When he started the season in SJ, he looked totally out of his league. Tentative, submissive, predictable. He was sent down pretty fast, but continued to play well in Woosta, and then got called back up and has really showed maturity and an ability to learn from his mistakes.
And his play speaks for itself. He's been very physical, strong on the puck and tenacious as all get out. He does seem to have at least a decent hockey IQ, decent wheels, and good hands.
Plus, his name is Tommy Wingels. That makes him awesome by default.
Huge hits despite his small stature. Great wrist-shot as well. Still a bit small, so hopefully he puts on a few pounds in the off-season ala Pavelski a few seasons ago.
He looked a lot like Pavelski when I watched him play in college. (just on how he looks on the ice, shoots - not saying he is that good)
I'm kind of surprised as he really wasn't even in our top 3 best players in Worcester but I'm happy for him and glad he's working out.
its not like hes putting up points, hes just looking more like an NHL player all of a sudden. If he starts putting the puck in, then we can ll be happy.
When he started the season in SJ, he looked totally out of his league. Tentative, submissive, predictable. He was sent down pretty fast, but continued to play well in Woosta, and then got called back up and has really showed maturity and an ability to learn from his mistakes.
And his play speaks for itself. He's been very physical, strong on the puck and tenacious as all get out. He does seem to have at least a decent hockey IQ, decent wheels, and good hands.
Plus, his name is Tommy Wingels. That makes him awesome by default.
Wingels has come a long way since the beginning of this season. His situation reminds me of Desjardins from last year. When Desi first got called up, dude was completely out of it and looked awful. But, on the second call-up he gelled really well.
I'm assuming Wingels' emergence may have made the decision to trade McGinn a whole lot easier. Both have very similar playing styles, and you can't go wrong with a guy who can play wing and center. Also it's nice to have another right handed shot amongst the forwards. Ferriero has pretty much been a dud, and if Tommy can hone his offensive skills, he would be very beneficial on the second PP-unit.
Wingels has come a long way since the beginning of this season. His situation reminds me of Desjardins from last year. When Desi first got called up, dude was completely out of it and looked awful. But, on the second call-up he gelled really well.
I'm assuming Wingels' emergence may have made the decision to trade McGinn a whole lot easier. Both have very similar playing styles, and you can't go wrong with a guy who can play wing and center. Also it's nice to have another right handed shot amongst the forwards. Ferriero has pretty much been a dud, and if Tommy can hone his offensive skills, he would be very beneficial on the second PP-unit.
Agreed. He definitely did make McGinn expendable, which was smart because I think Wingels will become the superior player to McGinn even though McGinn has put up numbers and Wingels hasn't quite yet, and all sorts of advanced stats back that up.
Then again, Wingels in this latest stretch has been playing with all sorts of good line-mates like Thornton, Marleau, and Couture. McGinn this season has mostly been stuck with Handzus and a filler.
Then again, Wingels in this latest stretch has been playing with all sorts of good line-mates like Thornton, Marleau, and Couture. McGinn this season has mostly been stuck with filler and a filler.
Handzus has been bleh, so it's McGinn with 2 fillers
Then again, Wingels in this latest stretch has been playing with all sorts of good line-mates like Thornton, Marleau, and Couture. McGinn this season has mostly been stuck with Handzus and a filler.
He's been playing with an injured Couture and a pylon Clowe, and easily looked like the best player on the line last night.
Then again, Wingels in this latest stretch has been playing with all sorts of good line-mates like Thornton, Marleau, and Couture. McGinn this season has mostly been stuck with Handzus and a filler.
At the start of last season McGinn got minutes on the top two lines because TM was trying to create 3 offensively capable lines. Unfortunately it didn't work out and that experiment only lasted a couple of weeks. So McGinn did get a chance to be in that top-6 role, he was just never effective when called upon. It's also worth noting that this is Jamie's 3rd NHL season, whereas this is Wingels' first.
I'm not trying to shoot down McGinn by any means (especially now since he's not on the Sharks), I honestly believe that he can become a 45-55pt guy if given the proper role in the top-6. But, Wingels has shown better consistency since getting re-called in February, than McGinn displayed in his first two seasons. Though you could argue that 12 games for any rookie is a small sample size.
I'm kind of surprised as he really wasn't even in our top 3 best players in Worcester but I'm happy for him and glad he's working out.
Ok, I'm curious: who are the 3 best players in Worcester?
Is Mashinter in that group..I see he got 2 goals last night and was 2nd star....I'd really love to see him develop into a Ryan Clowe type.....realistic?
Ok, I'm curious: who are the 3 best players in Worcester?
Is Mashinter in that group..I see he got 2 goals last night and was 2nd star....I'd really love to see him develop into a Ryan Clowe type.....realistic?
Wasn't Desi the best forward in Wooster last season?
Ok, I'm curious: who are the 3 best players in Worcester?
Is Mashinter in that group..I see he got 2 goals last night and was 2nd star....I'd really love to see him develop into a Ryan Clowe type.....realistic?
3 top players in Worcester. Well a couple of them got traded, but I'll break down what we had/got that played better than Wingels in Worcester. If you just meant forwards you can toss out the D+G's
Sexsmith (Goalie)
Connolly (Traded)
Sullivan (Defense + Traded)
Irwin (Defense)
McCarthy
Mashinster overall I would say was about even with Wingels as far as my rankings would go.
And watch out for Tim Kennedy (brought over in the Sullivan deal) - he's been lighting it up.
I'm not sure how Mash will continue to develop. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in him this year. Maybe he's banged up - dunno. I think he's trying to digure out if he's a scorer or a power forward. And while he figures it out neither one is jiving with the other. I think he's starting to figue it out, but we'll see. I'd prefer he be Phil Esposito and park it out in front of the net and yell "feed me!"
Couture was basically invisible last night. I know we like to blame Patty for stuff, but Couture was worse (injury excuses, I know, I know).
Depends on what you're looking at. Wingels was more visually pleasing with his physicality, but Couture was still solid defensively. People like to excuse Marleau when he's "invisible" since he's usually still defensively sound, Couture is no different.
On that note, even with Couture, man is that 2nd line poor defensively. They always seem to be hemmed in their own zone. I'd like to see a Galiardi - Couture - Wingels line for a few games. Clowe isn't even setting people up anymore, he's just tossing the puck at the net hoping for a rebound.
Depends on what you're looking at. Wingels was more visually pleasing with his physicality, but Couture was still solid defensively. People like to excuse Marleau when he's "invisible" since he's usually still defensively sound, Couture is no different.
On that note, even with Couture, man is that 2nd line poor defensively. They always seem to be hemmed in their own zone. I'd like to see a Galiardi - Couture - Wingels line for a few games. Clowe isn't even setting people up anymore, he's just tossing the puck at the net hoping for a rebound.
Yeah, me and PF do, but no one else does. My point was more that Couture was no less invisible than Marleau, at whom people constantly take liberties.
Anyway, I'd like to see Clowe demoted to the third line in favor of Galiardi for a bit. Clowe is just a nightmare defensively and Wingels has potential, but isn't up to NHL defensive forward standards. You're spot on when you talk about the Couture line (even though it isn't his fault per se) being stuck in the defensive zone all the time.
Well Couture has been more consistent this season (less stretches of invisibility) and makes almost six million less.
He has been more consistent, but Marleau is still better defensively, can carry the team at times like Couture cannot, and isn't on an ELC or RFA contract.
My point was more that Couture was no less invisible than Marleau, at whom people constantly take liberties. 
