhere. That's the easiest way to tell how Vrbata feels about himself on the ice. I think he's looked pretty good with Brind'Amour and Cole, even though I read awhile back that he didn't play well with those two. Both Brind'Amour and Cole drive the net and stay there to screen and Vrbata gets shots through to reward the screen.

And I hate Vrbata on the point of the PP; it's a waste of creativity and Maurice isn't the only coach to waste a talented player on the point. The good thing is that Vrbata has better defensive awareness than some forwards on the point (Kovalev comes to mind), but the bad thing is Vrbata has always looked more comfortable playing the half boards on a PP. When you're on the point, you can't even try any stickhandling moves because one pokecheck leads to a breakaway and that has hamstrung Vrbata so far. He does have some nice moves in his bag of tricks, but he can't use them on the PP, which sucks because the PP is when you have more time and freedom to try things. Vrbata on the point is a stupid experiment of Maurice's and all I can do is hope he gives up on it sometime soon.
Well IIRC also, Vrbata's onetimer or slapper aren't exactly PP point material. His best was always his quick release and 1 to 2 movement on a snap/wrister. They always had decent speed and got high enough to pick corners.

[QUOTE=Laperriere22]The only problem Vrbata has ever had with his shooting is his decision-making. When he's playing confidently, he will wait for someone to drive the net before shooting. When he's uncomfortable, he just throws it on net, unscreened, from anywhere. That's the easiest way to tell how Vrbata feels about himself on the ice. I think he's looked pretty good with Brind'Amour and Cole, even though I read awhile back that he didn't play well with those two. Both Brind'Amour and Cole drive the net and stay there to screen and Vrbata gets shots through to reward the screen.


Excellent post