Neighborhood Coyote
Registered User
- Sep 14, 2017
- 3,136
- 2,740
Why does it have to be between those two choices? What about this other option not listed? Have our prospects confidence destroyed because 4th line players are playing above them and also getting destroyed. So they don't even get to play or learn AND they get embarrassed that they can't earn a spot over 4th liners that lose a bunch. They are humans so I can't imagine they are happy about that ya know? If a younger player plays a decent game, not great but decent... but gets scratched while a veteran played poorly but gets to keep playing without being scratched.. that's got to be frustrating. Some players maybe aren't bothered by it, but I am sure some might be.
Tocchet talks an awful lot about players getting reps but I don't see the benefit of giving guys like Archibald or Rinaldo or even Rieder a bunch of reps while limiting it for players who reallly need to grow. Because I agree with you that the goal is to grow these young players. But I really don't see how someone like Duclair can grow from the press box, or Perlini, etc. Especially when they have to watch what we have been watching this season. If the team were playing good hockey and winning hockey then I'd totally say they could learn from that. However, it's been bad and losing hockey. I think they would probably be better served playing PP minutes a bunch and good offensive zone starts with team mates that can help them play well. So they get minutes that are sheltered a bit but still put in a position they could succeed in. Just my opinion.
These players may not be ready to make a difference on the top nine yet. But our current top nine isn't setting the world on fire, either. The goal at this point in the season is about player growth and next season/beyond at this point. So, I guess that's what the debate is about. How does this team insure that the young guys it NEEDS to turn out well do so? Tocchet's job now is to find a way to put them into a good position to succeed.
Ps, I don't mind some players being in the AHL this year. BUT if one of those players is called up to play in the NHL, it does them no good to play 11 minutes a night with Cousins and whoever, imo.
HOWEVER: This is something I agree with you rt...our options have been limited. Stepan, Hammer, etc were supposed to be those vets brought in to help but that obviously hasn't gone well for this team. And that's probably the biggest problem of this team. Not that they are young, but that the vets that were supposed to provide stability and consistent effort haven't done so enough. Which, in turn, limits the amount of minutes that could be considered "easy" for our younger players to take advantage of. The vets have realllly dropped the ball for this team and put the Yotes in a tough spot. If the vets perform well, it takes pressure off of the younger guys to carry the load and allows things to fall into place a bit easier. Ps, I also think Vrbata would have been a good signing for this team.
