Combined with what I saw from him last season (he was up and down, as all young players are, until the last month or so of the season, when he was solid), and from what I've seen in two games with Providence this fall (admittedly SSS) he looks ready to me. He's learned how to use that solid body of his, gotten better at anticipating plays, looks like he's added a step of jump (which IMHO is a part of experience).
I don't think he'll be "given" anything; I think that if they do manage a short camp he'll prove his worth.
Young players take time to develop, so I'm happy to be patient with Caron. That being said though, I just don't see how the last roster spot is deservedly his. Maybe I'm splitting hairs over word choice, but I haven't seen enough out of him during his time with the big team to justify that thought. I'd let him battle it out with the other young guys and create a healthy competition. It may end up that he (likely) ultimately wins the role, but I don't ever want him to be complacent and feel like the job is his. He needs to play with intensity every shift (which I don't think he has in his short career so far), and if he's just given the job, I'm not certain he'll play with the edge and fire he needs to take advantage of his size and skills.
Young players take time to develop, so I'm happy to be patient with Caron. That being said though, I just don't see how the last roster spot is deservedly his. Maybe I'm splitting hairs over word choice, but I haven't seen enough out of him during his time with the big team to justify that thought. I'd let him battle it out with the other young guys and create a healthy competition. It may end up that he (likely) ultimately wins the role, but I don't ever want him to be complacent and feel like the job is his. He needs to play with intensity every shift (which I don't think he has in his short career so far), and if he's just given the job, I'm not certain he'll play with the edge and fire he needs to take advantage of his size and skills.
Well, to clarify, I don't think he'll be handed the job. I think he'll earn it.
I was last year until I saw the carnage that happened with Horton out...We just couldn't get it done... When healthy we are the best team in the league...however, we are periously thin up front IMO...
Pretty much every team in this league is a key injury to a star player away from ineffectiveness. At least in our case "ineffectiveness" meant .500 hockey and no danger of missing the playoffs.
Pretty much every team in this league is a key injury to a star player away from ineffectiveness. At least in our case "ineffectiveness" meant .500 hockey and no danger of missing the playoffs.
It also meant no chance of advancing even against a team that was inferior.
It also meant no chance of advancing even against a team that was inferior.
They had chances. That was the closest series in NHL history, was it not? A bounce here or there and it easily could have gone the other way, just like a Chara knee blocking a shot vs. Montreal the previous year. That's the nature of the sport. Of all sports, really. I always wonder how people who demand certainty and logic can follow sports at all - it must be maddening.
My guess is that it is Caron with Bourque as the 13th forward. Caron really seems like the best fit for the 3rd line spot unless they were to acquire someone else.
Caron gives them a forward who can play in all situations and have success whether he is killing penalties or taking a shift on a scoring line. That is what I want from the spot he is playing in. I believe he can and will at some point be a 20 goal scorer while being a very good defensive player. He actually reminds me of a little less offensive but better defensive version of Nathan Horton.
They had chances. That was the closest series in NHL history, was it not? A bounce here or there and it easily could have gone the other way, just like a Chara knee blocking a shot vs. Montreal the previous year. That's the nature of the sport. Of all sports, really. I always wonder how people who demand certainty and logic can follow sports at all - it must be maddening.
I don't demand or expect anything. I just call it like I see it. You can say the series was close, but it shouldn't have been because they were the far superior team. They lost a series they were favored to walk through. So hang your hat on whatever you need to get by, I personally would rather acknowledge the lack of depth the Horton injury caused and would liked them to have addressed it rather than pretend it isn't a big question mark heading into this season (if there is one).
You just answered your own question. They were favored in the series. Stop acting like the defeat was foreordained. The team worked hard to earn their right to lose, especially players like Lucic and Marchand who should have been far bigger factors. It had nothing to do with roster construction.
You just answered your own question. They were favored in the series. Stop acting like the defeat was foreordained. The team worked hard to earn their right to lose, especially players like Lucic and Marchand who should have been far bigger factors. It had nothing to do with roster construction.
Sure it did. The roster was constructed supposedly on depth, yet one injury to a top 6 player caused a huge impact. You can call it other guys under performing, but what caused the lines to end up the way they were and the lack of cohesiveness on display in that series? Horton getting hurt. Now they're going to bank on him coming back? Count me in as skeptical.
They had chances. That was the closest series in NHL history, was it not? A bounce here or there and it easily could have gone the other way, just like a Chara knee blocking a shot vs. Montreal the previous year. That's the nature of the sport. Of all sports, really. I always wonder how people who demand certainty and logic can follow sports at all - it must be maddening.
It's all about expectations to me... I expected the Bruins to beat the generally heartless, perrenial play-off chokers from Washington. I expected Tim Thomas to outperform a rookie. I expected Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand and Krejci to have more then 2 goals combined ..... I expected the Bruins to do well vs Hamrlik and Mike Green and not have each a +5 in the series.... I expected our battle tested 4th line not to be absolutely biatch slapped by the Caps 4th line.... Written in stone? Of course not, but one certainly should have expectations, no>?
I've seen 4 Providence games and its a lock as far as I'm concerned- Caron and Krug the extra D; both have NHL skills- super impressed with Krug (wish I could have him put in the Delorean and sent back to the Lunch Pail Gang- exactly the missing ingrediant that team needed)
It's all about expectations to me... I expected the Bruins to beat the generally heartless, perrenial play-off chokers from Washington. I expected Tim Thomas to outperform a rookie. I expected Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand and Krejci to have more then 2 goals combined ..... I expected the Bruins to do well vs Hamrlik and Mike Green and not have each a +5 in the series.... I expected our battle tested 4th line not to be absolutely biatch slapped by the Caps 4th line.... Written in stone? Of course not, but one certainly should have expectations, no>?
The powerhouse, defending Cup champion Bruins of 1971 should have gone through the playoffs like crap through a goose, to paraphrase Patton. Instead they ran into a rookie goalie and the rest is history. As they say, that's why they play the games.
I've seen 4 Providence games and its a lock as far as I'm concerned- Caron and Krug the extra D; both have NHL skills- super impressed with Krug (wish I could have him put in the Delorean and sent back to the Lunch Pail Gang- exactly the missing ingrediant that team needed)
I've seen 4 Providence games and its a lock as far as I'm concerned- Caron and Krug the extra D; both have NHL skills- super impressed with Krug (wish I could have him put in the Delorean and sent back to the Lunch Pail Gang- exactly the missing ingrediant that team needed)
Caron could be very good
Good to hear, Dan...although tempering my expectations with Krug, and Hamilton, at the onset, it's good to know that we have some noteworthy talent on the defensive end coming through the ranks...been a long time since I've said those words.
Last edited by HooperDrivesTheBoat: 11-07-2012 at 11:39 AM.
The powerhouse, defending Cup champion Bruins of 1971 should have gone through the playoffs like crap through a goose, to paraphrase Patton. Instead they ran into a rookie goalie and the rest is history. As they say, that's why they play the games.
Are you really going to justify the Bruins losing to a bad Capitals team by using Ken Dryden and the Habs? Talk about hyperbole. The Canadiens won 10 cups in 15 years during that run. The vaunted Capitals were coming off nothing higher than a second round knockout after being the one seed 4 years running.
Talk to me about "Braden freaking Holtby" when we have a better idea whether he is or is not a Dryden. That kid did a very good job in the playoffs. .935 SV% is hardly chopped liver and he played against a couple very strong offenses in us and the Rangers.
Just because YOU hadn't heard much about him up to that point doesn't mean he's a chump. I'd noticed him a few times over the prior year or two when he'd done spot duty for the Caps, and even with Neuvirth and Varlamov in net (two young, very high ceiling goalies), the Capitals were working hard to keep Holtby relevant. Clearly they see something there, especially clearing Varlamov in order to keep Holtby on the roster, and it looks like they might have been right.
Who will be the 13th forward? I think it will be Bourque.
Marchand spending some time on the 4th line did wonders for him so not a bad idea, but i think we'll see him on the 3rd line with pevs and kelly.
Sauve's numbers look to be decent in prov. this year, if the kid can stay healthy (which is a big if), then i think he could challenge for a spot, or get a callup should there 1)be a season and if so 2) be an injury
Talk to me about "Braden freaking Holtby" when we have a better idea whether he is or is not a Dryden. That kid did a very good job in the playoffs. .935 SV% is hardly chopped liver and he played against a couple very strong offenses in us and the Rangers.
Just because YOU hadn't heard much about him up to that point doesn't mean he's a chump. I'd noticed him a few times over the prior year or two when he'd done spot duty for the Caps, and even with Neuvirth and Varlamov in net (two young, very high ceiling goalies), the Capitals were working hard to keep Holtby relevant. Clearly they see something there, especially clearing Varlamov in order to keep Holtby on the roster, and it looks like they might have been right.
Yeah, clearly they saw they had no choice...they "lucked" into it. They cleared Varlamov because the Avalanche offered up an idiots package and they wanted a veteran like Vokoun to mentor Neuvirth and Holtby.
The Washington Capitals are preparing yet again to go with an inexperienced goalie in the playoffs. This time, they can't do much about it.
Neither Tomas Vokoun nor Michal Neuvirth was able to practice Monday, leaving Braden Holtby looking more and more like the starter for Thursday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.
"We've done it before, and we have no choice," general manager George McPhee said. "If the other guys aren't ready to go, he's playing."
Yeah, clearly they saw they had no choice...they "lucked" into it. They cleared Varlamov because the Avalanche offered up an idiots package and they wanted a veteran like Vokoun to mentor Neuvirth and Holtby.
The Washington Capitals are preparing yet again to go with an inexperienced goalie in the playoffs. This time, they can't do much about it.
Neither Tomas Vokoun nor Michal Neuvirth was able to practice Monday, leaving Braden Holtby looking more and more like the starter for Thursday's Game 1 against the Boston Bruins.
"We've done it before, and we have no choice," general manager George McPhee said. "If the other guys aren't ready to go, he's playing."
Whether they like Holtby or not, or see a strong upside in his future isn't the point. The point I was making in response to Arty was that it's a BIG FREAKING STRETCH to compare the 2011 Caps to the Canadien's teams that were winning 10 Stanley Cups in 15 years, even if they had Dryden start in the playoffs as a rookie in 71.
Just curious, but what about his play that you've seen thus far in his career makes it deserved? So far what I've seen is a young player who's been all over the place, and while he should be in the mix for consideration, I would not give him a thing. He needs to step up and earn it with consistent play. Just about the only thing you can say for his play so far is that it's been consistently inconsistent.
This will be the 3rd year in a row Caron will have a spot made for him going into camp.
A lot of guys could possibly hang their hat on the "they were not given a shot" but that sure as heck in not Caron.
His rookie year they started him next to Bergeron and Recchi for **** sake and he got beaten out by Seguin and Marchand.
Next year, they would have sat Pouliot in a second if Caron had shown them something early in the season, but again no.
This year he is in the same spot. He is getting a better chance than Sobotka or Hamill ever got. He seems well like by the coach but the needs, needs, needs to step up his game.
If he doesn't, I don't see them working in Knight or Spooner with such a short camp. They will go safe, bump up Paille, and sub in either MacDermid or Whitfield on the 4th line.
Talk to me about "Braden freaking Holtby" when we have a better idea whether he is or is not a Dryden. That kid did a very good job in the playoffs. .935 SV% is hardly chopped liver and he played against a couple very strong offenses in us and the Rangers.
Just because YOU hadn't heard much about him up to that point doesn't mean he's a chump. I'd noticed him a few times over the prior year or two when he'd done spot duty for the Caps, and even with Neuvirth and Varlamov in net (two young, very high ceiling goalies), the Capitals were working hard to keep Holtby relevant. Clearly they see something there, especially clearing Varlamov in order to keep Holtby on the roster, and it looks like they might have been right.
My argument was never about Holtby. It was about where the Capitals team stacked up versus Arty's choice of a habs team in the midst of a ridiculous run. The Habs may have rolled with a rookie in net in 71, but that team had been to the cup finals 5 times in the previous 6 years and won 4 cups. The caps didn't bring that type of cache with them. They were known for playoff chokes, as a matter of fact.
So to recap, I didn't say a discouraging thing about Holtby. I simply pointed out the vast difference between Arty's example of the Habs and the Caps.
This will be the 3rd year in a row Caron will have a spot made for him going into camp.
A lot of guys could possibly hang their hat on the "they were not given a shot" but that sure as heck in not Caron.
His rookie year they started him next to Bergeron and Recchi for **** sake and he got beaten out by Seguin and Marchand.
Next year, they would have sat Pouliot in a second if Caron had shown them something early in the season, but again no.
This year he is in the same spot. He is getting a better chance than Sobotka or Hamill ever got. He seems well like by the coach but the needs, needs, needs to step up his game.
If he doesn't, I don't see them working in Knight or Spooner with such a short camp. They will go safe, bump up Paille, and sub in either MacDermid or Whitfield on the 4th line.
Exactly. Caron needs to play with some consistency to justify sticking with the team. They've given him a slew of chances, yet he's been surpassed by other guys. It's now or never, despite him still being young.
