Im already calling that the first time Zac Rinaldo goes out on the PK, he will take a stupid penalty (like he always does) and we go down to a 5v3. But dont worry, we will here people ***** that it was a "soft call" and how the refs hate us and how its super unfair to base the call off of Rinaldo's reputation. Rinaldo is like Carcillo, just without the very little skill Carcillo had.
Im already calling that the first time Zac Rinaldo goes out on the PK, he will take a stupid penalty (like he always does) and we go down to a 5v3. But dont worry, we will here people ***** that it was a "soft call" and how the refs hate us and how its super unfair to base the call off of Rinaldo's reputation. Rinaldo is like Carcillo, just without the very little skill Carcillo had.
I will be shocked if rinaldo is on the pk in the near future.
Im already calling that the first time Zac Rinaldo goes out on the PK, he will take a stupid penalty (like he always does) and we go down to a 5v3. But dont worry, we will here people ***** that it was a "soft call" and how the refs hate us and how its super unfair to base the call off of Rinaldo's reputation. Rinaldo is like Carcillo, just without the very little skill Carcillo had.
Rinaldo has seemed a lot more under control so far.
Rinaldo has seemed a lot more under control so far.
The key words being "so far".
If you watch his interviews he seems like a smart guy, he states the coaches have told him he needs to back off a bit and he has done that while he has got playing time. He also said he wants to focus more on being a hockey player rather than a goon type, but still continue to be physical.
A lot of the time guys will be crazy in the ahl and junior to get recongnized, they understand they dont have a huge skill set so they have to find their niche.
Hey it got him a job did it not? Now he has to be smart and not cross the line
It was time to move on from betts, we have younger players that need to play and can step into his role. If losing betts is a huge blow to this team like some think then we have bigger problems.
It's not losing Betts himself that is the issue, really. It's that when one looks at our forward group, the most glaring weakness is defensive play and given that we'd already lost key cogs in that area such as Gagné, Richards, Carter, Lappy and Powe fairly recently, losing Betts as well seems a bit unnecessary. If we had had clear cut replacements ready, then I couldn't care less about losing Betts. I don't consider Read, Couturier, Rinaldo or Simmonds to be that however.
The fact that Couturier and Read have looked fine during preseason games doesn't really mean anything until they show that they can do so when it matters as well.
If I'm to continue playing the role of the pessimist on these forums, come November how much do you think it will cost us to get that defensively sound, veteran 4th line center that we can use on the pk that it's become so desperately clear that we need? What's that? It smells like-- yes, yes, it's a 2nd rounder burning a hole in Homer's pocket.
Ok, so maybe it won't go that far, but it would have seemed more logical to wait until the new guys could have proven themselves a bit more before waiving Betts. Unless there were more concerns about his injuries than they're letting on.
It's not losing Betts himself that is the issue, really. It's that when one looks at our forward group, the most glaring weakness is defensive play and given that we'd already lost key cogs in that area such as Gagné, Richards, Carter, Lappy and Powe fairly recently, losing Betts as well seems a bit unnecessary. If we had had clear cut replacements ready, then I couldn't care less about losing Betts. I don't consider Read, Couturier, Rinaldo or Simmonds to be that however.
The fact that Couturier and Read have looked fine during preseason games doesn't really mean anything until they show that they can do so when it matters as well.
If I'm to continue playing the role of the pessimist on these forums, come November how much do you think it will cost us to get that defensively sound, veteran 4th line center that we can use on the pk that it's become so desperately clear that we need? What's that? It smells like-- yes, yes, it's a 2nd rounder burning a hole in Homer's pocket.
Ok, so maybe it won't go that far, but it would have seemed more logical to wait until the new guys could have proven themselves a bit more before waiving Betts. Unless there were more concerns about his injuries than they're letting on.
Giroux, talbot, hartnell, simmonds, read, schenn, couturier, nodl all have defensive qualities to their game. Betts is hardly on the ice 5 on 5 so we basically have to replace his PK which I dont think will be that hard. We pay our goalie and top notch defensive a crazy amount of money, so with a decent amount of defensive forwards we should be more then fine.
Read, Schenn and Courturier are all rookies. I don't have much faith in their defensive abilities during the regular season. Schenn might be able to pull it off, but he will still have learning to do. The team's overall defense has taken an overall step back from last year.
__________________
Down in the basement, I've got a Craftsman lathe. Show it to the children when they misbehave.
Habs fan coming in peace. Just wondering what kind of player we've got in betts? has his play deteriorated to point where he now costs his team more than he benefits.
I enjoyed betts back when he played for my Home town Saint John Flames. Is he no longer the pk force he used to be? Or was that just a small sample from the playoffs? I don't expect him to be the missing piece for the habs, but just an upgrade to our internal option of Engqvist, would it be fair to say he would he is still an adequate NHL player?
Habs fan coming in peace. Just wondering what kind of player we've got in betts? has his play deteriorated to point where he now costs his team more than he benefits.
I enjoyed betts back when he played for my Home town Saint John Flames. Is he no longer the pk force he used to be? Or was that just a small sample from the playoffs? I don't expect him to be the missing piece for the habs, but just an upgrade to our internal option of Engqvist, would it be fair to say he would he is still an adequate NHL player?
Good player. Health is always a concern but when he was on the ice, for the role he played, he was fine.
First off guys like Read, Talbot, and Couturier made this move possible. If you do not see Betts is on a rapid decline then i don't know what to tell you. The guy is basically one hit away from missing a lot of time with that bum shoulder. That clearly has effected how good he was on faceoffs. Betts is a savvy pker but even i think at times he was overrated in that aspect of his game. His positional skills on the pk where inconstant at times last year. I still people are seeing that image of him and Lappy on the PK. When our PK was beastly before Lappy got hurt. That is not the same Betts.
Anyone is one hit away from anything. That's what you sign up for when you want to be an NHL player.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoneFullHolmgren
Betts doesnt score goals, which means according to some on this board hes a washed up bum. Sometimes I wonder how long some people around here have been watching hockey. you need guys like Betts aroound. solid 4th liner, can kill penalties and every now and then can chip in a goal.
What does Shelley and Rinaldo bring to table other then stupid.
yeah but he also isnt the "biggest and baddest goon on the planet either." The only thing Shelley is good at is getting suspended and getting punched in the face.
Maybe some day the thinking of management and some people in this fanbase will change their mind that we need to have guys like this around. I was hoping that the preseason would open eyes of management and say having guys on the 4th line who can actually contribute and play the game isnt a bad idea. Instead those players are waived/sent to the minors.
Somethings will never change and having 1 or 2 worthless retards on the 4th line every night is one of them.
They didn't even have to look to pre-season. They can just look at last year, where the Bruins had a 4th line, and the Canucks did not, and the difference that made.
Im already calling that the first time Zac Rinaldo goes out on the PK, he will take a stupid penalty (like he always does) and we go down to a 5v3. But dont worry, we will here people ***** that it was a "soft call" and how the refs hate us and how its super unfair to base the call off of Rinaldo's reputation. Rinaldo is like Carcillo, just without the very little skill Carcillo had.
honestly arent you being a little harsh here with "always does" when the rookie hasnt played an nhl game yet? even if he turns into sean avery or even worse matt cooke shouldnt the kid at least get to earn his bad reputation?
honestly arent you being a little harsh here with "always does" when the rookie hasnt played an nhl game yet? even if he turns into sean avery or even worse matt cooke shouldnt the kid at least get to earn his bad reputation?
He might not have played an NHL game yet, but his CHL and AHL history isn't exactly spotless.
From the sounds of it, it was because he had uncontrollable rage problems...not because he was trying to be noticed.
haha when ever someone says he was crazy because of uncontrollable rage issues I think about the hanson brothers from slapshot just going crazy everytime they are on the ice.
What are your guys' input on Betts? We are pretty excited about having a 6'3'' guy on the 4th line (now possibly having a 4th line of Moen, Betts and Ryan White, we are indeed) and I just wanted to have your guys' opinions on Blair's play and his toughness level.
He's had a few shoulder surgeries but last year he was affected by a broken finger, I believe. He had it operated on in the off season. Hopefully that will help him get back to where he was.
honestly arent you being a little harsh here with "always does" when the rookie hasnt played an nhl game yet? even if he turns into sean avery or even worse matt cooke shouldnt the kid at least get to earn his bad reputation?
What goes to show that he wont continue to do what he has done his whole career? Like I know some are making this past offseason like he went from a devil to an angel but I highly doubt he made such a 360 in his style in play. Just cause he hasnt played an nhl game doesnt mean he wont continue to do what he has done his whole hockey career.
What goes to show that he wont continue to do what he has done his whole career? Like I know some are making this past offseason like he went from a devil to an angel but I highly doubt he made such a 360 in his style in play. Just cause he hasnt played an nhl game doesnt mean he wont continue to do what he has done his whole hockey career.
he doesn't have to win the lady byng he just has to not be a thorn in his own team's side by limiting his stupid penalties and suspensions.
look at Downie...he has made him self a produtive player but still is just dangerous enough to keep opposing players head on a swivel.
i didn't see Rinaldo play in the minors/juniors but i trust Lavi's ability as a coach. Lavy did a good job of reigning in Boulerice in CAR and he coach head cases like Simon and Cairns in NYI, IIRC.