Player Discussion Erik Gudbranson (D) to Sens for 5th round pick - PART II

[JD1]

ah yes, former hart winner. Im sure thats still relevant. Marleau is a former 44 goal scorer too, not sure how relevant that is to their play today.

Gudbranson is a defensive specialist that has been suspect most of the season. He has been slotted too high in the lineup much of the year and really shouldn't be more than a bottom pair at this stage in his career. Credit where its due, he was solid the other night though. Hope he keeps it up and i hope we keep him away from the top 4.

You see now.... that's valid cŕiticism

Getting walked isn't. At this level, you have to tip your hat now and again

 

[Micklebot]

You see now.... that's valid cŕiticism

Getting walked isn't. At this level, you have to tip your hat now and again

Getting walked by Perry was just an example of his suspect defensive play, as was me mentining him tripping over the blueline with limited pressure. If it were a one off, not a big deal but those examples were just the most recent at the time and ended up the focus of my attention. I'm not sure what you want, do i need to make a comprehensive list of his gaffs every time in order for it to be valid criticism? Or can i assume everyone else watches the same games as me...

 

[JD1]

Getting walked by Perry was just an example of his suspect defensive play, as was me mentining him tripping over the blueline with limited pressure. If it were a one off, not a big deal but those examples were just the most recent at the time and ended up the focus of my attention. I'm not sure what you want, do i need to make a comprehensive list of his gaffs every time in order for it to be valid criticism? Or can i assume everyone else watches the same games as me...

Falling on the pivot at the blue line was funny, I'll give you that.

Getting walked.... no, sorry, that's not an example of suspect defensive play. It's a one off that happens now and again in a game that causes you to make many decisions quickly. He got walked. It happens

If it's an example of suspect defensive play....how bout you list more examples of him getting walked

 

[Beville]

Falling on the pivot at the blue line was funny, I'll give you that.

Getting walked.... no, sorry, that's not an example of suspect defensive play. It's a one off that happens now and again in a game that causes you to make many decisions quickly. He got walked. It happens

If it's an example of suspect defensive play....how bout you list more examples of him getting walked

It even happened to EK65 a fair few times.

It is what it is, it happens to everyone.

 

[Tuna99]

It even happened to EK65 a fair few times.

It is what it is, it happens to everyone.

In that same game Norris d-zone coverage was really really bad on 2 goals, Mistakes happen every game.

Gudbransson is doing exactly what I hoped he would do. It’s extremely rare to find a player who can play, lead , AND FIGHT. And his fights are the legit ones standing up for the kids. Love it

 

[Micklebot]

It even happened to EK65 a fair few times.

It is what it is, it happens to everyone.

You can say this about every poor defensive play. Icing the puck under no pressure, eh everyone does it from time to time, getting beat to the outside, no worries, happens all the time, bad pivots, just part of the game, out of position and didn't pick up your man on time, it's ok.

When taken out of the context of a players full game you can excuse away any error, it's the total package that matters. I like Gudbranson's physicality, he's good in front of the net, but he gets taken advantage of wrt his skating, and for a guy that is only there for defensive play he leaves a lot to be desired imo. I'd much rather just have resigned DeMelo, loose some (all of it) physicality for sure but he was so much more reliable for us.

 

[JD1]

You can say this about every poor defensive play. Icing the puck under no pressure, eh everyone does it from time to time, getting beat to the outside, no worries, happens all the time, bad pivots, just part of the game, out of position and didn't pick up your man on time, it's ok.

When taken out of the context of a players full game you can excuse away any error, it's the total package that matters. I like Gudbranson's physicality, he's good in front of the net, but he gets taken advantage of wrt his skating, and for a guy that is only there for defensive play he leaves a lot to be desired imo. I'd much rather just have resigned DeMelo, loose some (all of it) physicality for sure but he was so much more reliable for us.

I thought that icing the puck play at the red line a few games ago was a cheap call. The NHL has never strictly enforced that. You see guys dump it from short of the red line all the time without it being called. Could he have skated 3 more feet? Sure. But i suspect he didn't think he needed to.

But now you're generalizing. You used a specific example and cited it as poor defensive play. A one off example

Gudbranson biggest deficiency is he's poor at moving the puck. If there's an aspect to bis game that needs to improve that's it. But he's 29, that's not going to happen

 

[Micklebot]

I thought that icing the puck play at the red line a few games ago was a cheap call. The NHL has never strictly enforced that. You see guys dump it from short of the red line all the time without it being called. Could he have skated 3 more feet? Sure. But i suspect he didn't think he needed to.

But now you're generalizing. You used a specific example and cited it as poor defensive play. A one off example

Gudbranson biggest deficiency is he's poor at moving the puck. If there's an aspect to bis game that needs to improve that's it. But he's 29, that's not going to happen

You're right that linesmen often are generous with gaining the redline on icing, i remember questioning how early he dumped prior to the ref calling icing, so i wasn't at all surprised when they called it but i can reapect that others may have seen it as a chincy call.

Idk though, if i can't comment on a specific recent example at time, do i need to catalogue every instance in order to he critical of him? There are plenty of comments criticizing him defensively in the game day talks, no they aren't all him getting walked but often relate to his skating or his play with the puck. Maybe i expect too much of him, and part of that is simply the role the coach has used him for but I'd rather Hainsey than him and thats saying a lot.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I think if you play josh brown and let him work through his mistakes he can be just as good as gudbrannson. (This is not a compliment, nor a criticism )

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Getting walked by Perry was just an example of his suspect defensive play, as was me mentining him tripping over the blueline with limited pressure. If it were a one off, not a big deal but those examples were just the most recent at the time and ended up the focus of my attention. I'm not sure what you want, do i need to make a comprehensive list of his gaffs every time in order for it to be valid criticism? Or can i assume everyone else watches the same games as me...

And it doesn't end there. Almost once a game he does something so glaringly bad you'd think he was a bantam house league player. Failing to get the puck deep on a dump in when he has all the time in the world. Icing the puck with no pressure on him. Passiong the puck right to the other team for no reason and sometimes with no Ottawa player even in the same time zone. It's weird and just awful to watch.

I mean the guy is not that slow. Obviously he's got good size and can handle himself physically but that is about it. He's basically just a PK specialist. He shouldn't be getting more than about 6-8 minutes of ES time per game.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

I think if you play josh brown and let him work through his mistakes he can be just as good as gudbrannson. (This is not a compliment, nor a criticism )

I still have no clue why we felt the need to get BOTH of those guys.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I still have no clue why we felt the need to get BOTH of those guys.

And pay a premium for each. I do not know. But I am definitely more intrigued by Brown than I am gudbranson.

 

[Yak]

Gudbranson out and Wolanin in for next 20 games, we have to see what we have.

Gudbranson we now know what he is all about.

 

[JD1]

You're right that linesmen often are generous with gaining the redline on icing, i remember questioning how early he dumped prior to the ref calling icing, so i wasn't at all surprised when they called it but i can reapect that others may have seen it as a chincy call.

Idk though, if i can't comment on a specific recent example at time, do i need to catalogue every instance in order to he critical of him? There are plenty of comments criticizing him defensively in the game day talks, no they aren't all him getting walked but often relate to his skating or his play with the puck. Maybe i expect too much of him, and part of that is simply the role the coach has used him for but I'd rather Hainsey than him and thats saying a lot.

Your comments on his general play is fine, your not off base.

It's the getting walked thing i find off base. I'm a life long D man and a lot of it pretty good quality ..age related of course. Guys come at you 1 on 1 all the time. Stop them 25 times in a row. Get walked once. You won't hear the end of it lol

 

[Micklebot]

Your comments on his general play is fine, your not off base.

It's the getting walked thing i find off base. I'm a life long D man and a lot of it pretty good quality ..age related of course. Guys come at you 1 on 1 all the time. Stop them 25 times in a row. Get walked once. You won't hear the end of it lol

Fair, enough, mistakes stick out when they result in a goal but get forgotten when the save is made, sometimes life isn't fair. I just find him getting walked the way he was and him tripping over the blue line, and many of the other issues he has are all symptomatic of a skating issue. He isn't overly slow, but I find he's clunky particularly when he needs to rotate.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Arts and Crafts on Gudbranson -- pretty sure that's not good

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[NyQuil]

“It wouldn’t be surprising if the #Sens decided to bring Reilly and Gudbranson back next season”...”Reilly has been one of the more consistent blueliners of late and Gudbranson has done everything asked of him in his role as an alternate captain.” #Sens

Yeah, I heard this too.

Sometimes there's a real disconnect from what I'm seeing and what people are thinking.

Reilly is benefitting from what I'd call the Zub Effect.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Gif possible needs to sit. You have Brown. Get him in there for gud if you really feel you need a BIG BOY

 

[SensFactor]

Gudbranson would be a solid player if he could skate and was more mobile. He can't keep up with the play most of the time. Love his physicality but if there is someone at the deadline that needs him for a 5th or 6th rounder. Make the trade.

 

[Comely]

Yeah, I heard this too.

Sometimes there's a real disconnect from what I'm seeing and what people are thinking.

Reilly is benefitting from what I'd call the Zub Effect.

I dont know if this is 100% correct, Reilly's metrics are good with Zaitev as well. I think hes playing better this year but the mistakes he makes are rarely small ones.

 

[NyQuil]

I dont know if this is 100% correct, Reilly's metrics are good with Zaitev as well. I think hes playing better this year but the mistakes he makes are rarely small ones.

I still get Joe Corvo vibes when I watch him, and I always felt he was a bit unfairly maligned so this is certainly possible.

 

[Fuhrious]

Gudbranson would be a solid player if he could skate and was more mobile. He can't keep up with the play most of the time. Love his physicality but if there is someone at the deadline that needs him for a 5th or 6th rounder. Make the trade.

The GIF from Twitter above really demonstrates one of his biggest shortcomings...his skating. I dont remember him being this slow, but in the GIF he takes a terrible angle to the guy receiving the pass, almost immediately putting himself behind the Canuck as he pivots forward into the Sens zone. He then doesnt have the quickness or overall speed to close the gap he created for himself, ends up lunging wildly to try to knock the puck away, and hauls the guy down.

I almost wrote more about how he's "OK when the puck is being worked around the Sens zone"...except he isnt. His lack of foot speed and quickness means he's slow to reposition or put any real pressure on the puck. He's basically only any good at all when the opposing player is parked or moving slowly in front of goal and he's able to physically engage without having his pace challenged.

 

[NyQuil]

The GIF from Twitter above really demonstrates one of his biggest shortcomings...his skating. I dont remember him being this slow, but in the GIF he takes a terrible angle to the guy receiving the pass, almost immediately putting himself behind the Canuck as he pivots forward into the Sens zone. He then doesnt have the quickness or overall speed to close the gap he created for himself, ends up lunging wildly to try to knock the puck away, and hauls the guy down.

I almost wrote more about how he's "OK when the puck is being worked around the Sens zone"...except he isnt. His lack of foot speed and quickness means he's slow to reposition or put any real pressure on the puck. He's basically only any good at all when the opposing player is parked or moving slowly in front of goal and he's able to physically engage without having his pace challenged.

I think I summed up his play as being a step behind everyone all the time.

I know what it's like.

I played in a recreational ball hockey league which got steadily younger and more competitive, and by the time I was in my late 30s playing against 16-20 year olds, I was literally always lurching around reacting to things and I was always too late.

 

[Fuhrious]

I think I summed up his play as being a step behind everyone all the time.

I know what it's like.

I played in a recreational ball hockey league which got steadily younger and more competitive, and by the time I was in my late 30s playing against 16-20 year olds, I was literally always lurching around reacting to things and I was always too late.

Sounds about right. Didnt mean to sound like I was contradicting anything you or @SensFactor were saying, just thinking out loud I guess. I keep coming back to "I dont remember him being this slow". I didnt watch him play in Anaheim or Pittsburgh, but feel like I remember him being at least "serviceable" for Vancouver? Maybe that was a misread?