Speculation: Gustafsson

[LDF]

Yeah, we're not arguing Gus is good, we're arguing that he's "fine" and when we mean fine we don't mean it in Q speak, we mean actually fine. He's not good, but he's not bad either. Just acceptable. When you can QB a PP and put up points like Gus does, that is all you can ask. If he was actually good on D he'd be a Norris contender.

very true !!!!

and as fans, he is with Kane and Toews is bringing the excitement to this team and we needed it,.

 

[ulvvf]

Fine, compare Gus to a poor-man's Josi. I don't care, my main point was that offensive defensemen like Gus (I look at Campbell and Leddy as recent examples from the Hawks) are an asset to a team despite the fact that they aren't killing penalties, shot-blocking, and aren't particularly amazing at winning puck battles.

Karlsson doesn't kill penalties (or at least he didn't in Ottawa, don't know what he's doing in San Jose), shot block, and he's not the best at winning puck battles. But I admit that his skating and vision allows him to move the puck very efficiently out of his own end. I just used him as an example to try to help prove a point.

Karlsson can block shoots, in 16/17 season he come at 2nd place in the entire league in that stat. Not that i think blocking shots is something you should make your best player do.

But i agree even if Gus would be bad defensivly, he still holds value.

 

[BigAlSecord]

The PP has turned this team around. Simple as that. We’re still doing the drop pass that you all hate and somehow managing to score. He keeps the puck in, makes plays and gets pucks on net. Jeez, years of Dunc sucking at it and now you’re complaining. In the tight scoring NHL, it can’t be underrated.

Look at guys who have left Chicago, how have they faired defensively? From what I can tell, most have gotten worse numbers-wise. D is a system, mindset, coaching. Q was pretty good at it. Let’s see if JC can do the same.

 

[BobbyJet]

The PP has turned this team around. Simple as that. We’re still doing the drop pass that you all hate and somehow managing to score. He keeps the puck in, makes plays and gets pucks on net. Jeez, years of Dunc sucking at it and now you’re complaining. In the tight scoring NHL, it can’t be underrated.

Look at guys who have left Chicago, how have they faired defensively? From what I can tell, most have gotten worse numbers-wise. D is a system, mindset, coaching. Q was pretty good at it. Let’s see if JC can do the same.

Actually if you look a little closer, Hawks have added a twist to the drop back play on the PP. They have added an extra layer that they utilize if the first drop back is covered by ops. They enter the ops zone in waves and it has worked beautifully. If that's JC's doing I'm impressed.

 

[AmericanDream]

The PP has turned this team around. Simple as that. We’re still doing the drop pass that you all hate and somehow managing to score. He keeps the puck in, makes plays and gets pucks on net. Jeez, years of Dunc sucking at it and now you’re complaining. In the tight scoring NHL, it can’t be underrated.

Look at guys who have left Chicago, how have they faired defensively? From what I can tell, most have gotten worse numbers-wise. D is a system, mindset, coaching. Q was pretty good at it. Let’s see if JC can do the same.

who specifically are you talking about? Kempny? Leddy? Frolik? Danault? Tevo? all have gotten better defensively (Frolik likely staying the same) away from us, Tevo even gets played on the pk now...Panarin is Panarin and always will be..just not sure who you are talking about? Schmaltz is too soon to tell.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Leddy hasn't gotten better defensively, he's almost the same player he was when he left here. Frolik was a top PKer and shut down guy here, can't get much better defensively than what he was when he was here, Danault was never really here, and TT has just naturally grown as a player.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Leddy hasn't gotten better defensively, he's almost the same player he was when he left here. Frolik was a top PKer and shut down guy here, can't get much better defensively than what he was when he was here, Danault was never really here, and TT has just naturally grown as a player.

So you can’t think of anyone who has gotten worse defensively either?

 

[AmericanDream]

Leddy hasn't gotten better defensively, he's almost the same player he was when he left here. Frolik was a top PKer and shut down guy here, can't get much better defensively than what he was when he was here, Danault was never really here, and TT has just naturally grown as a player.

Leddy has improved leaps and bounds this year...night and day player from before.

I just asked who he was talking about, not sure what he was suggesting.

 

[Hawkaholic]

So you can’t think of anyone who has gotten worse defensively either?

I haven't put much thought in it. Not many players get worse defensively. Once you learn to play D you don't just unlearn it. Lack of effort would be the only thing that changes.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Leddy has improved leaps and bounds this year...night and day player from before.

I just asked who he was talking about, not sure what he was suggesting.

I don't think so, as a team they play better, but he's the same as he was his last year here and his first year away from CHI.

 

[AmericanDream]

I don't think so, as a team they play better, but he's the same as he was his last year here and his first year away from CHI.

ok whatever you say..



Leddy has seen dramatic improvement in plus-minus