A Couple of Thoughts

[wallman2001]

First I just want to say that I think the Rocket have come a long way. That being said I have the following questions/thoughts:

1. As a coach is it smart to put a goaltender in the net that has not proven that he deserves to be there this year (I am a fan of Lafleur's, but this year he just isn't playing well)? Given the fact that you have won the last 4 games with your other goaltender and he even gets defensive player of the week?

To me that is not smart at all, and this is one of two mistakes that Chouinard has made since taking over the team.

2. As it pertains to the other mistake, is keeping the Morrison-Walker-MacKinley line together a smart thing? They haven't done much lately, and honestly they aren't working well together. Maybe it's time to change them up, although the trading period may fix that anyway?

One last thing, I think Chouinard is a good coach, but I think you have to be smart about things as well.

What is everyone else's thoughts on this?

[countsheep]

wallman2001 said:

First I just want to say that I think the Rocket have come a long way. That being said I have the following questions/thoughts:

1. As a coach is it smart to put a goaltender in the net that has not proven that he deserves to be there this year (I am a fan of Lafleur's, but this year he just isn't playing well)? Given the fact that you have won the last 4 games with your other goaltender and he even gets defensive player of the week?

To me that is not smart at all, and this is one of two mistakes that Chouinard has made since taking over the team.

2. As it pertains to the other mistake, is keeping the Morrison-Walker-MacKinley line together a smart thing? They haven't done much lately, and honestly they aren't working well together. Maybe it's time to change them up, although the trading period may fix that anyway?

One last thing, I think Chouinard is a good coach, but I think you have to be smart about things as well.

What is everyone else's thoughts on this?

So are you saying that Chouinard is a good coach, but he's not too "smart about things".

We put up with 2+ seasons of constant line-juggling - I never knew who was on which line till Guy arrived; so I'd leave the lines the way they are, especially with the team winning.

Lafleur deserves a start once in a while, and he did play well last night.

Doubt that we'll see him between the pipes in a Rocket uniform at The Morgue ever again, though.....

[Stuck in a Loop...]

Kana Morrison and Walker was the top line last night was it not

[countsheep]

I don't really understand how you can say that Morrison and Walker don't play well together.

You're saying this based on what, exactly?

Certainly not on their numbers, or their performances at home games, anyway.

[wallman2001]

So are you saying that Chouinard is a good coach, but he's not too "smart about things".

We put up with 2+ seasons of constant line-juggling - I never knew who was on which line till Guy arrived;

Lafleur deserves a start once in a while, and he did play well last night.

Doubt that we'll see him between the pipes in a Rocket uniform at The Morgue ever again, though.....

I am saying that Chouinard is a good coach, and you can be good, but you also have to be smart as well.

While Lafleur played well last night (he still lost), was it a smart move to start him...will that now cool off Gelinas?

[Stuck in a Loop...]

Another thing is they dont really play well with others really imo so we have to keep them together lols

[wallman2001]

countsheep said:

I don't really understand how you can say that Morrison and Walker don't play well together.

You're saying this based on what, exactly?

Certainly not on their numbers, or their performances at home games, anyway.

As for the numbers, yes, Walker & Morrison have gotten goals and assists, but not always when they are on the ice together. I went back over the past 6 games, and of the 23 goals the Rocket have scored, that line was inloved in 4 of them, and Walker had two with no assists. All the other goals were scored by different lines, or at times by one of the players on this line with other players on the ice.

From what I see at the games, there seems to be the odd time where they really come together, but in most cases, Walker is sluggish or not keeping up, Morrison loses the puck a lot and MacKinley just doesn't fit in.

However the one game that Walker was scratched (healthy), both Morrison and MacKinley seemed to play really well when they put on the ice with other players.

This is just my opinion from what I see.

[wallman2001]

justin12 said:

Another thing is they dont really play well with others really imo so we have to keep them together lols

Actually it's funny...over the past 6 games, Morrison has gotten more points without Walker and MacKinley, then with them...go figure.

[Stuck in a Loop...]

lol

[fireside]

Gelinas had started the majority of the past games, long road trip, let the back up play one game, probably his last as a Rocket. I highly doubt it will "cool off" Gelinas at all, backups do play some hockey even if the starter is on a roll....we always used to complain about Jean playing Mior too much and wearing him out. I don't have any problem with the fact that Guy played LaFleur last night, from what I saw it wasn't his fault they lost the game.

As for Morrison, Walker well while some games Mo might not be playing what most will call his best hockey, he is involved in a lot of the plays and Walker is all over the ice lately, on fire....

I like how Guy is coaching this team, rewarding hard work and play and the guys seem to be buying in, HUGE improvement from Jean!

[bois]

Walker has registered 19 of our 40 shots on goal the last two games... and you're calling him sluggish??

and no goalie starts every game

[countsheep]

bois said:

and no goalie starts every game

....no, but Lafleur came mighty close to doing that after Christmas last year....with the playoff disaster that we know.

IMO, Lafleur playing too many games and Mosher deemed to not be ready was the single biggest reason we lost that playoff series to Bathurst last year.....a series the Rocket should have won.

Oh well....

[wingman]

I see nothing wrong with playing Lafleur last night as the Rocket are playing 3 road games in 4 nights. One of my complaints about Jean was that he played the shit out of one of his goalies all season and when the playoffs came they were not as effective as they should have been. To prevent that you have to give both goalies starts and with the 3 road games being played so close to each other, it's a good time to give starts to both goalies.

I think that part of the reason why MacKinley has been playing with Walker and Morrison is because he is the one player who has stepped up and is playing well and really who else would you put on that line. Lachaine-Doyle-Kana seems to be playing well together so why split them up for the same of filling a hole on the top line. Gallant is playing well but I think is better suited for 3rd line/checking line and Latal has been playing sub-par and right now shouldn't be on the top or 2nd lines with his play as of late. MacKinley may not be a flashy offensive player but he is getting the job.

[North Shore]

wallman2001 said:

1. As a coach is it smart to put a goaltender in the net that has not proven that he deserves to be there this year (I am a fan of Lafleur's, but this year he just isn't playing well)?

2. Is keeping the Morrison-Walker-MacKinley line together a smart thing?

One last thing, I think Chouinard is a good coach, but I think you have to be smart about things as well.

What is everyone else's thoughts on this?

1. Usually you go with the hot hand but you have to consider other factors. It is widely believed that Lafleur is on the Market. When you're selling you gotta clean up and polish the product if you're gonna get what its worth. Laff made a good showing and who knows he may get to start Saturday to let the buyers have another look.

2. I think keeping MacKinley with Walker and Mo is a good move for now. He's in the thick of things and the level of his play is really coming up.

I like the idea of keeping the lines together with the changes Guy is making. He seems to have them working on a system where they support each other both offensively and defensively. The more the guys play together the better sense they will have as to how their line mates will likely go in given situations. Also the more they work together the better they get at communicating and often a look in the right direction with someone you play with gets the message across.

Agreed Chouinard is doing a great job. The team is skating harder and we're going to see the pace of play contiue to pick up as the guys improve their passing.

[North Shore]

bois said:

Walker has registered 19 of our 40 shots on goal the last two games... and you're calling him sluggish??

Walker is sluggish, but it fits with his style. He moves slow, but well in traffic and uses his size to protect the puck. His ability to protect the puck gives him the time he needs to get shots and passes through. If he had better speed he'd be drafted and looking at bigger things than the Q.