Cutta to get his chance

Witt is out with an "upper body injury". with yonkman, fortin and boumedienne injuried, i guess that leaves Cutta....right?

Who's Cutta?

Was saying Zinger should get the call with his play.




Wasnt Zinger a Grand Rapids player?

Was saying Zinger should get the call with his play.




Wasnt Zinger a Grand Rapids player?

Negative. Zinger never played for Grand Rapids, though he did play for the Cincy Ducks...quack-quack!

Negative. Zinger never played for Grand Rapids, though he did play for the Cincy Ducks...quack-quack!


Nope it's time for the John Gruden who doesn't play defense..if only it was the real John Gruden he could scare the team into playing well even if he can't spell hockey.

Nope it's time for the John Gruden who doesn't play defense..if only it was the real John Gruden he could scare the team into playing well even if he can't spell hockey.

Gruden is on IR

There isn't a game till Thursday so *hopefullly* Witt can play. Anyone know how Cutta has looked down on Portland this year?

There isn't a game till Thursday so *hopefullly* Witt can play. Anyone know how Cutta has looked down on Portland this year?

Depends on the game, sometimes the period within the game. He can be either the best D-man on the ice or the most confused, sometimes even on the same shift. Pairings make a huge difference with Cutta, and he hasn't seen much of a consistent pairing this year. Last year, put him with Yonkman and you had shutdown D. If I were washington, I'd bring him up and pair him with Witt for the next 10 games and see what they have. He can't be worse than what is there.

Depends on the game, sometimes the period within the game. He can be either the best D-man on the ice or the most confused, sometimes even on the same shift. Pairings make a huge difference with Cutta, and he hasn't seen much of a consistent pairing this year. Last year, put him with Yonkman and you had shutdown D. If I were washington, I'd bring him up and pair him with Witt for the next 10 games and see what they have. He can't be worse than what is there.

the first problem with that is that the reason that he would be brought up is because Witt is injured. from what i can tell whoever is called up to fill Witt's seat in the locker room will be dressed as balast anyway.
if he plays more than yonkman did when he was called up, i would be surprised.

the first problem with that is that the reason that he would be brought up is because Witt is injured. from what i can tell whoever is called up to fill Witt's seat in the locker room will be dressed as balast anyway.
if he plays more than yonkman did when he was called up, i would be surprised.

I think you missed my point. Cutta has potential, but needs to be with someone he is confident will handle their own end. Put him with someone who is defensively challenged and Cutta gets that confused look almost immediately. Honestly, I stopped following the caps injury list, it hasn't seemed to matter this year. Most of the current caps D is Ballast at this point so he probably would fit right in.

I think you missed my point. Cutta has potential, but needs to be with someone he is confident will handle their own end. Put him with someone who is defensively challenged and Cutta gets that confused look almost immediately. Honestly, I stopped following the caps injury list, it hasn't seemed to matter this year. Most of the current caps D is Ballast at this point so he probably would fit right in.

I did not miss your point at all. Witt and Gonchar are the only Caps defensemen who you could be confident that they even have a clue in
their own end. with Witt hurt who would you partner Cutta with?
Gonchar? an offensive defensemen. Eminger, another rookie. Doig, Kiwi or Berry, all players that are not exactly proven NHL players. By ballast i meant he will play 2:00 or not at all.

I did not miss your point at all. Witt and Gonchar are the only Caps defensemen who you could be confident that they even have a clue in
their own end. with Witt hurt who would you partner Cutta with?
Gonchar? an offensive defensemen. Eminger, another rookie. Doig, Kiwi or Berry, all players that are not exactly proven NHL players. By ballast i meant he will play 2:00 or not at all.

You are right....given what you've got, you might even traumatize him if he were called up. Washington's only hope is to buy or trade for servicable D. If Jagr goes, it has to bring back 1-2 NHL calibre d-men.

The Cutta discussion is moot, it seems, as he wasn't called up. Dwayne Zinger was.

"Portland, Maine - The Portland Pirates announced Wednesday that the Washington Capitals, their National Hockey League affiliate, have recalled defenseman Dwayne Zinger. He is expected to be in the lineup tomorrow night when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins at 7:00 p.m."

www.portlandpirates.com

The Cutta discussion is moot, it seems, as he wasn't called up. Dwayne Zinger was.

"Portland, Maine - The Portland Pirates announced Wednesday that the Washington Capitals, their National Hockey League affiliate, have recalled defenseman Dwayne Zinger. He is expected to be in the lineup tomorrow night when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins at 7:00 p.m."

www.portlandpirates.com

I have no idea what hanlon will do, but i would be surprised if Zinger plays much.

I have no idea what hanlon will do, but i would be surprised if Zinger plays much.


Berry has been making some bad plays and taking bad penalties, that could land in him the bench. I hope he can be more consistant.

Zinger has been Portland's most solid D-man. I said in another thread that when Witt went down I thought Zinger would warrant a hard look in DC. I think he's one of the those college guys that slips through the cracks and ends up in the AHL due to the stigma some have toward college players. IMO he can do the job as good as anyone in Portland. He isn't flashy but solid in his own end. As long as too much isn't expected of him I think he'll fit in fine. Certainly no worse then the others who have already been crucified enough in DC.

KB is right on about Cutta. He really needs someone to get on his rear and keep him focused. Clearly the most talented D-man in Portland and can show absolute moments of brilliance but has a problem doing it every shift and every night. Army and Knuple seem to focus on not making mistakes but as a result I haven't seen much growth in Cutta's game this year. Confidence still is a major issue with him.
Again he turns 22 the end of this month. As far as his development goes he still has a ton of upside. 6-3 developing a grittier side and looks like he's finally bulking up. I'd like to see him get called up and integrated in slowly...but if injuries start to mount then he'll be getting a "trial by fire" soon enough.