Hard-hitting, fast-skating, and a big body with some offensive instincts. When we're ready to go deep in the playoffs, Greening and Smith are going to be vital players in the bottom six for us, in terms of shutting down the opposition and providing momentum.
What's great is he's also got enough skill to play on the top line, so we could potentially match up Greening-Spezza-Michalek against opposing team's top players (with 9MM and Greening very capable defensively).
He's a useful guy to have.
I respectfully disagree. We shouldn't match up Greening-Spezza-Michalek against opposing team's top players. We allowed A LOT of goals with that line on the ice(just watch the first half of the season where it really seemed like every other night we allowed at least one goal when these guys where out there) and i don't believe Michalek is a very good defensive guy. I like him a lot and he always seems to work hard but he only does it in the offensive zone, he doesn't really skate 200 feet.
Greening is perfectly fit for the 3rd line and i do agree with you that he and Smith could shutdown opposition well in the future. The lack of top 6 forwards that this team has right now is obvious.
I respectfully disagree. We shouldn't match up Greening-Spezza-Michalek against opposing team's top players. We allowed A LOT of goals with that line on the ice(just watch the first half of the season where it really seemed like every other night we allowed at least one goal when these guys where out there) and i don't believe Michalek is a very good defensive guy. I like him a lot and he always seems to work hard but he only does it in the offensive zone, he doesn't really skate 200 feet.
Greening is perfectly fit for the 3rd line and i do agree with you that he and Smith could shutdown opposition well in the future. The lack of top 6 forwards that this team has right now is obvious.
And I respectfully disagree with you, Michalek is a great defensive forward, the biggest weakness defensively on that top line is Spezza. His giveaways, his constant deking & zigzagging either get our guys off side or he loses the puck & how he hangs around the blue & red lines waiting for the breakaway pass instead of defending in our zone. While he is an offensive dynamo he still lacks defensively & it's Greening & Michalek that are the defensive experts on that line & both play a 200' game unlike Spezza. I'm not sure what is wrong with Greening getting over 30 pts on the top line, that's over 150 pts for that top line, how many top lines have over 150 pts?
I do agree that we have other lines that are better defensively than our top line like Z. Smith's line but it isn't always possible to have that match up especially away from SBP. We may lack some top 6 forwards but if you look at all teams our team is right in the mix as much as in other team. Scoring is down in the NHL as a whole & we are getting scoring from all lines, from the forwards & the defence. It's never as much as the fans want but it's never as bad as most make out either.
I feel like he had one of the better games tonight (even though that's not saying a lot). Nice to see him out muscling guys in front of the net a couple times.
I have always been saying he isn't a top 6 player; he is more of a stop gap. But this is his first full year in the NHL and he is encroaching the 20 goal mark. Combine that with his physical tools and He could even improve more for next year. Maybe he will be a legit top 6 guy.
A few games back, they had a line of Greening Smith and Condra. Those guys were getting a full rotation, as were Foligno OBrien and Neil. Both lines were cycling and banging and generally making life miserable for the other team. This is the kind of stuff you need, for the playoffs especially. For this year, while Greening is probably the best match for Spezza's line, I would leave him on the Smith line, and if all that is left is Butler and Klinkhammer on the top two, so be it. Those bottom two lines are worth it. Next year, there should be a couple of guys with more offensive talent available for those two spots on the top two lines, and that would be a really good team. Plus, a line of Greening Smith and Condra does have some secondary offensive potential.
And I respectfully disagree with you, Michalek is a great defensive forward, the biggest weakness defensively on that top line is Spezza. His giveaways, his constant deking & zigzagging either get our guys off side or he loses the puck & how he hangs around the blue & red lines waiting for the breakaway pass instead of defending in our zone. While he is an offensive dynamo he still lacks defensively & it's Greening & Michalek that are the defensive experts on that line & both play a 200' game unlike Spezza. I'm not sure what is wrong with Greening getting over 30 pts on the top line, that's over 150 pts for that top line, how many top lines have over 150 pts?
I do agree that we have other lines that are better defensively than our top line like Z. Smith's line but it isn't always possible to have that match up especially away from SBP. We may lack some top 6 forwards but if you look at all teams our team is right in the mix as much as in other team. Scoring is down in the NHL as a whole & we are getting scoring from all lines, from the forwards & the defence. It's never as much as the fans want but it's never as bad as most make out either.
Our team looks to be right in the mix because they are well coached and because the D are helping the forwards a lot not because we have similar top 6 with other eastern teams.
The most important thing is that our star players peaked at the right time. In the last 25-30 games Karlsson and Spezza(Alfie sometimes as well) went on an absolute tear and saved us. Without these guys heating up, 100% we were out of the playoffs by now because basically no one else was able to score.
Out of the college kids he is by far the most impressive. Condra hasn't done anything lately to suggest he's not easily replaceable and Butler is, well, nothing.
I still vividly remember the "seriously? wtf?" reactions to the 3 year term.
I can say I was one of the few people who liked the deal then.
To be honest, it's basically the same bunch of people who always over-react, whine and panic when a trade is made. Nothing new here, it's relatively the same story every trade/signing, whatever the deal is.
I have no idea why people are so out of control of their emotions with entertainment related things. Well, in fact I have a theory but whatever
I was not happy with his play last night (Winnipeg). He seemed disengaged and floating. Passes when he could have shot the puck, out of position to gobble up passes to him (where he should have been on the ice).
I think the speculation is correct that he is forced into Top line minutes he is not (yet) ready for. For a "rookie" he's has a good season, buty he's Git to become consistently engaged and start to dominate - because he should have a beast mode in him somewhere.
The look on his face shows how much he cares.
