Nicklas Grossman(n)

[fauxflex]

He's good for what he is: limited stay at home D-man who stays around the crease because he's not that mobile. Great penalty killer and plays a vital role in defending even strength in-zone attacks. I cringe every time he stickhandles and turns the puck over.

I have to disagree with this assessment to a large extent. I've been looking pretty closely at his play this season. I've gone back and reviewed game video and such. Grossman has been more of a two-way guy than a prototypical "stay at home" defenseman imo. He has surprising mobility at his size and consistently makes decisive puck moving plays, either skating and/or passing the puck out of the defensive zone. He also pinches effectively making numerous zone keeps and rarely gets caught letting men behind him. He's not lighting it up offensively, but he can get the puck on net when given the opportunity. Regarding tunrovers, he's not that bad really...lots of players in the league perceived to be much better than Grossman have a lot more...also, Schenn has more, and Coburn has almost twice as many. Considering the number of successful puck moving plays he does, his turnovers are reasonable...and when it does happen he's that type that gets pissed and usually makes up for it with a determined follow up play. I loves me some Grossman!

In another thread I posted some video clips from ONE game that hjad plenty of examples of the Flyers D's competency in moving the puck...here's some of Grossman's work:

Grossman takes the puck off the faceoff win and moves it behind the net which he uses to pick the forechecker, he then skates it out with the puck confidently before making a solid lead pass to Giroux to key the breakout. Later in the sequence he helps out deep to keep the cycle going:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXyA_DWh5KM

Grossman clears from deep in the D zone, setting up posession deep in the Pens: zone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTw9FfkGVeA

Grossman clears the zone for a line change, then moves the puck to Briere who loses it, then Grossman makes a great defensive play deflecting the dangerous pass from Neal to Malkin in the low slot up to B Schenn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvSK2rUcQ78

Coby fights off Crosby to gain control in the defensive zone, makes a cross ice pass to Grossman who makes a nice pass up to Fedotenko to send him off into the offensive zone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEkqawEueA

This is a nice sequence for Grossman and Coby. Coby fights for a puck along the defensive boards, Grossman comes in, gets the puck and curls around the slot before hitting G with a sweet pass that sends him off on the rush. They gain the zone and get to work, Grossman makes a nice pinch to keep it in along the far boards (25 sec of the vid). The guys set up and apply more pressure, with the Coburn moving the puck from the umbrella...the Pens get it out but Coburn skates back and makes a cross ice pass to Timonen who deftly enters back into the offensive zone, Lots of solid puck moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXTsXZE_CYA

Coby and Grossman pass to shake off pressure from Crysby before moving the puck up to Coots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XLAdz9x_lE

Grossman wins a battle along the D sideboards and gets the puck to Couturier who gets it to Talbot and out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLdz8_G60Y


Grossman scores:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGwQKoZgIH0

 

[shipwreck]

I won the game used, autographed Grossmann auction yesterday - sold by the Flyer's Charity. I do not normally buy autographs. I really hope Grossmann comes back soon...