Emminger was standing still last night on the grabner and was looking really bad. He shold have taken a penalty there imo and take the guy down. This was just embarrassing. So I do not agree he is a good fill in I personally rather see Gilroy.
Eminger was with his man in front of the net. Nash was skating around like a chicken with his head cut off, and Hagelin was floating along the side boards. That goal isn't on Eminger. If he tried to move out to cover the slot his man would have been wide open, uncontested in front of Lundqvist.
Eminger was with his man in front of the net. Nash was skating around like a chicken with his head cut off, and Hagelin was floating along the side boards. That goal isn't on Eminger. If he tried to move out to cover the slot his man would have been wide open, uncontested in front of Lundqvist.
I think he's talking about when grabner raced up the left wing and went around Em like he was standing still, Hank saved him though...
Agreed. I thought Eminger has played well.
I didn't even notice Hamrlik, which is probably a good thing.
And I don't know if its been mentioned but #40 is a goalies number, wtf?
Ah, I don't remember that. Either way, Grabner with his speed will make even great defensemen look foolish from time to time. It's inevitable.
It was an ugly play and he never moved he went passed him like he was a statue, I'll have to disagree with you I'd rather see Gilroy
Fair enough, to each his own. Gilroy has been okay this year. I'm just haunted by memories of his past play where he looked like a Junior B defenseman.
Staal, McD, Girardi, Del Zotto, Stralman (in no particular order) are a strong 5-man Dmen unit... I think Hamrlik really was this #6 the NYR were looking for... #7 IMO is Gilroy because of his skating ability and ability to handle the puck, #8 is a tie between Bickel (who is more of a forward nowadays anyway) and Eminger (slooooooooow).
I really see Eminger going down to the CT Whale on a permanent basis sooner or later. Always had a soft spot for him, but he's no longer a top 6 guy.
We'd have to waive him for that to happen, and I'd bet that someone claims him. He's a serviceable, cheap bottom pairing defender. Bickel can be sent down without being exposed to waivers, no?
Either way, I think you're right in that Hammer is the #6 when Staal returns. Even if he maintains his level of play from last night (I'd expect him to improve as he rounds into game shape), he's still an upgrade over Bickel/Gilroy/Eminger.
His skating is awful. But he was so good with his stick and body position that it didn't matter tonight.
For a guy who hasn't played, who's first game came in a rivalry game, I thought he was good. Confident in what he was doing. I don't think you can overstate the importance of a vet on the back-end. They missed that last year in the playoffs.
For a guy who hasn't played, who's first game came in a rivalry game, I thought he was good. Confident in what he was doing. I don't think you can overstate the importance of a vet on the back-end. They missed that last year in the playoffs.
I may get blasted for this but did anyone get the Rozsival feel from him last night minus the boneheaded mistakes? They seem like similar players
Not really. But the non-alarmist saw Rozsival (and Malik) for what they were. Decent defensemen who were asked to do more than they should have been asked to do and the few mistakes overshadowed the majority of their play which was solid but unspectacular.
Well that is what I am talking about. Solid, a bit slow-footed, plays solid positional defense. Good stickwork, good shot, smart 2-way defenseman.
For a guy who hasn't played, who's first game came in a rivalry game, I thought he was good. Confident in what he was doing. I don't think you can overstate the importance of a vet on the back-end. They missed that last year in the playoffs.
Please, just please, let this be the end of Mr. Bickel. The guy is a complete waste of a roster spot, and in my opinion has been outplayed by everyone who has gotten a chance at the #6 spot this year.
He looks even worse as a forward. I still cannot understand why he is still on the roster. There always has to be one head scratcher though, I guess.