Words from the rookie tournament yesterday, Murray on the powerplay and his desire for consistency, and an important lesson that all hockey families should remember well.
Another look at yesterday's rookie tournament game from the Ottawa Sun. Once again we hear that after the team settled down, following that unfortunate early goal, the guys really started to come together and gain their confidence. Garrioch also has some thoughts on Elliot's last season and his chances to land in Ottawa, as well as Winchester's good start. As I've said before, considering the Auld contract and the very real possibility that neither Auld nor Elliot will be labelled an NHL starter by season's end, we might find ourselves browsing the goalie market once again. As for Winchester, I will give you my thoughts on his first game when I can sort through my first attempt at taking notes during a live hockey game.
The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch has it from Murray at yesterday's game that he is still seeking a defenceman to run the powerplay. He says he's sure there are guys on the Ottawa Senators roster who can fill that role, but he wants to know he has one that can do it consistently. He sees newly acquired Kuba as being a fit on the powerplay, but says that while Picard can move and handle the puck well, he doesn't seem like he'll be on the powerplay. He expects the market for such defencemen to open up as the season gets going. Garrioch tosses out the names of Corvo and Kaberle of the Canes, and Ohlund of the Canucks. I can't see Corvo being shopped, due to his 21 points in 23 games as a Cane, nor do I think that a few more years of 34 year old marginal Kaberle is in our best interests. Ohlund has a no trade clause, so it remains to be seen if he would ever wind up moving, and considering the trouble new Canucks GM Mike Gillis has had in getting the players he's wanted this offseason, I'm not sure that we could or would want to meet the price he is asking. Right now, my mind is on seeing what the team can pull off in the exhibition games, as well as whether a bright spot from yesterday's rookie game can continue to sparkle against the Leafs and the Pens.
And now an important announcement from THN. Ryan Kennedy speaks out against the abusive nature of some hockey parents. Truly a cause worth championing, as no child deserves to undergo such pressure, and one can only imagine what might happen to a child with parents like this whose son follows the path of Stefan Legein.
I myself worry too about the flip side, not only of parents who either abuse their child to any degree, but of parents who see their child succeed and put them on a pedestal to the point where they become a negative, self-aggrandizing person themselves. I don't know what made a classmate of mine be the abusive bully to me and others that he was, but I do know the mixed feelings I felt when he was drafted and paid his first million.
Maybe it doesn't have the draw of stories like that of the NFL's Vick, but parents, family, and friends need to remember that behind the accomplishments, fame, and skill of every hockey player is a child or person, just like the rest of us. They can suffer, they can be warped, and sometimes it becomes too easy to get caught up in the excitement and excuse the wrong choices that are made. It's important to always remember that staying grounded can be the most important thing for hockey players and those around them to do, in order to send them soaring to the highest peaks of success.
Showing posts with label Elliot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elliot. Show all posts
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Little Things and a Whopper
Plenty of stories today, from further works on the roster overcrowding and Richardson's desire to play, as well as a look into Elliot's future and development, and an interesting conversation with Kuba.
The Ottawa Sun brings us more word that indeed there will be battling for roster spots. Of particular interest is Murray suggesting that we have less skill this season, but more depth, likely alluding to the fact that we could nearly fill the whole roster with NHL pros, while still having many AHL guys looking to get their crack at the big leagues. He goes so far as to say that "If we have to move somebody as the result of a young guy making our team, that's just the way it is." To me, that suggests that should some of the younger players (Bass, Foligno, Winchester, Zubov, Nikulin, Bell, Carkner, etc) outwork some of the older ones, we might see the senior players traded off. Considering in such a situation you would not be trying to fill out the roster, it might mean that they would be traded for younger prospects, or else picks. It's not like we couldn't use more picks to perhaps help us turn our late 1st rounders into higher picks in this reportedly deep 2009 draft.
Also from the Ottawa Sun, we hear that Richardson is looking forward to attending training camp. For the first time in his 20 NHL seasons, he is without a contract. In his favour is that Murray says that "He wants to play. He's really convinced he can continue. I go over to watch him skate, and there's not anything missing from last year. He's the same player." Working against him is that the 'same player' implies a reliable 5th-7th defenseman, competing against youngsters over a decade his junior, some with the offensive skills he lacks. Again, he might stick with the Sens regardless of making the team or not, as word is they like the coaching skills he's been showing while in the press box. The only way I can see him on the team is if all the rookies flop, or if some of our defensemen are a part of another trade, but that too is doubtful.
From the Ottawa Citizen, we get a good look at Brian Elliot, and the efforts being made to turn him into our goaltender of the future. No doubt, he has potential, and looked good in his single NHL game. With Gerber gone and Auld having one year left come season's end, I can't necessarily see Elliot making the jump to the team at that point. As Ken Warren points out, we have yet to develop a goaltender, with Emery being the closest we have come. Since we don't want to follow the example the Leafs set by rushing defensemen into full service too quickly, my guess is that Murray might look into getting a strong number one goaltender via free agency or trade, and keep him with Auld next season. Then, hopefully, Elliot might climb into the NHL as a backup, much as Emery did behind Hasek, only this time I would hope that the two have a more gradual transition between duties. I'd still take it as a good sign that there is faith in Elliot, since the Sens traded up to draft Karlsson this draft, rather than going with the common prediction and taking goaltender Chet Picard.
Via KK, a link to the Bolts Report, referring to a Tampa Bay Online story that suggests Kuba might have gotten the Boyle/McCabe treatment when he learned of his impending trade to the Ottawa Senators. "The way it was presented to me at the time, I knew even if I said no to the trade I wasn't going to stay here on the team," Kuba said. "So it didn't make any sense to say no I'm going to stay and then know I'm going somewhere else anyway." Hmmm, how else might we be able to interpret this? Another situation perhaps where a player is presented with a good deal, but then threatened to be placed on waivers to end up who knows where? Hearing this, I certainly hope that our team will give a very loud, proud, and warm welcome to Kuba, and I hope that Tampa will take over as heir apparent to the seemingly UFA-repelling champ Vancouver Canucks. How much Koules-Aid do you have to drink before you really start to wonder if guys like these and others under fraud investigations are better for the League than billionaire, hockey-obsessed men like Balsillie?
The Ottawa Sun brings us more word that indeed there will be battling for roster spots. Of particular interest is Murray suggesting that we have less skill this season, but more depth, likely alluding to the fact that we could nearly fill the whole roster with NHL pros, while still having many AHL guys looking to get their crack at the big leagues. He goes so far as to say that "If we have to move somebody as the result of a young guy making our team, that's just the way it is." To me, that suggests that should some of the younger players (Bass, Foligno, Winchester, Zubov, Nikulin, Bell, Carkner, etc) outwork some of the older ones, we might see the senior players traded off. Considering in such a situation you would not be trying to fill out the roster, it might mean that they would be traded for younger prospects, or else picks. It's not like we couldn't use more picks to perhaps help us turn our late 1st rounders into higher picks in this reportedly deep 2009 draft.
Also from the Ottawa Sun, we hear that Richardson is looking forward to attending training camp. For the first time in his 20 NHL seasons, he is without a contract. In his favour is that Murray says that "He wants to play. He's really convinced he can continue. I go over to watch him skate, and there's not anything missing from last year. He's the same player." Working against him is that the 'same player' implies a reliable 5th-7th defenseman, competing against youngsters over a decade his junior, some with the offensive skills he lacks. Again, he might stick with the Sens regardless of making the team or not, as word is they like the coaching skills he's been showing while in the press box. The only way I can see him on the team is if all the rookies flop, or if some of our defensemen are a part of another trade, but that too is doubtful.
From the Ottawa Citizen, we get a good look at Brian Elliot, and the efforts being made to turn him into our goaltender of the future. No doubt, he has potential, and looked good in his single NHL game. With Gerber gone and Auld having one year left come season's end, I can't necessarily see Elliot making the jump to the team at that point. As Ken Warren points out, we have yet to develop a goaltender, with Emery being the closest we have come. Since we don't want to follow the example the Leafs set by rushing defensemen into full service too quickly, my guess is that Murray might look into getting a strong number one goaltender via free agency or trade, and keep him with Auld next season. Then, hopefully, Elliot might climb into the NHL as a backup, much as Emery did behind Hasek, only this time I would hope that the two have a more gradual transition between duties. I'd still take it as a good sign that there is faith in Elliot, since the Sens traded up to draft Karlsson this draft, rather than going with the common prediction and taking goaltender Chet Picard.
Via KK, a link to the Bolts Report, referring to a Tampa Bay Online story that suggests Kuba might have gotten the Boyle/McCabe treatment when he learned of his impending trade to the Ottawa Senators. "The way it was presented to me at the time, I knew even if I said no to the trade I wasn't going to stay here on the team," Kuba said. "So it didn't make any sense to say no I'm going to stay and then know I'm going somewhere else anyway." Hmmm, how else might we be able to interpret this? Another situation perhaps where a player is presented with a good deal, but then threatened to be placed on waivers to end up who knows where? Hearing this, I certainly hope that our team will give a very loud, proud, and warm welcome to Kuba, and I hope that Tampa will take over as heir apparent to the seemingly UFA-repelling champ Vancouver Canucks. How much Koules-Aid do you have to drink before you really start to wonder if guys like these and others under fraud investigations are better for the League than billionaire, hockey-obsessed men like Balsillie?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
