Foppa2118
Registered User
- Oct 3, 2003
- 52,385
- 31,646
Not my nickname, I think credit goes to Mars.(?)
Figured he deserved some love with a thread of his own. We never even had a thread for his signing that I could bump.
What a great story though. Talk about making the most of your opportunity. He had a great pre-season, and followed that up by being arguably the Avs best player the first four games of the season. Duchene actually called him the only bright spot in that ugly first game of the season. He's just so solid in every area.
Not afraid to charge into the corners for the puck, but does it smart. He doesn't go in recklessly and risk an injury or a penalty. He just muscles the guy off the puck and tries to move it to the open guy. A lot like how Landy does it in such a smart way.
One of the most impressive things I saw though was tonight where he had been working hard on the forecheck, and then got absolutely rocked and the Leafs quickly transitioned the puck up ice. Kind of one of those play early in a new NHLer's career where it's like, "ok you've been having your way so far here, now take this and let's see what's up." Just a real good test of the kids battle. He could have loligagged back, or maybe gone for a change, but he got up and hustled back, and ended up having to stay on the ice for a long shift where he didn't look out of sorts. Didn't look for revenge or panic, just stayed composed, and in position to make the smart play with the puck trying to get it out. That really solidified my impression of him being able to stick in the NHL.
His size is a big beneficiary to his game, but he's transitioned so well mainly because of his smarts and his speed. He skates pretty well for a big man at 6'4", and can handle the puck in transition, and also has a really strong power move to the net that no one on the team (even Landy) can really match. He can play with talented players, but he's also displayed a very solid defensive game, that I think will make him a good 3rd liner at some point on this team.
Always works hard, and there probably isn't a guy I'm rooting for more at this point to pick up his first goal of the year. The best part is it doesn't really feel like he's a flash in the pan kind of guy, he seems like he can sustain his strong simple play most of the year.
If he can add a strong PK element to his game, this could be one of the best under the radar signings of the year, especially considering they got him signed for one more year at $612.5k.
Figured he deserved some love with a thread of his own. We never even had a thread for his signing that I could bump.
What a great story though. Talk about making the most of your opportunity. He had a great pre-season, and followed that up by being arguably the Avs best player the first four games of the season. Duchene actually called him the only bright spot in that ugly first game of the season. He's just so solid in every area.
Not afraid to charge into the corners for the puck, but does it smart. He doesn't go in recklessly and risk an injury or a penalty. He just muscles the guy off the puck and tries to move it to the open guy. A lot like how Landy does it in such a smart way.
One of the most impressive things I saw though was tonight where he had been working hard on the forecheck, and then got absolutely rocked and the Leafs quickly transitioned the puck up ice. Kind of one of those play early in a new NHLer's career where it's like, "ok you've been having your way so far here, now take this and let's see what's up." Just a real good test of the kids battle. He could have loligagged back, or maybe gone for a change, but he got up and hustled back, and ended up having to stay on the ice for a long shift where he didn't look out of sorts. Didn't look for revenge or panic, just stayed composed, and in position to make the smart play with the puck trying to get it out. That really solidified my impression of him being able to stick in the NHL.
His size is a big beneficiary to his game, but he's transitioned so well mainly because of his smarts and his speed. He skates pretty well for a big man at 6'4", and can handle the puck in transition, and also has a really strong power move to the net that no one on the team (even Landy) can really match. He can play with talented players, but he's also displayed a very solid defensive game, that I think will make him a good 3rd liner at some point on this team.
Always works hard, and there probably isn't a guy I'm rooting for more at this point to pick up his first goal of the year. The best part is it doesn't really feel like he's a flash in the pan kind of guy, he seems like he can sustain his strong simple play most of the year.
If he can add a strong PK element to his game, this could be one of the best under the radar signings of the year, especially considering they got him signed for one more year at $612.5k.
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