Great Expectations

[GordonHowe]

Hal Gill has some words of wisdom for Jimmy Hayes, and for Bruins fans who confuse size with meanness. From the moment Boston signed him, my concern has been that fans insist he throw his weight around ala Milan Lucic.

Jimmy Hayes is not Milan Lucic. Let's not run the guy out of town (eg Blake Wheeler, who scored 20 here, I believe, and went on to have a pretty good career) because of that fact. And I hope Hayes is smart enough, and mature enough, not to try to be something he's not. If he plays his game & contributes, that's enough for me.

Add to this the pressure of playing in your home town. I really hope Bruins fans will be relatively thoughtful about this, in the same way that expectations for Matt Belesky should be tempered by realism as well.

Not holding my breath in either case, unfortunately.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/h...xpectations-hal-gill-offers-cautionary-tale-b

Click to read more...

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Hal Gill has some words of wisdom for Jimmy Hayes, and for Bruins fans who confuse size with meanness. From the moment Boston signed him, my concern has been that fans insist he throw his weight around ala Milan Lucic.

Jimmy Hayes is not Milan Lucic. Let's not run the guy out of town (eg Blake Wheeler, who scored 20 here, I believe, and went on to have a pretty good career) because of that fact. And I hope Hayes is smart enough, and mature enough, not to try to be something he's not. If he plays his game & contributes, that's enough for me.

Add to this the pressure of playing in your home town. I really hope Bruins fans will be relatively thoughtful about this, in the same way that expectations for Matt Belesky should be tempered by realism as well.

Not holding my breath in either case, unfortunately.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/h...xpectations-hal-gill-offers-cautionary-tale-b

Good read.

I have never liked the categorizing of big players like that. Big does not mean beating the piss out of everyone. Just as small does not mean you are supposed to be lightening fast.

 

[GordonHowe]

Good read.

I have never liked the categorizing of big players like that. Big does not mean beating the piss out of everyone. Just as small does not mean you are supposed to be lightening fast.

I just hope people give the guy a break & let him be himself.

 

[Eddie Munson]

This is a fear of mine as well. People see a giant and expect him to check people into the 5th row and feed people knuckle sandwiches. If he goes hard to the net, protects the puck well, fights in the corners without shying away from contact and goes to the greasy areas without fear then he has every aspect of a tough player who embodies what it takes to be a Bruin IMO.

I do however feel that sometime players enjoy embracing the mantra of being a Big, Bad Bruin and the fanfare that ensues can do wonders for confidence. It's certainly not for every player and I don't expect players to do it but do enjoy when it happens.

 

[riverhawkey91]

Hal Gill has some words of wisdom for Jimmy Hayes, and for Bruins fans who confuse size with meanness. From the moment Boston signed him, my concern has been that fans insist he throw his weight around ala Milan Lucic.

Jimmy Hayes is not Milan Lucic. Let's not run the guy out of town (eg Blake Wheeler, who scored 20 here, I believe, and went on to have a pretty good career) because of that fact. And I hope Hayes is smart enough, and mature enough, not to try to be something he's not. If he plays his game & contributes, that's enough for me.

Add to this the pressure of playing in your home town. I really hope Bruins fans will be relatively thoughtful about this, in the same way that expectations for Matt Belesky should be tempered by realism as well.

Not holding my breath in either case, unfortunately.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/h...xpectations-hal-gill-offers-cautionary-tale-b

I didn't mind him not using his size as much as I couldn't stand him going offsides every other play. The guy killed momentum more than anyone I've ever seen.

That said, you aren't wrong. If Hayes was ever going to use his size and start playing like a Lucic, it would have happened by now. I'd say people should expect Hayes to play much more like Wheeler than Lucic. I'd be happy if we could just get him to stand in front of the net and tip 15 or so in.

 

[Scotto74]

Was never a fan of Gill and to me this reads as if he is saying Hab fans are more knowledgeable about the game vs. Bruin fans. Gill was not booed and criticized when he was here due to lack of toughness we all knew he was a pansy.

He was criticized here because he sucked and not 100% of that was his fault. Here they tried to use him like a #1/#2 D-man which he never was. He was to slow and didn’t have the hockey IQ to be a true top pairing defensemen. He excelled with the Pens and Habs because he was put in the correct role of a depth D-man.

I never liked his attitude and remember an episode of something like behind the B back in the day where he was out to dinner with teammates. I remember him pretty much mocking the average Joe and acting like he was so much better. That’s how it came off to me anyway and why I never liked him after that. So really when I read this I was not shocked in the least.

 

[BackBringCam]

It mentions 20 Bruins fights for Gill? How many did he win or even start? lol
He was soft thru and thru, not a personal attack, just the obvious, great poke checker though!

I long for the days of just pulling on the Black and Gold sweater immediately added 2 inches and 20 lbs to a guy. Those were my Big Bad Bruins

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Didn't care about Gill being soft or not... the fact is that he was a pylon in his own end and he was worthless with the puck.

 

[GordonHowe]

This is a fear of mine as well. People see a giant and expect him to check people into the 5th row and feed people knuckle sandwiches. If he goes hard to the net, protects the puck well, fights in the corners without shying away from contact and goes to the greasy areas without fear then he has every aspect of a tough player who embodies what it takes to be a Bruin IMO.

I do however feel that sometime players enjoy embracing the mantra of being a Big, Bad Bruin and the fanfare that ensues can do wonders for confidence. It's certainly not for every player and I don't expect players to do it but do enjoy when it happens.

Hayes apparently scored all but two of his 19 goals last year right in front of the net, which is a great sign. If he does the things you enumerate, and I expect he will, then Bruins fans will embrace him.

I'm pretty sure the message from DS is, "Play your game. Period."

 

[Eddie Munson]

Hayes apparently scored all but two of his 19 goals last year right in front of the net, which is a great sign. If he does the things you enumerate, and I expect he will, then Bruins fans will embrace him.

I'm pretty sure the message from DS is, "Play your game. Period."

Agreed. It was something that was sorely lacked last year. I loved Lucic's game but I was always left wanting more when it came to his net front play. I think Hayes will be the opposite in that he has great net front play but will leave people wanting more in the physicality and fighting department, but IMO you can get other guys to check and be punching bags for cheap. I'm just happy we have a couple guys on the team now that don't need a GPS to find the blue paint and welcome what Hayes brings.

 

[Deedot]

Was never a fan of Gill and to me this reads as if he is saying Hab fans are more knowledgeable about the game vs. Bruin fans. Gill was not booed and criticized when he was here due to lack of toughness we all knew he was a pansy.

He was criticized here because he sucked and not 100% of that was his fault. Here they tried to use him like a #1/#2 D-man which he never was. He was to slow and didn’t have the hockey IQ to be a true top pairing defensemen. He excelled with the Pens and Habs because he was put in the correct role of a depth D-man.

I never liked his attitude and remember an episode of something like behind the B back in the day where he was out to dinner with teammates. I remember him pretty much mocking the average Joe and acting like he was so much better. That’s how it came off to me anyway and why I never liked him after that. So really when I read this I was not shocked in the least.

Be glad that no one told Jaromir Jagr back in the day.

"Gill is so strong, so big, and I would say that is the first guy I just cannot beat," Jagr says. "Whatever I do, he is just stronger than me."

 

[Zac Rinaldo*]

Be glad that no one told Jaromir Jagr back in the day.

"Gill is so strong, so big, and I would say that is the first guy I just cannot beat," Jagr says. "Whatever I do, he is just stronger than me."

he said max talbot's the most underrated player in the league also

 

[Scotto74]

Be glad that no one told Jaromir Jagr back in the day.

"Gill is so strong, so big, and I would say that is the first guy I just cannot beat," Jagr says. "Whatever I do, he is just stronger than me."

you got me there. for some reason he had Jagr number thats for sure.

 

[Number8]

Was never a fan of Gill and to me this reads as if he is saying Hab fans are more knowledgeable about the game vs. Bruin fans. Gill was not booed and criticized when he was here due to lack of toughness we all knew he was a pansy.

He was criticized here because he sucked and not 100% of that was his fault. Here they tried to use him like a #1/#2 D-man which he never was. He was to slow and didn’t have the hockey IQ to be a true top pairing defensemen. He excelled with the Pens and Habs because he was put in the correct role of a depth D-man.

I never liked his attitude and remember an episode of something like behind the B back in the day where he was out to dinner with teammates. I remember him pretty much mocking the average Joe and acting like he was so much better. That’s how it came off to me anyway and why I never liked him after that. So really when I read this I was not shocked in the least.

I sat behind Hal Gill at a Red Sox game a few years ago. He was terrific. All the fans around him were giving him grief (he stood out like a sore thumb, obviously) about Habs, Pens, etc., etc. He took it all in good nature it was offered and was a very funny guy. All of us were laughing hard, himself included.

I know it's only one interaction, but there was nothing about him that seemed to feel he was above anyone or took affront to a lot of grief.

When he first heard people ribbing him he was acting like he was someone else and saying.... "What? Hal Gill is here???? Where is he? He sucks...... I'm gonna tell him." Had us all laughing -- much of it at his expense.

Again, I know it's just one instance, but he handled it like a star.

 

[GordonHowe]

Be glad that no one told Jaromir Jagr back in the day.

"Gill is so strong, so big, and I would say that is the first guy I just cannot beat," Jagr says. "Whatever I do, he is just stronger than me."

Totally OT: Is that Val Kilmer in your avatar? "Real Genius" is still a guilty pleasure.

 

[Scotto74]

I sat behind Hal Gill at a Red Sox game a few years ago. He was terrific. All the fans around him were giving him grief (he stood out like a sore thumb, obviously) about Habs, Pens, etc., etc. He took it all in good nature it was offered and was a very funny guy. All of us were laughing hard, himself included.

I know it's only one interaction, but there was nothing about him that seemed to feel he was above anyone or took affront to a lot of grief.

When he first heard people ribbing him he was acting like he was someone else and saying.... "What? Hal Gill is here???? Where is he? He sucks...... I'm gonna tell him." Had us all laughing -- much of it at his expense.

Again, I know it's just one instance, but he handled it like a star.

great story and it really is probably unfair of me to make a judement on that one episode I watched on TV and I was probably in a bad mood and took it the wrong way as well. Just something that rubbed me the wrong way and stuck with me after that. Not sure why just one of those things.

 

[corpfan1]

They will both be awesome. Period.

 

[Scotto74]

Totally OT: Is that Val Kilmer in your avatar? "Real Genius" is still a guilty pleasure.

that is Kilmer but that pic is from the movie tombstone. he was great in that.

I am with you, Real Genius was one of the better movies of my youth.

"your mother puts license plates in your underwear? how do you sit?"

 

[DitClapper]

Was never a fan of Gill and to me this reads as if he is saying Hab fans are more knowledgeable about the game vs. Bruin fans. Gill was not booed and criticized when he was here due to lack of toughness we all knew he was a pansy.

He was criticized here because he sucked and not 100% of that was his fault. Here they tried to use him like a #1/#2 D-man which he never was. He was to slow and didn’t have the hockey IQ to be a true top pairing defensemen. He excelled with the Pens and Habs because he was put in the correct role of a depth D-man.

I never liked his attitude and remember an episode of something like behind the B back in the day where he was out to dinner with teammates. I remember him pretty much mocking the average Joe and acting like he was so much better. That’s how it came off to me anyway and why I never liked him after that. So really when I read this I was not shocked in the least.

Great post right here. Pretty much covers it all.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

that is Kilmer but that pic is from the movie tombstone. he was great in that.

I am with you, Real Genius was one of the better movies of my youth.

"your mother puts license plates in your underwear? how do you sit?"

"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who once said ... I drank what?"

 

[GordonHowe]

"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who once said ... I drank what?"

Yes. I used to use that one all the time.

 

[Deedot]

Totally OT: Is that Val Kilmer in your avatar? "Real Genius" is still a guilty pleasure.

Yup, one in the same, "Tombstone" was arguably his best film ever. "You're no daisy" and "I'm your huckelberry" and not to mention the bar scene where he mimics Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) spinning his metal cup around.

"Real Genius" was also a classic. One of my other favorites was "Willow". Didn't do well at the box office but how could you not love Madmartigan as a character.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Was never a fan of Gill and to me this reads as if he is saying Hab fans are more knowledgeable about the game vs. Bruin fans. Gill was not booed and criticized when he was here due to lack of toughness we all knew he was a pansy.

He was criticized here because he sucked and not 100% of that was his fault. Here they tried to use him like a #1/#2 D-man which he never was. He was to slow and didn’t have the hockey IQ to be a true top pairing defensemen. He excelled with the Pens and Habs because he was put in the correct role of a depth D-man.

I never liked his attitude and remember an episode of something like behind the B back in the day where he was out to dinner with teammates. I remember him pretty much mocking the average Joe and acting like he was so much better. That’s how it came off to me anyway and why I never liked him after that. So really when I read this I was not shocked in the least.

I never liked Gill either pretty much for the reasons you mentioned . If Gill had even a little bit of perception I think he would have realized he was sorely lacking in areas like skating ability and hockey sense and would have used the one thing he did have going for him ,his size .

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

All I know is I've read maybe one or two posts over the last couple weeks around here that could be called "overoptimistic" when it comes to Hayes and/or Beleskey.

I've probably read 1,000 that say something along the lines of "don't get too excited; they're not that good".

It's funny how we all beg for change, a change comes, and then we're just bombarded with "well, don't get too excited about the change".

Just a perpetual state of disappointment...I, for one, am just happy a GM has come along that is looking to try something new instead of just keeping with the same old, tired plan.

 

[GordonHowe]

All I know is I've read maybe one or two posts over the last couple weeks around here that could be called "overoptimistic" when it comes to Hayes and/or Beleskey.

I've probably read 1,000 that say something along the lines of "don't get too excited; they're not that good".

It's funny how we all beg for change, a change comes, and then we're just bombarded with "well, don't get too excited about the change".

Just a perpetual state of disappointment...I, for one, am just happy a GM has come along that is looking to try something new instead of just keeping with the same old, tired plan.

My original intent was not to say "Don't get too excited, Bruins fans." It was to caution against unrealistic expectations of Hayes (and Belesky) to contribute more than they probably can, either physically or on the score board.

(It's a good thing Belesky signed for less than a big payday, because if he underperformed under that circumstance, he'd be crucified.)

Just let them play hard, play their game and contribute, that's all.