Milan the God*
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Pageau is a beast. He didn't play well when he was up here but the majority of games he was playing three minutes in between Kassian and Condra.
In my mind there was nothing wrong with Pageau in his stint up here in Ottawa this season. He just wasn't given a legitimate chance. He saw very limited ice time and when he was on the ice it was with a useless player like Kassian.
MacLean should give the kid a decent shot the next time around. For what's been happening and what the team has, I'd like to see Pageau lined up with Conacher and have Spezza center them.
In my mind there was nothing wrong with Pageau in his stint up here in Ottawa this season. He just wasn't given a legitimate chance. He saw very limited ice time and when he was on the ice it was with a useless player like Kassian.
MacLean should give the kid a decent shot the next time around. For what's been happening and what the team has, I'd like to see Pageau lined up with Conacher and have Spezza center them.
This means nothing. If he gets called up he will play 5 minutes a game on the fourth line.
It's funny how i continually asked people to explain to me exactly how Pageau was playing badly when he got sent down.
The only thing he was struggling with was faceoffs. When he would win faceoffs his linemates or the D would completely botch it up and it resulted in 3 goals against. None of which are obviously his fault.
Honestly, I thought he was missing his footspeed and compete level.
At the end of last season + playoffs, he was always noticeable on the ice, even without the puck.
This season, there were periods where his shifts went by without any spark whatsoever.
Pageau was not playing to his full capabilities, and I think that's a compliment.
Obviously I'm willing to see him brought back up at some point.
And if anyone should sit, in my mind, it should be Greening, Kassian and Neil, but MacLean seems to like his vets.
This seems like a pretty fair assessment. Even so, increased ice-time would probably have been a better solution then sending him down and then calling him back up. They already sat him a few games and then when he drew back in gave him 4-5 minutes? It just seems like a complete joke. Give him a shot, he's on almost every highlight reel they play at the start of every game. He has all the tools to be a legit player in the NHL I see him easily reaching 40 point potential.
What do you expect to get when you pair up Pageau or Da Costa with a bunch of goons?
Michalek-Spezza-Zibanejad
Macarthur-Turris-Ryan
Greening-Pageau-Condra
Conacher-Smith-Neil
So was Hoffman Locke etc. It's the AHL. There is a difference in size /speed.
Two things that Hoffman has that Locke doesn't is speed and a great shot. Hoffman is the perfect player for Spezza.
It's funny how i continually asked people to explain to me exactly how Pageau was playing badly when he got sent down.
The only thing he was struggling with was faceoffs. When he would win faceoffs his linemates or the D would completely botch it up and it resulted in 3 goals against. None of which are obviously his fault.
I have continually maintained that MacLean was mishandling his ice-time. I also said that sending him down to the AHL was silly because he was too good for the AHL.
I find it most surprising that there are so many positive comments now. Where were all of you when he was playing 4 minutes a game or when he get sent down? I seemed to be the only person defending him (except allaboard).
I'm tired of seeing greening miss open nets, while his effort level has raised a minuscule amount lately he still sucks this year. Michalek is the same, still does almost nothing right (except on the PK strangely enough).
If faceoffs are an issue then give pageau a shot with spezza. He will help Spezza defensively much more than michalek/greening/conacher.
Pageau-Spezza-Conacher (with pageau playing center in the defensive zone)
MacArthur - Turris- Ryan
Michalek - Zibby - Condra
Greening - Smith - Neil
or scratch Conacher/Greening/Michalek (preferably one of the latter two) and put zibby on the top RW smith 3rd C and Grant 4th C.
It's too bad the kid plays center because it's the only position the team has good depth in (aside from goaltending). Pageaus pretty much gonna have to wait for an injury to get a call up because I don't think Mac wants him playing on the 4th line
Pageau can play wing. His draft profile and scouting reports both state he is completely versatile able to play any forward position. I havent seen him play more then 1 shift at the wing and his excellent defense definitely make hVim a better fit for the center position but considering the struggle of our wingers...
And in the AHL he is ruling..if anyone missed Sunday's win over Hershey, you're missing something on how well he reads plays and creating chances..
If someone asked Luke about Da Costa, Hoffman, Lawson or Ceci he would've said pretty much the same words. Doesn't mean much.
Hmmm well I'd be sweet to give him a shot on the wing then. I agree with others that he might be able to build good chemistry with Spezza. I just worry how he'd do defensively (battles along the boards) which is where the team is struggling most