OTTAWA -- Josh Bailey will team with Rhett Rakhshani again Friday night against the surprising Senators. The pairing, along with Matt Martin, generated some good jump and a few good scoring chances Tuesday night in Carolina.
But, as Bailey noted, "there's no stat for a good game. You need results in this league."
While John Tavares has continued his remarkable scoring run during the last 15 games, propelling him into the top 10 in league scoring and a player of the month award, the rest of the forwards have continued to scuffle. Bailey, like a few other Isles forwards who don't wear No. 91, improved his play in the last month but had two shorthanded goals to show for it. Bailey's last even-strength goal was 21 games ago.
I feel bad for Bailey because over the past two years he at best gets one competent line-mate. Even if he has Comeau playing well, he would have Z on the other side, or Jonessuu or even Schremp.
Ideally you want him to raise the level of play with whomever he is playing but he's still young so that may be a bit too much for him to handle.
I like him with Martin because he is good in the corners and an excellent forechecker. MM also throws at the net every single chance he has which is good because Bailey is the exact opposite. Rhak is a good fit because he adds some speed to the line and a little bit of skill.
Bottom line though is that Bailey needs to stop being cute. He is a 19 year old Tim Connolly, pass-first, deke-second, shoot-rarely type of mentality. Someone needs to start fining the kid every time he passes up a shot in the slot.
I feel bad for Bailey because over the past two years he at best gets one competent line-mate. Even if he has Comeau playing well, he would have Z on the other side, or Jonessuu or even Schremp.
Ideally you want him to raise the level of play with whomever he is playing but he's still young so that may be a bit too much for him to handle.
I like him with Martin because he is good in the corners and an excellent forechecker. MM also throws at the net every single chance he has which is good because Bailey is the exact opposite. Rhak is a good fit because he adds some speed to the line and a little bit of skill.
Bottom line though is that Bailey needs to stop being cute. He is a 19 year old Tim Connolly, pass-first, deke-second, shoot-rarely type of mentality. Someone needs to start fining the kid every time he passes up a shot in the slot.
good post. And well put.
I know the first line is on fire and dominant...but I still would like to see some shuffling of lines:
Moulson - Tavares - Parenteau
Rakhshani - Bailey - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Martin
- Nino back to Portland please.
Okposo played with Rakshani on the USA team a few years back, apparently they had great chemistry back then, I think their games is very complementary ESPECIALLY with Bailey at center.
I've yet to see Bailey with TWO capable wingers who are remotely talented. He's got the potential to be a point producer, why not surround him with players who can help.
Grabs-Nielsen-Martin will be solid. Grabs is always a threat and Martin can dig for pucks, hit, play safe, and Nielsen is solid as a #3.
This gives balance and gives us the best chance at secondary scoring....and I don't think you lose much by taking KO off the top line.
I know the first line is on fire and dominant...but I still would like to see some shuffling of lines:
Moulson - Tavares - Parenteau
Rakhshani - Bailey - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Martin
- Nino back to Portland please.
Okposo played with Rakshani on the USA team a few years back, apparently they had great chemistry back then, I think their games is very complementary ESPECIALLY with Bailey at center.
I've yet to see Bailey with TWO capable wingers who are remotely talented. He's got the potential to be a point producer, why not surround him with players who can help.
Grabs-Nielsen-Martin will be solid. Grabs is always a threat and Martin can dig for pucks, hit, play safe, and Nielsen is solid as a #3.
This gives balance and gives us the best chance at secondary scoring....and I don't think you lose much by taking KO off the top line.
I can't see breaking up the first line right now. They are absolutely on fire. We do need the secondary scoring, but the formula for success in our little run has been solid goaltending and JT being JT.
I can't see breaking up the first line right now. They are absolutely on fire. We do need the secondary scoring, but the formula for success in our little run has been solid goaltending and JT being JT.
Believe me, only mitchy is happier than I am, by having PAP off the top line RW....but I've been asking HF (to tell Cappy/Gordon) to play Bailey-Okposo together since FOREVER.
I don't want to break up the best line in the NHL (yes, they are that right now), I'd settle for:
Rakhshani - Bailey - Parenteau
Grabs - Frans - Martin
how's that?!
By the way, been watching the Oilers-Hawks tonight, Gagner's got six points already, he's been FLYING out there. And Taylor Hall is so dangerous out there as well. They have so much speed and skill and potential - and are missing their best player RNH!
Last edited by redbull: 02-02-2012 at 10:55 PM.
Reason: And now SEVEN points for Gagner!
I know the first line is on fire and dominant...but I still would like to see some shuffling of lines:
Moulson - Tavares - Parenteau
Rakhshani - Bailey - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Martin
- Nino back to Portland please.
Okposo played with Rakshani on the USA team a few years back, apparently they had great chemistry back then, I think their games is very complementary ESPECIALLY with Bailey at center.
I've yet to see Bailey with TWO capable wingers who are remotely talented. He's got the potential to be a point producer, why not surround him with players who can help.
Grabs-Nielsen-Martin will be solid. Grabs is always a threat and Martin can dig for pucks, hit, play safe, and Nielsen is solid as a #3.
This gives balance and gives us the best chance at secondary scoring....and I don't think you lose much by taking KO off the top line.
Nino can't be sent back to Portland because he played more than 9 games this season. If anything, I think it would be great for his development to be sent to Bridgeport next season, considering he will be 20 by the next training camp.
Unfortunately, I don't see it happening because Snow is a "man of his word".
Nino can't be sent back to Portland because he played more than 9 games this season. If anything, I think it would be great for his development to be sent to Bridgeport next season, considering he will be 20 by the next training camp.
Unfortunately, I don't see it happening because Snow is a "man of his word".
he most certainly can be sent back. The only difference the nine games makes is that it knocks a full year off his entry-level-contract.
At this point, it doesn't matter.
I just think Nino would benefit MORE from finishing the year in Portland, playing a lot of minutes, playing in the playoffs, maybe a memorial cup run?
Of course, 8 minutes per night with Wallace and Pandolfo in the Coliseum is pretty important as well! Word or no word - send the kid back.
Believe me, only mitchy is happier than I am, by having PAP off the top line RW....but I've been asking HF (to tell Cappy/Gordon) to play Bailey-Okposo together since FOREVER.
I don't want to break up the best line in the NHL (yes, they are that right now), I'd settle for:
Rakhshani - Bailey - Parenteau
Grabs - Frans - Martin
how's that?!
By the way, been watching the Oilers-Hawks tonight, Gagner's got six points already, he's been FLYING out there. And Taylor Hall is so dangerous out there as well. They have so much speed and skill and potential - and are missing their best player RNH!
You mean my posts here didn't eventually get to Cappy?
It's a pretty rough task trying to assemble lines 2-4 on our team.
I'm not going to continue to try to do so. With Rhett up, we're just an odd mix without enough size. I'm fine with testing him out, but we're even smaller upfront now. Rhett at least can skate, but you can't fill your team with small guys that can skate without having some big guys that can do work in the trenches. Obviously, we also lack natural goal scorers.
We don't have a 2nd center for Parenteau to work well with. We don't have two wingers that make sense to put next to Bailey or Nielsen in a scoring role.
If I had to guess, they didn't bring Ullstrom back up because they wanted to get a look at Rhett before his next contract. I also think the team has to be looking at trading one of their pending UFA forwards. (I'm actually for that, but only because we're looking to get a #2 center back in that deal or a separate one.)
It would make me sick to my stomach because of the risk (financially, and team chemistry wise), but Jeff Carter's skill set would make a lot of sense for our lineup. If we could get a "1A" type sizable center with 20g+ capabilities, we'd instantly be a far better team. Even saying that, I couldn't tell you whether it's worth that kind of risk.
I'd love to know which centers truly could be had in the league via trade so I could pick and choose.
What I don't understand is why Rhett was getting PP time. I can understand having him on the PK, but I'd rather see Nino out there on the PP. If after a few games Nino looks lost on the PP, then you put the more polished player there. But Ninos paid more NHL dues. He should get a shot. Plus who knows what a couple of goals could do for his confidence.
What I don't understand is why Rhett was getting PP time. I can understand having him on the PK, but I'd rather see Nino out there on the PP. If after a few games Nino looks lost on the PP, then you put the more polished player there. But Ninos paid more NHL dues. He should get a shot. Plus who knows what a couple of goals could do for his confidence.
I think Nino was on the PP with Rakh and Bailey in the Carolina game.
What I don't understand is why Rhett was getting PP time. I can understand having him on the PK, but I'd rather see Nino out there on the PP. If after a few games Nino looks lost on the PP, then you put the more polished player there. But Ninos paid more NHL dues. He should get a shot. Plus who knows what a couple of goals could do for his confidence.
To me seeing Poulin in net and Rhett on the PP signaled that they're raising the white flag on the season and ready to start playing some younger guys. And I'm pretty sure Nino was onthe PP with Rhett on that 2nd unit.
You mean my posts here didn't eventually get to Cappy?
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