Pre-Game Talk: Week for Redemption (@WPG, BUF, STL, @DAL)

[Foppa Frossa]

Discuss: MacKinnon isn't doing Duchene any favors lately and Duchene would be just as effective playing center on his own line.

 

[InjuredChoker]

I've been saying for a while that the Preds are not making it. RyJo should help their chances, but they are just not a good hockey team. Anaheim and San Jose are my two worries for the final spot.

The Avs just need to play the hockey they have since late October and they will be fine.

i think arizona is going to dropoff at least a bit. i like ducks and sharks both over the coyotes.

canucks don't scare me.

 

[CobraAcesS]

I'd say Mikko goes and plays the All Star game and gets called up the following week.

When is that anyways?

 

[tigervixxxen]

When is that anyways?

Feb 1st

 

[henchman21]

i think arizona is going to dropoff at least a bit. i like ducks and sharks both over the coyotes.

canucks don't scare me.

Same here... I'm just hoping the Pacific teams fight with each other instead of pushing for a wild card spot. If the Pacific doesn't get a wild card spot, I think the Avs chances are very good.

 

[Thepoolmaster]

i think arizona is going to dropoff at least a bit. i like ducks and sharks both over the coyotes.

canucks don't scare me.

Thinking all the California teams push into the playoffs and the central puts 2 WC in.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Feb 1st

Ahh, that would make some sense

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

EJ talking to the media, which means he's probably back either tomorrow or Saturday.

 

[Foppa Frossa]

EJ talking to the media, which means he's probably back either tomorrow or Saturday.

Chris Bigras, start your engines pack your bags

 

[henchman21]

Chris Bigras, start your engines pack your bags

Oh the meltdown here will be seen for miles and miles.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Oh the meltdown here will be seen for miles and miles.

I'll gladly be part of that melt down if hes sent to the AHL lol

 

[NateTheGreat]

Once EJ comes back, I see 2 different scenarios concerning the defense. I can describe the reaction from this board using two simple hashtags

Option 1) #InRoyWeTrust

Option 2) #FIREROY

Can anyone guess which hashtag is associated with each scenario?

 

[henchman21]

I won't like the move (if it happens), but I'd totally understand Bigras getting sent down.

 

[NateTheGreat]

The only (major) flaw that Bigras needs to work on is gaining strength and mass. Putting him in the AHL doesn't speed up that process.

 

[dahrougem2]

I won't like the move (if it happens), but I'd totally understand Bigras getting sent down.

I would understand it but I also wouldn't. It's obviously better for his development to play 23-25 minutes in the AHL, but at the same time it's good for his development to be here in the thick of a playoff race, especially if Roy does what should be the logical thing and pairs him with EJ, giving us three solid defensive pairings.

I just can't tolerate Zach Redmond anymore.

 

[Former Ladder]

I won't like the move (if it happens), but I'd totally understand Bigras getting sent down.

Yeah, you can tell he can handle sheltered NHL minutes but may not quite be ready yet, especially for a larger role (some of that may have to do with his partner at times too). Though, at the same time, he is probably included in our best option for our top 6 defensemen to give us the best chance at winning every night.

Personally, I keep him up until he has a couple of bad games then send him down maybe. If he keeps growing and getting better and is one of our best options then I say keep him up for as long as he earns it.

 

[henchman21]

The only (major) flaw that Bigras needs to work on is gaining strength and mass. Putting him in the AHL doesn't speed up that process.

Minutes will be good for the kid. To me, it is better for him to get 30 minutes a night with the Rampage than to get 10-12 with the Avs with little hope of moving up the lineup. If Bigras gets 15-16 with somebody like Beauch or EJ, we are talking a different story here.

I just can't tolerate Zach Redmond anymore.

I'm 100% with you on that.

It isn't a personal feeling here with me. I've said for a long time, Bigras would be fine in the NHL. It is more about getting meaningful minutes. If he isn't going to get them, it is best for him to go to the AHL and work on his game more. He can learn more in the AHL. I'm sure the organization feels the same. If it isn't in their plans to split up EJ and Beauch when EJ returns, then the writing is on the wall already.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Yeah, you can tell he can handle sheltered NHL minutes but may not quite be ready yet, especially for a larger role (some of that may have to do with his partner at times too). Though, at the same time, he is probably included in our best option for our top 6 defensemen to give us the best chance at winning every night.

Personally, I keep him up until he has a couple of bad games then send him down maybe. If he keeps growing and getting better and is one of our best options then I say keep him up for as long as he earns it.

This, I just want him to have a chance at more responsibility. I think you've got to see what hes capable of before sending him back IMO.

If Roy tries it, and it does not work. I wouldn't complain one bit.

 

[NateTheGreat]

Minutes will be good for the kid. To me, it is better for him to get 30 minutes a night with the Rampage than to get 10-12 with the Avs with little hope of moving up the lineup. If Bigras gets 15-16 with somebody like Beauch or EJ, we are talking a different story here.

If Bigras stays once EJ comes back that means he will be paired with either Zads,EJ,Beauch assuming Holden and Barrie stay together. I think Roy would trust any one of those guys more than he does Redmond so Bigras would probably get closer to 15-16 then his 10-12 right now.

 

[henchman21]

If Bigras stays once EJ comes back that means he will be paired with either Zads,EJ,Beauch assuming Holden and Barrie stay together. I think Roy would trust any one of those guys more than he does Redmond so Bigras would probably get closer to 15-16 then his 10-12 right now.

I don't see a situation where Roy pairs up Z and Bigras for a whole game. EJ and Beauch will likely have to be split for both kids to stay up.

 

[CobraAcesS]

I don't see a situation where Roy pairs up Z and Bigras for a whole game. EJ and Beauch will likely have to be split for both kids to stay up.

That does not mean they have to be split up for the entire game though. Which is the only thing giving me some semblance of hope lol.

Who knows though, maybe Roy would actually see Zadorov as a better option on the right side than Redmond.

We know without a doubt Redmond is not one of Roy's favorite defenders.

 

[dahrougem2]

I don't see a situation where Roy pairs up Z and Bigras for a whole game. EJ and Beauch will likely have to be split for both kids to stay up.

Yep, seeing as we didn't see Zads get this kind of trust earlier in the year, now he's essentially on the top pairing with Beauchemin.

I just think that it'd be in the best interests of this team to keep Bigras up, play him with EJ, and in pressure situations roll out Beauchemin-EJ. It not only ices our best possible defensive core, but it can limit Beauchemin's minutes a bit because he does need them reduced.

 

[NateTheGreat]

That does not mean they have to be split up for the entire game though. Which is the only thing giving me some semblance of hope lol.

Who knows though, maybe Roy would actually see Zadorov as a better option on the right side than Redmond.

We know without a doubt Redmond is not one of Roy's favorite defenders.

That's my only hope. Roy's never been fond of Redmond and frankly he's done nothing to to earn this spot over Bigras.

 

[dahrougem2]

That's my only hope. Roy's never been fond of Redmond and frankly he's done nothing to to earn this spot over Bigras.

If anything, he's made Roy's decision a lot harder because of how poorly he's played. It's been downhill since Bigras and Zadorov got here.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Yep, seeing as we didn't see Zads get this kind of trust earlier in the year, now he's essentially on the top pairing with Beauchemin.

I just think that it'd be in the best interests of this team to keep Bigras up, play him with EJ, and in pressure situations roll out Beauchemin-EJ. It not only ices our best possible defensive core, but it can limit Beauchemin's minutes a bit because he does need them reduced.

Ahh, I would love to see FB's minutes reduced a bit, especially if the kids are helping force it.

Nothing but pluses with that one.