That Aud Smell Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 just hearing the 30-second recap on kaleta's signing last night on the local news prompted me to remember his rather lengthy injury-related absence last year ("out with a neck," as the nfl fantasy football types might say (they started that stuff with "out with an ankle" and "out with a knee" -- i always loved the rejoinder that one writer made to that trend when a running back went down, "what's next, out with a rib?")). anyway, thinking about kaleta's injury, in turn, prompted me to consider the notion -- as many have expressed on this board -- that our resident agitator seems destined for (doomed to) an injury-riddled and -shortened career. which is a shame; i can't help but enjoy watching him when he plays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 just hearing the 30-second recap on kaleta's signing last night on the local news prompted me to remember his rather lengthy injury-related absence last year ("out with a neck," as the nfl fantasy football types might say (they started that stuff with "out with an ankle" and "out with a knee" -- i always loved the rejoinder that one writer made to that trend when a running back went down, "what's next, out with a rib?")). anyway, thinking about kaleta's injury, in turn, prompted me to consider the notion -- as many have expressed on this board -- that our resident agitator seems destined for (doomed to) an injury-riddled and -shortened career. which is a shame; i can't help but enjoy watching him when he plays. This will be a big year for him. He's going to get a chance to dress for every game and, I'd guess, to compete for a spot on the 3rd line. In order to make good on those opportunities, he's going to have to continue his hitting/agitating game, which is going to result in his continuing to be a marked man. We'll see if he can stay healthy for 75 games or so. I agree it's very questionable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 This will be a big year for him. He's going to get a chance to dress for every game and, I'd guess, to compete for a spot on the 3rd line. In order to make good on those opportunities, he's going to have to continue his hitting/agitating game, which is going to result in his continuing to be a marked man. We'll see if he can stay healthy for 75 games or so. I agree it's very questionable. with that being said who plays more games this year PK or TC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 with that being said who plays more games this year PK or TC? Timmy. I think Patty falls victim to some nasty headhunting early on. :( I'm highly concerned that on a team like ours, he's going to have a target painted on him. If the rest of the team steps up and plays with a little more edge, maybe not. But without a physical effort from the whole team, Pat is gonna look like a one man army out there again. And nobody likes the sniper in the tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetweenThePipes00 Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Timmy. I think Patty falls victim to some nasty headhunting early on. :( I'm highly concerned that on a team like ours, he's going to have a target painted on him. If the rest of the team steps up and plays with a little more edge, maybe not. But without a physical effort from the whole team, Pat is gonna look like a one man army out there again. And nobody likes the sniper in the tower. Wait ... I thought it was the skill guys who were targets because the team was soft ... now the physical guys are also in danger because the skill guys are too soft? Come on. He will be a target because he runs his mouth and is generally a pain in the a$$. He would be a target on any team. We all want the team to be tougher but let's not create issues out of thin air ... if Mair/Kaleta/Goose/Rivet/Montador need to be protected by Vanek and Roy and Connolly ... I am confused ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Wait ... I thought it was the skill guys who were targets because the team was soft ... now the physical guys are also in danger because the skill guys are too soft? Come on. He will be a target because he runs his mouth and is generally a pain in the a$$. He would be a target on any team. We all want the team to be tougher but let's not create issues out of thin air ... if Mair/Kaleta/Goose/Rivet/Montador need to be protected by Vanek and Roy and Connolly ... I am confused ... I agree. I think the biggest factor in whether Kaleta stays healthy will be whether he develops the same kind of radar that Avery and Neil have developed. Those guys are also marked men, but they know it and they never seem to get blindsided or really wiped out -- even though everyone wants to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dscrapj Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I agree. I think the biggest factor in whether Kaleta stays healthy will be whether he develops the same kind of radar that Avery and Neil have developed. Those guys are also marked men, but they know it and they never seem to get blindsided or really wiped out -- even though everyone wants to do so. Kaleta wants the target. He cherishes that role and that's what make him so effective. I highly doubt he has any misunderstanding about what his job is. I'd love to know how many penalties he drew by annoying people last season. It's a no-brainer signing if he can stay healthy. The price is right and he's that fringe player they can take in or out of the line up as needed, so it gives them some roster flexibility. They don't have to worry about him pouting about playing time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 It's a no-brainer signing if he can stay healthy. The price is right and he's that fringe player they can take in or out of the line up as needed, so it gives them some roster flexibility. They don't have to worry about him pouting about playing time. Who's arguing that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Mancari (who I'm sure will end up taking his QO too). I take that back. The qualifying offers expired yesterday. There's your reason why Kaleta accepted it. The rest are on their own when it comes to negotiations now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'll take 10 Kaleta's to any 1 Heatley any day, Bouwmeester, or whatever top tier free agent everyone keeps blabbing about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 This will be a big year for him. He's going to get a chance to dress for every game and, I'd guess, to compete for a spot on the 3rd line. In order to make good on those opportunities, he's going to have to continue his hitting/agitating game, which is going to result in his continuing to be a marked man. We'll see if he can stay healthy for 75 games or so. I agree it's very questionable. No way Kaleta plays 65 games IMO.... Not the way he goes about business......injury, suspension, occasional scratch...... I hope I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 No way Kaleta plays 65 games IMO.... Not the way he goes about business......injury, suspension, occasional scratch...... I hope I'm wrong. Certainly a reasonable prediction, but I think Lindy will give him a shot at the 3rd line, and I think Kaleta has enough hockey skills and IQ to make it to that level (although it would be nice if Paille and/or MacArthur played well enough to force his way in front of Kaleta). As for injury/suspension -- Chris Neil, who I think is a fair comparable in terms of hitting/being a target/getting suspended, has played 82, 79, 82, 68 and 60 games in the past 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'll take 10 Kaleta's to any 1 Heatley any day, Bouwmeester, or whatever top tier free agent everyone keeps blabbing about. I think I might take Bouwmeester over 10 Kaleta's anytime. Sorry. That's a bit crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Certainly a reasonable prediction, but I think Lindy will give him a shot at the 3rd line, and I think Kaleta has enough hockey skills and IQ to make it to that level (although it would be nice if Paille and/or MacArthur played well enough to force his way in front of Kaleta). As for injury/suspension -- Chris Neil, who I think is a fair comparable in terms of hitting/being a target/getting suspended, has played 82, 79, 82, 68 and 60 games in the past 5 years. Nice. Let me think about that one. I would think Neil puts up huge PIM numbers compared to Patty. More fighting in general.... I would check Darcy Tuckers numbers and calculate a drop in line.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobody Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'll take 10 Kaleta's to any 1 Heatley any day, Bouwmeester, or whatever top tier free agent everyone keeps blabbing about. I'll take 1 or 2 of each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 the biggest factor in whether Kaleta stays healthy will be whether he develops the same kind of radar that Avery and Neil have developed. exactly. it's something not unlike the "pocket presence" that elite quarterbacks have. Chris Neil, who I think is a fair comparable in terms of hitting/being a target/getting suspended, has played 82, 79, 82, 68 and 60 games in the past 5 years. neil's a different weight class. as x. suggested, we're better off looking at tucker and avery, both of whom are about kaleta's height/weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 You've sorta got me figured out then. By trying to be as much of a dick as possible, now all the whiners know how silly they sound on this end. I enjoy reading posts where people air their complaints in an organized, logical, and factually supported manner. That's why I love this board. It's mind numbing ranting that gets me all riled up, especially during a stressful offseason where the only thing I want to do is have it be October 3rd. As far as going off on tangents, I love completely derailing a thread. I just had no idea where to go with what you said. :P Sorry I figured you were also on two bills drive and the pollitical section under a different moniker as many here are and would understand the Messiah reference to Obama. But it still was a tangent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Sorry I figured you were also on two bills drive and the pollitical section under a different moniker as many here are and would understand the Messiah reference to Obama. But it still was a tangent. Cross board reference = 1 penalty drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 LOL... about time I earned my first one. As for Kaleta, I was amazed at how small both he and Stafford are. I saw them in their street clothes after a game at MSG and a neither are particularly tall and Stafford is skinny too. I am 6'2" 195 and felt huge compared to them. Granted they had been skating all year round and had lost weight toward the end of the year and yet still Kaleta hits like a runaway truck. Wish Stafford would do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 LOL... about time I earned my first one. As for Kaleta, I was amazed at how small both he and Stafford are. I saw them in their street clothes after a game at MSG and a neither are particularly tall and Stafford is skinny too. I am 6'2" 195 and felt huge compared to them. Granted they had been skating all year round and had lost weight toward the end of the year and yet still Kaleta hits like a runaway truck. Wish Stafford would do so. I would prefer Stafford to score 30 goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Cross board reference = 1 penalty drink. Damn I had one earlier that slipped by. :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Nice.Let me think about that one. I would think Neil puts up huge PIM numbers compared to Patty. More fighting in general.... I would check Darcy Tuckers numbers and calculate a drop in line.... neil's a different weight class. as x. suggested, we're better off looking at tucker and avery, both of whom are about kaleta's height/weight. Good points on body type. At first I thought XB was right about Kaleta being more similar to Tucker, but on further review: Tucker -- 5'10", 178, age 34 Avery -- 5'9", 185, age 29 Kaleta -- 5'11, 195, age 23 Neil -- 6'1", 209, age 30 So Neil is in a different weight class from Kaleta, but Kaleta is also in a different weight class from Avery and Tucker. And Kaleta is only 23 and presumably can put on a few more pounds with NHL nutrition, weight training, etc. Games played in full NHL seasons starting at earlier points in career: Tucker -- 73, 74, 82, 77, 82, 77, 77 -- starting at age 21, which was his 1st full year in the NHL Avery -- 76, 75, 74, 57, 41 (note the 41-game season was last year, which included the sloppy seconds suspension & being kicked off the Stars) -- starting at age 23, which was his 1st full year in the NHL Neil -- 72, 68, 82, 79, 82 -- starting at age 23, which was his 1st full year in the NHL So, I think the instigator types can survive and play plenty of games, but they gotta have that self-preservation radar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 LOL... about time I earned my first one. As for Kaleta, I was amazed at how small both he and Stafford are. I saw them in their street clothes after a game at MSG and a neither are particularly tall and Stafford is skinny too. I am 6'2" 195 and felt huge compared to them. Granted they had been skating all year round and had lost weight toward the end of the year and yet still Kaleta hits like a runaway truck. Wish Stafford would do so. Stafford is like 6'-2" and 213 pounds Kaleta's 6 foot and 200. You must've been wearing ur cowboy boots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobody Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I would prefer Stafford to score 30 goals. That is some of the "potential" that Lindy and Darcy are hoping for also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 LOL... about time I earned my first one. As for Kaleta, I was amazed at how small both he and Stafford are. I saw them in their street clothes after a game at MSG and a neither are particularly tall and Stafford is skinny too. I am 6'2" 195 and felt huge compared to them. Granted they had been skating all year round and had lost weight toward the end of the year and yet still Kaleta hits like a runaway truck. Wish Stafford would do so. You'll find that with just about any hockey player you might encounter. I'm sure it has a lot to do with watching them wearing that body armor all the time, but hockey players in general aren't big people. Maybe it's also because basketball players are ridiculously tall and football players have their fair share of 6'7, 300lb guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.