I have thought the last 3 or so games Teddy has played he has stood out in good ways to me but has been taken out immediately it's like he has to score or he is going to be a scratch. That one game against the hawks he was likely our best forward and everytime he was out there something good was happening for us. I literally think the slow as sin Jagr, Zubs and Zajac line saw the offense zone once that entire game while Teddy had a handful of chances. I honestly don't think skill wise Brunner is much if at all better then Teddy just has gotten way better chances, linemates and minutes and although he has been scratched he has played more then 7 games in a row to get in a rhythm where Teddy is in and out kind of hard to find any sort of consistancy when all you are thinking about is what the hell do you got to do to not get taken out all these guys who have produced more have a security blanket where Teddy and JJ don't that makes it a lot harder because they know if they don't score they are out , if they make one defensive mistake they are out, if they take a penalty they are out. It's just way to hard for them to do anything with circumstances like those.
- blizzzard

This is very true. It's impossible to get any consistency in your game when the only thing consistent for you during the season is that you will practice for weeks at a time and never play a game. Some of it is on the players but at the same time Jacques made these guys look serviceable if not like legitamately good prospects. Since PDB has come in they have been banished and become the whipping boys. It's bullpoop that Gio got 20 games in a row earlier before he got hurt and Jo can barely get 3. Gio does not provide that much to warrant so many games in a row. I hate to start hating on the guy but it's frustrating when he is played this much.

That is a guy that Kovalchuk completely carried. Some people might say Parise and Kovy made Henrique seem better then he is but Henrique can play and can be a great player he is a hell of a penalty killer isn't horrible at f/o's can create offense on his own and for others. I have been saying this for a while but a lot of the guys we brought in and have to be secondary scorers are guys who can't do anything for themselves they are all johnny on the spot guys who need elite talent and are good round out pieces for a team but you can't have to many of them and we do.
- blizzzard

And whats worse is they put Boucher on the line with Lokti and Janssen!
I think for Boucher's own benefit he should go back to Albany and not be paired with such crappy linemates which will only hinder his progress at this point.

And whats worse is they put Boucher on the line with Lokti and Janssen!
I think for Boucher's own benefit he should go back to Albany and not be paired with such crappy linemates which will only hinder his progress at this point.
- FAZOOL

Loktionov can be effective but we already have Ryder and Brunner getting the bulk of the time with guys who can help them produce. To many guys who need someone else to carry them and not enough guys who can carry themselves and others on this team. I am really hoping with all the guys getting healthy we can move a few of these guys who need to be hand fed to be good. Loktionov would be the perfect guy to move so that Either Henrique can constantly play center again or so JJ can get in the line up on a regular basis.

And whats worse is they put Boucher on the line with Lokti and Janssen!
I think for Boucher's own benefit he should go back to Albany and not be paired with such crappy linemates which will only hinder his progress at this point.
- FAZOOL

Yes lets not Teddy and Josefson the guy. Should definitely send him back soon. Maybe call him up later on if he continues to play good in the AHL. I was thinking maybe after WJC call up Matteau? He's a big body something we could always use more of and he has more skill than say Bernie/Gio and others who have been getting top 6 roles. May be worth it to try him out up here with Patty and Clowe or something.

Yes lets not Teddy and Josefson the guy.
- NickA

I am sure Lou think he would benefit more getting 4th line minutes then first line minutes and albany

Loktionov can be effective but we already have Ryder and Brunner getting the bulk of the time with guys who can help them produce. To many guys who need someone else to carry them and not enough guys who can carry themselves and others on this team. I am really hoping with all the guys getting healthy we can move a few of these guys who need to be hand fed to be good. Loktionov would be the perfect guy to move so that Either Henrique can constantly play center again or so JJ can get in the line up on a regular basis.
- blizzzard

Should def look to do this. JJ needs to play even if he doesn't improve that much he should eventually be able to round out into a Sami Pahlson type of player. Probably won't be as physical as him but you get the point. A smart two-way center who isn't a liability on the ice. You know A guy who helps you win hockey games.

Loktionov can be effective
- blizzzard

Lately he's effective at zero puck possession and turning over the puck at a high rate.
The negatives by far out weigh the positives with this guy, time to move on.

I am sure Lou think he would benefit more getting 4th line minutes then first line minutes and albany
- blizzzard

Cam Janssen is the shining example for all our young guys to learn from. Screw watching or playing with Jagr and Elias. Get em with CAM!

Should def look to do this. JJ needs to play even if he doesn't improve that much he should eventually be able to round out into a Sami Pahlson type of player. Probably won't be as physical as him but you get the point. A smart two-way center who isn't a liability on the ice. You know A guy who helps you win hockey games.
- NickA

Then he would be a Pete favorite. He loves guys who are either way over the hill or have no talent at all. Yea you need guys who try really hard but at the same time you need guys who can play hockey and play it well. (frank) I am sure if you volunteered to do suicides for an entire practice Pete would let you play in a game and give you 15 minutes of ice.

Lately he's effective at zero puck possession and turning over the puck at a high rate.
The negatives by far out weigh the positives with this guy, time to move on.
- FAZOOL

No for sure I meant he is like the rest of them. They all can be effective we just don't have enough Jagr's and Elias' to make them all succeed. We seen he can play... with Kovalchuk but he can't without an elite talent so move him to a team that has a lot more overall skill and he would likely be an effective 3rd line scorer. We just don't have the pieces to make all these guys good and to be honest we should be grooming more guys to be players like Jagr and Elias instead of making them claw like grinders for their existance in the NHL. Young skill guys should not be treated or used as or with 4th line muckers and grinders they just will not succeed it's pretty obvious but Pete seems to think that is how hockey players are made.

Cam Janssen is the shining example for all our young guys to learn from. Screw watching or playing with Jagr and Elias. Get em with CAM!
- NickA

We want to follow the Buffalo plan and Grigorenko all our young skill guys.

That is a guy that Kovalchuk completely carried. Some people might say Parise and Kovy made Henrique seem better then he is but Henrique can play and can be a great player he is a hell of a penalty killer isn't horrible at f/o's can create offense on his own and for others. I have been saying this for a while but a lot of the guys we brought in and have to be secondary scorers are guys who can't do anything for themselves they are all johnny on the spot guys who need elite talent and are good round out pieces for a team but you can't have to many of them and we do.
- blizzzard

What do you surmise the type of player that Henrique can develop into? 20g-30a-50pt? Is that too idealistic?

I have been watching them and liking Matteau a little more each time but still not sold on him quite yet but Santini is a stud can't wait to finally have a mobile bruiser back there. Who sat out for Sal and Clowe ? and how did they play ? has Boucher been sent back down ?
- blizzzard

I'm a fan of matteau