I'm not saying that no one was high on Kreider going into the draft, after the draft, etc, and I'm not saying he didn't have a very nice overall year last year. I just think some people are starting to go overboard on their expectations for him and I feel like it's going to result in the same disappointment if he doesn't meet expectations right away.
I'm not saying that no one was high on Kreider going into the draft, after the draft, etc, and I'm not saying he didn't have a very nice overall year last year. I just think some people are starting to go overboard on their expectations for him and I feel like it's going to result in the same disappointment if he doesn't meet expectations right away.
Not for most. Then the normal people who realize that it usually takes time for kids to develop will just laugh at the posters who start crying and calling him a bust if he doesn't step right into the NHL with ease and put up 20G/30A his first year.
I have to totally disagree with Leslie's assessment after the Detroit game that Stepan is "DEFINITELY" not ready for the 1st line center job a
didnt we hear last year that MDZ was definitely not ready? i'd take the assessment with a pinch of salt.
it's too early to make assessments - throw him in and see what happens. you can give him 6-10 games and send him down if it doesnt work out immediately.
Not for most. Then the normal people who realize that it usually takes time for kids to develop will just laugh at the posters who start crying and calling him a bust if he doesn't step right into the NHL with ease and put up 20G/30A his first year.
Well perhaps the problem is that the disappointed are the most vocal
Stepan IMO is already a better player overall compared to Christensen.
I like Christensen, but Stepan plays an overall two way game, and is a much better passer/playmaker.
Its a tough call. But I personally think its a mistake not to see what Stepan can do with Gaborik in real games in October.
Christensen still keeps a roster spot, eitherway, with Drury still out.
This team would benefit from a player like Stepan.
And it would have to be understood that like with any young pkayer, he will have his off days, too.
i still disagree and think that it should be christensens' spot to lose. However, one thing that a lot of us are ignoring is the input gaborik probably has.
He's the teams most gifted offensive player. Clearly the offense basically revolves around his success although this year it looks slightly more well rounded. In the end, torts and sather are going to have to consider gaborik's opinion and if im him, id prefer to start the season off with a guy i know i have chemistry with rather than a rookie for whom everything is a learning experience.
Gabby wants to succeed if not dominate - he should and hopefully will push the management to make the move that best positions him to make that possible. Some might say thats not really his job but whats best for him is best for the team and i hope he makes that clear. thats why i think despite stepans upsde, christ starts with the spot. However, if gabby thinks stepan has a spark and he can immediately make stepan a better palyer and vice versa, then again i defer to him.
I think in the end they are going to come to the concluision that he should spend some time in the AHL with Zuccarello and Grachev. That line would be fantastic and I fully expect all 3 to make the team next yr and get called up this year.
Next yr you can take out Prospal for sure and they can likely moves someone for a pick. Add Brad Richards as a UFA to that group and all of a sudden its a pretty solid squad. Then Drury , Avery full off the books the next yr.
Glass half full.........Glass half full
I also notice you dont have White which I also agree in the end he will go down.
Give that line a chance to succeed in the A, and as soon as Christensen or the team hits a big slump (which should not be long) call Stepan up to permanently take the 1C spot. Having Stepan start in the AHL might not just help him, it might be a big boost to his wingers.
McRanger, is it Stepans job to go to the AHL to "Boost" his wingers. If you think that Christ is going to fail then why send Stepan down. If this group of young kids are going to have success in the future we need 2-3 guys each year to make the jump. Stepan is as ready of a player as we have had in 5 years. He will make this team!! Christ failed at that spot last year. We do not have a guy who moves the puck from the middle spot like Stepan. He has proven this at every level he has played.
McRanger, is it Stepans job to go to the AHL to "Boost" his wingers.
No, nor did I say it was. It is simply a potential benefit from the situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stepanformayor
If you think that Christ is going to fail then why send Stepan down. If this group of young kids are going to have success in the future we need 2-3 guys each year to make the jump. Stepan is as ready of a player as we have had in 5 years. He will make this team!! Christ failed at that spot last year. We do not have a guy who moves the puck from the middle spot like Stepan. He has proven this at every level he has played.
I do not see the gigantic difference between Stepan starting with the team and him being called up after a month or two. I am convinced that he has the ability to play starting now, I am not convinced that it is necessarily the best thing for him.
i still disagree and think that it should be christensens' spot to lose. However, one thing that a lot of us are ignoring is the input gaborik probably has.
He's the teams most gifted offensive player. Clearly the offense basically revolves around his success although this year it looks slightly more well rounded. In the end, torts and sather are going to have to consider gaborik's opinion and if im him, id prefer to start the season off with a guy i know i have chemistry with rather than a rookie for whom everything is a learning experience.
Gabby wants to succeed if not dominate - he should and hopefully will push the management to make the move that best positions him to make that possible. Some might say thats not really his job but whats best for him is best for the team and i hope he makes that clear. thats why i think despite stepans upsde, christ starts with the spot. However, if gabby thinks stepan has a spark and he can immediately make stepan a better palyer and vice versa, then again i defer to him.
You can't run a team like that. You don't let the inmates run the asylum.
Gaborik is a player, not a coach, and he isn't the captain, either. What he wants personally doesn't mean what's best for the team/organization.
Gaborik doesn't have a say. His job is to shut his mouth regarding roster decisions, and to put the puck in the net when he's on the ice.
Messier didn't want Zubov around, was that a smart idea? To trade your team leadr in points in your President's Trophy/Stanley Cup Championship season? Because of a personal gripe?
Sorry, but that's not how teams are managed.
As a coach and/or GM you put who YOU want on the ice. If a player has an issue with it, too bad. This is a professional business.
Anyway, Gaborik doesn't pick and chose his linemates/teammates.
The coaching staff and management will decide who best fits by watching the games.
And as far as team chemisrty goes, its really not that difficult to build team chemisrty and unity. Make the guys go to team building events, set up required on ice and off ice events that keep them around eachother long enough until they get to know one another on a personal basis, not just a professional basis. Its reflects on the ice.
Want Stepan and Gaborik to mesh? Make them roomates on road trips. Keep them attached by the hip at practice.
McRanger, is it Stepans job to go to the AHL to "Boost" his wingers. If you think that Christ is going to fail then why send Stepan down. If this group of young kids are going to have success in the future we need 2-3 guys each year to make the jump. Stepan is as ready of a player as we have had in 5 years. He will make this team!! Christ failed at that spot last year. We do not have a guy who moves the puck from the middle spot like Stepan. He has proven this at every level he has played.
Except the NHL...........or AHL for that matter haha.
You can't run a team like that. You don't let the inmates run the asylum.
Gaborik is a player, not a coach, and he isn't the captain, either. What he wants personally doesn't mean what's best for the team/organization.
Gaborik doesn't have a say. His job is to shut his mouth regarding roster decisions, and to put the puck in the net when he's on the ice.
Messier didn't want Zubov around, was that a smart idea? To trade your team leadr in points in your President's Trophy/Stanley Cup Championship season? Because of a personal gripe?
Sorry, but that's not how teams are managed.
As a coach and/or GM you put who YOU want on the ice. If a player has an issue with it, too bad. This is a professional business.
Anyway, Gaborik doesn't pick and chose his linemates/teammates.
The coaching staff and management will decide who best fits by watching the games.
And as far as team chemisrty goes, its really not that difficult to build team chemisrty and unity. Make the guys go to team building events, set up required on ice and off ice events that keep them around eachother long enough until they get to know one another on a personal basis, not just a professional basis. Its reflects on the ice.
Want Stepan and Gaborik to mesh? Make them roomates on road trips. Keep them attached by the hip at practice.
apology accepted.
didnt say it was his job. but he probably has valuable insight as to who he can play best with and this is important information that should be considered in the coaching staff making the decision. i dont think gaborik is goign to cry that he only wants to play with "x", nor was i implying that. simply saying that if theres something gabby sees that suggests to him hed be better served with christensen, then the guys not on the ice should consider it, especially since our success is largely dependant on gabby's.
how you can compare what i said to messier having zubov traded is beyond me but again, apology accepted.
as for the roommates on the road idea? really? you think thats going to affect what happens on the ice - you think if stepan and gabby get around to scrabble after they check in we'll see some additional chemistry on the ice?
its not a question of whether they get along. if gabby says to tortorella, "john, listen. i like this stepan kid but i see something in erik's skating and his vision so far that makes me think me and him could kill it", i think he'll listen. gaborik is a smart hockey player, afterall
Thanks RB. You are always the most up to date guy around
So we the need to release (at least) 4 more players:
2 (ev 3) out of White*, Christ*, Kennedy*, Stepan, Boyle*, Fedotenko** on F are most probably next to be cut
" For sure" on the forward squad (which will be max 14 -probably only 13 at first though + add Drury later) is then Frolov, Gaborik, Dubinsky, Prospal, Anisimov, Callahan, Boyle, Bogaard, Avery and Prust.
Add in 4 of the above borderliners. Drury as stated starts on the IR.
When he returns - one more guy has to go. Or they do this now - perhaps with a minor trade coming up?
* - denotes needs to pass through waivers
** - denotes on a tryout - can be released
On D we have 9 players and probably 7 spots
Rozie, Staal, Girardi, MDZ are imo all sure shots
McD, V Tank, Sauer, Eminger* and Gilroy (*?) battle it out for the last 3 spots.
I am thinking - White gets waived and sent to Hartford for "future depth" (will he clear re-entry waivers? - probably later in the year it will not matter...), Stepan is sent down for grooming (I am not for this - but think perhaps that they want to raise the value of Christ before ev trying to get something for him in a trade after putting up some points with Gabby?), Boyle, Kennedy, Christ and Fedotenko (signs a 750.000 1 year two way deal) make the team. Who gets cut thereafter when Drury returnswill be very hard to guess...
Sauer is cut and then probably traded (to Phoenix, Edmonton or Boston for a low pick?), V Tank is sent down with a promise of being 1st callup, McD makes it (as only rookie), as does Gilroy and Eminger .
Time will tell...
Except the NHL...........or AHL for that matter haha.
I guess the "that he has played" part is hard to comprehend.
You can't fault him for not having proven himself at a level.... that he hasn't played at yet...
I don't see why you wouldn't want to let a guy play and if he doesn't fit, you can send him down. It's not like he's susceptible to a waiver claim if we send him down after 10 or 20 games.... The kid has looked good in camp and has the right attitude. You can't tell one way or another for sure from a few training camp games anyway. (ie: Gilroy) Let him play until he shows he needs to take a step back and spend time in the A.
looks like there's a spot on the island for fedetenko and eminger.
LOL.. Seriously.. There is a spot on the Isles for Feds and Eminger now.. Wow.. losing their #1 defenseman in Streit and their arguably #1 forward in Okposo for the almost the whole season is a killer for them... Both to shoulder injuries... Weird..
Thanks RB. You are always the most up to date guy around
So we the need to release (at least) 4 more players:
2 (ev 3) out of White*, Christ*, Kennedy*, Stepan, Boyle*, Fedotenko** on F are most probably next to be cut
" For sure" on the forward squad (which will be max 14 -probably only 13 at first though + add Drury later) is then Frolov, Gaborik, Dubinsky, Prospal, Anisimov, Callahan, Boyle, Bogaard, Avery and Prust.
Add in 4 of the above borderliners. Drury as stated starts on the IR.
When he returns - one more guy has to go. Or they do this now - perhaps with a minor trade coming up?
* - denotes needs to pass through waivers
** - denotes on a tryout - can be released
On D we have 9 players and probably 7 spots
Rozie, Staal, Girardi, MDZ are imo all sure shots
McD, V Tank, Sauer, Eminger* and Gilroy (*?) battle it out for the last 3 spots.
I am thinking - White gets waived and sent to Hartford for "future depth" (will he clear re-entry waivers? - probably later in the year it will not matter...), Stepan is sent down for grooming (I am not for this - but think perhaps that they want to raise the value of Christ before ev trying to get something for him in a trade after putting up some points with Gabby?), Boyle, Kennedy, Christ and Fedotenko (signs a 750.000 1 year two way deal) make the team. Who gets cut thereafter when Drury returnswill be very hard to guess...
Sauer is cut and then probably traded (to Phoenix, Edmonton or Boston for a low pick?), V Tank is sent down with a promise of being 1st callup, McD makes it (as only rookie), as does Gilroy and Eminger .
Time will tell...
I agree with most of what you say, but not about Step and Christensen. I don't think you can make these roster decisions based on wanting to play a guy as your first line center just to increase his trade value. Winning these early games is the first and only priority. These games mean just as much as the last games of the season. We need every point we can get in a division and conference that's even tighter than last season. The parity is going to reach an all-time high this season, imo. I think Stepan has made the 1st line look much more dynamic than Christensen has, even though Step has looked a little less involved than he did in his first game.
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