Hope Yamo can keep it rolling tonight. With McDavid and Nuge he may not even need to be able to carry the puck and keep possession for any significant amount of time. He just has to be Rattie, find the spots (he did last game), and when you get the puck in a dangerous spot.. RIP IT and don't miss.
I like Yamamoto but I honestly think people are crazy to think he could turn into a Gaudreau level player. I'll be happy if he becomes a good second line winger for us.
Maby add of strenght gives more speed also? It seems he has good top.speed but needs more to those first steps.He's too slow for his size IMO. He doesn't have that speed and shiftiness that smaller guys usually need to succeed in the NHL. Can't see him ever being a productive NHLer unless he gets a lot quicker.
Maby add of strenght gives more speed also? It seems he has good top.speed but needs more to those first steps.
That’s strange because all his scouting reports say he has great agility and burst speed, but not the greatest straight ahead speed. He is actually very strong for his size, he had one of the best combines in his draft year. At some point the physics of him being smaller and lighter will work against him, hopefully his quickness can be an equalizer.
I still see this in his game. I agree with others that his problem is weight/strength. He really should be in the AHL, hitting the gym and importantly MAINTAINING his offensive confidence while he waits for his body to mature. I worry that if we keep him in the NHL, that by the time his body can accomplish the tasks required to excel, his offensive confidence will have been shredded from years of not being able to complete the tasks his brain sets out for him.
He's too slow for his size IMO. He doesn't have that speed and shiftiness that smaller guys usually need to succeed in the NHL. Can't see him ever being a productive NHLer unless he gets a lot quicker.
His offensive confidence looks just fine to me. I’d actually consider splitting up the PP units completely and putting him on the top unit where there’s more time and space, it’s where Gagner always had success at the NHL level and I think Yamamoto has similar skills but is much quicker and much better in his own zone.
Yamamoto-Lucic-Drai
Bouchard-McDavid
Strome-Khaira-Rattie/someone
Puljujarvi-Klefbom/Nurse
I should be more clear. My point is IF he struggles, I don't want him to "learn" at the NHL level. That's not his issue... he's plenty smart. But if he's struggling its a physical issue... which only time will correct and I'd rather him not be discouraged putting that time in (with limited results) at the NHL level. Give him a year on the farm and let him find his optimal playing weight/learn how to compete against men in a place where he'll still get plenty of ice time and put up plenty of points. I don't want to beat the offensive game out of him at this level by ingratiating himself to the coach with "mistake free" hockey (like Nuge).
Not the topic of the thread but offensively Yama isn't working anywhere. He's blowing countless chances. He's not ready to be getting them. 3mins in he should have scored. If you're on a line with Connor your getting multiple scoring chances/night and he has 2 pts on the year. We need Rattie back.
He is good at anticipating where the puck is going to be.
Also surprisingly tenacious and wins a lot of puck battles.
You can see his awareness when he has the puck improving.
Yep, this is why you don't just look at a stat sheet to evaluate a player, like Lucic and Strome as well. The scoring numbers aren't very stout for a lot of these guys (non-existent in Strome's game) but they are all playing very good 2 way hockey, keeping the puck moving in the right direction and causing havoc for the opposition.
At a certain point "2-way hockey" needs to result in some goals though.Yep, this is why you don't just look at a stat sheet to evaluate a player, like Lucic and Strome as well. The scoring numbers aren't very stout for a lot of these guys (non-existent in Strome's case) but they are all playing very good 2 way hockey, keeping the puck moving in the right direction and causing havoc for the opposition.
I mean, they all have their warts too. And when you're playing with McDavid you damn well better be showing up on the stat sheet too. He's the best player in the world and primarily a playmaker.
I have 0 issue with putting Rattie back in that RW spot with McDavid once he's back unless Yamamoto starts showing the quick release he had in jr there.
He's been getting better. He was real ugly on the second line to start the season. And I really like him on the third line with Lucic and Strome. When Rattie comes back, I prefer him to take 1st line duties again and Yam moves back down to 3.
He really is a Yammy Snowpants.
He's too slow for his size IMO. He doesn't have that speed and shiftiness that smaller guys usually need to succeed in the NHL. Can't see him ever being a productive NHLer unless he gets a lot quicker.