This. He has much more creativity and hockey sense than just a 3rd liner. He's fantastic defensively and is honestly the straw that stirs the drink for the Crunch top line.
You notice it everytime Korobov isn't in the lineup too. He's actually gotten better as the year has gone along and is a very good hitter. He also has some silky mitts believe it or not.
Losing sucks. I would say SYR played a mediocre game. Alot of SOG but not alot of quality chances. It was a classic Devils gameplan, clog up the neutral zone, keep everyone outside the dots, nobody leaves the zone until the puck is out. Same scheme they have had for years. It's got to be easier to make the minor league affiliate to make mistakes within their system but tonight they wouldn't breakdown.
From what I have seen over the past dozen or so games, I understand why Wilson was sent down. His game is terrible right now. As a fan, it pains me to see a player who has shown so much upside in the past at this level to be playing this way, but he needs to sit to get his head out of wherever it is. He has been tried on all four lines but is not producing to his potential. Jacques has been sitting of late due to the vet cap, but it is time to sit Wilson and get Jacques back in the lineup.
Oberg did not look bad last night. He was paired with Nightingale most of the game, and they were acceptable.
The second goal the CD let in was a total out of position mis-play of the puck on his part. He was miffed about letting in the first goal, went out to play a puck and totally failed. As mentioned, the team hit a number of posts but they also did not score several times with setup that had the crowd leaving their feet to celebrate then going "How the frig did he miss that?"
It was nice to see Cam Jansen from the Devils need the extra padding that he did not use when Neilson was in the lineup. With Neilson in the lineup, Jansen's favorite word was "NO" when he was asked to dance. Without Neilson, or Jacques for that matter, Jansen took several runs at Crunch players with no one saying a ppep to him.
Panik returns to the Crunch tonight against Rochester. Given the recent history, it would be a smart move to sit Wilson for Jacques and Hutchings for Panik. Brown took a stick to the face late in the game, so if he cannot go dress Neilson in his place. Rochester has Tarnasky, and added McCormick, so it might be wise to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Tonight for the Crunch was pretty much a repeat of last night. They are getting chances but they're not coming easy and they're not burying the puck. I think we'll be fine.
Not getting the bounces, not taking the body. Add them together and you have a two game losing streak at home. Second game in a row the Crunch let the opposition decide the flow of the game. Too many missed open nets by shooting too high, must have been at least ten this game.
Wilson centering fourth line with Jacques and Neilson. Unimpressive to say the least. Oberg with back to back acceptable games, looks like pairing him with Nightingale may be the answer.
Holds the CHL record for most consecutive starts with over 300 games. Is undrafted and undersized but is worth a signing in the offseason in my opinion.
And he can fight as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt14-HmT6x0
What do you think? Could see him as the next Johnson, their stats are pretty even, both always had/have great +/-, score a lot of goals and had no big injurys.
Holds the CHL record for most consecutive starts with over 300 games. Is undrafted and undersized but is worth a signing in the offseason in my opinion.
And he can fight as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt14-HmT6x0
What do you think? Could see him as the next Johnson, their stats are pretty even, both always had/have great +/-, score a lot of goals and had no big injurys.
Do you know what our contract numbers are at?
Only issues I see are he's too similar to several of our prospects, we need morr size.
I believe Tanner Richard, Paquete and Witkowski will be getting contracts this season.
Hutchings seems a lot like this kid, if we don't offer him a new contract then I can see us looking at him.
Do you know what our contract numbers are at?
Only issues I see are he's too similar to several of our prospects, we need morr size.
I believe Tanner Richard, Paquete and Witkowski will be getting contracts this season.
Hutchings seems a lot like this kid, if we don't offer him a new contract then I can see us looking at him.
But a lot of the young guys will be up with the b ig club so we should have some free spots and otherwise try to sign him to a AHL contract.
we are at 48 now and some won't get a new contract so I hope we sign him
But a lot of the young guys will be up with the b ig club so we should have some free spots and otherwise try to sign him to a AHL contract.
we are at 48 now and some won't get a new contract so I hope we sign him
Sergeev, Kucherov, Paquete, Richard. Witkowski will most likely be replacing anything we lose in the A. 3 of those need contracts so that would put us over right now.
I'm sure Hall will be gone either by trade or unsigned, MAB the same. Mikkelson is up in the air, so that could be the 3 contracts we need.
Who else do you think we don't resign?
If we don't reup Hutchings then yes we should offer him.
Sergeev, Kucherov, Paquete, Richard. Witkowski will most likely be replacing anything we lose in the A. 3 of those need contracts so that would put us over right now.
I'm sure Hall will be gone either by trade or unsigned, MAB the same. Mikkelson is up in the air, so that could be the 3 contracts we need.
Who else do you think we don't resign?
If we don't reup Hutchings then yes we should offer him.
What about Vasilevskiy if he comes over? I presume he would take Desjardins roster spot.
What about Vasilevskiy if he comes over? I presume he would take Desjardins roster spot.
I was thinking Janus would take Desjardins spot and with how much Boucher likes Cedric he might take Garons. I would like Vasileskiy to come over but it depends on Janus. If we can get Janus back we'd probably not resign Cedric, then Riku and Janus could fight to be Lindbacks backup. We'd have a spot for Vasileskiy that way too.
Would love to see Tampa move a couple veterans so some of these kids can get more experience on the big club this year. They need to make room for the next generation of Crunch players.