Claypool
Registered User
- Jan 12, 2009
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If there was any elite (or formerly elite) defenseman AA could do this to, it'd be Keith. Keith was never a particularly fast defenseman and he's certainly slowing down now.
Still, loved seeing AA this game. That stripping of the puck to set up Larkin was the real highlight.
I think AA will still frustrate the hell out of us. He'll certainly flash the skill for 60+.
But for every game he'll do something like this against a guy like Duncan Keith... he'll get dunked on by some rando 3rd line scrub from Minnesota. The problem with AA has NEVER been how he does in a single instance against even great competition. It's that he follows up something awesome like this with basically pissing on his pants for a game or three.
It's what coaches have said repeatedly about him. "AA is a real special player when he is engaged. Real special" The problem is that he loses engagement quickly. AA is like the new age Alex Semin. Talent is off the charts, but they just don't seem to give a damn without a red ass coach riding them. It's why giving AA a long term contract will never be a good idea. You need to go year to year or two year deals with him.
This **** right here is exactly why the organization pushes AA so much to earn his ice time. He can be on another level when he chooses. I’m not sure if the piece is about a contract is fair but the sentiment can be applied to ice time. When AA wants to be on he deserves 18/19+ minutes a game. Other days not so much. If he can sort through his valleys he has the potential to be a very good top 6/first line player.
No, him doing well is on him, not his usage.Who would have thought AA could have success when given proper minutes and proper PP time?????
me for one. I know it's early, but I love every minute of this. Now he's gotta do it when it counts. The skill and speed is undeniable.
If your point is Keith’s skating isn’t as good as it once was you may be be on to something but he has always been regarded as one of the best skating dmen in the game.
I mean, for me they are kind of inseparable. If I can't trust a guy to give a consistent effort to get ice time, in my thinking, that only would be exacerbated if you guaranteed him that he'd be signed for a long time on a guaranteed deal. Maybe it's an unfair aspersion, but I see the two things as completely related. If you can't trust him to give an honest effort if you promise him 19-20 mins a night, what leads you to believe you could trust an honest effort if you gave him 5-6 years of guaranteed pay?
Certainly he was and is still quite agile, but fast? When I think of fast d-men I don't think of Keith.If your point is Keith’s skating isn’t as good as it once was you may be be on to something but he has always been regarded as one of the best skating dmen in the game.
#4. No Zetterberg leaves a gaping hole in ice time to be filled by someone. Some of that is almost necessarily going to trickle down to AA who has always complained about ice time. Well now he's gonna get it. If IT was really a big thing holding him back, he should have a much better season now that Z is gone.I expect many more GIFs like this throughout the season. I believe the three biggest reasons he will have a breakout season is:
1) Vanek effect, they just seem to complement each other and that goes back to two years ago too
2) playing center he will be more engaged, and it's already noticeable he is backchecking and playing harder out there too
3) full training camp and exhibition games, your in a disadvantage if your 6 weeks behind in terms of condition and able to work on chemistry and systems. I am expecting AA to have a big year.
The thing I want to see most from him is tenacity/strength on the puck. He doesn't seem to be a great battler.
Certainly he was and is still quite agile, but fast? When I think of fast d-men I don't think of Keith.
Who would have thought AA could have success when given proper minutes and proper PP time?????
I don't like the idea to play him more than 20 min a game
To me, that right there is the only problem with AA. Ice time shouldn't be given out, it's earned. It should be earned consistently. I'm not one of the people who is completely on the bandwagon of AA being lazy and constantly disengaged. I think his problem is his expectation that the IT should be given to him regardless of how he is playing. He seems to have an air of entitlement. He's a millennial, so I guess it should be expected.
I do hope he breaks out this year and that he takes strides in the right direction defensively (particularly as he will be centering a line). I think the offence will be there, for sure, but I dont know if his level of effort and engagement will consistently be there defensively. I hope so, but we'll see
I would say after this preseason, he has earned the right to get consistent top 6 minutes, and consistent PP time. And I don't mean the usual Blash treatment of getting top 6 minutes for 2 games, and then sitting entire 3rd periods due to "lack of compete level". He has shown this preseason what he can do with minutes.
For once, Blashill has only had positives to say about AA. After every game, Blash has been praising his play. I just hope he doesn't give him 4 games with solid ice time, and then demote him during the year.