Capital Ups and Downs: Week 5
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2010 11:00 AM EST
in Capitals Ups and Downs
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PrintOur weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Braden Holtby |  |
Thrown into the third period of a tied game with a surging Bruins team for his first NHL appearance, he responded with a four-save relief win. Thrown out against the Flyers two days later for his first NHL start, he responded with a 23-for-25 effort. |
| Michal Neuvirth |  |
Maybe the workload caught up to him. Maybe he's a little dinged up. Maybe he just had a couple of off nights. Maybe he's regressing to a more realistic level of play. Whatever it was, it was a rough week for the reigning Rookie of the Month (1-0-0/3.65/.833), but nothing about which to get too worried. |
| Semyon Varlamov |  |
Potentially ready to play this week, but we'll believe it when we see it. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner |  |
Solid if unspectacular (highlighted by nearly five minutes of perfect penalty-killing on the week). Lather, rinse, repeat. |
| John Carlson | |
Had a point in each of the first two games this week (snapping a six-game scoreless spell), including Friday night's game-winner, and was on the ice for four goals-for and just two against (a category in which he still leads the team). Seems worlds more comfortable when Green's in the lineup and what's asked of him is a bit more realistic. |
| John Erskine | |
Erskine continues to provide solid 3rd-pairing minutes (~12 per night). As long as not much more is asked of him, there's no reason to think that won't continue. |
| Brian Fahey | |
Played sparingly against the Leafs before being returned to Hershey and wasn't on the ice for a goal against, so that's a step in the right direction. |
| Mike Green | |
With goals in four straight games, Green has helped reignite the Caps' power play (7-for-17 over those four games). And while he struggled a bit defensively against Toronto (on the ice for all four goals against), he still ended the week on the right side of the ledger in terms of goal differential, as he was on the ice for half of the dozen goals the team scored (and five they gave up). |
| Tom Poti | |
If you look at the record (9-1-0), you'd think the team doesn't miss Poti. You'd be wrong. |
| Jeff Schultz | |
Like Green, Sarge had a tough night against the Leafs, but a strong (though relatively nondescript) week otherwise. |
| Tyler Sloan | |
Scored his first goal in nearly a year on Friday night, but his minutes are dwindling - in his last four full games, his time on ice has gone from 16:28 to 16:08 to 13:28 to 10:45. Writing, meet wall. |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
Held off the score sheet against the Leafs, Backstrom responded with back-to-back two-assist efforts. And while the helpers are certainly nice, Nick needs to look to shoot a bit more in order to help free up his linemates with the threat of his shot. |
| Matt Bradley | |
Has just two shots on goal in his last seven games... but he's firing 50% over that span, so there's that. |
| Jason Chimera | |
Scored against Toronto and seems to have found some chemistry with Boyd Gordon and Eric Fehr on the third line. |
| Eric Fehr | |
Responded to being scratched with a goal, an assist, nine shots on goal, and some healthy jawing with Milan Lucic for the week. |
| Tomas Fleischmann | |
Goal, assist, bad faceoffs... next. |
| Boyd Gordon | |
Had points in back-to-back games for the first time since March to start the week, and ended it with a plus-two rating. |
| Matt Hendricks | |
Not getting much ice time and not doing much with what he's getting. |
| Marcus Johansson | |
Rehabbing in Hershey, so a return to the Washington lineup can't be too far off (though it probably hinges somewhat on how Gordon, Fleischmann and Steckel play). |
| D.J. King | |
Didn't they get this guy to play against the Flyers? Perhaps his bad minus-2 against Toronto made him unplayable for the time being. |
| Mike Knuble | |
Still hasn't scored since opening night, but is getting his shots and going to the places he needs to go to score goals. It's only a matter of time... we hope. |
| Brooks Laich | |
Left Sunday's game with an undisclosed injury, but was on the ice for five Caps goals (registering two assists) and none against for the week up to that point. On the season, no Cap has a better goal differential than Laich's plus-15. |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
Another five-point week (one goal, four assists) for Ovi that leaves us wanting more. More hustle, more hitting, more backchecking... we're awfully demanding (and justifiably so - there's more to winning hockey than racking up points). |
| Alexander Semin | |
Semin has goals in four-straight games, is playing both ends of the ice, killing penalties and tormenting opposing defenders and goalies. |
| David Steckel | |
Of the nine goals the Caps allowed this week, Steckel was on the ice for six of them (two of which came on the penalty kill) and finished the three-game set with a minus-four rating. He has now been a minus player in seven of the 12 games he's played this season and has a personal minus-10 goal differential, by far the worst on the team. |
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Varly is more “potential” than “ready”, methinks. Bruce let it slip that prior to Braden’s work in the Bruins game he already had Holtby’s “first” start pencilled in … for Friday @ Sabres. But he pushed it up to yesterday ’cos Braden acquitted himself so well.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
According to Corey, Varly’s taking shots at practice today, so he may be ready soon.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Links guy at Five For Howling.
I know he said that, but given how he felt Neuvy looked “tired”, how could he have planned to give him three more starts before playing Holtby? Also, Sabres are on Saturday. Bruce had it wrong.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Eh, he had five points. Tough to give him a down arrow when he’s putting points up, but I’m certainly somewhat disappointed with his play.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s hard not to be disappointed in any goal scorer who doesn’t score goals. He’s making great decisions on the PP though, getting pucks toward the net, opening up the ice for Green to blast away. Gotta imagine he’s just as frustrated as we are…
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
It’s not so much his lack of goal-scoring that bothers me, but rather his apparent indifference at other times.
by mechanicsville on Nov 8, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe it’s because of the way teams are playing him now. He had a real nice rush into the flyers zone last night and created a scoring chance out of nothing. If you watch the highlight of Green’s OT goal, the Flyer defender goes to cut off the OV pass while Green is walking toward the net. It could just be the way teams are scheming now rather than his lack of presence.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Was thinking the same thing about other team’s adjustments. No doubt that Ovie’s presence on the ice gives his teammates more room to operate. I think I’m also picking nits at this point on what has been a very successful start to the season.
by mechanicsville on Nov 8, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed, it’s hard
notto point out the little things when you’re team is playing solid all the way around. At least we’re not in the Devils position right now.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
that was meant to be italicized lol.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
Our next “pleasant dilemma” will be how to get MJ90 back in the lineup. Gordon’s playing quite well on the 3rd line these days. 4th line doesn’t make sense for him, I don’t think. I’d suggest 2nd line, but then what to you do with Flash?
by mechanicsville on Nov 8, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
I think 4th line makes perfect sense for Gordon, with MJ90 stepping in on the 3rd, TF14 sticking on the second (le sigh) and DS39 heading to the press box.
Of course, if BL21 is out for any period of time (which he doesn’t seem to be), shift TF14 to 2L and MJ90 to 2C.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
My pronoun was more than a little ambiguous right there ("him"referring to MJ90, not Gordon). Yeah, that’s the only logical way to do it. I got stuck on how well the 3rd line’s performing with Gordon on there. No reason MJ90 can’t do the same thing.
by mechanicsville on Nov 8, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Gotcha. I guess my priority right now is getting Steckel out of the lineup for a game or two.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ovie has other priorities?
Yes it’s hard to give a down arrow to a player with 8 goals. But I agree, he looked indifferent and lackadaisical at times so far this season. It’s almost as though hockey isn’t his #1 priority anymore.
He also seems to enjoy other interests more than hockey, and filming commercials is only part of it. He’s been partying and clubbing a lot more than in the past. He seems to think it’s still the off-season and he’s on vacation in Moscow.
Rangers Preview
Caps are 7-3 when trailing after the 1st
Rangers are 1-4
Caps are 2-0 when leading after the 1st
Rangers are 6-2
Caps PP %20
Rangers PK %78
Caps PK %86
Rangers PP %16
Moral of the story…it doesn’t matter what happens to us in the first, but they better not lose the lead early. Oh yeah, and we should win (barring phenomenal play by Henrik Lundqvist, of course).
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 11:36 AM EST reply actions
You forgot an up arrow (or possibly two)
For Boyd Gordon’s nipples
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Nov 8, 2010 11:40 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
King
Gotta agree about DJ’s down arrow. He just flat out looks slow and out of shape. Not only when he’s actually trying to play hockey, but even in his fights as well. Go watch some of his scraps from past seasons, and you’ll see he’s shown none of that punching ability so far with the Caps. Granted, he goes with quality opponents (Thornton, Gillies, and Orr), but he just seems to get winded very quickly. Most of his shifts I notice him waving the next guy on from the bench while his linemates are still out there.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s feeling the pressure during the few opportunities he’s actually been given. I think he always shared enforcer duties when he was on the Blues, so maybe he’s pressing a bit. At least that’s what I’m hoping. But not getting a shirt against the Flyers is speaking volumes.
Oh, Shelley was looking to go with anybody, even Fehr after he had the nerve to score a goal. The Caps wisely declined.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Nov 8, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
If King doesn’t get a jersey against the Rangers with Boogaard in the lineup then you have to ask why he’s even on the team.
Bruce never liked giving a guy a sweater just to have three shifts and one fight with the other team’s enforcer. That’s just not his style of hockey. DJ is really not good for much else, he is not a good checking forward. I would not be surprised to see him not play the next several games (including the Ranger game).
I’d rather see Boogaard get abused by the Caps’ speed than have him get one scrap with D.J. King and head off the ice.
While I tend to agree, isn’t the whole reason you spent an asset to acquire this guy precisely for the Rangers, Flyers and other similarly-goonified squads? Why is he here if not to face them?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Exactly.
Performance this past week aside, that’s why I much more value guys like Hendricks, that can play decent minutes but still drop the glove if he has to. Is he an elite NHL fighter? No, but what he contributes is worth more. Some teams need (or at least have more room for) a guy like King, and some fanbases clamor for a guy like King, but I don’t think either is the case for the Caps…
Caps fans here and everywhere else debated last year on how much the team needed an enforcer, and the importance of team toughness. Now I realize that “toughness” and fighting don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand, or at the very least aren’t the same thing, but many argued that the lack of a legitimate enforcer takes away from a team’s ability to be “tough” on the ice. One thing I am sure of however, King brings absolutely nothing to the Caps, toughness or otherwise, sitting the in press box night in and night out.
"I am ready for his provocations"
twitter
by PaintDrinkingPete on Nov 8, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
And yet his teammates would argue otherwise.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Which is one of the biggest mysteries in the sport. I’m not sure if they are just trying to be nice and supportive or if there really is some sort of supernatural protective quality that derives from the presence of a giant goon up in the pressbox or on the bench.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I think it may be something else that’s related to both, namely that these guys have come up in a culture that has told them that having these guys out there matters, so it’s sort of a placebo effect – they’re told they should have someone to protect them, so when they do, they’re emboldened, whether or not that protector actually offers anything of value. But that’s a bit pop-psychy.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’re talking about a group of people who wear bracelets with “holograms” that “align their bodies’ magnetic fields.”
Geniuses, they ain’t.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I love those bracelets. One of the most hilarious pro sports superstitions. I wish I had thought of that.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The inventors are raking in big money…I feel like I heard $13 million a few weeks ago.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
Not in Seattle anymore.
by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 8, 2010 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
I think there is some – empasis on some – deterrent effect in the mere fact that they could dress him next time they see the Rangers. I.e., were any of the Rangers to take liberties with, say, Semin, they would have to face the prospect of meeting King in a few weeks (or days, or whatever).
This is stretching it, I admit.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
This is stretching it, I admit
Especially considering heavy weights only eff with heavy weights. The 17/10 style of player I think is just as much a deterrent at this stage. The only thing they can’t/won’t do is fight a heavy weight…and seeing as most heavy weights only play a handful of shifts a game….
I’ll tell you one thing, I’m not sure we need King when we have Erskine and Hendricks on the ice. Case and point. I’d rather have these little scraps in the game than a fight, to be honest.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 8, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
Owning a hammer doesn’t necessarily mean you need to start hammering things. Particularly if your hammer isn’t terribly effective.
I don’t think it’ll kill the Caps to have King in the lineup on Tuesday; the Rangers are still without some of their big offensive tools, and they aren’t a particularly fast team. King definitely is a liability out there on the ice, but mostly against faster teams.
Rangers are still without some of their big offensive tools
I didn’t think Avery was hurt. ???
I believe in JC.
by patred48 on Nov 8, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Rec’d for making me laugh.
I like Laich, but I <3 Green
by RockinRed4Life on Nov 8, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
I haven’t written off King yet. I don’t think he’s looked that bad, but perhaps that is because he has more hockey skills than I expected. Also, he’s in a new system and watching most games from the press box doesn’t help a player fin his footing. I have also questioned when Bruce has played him – sitting when he should have been playing and playing when he should have been sitting. Lastly, the injury scramble has put King in positions he is not accustomed to.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
The guy is starting almost every shift in the offensive zone riding shotgun for the Caps’ $1.1m faceoff specialist, and yet his line still gets dominated. He’s a goddamn liability.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’d like to propose a special up arrow for Goat, who got married Saturday night and was at the game yesterday. Then again, maybe it’s his wife who deserves the up arrow.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Pretty sure she was shown on the video board in the 3rd period as the “Fan of the Game.”
"I would feed them lefts until I was pretty much tired of doing it." - Alan May, JRR, 10.16.2010
Yes, she was.
"I am ready for his provocations"
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by PaintDrinkingPete on Nov 8, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Did Neuvi deserve a down arrow really? After goals on a defensive breadown and two consecutive PPs? I still disagree with BB’s decision to yank him. Maybe it’s just a reflection of how god he has been to this point.
He had a rough week, and I also disagreed with the hook in Boston… until Bruce said that Neuvy looked over to the bench after the third one. That’s a pretty clear sign that his confidence was shaken and that the yank was probably the right move.
I gave him the down arrow because he simply played somewhat significantly below the expectations that he had set for his play. So yeah, it’s a reflection of how good he’d been to date as much as an indictment of his actual performance.
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Bruce Boudreau The team had a solid 60 minute effort against Philly and is playing good team defense and killing penalties well, but TOI and shift length for certain players are still too high, and Boudreau seems to have to call someone out in the press in every interview. You have to wonder if early season wins are masking some of the flaws in the team and in Boudreau’s approach.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 8, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
That would be a first for this group, yeah?
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Nov 8, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
You have to wonder ifearlythree seasons of wins are masking some of the flaws in the team and in Boudreau’s approach.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’m pretty sure the Habs figured that out last April.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
Not in Seattle anymore.
by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 8, 2010 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
I guess Pittsburgh’s Cup run was a fluke then too, because they “figured that out” last playoffs too. People lend far too much weight to us losing that series last year. Does it deserve a lot of attention? Yes. Does it mean that the way BB coaches and our team plays in completely incapable of winning in the playoffs? Not at all in my opinion. But of course we can’t really debate this until this April…
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 8, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
Wow you’re taking that way further than it was supposed to go. We lost the Habs series in large part because they figured out how to exploit the weaknesses we hadn’t fixed because of all the winning we did in the regular season. I’m not sure how you twist that pretty widely acknowledged fact around to say I think Pittsburch’s Cup run was a fluke.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
Not in Seattle anymore.
by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 8, 2010 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
Obviously I wasn’t “twisting” it like I actually believed you thought their Cup run was a fluke. Was some heavy snark and sarcasm. The comparison of Montreal beating both of us in 7 games coming back from a deficit in the series is a valid one though. It’s much harder to derive as much meaning from a series loss in the Stanley Cup playoffs as it is in most of the other sports. The best team doesn’t always win in hockey.
It’s all about inches and the end result. We lost that series by not scoring goals, all of a sudden we’ve been “figured out” and clearly we “don’t play the right way”. I’ll buy that it never should have gotten to the point where little things here or there could change the series, but in the end sometimes it comes down to their guys hitting the corner and your guys not doing it. They got dominated for long stretches of both series against us and Pitt but found that opportunistic scoring when they needed it.
All I’m saying is plenty of things went their way beyond any sort of “exploiting our weaknesses”. We didn’t get bounces, we missed prime chances, and individual players made some big mistakes at key times (especially in Game 7). You don’t have to be figured out per se to simply not play well at key moments in a seven game series.
I still believe if we play that series 10 times we win it at least 8 of those 10. Now if you ask me if I think that loss will be good in the long run…that’s a different story. While I think Montreal was very fortunate and we failed to execute in several key moments in the series, there are aspects of our game we can clearly improve to improve that margin of error.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 9, 2010 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
The comparison of Montreal beating both of us in 7 games coming back from a deficit in the series is a valid one though.
Except that it isn’t. Nobody’s “lending far too much weight to that series.” Smart Caps fans are looking at the breadth of their work under Boudreau and finding the team wanting. The Caps have now gone to 7 games in four straight playoff series, and have lost three of those. The Pens’ record over the same period is much, much better.
If you want to say that bad luck and hot goaltending played a role in the Caps losing to Montreal, I’m not going to disagree, but it has become pretty clear to most observers that something is wrong with the Caps in the playoffs.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I agree with you in principal, I just feel like of those series we’ve played last year’s was the only one you could say was a genuine surprise we didn’t come out on top in. Beating the Rangers was expected yes, and we took the long way to do it but we beat the same kind of goalie who was holding us down early in the series to do it. I didn’t expect to beat Philly 3 years ago, losing in OT of Game 7 to a PP goal is always going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I wish Feds had looked up for Ovie’s fake shot/pass. I didn’t expect to beat Pitt either.
We blew a 3-1 lead last year. It does happen. San Jose looked like they’d shaken off the playoff demons getting to the West Finals and sending Detroit packing to get there. They ran into Chicago. Call me an optimist. I wish we didn’t have to wait 5 months to find out if we have what it takes this year.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 9, 2010 2:23 AM EST up reply actions
I was 3 goals in 4 shots (if I remember correctly, and I often do not) to open the 3rd pd…I think any goalie may be looking over at the coaches’ direction at that point, regardless of his confidence in continuing.
"I am ready for his provocations"
twitter
by PaintDrinkingPete on Nov 8, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
But if he is looking over it either means he thinks the coach is going to pull him or he wants to get off the ice. Neither inspires confidence. If you still have a chance to win the game and you’re not doing a “trial by fire, leave him in until he’s Swiss cheese”, then it makes sense to change.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Nov 8, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
I can’t say how Neuvy feels but it’s a pretty terrible feeling, especially when it’s a goal or two that could have been prevented by better play, or rebound control, or was just plain weak.
In your head, the whole bench is staring so hard that they’re burning a hole clean through you. It’s very hard not to look over, especially if you see the backup goalie start to stretch or shuffle or whatever. Seeing that can really zap you even if you weren’t shaken already.
Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
And he is 22…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 8, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
Sasha’s ranking is amazing. I agree with it, but I can’t remember the last time there hasn’t been a “but the HHTs he took” or “the lackadaisical” or something similar hasn’t been tacked on.
I was going to give him a down arrow just to blow up the site.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
That would have been a hell of a shitstorm.
by DrinkingPartner on Nov 8, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
When I’m ready to scuttle the ship, you’ll know it – we’re going out in a blaze.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I thought that’s why SB Nation had to raise more capital. Needed more server space to handle the inevitable Semingeddon…
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
It was actually for my buyout – they didn’t have enough cash on hand. Enjoy your new SB Nation Capitals blog, Frozen Machine Never Blogs. Oops… I’ve said too much…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
So I should consider the memo for a Front Page meetup to trade Joe finley and Lisa Hillary fan fiction a required event?
"DON'T SAY THAT! Please! That is the worst, most stupid thing anyone could say! Cause it quite clearly isn't "only a game." I mean if it was do you honestly think I'd care this much?"
by Bald Pollack on Nov 8, 2010 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I find it really depressing that this past week’s performance warrants a dash for Flash. He’s been awful, IMO…and yet it is pretty much exactly what I expect from him.
Like I said, depressing.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
Not in Seattle anymore.
I’ll grant that the face-offs are beyond horrible. But 2 points in 3 games combined with being a plus in corsi/fenwick and not being on the ice for any GA…doesn’t scream a minus to me.
That said he shouldn’t be 2C
Then name me who on this team AT THIS TIME should.
Don’t play fantasy hockey. Use the tools we have and tell me who the 2C should be.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
What tools would you have me use? Other than face-offs how hasn’t he met our expectations for him?
Positive Corsi — Check
Positive Fenwick — Check
GA – Zero
G – 1
A – 1
IMO JP pured it. 3 Games 1 G 1 A sucks at face offs…let’s move on.
Obviously I’m not advocating he get an up arrow. But quite frankly, based on the comments/expectations of a good number of people on here he should be getting an up arrow every week he puts up points and is in the plus for corsi/fenwick.
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