Letang on the wing?
- Thread starter DrDangles
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66-30-33
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DrDangles
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- Mar 1, 2013
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I was unaware he had. Seems like a logical idea to me though, could definitely help us down the road with our cap situation as well.
Shady Machine
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- Aug 6, 2010
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I don't necessarily think it's a 'bad' idea. It just isn't going to happen. Of course, I also don't think it's a good idea.
stardog
Been on HF so long my Myspace link is part of my p
A guy two games back from injury who is a few months removed from being a NORRIS finalist and under very strong consideration to make the deepest Olympic team at his position moving to the wing.
Just because it turned Engelland into a perrenial first line scoring threat doesn't mean it works for everyone.
A big BIG NO on my side. But I'll give you credit for thinking out of the box?
Just because it turned Engelland into a perrenial first line scoring threat doesn't mean it works for everyone.
A big BIG NO on my side. But I'll give you credit for thinking out of the box?
Zirakzigil
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Beauner
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Burns' is actually a natural forward, so it kinda made sense to move him from defense. Letang is fine as a defenseman.
stardog
Been on HF so long my Myspace link is part of my p
Speaking Moistly
What a terrible image.
I honestly think he's not smart enough to learn a new position, particularly one that IIRC he doesn't like.
DegenX
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Yeah, he started as a forward and converted to D. Not sure when it happened, but he talked about in some interview or other.
66-30-33
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He's talented enough that I'm sure he'd be effective there, but he brings too much value to us as a defenseman for it to make sense.
Honour Over Glory
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- Jan 30, 2012
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Letang isn't Brent Burns where he's meh at forward and meh at defense, he's a solid defenseman that will get better and his offense is good enough to be top 5 in the league for defense.
I think a bit of Letang's effectiveness offensively comes because at times, he's out there with Sid and Geno, he's just that much harder to contain when teams have to defend Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Neal, Dupuis...and then him as well. When Letang comes in flying and one of those guys are trailing him, teams have a tough time trying to decide who to put two defenders on, etc. Just what I've seen at times.
I think a bit of Letang's effectiveness offensively comes because at times, he's out there with Sid and Geno, he's just that much harder to contain when teams have to defend Malkin, Crosby, Kunitz, Neal, Dupuis...and then him as well. When Letang comes in flying and one of those guys are trailing him, teams have a tough time trying to decide who to put two defenders on, etc. Just what I've seen at times.
Big McLargehuge
Fragile Traveler
God no. And here's why:
- Burns played a lot of wing in the past, such as in junior, in his younger years as a pro, and even on a line with Perry & Getzlaf in the WJCs. This is not a new position for him.
- although he's a pretty good defenseman, he's not a GREAT/Norris type Dman like Letang, so there's not as much of a loss there. Best case scenario, and it's a huge IF, even if Letang were to make a successful transition to wing (i.e. the equivalent of a PPG Dman should at least be a PPG forward, which may be a pipe dream), we don't have anyone in the organization who is ready (yet anyway) to be his heir as a #1 Dman on the blueline.
- I could probably come up with several more reasons, but those are enough to completely make this a non-consideration. Apples to Oranges, and not at all a good fit or strategy for us.
He's not a 7 million dollar defenseman & most definitely not a 7 million dollar winger.
You are under the assumption that the organization feels winger is a source of weakness for this team & they don't. Shero/Bylsma see no problem with 8 defensmen on the roster & rotating bad players up front.
You are under the assumption that the organization feels winger is a source of weakness for this team & they don't. Shero/Bylsma see no problem with 8 defensmen on the roster & rotating bad players up front.
He's not a winger. He's played there like once in his 7 or 8 year career so far and played D in junior for years before that. He has nowhere near the experience Burns has at playing wing.
Even if he could do it, he isn't a 7.2 million dollar winger. He may not be a 7.2 million dollar D-Man either, but he's probably a lot closer to being worth that as a D-Man than he would be as a winger.
Even if he could do it, he isn't a 7.2 million dollar winger. He may not be a 7.2 million dollar D-Man either, but he's probably a lot closer to being worth that as a D-Man than he would be as a winger.
ColePens
RIP Fugu Buffaloed & parabola
No need to discuss this. Anyone who has played the game realizes offensive minded d-men do not just know how to play wing all of a sudden.
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