Pressure from the fans might have something to do with it. I imagine it is a lot easier playing in front of a 70% full, quiet arena then a sell-out crowd expressing there expectations. I believe Ladd said, that the team was sort of happy to go on the road for 2 weeks, to not have to deal with the constant pressure in Winnipeg for abit.
If Ladd said that maybe he should relinquish the captain's C and give it to guy like Slater who seems to have embraced playing here. Ladd is actually one of the players I'm the most disappointed in, he makes poor decisions, takes dumb penalties in the offensive zone, is not that gifted with the puck, is really not that great at passing the puck and makes a lot of poor decisions with the puck and where he goes with it. I expected a lot more, the guy did score almost 30 goals last year, to me he looks like a 3rd line grinder and not the type of player he is being paid the big bucks to be.
The whole Ladd, Little, Wheeler line has been a huge disappointment and without even minimal scoring from them has probably cost us 3-4 wins. I really don't have any confidence that they will get it going already approaching the quarter point in the season! The line has combined to play the equivalent of 48 games with only 18 points, not good enough.
Third Jets game I've attended, third loss. Very disappointing outing.
...it sure weakens your faith in the integrity of the game when the refs respond to embellishment so routinely. ... It is not just Jet's fans imagination that the refs are making numerous soft calls against us, while seemingly ignoring the opposing team's infractions.
Fact is, we are thin in this area of the skill department.
Agree with this all, except to say the team is thin on skill in seemingly all areas.
If Ladd said that maybe he should relinquish the captain's C and give it to guy like Slater who seems to have embraced playing here. Ladd is actually one of the players I'm the most disappointed in, he makes poor decisions, takes dumb penalties in the offensive zone, is not that gifted with the puck, is really not that great at passing the puck and makes a lot of poor decisions with the puck and where he goes with it. I expected a lot more, the guy did score almost 30 goals last year, to me he looks like a 3rd line grinder and not the type of player he is being paid the big bucks to be.
The whole Ladd, Little, Wheeler line has been a huge disappointment and without even minimal scoring from them has probably cost us 3-4 wins. I really don't have any confidence that they will get it going already approaching the quarter point in the season! The line has combined to play the equivalent of 48 games with only 18 points, not good enough.
I think some people have unrealistic expectations about what kind of player Ladd is. He has never, or will never be the guy to carry a scoring line, he simply doesn't have the skill set for that. Ladd is a complimentary top 6 gritty winger whos primarily job in the O-zone is to win board battles and get to the front of the net to screen the goalie and get rebounds.
Production wise he realistically is a 20-25 goal 50-55 point guy. If we look at his stats he is on pace for 21 goals which is right inline for what should be realistically expected from him. His lack of assists can be attributed primarily to the inability of his linemates to put the puck in the net.
For the most part Ladd has been doing what he's supposed to be doing, he's getting to the front of the net and is winning most of his board battles. What I am trying to say is that he is not the primary culperat for his line's ineffectiveness; that title goes to Little and Wheeler; those two are the players that are supposed to be creating the offensive chances once the puck gets into the other teams end.
Can he be better? Absolutely, he needs to buckle down and stop taking silly penalties. I also find that he is trying to make up for his linemates ineffectivness by trying to do too much which has led him to make some questionable decisions with the puck.
The fact of the matter is that until the Little and to a lesser extent Wheeler wake up that line wont have a lot of success. It is Little's responsibility to be the primarily offensive catalyst on that line and until he really turns his game around that line will struggle.
I think some people have unrealistic expectations about what kind of player Ladd is. He has never, or will never be the guy to carry a scoring line, he simply doesn't have the skill set for that. Ladd is a complimentary top 6 gritty winger whos primarily job in the O-zone is to win board battles and get to the front of the net to screen the goalie and get rebounds.
Production wise he realistically is a 20-25 goal 50-55 point guy. If we look at his stats he is on pace for 21 goals which is right inline for what should be realistically expected from him. His lack of assists can be attributed primarily to the inability of his linemates to put the puck in the net.
For the most part Ladd has been doing what he's supposed to be doing, he's getting to the front of the net and is winning most of his board battles. What I am trying to say is that he is not the primary culperat for his line's ineffectiveness; that title goes to Little and Wheeler; those two are the players that are supposed to be creating the offensive chances once the puck gets into the other teams end.
Can he be better? Absolutely, he needs to buckle down and stop taking silly penalties. I also find that he is trying to make up for his linemates ineffectivness by trying to do too much which has led him to make some questionable decisions with the puck.
The fact of the matter is that until the Little and to a lesser extent Wheeler wake up that line wont have a lot of success. It is Little's responsibility to be the primarily offensive catalyst on that line and until he really turns his game around that line will struggle.
Really nice post and spot on.
Ladd Little and Wheeler have gotten off to a slightly slower than usual start by their standards but the primary issue is that peoples expectations of them seem away too high given their historic productivity
Last three years in scoring for each of the guys (total points)
Little
51
38
48
wheeler
45
38
44
Ladd
49
38
59
On balance these guys are young so you hope the numbers trend up this year but you are looking at guys that average a half a point a game give or take?? wheeler is on pace historically, Ladd and Little are a bit behind but not light years.
Jets fans this is not a number 1 NHL line talent wise and we really don't have one this year. Pretty soon Burmi, Kane (and probably Scheif) will be that line but until then we will score by committee.
Just because guys get #1 power play minutes does not mean they or any of our other forward lines are a pure # 1 unit.....we are a young team that is developing our youthful elite talent.....we are fun to watch and compete night in night out. Lots to like but our best days lie ahead.
Ladd is actually one of the players I'm the most disappointed in, he makes poor decisions, takes dumb penalties in the offensive zone, is not that gifted with the puck, is really not that great at passing the puck and makes a lot of poor decisions with the puck and where he goes with it. I expected a lot more, the guy did score almost 30 goals last year, to me he looks like a 3rd line grinder and not the type of player he is being paid the big bucks to be.
Ladd was a great third line player in Chicago. He's strong on the boards, is decent defensively and generally fit the third line role. For the most part he's still playing the game the same way but the fans expectations will be different based on being on the top line, getting powerplay minutes, being the captain and having a high salary.
Look at how many people love the GST line on this forum. It's not about who's best, but who exceeds your expectations the most. Ladd is every bit as good at cycling the puck as anyone on the GST line and has already had a fight this year standing up for one of his teammates. I'm perfectly happy with Ladd being on the team and I think he makes a good captain. When the team develops some offensive talent he can return to a checking/grinding role and lead the team with his physical play rather than scoring.
Quote:
Originally Posted by surixon
It is Little's responsibility to be the primarily offensive catalyst on that line and until he really turns his game around that line will struggle.
Agreed. Of anyone on that line, Little is our best hope for offensive production both now and especially in the future.
I attended the game, and have to agree with most of the comments - the Jets were guilty of being sloppy in EVERY section on the ice, and looked tired and listless. And I agree about the condition of the ice as somebody mentioned. The puck seems to really bounce a lot; maybe the officials aren't keeping the pucks cold enough.
That being said, there is no good reason for the bad officiating - there were several non-calls and bogus calls IMO, including the tripping call on Fleischman in the third period. Burmistrov was Oscar worthy on the dive.
Ladd played okay, but Wheeler looked lost and Little was ineffective. Once again the GST line were the guys who got the crowd back into the game, and the Antropov line were the most effective in controlling the puck.
None of the D looked good - they are all guilty of some bad decisions and poor puck-handling, but Big Buff wasn't the worst D-man on the ice for a change. Festerling is barely NHL calibre, and shouldn't be paired with Flood, IMO.
The Stapleton experiment on the PP better be over - he adds nothing to an already weak power play.
And Holy Jeebus people, stay in your farking seats until a whistle is blown! Between the idiot yelling during the moment of silence, the fans who persist in banging on the glass and the yokels who just have to get down to the concourse while the game is going on made the game far less of a pleasure to watch that I had hoped for.
And I'm never wearing my Jets shirt on game day again. That's the fourth loss whilst I've worn it.
Last edited by DarthMonty: 11-12-2011 at 08:27 AM.
Reason: horrible typing skills
