I don't know. Seems like there are some around here who are Semin lovers.
- keptupl8

And it's shocking who seems to like him as well.

I think he's gone.

He's my poster child for effort. He worked his ass off. Even scored goals with his ass. Full effort, every shift, every night. And for a while people were saying similar things. They would rather have Mair on the third line than Stafford (or insert your own mediocre forward.) But for all that effort, there was very little results. Gerbe is turning into that for me. He tries really, really hard and it's easy to get behind that kind of hard work. But that all out effort make people blind to the results of his play. He often makes terrible passes. He often receives passes and can't handle them. He often hangs on too long and tries to do too much and coughs up the puck. But he does it all with heart, so it's Ok.

If Gerbe can't work his way up to being a top 6 forward and can't put up the numbers to match, then I don't see how we have a place for him.

And BTW - I'm a big fan of hard work and heart. We need more of that, not less. But watch him play. Really study him. He stifles offensive play a lot, especially in transition. Or he'll battle his ass off along the boards, come up with the puck, and one of those bonehead passes comes next, instead of a smart pass or making the easy play. Watch him specifically. I promise you will see it.
- keptupl8

Yep, that's the mindset of the Buffalo fan: enamored with the blue-collar player.

You knows what's maddening? When they went on that 5-0-1 stretch the past couple weeks they were making exceptionally good passes. It was like watching a different team. They have the ability to do it, but for what ever reason they just don't most of the time.
- Pierceme69

They were playing for Patrick

Fighting majors aren't necessarily the best indicator, especially in this day and age when more than half of them are staged. You don't see the Rangers doing things like Lucic into Miller, or insert-the-latest-Brad-Marchand-incident here. There's a reason why they kept playing musical roster spots with Sean Avery. I'm not saying they're not a tough team, but the Rangers, unlike Boston, can also play a skill game when they have to. If you match them physically, or even exhibit that their physical game doesn't bother you, they can and will put the puck in the net. It's why they have the likes of Marion Gaborik and Brad Richards. If you do that to Boston, they start a parade to the penalty box because they get frustrated with it. Detroit, Vancouver, Buffalo, and others have all shown it this year. The way to beat Boston is to be like that kid on the playground that's no fun to fight, not because he'll beat you up, but because he'll always get up for more, and never admit that you beat him, no matter how bloody his face is. That tactic doesn't work against the Rangers, because they also have more of a skill side to their game as well.
- buffalofan19

Ok, agree to disagree I guess.

They were playing for Patrick
- Full Throttle

Really? Two bad games back to back at home vs non playoffs teams tells you they were playing for Patrick?

Except the good ones
- Full Throttle

for example?

MY POST..has everything to do with Gerbe..people are applauding his effort...

we were discussing effort vs talent....

my question is my question..would you trade Gerbe for Semin straight up
- Ripped Fuel

Applauding his effort and understanding his true worth can be done with the same brain.

The answer to your trade is no, in every way.
I don't want a guy who is making $6M+ who tries when he feels like it, is known for sulking, and might just want to run home to the KHL.

Now, if you replace Semin with Doan for Gerbe, I would say yes 1000000 times.

Really? Two bad games back to back at home vs non playoffs teams tells you they were playing for Patrick?
- Homer

Sure, what other reason do you have?

most 22 y/o are inconsistant
- Homer

Especially when they're playing defense. They say it takes longer to develop those guys than any other position.

Fowler is a good example of that. He's 20 and has been inconsistent as well.

Yep, that's the mindset of the Buffalo fan: enamored with the blue-collar player.
- buffalofan19

which we dont have enough of...you can be blue-collar and still skilled, IE Callahan, Simmonds, Lucic ect. We dont have a single guy like that.

for example?
- Homer

Its a long list...starting from Orr to Stamkos.

They deserve it with the path they have taken the last 2-3 years, developing their own talent.
Look at their young forwards and especially their young D.

They simply augmented with the big money spent on Richards.

They built a team the way you should.
- kingcong39

They will never win a cup. You can't win a cup if your goalie makes more than $6 mil. That's a fact. I think it's in the Bible. Or the farmer's almanac. I'll have to get back to you.

and no scoring
- Ripped Fuel

Last year, BOS ended up 8th in the league in scoring.
Right now, NYR are 2nd.


just sayin'...

Especially when they're playing defense. They say it takes longer to develop those guys than any other position.

Fowler is a good example of that. He's 20 and has been inconsistent as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

exactly........plus when you're 6'8 you gotta grow into your body too.

They will never win a cup. You can't win a cup if your goalie makes more than $6 mil. That's a fact. I think it's in the Bible. Or the farmer's almanac. I'll have to get back to you.
- keptupl8

Fantastic post! hahaha

which we dont have enough of...you can be blue-collar and still skilled, IE Callahan, Simmonds, Lucic ect. We dont have a single guy like that.
- Homer

The point there though, is, like Ripped and other said, is that they have talent as well, which, at the end of the day, is what wins. Having a toughness to your game, makes your life easier, there's no question. However, if you have toughness with no talent, you're nothing more than a feel good story. Talent without toughness still makes you more valuable in some instances.

They will never win a cup. You can't win a cup if your goalie makes more than $6 mil. That's a fact. I think it's in the Bible. Or the farmer's almanac. I'll have to get back to you.
- keptupl8

Lundqvist's stats have a significant drop off in the playoffs. Kind of reminds me of Nabokov in SJ.

exactly........plus when you're 6'8 you gotta grow into your body too.
- Homer

Well lets just sit here and watch the guy mature into his body and admire Gerbe for his work ethic.

Last year, BOS ended up 8th in the league in scoring.
Right now, NYR are 2nd.


just sayin'...
- Purple Eagle

NHL.com shows that last year was Bos was 3rd in the NHL in scoring (we were 4th) and NYR is 7th right now.

where did u get your numbers?

I don't know. Seems like there are some around here who are Semin lovers.
- keptupl8

Lundqvist's stats have a significant drop off in the playoffs. Kind of reminds me of Nabokov in SJ.
- HonkFortheGoose

And Rangers fans have complained about his post season play every single year they have made the playoffs.
It's similar to the grief Miller gets here.

for example?
- Homer

Karlsson, Del Zotto, Alzner....

Especially when they're playing defense. They say it takes longer to develop those guys than any other position.

Fowler is a good example of that. He's 20 and has been inconsistent as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Look at Zdeno Chara. He wasn't fully the dominant player until he went to Boston. Remember, the Senators chose to sign Wade Redden over him because Buffalo victimized him in the 2006 playoffs. They didn't feel he was ready to build a team around, and he wasn't until a couple of years later.

NHL.com shows that last year was Bos was 3rd in the NHL in scoring (we were 4th) and NYR is 7th right now.

where did u get your numbers?
- Homer

NHL.com

Sorry: refreshing page took me to defaults instead of g/g

Karlsson, Del Zotto, Alzner....
- Ripped Fuel

Everybody who is considered great has been 22 and in the NHL