Emery was laughing about it in the postgame interview, saying he gets mad at Vermette because he burns him on a regular basis with that move in practice. He said he was happy that somebody else was the victim for a change.
Still a nice goal even though the goalie should've had it.
The goalie definitely wasn't expecting Vermette to shoot the puck in a position like that, though.
Fedotenko (who checked Vermette from behind when he scored) looked funny right after the goal, he just kind of stood there and didn't know how the puck went in.
Wow. Hopefully this game will be Vermette's hump game, and it's all gravy from here on in.
I still can't believe he actually tried a move like that. He is quite the dynamic player, it's nice to have him on our team whenever there's a shootout.
Vermette is the main reason I would consider going to the skills competition. He stole the show last year with this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-eP3KYcMOk. I think he'll have a surprise up his sleeve for this years as well. You sort of get that Vince Carter in the NBA dunk competition feeling with Vermette - minus the egomaniac style of the NBA and Carter - I don't think Vermette will refuse to do the competition in a few years like Carter.
I thought I may have been pushing it by saying at the start of the season that he'll score 25 this year. He's already got 11 and looks to be gaining confidence. Like anything in life, confidence is the key. When you have confidence you can see the game at a different speed. You can try different things and really get comfortable with the game.
It seems Vermette's mind has almost caught up to his hands and feet. I feel he can [or will] be able to play top line minutes within a year or two. I think he can be a 100 piont player.
His value increases because he plays well in all zones and isn't afraid of the corners. That's where he's more valuable than Spezza and Heatley. Vermette digs in the corners, and is smart defensively. Heatley and Spezza can't complete with him in that department.
I think Vermette is unknown league wide, and under-rated...which is a great thing. I am putting him with Eaves, Phillips, and Fisher as the only guys on the team, that must be kept under all conditions.
The math I'm doing on those 4 players is simple. The output you get from them versus their price tag is superior to any of the bigger name guys [Spezza / Redden / Heatley / Gerber / etc.].
**Alfredsson is a lifetime Senator so he doesn't get included. He's a great example of the bang for buck theory as well, but with his contract, I left him out of the group of 4.
**Alfredsson is a lifetime Senator so he doesn't get included. He's a great example of the bang for buck theory as well, but with his contract, I left him out of the group of 4.
I was gonna say, you have to include Alfie!
I would say Spezza as well despite his salary, but I see where you're coming from with the post. Don't think I agree about Phillips (although I do want him here as long as possible, but I wouldn't label him untouchable at all), especially with Volchenkov emerging.
I would say Spezza as well despite his salary, but I see where you're coming from with the post. Don't think I agree about Phillips (although I do want him here as long as possible, but I wouldn't label him untouchable at all), especially with Volchenkov emerging.
Until Volchenkov plays steady, heart on his sleeve hockey in the playoffs, Phillips will remain King of The Ottawa Blueline, in my opinion.
Strangely, Vermette seems to be the beneficiary of a lacklustre start to the season, in that he's finally getting a chance to get comfortable in a more prominent role, versus it being a '2-game-and-you're-out' scenario. There's obviously skill in his game, and it's rewarding to see Murray is finally taking better advantage of it, compared to his 'role-player' comments in the off-season. There's a reason why most teams were after Vermette in trade, and he's finally starting to get a chance to demonstrate why that is.
And yes, that goal was a pleasure to watch - even if it probably should have been saved. The mere fact that Vermette would try it in a game like that is a testament to his confidence finally coming up to where it needs to be to play the 2nd line role effectively. Third on the team in goals behind only Heatley and Spezza doesn't hurt either.
Strangely, Vermette seems to be the beneficiary of a lacklustre start to the season, in that he's finally getting a chance to get comfortable in a more prominent role, versus it being a '2-game-and-you're-out' scenario. There's obviously skill in his game, and it's rewarding to see Murray is finally taking better advantage of it, compared to his 'role-player' comments in the off-season.
I was just going to close the window with Vermette's skills competition goal from YouTube, and I clicked on another video clip advertising his performance last season.
Anyway, Murray's quote that you are referring to is near the beginning of the short film. Something like "We see Vermette as a utility player". Heh, I never heard that quote before, but certainly I think he has changed his view [or should have] on Vermette's game.
Also watching the video, it's apparent that Vemette is a little net-crasher. Most of his goals come in close, the other goals are clean cut breakaways. Does he ever miss breakaways? It seems five hole is his shot of choice when going in alone.
It's a well done video actually. All of last seasons highlights are on the video, and you get a better respect for Vermette by noticing that most of the passes he receives are from guys like Kelly, McGrattan, and Schubert. Not too shabby. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajHo_tgUKNE
Anyway, Murray's quote that you are referring to is near the beginning of the short film. Something like "We see Vermette as a utility player". Heh, I never heard that quote before, but certainly I think he has changed his view [or should have] on Vermette's game.
I remember that quote from Murray, because it came shortly after Vermette was quoted (in French media) as saying he was working hard over the summer to come to camp and earn a bigger role, play PP time, increase his offensive responsibilities, and so on -- he basically sounded very confident. Murray, on the other hand, said it would take a miracle for Vermette to be anything other than a utility player on this team, which doesn't exactly build confidence. To Murray's credit though, I read this just yesterday:
"The makeup of our team changed greatly," Murray said. "Any time you lose good players, it is going to take time for the others to figure out their new roles.
"I'll give you some examples. Chris Neil was primarily a fourth-liner and now has a scoring role playing with [centre] Mike Fisher. Antoine Vermette has gone from being a fourth-line winger to a second-line centre. With the loss of Chara, [defenceman] Anton Volchenkov is now a top-four guy who we count on to kill penalties. This was something new to him."
So yeah, I think Murray's come around. It seems to take serious work to prove Murray wrong, but once guys do it, I think he rewards them fairly.
So yeah, I think Murray's come around. It seems to take serious work to prove Murray wrong, but once guys do it, I think he rewards them fairly.
It apparently helps to give him few other alternatives. Muckler taking the risk of putting all his eggs in Kaigorodov's basket may have finally given Vermette his chance to stop all of this manic 2nd line centre business. A player putting up 21 goals in their first legitimately full NHL season and who is one goal short of being 3rd on the team in goals is a pretty funny looking utility player. The fact that Murray is now referring to him publically as the 2nd line centre is a very good sign - as opposed to considering him as some kind of a placeholder.
I had the Tampa feed last night and it took them a long time to realize what he did, and when they did figure it out, they got mad.
That's funny. And a little pathetic.
It would be one thing if he made a move to deliberately embarrass the other team, but his move was deceptive. He put himself in a position from which most players couldn't score, AND he left himself as an easy defensive mark. If he spun around to the left OR the right, the covering D-man would have had him covered. And then he started moving the puck to the front of the net, pulling the goalie off the post. It was as much a mental move as a physical move.
In a way it's kinda like the Ovechkin goal (sliding, on his back, puck behind his head, facing away from the net). Without thinking about it, goalies keep track of the puck and the dangerous players who can reach it. Vermette moved himself out of the 'dangerous' category and into the 'safe' category ... and then scored.
Vermette is the main reason I would consider going to the skills competition. He stole the show last year with this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-eP3KYcMOk. I think he'll have a surprise up his sleeve for this years as well. You sort of get that Vince Carter in the NBA dunk competition feeling with Vermette - minus the egomaniac style of the NBA and Carter - I don't think Vermette will refuse to do the competition in a few years like Carter.
I thought I may have been pushing it by saying at the start of the season that he'll score 25 this year. He's already got 11 and looks to be gaining confidence. Like anything in life, confidence is the key. When you have confidence you can see the game at a different speed. You can try different things and really get comfortable with the game.
It seems Vermette's mind has almost caught up to his hands and feet. I feel he can [or will] be able to play top line minutes within a year or two. I think he can be a 100 piont player.
His value increases because he plays well in all zones and isn't afraid of the corners. That's where he's more valuable than Spezza and Heatley. Vermette digs in the corners, and is smart defensively. Heatley and Spezza can't complete with him in that department.
I think Vermette is unknown league wide, and under-rated...which is a great thing. I am putting him with Eaves, Phillips, and Fisher as the only guys on the team, that must be kept under all conditions.
The math I'm doing on those 4 players is simple. The output you get from them versus their price tag is superior to any of the bigger name guys [Spezza / Redden / Heatley / Gerber / etc.].
**Alfredsson is a lifetime Senator so he doesn't get included. He's a great example of the bang for buck theory as well, but with his contract, I left him out of the group of 4.
My love for Volchenkov doesn't run as deep as some peoples. I think he's been solid this year, after being worse every year since his rookie season. He's finally hitting again, which is the bread and butter of his game. I love hits. If Volchenkov isn't hitting he isn't doing much of anything.
The only problem I have with him this year is his shot-blocking. He seems to be taking the NHL shot blocking leaders list too seriously. Sure, it will be used to get more money in contract negotiations, but I wish he wouldn't over commit by trying to block every puck. He looks like a 2nd goalie at times.
I hate his one leg down style, and am surprised he hasn't got a talking to from Emery or Gerber. I do not understand the one leg on the ice approach. It blocks the view of the puck from the goaltender. If the shot isn't blocked, and it travels over the leg, the goaltender is going to be surprised by it and his timing will be thrown off because he never actually sees stick-to-puck contact.
More so, I think its only a matter of time before Volchenkov breaks an ankle. He is expossing the outside of his foot to the shot, by the way he puts his toe towards the ice. Skates are not made to block shots off the outside or inside of the foot. Especially with the speed the shooters are getting with the new composites.
I'm a big fan of the rough game, hits and shot blocking tell me a lot about a players will to win the big games. I prefer just the simple stand up with your two legs together and hope the puck hits you, shoot blocking style. Take away the shooting lane and let the goaltender see on each side of you. If you block it, you block it. If you don't the goaltender stops it.
I haven't seen anything from Volchenkov in the big games yet. Just my opinion. He's a big part of the team, I just don't see him as untouchable right now.
