Some vets just can't make that adjustment. Back in the late 70s the Flyers tried to make Rick Macleish a LW, it just didn't work. They also tried it with Mel Bridgman around 80, 81 and he just wasn't as good a player at LW. It's usually best to make a switch like that when a player is much younger. Guys like Pelle Eklund, Murray Craven and Simon Gagne made the switch from C to LW between the ages of 19-22.
- BiggE

It shouldn't take a vet like Vinny even half a season to adjust to the responsibilities of a LW. He's been around the game long enough, he knows exactly what the LW responsibilities are. It's a matter of if he can and wants to do it. Judging by his quotes and his play on the ice, I question both. If he's healthy enough to play, he's not injured and it's not a valid excuse.

My guess, and its only a guess, is that they feel that Gustafsson can only be effective as a 3rd pairing guy who doesn't get matched up against top lines. As Bill has said, he gets "protected" minutes.
- BiggE

Ideally, Mez, Gus and Streit should all be getting "protected" minutes, so they can be more free to take offensive risks, jump into the play, etc. None of them are solid enough all-around to handle tough defensive assignments and drive play against good players like Kimmo's still able to do.

But Gus' all-around game may improve with experience and actual playing time... whereas Streit and Mez are basically WYSISYG.

Ideally, Mez, Gus and Streit should all be getting "protected" minutes, so they can be more free to take offensive risks, jump into the play, etc. None of them are solid enough all-around to handle tough defensive assignments and drive play against good players like Kimmo's still able to do.

But Gus' all-around game may improve with experience and actual playing time... whereas Streit and Mez are basically WYSISYG.
- Tomahawk

I think your missing a W?

Nothing wrong with it.
- BiggE

Exactly. If a player like Gustafsson can come in and give solid 3rd pair minutes, add mobility to the lineup, and do it for a cheap cap hit of 1M, then that helps give you some flexibility to do other things elsewhere in the lineup. I personally want to see Gustafsson get some consistent minutes. I understand why they want to play Meszaros, but I guess there is competition for icetime there.

I think your missing a W?
- Just5

It shouldn't take a vet like Vinny even half a season to adjust to the responsibilities of a LW. He's been around the game long enough, he knows exactly what the LW responsibilities are. It's a matter of if he can and wants to do it. Judging by his quotes and his play on the ice, I question both. If he's healthy enough to play, he's not injured and it's not a valid excuse.
- Just5

Lecavalier hasn't been playing LW for half the Season. I know what the LW responsibilities are, does that mean I can play it? Being healthy enough to play, doesn't mean a player is 100%. Look at Giroux in the beginning of the Season. Was he healthy enough to play? What effected him in the beginning of the Season when he level of play was clearly different then it was later in this Season.

Unrelated question. I use Firefox as my I browser. For some reason the toolbars on top and bottom of the screen have disappeared. How do I get them back?

It shouldn't take a vet like Vinny even half a season to adjust to the responsibilities of a LW. He's been around the game long enough, he knows exactly what the LW responsibilities are. It's a matter of if he can and wants to do it. Judging by his quotes and his play on the ice, I question both. If he's healthy enough to play, he's not injured and it's not a valid excuse.
- Just5

Its not so much the responsibilities, I'm sure he understands what he's supposed to do. However, the NHL game is a very fast paced game and it's not easy to overcome 20 years of instincts that one develops playing center. He'll make the right play, but even a slight hesitation can be costly at this level and that's why its so hard for an older player to make this kind of adjustment.

Ideally, Mez, Gus and Streit should all be getting "protected" minutes, so they can be more free to take offensive risks, jump into the play, etc. None of them are solid enough all-around to handle tough defensive assignments and drive play against good players like Kimmo's still able to do.

But Gus' all-around game may improve with experience and actual playing time... whereas Streit and Mez are basically WYSISYG.
- Tomahawk

Pretty much
The Flyers are loaded with 4th, 5th and 6th dmen to say the least.

Unrelated question. I use Firefox as my I browser. For some reason the toolbars on top and bottom of the screen have disappeared. How do I get them back?
- MJL

view > toolbars?

(Sorry, I'm on Chrome, not sure what the labels are in Firefox)

Lecavalier hasn't been playing LW for half the Season. I know what the LW responsibilities are, does that mean I can play it? Being healthy enough to play, doesn't mean a player is 100%. Look at Giroux in the beginning of the Season. Was he healthy enough to play? What effected him in the beginning of the Season when he level of play was clearly different then it was later in this Season.
- MJL

No you can't play it bc you suck, like me and everyone else. Lecavaliers not fast nor physical along the walls, when is this going to creep back into his game? He's in the hole regardless of injury.

No you can't play it bc you suck, like me and everyone else. Lecavaliers not fast nor physical along the walls, when is this going to creep back into his game? He's in the hole regardless of injury.
- Just5

Lecavalier hasn't been fast his entire career, hasn't stopped him from becoming a good player. I disagree that he isn't physical along the wall. I think a lot is being invented here. The hole that he is being put in is the scapegoat of the fans.

Here is the bottom line here. He was a pretty good player before the injury. He was hard on the puck and hard around the net, and scoring at a 30+ goal pace. He sustains a serious injury, and is moved to a different position. Now all of a sudden he can't play? If there is any question surrounding Lecavalier, it's is the back injury going to be something that is going to become chronic and affect him going forward? Playing a new position and adjusting to it, isn't the worry.

Its not so much the responsibilities, I'm sure he understands what he's supposed to do. However, the NHL game is a very fast paced game and it's not easy to overcome 20 years of instincts that one develops playing center. He'll make the right play, but even a slight hesitation can be costly at this level and that's why its so hard for an older player to make this kind of adjustment.
- BiggE

Problem for him (and Baby Schenn), is that the wing requires a lot more skating, and you end up handling the puck less than when you're in the middle. You also don't have near the same amount of time to make a play, since you're almost always half a second from getting creamed into the boards.

Centers have more overall responsibilities, but they have more ice to work with and they can usually hang up high on the play as the 2nd/3rd guy in the zone. For a guy like Vinny, who's game is predicated on vision and that slapper, being the first guy in the zone, mucking around in the corners and getting to the front of the net isn't exactly tailor made to his game.

Unrelated question. I use Firefox as my I browser. For some reason the toolbars on top and bottom of the screen have disappeared. How do I get them back?
- MJL

Try the F11 key...

Problem for him (and Baby Schenn), is that the wing requires a lot more skating, and you end up handling the puck less than when you're in the middle. You also don't have near the same amount of time to make a play, since you're almost always half a second from getting creamed into the boards.

Centers have more overall responsibilities, but they have more ice to work with and they can usually hang up high on the play as the 2nd/3rd guy in the zone. For a guy like Vinny, who's game is predicated on vision and that slapper, being the first guy in the zone, mucking around in the corners and getting to the front of the net isn't exactly tailor made to his game.
- Tomahawk

Getting in on the forecheck and going to the net was exactly what Lecavalier's game was and why he was so effective in the beginning of the Season. He's never been the kind of Center that holds the puck and draws players to him and then distributes. He's a north south player who goes hard to the net.

Try the F11 key...
- tangent_man

You are the man! Thank you!

Really, stating Vinny was simply a WTF signing is all personal opinion. I think it was a great signing and makes perfect sense.
- MJL

Really?

You are the man! Thank you!
- MJL

You're welcome. It happened to me recently when the cat decided to lay on my laptop keyboard.

So who else is scared that if they loose today homer is going to do something stupid

Really?
- wilsonecho91

Really!

Getting in on the forecheck and going to the net was exactly what Lecavalier's game was and why he was so effective in the beginning of the Season. He's never been the kind of Center that holds the puck and draws players to him and then distributes. He's a north south player who goes hard to the net.
- MJL

Ive never really seen that aspect of his game. He's always been a bit finesse for a guy his size. Thats why Ive never really liked him as a player. I always thought St. Louis was the most important player on those good Lightning teams.

Getting in on the forecheck and going to the net was exactly what Lecavalier's game was and why he was so effective in the beginning of the Season. He's never been the kind of Center that holds the puck and draws players to him and then distributes. He's a north south player who goes hard to the net.
- MJL

I think you and Tomahawk are both right to some extent, either way its still going to be very difficult for any player at age 34, who's played only 1 position basically since he was a peewee, to switch to a new position.

So who else is scared that if they loose today homer is going to do something stupid
- PhillaBully

May also happen if they win

Ive never really seen that aspect of his game. He's always been a bit finesse for a guy his size. Thats why Ive never really liked him as a player. I always thought St. Louis was the most important player on those good Lightning teams.
- PhillySportsGuy

True to some extent, but in his prime Vinnie would mix it up especially in big games.

Really!
- MJL

Ok then just making sure