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Post by dogbert on Jan 9, 2008 0:41:53 GMT -4
My feeling is that this dissapointing attendance has made ownership/management want a winning team over several years rather than a Cup winner now. The downside risk is high as whether you win or lose, you are fighting an uphill battle for several years. If we were an established club with a firm fan base like Halifax or Moncton, then ya. I don't know all the rumors going around if any, but I am surprised one or more bodies didn't move. I can't believe everyone is happy here. I expected one or more of Pard, Dopud, St. Laurent, and McNeil (Pictou rumblings) to move. I also bet guys like Sauve, Thomas, maybe Stoddard, and a couple others are grumbling about ice time, at least internally. They've surprised everyone including us so far. Maybe JB does know what he's doing. I can;t see Sauve complaining about icetime at all........... he plays against each teams top lines along with Grant and kills alot of penalties. Yann doesn;t get much PP time though when JB goes with 4 forwards most times. I should have elaborated. I meant his pp time. A #1 overall not seeing pp time in his draft year seams crazy to me. IMO he has the shot and skill. But he also makes the dumbest moves at times, sometimes a sign of trying to hard. I just feel tension there, but I really don't know. |
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Post by killer on Jan 9, 2008 0:46:31 GMT -4
I can;t see Sauve complaining about icetime at all........... he plays against each teams top lines along with Grant and kills alot of penalties. Yann doesn;t get much PP time though when JB goes with 4 forwards most times. I should have elaborated. I meant his pp time. A #1 overall not seeing pp time in his draft year seams crazy to me. IMO he has the shot and skill. But he also makes the dumbest moves at times, sometimes a sign of trying to hard. I just feel tension there, but I really don't know. I don;t see any tension................. IMO Sauve hasn;t earned his PP time during the first half of the season. SInce he came back from xmas break Sauve has really picked up his game from what I saw and is starting to put up numbers............ same could be said with Amyot. |
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Post by major on Jan 9, 2008 0:52:40 GMT -4
I should have elaborated. I meant his pp time. A #1 overall not seeing pp time in his draft year seams crazy to me. IMO he has the shot and skill. But he also makes the dumbest moves at times, sometimes a sign of trying to hard. I just feel tension there, but I really don't know. I don;t see any tension................. IMO Sauve hasn;t earned his PP time during the first half of the season. SInce he came back from xmas break Sauve has really picked up his game from what I saw and is starting to put up numbers............ same could be said with Amyot. I have found Amyot has totally turned his game. I find Amyot is one of the more responsible D's in our own end. |
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Post by killer on Jan 9, 2008 0:57:43 GMT -4
I don;t see any tension................. IMO Sauve hasn;t earned his PP time during the first half of the season. SInce he came back from xmas break Sauve has really picked up his game from what I saw and is starting to put up numbers............ same could be said with Amyot. I have found Amyot has totally turned his game. I find Amyot is one of the more responsible D's in our own end. I agree Amyot has great hockey sense, always seems to make the right play and is always in position. He also has underatted hands and a hard, quick, accurate shot. |
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Post by bjindaho on Jan 9, 2008 2:03:16 GMT -4
Amyot is actually the player I trust most as the last man back. He seems to always make the right decision. I have also noticed that Sauve's poise with the puck has gone through the roof. He doesn't look like he is trying to figure out what to do but rather is doing what his instincts tell him to do. And Stich seems to have improved his lateral mobility. He seemed to really be moving around well from what I saw of the game against the Foggies. We are going to have a SICK defense next year. We should keep them all (minus McNeil) and be a force in the playoffs.
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Post by canucklehead on Jan 9, 2008 8:28:09 GMT -4
I think we made out like bandits really ADD Alexandre Picard-Hooper Scott Howes 6th RD '09 MINUS 3rd RD '08 3rd RD '09 5th RD '08 4th RD '08 Nathan Dunnett This sound about right? Considering the prices teams were paying for players like Howes and Picard I think we made out pretty damn good! ;D I know teams tend to pay more at Christmas but maybe buying early is a good idea huh lol ;D Those arent trade period deals... you have the record you have because you have had those guys all (most) of the year... and you didnt make your team better while a bunch of other teams you are racing for 1st with did... You guys have a good team, and did well to add a couple 20 year olds early... and could make some playoff noise... but your closest competition just got alot better while you guys stood still and watched. Im not saying you should have made a run and sacrificed next season which looks good, but the Xmas trade period is when teams ADD to what they have been using to that point. I was referring to the trades that we did make which were apparently pretty smart considering the amount other teams had to pay for similar players at the this particular deadline. Who might you be referring too as our closest competitor that got alot better please tell me the Titan ;D Most people here think they did the right thing by doing nothing the only thing I think we could have really used that might be not be overly expensive is 1 or 2 solid defensive forwards to maybe shutdown other teams top lines. I have learned to trust our GM/Coach he's yet to steer this team wrong infact this is one of the few teams that I don't think has said at least once said to fire the coach or fire the GM  |
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Post by dogbert on Jan 9, 2008 9:55:17 GMT -4
I should have elaborated. I meant his pp time. A #1 overall not seeing pp time in his draft year seams crazy to me. IMO he has the shot and skill. But he also makes the dumbest moves at times, sometimes a sign of trying to hard. I just feel tension there, but I really don't know. I don;t see any tension................. IMO Sauve hasn;t earned his PP time during the first half of the season. SInce he came back from xmas break Sauve has really picked up his game from what I saw and is starting to put up numbers............ same could be said with Amyot. Sauve is going through his own development issues similar to what we saw Alex go through last year. I agree he has stepped it up. I hope he continues. I don't see outward signs of tension, but I feel there must be some. There has to be when you are struggling. Kudos for staying focussed. IMO Amyot is a classic late developing d-man. He still has lots of filling out to do that will only help his game both physically and in quickness. Gawd I hope these guys (Grant, Stich, Sauve, Amyot, & Despres) all stick around for next year and keep making strides forward. Who steps up and who dissapears in the playoffs should play a big part in deciding who stays or goes at the draft. |
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Post by elementz on Jan 9, 2008 10:05:52 GMT -4
I could see us parting ways with Stich next year to draft a Euro forward who can score...but anything can happen.
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Post by killer on Jan 9, 2008 11:49:56 GMT -4
I don;t see any tension................. IMO Sauve hasn;t earned his PP time during the first half of the season. SInce he came back from xmas break Sauve has really picked up his game from what I saw and is starting to put up numbers............ same could be said with Amyot. IMO Amyot is a classic late developing d-man. He still has lots of filling out to do that will only help his game both physically and in quickness. Amyot is 17 , I don't know how that classifies him as a late developer. |
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Post by bjindaho on Jan 9, 2008 12:57:58 GMT -4
17 and start to look GOOD.
And Elementz, we want to keep ALL of our d. And maybe draft another.
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Post by habh8er on Jan 9, 2008 13:44:37 GMT -4
Have to agree Killer....... how does it make a guy a late bloomer because he didn't excel in his rookie year at 16/17......these things are measured in years not months. Amyot is developing at a good rate IMO, he see's the ice well and is starting to get into positions to contribute offensively now that his confidence is growing. He is very good in the defensive zone, and his first pass is almost always on the tape which makes the team breakouts a lot smoother. He is starting to realize how to use his large frame to his advantage not only in a physical capacity, but also in gaining posession and moving the puck......(I was 6'3" at 14 years old too, and it takes time to catch up to those growth spurts, lol)
As Dogbert said, hope these guys are all around next year....but the possibility of Stich being moved to make room for a Euro forward is a real possibility. With Despres, Grant, Amyot and Sauve all returning for next season the idea of opening up the Euro position to a young sniper would be a good idea. With these 4 remaining guys averaging 6'2".5 (inches) we should ice a good size D next year who are pretty mobile and can play real tough when they want to. With Picard and Howes gone next year we will be losing some big numbers, and if we can't find some scoring there could be a lot of 1-0 wins in our future if were going to go far.(Or we could get Dido to score 100 next year!!)
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Post by reddogbluedog on Jan 9, 2008 15:02:13 GMT -4
People forget how young these guys are that are anchoring our defence. Despres has the potential to become the best Dman in the league and he is only 16. Think about that the next time he is out there against a 19 or 20 year old. I cannot wait to see him at 18 this kid will be a monster.
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