Has been obvious from his first year pro that he was simply a trainwreck defensively and never ever going to be able to play defense at the NHL level.
Now he's 23 and nothing but a bad AHL defender.
Has the toolbox to think he might be able to carve out a niche up front - shot, decent size, some grit, OK skater going forward - but who knows. Would have been nice if the last 2 years had been spent on the conversion, and would have been a lot more likely to be successful.
As it is he's a total bust. Shouldn't be re-signed unless it's to play forward.
Agree with the caveat that last year with McTavish he looked like he might salvage a career as a third pairing/2nd unit PP type. Unfortunately for him, the Canucks went back to the "terrible coach" well...
Thanks for this. Andersson might even make a good candidate for the PP as Connauton's offense seems to have virtually disappeared. Heck, I don't even know who the pointmen on the PP units are anymore - Hunt, KC, Joslin and Matheson? Might be worth giving him a try there to improve his all-around game - good shot and makes good decisions with the puck.
As for Cannata, do you see any changes in the way he's playing compared to last year? Wondering if our goalie coach has been working with him.
Right now its Hunt and Haydar on the points. Hunt is the main reason for any improvement on the PP.
I'm not much for stats but as far as Connauton is concerned you have to worry why he is so consistently a minus player. This year a -14 which is twice as bad as any other player on the team.
Stated as early as when he played on the Giants that he might be a forward. However, I'm not convinced he would do much there either. Probably screw up his defensive responsibilities a lot.
RFA at the end of the season and based on play can not be offered any more than the minimum contract.
Maybe he is still tradeable given that there is athletic talent here. Might be case that some organization who is not happy with one of their prospect would trade for Connauton given the hope that they could somehow develop him. You wonder if the team might have been able to go after Boychuk using Connauton. Could have waived the god awful Ebbett to create roster space. (btw this teams fascination with Ebbett and concern about losing him on waivers is one of the most troubling misreads in club history)
Agree with the caveat that last year with McTavish he looked like he might salvage a career as a third pairing/2nd unit PP type. Unfortunately for him, the Canucks went back to the "terrible coach" well...
I wonder though - does a change in coach really affect his career outlook as a D-man that badly? Maybe even if MacT had stayed, it's possible that he was always going to be a fringe 6/7th D-man anyway?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MS
Should have been done two years ago.
Has been obvious from his first year pro that he was simply a trainwreck defensively and never ever going to be able to play defense at the NHL level.
Now he's 23 and nothing but a bad AHL defender.
Has the toolbox to think he might be able to carve out a niche up front - shot, decent size, some grit, OK skater going forward - but who knows. Would have been nice if the last 2 years had been spent on the conversion, and would have been a lot more likely to be successful.
As it is he's a total bust. Shouldn't be re-signed unless it's to play forward.
What might his ceiling then be if he does move up front? 4th liner? And would it still be too late to do it now?
Right now its Hunt and Haydar on the points. Hunt is the main reason for any improvement on the PP.
I'm not much for stats but as far as Connauton is concerned you have to worry why he is so consistently a minus player. This year a -14 which is twice as bad as any other player on the team.
Stated as early as when he played on the Giants that he might be a forward. However, I'm not convinced he would do much there either. Probably screw up his defensive responsibilities a lot.
RFA at the end of the season and based on play can not be offered any more than the minimum contract.
Maybe he is still tradeable given that there is athletic talent here. Might be case that some organization who is not happy with one of their prospect would trade for Connauton given the hope that they could somehow develop him. You wonder if the team might have been able to go after Boychuk using Connauton. Could have waived the god awful Ebbett to create roster space. (btw this teams fascination with Ebbett and concern about losing him on waivers is one of the most troubling misreads in club history)
I see. You have to wonder what part Baumgartner has had in his regression thus far this year... It's worrying that a team who's put a lot of trust in its development system to turn projects into something worthwhile would hire a first-time coach to run the D without having prior coaching experience.
Maybe Connauton would have turned out like this anyway, but you don't want to screw up their chances right from the get-go with a bad coach.
I see. You have to wonder what part Baumgartner has had in his regression thus far this year... It's worrying that a team who's put a lot of trust in its development system to turn projects into something worthwhile would hire a first-time coach to run the D without having prior coaching experience.
Maybe Connauton would have turned out like this anyway, but you don't want to screw up their chances right from the get-go with a bad coach.
I agree and disagree with this, I think baumer has basically been a player coach for a while now. so I would say he has expeirence.
The Wolves beat Peoria tonight, 4-3 in overtime. Haydar got a hat trick. Sweatt scored the OT winner. Cannata stopped 20 of 23.
Interestingly, Archibald fought the legendary Kyle Beach at 9:40 of the first period. Rodin picked up a slashing penalty, also at 9:40. Perhaps a Wolves watcher can tell us if Rodin slashed Beach, Beach went for Rodin, and Archibald stepped in, or what.
The Wolves beat Peoria tonight, 4-3 in overtime. Haydar got a hat trick. Sweatt scored the OT winner. Cannata stopped 20 of 23.
Interestingly, Archibald fought the legendary Kyle Beach at 9:40 of the first period. Rodin picked up a slashing penalty, also at 9:40. Perhaps a Wolves watcher can tell us if Rodin slashed Beach, Beach went for Rodin, and Archibald stepped in, or what.
But Beach is a Blackhawks prospect, and their affiliate is Rockford...
The Wolves beat Peoria tonight, 4-3 in overtime. Haydar got a hat trick. Sweatt scored the OT winner. Cannata stopped 20 of 23.
Interestingly, Archibald fought the legendary Kyle Beach at 9:40 of the first period. Rodin picked up a slashing penalty, also at 9:40. Perhaps a Wolves watcher can tell us if Rodin slashed Beach, Beach went for Rodin, and Archibald stepped in, or what.
Steve Pinizzotto watched a fellow Rochester Institute of Technology alumnus score his first NHL goal on Monday night.
That would be Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev, who took 63 games to achieve the lofty feat, putting one off the post with seconds left in overtime in Edmonton.
It was a huge deal on the New York state school’s campus on Tuesday, and just as big for Pinizzotto, who’s with the Canucks’ Chicago Wolves AHL farm club.
“He was actually one of my best buddies when he was here (during the NHL lockout) and I wish nothing but the best for him,” said Pinizzotto over the phone from Chicago.
“He’s just a great person. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. To score your first goal in overtime, I’m pretty happy for him.”
Pinizzotto, who played at RIT for two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07), but was never a teammate of Tanev (2009-10) with the Tigers, would like nothing better than to follow in his footsteps and become the second player from the school to get into an NHL game.
Due to injury, that’s been on hold for two seasons now, but Pinizzotto — a hard-edged fourth line winger who finishes his checks — is close to being available for selection should the Canucks suffer any damage in their bottom-six forward ranks.
Pinizzotto has been out since Nov. 24, when he suffered a partial tear in his groin. Surgery wasn’t necessary, but he didn’t expect it would keep him out this long.
He’s back practising with the team, but hasn’t been cleared for contact yet.
“I’m pretty close (to playing), it’s within two weeks,” said Pinizzotto. “It’s feeling pretty good. I’m not quite pain-free yet. I’m just getting back to being on the ice and feeling more confident. It’s something you can’t rush.”
How's Hunt playing? I remember watching him a few years back when he played for Burnaby. He was always a smaller guy but handled the puck well. Any NHL future there?
How's Hunt playing? I remember watching him a few years back when he played for Burnaby. He was always a smaller guy but handled the puck well. Any NHL future there?
I think it was orca who was saying he has been playing well.. Cant really remember though
How's Hunt playing? I remember watching him a few years back when he played for Burnaby. He was always a smaller guy but handled the puck well. Any NHL future there?
He's a plus 3 with a bit better than a .5 ppg scoring average on a team that doesn't often fill the net. Looking at his stat lines on hockeydb, they seems very consistent between his final two years at Bemidji State and this year as a pro on the Wolves. His junior NCAA year is virtually identical to this current AHL year, or it will be when the Wolves play one more game to make it 38 for him on the season like his final two years in Bemidji.
He's made a great adaptation to the AHL. Could he play in the NHL? You would think he's too small, but I'd like to see him get the chance anyway.
He's a plus 3 with a bit better than a .5 ppg scoring average on a team that doesn't often fill the net. Looking at his stat lines on hockeydb, they seems very consistent between his final two years at Bemidji State and this year as a pro on the Wolves. His junior NCAA year is virtually identical to this current AHL year, or it will be when the Wolves play one more game to make it 38 for him on the season like his final two years in Bemidji.
He's made a great adaptation to the AHL. Could he play in the NHL? You would think he's too small, but I'd like to see him get the chance anyway.
Not sure that he's good enough right now (actually, pretty sure he's not), but then again he's still young and defensemen take a while to mature. Maybe he one day will but I doubt it will be with Canucks.
I've been pretty impressed with Volpatti so far this season.
The Edmonton game was pretty evident he can't skate fast and stick handle at the same time. Handled it like a grenade.
I like him for 6 minutes a game, but Pinner has more scoring upside and can probably play as physical just won't be able to take on the 240 pounders of the league.
The Edmonton game was pretty evident he can't skate fast and stick handle at the same time. Handled it like a grenade.
I like him for 6 minutes a game, but Pinner has more scoring upside and can probably play as physical just won't be able to take on the 240 pounders of the league.
Agreed. Pinner is just the better all-around hockey player. Would be a good fit with Lapierre imo. If you want a 4th line in the playoffs that can play, that would be it I think. Not someone like Volpatti whose minutes would only go down.
Of course, he's got to get healthy and get a shot first.
The Edmonton game was pretty evident he can't skate fast and stick handle at the same time. Handled it like a grenade.
I like him for 6 minutes a game, but Pinner has more scoring upside and can probably play as physical just won't be able to take on the 240 pounders of the league.
I guess I don't expect as much out of a 4th liner. I like having a guy with his physical ability, and the potential to at least endure a bout with the heavyweights.
Agreed that Pinner is the better hockey player. If he can provide the physicality that Volpatti can, then I would agree. It's not worth having a guy just for his fighting ability.
Hopefully his injury doesn't result in him being a bit timid on his return.
Wolves up 3-0 right now headed into the 3rd. Climie is back from injury and between the pipes. Davies with 2 goals, Connauton with one. Polasek has an assist, as well.
Tweet this morning quoting Wolves' GM Wendell Young...
Quote:
News1130 Sports@News1130Sports
#Canucks still have not signed new deal with Chicago Wolves for next year - Young says he's getting itchy - wants to know.
Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More
Wonder what other alternatives the Canucks would have? In a perfect world, Abbotsford...
