Hamhuis + Bieksa > Mitchell + Bieksa
Amazing really.
I remember being so incredibly pissed at the beginning of the season that AV paired Hamhuis with Bieksa. I was also screaming about Sedin-Sedin-Kesler.
Hamhuis + Bieksa > Mitchell + Bieksa
Amazing really.
Your comments would carry weight if it was an issue of him lacking effort.He has played amazing, my only hope is that he doesn't play poorly after getting his new contract this summer. If he keeps his effort up, he's worth every penny for sure.
Your comments would carry weight if it was an issue of him lacking effort.
The most common complaint about him prior was he tried to do to much.
Bieksa isnt trying harder this year. What has happened though as has been mentioned by Bowness himself is that he was given a specific role. Hes also be paired with a D man who compliments him well.
Hes also had to deal with serious injuries which have stunted his development.
Compare games played for the top four:
Hamhuis:
Since 2003 - 547 games
Ehrhoff:
Since 2003 - 500 games
Edler:
Since 2006 - 304 games
Bieksa:
Since 2005 - 347 games
Almost 2 seasons behind Ehrhoff and 2 1/2 behind Hamhuis.
Bieksa didnt play this well in previous seasons but he certainly wasnt as bad as many had him out to be and he was the whipping boy. Last years playoffs were far from his fault but you wouldnt know it listening to some posters and media clowns.
Even without playing with Hamhuis hes been stellar. All. Season. Long.
I remember being so incredibly pissed at the beginning of the season that AV paired Hamhuis with Bieksa. I was also screaming about Sedin-Sedin-Kesler.
Hands up! 10 months ago, who saw THIS thread popping up on the boards?
Unreal. Props to Bieksa.
Great post. Bieksa is playing incredible, but all he's really done is eliminate the one big mistake he was prone to making. Like Lonny said, it was more him trying to do too much than not trying. I liked him before, I love him now.
I piled on this guy for sure, but let's be honest; he had some freaking awful moments over the past two years. Love his game right now, and no doubt we'll be able to keep him...he's in the 'Sedins, Kesler, Burrows' category...long time draftee with serious roots here; Bieksa will stay for something fair, but reasonable.
Ahhh memories.Problem is he was the whipping boy.
His mistakes were magnified and people were actually looking for his mistakes.
Your comments would carry weight if it was an issue of him lacking effort.
The most common complaint about him prior was he tried to do to much.
Bieksa isnt trying harder this year. What has happened though as has been mentioned by Bowness himself is that he was given a specific role. Hes also be paired with a D man who compliments him well.
Hes also had to deal with serious injuries which have stunted his development.
Compare games played for the top four:
Hamhuis:
Since 2003 - 547 games
Ehrhoff:
Since 2003 - 500 games
Edler:
Since 2006 - 304 games
Bieksa:
Since 2005 - 347 games
Almost 2 seasons behind Ehrhoff and 2 1/2 behind Hamhuis.
Bieksa didnt play this well in previous seasons but he certainly wasnt as bad as many had him out to be and he was the whipping boy. Last years playoffs were far from his fault but you wouldnt know it listening to some posters and media clowns.
It's times like this that I wish HF wasn't quite so uptight and we could all appreciate that together.Truth. Thanks Ben Eager!
Actually, he was that bad according to stats, the team was noticable worse in every stat every time he touched the ice. This year (after he settled in with Hamhuis) he's calmed his play down is the smart Dman we always wanted him to be but doubted he want to grow into.
It's no coincidence to me that his two best years have come when he's consistently been paired with a predictable/reliable partner. First Mitchell and now Hamhuis. Hamhuis can move the puck so he creates more for Bieksa and we don't have those endless sequences where Bieksa would pass it to Mitchell who would pass it back to Bieksa then back to Mitchell then back to Bieksa and 30 seconds later they'd try a breakout pass.