Kaoz, I liked what Krejci showed at wing as well, and wouldn't mind seeing that happen every once in a while again, but I'm not ready to let Seguin take that spot on any kind of steady basis yet, and for two key reasons:
1. Seguin's decision-making has been suspect too often this season. I don't need to belabor it; lots of us have noted his tendency to go on futile dangling adventures, as though he were still going up against junior-level D. A center needs to enter the o-zone with awareness of where everybody is and how he can involve his teammates in the play. The superhuman highlight-reel dangle can be a weapon at his disposal, and part of the threat he brings, but it shouldn't be his default, go-to move, which too often with Seguin, it still is.
2. His faceoffs need to improve. Compare the percentages:
1. His dangling adventures often come because he is well ahead of the play offensively on the wing. Put him at center and he won't be as often, in fact he should more often be the trailer. With his shot and ability to find open space this should be a plus. And again, more space to maneuver and more options... the kid has the skills to make very good use of both those.
2. He takes very very few faceoffs, and likely isn't coached on it a whole heck of a lot playing the wing. Not something I would even begin to worry about (assuming we aren't talking about making the move right now, but rather to start next season).
When? Frankly, I find him to be one of the most aggravating and frustrating (for me) players to watch on the team. His NHL game has practically vaporized and he's back to being his junior-player self again, trying to do everything and at the same time doing nothing.
He's done nothing to show me he is a superior center and his talents as a winger have back slid. He has speed. He has lost his playmaking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Latrappe
Agreed. Krejci doesn't have the leadership, the consistency and the compete level to be consider as a #1 centerman.
Hmmm...by the way and for the record, I was talking about Seguin, not Krejci.
Hmmm...by the way and for the record, I was talking about Seguin, not Krejci.
You expect far too much from Seguin right now imo. The kids still playing solid 3 zone hockey, competing on the boards, and getting/setting up far more chances then anyone else. He still has quite a bit to learn but I haven't seen any regression in his game. If anything, his defensive awareness and physical play has improved since the first of the season. The kid always rotates back when he has to (often forgoing solid offensive positioning) and is positioned quite well in his own end as well.
His decision making still isn't top notch, but you know full well it isn't a lack of hockey smarts that's an issue in that regard. When it clicks, and it will, he'll be one of the most dangerous players in the game.
1. His dangling adventures often come because he is well ahead of the play offensively on the wing. Put him at center and he won't be as often, in fact he should more often be the trailer. With his shot and ability to find open space this should be a plus. And again, more space to maneuver and more options... the kid has the skills to make very good use of both those.
2. He takes very very few faceoffs, and likely isn't coached on it a whole heck of a lot playing the wing. Not something I would even begin to worry about (assuming we aren't talking about making the move right now, but rather to start next season).
1. That's a good point; he will trail more as center, and that would help. I still think his mentality has to change, because even in the wing role, other forwards repeatedly show that you can be the first to enter the zone and still find ways of letting the others catch up, be it by stopping or curling.
2. I agree, the faceoff % is a secondary concern, and probably remediable with practice.
Why do we have to trade Krejci? He led the Bruins in points last year, in the playoffs and is 3rd on the team this year (4 points away from 1st on the team) He is signed for 3 more years at 5 mill, while players like Nash are at 8mill and have less points. Krejci is a proven playoff performed and I seem to remember what happened against Philly when he went down.
Why do we have to trade Krejci? He led the Bruins in points last year, in the playoffs and is 3rd on the team this year (4 points away from 1st on the team) He is signed for 3 more years at 5 mill, while players like Nash are at 8mill and have less points. Krejci is a proven playoff performed and I seem to remember what happened against Philly when he went down.
Krejci was also tied for the league lead in games played in the playoffs and when he went down 2 years ago, we were forced to rely on Trent Whitfield and a marc savard that may not have even known what city he was in.
its just a discussion on a message board, its fine.
Why do we have to trade Krejci? He led the Bruins in points last year, in the playoffs and is 3rd on the team this year (4 points away from 1st on the team) He is signed for 3 more years at 5 mill, while players like Nash are at 8mill and have less points. Krejci is a proven playoff performed and I seem to remember what happened against Philly when he went down.
I agree that trading Krejci is likely foolish. This is about which role he's best suited for.
I wouldn't mind him on a wing. For a center, he's not the most defensively responsible guy, but for a wing he'd be really really decent. Take out the responsibilities he handles only OK and let him do what he does best, which is make offense happen.
If they're on a line together anyway, and Pevs can handle the two-way side of center better than Krejci, and Krejci is best when left to his own devices in the offensive zone, why not make it so?
