Which RD has the best chance to take the next step this season?

[A1LeafNation]

Carrick is poised for the press box. I don't recall Dermott having any trouble beating out Polak, but hey let's make excuses.

Borgman and Dermott split the season. Both looked good on the left.

Babcock chose the vet over inexperience in the right last year.

Out problem isn't top pair LD or on the bottom 4 or finding a vet dman with nothing to prove in the AHL as the pressbox sub:

Rielly _____
Dermott Zaitsev
Gardiner Carrick
Rosen

No one should have an issue with the above.

Our problem is top pair RD and getting our current guy to play less games/minutes and also trying to develop Holl or Ozhiganov or Liljegren to take over top 4 minutes for Hainsey next year.

Perhaps 60 games of Hainsey on the first night of a back to back, and play Holl the remaining 20 games with Rielly for 20 min a night? Or Ozhiganov? Or Liljegren?

 

[SprDaVE]

Carrick is poised for the press box. I don't recall Dermott having any trouble beating out Polak, but hey let's make excuses.

Dermott replaced Borgman as a LD. He didn't replace Polak. LD vs RD. Apples and Oranges.

Carrick played a whole lot better than Polak. Holl was also better but was sent down as well.

 

[DarkKnight]

Dermott replaced Borgman as a LD. He didn't replace Polak. LD vs RD. Apples and Oranges.

Carrick played a whole lot better than Polak. Holl was also better but was sent down as well.

No he didn't that's why he couldn't stay in the lineup. I like him as our 7.

 

[SprDaVE]

No he didn't that's why he couldn't stay in the lineup. I like him as our 7.

... yes he did? The only reason Carrick was out of the lineup was because Polak was more experienced and a natural PKer compared to Carrick. Babcock even said so. It's also why Carrick was in the lineup at the beginning of the season while Polak recovered.

Dermott had nothing to do with this and was only called up when Borgman got injured and then demoted.

 

[Kiwi]

... yes he did? The only reason Carrick was out of the lineup was because Polak was more experienced and a natural PKer compared to Carrick. Babcock even said so. It's also why Carrick was in the lineup at the beginning of the season while Polak recovered.

Dermott had nothing to do with this.

I think it was the PK side of things that kept Polak in the line-up
Dermott and Carrick were absolutely amazing together 5v5 on the bottom pair

 

[SprDaVE]

I think it was the PK side of things that kept Polak in the line-up
Dermott and Carrick were absolutely amazing together 5v5 on the bottom pair

Yes that was the only reason as per Babcock but to me, in my opinion, it was a mistake because the PK was just as good with or without Polak.

 

[DarkKnight]

... yes he did? The only reason Carrick was out of the lineup was because Polak was more experienced and a natural PKer compared to Carrick. Babcock even said so. It's also why Carrick was in the lineup at the beginning of the season while Polak recovered.

Dermott had nothing to do with this and was only called up when Borgman got injured and then demoted.

Exactly, Polak could contribute on the third pairing, Carrick couldn't, he can't do PK. Carrick isn't good enough for a lot of PP time, especially with our 4 forward configuration, so if he can't do PK, he isn't "better". Kid has had two seasons, nobody is out to get him, he's just a marginal NHL D at the moment, no conspiracy. Maybe he takes the next step, but I doubt it.

 

[DarkKnight]

I think it was the PK side of things that kept Polak in the line-up
Dermott and Carrick were absolutely amazing together 5v5 on the bottom pair

I'll revert to the line I said at the time "Dermott is so amazing, he even makes Carrick look good".

Carrick is insurance imho, and if he starts this season it worries me D wise.

 

[SprDaVE]

Exactly, Polak could contribute on the third pairing, Carrick couldn't, he can't do PK. Carrick isn't good enough for a lot of PP time, especially with our 4 forward configuration, so if he can't do PK, he isn't "better". Kid has had two seasons, nobody is out to get him, he's just a marginal NHL D at the moment, no conspiracy. Maybe he takes the next step, but I doubt it.

Our PK was just as good with or without Polak. Those are just facts. Being only good on PK shouldn't be enough to put in the roster over someone that is so much better in everything else. I wouldn't be surprised if Carrick would have done just as good on the PK, but that's a whole other dicussion.

So now without Polak around, Carrick will likely get a longer leash and we'll likely be a lot better for it, hence my answer of Carrick taking a step forward.

 

[Kiwi]

Yes that was the only reason as per Babcock but to me, in my opinion, it was a mistake because the PK was just as good with or without Polak.

Yeah, I would have weighed things towards 5v5 rather than the 2nd unit PK specialist but Babcock loves his bottom pair guys doing some PK work

 

[DarkKnight]

Our PK was just as good with or without Polak. Those are just facts. Being only good on PK shouldn't be enough to put in the roster over someone that is so much better in everything else. I wouldn't be surprised if Carrick would have done just as good on the PK, but that's a whole other dicussion.

So now without Polak around, Carrick will likely get a longer leash and we'll likely be a lot better for it, hence my answer of Carrick taking a step forward.

Polak wasn't great on the PK last year, agreed. But, if you can't do PK or really PP, then it really isn't surprising you're a marginal NHL D man. If he takes a step I'll applaud his growth, I just don't see it, really don't like his game at all in our end, he can't handle pressure and he's easily knocked off the ouch, his stick reads are slow. I think he's in real danger of not making the team this year.

 

[SprDaVE]

Polak wasn't great on the PK last year, agreed. But, if you can't do PK or really PP, then it really isn't surprising you're a marginal NHL D man. If he takes a step I'll applaud his growth, I just don't see it, really don't like his game at all in our end, he can't handle pressure and he's easily knocked off the ouch, his stick reads are slow. I think he's in real danger of not making the team this year.

I mean there's nothing to say here other than we'll see. I can't predict the future but in my opinion, I completely disagree with your assessment of his play. He's quick, can actually make a pass, he displays skill at rushing a puck and he's very physical despite his size.

If Carrick made the team last year, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't make it again this season with even less competition on the right side.

 

[Kiwi]

I'll revert to the line I said at the time "Dermott is so amazing, he even makes Carrick look good".

Carrick is insurance imho, and if he starts this season it worries me D wise.

Carrick looks good besides decent partners, he's been great with Gardiner and Dermott over the last two seasons and he didn't drag his partners down a level

He's not great but he can eat 5v5 minutes with a halfway decent partner

 

[DarkKnight]

I mean there's nothing to say here other than we'll see. I can't predict the future but in my opinion, I completely disagree with your assessment of his play. He's quick, can actually make a pass, he displays skill at rushing a puck and he's very physical despite his size.

If Carrick made the team last year, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't make it again this season with even less competition on the right side.

No one disputes we are weak at right D, so Carrick is in the mix. I wouldn't be surprised to see Babs move someone to that side, particularly if a Rosen, Borgman show well. Don't hate Carrick, but if he's a starter, we are pretty weak, which again seems to be a given.

 

[DarkKnight]

Carrick looks good besides decent partners, he's been great with Gardiner and Dermott over the last two seasons and he didn't drag his partners down a level

He's not great but he can eat 5v5 minutes with a halfway decent partner

That's why I have him as our 7, if we get an injury he can fill in some minutes.

 

[Kiwi]

That's why I have him as our 7, if we get an injury he can fill in some minutes.

I think he's bottom pair already, if he could PK I don't think there would even be a debate he should be an everyday player

 

[DarkKnight]

I think he's bottom pair already, if he could PK I don't think there would even be a debate he should be an everyday player

Agreed, but we can't have Hainsey playing our entire PK again. If he can't PK and he really doesn't get on the PP, he's kind of a borderline player. He's suspect in our end, but can skate and make a nice exit pass when given time. Useful, not preferable from here.

 

[DarkKnight]

Holl is a bit of wild card too.

 

[Kiwi]

Agreed, but we can't have Hainsey playing our entire PK again. If he can't PK and he really doesn't get on the PP, he's kind of a borderline player. He's suspect in our end, but can skate and make a nice exit pass when given time. Useful, not preferable from here.

Hainsey Zaitsev 1st unit PK
Rielly Dermott 2nd unit PK

There isn't any need to run Hainsey into the ground (then again there wasn't last season from about Christmas on either but we did anyway)

Hainsey is old and can't move the puck so keep his 5v5 minutes right down and have him PK while the other 5 take the bulk of the 5v5 minutes

 

[A1LeafNation]

Polak is terrible in the new age game. He cant defend zone entries and cant make zone exits.

Why are people defending him?

 

[diceman934]

Our RD fix is easy move Rielly to the right side s position he played for 3 years effectively and better than any of our Right side D man.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Our RD fix is easy move Rielly to the right side s position he played for 3 years effectively and better than any of our Right side D man.

That seems more like a bandaid not a solution. We need to develop some RD.

 

[diceman934]

That seems more like a bandaid not a solution. We need to develop some RD.

It is a now solution as he is our best RH d man.

 

[A1LeafNation]

It is a now solution as he is our best RH d man.

He is not RH.

Anyways we are strong at center, on the wing, on LD, and in goal. It's not a big issue if we are still developing our RD now. We are still contenders and will continue to be a contender as we develop some RD. Every team has a hole some where.

Liljegren (top pair)
Zaitsev (top 4)
Holl/Ozhiganov/Carrick (top 6)

We are not that far off if those guys above develop into their potential. We should just be patient; soon our RD will be pretty good.

 

[Goleafsgo95]

I feel like Holl might surprise.