There's a ton of talent out there, every year filters a new wave of young talent. Even a team like Winnipeg, who looked hapless to start the season, was downright dominant tonight (and still found a way to lose, young teams do that). I was clamoring for RNH last year, wasn't in the cards, he's transitioning to the NHL quite well.
The collective (emerging and mainstay) talent around the league puts the Isles in perspective, humbling.
There's a ton of talent out there, every year filters a new wave of young talent. Even a team like Winnipeg, who looked hapless to start the season, was downright dominant tonight (and still found a way to lose, young teams do that). I was clamoring for RNH last year, wasn't in the cards, he's transitioning to the NHL quite well.
The collective (emerging and mainstay) talent around the league puts the Isles in perspective, humbling.
same here! then he kept climbing up the draft list, couturier dropped (whom I also liked a great deal) - and so it goes.
I wasn't crazy about the strome pick at the time but I've grown to like him. I think he'll be a solid player.
RNH will still be the best player in that draft but Landeskog looks great, so does Couturier, Larsson. I hope Strome becomes the next Denis Savard - starting next year.
One of the better games of the year so far. Caps fight back from two deficits all game, win in OT. Boudreau called upon his grinders, who have girt, size, and mobility to lead the charge (and insightfully, NOT Ovie). Boy would I love to have a Chimera, Ward, or Laich on the Island. Caps are very deep and seem to have the grit factor that caters to PO style hockey and when/if Ovie doesn't deliver. Then again, your best players have to be your hardest working.
For all the accolades Fowler receives, his defensive zone play has always been tabbed as a weakness; he's still has some work to do in that area. I would take a Lydman type D man as a top-4 upgrade.
One of the better games of the year so far. Caps fight back from two deficits all game, win in OT. Boudreau called upon his grinders, who have girt, size, and mobility to lead the charge (and insightfully, NOT Ovie). Boy would I love to have a Chimera, Ward, or Laich on the Island. Caps are very deep and seem to have the grit factor that caters to PO style hockey and when/if Ovie doesn't deliver. Then again, your best players have to be your hardest working.
For all the accolades Fowler receives, his defensive zone play has always been tabbed as a weakness; he's still has some work to do in that area. I would take a Lydman type D man as a top-4 upgrade.
That game was a lot of fun. The Chimera-Laich-Ward line is a real treat. It keeps opponents really busy.
Cool seeing talents like Selanne and Backstrom putting up points and doing what they're paid for - and what entertains the fans.
Watching the Flyers on NHL NBC, they play with unbelievable tempo and finish their checks. Obviously they have more talent then us, but IMO, not by much. If we played under Laviolette's system or even Bylsma's we'd be unbelieveable. Just saying. (Besides the silly chess match moments)
Anyone seeing the craziness of the flyers/lightning game? Tampa is playing a 1-3-1 with the back man at the defensive hash marks, 3 on the red line and 1 on the attacking blue line. They dump the puck in and refuse to forecheck, so Philly refuses to being the puck out of the zone! I call shannagins. Never seen anything like this before... What are you thoughts?
The NHL needs to outlaw the trap or any other passive forechecks. Just like the NBA use to do with zone defense. First. Time warning after that 2 minute penalty. No one wants to pay good money to see that first period.
Was thinking the same thing.. I think it was never really about the money with Turris I think he just wanted out of the desert so he made crazy demands.
Leafs just scored to go up 7-1 on Tampa Bay - I'll post the goal by Joey Crabb once it's up on NHL.com....just to show an amazing, simple play by Matt Frattin and how to drive to the net.
I know Snow and Capuano read this board and I'm hoping they can circulate this to the players.
I'm a proponent that you cannot teach instinct and talent but you can learn to play a certain way, you can learn to compete and drive to the net. The players who don't listen, don't belong - and good riddance.
Leafs just scored to go up 7-1 on Tampa Bay - I'll post the goal by Joey Crabb once it's up on NHL.com....just to show an amazing, simple play by Matt Frattin and how to drive to the net.
I know Snow and Capuano read this board and I'm hoping they can circulate this to the players.
I'm a proponent that you cannot teach instinct and talent but you can learn to play a certain way, you can learn to compete and drive to the net. The players who don't listen, don't belong - and good riddance.
Leafs just scored to go up 7-1 on Tampa Bay - I'll post the goal by Joey Crabb once it's up on NHL.com....just to show an amazing, simple play by Matt Frattin and how to drive to the net.
I know Snow and Capuano read this board and I'm hoping they can circulate this to the players.
I'm a proponent that you cannot teach instinct and talent but you can learn to play a certain way, you can learn to compete and drive to the net. The players who don't listen, don't belong - and good riddance.
Instinct is your mind knowing what to do without thinking after repetition and success. That play is no different than knowing where to travel on a fretboard. So....instinct can be taught, but self taught. Talent, that's the sum total of effort and ability. One man we can all say disproves the talent paradox? Robert Thor Nystrom.
And he also disproves the "can't teach speed."
I look foreward to Tavares further eroding the negatives from the Tavares/Duchene debate.
thanks for posting that! I was hoping Capuano/Snow would see that and try and get Comeau to play like that. Instead, they waived him shortly after I posted that. Evidence they read this board
They obviously felt they couldn't change Comeau.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OlTimeHockey
Instinct is your mind knowing what to do without thinking after repetition and success. That play is no different than knowing where to travel on a fretboard. So....instinct can be taught, but self taught. Talent, that's the sum total of effort and ability. One man we can all say disproves the talent paradox? Robert Thor Nystrom.
And he also disproves the "can't teach speed."
I look foreward to Tavares further eroding the negatives from the Tavares/Duchene debate.
You can learn to skate faster.
You can get stronger.
You can learn to play tougher, meaner, to hit more.
You cannot learn hockey sense. Not when you're 25 anyway. Some players will be forever haunted by poor decisions (like Marc Andre Bergeron) - teams are better without him. Knowing when to cut bait, that's the job of a GM. Just like knowing when to nurture.
This organizations has a history of making poor decisions in this aspect: Bertuzzi, Chara etc. Under Snow, I haven't seen anyone improve with the exception of MacDonald, Tavares (kinda inevitable), Nielsen, maybe Martin.
Either we're drafting poorly. Or developing poorly.
Maybe Moulson/Grabner/Parenteau, who came from other places, see things differently.
But if the organization can't get their young players to be good hockey players, this rebuild will continually fail (ie. last forever)
Kris Versteeg used to say that Scott Gordan made him a better player, an NHL player, when he coached him in the AHL. I don't expect the same from this organization, I see no evidence to think otherwise.
My head tells me that we SHOULD have taught Comeau to be more effective on the ice. But my gut, my instincts tell me that he was not teachable, that we're better off without him. I'm not sure though and if it were my team, I'd ensure we invested the right people in the development of players, not just the drafting of players. People might be held accountable even.
But maybe I see it differently. I mean, it's not like we're getting killed out there.
