Trade him while his value is decent, he won't get any better than he is right now.
I've long held a suspicion that this is the opinion you hold of every single player we've ever had and ever will have.
I'm not holding my breath on Brass, but it's fun to see while it's happening.
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He has, David. Not sure what to think about Brass. I see the incredible chemistry on ice. I wonder, was his poor performance just pouting over the attention Carter was getting?? It sure straightened out once he was put back on the line with Nash. If so, I understand it, but...
And to be honest, I think that has to have played a part because his performance this year has been so bad. He didn't forget how to play, ya know?
Whatever it is, I hope it's over and we can get back to being a team again. Winning forgives a multitude of sins.
The whole Arniel vs. Brassard thing was really something, too, cougar. Quite revealing of Arniel's disposition, especially since Brass has responded to Arniel's absence (Richards's presence?) so clearly.
The give and go with Nash on Nash's goal last night was a beaut, speaking of chemistry!
And of course, the wonderful cross ice pass to Nash, who dropped it to Umby, netting the first goal of tonight. Dude is playing his heart out right now. He's needs to stop, we're starting to win games.
And of course, the wonderful cross ice pass to Nash, who dropped it to Umby, netting the first goal of tonight. Dude is playing his heart out right now. He's needs to stop, we're starting to win games.
Yep and dont forget the 2 line pass in stride to Nash that he rang off the post. He literally doesnt lose the puck when gaining the zone. Like ever.
The whole Arniel vs. Brassard thing was really something, too, cougar. Quite revealing of Arniel's disposition, especially since Brass has responded to Arniel's absence (Richards's presence?) so clearly.
The give and go with Nash on Nash's goal last night was a beaut, speaking of chemistry!
Oh yeah! We may never know what happened under Arniel but I bet if the walls could talk, we might be surprised....
You want to talk about flaky performances and the epitome of Jackets Hockey, look no further than #16.
He's never responded well to coaching, thats what I see. In fact, his best times as a jacket have come at the beginning of a his first season and the times after coaches were fired.
Brass points to everything that is wrong with this organization, the only defense I can make for him is that at least he was given more time to develop than most of the other first rounders, of course, that could just be because he was injured right at the start of his junior year after the draft.
This is a situation where you should be glad he's picked it up, might be able to fetch something half way decent for him because this organization can't afford to go into another season with another new coach if Brass is just going to decide he doesn't have to compete again.
Yes and no.
Brassard has never responded well to restrictive coaching because his game is incompatible with it. He's at his best when he's given free rein to be creative and freewheel; he's a very creative player who has superb vision in the offensive zone.
Unfortunately, this also exposes him to riskier plays, so if things aren't going well for the team, most coaches will attempt to tighten the reins on players and start demanding something more structured and disciplined. Look at someone like Raffi Torres. I have plenty to say about him, but the best years that he's had are when a coach basically points him toward the opposing net and says "Go there". Brassard is the same way. Give him the puck in the offensive zone, let him do his thing, and he'll make terrific plays out of nothing. He's certainly less of a risk than Zherdev.
His game declined when the team's fortunes turned in November of 2009, when too many guys decided that since things were going well, they could freewheel too. A coach runs a fine line between opposing forces at all times, and it's nearly impossible to tell his entire team to make lower-risk plays without making the guys who can actually play that game do the same. When this season unfolded as a disaster, Scott Arniel tried to do the same thing that Ken Hitchcock had done two years before in clamping down on Brassard.
I don't think that Brassard's flashes of brilliance post-firing are because he's uncoachable. It's because a new coach, particularly one replacing one that's of a higher intensity, is more likely to loosen the reins on everyone and let them play the game that they know.
Brassard has never responded well to restrictive coaching because his game is incompatible with it. He's at his best when he's given free rein to be creative and freewheel; he's a very creative player who has superb vision in the offensive zone.
Unfortunately, this also exposes him to riskier plays, so if things aren't going well for the team, most coaches will attempt to tighten the reins on players and start demanding something more structured and disciplined. Look at someone like Raffi Torres. I have plenty to say about him, but the best years that he's had are when a coach basically points him toward the opposing net and says "Go there". Brassard is the same way. Give him the puck in the offensive zone, let him do his thing, and he'll make terrific plays out of nothing. He's certainly less of a risk than Zherdev.
His game declined when the team's fortunes turned in November of 2009, when too many guys decided that since things were going well, they could freewheel too. A coach runs a fine line between opposing forces at all times, and it's nearly impossible to tell his entire team to make lower-risk plays without making the guys who can actually play that game do the same. When this season unfolded as a disaster, Scott Arniel tried to do the same thing that Ken Hitchcock had done two years before in clamping down on Brassard.
I don't think that Brassard's flashes of brilliance post-firing are because he's uncoachable. It's because a new coach, particularly one replacing one that's of a higher intensity, is more likely to loosen the reins on everyone and let them play the game that they know.
The "new coach" at this point, also doesn't have much pressure on him, beyond what he's putting on himself. Richards probably wants this job full time (I would hope), but he's really behind the 8 ball because of the fan pressure on management to right this ship in the offseason.
Maybe I'm understanding your post wrong, Palinka, but it sounds to me that Brass maybe needs to learn how to be a professional and what works in juniors doesn't always work at the big league level, and that its something that may come in time (in his defense, it could be starting to "click" now). I also know that we can't honestly expect him to "get it" overnight. Thats part of the reason why I'm so against a trade of Carter, (again, unless he's specifically asked for one) we'll be back in the similar position we've been every year, hoping and expecting Brass to claim that top spot (or at the very least, get a stranglehold on the 2nd line center spot). What we need on this team would be a veteran that came into the league as this type of player and, over time, learned to be a team player and a professional....
What it boils down to, for me, is that On the Job training is over, Moreso than anyother player, if what you're speaking is the truth, Brass doesn't "fit" currently with these pieces. Not every coach is going to be so secure they can afford to allow Brass's "free-wheeling" style take over.
Not that its the only problem within this organization, but their faith in him has hampered our success. Especially if they aren't addressing the "chemistry" and are just throwing pieces that had success elsewhere into the mix and expecting it to taste like it should.
I didn't read Palinka's post that way at all. I think it said that Brass is a talent that needs to be given a somewhat free rein. If the team was winning he would be hailed as an offensive (in the good sense) genius who occasionally goes off the reservation. But since the Jackets aren't winning the coach tries to force everyone into the same round hole and square pegs like Brass don't flourish that way. let him play consistently with Nash and another really good winger and I think he will be okay. I think he's made Nash look a bit better since they have been playing together.
Don't know if this has been mentioned before, and I apologize if it has, but Portzline (I believe) has been saying that they beefed Brass up to much before the season, and it affected his play. Brass has now shed the weight, and is back to his previous body mass.
Obviously, playing much better. Saying the added weight slowed him down to much, and he could not take advantage of his speed and agility.
Oh yeah! We may never know what happened under Arniel but I bet if the walls could talk, we might be surprised....
I really wish the walls could talk. I could be off-base here, but it seems like there is an acknowledged mystery "issue" with this team that evidently can never be spoken. Didn't Noel say something about knowing what's wrong and knowing how to fix it as he was packing his bags to get out of town?
NHL scout tells me last night: "Nobody in the NHL finds the trailer better than (#CBJ C Derick) Brassard. Nobody."
I'm more positive than most regarding our hapless band, but I have a hard time believing that anyone on this team does anything the best in the league! Maybe it's a reaction to Davidge declaring such things on a regular basis. No, Bill, that's not as good as it gets!
NHL scout tells me last night: "Nobody in the NHL finds the trailer better than (#CBJ C Derick) Brassard. Nobody."
So...time to trade him?
I think now that he's back down to his ideal wieght, being permitted to play the game to his strengths and is showing more fight than most on the team that I'd keep him around for next season. The square peg round hole analogy mentioned earlier seems to apply.
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Originally Posted by davidbklyn
I really wish the walls could talk. I could be off-base here, but it seems like there is an acknowledged mystery "issue" with this team that evidently can never be spoken. Didn't Noel say something about knowing what's wrong and knowing how to fix it as he was packing his bags to get out of town?
sorry, off-thread
Actually I think this is on topic. I was talking to a Wings fan last week and he told me hat Commie is seriving a positive role on the Wings and is definitely a solid contributor. Granted Commie was overpaid for what he was but can you seriously tell me that somebody playing for the red Wings is not good enough to play for CBJ?
Same goes for Brass. Look at how he's flourished since Anrie's been shown the door. I think there really is something going on in that room and until that is resolived, these other issues and personal vendettas will continue.
One of these days I will see this superb vision and creativity that Palinka says Brassard has. I had a vision of him creatively missing the open player a few times last night with some superb passes.
Maybe that's what he's talking about?
It's great if he can spot the player, but if the puck doesn't get there in a position for him to do anything with it it's pretty pointless.
I do get amused with lines like this....
Quote:
Brassard has never responded well to restrictive coaching because his game is incompatible with it. He's at his best when he's given free rein to be creative and freewheel;
In other words, "In order to not suck, he has to be free to do whatever in the hell he wants to do on the ice.".
He's competing harder in all three zones. I'll take that over being Noel'd any day of the week. That last post of Palinka's is pretty much were we go off in opposite directions again.
One of these days I will see this superb vision and creativity that Palinka says Brassard has. I had a vision of him creatively missing the open player a few times last night with some superb passes.
Maybe that's what he's talking about?
It's great if he can spot the player, but if the puck doesn't get there in a position for him to do anything with it it's pretty pointless.
Chemistry isn't an instant process, and there are very few players in the league who can truly play with anyone. Brassard isn't one of them. That's one of those abilities that you either have or you don't. Brassard doesn't, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins does.
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I do get amused with lines like this....
In other words, "In order to not suck, he has to be free to do whatever in the hell he wants to do on the ice.".
He's competing harder in all three zones. I'll take that over being Noel'd any day of the week. That last post of Palinka's is pretty much were we go off in opposite directions again.
I don't look at it as being "free to do whatever in the hell he wants". It's been said many times before that offense is about rhythm, and defense is about disrupting it. Someone with poor defensive zone IQ can still be an adequate defender if he sticks with a strict regimen of positioning, just as a poor goalie can be adequate if he robotically drops down into a butterfly as soon as someone primes to shoot.
Offense is not and cannot be about a strict set of rules, simply because it becomes too easy to shut down. No, I don't support the idea of Brassard being able to do whatever he wants in his own zone or in the neutral zone without the puck. But if he has the puck in the neutral zone or is in the offensive zone, cut the umbilical cord and let him do his thing.
Chemistry isn't an instant process, and there are very few players in the league who can truly play with anyone. Brassard isn't one of them. That's one of those abilities that you either have or you don't. Brassard doesn't, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins does.
Chemistry and missing a player moving toward the net are two different things (clear vision). When players start to instinctively know where their line mates are going to go without looking, for example, that's when I start thinking of chemistry.
Quote:
I don't look at it as being "free to do whatever in the hell he wants". It's been said many times before that offense is about rhythm, and defense is about disrupting it. Someone with poor defensive zone IQ can still be an adequate defender if he sticks with a strict regimen of positioning, just as a poor goalie can be adequate if he robotically drops down into a butterfly as soon as someone primes to shoot.
Offense is not and cannot be about a strict set of rules, simply because it becomes too easy to shut down. No, I don't support the idea of Brassard being able to do whatever he wants in his own zone or in the neutral zone without the puck. But if he has the puck in the neutral zone or is in the offensive zone, cut the umbilical cord and let him do his thing.
Not to try and be insulting, but I've just been Noel'd.
Brassard, I'm sure, is free to do WTF he wants to in all three zones... Within the system... There are set plays, however, sometimes players are responsible for doing certain things on the ice to prevent odd man rushes, etc. As long as he meets his other responsibilities on the ice, I'm sure he has some freedom in the neutral and offensive zones.
Offense can be predictable and be effective. To take another sport, you knew the pick and roll was coming (Malone and Stockton). Good luck stopping it. There are variations of that in all sports, including hockey.
A ton of goals are scored in this league but hard work 10 feet in. It's not pretty, it's not creative. But it is effective and, sometimes, it's the only way to get the puck past the goal tender. I've seen Brassard score quite a few of those goals. It's, obviously, not the only way. But skill and creativity isn't mystical, nor does it come without restriction.
I appreciate Pete's point about Brass playing at a lower weight making him vulnerable to being moved off the puck...a clear issue.
At the same time I am not ready to trade Brass. We need young guys with skill, something Brass has. The Zherdev comparisons work for me. While I do not think he has quite the raw skill of Z, I think he fits a team framework better despite being free wheeling. In some ways he reminds me of some of the players on the old Hab teams that predate many on this board (having seen them is one of the few benefits of getting older). IMO, he is a solid second line player or a guy who can play on the top line when paired with Nash and another strong forward (but stronger than Umby).
I appreciate Pete's point about Brass playing at a lower weight making him vulnerable to being moved off the puck...a clear issue.
At the same time I am not ready to trade Brass. We need young guys with skill, something Brass has. The Zherdev comparisons work for me. While I do not think he has quite the raw skill of Z, I think he fits a team framework better despite being free wheeling. In some ways he reminds me of some of the players on the old Hab teams that predate many on this board (having seen them is one of the few benefits of getting older). IMO, he is a solid second line player or a guy who can play on the top line when paired with Nash and another strong forward (but stronger than Umby).
I understand, Bowman and those Habs during the 70's pissed me off more than once in the Aud...
