Robbie Russo getting called up!

[Winger98]

So if Sproul goes early (before Oulette loses it), he leaves the slot completely devoid of defence which is a like a free pass to goal?

I dont know why anyone would blame Sproul for letting his other D man do the job he is supposed to do while he covers the middle of the ice appropriately.

Just watching a couple of videos of the goal now. I think XO clearly bears the weight of the goal but I get where Zetterberg Era is coming from in wishing Sproul would have identified what was going on sooner. If he did, he could get back and take out the middle of the ice and force McDavid to stay to one side and shoot, or try to sneak a pass through Sproul to the other side. It also slows McDavid down a bit and maybe allows Oulette to catch up.

There wasn't a good option there for Sproul, but his best play is getting back harder and trying to keep the ice chopped in half. Other than Dekeyser and XO, though, I'm not sure any of our D read the play well enough to make that choice, or are physically capable of getting back (Kronwall).

 

[theD86]

It's about time!! There is no reason Oulette, Sproul, and Russo should have not been on the team sooner

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I really agree with your evaluation of Ouellet. His skating is some of the worst in the NHL and much credit is deserved for his high IQ to make up for it. I see he's taking longer strides and using his arms to swing more than his first games this season but there's something physically wrong. I've speculated he has some impingement/disability in his hips and am positive it could be improved with specialists focusing on just flexibility and mobility. Physically therapy can do wonders transforming physical hang-ups.

You think some of the best athletes in the world, guys who make their living off of their bodies, haven't thought about such things? XO just isn't very athletic and lacks explosiveness in his first couple of steps. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to improve. It is very difficult to improve, especially at his age.

 

[Frk It]

I really agree with your evaluation of Ouellet. His skating is some of the worst in the NHL and much credit is deserved for his high IQ to make up for it. I see he's taking longer strides and using his arms to swing more than his first games this season but there's something physically wrong. I've speculated he has some impingement/disability in his hips and am positive it could be improved with specialists focusing on just flexibility and mobility. Physically therapy can do wonders transforming physical hang-ups.

You think some of the best athletes in the world, guys who make their living off of their bodies, haven't thought about such things? XO just isn't very athletic and lacks explosiveness in his first couple of steps. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to improve. It is very difficult to improve, especially at his age.

I don't think his issues are from a lack of trying. We all just have different limitations. I think if his skating could have been greatly improved upon, he would have done it. Most likely there just wasn't a whole lot of room for improvement there.

 

[Winger98]

I don't think his issues are from a lack of trying. We all just have different limitations. I think if his skating could have been greatly improved upon, he would have done it. Most likely there just wasn't a whole lot of room for improvement there.

I think it depends on who his coaches have been and the suggestions they've made. A few years ago, figure skating coaches were becoming a big thing for improving a hockey player's skating. I'm pretty sure speed skaters have been brought in by different teams. If we're just sending Maltby around to give tips and having the strength/nutritionist people saying "get stronger hips" or "get stronger thighs" etc., I think there's quite a bit more that could be done.

I just have a hard time believing XO couldn't be instructed on a better stride/technique that got him where he's going quicker and more efficiently. He's not going to be Larkin fast, but there are nights where I think he'd be huffin' to keep up with Homer in a race up ice.

 

[Frk It]

I think it depends on who his coaches have been and the suggestions they've made. A few years ago, figure skating coaches were becoming a big thing for improving a hockey player's skating. I'm pretty sure speed skaters have been brought in by different teams. If we're just sending Maltby around to give tips and having the strength/nutritionist people saying "get stronger hips" or "get stronger thighs" etc., I think there's quite a bit more that could be done.

I just have a hard time believing XO couldn't be instructed on a better stride/technique that got him where he's going quicker and more efficiently. He's not going to be Larkin fast, but there are nights where I think he'd be huffin' to keep up with Homer in a race up ice.

I don't know. I've seen people go to the gym and work out for years and make very minimal gains. I've seen people go in and do unbelievable things in a few months. Everyone's different.

People can clean up your skating stride, or even your running stride, but sometimes if you're slow... you're just slow. I mean here's some videos of the kid training:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJJMP4rhEeF/?taken-by=the_xman16
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHFg3CQhfLG/?taken-by=the_xman16

Again, I don't think it was a lack of effort. I know there's examples of people who improved their skating and got faster, but there's also a bunch of guys that never do.

 

[Run the Jewels]

I don't think his issues are from a lack of trying. We all just have different limitations. I think if his skating could have been greatly improved upon, he would have done it. Most likely there just wasn't a whole lot of room for improvement there.

It's the one reason I'm not sold on Ouellette as more than a stop gap. He routinely gives up great scoring chances. He also doesn't have the size to make up for his total lack of dynamic skating ability. Ideally he'd be a bottom pairing guy you could play 10-15 mins at even strength. He's good in his own end so maybe you give him some PK mins.

 

[Winger98]

I don't know. I've seen people go to the gym and work out for years and make very minimal gains. I've seen people go in and do unbelievable things in a few months. Everyone's different.

People can clean up your skating stride, or even your running stride, but sometimes if you're slow... you're just slow. I mean here's some videos of the kid training:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJJMP4rhEeF/?taken-by=the_xman16
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHFg3CQhfLG/?taken-by=the_xman16

Again, I don't think it was a lack of effort. I know there's examples of people who improved their skating and got faster, but there's also a bunch of guys that never do.

I don't think it's lack of effort, either. We've seen athletes revamp their golf swings, their batting stances, their basketball shooting mechanics, Justin Gatlin really changed the way he ran as a sprinter that past few years...I'm thinking more along those lines for his skating.

I don't think physical strength or improving his agility is going to pay a great dividend at this point, regardless of how hard he works. As you said, he's just going to be slow with what he has. So maybe he needs to see if he can change what he has.

 

[Henkka]

Missed the game. How was the debut?

 

[BinCookin]

Missed the game. How was the debut?

Relatively boring.

I think the most memorable thing he did was got rocked by both Komarov and Martin, both plays "he made a play along the boards" then got rocked.

I scored him no +'s and no -'s for the game. So he didnt make any mistakes i guess.

 

[Lampedampe]

Has not been able to catch any games lately, how has he looked?

 

[Mister Ed]

Has not been able to catch any games lately, how has he looked?

He's not been noticeable, which is a good thing for D. He's had some good chemistry with Ouellet.

 

[Winger98]

What's really stood out for me is that he's looked far better than Sproul. I think he has to have passed him on the depth chart, but we'll see what Holland does over the summer.

 

[theD86]

Russo is a steady as she goes defender. Which is good. But, the Wings still need defensive help.

 

[Retire91]

I have high hopes for Russo not that he can be a second pairing defenseman or anything but just one of those defenders that can fit a role and play it well. It seems like every defender on the roster is in over their head role wise. We certainly need a legit top pairing before anything is strightend out.

 

[SirloinUB]

He's not been noticeable, which is a good thing for D. He's had some good chemistry with Ouellet.

I totally get your point. Unfortunately this teams doesn't need another steady yet unnoticeable player.

We need someone worth noticing, God damn it.

 

[Retire91]

Haha I don't think Russo was ever going to be someone to notice. But I hear ya