- May 1, 2011
- 130,264
- 57,681
Why do people think The addition of Ruutu makes Zubrus redundant?
Because Zubrus isn't good anymore. He had 7 points after Christmas. Ruutu is a younger and better version.
Why do people think The addition of Ruutu makes Zubrus redundant?
Because Zubrus isn't good anymore. He had 7 points after Christmas. Ruutu is a younger and better version.
Does Ruutu kill penalties? Because if he doesn't then he may look like Ryder if he is not scoring for us next year. At least Zubrus kills penalties.
i like stephen gionta because he's paid his dues and never floats or takes a shift off and has a blue collar mentality about his game, i also like ryan carter and what he brings to the table and i hope he makes it back to the team but what do i know w/e
This right here!
I've never understood all the hate for Gio. He plays the game hard every night and isn't a liability out there. Surprisingly, he's one of our best hitters out there too. Gio never is afraid to take the body. He's also a pretty good PKer wether anyone on here wants to admit it or not. The only beef I have with Gionta is he has a horrendous shot. He's got some good speed and sometimes breakway speed, but usually when he gets one-on-one with the net-minder, he usually throws it right into the pads or logo.
All-in-all, I want Gio back on the team. Even though he's a small guy, he's still a good grinder for our 4th. Say what you will but I like the guy.
This right here!
I've never understood all the hate for Gio. He plays the game hard every night and isn't a liability out there. Surprisingly, he's one of our best hitters out there too. Gio never is afraid to take the body. He's also a pretty good PKer wether anyone on here wants to admit it or not. The only beef I have with Gionta is he has a horrendous shot. He's got some good speed and sometimes breakway speed, but usually when he gets one-on-one with the net-minder, he usually throws it right into the pads or logo.
All-in-all, I want Gio back on the team. Even though he's a small guy, he's still a good grinder for our 4th. Say what you will but I like the guy.
If Gio was 6'2 no one would have an issue with him on our 4th line.
For his role he is fine.
Gio should not be on the ice in the last five minutes of the game.
He was out there for a number of goals in the final minute of regulation to either tie or lose the game. I seem to remember that it happened twice in three games during one particularly rough stretch, but I could be making that up.
Regardless, it's a concern when a player with limited reach and ability to break up passes is on the ice late in the game, and it's an even bigger concern when he finds himself among a select few players on a shortened bench when doing so. Even more so when the team is a fringe playoff team, like last year.
when you have to say "he plays the game hard" as the first thing in defense of him, it probably means he stinks
he IS a liability out there. someone please post the advanced stats that shows how much.
Gionta isn't a terrible 4th line winger, but he has no business at center.
I think we all wind up getting caught in some of these narratives, especially after a disappointing season. It seems like we want definitive blame to point our fingers at.
We repeat a point enough, it feels true.
Re: Gionta/final minutes of regulation/liability etc. etc.
Don't ask me why I decided to do this, but I took a look at all the 1 goal games that were decisive in the final 8 minutes (as in, either won by 1 goal or sent to OT)
I came up with 20 games. 12 games with us scoring, 8 with the opposition getting the final tally in regulation.
Of those 8 games, Stephen Gionta was on the ice for the decisive goal in 1. That was the game against Colorado where Roy pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock and an oddball collection of players were stuck on the ice for ~2minute shift (Elias, Bernier, Gionta, Merrill, Harrold)
You too can relive the fun using http://www.shiftchart.com/
This I agree with. Especially because he gets buried with defensive zone shifts and takes a significant amount of PK time. Being able to win a faceoff or two and not waste time chasing the puck with 4th liners out there would be nothing but a benefit.
Anyway, all that being said, Gionta is a liability in the way that any average 4th liner is. You put them out there to take the ****** draws, to play against the face punchers, and to not make your top 9 not play 55min/game. Not to be a skilled hockey player.
If you were worried about him out there with a 1 goal lead/deficit in the final 5 minutes of a game on a regular basis, it's because we played the most 1 goal/EN games of any other team in the NHL this season.
b Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
65 of New Jersey's games were decided by a single goal or empty netter, most in the NHL. Their record in such games was 23rd.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108400641085440
Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
89 of Colorado's points came in games decided by a single goal and/or empty netter (41-11-7). No other team was above 74 pts. (ANA, MIN).
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108616521936896
Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
If NJ had COL's record in one-goal and empty net games, they'd have 114 points, one back of Boston.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455110506588545024
We didn't even have to win a damn shootout. A difference of 5 extra goals could have sent this team to the postseason - maybe even less when you consider how many turds we laid against Columbus.
Anyway, regarding Gionta. Here's the most important part. We are finally in a position to use him strictly as a 4th liner again. Lack of depth forced him to play above his head for more games than a below 4th liner should. But using him in the right role again, with 3 actual NHL lines ahead of him is a hell of a lot better than rolling out Boulton-Mills-Janssen or the likes of it.
EDIT
TL;DR: Gionta should be the least of our concerns.
if jacob josefson was half the professional stephen gionta is maybe he wouldn't be scratched so often.
maybe that swedish stay puft marshmellow man adam larsson should work a summer or two in the gionta hardware store so he can stop being so sensitive and maybe not have that stupid look on his face all the time
I think we all wind up getting caught in some of these narratives, especially after a disappointing season. It seems like we want definitive blame to point our fingers at.
We repeat a point enough, it feels true.
Re: Gionta/final minutes of regulation/liability etc. etc.
Don't ask me why I decided to do this, but I took a look at all the 1 goal games that were decisive in the final 8 minutes (as in, either won by 1 goal or sent to OT)
I came up with 20 games. 12 games with us scoring, 8 with the opposition getting the final tally in regulation.
Of those 8 games, Stephen Gionta was on the ice for the decisive goal in 1. That was the game against Colorado where Roy pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock and an oddball collection of players were stuck on the ice for ~2minute shift (Elias, Bernier, Gionta, Merrill, Harrold)
You too can relive the fun using http://www.shiftchart.com/
This I agree with. Especially because he gets buried with defensive zone shifts and takes a significant amount of PK time. Being able to win a faceoff or two and not waste time chasing the puck with 4th liners out there would be nothing but a benefit.
Anyway, all that being said, Gionta is a liability in the way that any average 4th liner is. You put them out there to take the ****** draws, to play against the face punchers, and to not make your top 9 not play 55min/game. Not to be a skilled hockey player.
If you were worried about him out there with a 1 goal lead/deficit in the final 5 minutes of a game on a regular basis, it's because we played the most 1 goal/EN games of any other team in the NHL this season.
b Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
65 of New Jersey's games were decided by a single goal or empty netter, most in the NHL. Their record in such games was 23rd.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108400641085440
Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
89 of Colorado's points came in games decided by a single goal and/or empty netter (41-11-7). No other team was above 74 pts. (ANA, MIN).
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108616521936896
Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
If NJ had COL's record in one-goal and empty net games, they'd have 114 points, one back of Boston.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455110506588545024
We didn't even have to win a damn shootout. A difference of 5 extra goals could have sent this team to the postseason - maybe even less when you consider how many turds we laid against Columbus.
Anyway, regarding Gionta. Here's the most important part. We are finally in a position to use him strictly as a 4th liner again. Lack of depth forced him to play above his head for more games than a below 4th liner should. But using him in the right role again, with 3 actual NHL lines ahead of him is a hell of a lot better than rolling out Boulton-Mills-Janssen or the likes of it.
EDIT
TL;DR: Gionta should be the least of our concerns.
if jacob josefson was half the professional stephen gionta is maybe he wouldn't be scratched so often.
someone doesnt like Swedes
so tell me Pete, hows your summer?