Hunter368
RIP lomiller1, see you in the next life buddy.
- Nov 8, 2011
- 27,005
- 23,651
I also wouldn't read Wheeler's comment as confirmation that he's not injured, but rather that his being injured is not an excuse. He has missed like 7 games in his entire NHL career, so it's likely not true that if he's playing, he's not injured, which would be the other way to read that comment.@None
"Maurice never implicitly said Wheeler is playing injured. When he said he'll discuss Wheeler's play in 2-3 weeks or whatever he could have just as easily been alluding to being sure that his play would improve.
Wheeler isn't using an injury as an excuse though."
Thread got locked now.
Ok thanks
I thought he is injured based on the discussions here.
Now this is interesting if Maurice stated he is playing injured.
Can someone elaborate this?
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“I don’t want to bring a negative vibe into what we’ve got going.”
That’s a very peculiar choice of words. Idk, injury is an easy assumption but the other night when it seemed like 3 shifts in a row where he ended up all the way on Connor’s side in the defensive zone and then in OT tried to change wayyy before Connor even got off the ice I was thinking there’s something going on in his head that is distracting him.
Just reposting my thoughts.
So just so I understand your thinking: in your mind, athletes don't decline in performance as they age? You figure Blake Wheeler will still be a top line forward in his 40's?This is a Win/Win situation.
I dont mind the media “grilling” Wheeler because I know this will light a fire under his (you know what).
Unlike other players (not mentioning names).... History has shown us that “Angry Blake” is a “Productive Blake”!
He’ll respond accordingly, the team will be better for it, and we’ll all have to eat our own words.
Wont be long before this drama all blows over
I have no idea what part of my comment you’re referring to?So just so I understand your thinking: in your mind, athletes don't decline in performance as they age? You figure Blake Wheeler will still be a top line forward in his 40's?
So just so I understand your thinking: in your mind, athletes don't decline in performance as they age? You figure Blake Wheeler will still be a top line forward in his 40's?
“I don’t want to bring a negative vibe into what we’ve got going.”
How can you not?How the hell were you able to jump to THAT conclusion from his post?
Correction: Wheeler was a great player.Wheeler is a great player.
A very charitable person ( I know first hand )
Getting to his play , I have no clue whether it’s injury or age.
I only suspect it’s a weird dynamic which none of us can define.
I do believe his heart is always in the right place.
This is a Win/Win situation.
I dont mind the media “grilling” Wheeler because I know this will light a fire under his (you know what).
Unlike other players (not mentioning names).... History has shown us that “Angry Blake” is a “Productive Blake”!
He’ll respond accordingly, the team will be better for it, and we’ll all have to eat our own words.
Wont be long before this drama all blows over
Not so fastCorrection: Wheeler was a great player.
Good thing we don't need him to become Wheeler of 5 years ago then. I trust you saw these posts in the last thread.How can you not?
Him thinking the media criticism will magically light a fire under Wheeler and this will all just blow over. My point is as players age, their performance declines. Wheeler can't just magically flip a switch and he becomes the Blake Wheeler of 5 years ago.
Yup. Wheeler wasn't as good as his elite production from his top seasons, but playing mostly at C last season Wheeler was one of the more effective Jets. Here is a chart with the Jets performances in terms of expected goals above replacement last season.
View attachment 392243
Based on what metrics?
In 2019-20, Blake Wheeler ranked #19 in 5v5 relative CF% (+3.75) and #12 in relative xGF% (+6.37) among RWs in 2019-20.
In 2019-20, Wheeler was the leader among Jets' forwards in expected goals +/- (xG +/-) according to Evolving Hockey's RAPM model.
More pressure on him the never before. Let’s see how he handles it.
You don’t help run a player like laine out of town and not get a little heat for it.
I have no idea what part of my comment you’re referring to?
How the hell were you able to jump to THAT conclusion from his post?
Is that what he's getting heat for?
I thought it was because he might be struggling a bit
I look forward to the time (if it every comes) when Laine can be removed from the discussion of other players.
We can then actually talk about other players as if that has some meaning on it's own without Laine's involvement.
Sigh... I really didnt think a relatively straight forward comment would require further elaboration or any clarification, but here goes nothing...Well, I'll just add tiny input and ask trinity for clarification...
the post that brendan smith wrote does not consider other variables for Wheeler's lack of play thus far and the question of if he'll improve (or not.) The variables cited in his post are the "media grilling him" and "angry blake is a productive blake" as if there were no other factors responsible for his current circumstances... aging might serve as one among others...
(in other words, wheeler is just going to automatically change (and improve) his play as if it were a guarantee due to his anger and past serving as the determinants for how he plays and doesn't play...)
so he didn't like being held accountable by his captain?......good luck playing for tort's!Him being part of the reason why laine wanted out is why it’s being blown up more then just struggling.