I just dont think there is any way we can leave legwand on a shutdown line next year. Goc is a stretch as a third line center much less a second...
This was your original comment. Yes, he is a stretch of a second line center, big stretch but I don't think he's out of place on the third line at all. How he's used by the staff is on them, not on his play.
Why not just use Legwand at #2, Goc at #3 and O'Reilly where ever they need him to be?
Because O'Reilly's skill set is only really good for being is being a set up man for skilled forwards. He is not a 4th line player, nor is he a 3rd line player unless that 3rd line is a scoring line.
This is why I expect the decision is going to be this.
The team has faith in O'Reilly, he stays and the team trades for a goal scoring forward.
Or
the team doesn't have faith in O'Reilly and he's traded for picks and the team picks up a center.
Because O'Reilly's skill set is only really good for being is being a set up man for skilled forwards. He is not a 4th line player, nor is he a 3rd line player unless that 3rd line is a scoring line.
This is why I expect the decision is going to be this.
The team has faith in O'Reilly, he stays and the team trades for a goal scoring forward.
Or
the team doesn't have faith in O'Reilly and he's traded for picks and the team picks up a center.
O'Reilly on a 4th line does not work.
Why should we have faith in O'Reilly? Sorry but he hasn't given me any faith in him. It might be trotz system though... ala Pevs.
Because O'Reilly's skill set is only really good for being is being a set up man for skilled forwards. He is not a 4th line player, nor is he a 3rd line player unless that 3rd line is a scoring line.
This is why I expect the decision is going to be this.
The team has faith in O'Reilly, he stays and the team trades for a goal scoring forward.
Or
the team doesn't have faith in O'Reilly and he's traded for picks and the team picks up a center.
O'Reilly on a 4th line does not work.
So if we go with this theory for a moment, O'Reilly at #2 and Legwand at #3 as a shutdown center again, do you have faith in Wilson and O'Reilly as our top 2 centers in this system? I like O'Reilly and I'd like to see him succeed but I just haven't seen it out of him yet. Can you also stand another season of people complaining about Legwand and his lack of offense playing with guys like Ward and Smithson again?
I think Legwand proved he can put up points when given talented wingers, Erat/Kariya and this years playoff. What we don't know is if O'Reilly can put up 50-60 points in a season. We also know Goc can handle the 3rd line role and play defensively responsible. He's not Legwand in that respect but he's pretty solid. I would move O'Reilly and some of our prospects/picks to try and land a top 6 forward.
I would like to hold on to Dumont if we add another top 6 because that would give us 7 top 6 forwards so in case you have an injury issue or want certain match ups, we have some versatility.
Why should we have faith in O'Reilly? Sorry but he hasn't given me any faith in him. It might be trotz system though... ala Pevs.
Whenever O'Reilly was put on a top scoring line he produced and he has paid his dues through the minors and being scratched. Granted his sample size isnt that big I remember probably about 10 games where Cal was on a scoring line and the others he really did nothing. To me it seems like he is the type of player we would put on the first line and everyone complains but he works out and we make the playoffs.
I really think we give too much credence into the shutdown centter role. Even if legwand has talented wingers, he can be paired against a teams top line and use his speed to counter attack.
what I worry about now is that we lack a big body (and say what you want about arnott, he used his in some cases) to combat the big centers on teams ala getlaf, thornton
devils/halischuk fan here, where does Halischuk fit in the depth chart? does he get NHL minutes?
with a little bit of muscle he can be a very effective 3rd line energy guy.
devils/halischuk fan here, where does Halischuk fit in the depth chart? does he get NHL minutes?
with a little bit of muscle he can be a very effective 3rd line energy guy.
Will either start in the minors this year and be one of the first injury call ups or might be paired with Spaling, who he played on a line with in the OHL, maybe like 4th line duty to start. My guess is he might be a full time guy by the start of next season. We unfortunately have a glut of 3rd/4th line grinder/energy types so for him to break in he's going to have to pass a few guys on the depth chart.
What are his strengths/weaknesses if you don't mind me asking.
the goal that he did score was a rocket shot.
he's not afraid to go to the front of the net and with some drive. He's fast and shows a ton of hustle. he's not a hitter, but is very intellegent with his stick. He played on a line with guys who don't know what offense is so that part of his game hasn't shown up in the NHL.
I really think we give too much credence into the shutdown centter role. Even if legwand has talented wingers, he can be paired against a teams top line and use his speed to counter attack.
what I worry about now is that we lack a big body (and say what you want about arnott, he used his in some cases) to combat the big centers on teams ala getlaf, thornton
Guess Mr. Wilson will get that call against the big boys then - a year sooner than I'd like but at some point we gotta' give them a chance, right? Probably how I feel about Cal, too. I'm ok if we acquire a center and send Cal off in a deal somewhere, but I think he's done everything he's gonna' do at Milw and probably needs to play on a skill line or sent somewhere else to have that chance.
