Wildcats Vs Rocket

[bois]

Latal looked like himself last night for the first time in a month.. maybe a breakout is coming.... we sure could use it

I agree with the comments on Lachaine.. continues to play well and should have been a star last night (tho he abandoned the zone early on the Moncton goal)... we definitely should have put them away in the 2nd and we should be able to beat them out even if we trade down at xmas....I can't see us being a team capable of making it to the 2nd round for sure if we load up.. therefore it would be foolish to do but I fear with each poorly attended game the financial pinch hurts Savard more and more ..

rumor going around that Cliche is done... should make alot of people happy but appears to be another disastrous 2nd round pick blown up

[IslandersHKY]

bois said:

rumor going around that Cliche is done... should make alot of people happy but appears to be another disastrous 2nd round pick blown up

Cliche was a high risk potential high reward pick. Although myself and some argued that he was probably too high a risk to be taken 23rd overall. Nevertheless, he had the size and skill to potentially become a dominating power forward in this league but his skating was no where near ready. And he was ranked by CSR as the 17th overall prospect for a reason and the Rocket obviously took him knowning the risk that his skating would have to improve dramatically for him to be a player in this league.

Unfortunately 3 yrs later his skating is still no where near good enough which is too bad because despite his best efforts it is holding him back.

Personally I have no problem with the occassional high risk pick that turns out to be a bust but I always questioned selecting Cliche as an early 2nd rounder since you need those player to become impact ones and as Bois said the Rocket's lack of success with their top round picks over the past 3 yrs (Boutin, Lund, Cliche) has really held us back.

Especially looking at the good players that the Rocket could have taken in the 2nd round instead.

Tousignant (BC - taken 28th)
Veilleux (Vic - taken 35th)
Fortier (Rim - taken 26th)
Stinziani (Gat - taken 29th)
Laroche (BC - taken 33rd)


I want to stress I feel bad for Cliche as he seems like a good kid who did his best, unfortunately his skating held him back. This is simply a case where now with the benefit of hindsight the Rocket didn't make the best use of their early 2nd round selection which was something many were questioning back in 2005.

[bois]

I have no problem with an occasional high risk pick either... but when your top picks continuously fail by either not making the team at all or being traded away within 2 years... maybe you should take the safer pick instead of the high risk one once in awhile

the 2nd rounders i can remember the Rocket taking include
Andy DesRossiers (never made the Q at all)
Michael Dubuc (traded away at 17 after no impact on Rocket)
Maxim Cliche (provided nothing)
and Brandon Street (never dressed and is now back home playing midget.. after allegedly being left home as a 16 y/o alone when team was making trip to the Rock.. way to treat a kid eh?)


couple that with our continous poor first rounders HF pointed out.. is it any wonder we are so mediocre?

It just sucks we cant develop the same number of prospects in house as most teams seem to do..

[wingman]

I didn't think it was the most exciting game to watch but there have been worse ones at the CCC as the Rocket played well enough for the win.

I like the way Gelinas played last night, he didn't seem to be flopping as much and was always in position. I think that one of his strengths is that he sees the puck well even through traffic, there were a few saves last night where there was trafiic in front and yet he was able to somehow see the shot all the way.

I thought Southorn had another good game, same with Lachaine and Gallant. I'm not sure what is up with Lessard but he doesn't look like the same player that started here last season after being acquired for Trukhno. He may not be suited for the #1 defenseman role but somes of his miscues are mistakes that you expect from a 5th or 6th defenseman, not your top one. I also thought Doyle had a weak game, perhaps one of his worse ones, I followed him a few shifts and on those shifts it seemed like his head just wasn't into it defensively. I thought the Moncton goal was a result of him not clearing the puck out at the blueline when he had a chance to.

Hopefully they will come out with a win against Halifax on friday, but they will have to play better than they did against Moncton to do so.

[IslandersHKY]

wingman said:

I'm not sure what is up with Lessard but he doesn't look like the same player that started here last season after being acquired for Trukhno. He may not be suited for the #1 defenseman role but somes of his miscues are mistakes that you expect from a 5th or 6th defenseman, not your top one.

I actually thought that Lessard had a solid game last night and had no problem with him being first star. As for the mistakes I think a big part of that is tiredness. Right now he must be playing 35 mins a night and much of the time that is 1.5 - 2 mins shifts and then right back on after a very short rest. I think if the Rocket used Deighan/Malouin/Clow more our top 4 wouldn't be so tired and would also play better.

[wingman]

hockeyfan99 said:

I actually thought that Lessard had a solid game last night and had no problem with him being first star. As for the mistakes I think a big part of that is tiredness. Right now he must be playing 35 mins a night and much of the time that is 1.5 - 2 mins shifts and then right back on after a very short rest. I think if the Rocket used Deighan/Malouin/Clow more our top 4 wouldn't be so tired and would also play better.

First star for one game doesn't change the fact that he isn't playing as good as when he first joined the team. As far as mistakes being caused by tiredness, it doesn't seem to bother Main who is his defensive partner for most shifts. I am sure he is not far behind in minutes played and is on the ice just as long as Lessard as is for shifts and he doesn't make the mistakes that Lessard does.

But two players who I think are playing too much are Morrison and Walker. Chouinard may not be playing them as much as Jean, but they are still being played alot and I don't see why he puts them on the penalty kill so much. I noticed on one power play he had that first unit on the ice for almost a minute and half straight, tired legs are not going to be as effective as fresh ones.

[juniorcormier16]

Lessard is not playing well at all and I don't know how he got a Star really. I actually thought that Gallant Deserved a Star fighting And He hit Latal With so many passes right up the ice and had a very good solid game. He sent latal in liek 3 times alone but miss on all of em. Really Thought he should of had a Star thats for sure. Lessard what did he do Not a thing. I for one would not be surprised if he is gone at the Trade deadline.