Daisy Jane
everything is gonna be okay!
- Jul 2, 2009
- 70,284
- 9,328
There are two things that I think Babcock will do that will positively affect Phaneuf.
1. Reduce his icetime by 2-3 mins/ game. I don't think he has the stamina to be playing the amount of time he did & at times looked too tired both physically & mentally. This leads into #2.
2. Make the game less challenging to ALL the D. Rather than have the forwards take off & then be circling by the offensive blue line hoping the D can get the puck out, they will now help their D. Babcock will make the forwards come back lower into the defensive zone to provide the outlet pass & simplify the game for the D. This will enable the D to concentrate more on their defensive game & less on the simplified transitional game.
This then leads back to 1, if the D's game becomes easier, then the reduced icetime isn't going to be as necessary.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it said that Babcock had little say in player management with Detroit (perhaps one of the main reasons why he wanted to leave).
Is there any evidence that says that Babcock actively WANTED Dion with the Wings?
Agreed.
The easiest way to get him to play better is to stop treating him like a #1. Spread out his icetime a bit - and let him simplify his game and focus a bit more on offense (where he excels)
A competent partner would go a long way as well.
In a way, most of Dion's problems come from not being able to move the puck out of the defensive zone. Pairing him with someone that is proficient at zone exits (like Rielly) should always have been a priority.
Saw him on the golf course about a week ago. Really stiff and awkward movements if you've ever seen him in person. He's kind of robotic and not so smooth
Saw him on the golf course about a week ago. Really stiff and awkward movements if you've ever seen him in person. He's kind of robotic and not so smooth
Pairing him with an better partner would help any D but that still leaves the question of what he actually does to help the pairing ?
He's has very poor lateral mobility which leads him to giving a huge buffer to the puck carrier and easy entry deep into our zone .
He has a low iq which causes him to lose position any time he strays away from the front of our net .
He moves the puck poorly under pressure and really can only make simple passes when not pressured .
When he rushes the puck his lack of speed gets him trapped if the puck is turned over . He can't qb the pp and is a shooter without an accurate shot .
basically DP doesn't do anything at a high level , he's gotten by for years on name recognition with the fans but the rest of the league seems to know his limitations and that's why we couldn't move him for anything but scraps and cap dumps
Endurance seems to be a problem too. He supposedly has worked out really hard this off season, so hopefully there will be improvements in this area. (Some may question what he's been doing in previous years though). Also he can look hyper aggressive against smaller or softer players, but much different against tougher players. Hope to see less of this in the upcoming season.
Endurance seems to be a problem too. He supposedly has worked out really hard this off season, so hopefully there will be improvements in this area. (Some may question what he's been doing in previous years though). Also he can look hyper aggressive against smaller or softer players, but much different against tougher players. Hope to see less of this in the upcoming season.
Endurance is another thing that would be solved by having a quality partner.
Endurance seems to be a problem too. He supposedly has worked out really hard this off season, so hopefully there will be improvements in this area. (Some may question what he's been doing in previous years though). Also he can look hyper aggressive against smaller or softer players, but much different against tougher players. Hope to see less of this in the upcoming season.
As true as that may be, if he is our number 1 d-man like he is paid...he is supposed to make his partner look better, not the other way around. We can't pay for (2) number 1 d-men.
Very few teams have (2) legitimate 1'st pairing D-men on the team. They have a true number 1 that makes a #4 look like a number 2. That's what we hope Reilly can become, a true number 1 that only needs a #4 as a partner. Then Dion would be slotted into a #3, which is way too much to pay a #3. There is the problem with Dion as a future Leaf...He is not good enough to truly carry a first pairing, and paid too much to eventually be a #3.
In a way, most of Dion's problems come from not being able to move the puck out of the defensive zone. Pairing him with someone that is proficient at zone exits (like Rielly) should always have been a priority.
In a way, most of Dion's problems come from not being able to move the puck out of the defensive zone. Pairing him with someone that is proficient at zone exits (like Rielly) should always have been a priority.
2. Make the game less challenging to ALL the D. Rather than have the forwards take off & then be circling by the offensive blue line hoping the D can get the puck out, they will now help their D. Babcock will make the forwards come back lower into the defensive zone to provide the outlet pass & simplify the game for the D. This will enable the D to concentrate more on their defensive game & less on the simplified transitional game.
Can't believe that is an accurate statement.
How many defensemen "truly carry a first pairing"?
Pairing him with an better partner would help any D but that still leaves the question of what he actually does to help the pairing ?
He's has very poor lateral mobility which leads him to giving a huge buffer to the puck carrier and easy entry deep into our zone .
He has a low iq which causes him to lose position any time he strays away from the front of our net .
He moves the puck poorly under pressure and really can only make simple passes when not pressured .
When he rushes the puck his lack of speed gets him trapped if the puck is turned over . He can't qb the pp and is a shooter without an accurate shot .
basically DP doesn't do anything at a high level , he's gotten by for years on name recognition with the fans but the rest of the league seems to know his limitations and that's why we couldn't move him for anything but scraps and cap dumps
Endurance is another thing that would be solved by having a quality partner.
I imagine that would be a dream come true for the young defenseman.
I mentioned yesterday what I think Babcock will be doing with the D.
Responsibility of exiting the defensive zone will be put more on the forwards.