News Article: Larkin comments on leadership; Nielsen out, AA doubtful.

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Notes: Nielsen out; Athanasiou doubtful versus Columbus

Larkin comments on leadership.

Nielsen definitely out Tuesday & probably Thursday as well.

AA doubtful for Tuesday at CBJ

Click to read more...

 

[Ezekial]

we also need to make sure we're doing the best thing we can for Michael Rasmussen long-term and our assessment as we stand here today is that the best thing to do is keep him here and keep playing.
"As long as he's progressing and when he plays, he's played 13-14 minutes, it's not like he's playing eight minutes. I personally think he needs to learn how to play at a higher pace. The pace, he can get away with it in junior, he can't get away with it here. He needs to learn the little tricks of the trade to hold onto the puck against bigger, stronger men. He's bigger and stronger than everybody in junior.
"And then off the ice he's got Mike Kadar (strength and conditioning coach) to help him continue to build that body into an elite athlete's body as a young guy, so I think there's tons of benefits to continuing to play

Blashill echoing my thoughts exactly.

 

[RedMenace]

I'd like to see Hicketts play forward for a game, see if he can forecheck and hound the puck despite his size. Usually fearlessness and tenacity are rewarded there, and he's got those in spades.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

I'd like to see Hicketts play forward for a game, see if he can forecheck and hound the puck despite his size. Usually fearlessness and tenacity are rewarded there, and he's got those in spades.

I'd like to see Hicketts in GR. And Zadina playing forward for a game.

 

[FireBird71]

I'd like to see Hicketts in GR. And Zadina playing forward for a game.

I’d like to see them both in Grand Rapids

 

[WingedWheel1987]

Nielsen has been "out" his entire tenure with Detroit. He is basically an even worse version of Stephen Weiss.

 

[RedMenace]

Nielsen has been "out" his entire tenure with Detroit. He is basically an even worse version of Stephen Weiss.

I think that last part is debatable, but yeah. Prime candidate for a buyout.

 

[JoesuffP]

Nielsen might be a bit overpaid but he’s still a serviceable centermen. Good 3rd liner on any team and has 6 points in 11 games so far. Theirs a long list of players that would be bought out before him. Nobody is being bought out at this point of the rebuild unless it’s the last year of their contract or they can no longer play hockey (Weiss)

 

[Filppula]

Nielsen might be a bit overpaid but he’s still a serviceable centermen. Good 3rd liner on any team and has 6 points in 11 games so far. Theirs a long list of players that would be bought out before him. Nobody is being bought out at this point of the rebuild unless it’s the last year of their contract or they can no longer play hockey (Weiss)

He’s played well of late, but overall he’s stlll been average at best. 0 goals.

Abdelkader is the worst though. He genuinely looks terrible.

 

[HIFE]

AA probably injured his tailbone with the amount of times he falls. Shift after shift he's tumbling around, I think he should work on staying on his feet. You don't see NHL players going down that much. AA's entering Hartnell territory.

When it takes a 1000% effort to win a game, getting blasted in your own zone, outshot 2-1 normally, I think it causes more injuries. The worst teams take the most abuse.

 

[Ezekial]

AA probably hurt his ankle when he went skate first into the boards.

 

[kliq]

I think that last part is debatable, but yeah. Prime candidate for a buyout.

I'd rather ride the caphit now when it means nothing, opposed to taking on a caphit for the next 8 years (or 6 if we do it in the offseason) which could effect us when we are hopefully contenders again. Cap literally means nothing right now.

 

[jkutswings]

So are these DET's centers against Columbus:

Larkin
Helm
Rasmussen
De La Rose

If so, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Filppula]

So are these DET's centers against Columbus:

Larkin
Helm
Rasmussen
De La Rose

If so, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

I’d expect Glendening to play centre.

 

[lilidk]

Don't expect any good outcome , but just build 1 solid line so we can sometimes get something going
Bert Larkin Nyquist

 

[SCD]

It is a tank year. A loss is a good outcome. Just don't want to see an ugly loss where there is no effort.

 

[Hammettf2b]

Nielsen has been "out" his entire tenure with Detroit. He is basically an even worse version of Stephen Weiss.

What did everyone expect from Nielsen when we signed him? He's the last of our worries imo. It's not his fault his contract is bad and I think thats the only reason he gets hate. He's doing fine.

 

[The Flying Octopus]

So are these DET's centers against Columbus:

Larkin
Helm
Rasmussen
De La Rose

If so, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

As if you expect anything different?

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Nielsen has been "out" his entire tenure with Detroit. He is basically an even worse version of Stephen Weiss.

I mean, that's factually not true. Paid a little bit too much for what he is? Sure. But he played 158 of 164 possible games the last two years and had 41 and 33 points. Stephen Weiss played 78 games in Detroit and had 29. I mean, none of this is arguable. Also, why the **** would you buy Nielsen out right now. At least get Cozens or Kakko or Hughes first. And even then, what are you using that cap space for? Give me some move that you need 4M in cap for and I might consider it more. But if you just want Nielsen gone for some reason, that's not enough.

 

[RedWingzz]

I'd like to see Hicketts in GR. And Zadina playing forward for a game.

Zadina called up? He is struggling in the A, what makes you think he won't look out of place in Detroit?

I don't want to see Zadina at all this year, maybe like 2 games in April. Then next year, let him go back to the A again. He hasn't looked geeat at all in the AHL, let him stay down there until he shows he's ready.

 

[Hammettf2b]

Zadina called up? He is struggling in the A, what makes you think he won't look out of place in Detroit?

I don't want to see Zadina at all this year, maybe like 2 games in April. Then next year, let him go back to the A again. He hasn't looked geeat at all in the AHL, let him stay down there until he shows he's ready.

have you seen the games? how does he look? (not questioning your opinion on whether Zadina has be bad btw.) Is it defensively, offensively? Can you give examples of his bad play?

 

[RedMenace]

Nielsen might be a bit overpaid but he’s still a serviceable centermen. Good 3rd liner on any team and has 6 points in 11 games so far. Theirs a long list of players that would be bought out before him. Nobody is being bought out at this point of the rebuild unless it’s the last year of their contract or they can no longer play hockey (Weiss)

No, I agree, he's absolutely a fine 3rd-line center; he's just overpaid by about 100%. Right now, he's playing along the same lines (or slightly worse than Valtteri Filppula), yet paid twice as much on a much longer term:

I'd rather ride the caphit now when it means nothing, opposed to taking on a caphit for the next 8 years (or 6 if we do it in the offseason) which could effect us when we are hopefully contenders again. Cap literally means nothing right now.

I was just saying that he would be a candidate if there were to go that route, not that they should or will.

 

[Zetterbeer]

have you seen the games? how does he look? (not questioning your opinion on whether Zadina has be bad btw.) Is it defensively, offensively? Can you give examples of his bad play?

I went and watched Saturdays game against Belleville and this is what I can say about Zadina.
Offensively he has trouble finding space right now, he wants to be flashy and make the exciting plays on offense but he doesn't have the space he wants. He had trouble handling the puck on the rush, making passes, receiving passes...ect. He got rocked in the 2nd period trying to split 2 defenders at the blue line with his head down. I think a year in the AHL is exactly what he needs, once he finds his space and gets a little stronger, he should start to look like he did in Junior.

His defensive game is actually very good. He back checks extremely well, you can tell he always wants the puck on his stick. However he is weak on his stick and doesn't do great in tight battles along the boards or anywhere else for that matter. But his positioning is very good, he's not often in the wrong spot.

Zadina will be just fine, he has the hockey IQ of an elite player, just needs to work on a few things, especially getting stronger.

 

[GrGriffins]

have you seen the games? how does he look? (not questioning your opinion on whether Zadina has be bad btw.) Is it defensively, offensively? Can you give examples of his bad play?

Having hard time adjusting to the much quicker pace in the AHL compared to juniors. Not getting his shot off quickly and it has cost the Griffins goals as a result, especially on the PP.

Defensively, he seems lost as to where he should be or who he should cover. Looking for break out of the zone before our d-men can clear the puck over the blue line and at times, he gets caught.

Zadina has signs of greatness, but it will be awhile before that comes fully out. The team has been struggling as well, so that does not help, but with players finally ending up in GR from Detroit and other guys either sent to Toledo, or elsewhere, maybe the Griffins will slowly climb up the standings and Zadina's play will also rise as well. Everyone here just has to be patient as he is only 18 yrs old and this is a big jump for him and it will take some time for him to adjust and I think he will be fine. Got 2 games here in GR this weekend so will see what he and the team does.

 

[Hugh Mongusbig]

I went and watched Saturdays game against Belleville and this is what I can say about Zadina.
Offensively he has trouble finding space right now, he wants to be flashy and make the exciting plays on offense but he doesn't have the space he wants. He had trouble handling the puck on the rush, making passes, receiving passes...ect. He got rocked in the 2nd period trying to split 2 defenders at the blue line with his head down. I think a year in the AHL is exactly what he needs, once he finds his space and gets a little stronger, he should start to look like he did in Junior.

His defensive game is actually very good. He back checks extremely well, you can tell he always wants the puck on his stick. However he is weak on his stick and doesn't do great in tight battles along the boards or anywhere else for that matter. But his positioning is very good, he's not often in the wrong spot.

Zadina will be just fine, he has the hockey IQ of an elite player, just needs to work on a few things, especially getting stronger.

Getting stronger? Really? Zadina is 6'-0" and 196 lbs. The same size Darren Helm is listed as and I've seen Helm pull off wrecking ball shifts time and time again in the NHL, although none lately. I find it hard to believe that Zadina's problem is that he just isn't strong enough at his current size of 6'-0 and 196 lbs.

Is he really weaker than guys like Nyquist at 5'-11 and 184 lbs, or Neilson at 6'-1" and 188 lbs? Come on.... Zetterberg was never as big as Zadina, Pav was close to the same size.

Zadina is plenty strong enough, he is just making a big jump from the Q to pro hockey, and needs some time to adjust to the NA pro game. I don't think he really needs to get bigger and faster to be in the NHL. He's got the size needed, he just needs to adjust. There are plenty of smaller players than Zadina doing fine, his size and strength isn't the issue.