Player Discussion Jared Spurgeon

[Digitalbooya]

Hard to believe it was just two years ago everyone complained about all the dump and chase this team did every game... before I just mentioned it, I can't remember the last time it was really brought up even. The talk about that completely and utterly vanished this past year.

That's so true. It's amazing how far this team has come in these past years.

 

[Digitalbooya]

#NeverForget

Side note: Heatley was on the ice for both the tying and game winning goals. Coincidence? I think not

 

[Hall of Faber]

Heater was on the ice for goals 2,3,4 and 5.

 

[Avder]

Remember when the puck skipping over spurgies skate while on the powerplay was a square on wild misery bingo?

 

[Digitalbooya]

.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

Nice video! What's even better is reading all these old comments in the thread

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

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Figure I should quote this so folks don't have to click to the previous page

 

[ThatGuy22]

He sure seems to have a knack for easing his way down the backside for the backdoor goal.

Didn't realize how many were like that.

 

[TZM]

I'm a bit worried about Spurgeon. He's hit puberty.

 

[BigT2002]

Remember when the puck skipping over spurgies skate while on the powerplay was a square on wild misery bingo?

Man, I was relentless on him during those games too

 

[Engebretson]

I'm a bit worried about Spurgeon. He's hit puberty.

I'd make a crack about his game eventually tanking when he starts noticing girls, but he actually did pretty well for himself in that area.

 

[BigT2002]

I'd make a crack about his game eventually tanking when he starts noticing girls, but he actually did pretty well for himself in that area.

I can definitely agree with that one

 

[57special]

We never talk about this guy. Are we taking him for granted? He is so damn good! There was talk of trading him earlier in the year because of his upcoming cap status, but there is no way that he gets traded.

 

[ThatGuy22]

We never talk about this guy. Are we taking him for granted? He is so damn good! There was talk of trading him earlier in the year because of his upcoming cap status, but there is no way that he gets traded.

He certainly is taken for granted among some segments of the fan, others that include me want to adopt him and raise him as our own.

But I damn near have an aneurysm whenever it's suggested we expose him in the expansion draft. You don't just expose a number two defensemen.

 

[gphr513]

I think it's just because he's so consistently solid that there's just not much to talk about with him.

He's definitely our 2nd best defenseman, and there's no way we would expose him in the expansion draft.

All hail the Spurgeon General!

 

[guitarhunterdude]

With Scandella struggling, Dumba being iffy as always, and Brodin out, I don't think anyone is taking Spurgeon for granted right now.

 

[Wild11MN]

So good. As I've said a few times before, everyone around the team always praises him. Very underrated. I thought it was ridiculous when he was voted our fourth best dman on these boards a while back.

 

[gphr513]

I think back to that first playoff series against Chicago when Kane stopped him in the handshake line and said "You're going to be a sick player in this league"

I think his game is one that is really appreciated by his peers on the ice, but some of it may go by the wayside for the untrained eye, like myself.

 

[Tony253]

One little play in the Blues game...he went into the boards with Reeves and stood him straight up and came away with the puck. At first I thought he was going to get crushed, then rag-dolled. That he not only was able to absorb a check from a guy who probably outweighs him by 50 pounds AND take the puck away, was perfect example of his skills (and understanding of leverages).

 

[DANOZ28]

spurgeon is a player you have to see to believe. like suter he seems to play so effortless and gets the job done like hes sleepwalking. we all probably underestimate just how much he means to the success of our D. i wonder if hes peaked or will keep getting better?

 

[AOSC]

spurgeon is a player you have to see to believe. like suter he seems to play so effortless and gets the job done like hes sleepwalking. we all probably underestimate just how much he means to the success of our D. i wonder if hes peaked or will keep getting better?

It's hard to become a Number 1 Defenseman in this league with that size. Absolutely LOVE Spurgeon. So happy with his progression in our system.

 

[BagHead]

spurgeon is a player you have to see to believe. like suter he seems to play so effortless and gets the job done like hes sleepwalking. we all probably underestimate just how much he means to the success of our D. i wonder if hes peaked or will keep getting better?

I think he's basically now what he will be for the majority of his career. He's basically the reverse Rafalski, where Rafalski was great at offense and good at defense, Spurgeon is great at defense and good at offense. Both are/were ideally #2 defensemen.

 

[MuckOG]

The Islanders must be kicking themselves for letting him get away for nothing.

 

[District 5]

The Islanders are kicking themselves for a lot of decisions.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

The Islanders must be kicking themselves for letting him get away for nothing.

Found an old piece of notebook paper the other day dating back to when I wrote about the Islanders for HF, with some notes for a Top 20. Boy was I off on Spurgeon... but then again the Islanders felt the same.

Major credit goes to Fletch and the staff for finding this guy and taking a chance, but there's no doubt that he put in a ton of work to be the player he is now.