All this Captain talk.....

AB Habman · Guru

All this Captain talk.....

barry33 · Guru

As for centers, really Begin and Bulis are pretty much about the same level and interchangeable. And Ribiero..well....Bonk and Pleks going down have not helped but for whatever the reason, Koivu being out has further highlited our need for help at the center position. I for one would not want to be trying to coach that team with the mish mash he has to use at that position. Bulis or Ribs as a number one center? Begin on the PP? How about..NO>

brooklynhabfan · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

If Gainey would of done his job and filled some holes in the off season when there was free agent centers to sign, we wouldn't be questioning Captaincy!

I agree with you on that one. I have to admit, as much stick as a I got for it, I only brought up the "C" word to stir the pot a bit.

But the point you've got here is the center of the universe.

You can quite easily have a winning team with no extra letters on their breasts, but try and have one without depth, especially in a long playoff sitiuation, which, by the way, we have no chance of surviving with our current lineup, and you have no chance at all.

The great Colorado and detroit teams of the last 10 years all had so much reserve that they could lose a guy like Sakic or Federov to a lengthy injury and still pull off wins with no problem.

And we don't have anything close to a Sakic stature guy on our team. Yet.

Rebuilding. That's where we are now. And if you want to have a great structure, you need to build a good foundation. But watching the girders and mortar go up can be tedious at best.

If BG's lack of movement doesn't reveal a master plan by the start of next season, then I'll be the one sharpening the axe. Until then, I say patience will be the key, painful as it might be sometimes.

AB Habman · Guru

brooklynhabfan wrote:

AB Habman wrote: If Gainey would of done his job and filled some holes in the off season when there was free agent centers to sign, we wouldn't be questioning Captaincy! I agree with you on that one. I have to admit, as much stick as a I got for it, I only brought up the "C" word to stir the pot a bit. But the point you've got here is the center of the universe. You can quite easily have a winning team with no extra letters on their breasts, but try and have one without depth, especially in a long playoff sitiuation, which, by the way, we have no chance of surviving with our current lineup, and you have no chance at all. The great Colorado and detroit teams of the last 10 years all had so much reserve that they could lose a guy like Sakic or Federov to a lengthy injury and still pull off wins with no problem. And we don't have anything close to a Sakic stature guy on our team. Yet. Rebuilding. That's where we are now. And if you want to have a great structure, you need to build a good foundation. But watching the girders and mortar go up can be tedious at best. If BG's lack of movement doesn't reveal a master plan by the start of next season, then I'll be the one sharpening the axe. Until then, I say patience will be the key, painful as it might be sometimes.

Good post and reply! I just feel Gainey has already had ample time to fill holes to rebuild this team! He must of totally mistaken this roster in the off season for one of depth at center! Maybe he thought Ribs and Bonk would be special and fill big holes! Who knows what he was and is thinking but I just want him to react and fix the problems before it's too late to make the playoffs!

barry33 · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

brooklynhabfan wrote: AB Habman wrote: If Gainey would of done his job and filled some holes in the off season when there was free agent centers to sign, we wouldn't be questioning Captaincy! I agree with you on that one. I have to admit, as much stick as a I got for it, I only brought up the "C" word to stir the pot a bit. But the point you've got here is the center of the universe. You can quite easily have a winning team with no extra letters on their breasts, but try and have one without depth, especially in a long playoff sitiuation, which, by the way, we have no chance of surviving with our current lineup, and you have no chance at all. The great Colorado and detroit teams of the last 10 years all had so much reserve that they could lose a guy like Sakic or Federov to a lengthy injury and still pull off wins with no problem. And we don't have anything close to a Sakic stature guy on our team. Yet. Rebuilding. That's where we are now. And if you want to have a great structure, you need to build a good foundation. But watching the girders and mortar go up can be tedious at best. If BG's lack of movement doesn't reveal a master plan by the start of next season, then I'll be the one sharpening the axe. Until then, I say patience will be the key, painful as it might be sometimes. Good post and reply! I just feel Gainey has already had ample time to fill holes to rebuild this team! He must of totally mistaken this roster in the off season for one of depth at center! Maybe he thought Ribs and Bonk would be special and fill big holes! Who knows what he was and is thinking but I just want him to react and fix the problems before it's too late to make the playoffs!

If I had to coach that bunch of misfits tonite I would quit rather than wait and be fired. Begin takes a costly penalty every game at a key time and teh fact that we need to use him constantly on the Power Play is a pathetic example of how weak we are up the middle. Name me one other team in the NHL that would use Begin or even Ribieor on the PP?

brooklynhabfan · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Name me one other team in the NHL that would use Begin or even Ribieor on the PP?

Are the Pee Dee Pride in the NHL now?

Habtastic · Guru

I don't think there is any team in the NHL that can lose three centers and still be strong up the middle. I am not saying we were a powerhouse at center before, but we were adequate. I am hoping next summer that we make Koivu our number two so that he has less mental and physical strain and can focus on captaining and scoring in a mildly reduced role. I would then have Pleks as our shutdown #3 and Begin as our #4 and hope that a reduced role will keep him from the penalty box. Of course, that means bringing in a number one... hopefully Bob can pull off another Kovalev at the trade deadline.

Habtastic

barry33 · Guru

Habtastic wrote:

I don't think there is any team in the NHL that can lose three centers and still be strong up the middle. I am not saying we were a powerhouse at center before, but we were adequate. I am hoping next summer that we make Koivu our number two so that he has less mental and physical strain and can focus on captaining and scoring in a mildly reduced role. I would then have Pleks as our shutdown #3 and Begin as our #4 and hope that a reduced role will keep him from the penalty box. Of course, that means bringing in a number one... hopefully Bob can pull off another Kovalev at the trade deadline. Habtastic

Habtastic- you make a very good point and the Koivu lovers (of which I am one) should not jump down your throat on this one. I agree 100%. If Koivu is getting hurt and tired becauise he is playing too much and too hard, then let's put him on teh second line and get a number one pivot. We will still have Saks on the PP and he will be more rested. Boy if we could get a strong number one center (yes And-O a BIG guy) and have Saks center a decent 2nd line and keep him healthy..I like the looks of that. I vote Habtastic for GM!