Wondering....

[catnut]

This will not make me popular, but is it possible that Flynn's loyalty to Nolan runs too deep? Players recommended by Nolan were guaranteed a spot on the team early in camp, even though, from many comments, other players seemed more impressive.

Thoughts? Comments?

[Captain Obvious]

catnut said:

This will not make me popular, but is it possible that Flynn's loyalty to Nolan runs too deep? Players recommended by Nolan were guaranteed a spot on the team early in camp, even though, from many comments, other players seemed more impressive.

Thoughts? Comments?

I think it may have more to do with the NCAA thing than being recommended by Nolan. Once guys stay longer than 48 hours or play exibition games...

[overtime]

who are players you are referring about?

[CatsFan]

Cody Wilson was the one I thought there was an article in the paper saying the Nolan contacted Flynn about ..

[Captain Obvious]

mc2006 said:

Cody Wilson was the one I thought there was an article in the paper saying the Nolan contacted Flynn about ..

I think Gomes and Eastman had spots guaranteed if they showed up, Hodge hinted to that with his articles, maybe somebody let him in on the big secret. Wilson was signed to a card after last Thursday's game in which he clearly outplayed Tolles(19) Goyens(19) Little(18) and Boyle(18)

[Optimus Reim]

You honestly can't be serious about Wilson? He has outplayed Tolles, Goyens, Boyle and Herr. He was recommended by Nolan but it is still Flynn's team. Eastman was given a contract and has played in 1 scrimmage. That I don't agree with. That was probably the only way the Cats were going to be able to get Gomes and Eastman here.
Don't get me wrong I like Boyle and Tolles but Wilson seems to have been the steadier guy as of late. Not flashy but consistent with the puck. If he was guaranteed a spot before being here I don't agree with that either but there really isn't any way to know that for sure.

[catnut]

I was thinking of players that had already been cut like Miceli. Eastman was one of those that got me wondering. Besides, I was basing my post on what I read here since the beginning of training camp as I have not had the chance to take in the action yet.

I felt like stirring things a little today. ;D

I will respect Flynn's decisions as he's the one being paid to make them. I know I wouldn't want to make them.

[Optimus Reim]

catnut said:

I was thinking of players that had already been cut like Miceli. Eastman was one of those that got me wondering. Besides, I was basing my post on what I read here since the beginning of training camp as I have not had the chance to take in the action yet.

I felt like stirring things a little today. ;D

I will respect Flynn's decisions as he's the one being paid to make them. I know I wouldn't want to make them.

Well you got the pot stirred. I do agree that Miceli was worth a longer look. He was impressive in the way he played. But I agree I am sooo glad I don't have to make the decisions. I do think that our D looks decent right now though. Inexperienced but pretty mobile. I think we have a very good core to start out with. Better than what I was expecting at the start of camp anyways.

[CatsFan]

I agree. Miceli, IMO was playing well & I thought he deserved a longer look. The thing that really baffles my mind is Eastman. Who is he? I have never seen him thus far. Maybe I'm the only one with this thinking. I just find it odd that a guy I have never yet to seen play ( and I attended quite a few ice times throughout camp .. ) outplays ( well lasts longer in camp .. ) then a guy who impressed me almost everytime I seen him play .. ( referring to Miceli ) ..

This Eastman, if he's one of Nolan's " recruits " .. well then I dunno about the loyalty between Flynn & Nolan.

[gongshow]

I don't agree with FA's having a spot guaranteed.If anything they should have to outwork any other player competing against them.FA's should be relied on when nobody in your territory is better than them....if you have 2 guys with the same ability the player from your territory should be kept.

It's a shame that some players from the maritimes or Quebec get denied the opportunity of playing major junior hockey by some jrA players from Ontario,who in most cases aren't any better than the local guys.

That being said I definitly think that Flynn has loyalties to Nolan and that any kid recommended by Nolan basically has the work his way out of a roster spot to not make.IMPO

[curtis]

Well, we brought in the FA because we didn't have anyone better. You'd rather we play someone like Brousseau just because he's local?

Besides, the players likely being bumped...Tolles and/or Herr...aren't from Quebec or the Maritimes either. It's all about putting the best team possible on the ice. I don't care where they're from.

Maybe we should get rid of Euros, too, they're taking up roster spots.

[gongshow]

curtis said:

Well, we brought in the FA because we didn't have anyone better. You'd rather we play someone like Brousseau just because he's local?

Besides, the players likely being bumped...Tolles and/or Herr...aren't from Quebec or the Maritimes either. It's all about putting the best team possible on the ice. I don't care where they're from.

Maybe we should get rid of Euros, too, they're taking up roster spots.

Didn't I just say "FA's should be relied on when nobody in your territory is better than them"

I was making a general point....for example why bring in a guy like Tolles all the way from out West when i'm sure they're all kinds of players around the maritimes or even in Quebec that are as good as Tolles.....see what I mean....of course you'd use Brouseau as an example.

Euro's make the league better,but if say a Martikanen is brought in then it's stupid...90% of euro's in the league are probably top 5 players on their Q team why get rid of them.

[Penguins23®]

curtis said:

Well, we brought in the FA because we didn't have anyone better. You'd rather we play someone like Brousseau just because he's local?

Besides, the players likely being bumped...Tolles and/or Herr...aren't from Quebec or the Maritimes either. It's all about putting the best team possible on the ice. I don't care where they're from.

Maybe we should get rid of Euros, too, they're taking up roster spots.

It may not apply to this years team but it might apply in other seasons or to other teams. What happens if a few years ago we guaranteed a spot to some Ontario JR A bum and he comes to camp and sucks. We have to cut Christian Gaudet, late round pick, local kid having a good camp. We over look Gaudet the next year, inexperienced late round pick and we get our new draft picks/ free agents filling in the holes. Christian Gaudet doesn't get offered a contract anywheres else because he's not a flashy player. Thus he doesn't excel in the QMJHL as a third liner and does not get a pro contract. See how much of an impact this could of had on Christian? It's just an example and I'm not saying we shouldn't have FA's, that's not what anyone is saying at all, what we're saying is they should still have to work to be on the team. Some of them do, hence why some get cut, but some of them say "I'm not going all the way there unless I'm guaranteed to be on the team. As for the Euro comment, that's what we did last year, if the Euros aren't good enough to be there then let's not just keep them because their Euros

[curtis]

gongshow said:

curtis said:

Well, we brought in the FA because we didn't have anyone better. You'd rather we play someone like Brousseau just because he's local?

Besides, the players likely being bumped...Tolles and/or Herr...aren't from Quebec or the Maritimes either. It's all about putting the best team possible on the ice. I don't care where they're from.

Maybe we should get rid of Euros, too, they're taking up roster spots.

Didn't I just say "FA's should be relied on when nobody in your territory is better than them"

I was making a general point....for example why bring in a guy like Tolles all the way from out West when i'm sure they're all kinds of players around the maritimes or even in Quebec that are as good as Tolles.....see what I mean....of course you'd use Brouseau as an example.

Euro's make the league better,but if say a Martikanen is brought in then it's stupid...90% of euro's in the league are probably top 5 players on their Q team why get rid of them.

Obviously my Euro comment was intended to be sarcastic. Sheesh.

Of course there are probably guys in the same range talent-wise as Tolles in Quebec or NS or wherever...but did you see them on our protected list last season? No, because local players likely to be as good as him are already on somebody else's list. They are not freely available talent the way Tolles, etc...are.

With the league's talent level where it is, I don't think too many players in the region are being ignored or overlooked.

[digitalman]

I think that in general, the coaches like to keep a couple free agents every year (or at least for part of the year) cause if they come back emptyhanded from all the hard work of recruiting, it makes the scouting look bad. I'm not saying that's the only reason they sign free agents cause Wilson and Gomes are definitely in the top 8 defenceman in this camp but it also boosts you're scouting reputation a bit if you keep a few every year. It's probably also why Neil Hodge writes an article on a lot of them after they sign the try-out offer and makes them all seem like huge steals.