Player Discussion Nick Paul (LW)

[aragorn]

I guess my view point comes out of left field with Paul, I like the player because I think he has a lot of tools to become a decent NHL player but like L. Brown it could be between the ears with these big guys. Paul could be a very good face off guy, he could be a very good defensive forward, he could be an effective hitter & corner/board player & tough guy. I think the line of Paul, Brown & Batherson could be as effective in the NHL as it was in the AHL if Paul can take that big giant leap into the kind of player Brown needs on the left side. If Paul can turn into a very good defensive forward who works hard on the fore-check, in the corners & along the boards digging out pucks for Brown to make plays that would compliment Brown's skill set.

If Paul can use his speed to get back defensively to break up plays that would also help Brown who isn't quite as fast a skater & if Paul can produce some offence that helps that line produce that too would be beneficial to both players. Paul is a big guy who won't get pushed around & if he could develop a bit of an edge or mean streak that too would help the line clear a little more space for Brown to work with. There are a lot of things Paul could do to help Brown be a productive centre, but he has to increase his determination, drive & intensity to achieve those goals. It's not impossible & it;s not that he doesn't have the skill, it's between the ears IMO.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

I gave up on him a year and a half ago, too casual and doesn't have the skill or grit to make up for that. Might turn out to be a Derek Grant type player on another team later though.

He seems pretty skilled here:

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

He seems pretty skilled here:

He definitely had some holy shit was that Nick Paul moments last year

 

[RAFI BOMB]

He definitely had some holy **** was that Nick Paul moments last year

This year will be a big one for him. If he can put all his skills together he could end up as a very good 2nd/3rd liner with some very dangerous flashes. Hopefully he pans out as it would give this organization a bit more depth up front.

 

[Frank8]

I guess my view point comes out of left field with Paul, I like the player because I think he has a lot of tools to become a decent NHL player but like L. Brown it could be between the ears with these big guys. Paul could be a very good face off guy, he could be a very good defensive forward, he could be an effective hitter & corner/board player & tough guy. I think the line of Paul, Brown & Batherson could be as effective in the NHL as it was in the AHL if Paul can take that big giant leap into the kind of player Brown needs on the left side. If Paul can turn into a very good defensive forward who works hard on the fore-check, in the corners & along the boards digging out pucks for Brown to make plays that would compliment Brown's skill set.
If Brown can use his speed to get back defensively to break up plays that would also help Brown who isn't quite as fast a skater & if Paul can produce some offence that helps that line produce that too would be beneficial to both players. Paul is a big guy who won't get pushed around & if he could develop a bit of an edge or mean streak that too would help the line clear a little more space for Brown to work with. There are a lot of things Paul could do to help Brown be a productive centre, but he has to increase his determination, drive & intensity to achieve those goals. It's not impossible & it;s not that he doesn't have the skill, it's between the ears IMO.

I agree with everything you said but I wonder if they've focused too much on developing Paul as a defensive guy instead of trying to develop him as a power forward, which as we know, takes longer. I was just watching Batherson highlights and Paul is definitely making things happen on that line. I'm all for giving him a chance to succeed in an offensive role.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

This year will be a big one for him. If he can put all his skills together he could end up as a very good 2nd/3rd liner with some very dangerous flashes. Hopefully he pans out as it would give this organization a bit more depth up front.

I have followed Nick Paul pretty closely since his North Bay days. I think either he or the organization or both have had trouble molding what Nick Paul is. Is he a defensive forward? Is he a C is a he a winger ? Is he an offensive player? Is he an energy guy? Is he a physical grinder? Who is he? He'd get called up and sometimes put in the pressbox. He'd play mostly low minutes down the lineup .. then back to Belleville where he's on the 1st line and he's an offensive factor. If he's going to be a checker , a pk specialist, a bottom 6 reliable defensively, dump and chase and hit player does he not have to play that in Belleville? I mean going out on OZ starts with Brown and Batherson isn't really honing those skills to make it that way. I think its adversity for him. Last year they moved Chlapik from an offensive C role into that defensive C role that PKs so its weird to me. Paul could be that guy up in Ottawa and down in Belleville and to me he seemed better suited for that.

 

[DrEasy]

I don't know what he's done wrong not to get more ice time. Even in the limited minutes he has gotten in the NHL he's looked like he belongs. He's fairly assertive, he's not lazy, he makes the safe plays (maybe too safe in fact). More ice time given should breed more confidence, and I think results will follow.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I don't know what he's done wrong not to get more ice time. Even in the limited minutes he has gotten in the NHL he's looked like he belongs. He's fairly assertive, he's not lazy, he makes the safe plays (maybe too safe in fact). More ice time given should breed more confidence, and I think results will follow.

Agreed.

The kid isn't a star by any means, but I haven't seen any glaring errors or game-killing mistakes on his part. It's great to say a kid has to earn more ice time and a spot in the lineup, but it's hard to show much of anything playing a game once in a blue moon, and only getting a few minutes of icetime during a part of the game where you can't really show anything. All players need a few games in a row and some decent icetime to develop a bit of a groove.

 

[bert]

Agreed.

The kid isn't a star by any means, but I haven't seen any glaring errors or game-killing mistakes on his part. It's great to say a kid has to earn more ice time and a spot in the lineup, but it's hard to show much of anything playing a game once in a blue moon, and only getting a few minutes of icetime during a part of the game where you can't really show anything. All players need a few games in a row and some decent icetime to develop a bit of a groove.

I agree, I think he is ready and wins a spot out of camp out right. Its not unusual for a big player to take a little longer on his development path. He is a huge guy and has some talent just needs to put it all together. I personally prefer him over Balcers. I think they are directly competing with one another for a spot.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I’m pulling for him this year, there’s a lot to like if he can put it all together consistently. It sure sounds like Smith is the right coach to give these kids a shot.

 

[Gin and tonic]

I am trying to understand something. Nick Paul was the 101 pick. A FOURTH rounder. We have been discussing him the last few years as if he was a high first rounder!!!!

Had he been a Sens pick all along. And not the derivative of the Spezza trade, we would have forgotten him years ago.

Whatever he gives the Sens, fine. If he so much as plays a handful of games as a marginal 4th liner, great.

GO GRIPE ABOUT ALL THE FIRST and SECOND ROUND PICKS THAT HAVE FAILED.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I am trying to understand something. Nick Paul was the 101 pick. A FOURTH rounder. We have been discussing him the last few years as if he was a high first rounder!!!!

Had he been a Sens pick all along. And not the derivative of the Spezza trade, we would have forgotten him years ago.

Whatever he gives the Sens, fine. If he so much as plays a handful of games as a marginal 4th liner, great.

GO GRIPE ABOUT ALL THE FIRST and SECOND ROUND PICKS THAT HAVE FAILED.

Welcome. And Great post by the way to get things started here on HFSens. This is the Nick Paul thread I believe. Would you like an introduction to the concept of thread topics?

I'd ask about your capitalized statement, but that would contribute to derailing this thread. Why don't you start a thread on that topic if that is what you'd like to discuss.

 

[HSF]

Its up to Nick Paul to define what and who he is. Everytime he is up here he doesn't play physical enough to be a grinder, he doesn't use his skill or speed game to be a top 6 fwd. Its up to him to figure out where he belongs and to stick to what works

This is probably his last chance (i feel like we have been saying that for years with him) and he has had plenty of chances

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

I am trying to understand something. Nick Paul was the 101 pick. A FOURTH rounder. We have been discussing him the last few years as if he was a high first rounder!!!!

Had he been a Sens pick all along. And not the derivative of the Spezza trade, we would have forgotten him years ago.

Whatever he gives the Sens, fine. If he so much as plays a handful of games as a marginal 4th liner, great.

GO GRIPE ABOUT ALL THE FIRST and SECOND ROUND PICKS THAT HAVE FAILED.

He played for team Canada in the World Juniors. A few years after the draft it becomes less about what round you were drafted in and more about how you have progressed. He had progressed quite well (hence making team Canada).

I don’t agree about the whole Spezza trade vs if he was drafted by Ottawa. We would still be talking about him hoping he can be a good bottom 6 player for Ottawa.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

I'd like to see him make the Sens as a 3rd or 4th liner. He has some skill and that is what I like to see up and down the lineup. I'd like to see him on a checking line that also has decent offensive players.

Paul - Pageau - C.Brown

This would be a good checking line that has the skill to score some goals. At home you play them against the other teams' top lines. On the road you throw them out there and if opposing coaches try to get their stars away from our checking line then maybe these three can feast a little bit on bottom 6 lines.

 

[Samsquanch]

I don't know what he's done wrong not to get more ice time. Even in the limited minutes he has gotten in the NHL he's looked like he belongs. He's fairly assertive, he's not lazy, he makes the safe plays (maybe too safe in fact). More ice time given should breed more confidence, and I think results will follow.

There wasnt much logic in how Boucher distributed the minutes. I feel like for whatever reasons Boucher didnt like Paul as a player, because I totally agree that he always looked totally adequate to me in the sporadic minutes that he was given. It probably didnt help that he was battling against Bouchers pets for the bottom 6 roles most of the time as well.

I really think that Paul has it in him to be at very minimum a solid 4th line player. But I have no idea how we fit him in this year, especially if Brown and Batherson are ready to go. And hes got some stiff competition for that 1st callup spot with Formenton, Abramov and Davidsson all likely aiming to be that first guy in line.

 

[Cheapseats]

Nick Paul is the type of player that will do better elsewhere. He hasn’t really received the leadership a player like this needs from upper management. This team has failed him, not the other way around.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

Nick Paul is the type of player that will do better elsewhere. He hasn’t really received the leadership a player like this needs from upper management. This team has failed him, not the other way around.

Are you Nick Paul’s mom?

 

[coladin]

I have been 100% in the "Nick Paul is not an NHLer" camp. I have been hoping for someone to have picked him up on waivers when he got cut again from this team. This dude is washed up and has all the tools but will never put it together. Total bust.

Today's interview, however, on TSN1200, has now made me his biggest cheerleader. I have heard a lot of interviews and have possibly never heard a more honest, sincere interview. It was incredible and tremendous insight into his mental makeup. Just wow.

Go Nick!

 

[Answer]

I would give the following line a go

Tkachuk - Brown - Paul

 

[Samsquanch]

I have been 100% in the "Nick Paul is not an NHLer" camp. I have been hoping for someone to have picked him up on waivers when he got cut again from this team. This dude is washed up and has all the tools but will never put it together. Total bust.

Today's interview, however, on TSN1200, has now made me his biggest cheerleader. I have heard a lot of interviews and have possibly never heard a more honest, sincere interview. It was incredible and tremendous insight into his mental makeup. Just wow.

Go Nick!

I second this post, what a great interview that was. Seems like such a regular and likable dude. Im 100% a huge fan now after that interview, and actively rooting for him as hard as any player in the organization as of right now.

 

[Micklebot]

I have been 100% in the "Nick Paul is not an NHLer" camp. I have been hoping for someone to have picked him up on waivers when he got cut again from this team. This dude is washed up and has all the tools but will never put it together. Total bust.

Today's interview, however, on TSN1200, has now made me his biggest cheerleader. I have heard a lot of interviews and have possibly never heard a more honest, sincere interview. It was incredible and tremendous insight into his mental makeup. Just wow.

Go Nick!

I'll have to give it a listen. Always thought he would make a good 4th liner. Wanted him to play instead of signing Kelly (in hindsight, I think Kelly while a net negative on ice for much of his time, was probably helpful in other ways, like coaching the team on faceoffs during the ECF run).

Paul has shown some glimpses that he can be effective. He really thrives working close to the boards on the cycle.

 

[Clayonator]

I'd like to see him make the Sens as a 3rd or 4th liner. He has some skill and that is what I like to see up and down the lineup. I'd like to see him on a checking line that also has decent offensive players.

Paul - Pageau - C.Brown

This would be a good checking line that has the skill to score some goals. At home you play them against the other teams' top lines. On the road you throw them out there and if opposing coaches try to get their stars away from our checking line then maybe these three can feast a little bit on bottom 6 lines.

Good call.

 

[aragorn]

I've always said that I thought Nick Paul would be a excellent 4th line centre in Ottawa since he has been a very good defensive forward & faceoff guy in junior. It was a little surprising to see him playing on the top line in Belleville but it really has helped his game & added an offensive side to his game that we didn't really think he had. He reminds me a lot of Paul Gustad & that is the kind of player I thought he could be at the NHL level, but he might have more offence in his game than we give him credit for.

Either way I would like to see Paul stick & give him a significant role that he can thrive in to help his confidence as well as this team get better. After this yr's trade deadline I expect that Ottawa should have a few roster spots available & wouldn't mind seeing Paul, L. Brown & Batherson lining up together on a 3rd line. However, I doubt this coach puts three rookies on a line this season & maybe not next season either, NHL coaches seem to like a vet or two with a rookie when they are still learning the NHL game.

 

[Agent Zub]

Nick Paul is the type of player that will do better elsewhere. He hasn’t really received the leadership a player like this needs from upper management. This team has failed him, not the other way around.

Watch Vegas poach him and he goes on to become one of the best bottom six players in the league.