HTFN
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2009
- 12,186
- 10,712
Erat - B+ - Apparently higher than a lot of yours, but I rarely see mistakes from him, his board and puck protection skills are a boon to the top line, and more important than anything else for this team, his motor doesn't stop. Effort means a lot for a team whose fire has gone out, and I see a lot out of him.
Backstrom - A - The aggression has started to come around again, and he's rounding back in to what we remember. What else is there to say, when he's on, he's dangerous.
Ovechkin - B++ - The crazy bull-like aggression doesn't come out as consistently, and maybe he isn't the weapon on the rush that he once was, but he's converting. If we call Ovechkin's best play what it is, an A or above with the moderate deduction for mishaps, this is right on the level. He's producing like a well-oiled machine, but if you expect the standard for his play to be from years ago, well, I don't know about that. That charging, confusing, defense eating monster just got a little sneakier.
Laich - C- - I suppose he's trying, but he doesn't really show up aside from on the PK (pretty good), and in the offensive zone (pretty bad). He kills more ES opportunities than he negates on the PK, so this seems fair.
Johansson - B - There are some things this kid may never be, but there are also ways around some of them. He's shifty, thinks quick, plays instinctively in the center role, and has contributed at both ends of the ice. He is at least physically capable of being someone who is in the way, but I wouldn't say he necessarily shies away from contact to the point of it being a detriment.
Brouwer - D+ - Come on, buddy. I don't know how you come close to leading this team in hits, because I can't remember one.
Chimera, Grabovski, Ward - A - All together, because I'm tired of this now. They work incredibly well together, all three are players who never stop hustling, which I feel is becoming a theme. Ward looks tremendous, Chimera has his legs back, and that bite, and Grabovski is a dual-threat, without a ridiculously slanted tendency when it comes to pass or shoot, and that helps a lot.
Volpatti - B- - For what you expect from a 4th liner, he's performed admirably. Hustles, doesn't get worked too hard defensively, hits pretty consistently, and has obviously dropped the gloves. Works well in tandem with his line.
Latta - B- - Again, for what you expect out of a 4th liner, I like what I see. You can see the scorer he kind of was, his hands are better than expected and his ability to read plays is starting to show up a little more. Preds fans seemed to be excited for his coming, I can kind of see why.
Wilson - B - I feel like anyone willing to admit it can see that there are shades of something a lot better going on. The kid is a missile hauling a truck behind it when he gets going, and while it doesn't always mean something, there's a certain breath of fresh air to have someone on the roster who realizes the value of trying to put somebody down again. Those hits are worth a year alone, but I feel like there are glimmers of some offensive instinct that, with some work (and I think Oates can be a very good developmental coach), can start showing up with regularity. Giving Wilson a season of the real deal, keeping his head on a swivel and recognizing that these aren't all small men he's going up against, may do something for his confidence as well.
Alzner - A - This is a player you can win Cups with. He's been a leader at every level, plays a stout defensive game, is getting (very gradually) more dynamic and physical, and rarely makes mistakes. If the hallmark of a good defenseman is supposed to be that you never notice him, (you're not paying attention), the casual fan hasn't seemed to, but to take a period and just watch him, as constantly as possible, it's impressive.
Carlson - B - Not sure what's up with that +/-, because he looks a lot better than that. Another guy growing more physical and willing, although his instincts have made that a little bit quicker going. I read he's a sleeper/potential pick for an Olympic spot, which seems right, maybe it helps him turn that corner a little faster?
Schmidt - B- - I like him. He's like what GMGM probably thought Jack Hillen would be. There are warts, but there are warts on young defensemen everywhere. He's more productive than not, in my opinion, even though he's been very sheltered.
Green - C - About 2/3rds of the time he's doing his job fine, if dramatically, but his stride has gotten really choppy and ugly, and so does his play sometimes. The glimpses of physical Green are all but gone. I've had marijuana's and played before and put together better (relative) performances, but he's still skilled, and makes decent reads most of the time.
Urbom - B- - Filling the role he should be pretty admirably, for the most part. Uses his size well, is learning, and plays a pretty good defensive game for his role. Occasional points are nice, his reads are good even if he isn't particularly aggressive offensively.
Oleksy - C - Eh. Not as effective as last season, it seems, but he still hustles, and makes the team more difficult to play against in the defensive end physically.
Holtby - B+ - Continuing to get out from under all those early stats would help ease some people's pains, but he seems to be settling in to his season well at this point. He was another surprise possibility for Canada, as far as camp invites go (as was Alzner), but he looks good. Save percentage rebounding.
Neuvirth - C - Without a rhythm to establish he just looks adequate, mostly. Doesn't do nearly enough to make this a battle.
I've been a little generous, but I still see a team breaking in, so to speak. As a work in progress, this is how I see them in regards to what I'd expect based on the roster come, say, the deadline. If we do another thread, if progress stalls, that would probably be indicated. Also, what can I say, I'm an optimist.
Backstrom - A - The aggression has started to come around again, and he's rounding back in to what we remember. What else is there to say, when he's on, he's dangerous.
Ovechkin - B++ - The crazy bull-like aggression doesn't come out as consistently, and maybe he isn't the weapon on the rush that he once was, but he's converting. If we call Ovechkin's best play what it is, an A or above with the moderate deduction for mishaps, this is right on the level. He's producing like a well-oiled machine, but if you expect the standard for his play to be from years ago, well, I don't know about that. That charging, confusing, defense eating monster just got a little sneakier.
Laich - C- - I suppose he's trying, but he doesn't really show up aside from on the PK (pretty good), and in the offensive zone (pretty bad). He kills more ES opportunities than he negates on the PK, so this seems fair.
Johansson - B - There are some things this kid may never be, but there are also ways around some of them. He's shifty, thinks quick, plays instinctively in the center role, and has contributed at both ends of the ice. He is at least physically capable of being someone who is in the way, but I wouldn't say he necessarily shies away from contact to the point of it being a detriment.
Brouwer - D+ - Come on, buddy. I don't know how you come close to leading this team in hits, because I can't remember one.
Chimera, Grabovski, Ward - A - All together, because I'm tired of this now. They work incredibly well together, all three are players who never stop hustling, which I feel is becoming a theme. Ward looks tremendous, Chimera has his legs back, and that bite, and Grabovski is a dual-threat, without a ridiculously slanted tendency when it comes to pass or shoot, and that helps a lot.
Volpatti - B- - For what you expect from a 4th liner, he's performed admirably. Hustles, doesn't get worked too hard defensively, hits pretty consistently, and has obviously dropped the gloves. Works well in tandem with his line.
Latta - B- - Again, for what you expect out of a 4th liner, I like what I see. You can see the scorer he kind of was, his hands are better than expected and his ability to read plays is starting to show up a little more. Preds fans seemed to be excited for his coming, I can kind of see why.
Wilson - B - I feel like anyone willing to admit it can see that there are shades of something a lot better going on. The kid is a missile hauling a truck behind it when he gets going, and while it doesn't always mean something, there's a certain breath of fresh air to have someone on the roster who realizes the value of trying to put somebody down again. Those hits are worth a year alone, but I feel like there are glimmers of some offensive instinct that, with some work (and I think Oates can be a very good developmental coach), can start showing up with regularity. Giving Wilson a season of the real deal, keeping his head on a swivel and recognizing that these aren't all small men he's going up against, may do something for his confidence as well.
Alzner - A - This is a player you can win Cups with. He's been a leader at every level, plays a stout defensive game, is getting (very gradually) more dynamic and physical, and rarely makes mistakes. If the hallmark of a good defenseman is supposed to be that you never notice him, (you're not paying attention), the casual fan hasn't seemed to, but to take a period and just watch him, as constantly as possible, it's impressive.
Carlson - B - Not sure what's up with that +/-, because he looks a lot better than that. Another guy growing more physical and willing, although his instincts have made that a little bit quicker going. I read he's a sleeper/potential pick for an Olympic spot, which seems right, maybe it helps him turn that corner a little faster?
Schmidt - B- - I like him. He's like what GMGM probably thought Jack Hillen would be. There are warts, but there are warts on young defensemen everywhere. He's more productive than not, in my opinion, even though he's been very sheltered.
Green - C - About 2/3rds of the time he's doing his job fine, if dramatically, but his stride has gotten really choppy and ugly, and so does his play sometimes. The glimpses of physical Green are all but gone. I've had marijuana's and played before and put together better (relative) performances, but he's still skilled, and makes decent reads most of the time.
Urbom - B- - Filling the role he should be pretty admirably, for the most part. Uses his size well, is learning, and plays a pretty good defensive game for his role. Occasional points are nice, his reads are good even if he isn't particularly aggressive offensively.
Oleksy - C - Eh. Not as effective as last season, it seems, but he still hustles, and makes the team more difficult to play against in the defensive end physically.
Holtby - B+ - Continuing to get out from under all those early stats would help ease some people's pains, but he seems to be settling in to his season well at this point. He was another surprise possibility for Canada, as far as camp invites go (as was Alzner), but he looks good. Save percentage rebounding.
Neuvirth - C - Without a rhythm to establish he just looks adequate, mostly. Doesn't do nearly enough to make this a battle.
I've been a little generous, but I still see a team breaking in, so to speak. As a work in progress, this is how I see them in regards to what I'd expect based on the roster come, say, the deadline. If we do another thread, if progress stalls, that would probably be indicated. Also, what can I say, I'm an optimist.