|
Post by Reesor on Nov 3, 2014 9:51:55 GMT -4
Won't be as elaborate as previous years, because where we are right now is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I'll just list off my biggest surprise and disappointment so far. Biggest surprise so far has to be Morgan Nauss. Tied for 4th in team scoring with 10 points in 19 games. Pretty good for a 16yo drafted in the 5th round. He's been out there for a regular shift all season... including power plays. He looks like he could be a good bright spot for us in the next couple of down seasons. In a down season it's hard to talk about disappointing players. But for me, the biggest disappointment so far has to be Matt Murphy. I heard the Charlottetown Islanders commentator say last night that Matt Murphy was one of the best shutdown dmen in the league. Had a good laugh over that one. The only above average thing he has going for him right now is his skating. But he's noticable in a bad way when it comes to his D, and that's very bad for what we gave up to get him. No doubt in my mind we would've rathered have all those picks + Gazzola last year, rather than Murphy and Duke. (Nothing against Duke at all... he was very steady and a great stay-at-home D). The year so far hasn't been a disappointment. We've played much better lately, and I think we'll improve as the season goes along. But I'm not shy in saying we should sell sell sell at Christmas. My goal is to lap Bathurst and rebuild faster than them. Go Moose!!
|
|
|
Post by statsman18 on Nov 3, 2014 10:58:06 GMT -4
Won't be as elaborate as previous years, because where we are right now is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I'll just list off my biggest surprise and disappointment so far. Biggest surprise so far has to be Morgan Nauss. Tied for 4th in team scoring with 10 points in 19 games. Pretty good for a 16yo drafted in the 5th round. He's been out there for a regular shift all season... including power plays. He looks like he could be a good bright spot for us in the next couple of down seasons. In a down season it's hard to talk about disappointing players. But for me, the biggest disappointment so far has to be Matt Murphy. I heard the Charlottetown Islanders commentator say last night that Matt Murphy was one of the best shutdown dmen in the league. Had a good laugh over that one. The only above average thing he has going for him right now is his skating. But he's noticable in a bad way when it comes to his D, and that's very bad for what we gave up to get him. No doubt in my mind we would've rathered have all those picks + Gazzola last year, rather than Murphy and Duke. (Nothing against Duke at all... he was very steady and a great stay-at-home D). The year so far hasn't been a disappointment. We've played much better lately, and I think we'll improve as the season goes along. But I'm not shy in saying we should sell sell sell at Christmas. My goal is to lap Bathurst and rebuild faster than them. Go Moose!! I need to comment on one thing. You do remember that we went to the third round of the playoffs last year right? So you're saying we'd rather have 1 guy instead 2 guys who were top 2 pair guys? With that 1 guy we'd only have 3 top guys on the backend instead of 4? I don't even understand that a little bit? I know the saying is hind sight is 20/20 but now your saying we would have done better keeping Randy? I'm not sure you can say that. The picks sure would have been nice to keep but you never know what they are going to be right.
|
|
|
Post by mooseinfo on Nov 3, 2014 11:09:06 GMT -4
Won't be as elaborate as previous years, because where we are right now is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I'll just list off my biggest surprise and disappointment so far. Biggest surprise so far has to be Morgan Nauss. Tied for 4th in team scoring with 10 points in 19 games. Pretty good for a 16yo drafted in the 5th round. He's been out there for a regular shift all season... including power plays. He looks like he could be a good bright spot for us in the next couple of down seasons. In a down season it's hard to talk about disappointing players. But for me, the biggest disappointment so far has to be Matt Murphy. I heard the Charlottetown Islanders commentator say last night that Matt Murphy was one of the best shutdown dmen in the league. Had a good laugh over that one. The only above average thing he has going for him right now is his skating. But he's noticable in a bad way when it comes to his D, and that's very bad for what we gave up to get him. No doubt in my mind we would've rathered have all those picks + Gazzola last year, rather than Murphy and Duke. (Nothing against Duke at all... he was very steady and a great stay-at-home D). The year so far hasn't been a disappointment. We've played much better lately, and I think we'll improve as the season goes along. But I'm not shy in saying we should sell sell sell at Christmas. My goal is to lap Bathurst and rebuild faster than them. Go Moose!! I could be wrong on the Islanders comment but thought he was talking about the pair Hardie and Murphy as shutdown. If that was the case the last 2 games would be true as the pairings have improved since Lussier came back. True on the Murphy trade but if he is traded for at least a 1st or equal at Xmas then they get back the pick difference. The other 1st swap for a 2nd was pretty much equal as the teams finish put the picks a couple spots apart. The big difference is that VD got a title with Gazzola at Halifax expense. No way to know how that turns out if Murphy was traded to another team. Same for Gazzola on Halifax how does he develop and is he traded away as a 20 since they had to trade off excess summer. If Murphy comes back as a 20 then that is 2 yrs extra.
|
|
|
Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Nov 3, 2014 11:09:15 GMT -4
Won't be as elaborate as previous years, because where we are right now is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I'll just list off my biggest surprise and disappointment so far. Biggest surprise so far has to be Morgan Nauss. Tied for 4th in team scoring with 10 points in 19 games. Pretty good for a 16yo drafted in the 5th round. He's been out there for a regular shift all season... including power plays. He looks like he could be a good bright spot for us in the next couple of down seasons. In a down season it's hard to talk about disappointing players. But for me, the biggest disappointment so far has to be Matt Murphy. I heard the Charlottetown Islanders commentator say last night that Matt Murphy was one of the best shutdown dmen in the league. Had a good laugh over that one. The only above average thing he has going for him right now is his skating. But he's noticable in a bad way when it comes to his D, and that's very bad for what we gave up to get him. No doubt in my mind we would've rathered have all those picks + Gazzola last year, rather than Murphy and Duke. (Nothing against Duke at all... he was very steady and a great stay-at-home D). The year so far hasn't been a disappointment. We've played much better lately, and I think we'll improve as the season goes along. But I'm not shy in saying we should sell sell sell at Christmas. My goal is to lap Bathurst and rebuild faster than them. Go Moose!! I need to comment on one thing. You do remember that we went to the third round of the playoffs last year right? So you're saying we'd rather have 1 guy instead 2 guys who were top 2 pair guys? With that 1 guy we'd only have 3 top guys on the backend instead of 4? I don't even understand that a little bit? I know the saying is hind sight is 20/20 but now your saying we would have done better keeping Randy? I'm not sure you can say that. The picks sure would have been nice to keep but you never know what they are going to be right. True... and technically we were expected to have Captain Trey Lewis and Murphy in that role. I would much rather those two than just Gazolla. And again, the cost of Murphy was primarily due to him being 17 vs. 19. And he will still provide service or trade assets this year and/or next. Odd timing to criticize Murphy (not saying its unwarranted) considering I noticed him making the right plays over and over the past few games lol. He is a guy that does everything well (skater, passing, defensively), but nothing great imo. IMO he would still be a great fit for a contending team looking for mobility and experience for their 3-4 pairing. He is prone to bad games, but his good games can be great. Agree, Nauss is THE big story this year so far. Lack of secondary scoring (and therefore scoring overall) is probably the biggest surprise. Figured some guys would have made the most of the icetime (Moynihans, Shewfelt, Falkenham, Fortier etc) and been having a good year.
|
|
|
Post by statsman18 on Nov 3, 2014 11:11:32 GMT -4
Topic at hand though this right around where I expected them to be. I have to agree 100% on Nauss and how well he has played so far. As for disappointment I think Josh Fitzgerald has been a disappointment so far. He's an 18yo that has good size and knowledge of the game it just seems he's to overwhelmed by it all still. Another guy I'm not disappointed in but expected more from is Shewfelt. I'm not saying I expected him to be a point a game this year or anything but I did think he'd be closer to 10 points with a few goals. Not sitting at no goals and 3 helpers. I know there's a lot of hockey left but at the beginning of there year I was thinking he could get 15 goals and be around the 40 point mark. I do t think that will happen.
As for Murphy I think people expected to much from him this year. He's had to carry a boatload of duties this year. And he and Hardie have been double shifting all year long. Now the Jessy is back he can help with the workload.
|
|
|
Post by Reesor on Nov 3, 2014 13:22:04 GMT -4
lol I knew when I had 4 notifications that I did something wrong. I haven't noticed Murphy improving as the season goes along. Sprong walked by him a couple times yesterday, but Sprong is Sprong and that isn't that concerning. I'm trying very hard not to make him a scapegoat like some did with Ciampini because A: We aren't in any position to contend this year so no scapegoats are needed.. , and B, Murphy isn't that bad. But for the price we paid, he hasn't materialized IMO. A similar situation actually to Ciampini. Ciampini was above average as a Q player (yes he was damnit.. ) But for a 2nd overall pick, he didn't materialize. The argument for last year would be, which would've been better to have: Murphy/Duke or Gazzola/"Jr. A guy" + picks. We could've used those picks we gave up for Murphy and obtained a 19yo dman to fill that hole if we wanted to... either in 2012/13 or last year. But so be it. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. I'll have to watch Murphy more closely. Perhaps I did expect too much out of him this year. I hope he is a fit for a contending team and that we can get something for him at Christmas. I agree on Shewfelt as well Statsman. I expected a little more scoring than 0 goals at this point. But our secondary scoring hasn't even existed this year, so it isn't just on him.
|
|
|
Post by statsman18 on Nov 4, 2014 8:50:14 GMT -4
Looking at the team again I totally forgot about Watt. He is a pleasant surprise. I think he has over achieved by all accounts. Did anyone think he'd have 5 goals already? Did anyone think he'd be playing on the second line and getting some PP time? I don't think anyone on here can say they thought he'd be playing this good. He'll half the people here wanted him cut right out of camp.
|
|
|
Post by howitzer on Nov 4, 2014 19:15:44 GMT -4
Topic at hand though this right around where I expected them to be. I have to agree 100% on Nauss and how well he has played so far. As for disappointment I think Josh Fitzgerald has been a disappointment so far. He's an 18yo that has good size and knowledge of the game it just seems he's to overwhelmed by it all still. An 18yr old defencemen, who was passed over in 2 drafts, signed as a FA, is a disappointment? lol, really? Nauss (obviously), Watt, Meier are standouts guys so far. Most other guys are playing as expected. Be nice to get some scoring from guys like Fortier (highly touted, but only 17), Shewfelt, Falkenham, but those guys haven't played bad. Just snake bitten. Shewfelt does a lot of other things that affect the game, it's just we need some scoring more then anything right now. Murphy's always had the physical tools to be a top defensemen....it's his hockey sense and decision making that keep him from being that. He's had some good games, some bad games. He's 19, at this point what you see is what you get. Not saying that's bad, just may not being what some expected from a guy drafted 5th overall and acquired for top assets. I love his aggressiveness and the pace he plays, it's just that his head can't keep up with his body. He'll go flying up the ice, go through 3 guys look great, but can't finish the play. He'll definitely be marketable at xmas.
|
|
|
Post by Reesor on Nov 5, 2014 9:59:17 GMT -4
One thing about this season so far, is that I haven't been this relaxed as a fan in seven years. 07-08 was a disaster, followed by three years of simply never winning, followed by three seasons of higher expectations. This year we can just relax and watch some hockey, with just a little bit of anxiety about where Cam Russell will steer this team at Christmas. Our crowds have been half decent all things considered, but last Saturday I managed to get three seats together in Section 9 row L at 7pm. Unheard of the last couple seasons. Never thought I'd benefit from our attendance being lower.
|
|
|
Post by Jacques Strap on Nov 5, 2014 10:05:39 GMT -4
Would anybody reconsider the Ciampini trade now that we see how our offense is doing?
|
|
|
Post by Reesor on Nov 5, 2014 10:22:47 GMT -4
Would anybody reconsider the Ciampini trade now that we see how our offense is doing? No, not considering how our defence is doing and that we'd lose Lussier. Maybe it's a coincidence, but our defence has stabaliazed a bit since he's returned. Could get a five-year player out of a mid-low 2nd round pick. I'll take that return for a good scorer in a non-contending season.
|
|
|
Post by nsvees on Nov 5, 2014 10:26:07 GMT -4
Not sure he would be doing that with the Mooseheads. He needed a change of scenery, and outside of Ehlers, is likely playing with better linemates than he would have here.
|
|
|
Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Nov 5, 2014 10:28:01 GMT -4
One thing about this season so far, is that I haven't been this relaxed as a fan in seven years. 07-08 was a disaster, followed by three years of simply never winning, followed by three seasons of higher expectations. This year we can just relax and watch some hockey, with just a little bit of anxiety about where Cam Russell will steer this team at Christmas. Our crowds have been half decent all things considered, but last Saturday I managed to get three seats together in Section 9 row L at 7pm. Unheard of the last couple seasons. Never thought I'd benefit from our attendance being lower. Wouldn't say its more relaxing than going to the rink to watch great players play on a nightly basis... but at the same time, it's enjoyable sitting back and watching stuff like Gatineau adding Whitney and not feeling worried that we need to counter with a big move too. It will be interesting watching the other teams position themselves against each other for the Memorial Cup - and hopefully we will benefit from this as well with trades.
|
|
|
Post by Jacques Strap on Nov 5, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -4
One thing about this season so far, is that I haven't been this relaxed as a fan in seven years. 07-08 was a disaster, followed by three years of simply never winning, followed by three seasons of higher expectations. This year we can just relax and watch some hockey, with just a little bit of anxiety about where Cam Russell will steer this team at Christmas. Our crowds have been half decent all things considered, but last Saturday I managed to get three seats together in Section 9 row L at 7pm. Unheard of the last couple seasons. Never thought I'd benefit from our attendance being lower. Wouldn't say its more relaxing than going to the rink to watch great players play on a nightly basis... but at the same time, it's enjoyable sitting back and watching stuff like Gatineau adding Whitney and not feeling worried that we need to counter with a big move too. It will be interesting watching the other teams position themselves against each other for the Memorial Cup - and hopefully we will benefit from this as well with trades. Why do I have the feeling we are going to be underwhelmed with the moves Russell will make at Christmas. I am kinda trying to get in his head and think...well is it better for us to be lower in the standings come Christmas time. If we play well and are higher in the standings he may not make the deals. Do u folks still think there is a market for Fucale out there? Could Rimouski use Fucale over Desrosier?
|
|
|
Post by Reesor on Nov 5, 2014 11:08:41 GMT -4
Wouldn't say its more relaxing than going to the rink to watch great players play on a nightly basis... but at the same time, it's enjoyable sitting back and watching stuff like Gatineau adding Whitney and not feeling worried that we need to counter with a big move too. It will be interesting watching the other teams position themselves against each other for the Memorial Cup - and hopefully we will benefit from this as well with trades. Why do I have the feeling we are going to be underwhelmed with the moves Russell will make at Christmas. I am kinda trying to get in his head and think...well is it better for us to be lower in the standings come Christmas time. If we play well and are higher in the standings he may not make the deals. Do u folks still think there is a market for Fucale out there? Could Rimouski use Fucale over Desrosier? I'm holding out hope that we get a lot for some of our players. But I also wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get as much as we thought, or didn't trade some players that we'd like to get value for. The Moose don't have a history of sell-offs at Christmas, even in years when it would make sense.
|
|