Patty16

:flirt: well played

I have no complaints about how GMTM has put this team together. I really like his strategy.

True, Kessel takes shifts off but scores, and he does hustle quite a bit at times. Grig can't skate like him but that's another point. I totally agree Grig needs to stay down, it's not like he's lighting it up down there but I hear he has been playing well. Many teams do have those reservations about russians, I mean look at 51, missing team events. Russians are trying hard to fight those notions by playing juniors over here.

Sorry but that's why players hated Grigo when he was first up.... put on the top line despite him floating around and not producing. IF he had produced a little when he's had his chances playing on top two lines (and he has had those opps) it would be a diff story. He's consistently failed to produce and you don't just hand players those chances time and time again when they aren't contributing. That's not how pro sports works. Can't keep playing him on the top lines when he's playing like an AHL or 4th line player. He has to show something and he's not. It's that simple.

Yea its not like that anymore, top players hustle almost every shift and fight to be around the puck, Your scenario doesn't hold up tho, Grigo isnt doing anything you mention with any regularity, he's not getting loose pucks and/or not scoring points. THATS why he isnt staying around. You can't evaluate his play as an either or proposition, it's not. He's not ready yet and we can blame TN his linemates or whoever but he would be here if he was ready.

Im not sure, there's a feeling that Nolan has no idea how to "teach" someone to be goal scorer.

I hope so too, he has a high ceiling IMO. He's been getinng lots of ice and just hasnt been able to tput it together yet. He hasn't had the ideal path to be sure, but he's got to earn his way back in. I agree Those players? last game it was 12 and 82, the second line. You can't keep blaming his linemates for his almost non existent production. if Phil Varone can outscore him playing on the bottom lines, Grigo should be able to as well.

Yea but that example isnt his consistent play. He surely does that a few times a game, but he lacks effort too many other times. He hasn't produced enough chances when he's been with better linemates He's also avg 15 mins a game, if he was ready he would be generating at least something even with poor linemates. Way too many people are finding excuses for him, he's not ready yet.

Well he's certainly not hustling, and in the NHL he can't get by on his skill alone, bc while he clearly has talent, he's not good enough to coast.

Yea that's been his issue, he doesn't fight for pucks or seem hungry out there.

I get that point. I think TN puts a little too much emphasis on that, but what he supposed to say... we suck? Grigo problem is his lack of effort. He never does the things that the great players do... hustle for puck and put in the effort every shift. You never see the top scorers i nthe league float around like he does. If he was really a 1st round talent he wouldnt need linemates to prove himself. It's not like he's out there creating chances but has no one to pass to or feed the puck. And it's not TN call to send Grigo back down, its GMTM.... so he must not like his game either.

My point is he looks like more of an NHLer out there than Grigo.... he's floating around too much and doesn't seem hungry for the puck. I dont' see how so many are blaming TN for Grigo...he's had 55 NHL games and isnt proving himself to be a regular NHLer .... yet. Players like can take a while to "get it"

I think he took one shift off then was back with them, according to PH at WGR he played most of the game with 12 and 82. Dude is getting his opportunities but when Phil Varone is outshining you, its not good. either way, he's getting his chances to play with better forwards. He isnt showing much improvement. He's gonna be down in the AHL next year without a lot of improvement

Last game he played with 12 and 82 I believe for over two periods. He's invisible on the ice and has been avg 15 mins a game.

He was an emergency callup so only one game. Based on Nolan's comment this morning, he relaly did not like his game. I have to say Grigo isnt exactly inspiring

Makarov called up, no word on why

Bingo, that's the only way to really beat him. The best way is like you said below, have incredible front 4 pressure so that you still have adequate coverage downfield. It's very difficult to beat a Def that has that kind of rush. then again you don't see Def that can do that consistently too much. When you do, they generally go pretty far even with average-above avg QB play.

Oops, yea you are right he does. I must have had something else on the mind when I wrote that. I really hope he develops more, but not too much where he takes us on a huge winning streak ha.

I agree there. He will have his chance to show us more the rest of this season. Can't say I'm all that excited about what I've seen so far but he's just a kid, still only 19.

Yea and what weave meant

Im not sure

I believe his contract is up at the end of the year. Will be interesting to see if they want to bring him back. He's shown flashes but really needs to improve skating and get stronger like Sam

I'd meddle.

Jim Kelly was an immature a-hole when he was that age too.... but a damn good player. People put way too much into personalities, if the player is a beast the main concern is if he's a cancer in the room. Even then teammates will tolerate it if he produces. Players have been doing this dumb ish for years, it's just easier to get caught.

Wow, I could not have said it better. Well done :beer: