Jokinen isn't a passing playmaker, which does make him a sort of one dimensional as a center. He does create room and opportunities for his linemates with is speed and size. He isn't selfish player either, he does play for the team and his effort level is pretty good, but he is a puck-hog and has a tendency to try to do it all himself.
He sort of needs a line where he can be the main guy, even though he isn't quite elite and thus has trouble handling quality opposition on regular basis. He works well with fast forechecking wingers that can make turnovers happen. I could easily see an affordable and pretty efficient second line being build around him.
It's hard to imagine that Jokinen would continue his severe scoring slump. Even in Calgary he was getting chances, but they just weren't going in at nearly same level as on previous seasons, without any apparent reason that I could see (watched about 15 Flames game this season). He isn't slower or weaker, if anything he has slowly turned into pretty rounded player. Players rarely lose their shot when they get older, so I'd think it reasonable to hope that Jokinen can get back to over 10% shot percentage as a Ranger.
Dubinsky-Jokinen-Callahan it is.
with Prospal/Crusher-Prospal/Crusher-Gaborik as the first line.
2 scoring lines. Watch Gabby explode when the defense has to watch two lines. This team is going to be fun to watch for awhile.
Dubi's offensive game is not much different than Ollie's. I say load up that first line with Ollie in the middle. Force teams to watch both Ollie and Gabby on the same line, which will no doubt open up the ice for both.
I can't personally get too excited about having a 3 time traded waiver wire pick up as my #1 center. I like Christiansen and hope he finds a niche with this team, but again not on the first line.
I can't personally get too excited about having a 3 time traded waiver wire pick up as my #1 center. I like Christiansen and hope he finds a niche with this team, but again not on the first line.
yeah i hear you there but he works well with gaby and i think torts likes him there. well see with olli now what happens. suddenly we have a ton of natural centerman.
would like to see the lines something like this
prospal ec gaby- keep this line together
drury olli lisin- drury needs to get going if we want to make the playoffs
dubi arty cally-true 3rd line made up of 3rd liners. exciting line.
avery boyle prust-cant wait to see avery and prust together
voros/brash
as much as i like the way voros has played recently, hes still the least talented player on the team and hes still the healthy scratch unless were going to play a rugged eastern conference opponent and even then not so sure. prust really hurts voros and huggy just needs to away.
i do not like cally and dubi on line 2. they just are not scorers. those 2 try hard but they are really 3rd liners and playing them together, which i love as they seem to have chemistry, makes whatever line theyre on the 3rd line in my book.
Good to see you guys benefited from the Flames as well. Jokinen and Prust are good pickups and getting rid of Kotalik isn't a bad move either.
Anyways, a little off topic, but I didn't know where else to ask. How is Brian Boyle for you guys? I remember hoping the Leafs would trade up to draft this monster. Any chance he will ever be a top 6 player?
You guys will really enjoy Prust.. he's grown a lot as a fighter (can go toe to toe with almost anyone and hold his own) and he's a good checking forward. He actually has a pretty good set of hands on him too. I hope he does well in NY. He will be missed in Calg.
Good to see you guys benefited from the Flames as well. Jokinen and Prust are good pickups and getting rid of Kotalik isn't a bad move either.
Anyways, a little off topic, but I didn't know where else to ask. How is Brian Boyle for you guys? I remember hoping the Leafs would trade up to draft this monster. Any chance he will ever be a top 6 player?
Thanks.
hes been pretty good. for a big guy, hes not physical enough. would like to see him do more with that big body. great pk guy and for such a huge dude, he skates pretty well.
4th line center right now with a ceiling of perhaps a 3rd line guy.
Higgins was good on the forecheck, played somewhat physically, generated chances. He can PK. As a third line guy not asked to contribute a ton of offense, he'd be solid.
For whatever reason, the guy just can not buy a goal. I've never seen a player flub so many prime chances. He gets himself in position to score like a 30-goal scorer, but he just cannot finish to save his life. And on a team like ours (and Calgary) starved for offense, it's a problem.
I can't personally get too excited about having a 3 time traded waiver wire pick up as my #1 center. I like Christiansen and hope he finds a niche with this team, but again not on the first line.
Absolutely.
I can't believe with Ollie, Drury, Dubi, Ani, and Prospal people still want Christensen playing center... on the first line no less. I'm amazed.
Agree that none are first line centers but Christensen isn't either.
I can't believe with Ollie, Drury, Dubi, Ani, and Prospal people still want Christensen playing center... on the first line no less. I'm amazed.
Agree that none are first line centers but Christensen isn't either.
Rich Peverley was nothing to write home about before finding his groove playing with Kovalchuk. Now Christensen hasn't produced like Peverley, but he's looked just as good out there as any of the other centers playing with Gaborik. I don't care who they are or how they got there, I just want productive lines. If it's a journeyman AHLer on the top line producing, so be it.
I think Torts goes with Prospal-Jokinen-Gaborik initially to see if he can get Jokinen back to being a 30 goal scorer, which he was as recent as last season. Further, I think he'd like to see if he can create a real top line he can lean on, as he is a leaner. I think if anything he may change the winger on that line to, say, Avery, and move Prospal to another line. Why do I think that? I'm not 100% sure why. But in any event, just like with every move and every beginning of a new season you can think of a bunch of line combos that make sense. Like Avery doing the dirty work with Jokinen and Gabby, or Jokinen centering Dubi, or Dubi back to center and Prospal back to wing, or Christenson remaining where he is to create a better second line. Funny how we can rationalize. But to be honest, if Jokinen is on a top line with Prospal and Gaborik, I'd actually like that as a beginning to see if they click early and if it helps clear the way for other lines and takes pressure off Gaborik.
With a logjam of centers, could AA be sat? I am not saying I think he needs to be but with OJ, Christensen (who has been playing well with Gaborik) and Dubi/Drury, you have guys that could do a better job. You could have something like:
This, but I believe on swapping Lisin in when a player is over played or tired. Putting Lisin in late in the period could be a huge speed factor with his kinda skating, he could really tire out a defender who has been putting in big minutes or even get past a few.
it would be nice to have a team where there weren't so many players who need to play out of position to make it work. nyr2k2's proposed line highlights that - Dubi and Drury on wings...I'm not saying it's a bad proposal, I'm saying it's bad planning by the GM. My top pet peaves are players playing out of position and players playing out of role. Christenson on a top line, Dubi and Drury on wings really irks me.
Perhaps this is just the first out a couple moves, which is a scary thought.
Drury we know is comfortable on the off wing.
Voros or Prust will have to play their off wing. Not sure if either is comfortable on the right side. Should not matter much for a 4th line grinder...just hit people!
Rich Peverley was nothing to write home about before finding his groove playing with Kovalchuk. Now Christensen hasn't produced like Peverley, but he's looked just as good out there as any of the other centers playing with Gaborik. I don't care who they are or how they got there, I just want productive lines. If it's a journeyman AHLer on the top line producing, so be it.
Who had been previously benched for not producing just last week??
I do agree with the premise though. Go with what works and who works well together.
Just saw that Cerny's column that Ollie will start tonite on the first line with Gabby and Prospal.
Last edited by HAPPY HOUR: 02-02-2010 at 04:59 PM.
