Ryan Wilson: Favorite players - Atlantic Division Favorite players - Atlantic Division

First!

Carey Price deserves some love in Montreal.

Zetterberg and Bergeron are gamers!

Ottawa - Erik Karlsson

This was a no-brainer. He's one of my favorite hockey players, period. He is a remarkably talented player who does literally everything for the Senators.


- Ryan_Wilson

He doesn't Zamboni the ice.

He doesn't wash the towels.

He doesn't sharpen skates.

He doesn't play net.

He doesn't draft players.

So no, Mr. Wilson, he does not literally do everything for the Senators.

I've watched his highlights and I'm really impressed by Casey Mittelstadt. The guy has a very high hockey IQ, great hands and vision. Buffalo did very well picking him. Pure skill.

From the last thread:

Cullen and his 11g and 11a is replacing Kuhnhackle with his 2g and 8a. Plus he's a vet center who will occasionally be used in that capacity.

I would ask you, why doesn't Sheary's last two playoff performances matter? When the physicality and obstruction pick up, Sheary gets pushed around like a child. He becomes nothing but a useless perimeter player.

Rutherford is taking an educated gamble that a combination of Simon, ZAR and Sprong can somehow match Sheary's lofty 2 goals in his last 34 playoff games while all 3 combined make less than him.
- madmike71

Cullen didn't replace Kuhnhackl. Sheary would have had that spot. If you think Cullen is better off than Sheary in the line-up then we are at an impasse.

I mean I get it but I feel like the reactions of him gone are a bit overboard due to who we picked up rather than Sheary actually being gone. I'm more excited of having a full season of Brass, be it on wing or at center. This is in no way the final team that hits the ice for the playoffs.
- 668710

Well yeah, of course. Who's disputing that? I'm a fan of Sheary, but it's not like I think he's some irreplaceable elite player, but if the Pens are going to move him or any player for that matter it shouldn't create a new weakness in the lineup.

Why would you be excited about Brass at wing? We go through this crap every single year. Over and over we see how the Pens' model succeeds with strength down the middle. Brass moving to wing now creates two scenarios: Sheahan at 3C with either Cullen or friggin Grant at 4C.

We had this stupid argument before last season and everyone was like "give it a chance," they don't need that depth down the middle if there's strength on the wings. We are just going to through this song and dance again.

Look, I have faith that Sprong will be a good player, but I don't know that yet. I think Simon is a solid player, but he's not half as good as Sheary and ZAR is honestly still a unknown at this point.

We had this stupid argument before last season and everyone was like "give it a chance," they don't need that depth down the middle if there's strength on the wings. We are just going to through this song and dance again.
- Rinosaur

I don't recall ANYONE suggesting Rowney and McKegg was okay as a long-term thing, just that (like JR said) they could get by until they found a center deal to their liking. And then they found two.

And there's a big difference between Rowney/McKegg and Sheahan/Cullen if Brassard does end up on the wing.

I don't recall ANYONE suggesting Rowney and McKegg was okay as a long-term thing, just that (like JR said) they could get by until they found a center deal to their liking. And then they found two.

And there's a big difference between Rowney/McKegg and Sheahan/Cullen if Brassard does end up on the wing.
- hardnosed

Yes, big difference, however it’s not as good as Brass/Sheahan with Sheary over Cullen

He doesn't Zamboni the ice.

He doesn't wash the towels.

He doesn't sharpen skates.

He doesn't play net.

He doesn't draft players.

So no, Mr. Wilson, he does not literally do everything for the Senators.
- Atomic Wedgie

He doesn't sell the hot dogs for when Phil comes to the arena

Zeke. Arguably one of the best of the last fifteen years.

From the last thread:



Cullen didn't replace Kuhnhackl. Sheary would have had that spot. If you think Cullen is better off than Sheary in the line-up then we are at an impasse.
- Rinosaur

We're at an impasse then. I believe in bottom 6 players with versatility. If they're going through a dry stretch offensively, at least they can play sound defensive hockey. Connor Sheary is extremely streaky and when he goes dry with the offense he's useless. Even worse than useless 'cause he can't PK and he's a turnover machine in physical games with tons of obstruction....which is basically why his past two playoffs were gawd awful. Teams know how to defend him and turn him into a perimeter player.

Under a million dollars, I'm fine with players like him. At 3 mil, it's not acceptable for him to be scratch material in the playoffs.

We're at an impasse then. I believe in bottom 6 players with versatility. If they're going through a dry stretch offensively, at least they can play sound defensive hockey. Connor Sheary is extremely streaky and when he goes dry with the offense he's useless. Even worse than useless 'cause he can't PK and he's a turnover machine in physical games with tons of obstruction....which is basically why his past two playoffs were gawd awful. Teams know how to defend him and turn him into a perimeter player.

Under a million dollars, I'm fine with players like him. At 3 mil, it's not acceptable for him to be scratch material in the playoffs.
- madmike71

We are definitely at an impasse. You and I are able to disagree cordially, so please don't take personally, but I think you're wrong about everything you've stated about him lol.

He doesn't commit turnovers any more than some of the best players on the Pens. He's actually quite good at forechecking, creating turnovers, retrieving pucks and zone entries/exits.

Yes, he can get physically outmatched at times, but people who aren't fans of his will generally jump on those each and every time rather than not see the many other times he comes out with the puck.

This Sheary bias is 100% rooted in the fact he's not a physically imposing player. This is not a slight against Rust because I'm a big fan of his, but Sheary is the better player, yet that's overshadowed because of Rust's physical play and driving to the net.

They're nearly identical in terms of offensive production both in the regular season and post-season, but nobody complains about Rust three measly points this year.

Sheary is actually better defensively than Rust. Rust also starts the season slow and then picks up in the second half of the season, so he's equally as inconsistent production-wise.

EDIT: Sheary and Rust are about equal defensively.

I've watched his highlights and I'm really impressed by Casey Mittelstadt. The guy has a very high hockey IQ, great hands and vision. Buffalo did very well picking him. Pure skill.
- Barnaby36

My team was very very lucky to get him at that stage of the draft. Hopefully he pans out for us so we can see some entertaining hockey again.

This Sheary bias is 100% rooted in the fact he's not a physically imposing player. This is not a slight against Rust because I'm a big fan of his, but Sheary is the better player, yet that's overshadowed because of Rust's physical play and driving to the net.

They're nearly identical in terms of offensive production both in the regular season and post-season, but nobody complains about Rust three measly points this year.

Sheary is actually better defensively than Rust. Rust also starts the season slow and then picks up in the second half of the season, so he's equally as inconsistent production-wise.

EDIT: Sheary and Rust are about equal defensively.
- Rinosaur

Yes, cordially.... I think everything you've written is wrong. You can play Rust in virtually any wing position at any time in the game. Right or left. 1st to 4th line. Plus he PK's. Who do you think is more likely to be on the ice with 1 min left with the Pens leading by 1? That's all you need to know about whose better defensively. Sheary is more skillful, but far less reliable. I don't mean to nitpick, but it was Sheary riding the pine for large minutes in the playoffs not Rust.

Again. 2 goals in his last 34 playoff games for Sheary and 6 total for all 3 years. Rust has 10 in his last 35....including some extremely clutch ones. 16 total over 3 years. To me, these are the only stats that matter.

This Sheary bias is 100% rooted in the fact he's not a physically imposing player.
- Rinosaur

No, it's rooted in the fact that he's utterly useless in the playoffs.

Ducks are bringing back the old logo

No, it's rooted in the fact that he's utterly useless in the playoffs.
- hardnosed

Or in this case, recency bias.

10/10 blog just for mentioning Matthews

Or in this case, recency bias.
- Feds91Stammer

Yep, recency bias from the spring of 2017.

Just wondering who should JR have dealt to give Sprong & co. a chance in the NHL? With so many wingers & Sprong needing waivers now (I could be wrong on that so correct me if I am wrong , players were either riding the pine for periods (games not actual periods of a game), or the waiver exempt younger players not playing & developing in the NHL?

It I said very strange the C depth in the team now though unless there's a trade coming. Playing guys out of position isn't a thing I really like no meat the sport.

Ducks are bringing back the old logo
- Guile

Really? This is great. I really like the Ducks 🦆. How about the colours? Are they staying the same?

Or in this case, recency bias.
- Feds91Stammer

Feds trust me, Sheary isn't that good. He's got some speed but lacks physical play and is easy to get off the puck. He's smart and will get to the pucks I'll give you that.

Yep, recency bias from the spring of 2017.
- hardnosed

Sheahan is pure poop. To be fair, he did provide the best image of all time when he was arrested as a purple teletubby.

Sheary 2017-18

Better 5v5 G60 than: Carter, Duchene, Nyquist, E. Kane, Athanasiou, Maroon, Kuznetsov, Barzal, Brassard, T. Johnson, Tkachuk, etc. (its a long list)

Better 5v5 P60 than: Saad, Silfverberg, Foligno, Rust, Eller, Hagelin, Oshie, E. Lindholm, Hornqvist, Henrique, etc. (another big list)

Go ahead and sell Sheary short because he had 2 consecutive playoff seasons where his shooting percentage was astronomically off from his career average.