GDT: Game 41: Let's make it an official streak! Preds @ Wings - 4.8 - 6:30p

[triggrman]

So far anyway Harpur is actually what I really want in a 3rd pair LD. He keeps it simple most of the time. He doesn't get over-aggressive, but he's big enough and will interpose himself if the situation seems to call for it. He doesn't need any help.

But we've also only seen him for 22 games and other organizations kicked him to the curb eventually too. Sort of like with Tinordi, maybe his positive first impression may yet fade with time. Or not. But I'd defnitely be looking to re-sign him for next season anyway and see. And to punt the Farrance/Davies battle to Milwaukee for now. (Pending any further data from Farrance that shows he's ready for more).

He could fall off a cliff, I agree, but remember, he's 26, big physical defensemen seem to have a longer adjustment period to the NHL than their more skilled counter part. He played in the AHL last season, and his last NHL time he was a 23/24 year old. Maybe he's matured enough now to understand his role.

 

[Jonesey]

Ideally next season we run this:

Josi - Ellis
Ekholm - Fabbro
Harpur - Carrier/Davies/Ferrance

Let Benning/Boro be gone if possible.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Ideally next season we run this:

Josi - Ellis
Ekholm - Fabbro
Harpur - Carrier/Davies/Ferrance

Let Benning/Boro be gone if possible.

I mean, there's lots of time left to change things, but here is my lean today:

Josi-Fabbro
Ekholm-Carrier
Harpur-Ellis
spare = Benning

Nobody needs to play 25 minutes. Ellis can still slide up for more PP time.

 

[GoldOnGold]

I mean, there's lots of time left to change things, but here is my lean today:

Josi-Fabbro
Ekholm-Carrier
Harpur-Ellis
spare = Benning

Nobody needs to play 25 minutes. Ellis can still slide up for more PP time.

I think we could try Ekholm-Ellis and Harpur-Carrier. I'm curious if Ekholm and Ellis could re-find their old chemistry.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

I mean, there's lots of time left to change things, but here is my lean today:

Josi-Fabbro
Ekholm-Carrier
Harpur-Ellis
spare = Benning

Nobody needs to play 25 minutes. Ellis can still slide up for more PP time.

I'd like to see this experiment to see if Harpur can keep up.

I think we could try Ekholm-Ellis and Harpur-Carrier. I'm curious if Ekholm and Ellis could re-find their old chemistry.

This is probably what happens with everyone healthy.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

I think we could try Ekholm-Ellis and Harpur-Carrier. I'm curious if Ekholm and Ellis could re-find their old chemistry.

ekholm can find chemistry with just about anyone as long as they aren’t a pylon.

 

[GoldOnGold]

ekholm can find chemistry with just about anyone as long as they aren’t a pylon.

I was never a big fan of the Ekholm - Fabbro pairing. I feel like other combinations have been better.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I was never a big fan of the Ekholm - Fabbro pairing. I feel like other combinations have been better.

I'm finding over time that I agree with this. I don't exactly understand why it should be the case... but for whatever reason they sometimes seem to step on eachothers' toes and get crossed up?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I think we could try Ekholm-Ellis and Harpur-Carrier. I'm curious if Ekholm and Ellis could re-find their old chemistry.

I would like to dream that none of our players are really "Drama Queens" about where it seems they stack up in a stereotypical lineup. But who knows. It is a relatively small sample, but I really liked Ekholm and Carrier together. And I really like the idea of spreading our "Big Three" onto all 3 pairs. I don't so much like the concept of making a "superpair" which then leaves the 3rd pair open to be victimized.

If all 3 of those pairs played relatively equal 5-on-5 minutes and then you juggle Ellis a few more minutes on the PP, then I don't think he should feel like he's "just" a 3rd-pair D. And anybody who came along and whined about us using a $6.25M long-term contract slot on a "3rd pair" defenseman could go take a flying leap afaic.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

I was never a big fan of the Ekholm - Fabbro pairing. I feel like other combinations have been better.

I'm finding over time that I agree with this. I don't exactly understand why it should be the case... but for whatever reason they sometimes seem to step on eachothers' toes and get crossed up?

Most of their time together was when the whole team was really struggling. I’m all for Ellis and Josi being apart but as fabbro continues to grow, him and ekholm could be a sneaky good top tier pair going forward.

 

[GoldOnGold]

Most of their time together was when the whole team was really struggling. I’m all for Ellis and Josi being apart but as fabbro continues to grow, him and ekholm could be a sneaky good top tier pair going forward.

You might be right. Both fans and coaches can fall into thought-patterns where a particular combination didn't work once, so it can never work.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Most of their time together was when the whole team was really struggling. I’m all for Ellis and Josi being apart but as fabbro continues to grow, him and ekholm could be a sneaky good top tier pair going forward.

Yeah, I don't pretend to say anything with any confidence. But I've seen with a lot of my kid's teams in the past, there are just some pairings that work, and some that don't. It's a little bit voodoo. But having 3 balanced and effective pairings is always the best solution ever. If you hit that point, you won. Some guys just aren't on the same mental wavelength as other guys, some guys talk on the ice and it helps their partner and others are "strong silent types" and there can be different mixes of those types of things that work in real life, which we as fans watching TV will just never pick up on.

 

[triggrman]

Josi/Weber pairing was a trainwreck the first season and a half, IMHO.

 

[adsfan]

I want to see a Coach go all Bobby Knight and toss all of the extra equipment out onto the ice, then go and move both goals around before leaving! That would be so cool!

There should be a video of Curt Fraser somewhere. He threw 7 sticks at once and nearly conked Randy Velischek sitting on the end of the Admirals bench. That was early in Period 2 of a game in 1993. We Admirals fans call it "The Derek Martin Game" because he was the ref. It happened after the 2nd or 3rd 5-on-3 situation in the game. About 500 fans threw objects onto the ice, like sodas and popcorn boxes. There wasn't 5 feet of open ice in a straight line. The second period was suspended for about half an hour to clean the ice. After it ended, 1 minute later, the third period began.

About 6 police officers escorted Martin off the ice to the visiting teams bench exit, which seemed fitting based on how he called that game.

Martin never worked another game in Milwaukee!