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Post by jimmy on Sept 8, 2008 14:19:40 GMT -4
Its ironic that you didn't see the game the other night and missed the chance to see Molotkow ... because you also missed Ted Stephens play a physical and solid game with and without the puck. Stephens likley threw more hits than Malotkow did and was easily a more important forward and a bigger contributor to the win. Q site says they both threw 2 hits ... but I think both threw several more than that. They don't count under "gh" unless you actually seperate the puck carrier from the puck ... so completing a check isn't creditted ... at least that is my understanding. I know what you are saying about Stephens though. We all can see he has skill but are waiting for it to show up. It did show up on Saturday ... and I would guess that he was told he was on the bubble and would need to step it up to keep his spot ... so he did. Randy Cameron did the same thing ... probably heeding Flynn's warning before camp opened. They both need to do that on a regular basis. I don't think Cameron was anywhere close to the bubble if that's what you were suggesting. Cameron is on the bubble in a different sense - he was never in danger of being cut, but IMO, if he doesn't show progress in the first half in the form of much improved play over last season, I can see him being dealt at Xmas and the ice time being invested in younger options such as Brown, MacAusland, Stephens, Fomin, etc ..., especially if that group of players steps up in the first half and are pushing hard for more ice and responsibility. I would put Lessard in the same boat.
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Post by SteveUL on Sept 8, 2008 14:30:18 GMT -4
Its ironic that you didn't see the game the other night and missed the chance to see Molotkow ... because you also missed Ted Stephens play a physical and solid game with and without the puck. Stephens likley threw more hits than Malotkow did and was easily a more important forward and a bigger contributor to the win. Q site says they both threw 2 hits ... but I think both threw several more than that. They don't count under "gh" unless you actually seperate the puck carrier from the puck ... so completing a check isn't creditted ... at least that is my understanding. I know what you are saying about Stephens though. We all can see he has skill but are waiting for it to show up. It did show up on Saturday ... and I would guess that he was told he was on the bubble and would need to step it up to keep his spot ... so he did. Randy Cameron did the same thing ... probably heeding Flynn's warning before camp opened. They both need to do that on a regular basis. I don't think Cameron was anywhere close to the bubble if that's what you were suggesting. I think Flynn was speaking directly to Cameron and Lessard when he called out a few in the paper before the opening of camp ... without actually naming names. I don't think Cameron was on the bubble either ... but he was working his way into the doghouse.
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Post by gongshow on Sept 8, 2008 14:31:30 GMT -4
Well next year Lane will be gone,same goes for Biduke and Sill.Brannon could be dealt this year(I could see a contender wanting his services at Xmas).A guy who's 6'3 220 and can play a bit of hockey is a hot commodity these days....could another team sign him now? I must say that this is one of the most physical squads we've had since the year we had Saunders,Douville,Doucette and Pelham.....though we were tougher that year with the fists.Between Sill and Brannon being a year older I'm sure we're going to see some glass rattling at the coliseum this year. The smart thing to do as a GM is to suggest he go play Jr.A and remain on your protected list, with the possibility of returning at midseason if trades occur, same goes for Downe and Noseworthy. I think those 3 are Q calibre but caught in a numbers game. Guys like Brannon, Lessard, Boyle could be candidates to be traded if they are serious candidates to play at 20...Cameron also but his case is a bit more complicated as they don't have another veteran center to replace him. Boyle a candidate to be traded.....for what ?Not everybody overates him like Flynn does. I could see a big demand for Brannon and Lessard possibly even Sill though.Those are some of the top 3rd liners in the Q.....not many guys hit like Brannon does and Lessard brings that mix of being a solid hitter,pretty good fighter and decent scorer on top of being a defensively responsible player.Brannon makes a great defensive player because of his skating ability(wasn't he the fastest player last year at the WC skills comp?).
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Post by Captain Obvious on Sept 8, 2008 14:53:43 GMT -4
The smart thing to do as a GM is to suggest he go play Jr.A and remain on your protected list, with the possibility of returning at midseason if trades occur, same goes for Downe and Noseworthy. I think those 3 are Q calibre but caught in a numbers game. Guys like Brannon, Lessard, Boyle could be candidates to be traded if they are serious candidates to play at 20...Cameron also but his case is a bit more complicated as they don't have another veteran center to replace him. Boyle a candidate to be traded.....for what ?Not everybody overates him like Flynn does. I could see a big demand for Brannon and Lessard possibly even Sill though.Those are some of the top 3rd liners in the Q.....not many guys hit like Brannon does and Lessard brings that mix of being a solid hitter,pretty good fighter and decent scorer on top of being a defensively responsible player.Brannon makes a great defensive player because of his skating ability(wasn't he the fastest player last year at the WC skills comp?). To a contender looking for depth on defense. I'm sure they could get a 4th or 5th at midseason. He's worth at least as much as MacLellan.
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Post by buckybuckbuck on Sept 8, 2008 19:11:29 GMT -4
Boyle a candidate to be traded.....for what ?Not everybody overates him like Flynn does. I could see a big demand for Brannon and Lessard possibly even Sill though.Those are some of the top 3rd liners in the Q.....not many guys hit like Brannon does and Lessard brings that mix of being a solid hitter,pretty good fighter and decent scorer on top of being a defensively responsible player.Brannon makes a great defensive player because of his skating ability(wasn't he the fastest player last year at the WC skills comp?). To a contender looking for depth on defense. I'm sure they could get a 4th or 5th at midseason. He's worth at least as much as MacLellan. Lets actually watch him play more than two week without getting hurt and then make that call. Me, I would like to see someone else like downe have made the team but I could have my mind changed if he starts to play better this year with a longer stretch of uninjurred.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Sept 8, 2008 21:53:34 GMT -4
To a contender looking for depth on defense. I'm sure they could get a 4th or 5th at midseason. He's worth at least as much as MacLellan. Lets actually watch him play more than two week without getting hurt and then make that call. Me, I would like to see someone else like downe have made the team but I could have my mind changed if he starts to play better this year with a longer stretch of uninjurred. Was he not healthy pretty much all of last year?
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Post by buckybuckbuck on Sept 8, 2008 22:36:43 GMT -4
Lets actually watch him play more than two week without getting hurt and then make that call. Me, I would like to see someone else like downe have made the team but I could have my mind changed if he starts to play better this year with a longer stretch of uninjurred. Was he not healthy pretty much all of last year? Dressed for 50 of 70 and I don't remember him playing consistantly until the second half of the year when the Wildcats really turned up the suck.
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Post by Captain Obvious on Sept 8, 2008 22:55:59 GMT -4
Was he not healthy pretty much all of last year? Dressed for 50 of 70 and I don't remember him playing consistantly until the second half of the year when the Wildcats really turned up the suck. He may have missed a few games to injury but most was as a scratch I think, he seemed to play all the games after Baca and Gomes were traded.
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Post by buckybuckbuck on Sept 8, 2008 23:23:12 GMT -4
Dressed for 50 of 70 and I don't remember him playing consistantly until the second half of the year when the Wildcats really turned up the suck. He may have missed a few games to injury but most was as a scratch I think, he seemed to play all the games after Baca and Gomes were traded. Didn't he stress fracture his ankle during traing camp or something and walk around in a cast?
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Post by overtime on Sept 9, 2008 8:09:08 GMT -4
Lets move on to something else Boyle was out for over a month with a broken foot other than that he played every game.Flynn likes him because he is a warrior who stands up for his teamates and him self.When Bezak got a cheap hit Boyle stepped in to fight Thomas. Last year I think he fought 6 or 7 times not because he is a fighter but to stick up for teamates every coach likes to see that.You can't teach heart and Boyle has that. Hopefully he stays heathly and has a good year.
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