Dan Spiegel: No Garrison? No Problem. Release The Strachan!

Dan Spiegel: No Garrison? No Problem. Release The Strachan!
- spiegs13

I dont think Strachan is the new Garrison, but I do think between him and Ellerby, you will replace Garrisons contributions

Absolutely not.

I liked Strachan. He is a very good serviceable d-man. He is the right guy to call up when necessary. He can play a good few stretch of games, but anything over five games and you start to see inconsistency.

Campbell-Kuba
Kulikov-Weaver
Jovo-Ellerby
Strachan
Rookie(s)

Absolutely not.

I liked Strachan. He is a very good serviceable d-man. He is the right guy to call up when necessary. He can play a good few stretch of games, but anything over five games and you start to see inconsistency.

Campbell-Kuba
Kulikov-Weaver
Jovo-Ellerby
Strachan
Rookie(s)
- HTRmikster

Could that inconsistency only be a result of lack of experience? Could that inconsistency be rectified with regular playing time? He certainly looked as good if not better than the more experienced Ellerby when he was called up last year. Best case scenario is they both improve with regular ice time and become dependable top 4 defensemen.

Release the kraken

Absolutely not.

I liked Strachan. He is a very good serviceable d-man. He is the right guy to call up when necessary. He can play a good few stretch of games, but anything over five games and you start to see inconsistency.

Campbell-Kuba
Kulikov-Weaver
Jovo-Ellerby
Strachan
Rookie(s)
- HTRmikster

Gudbranson?

Release the kraken


- ikyan

love that stuff

He could but I don't think he will be able to score goals. Maybe set them up for rebounds but he doesn't have the same power garrison has. His slapshot has the accuracy just not the power.

Strachan isn't Top 4 D material. He's good for a point every 10 games or so, and isn't a major liability when given protected, bottom pairing minutes.

Strachan isn't Top 4 D material. He's good for a point every 10 games or so, and isn't a major liability when given protected, bottom pairing minutes.
- Antilles

He may surprise you. I think given the opportunity he could turn out just like garrison not in the same way but I more mean as a late bloomer time will tell.

Ok gotta say that blog title was sick. Carry on.

Ok gotta say that blog title was sick. Carry on.
- wolfos412

Agreed.

I think Strachan is a great replacement defensively for Garrison, maybe not so much on offense. But give some time, I think he will impress a few people. I liked him when he was up last season. He isn't afraid to shoot the puck. Unlike Ellerby, he is no liability in his own end... and to the above who said Ellerby was a better fit, you clearly never noticed Keaton pass the puck... seemingly on purpose... to the other team. You did bring a good point to light, though. Garrison was only has good on offense last year as Campbell's passes were to him on the PP. He never carried it himself. He never drove the net. He stood there cocked-n-locked ready to crank a one-timer home.

Strachan is an interesting piece of the puzzle. I watched his game last season pretty closely trying to figure out why he was getting time over Ellerby. I have to say this, the guy is a very, very solid defensive zone d-man. He actually routinely was matching (in away games especially) the other team's top forwards and I could not believe how well he did. He is a 3-4 top d-man in his own zone and is very decent on the outlet passes in the breakout. He was also far more effective than Jovo (and when paired with him- bailed him out regularly).

I doubt that he is going to bring us anything special on offense. Campbell is going to make anyone he plays with that much better (as he did with Garrison). Either Kuba or Gudbranson is IMHO gonna be the guy to go with Soupy. I also still believe that Ellerby has a lot to add (and I remember the pass to a Winipeg Jet perfectly- but it was one pass, he did a lot of good things).

All in all, we are set at defense.....if there is a season.

Stop. just stop.

Could that inconsistency only be a result of lack of experience? Could that inconsistency be rectified with regular playing time? He certainly looked as good if not better than the more experienced Ellerby when he was called up last year. Best case scenario is they both improve with regular ice time and become dependable top 4 defensemen.
- spiegs13

Not at that age. I mean, obviously some d-men (like Weaver) are late bloomers, but we can't say "he may blossom at a later stage" and play him. He has to prove a lot in training camp and by any means, if he wins a spot then he deserves it. But, from what we know thus far, he is not the guy you want to depend on after losing Garrison.

To simply put it, Strachan and Garrison do not belong in the same sentence.

Gudbranson?
- Fosco

Ouch. Off-season in Florida with too much sun does weird things to you. Yes. Gudbransson in there definitely.


So, Ellerby and Strachan will fight for #7.

I really like what Strachan brought to the Blues. Grit, toughness, willingness to block shots. Exactly what a team wants with one of their 7th-9th guys on the depth chart. That's just who he is. I don't expect him to break out like Garrison did. To do so would require a type of play that is not his style.

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