First off, thanks for doing this and giving some love to the AHL guys. A few years back I felt like we knew a lot about the AHL team and a number of guys who were will they/won't they types (they all signed with Colorado if I remember correctly). But now we are in a seeming moment of big names and everybody else. Bichsel, Bourque, Stankoven, Harley and Johnston who skipped the line altogether.
Second, love a good wildcard that makes people spend an extra half second thinking. This is what prime Klingberg could do with net positive results. For Stranges, while most keep you honest with a jab, he is intentionally turning his back to an opponent but so that he can donkey kick them. One of those guys you bring in for limited minutes in a playoff series when you need a change of pace and catches the other team looking. However all of that needs to be on top of a guy who can play reasonable defense and who doesn't cost you with turnovers.
End of the day, hockey is a game for entertainment. We learned with Bowness as a coach that while winning is important, enjoying the product on the ice is key too.
Haha. I was happy to do it. I wouldn't do it for just any player, so when I sat down to think about it (and recalling the piece on my Melvin Guillard, which sadly no longer exists: Bloody Elbow was bought out), I realized there was a lot worth writing about than just him.
I also want to see how Stranges will look, linked to a good line. Might better players cut out some of his less-good habits? Will the added speed and possession tap into his greatest strengths? And for the love of god, will a skating coach please work with his C-step? Honestly, I don't even think it's a good default move, and certainly not the way he uses it. Even the players who leverage it, like Crosby and Kaprizov, use it in small doses. Now that I think about it. That's what he reminds me of: a grappler who has the talent to pull off a Twister or gogoplata, but because he's ALWAYS trying to go for it, his other options get lost or ignored.
David I got a laugh out of some of your comparisons and descriptions. Is the kid uncoachable or has he just not been with the right coach yet? I mean surely someone has told him that if he doesn’t make changes to his game that he has no future in hockey.
He’s a one trick pony… I counted twice in those highlights where he utilized a teammate - very poor! The skating is unique obviously, but he doesn’t have the leg strength/power (like Crosby or Kaprisov) to bull his way thru or bounce off guys to make more space for himself.
His skating would be even more effective if he saw his teammates were out there too!
As a future Duchene replacement is the most likely on ramp too the league for Stranges in my veiw, but I'm not sure his development window & Duchene's departure will line up in a way that works out for all parties.
The end of this season. He should get more minutes this year, so if he can capitalize on that, we're cooking. Otherwise I fear he'll simply be too WEIRD for coaches.
He looks like someone threw a cat on the ice and dumped a bucket of water on it and then the cat managed to score a goal.
This is such a perfect analogy, I'm angry I didn't come up with it myself.
First off, thanks for doing this and giving some love to the AHL guys. A few years back I felt like we knew a lot about the AHL team and a number of guys who were will they/won't they types (they all signed with Colorado if I remember correctly). But now we are in a seeming moment of big names and everybody else. Bichsel, Bourque, Stankoven, Harley and Johnston who skipped the line altogether.
Second, love a good wildcard that makes people spend an extra half second thinking. This is what prime Klingberg could do with net positive results. For Stranges, while most keep you honest with a jab, he is intentionally turning his back to an opponent but so that he can donkey kick them. One of those guys you bring in for limited minutes in a playoff series when you need a change of pace and catches the other team looking. However all of that needs to be on top of a guy who can play reasonable defense and who doesn't cost you with turnovers.
End of the day, hockey is a game for entertainment. We learned with Bowness as a coach that while winning is important, enjoying the product on the ice is key too.
Haha. I was happy to do it. I wouldn't do it for just any player, so when I sat down to think about it (and recalling the piece on my Melvin Guillard, which sadly no longer exists: Bloody Elbow was bought out), I realized there was a lot worth writing about than just him.
I also want to see how Stranges will look, linked to a good line. Might better players cut out some of his less-good habits? Will the added speed and possession tap into his greatest strengths? And for the love of god, will a skating coach please work with his C-step? Honestly, I don't even think it's a good default move, and certainly not the way he uses it. Even the players who leverage it, like Crosby and Kaprizov, use it in small doses. Now that I think about it. That's what he reminds me of: a grappler who has the talent to pull off a Twister or gogoplata, but because he's ALWAYS trying to go for it, his other options get lost or ignored.
He is in the last year of his ELC contract. Next year, I predict he will be playing in Europe in a middle of the pack league.
I can see a European team, struggling to put fans in the stands, signing him.
And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Stranges with more ice? Yes please.
David I got a laugh out of some of your comparisons and descriptions. Is the kid uncoachable or has he just not been with the right coach yet? I mean surely someone has told him that if he doesn’t make changes to his game that he has no future in hockey.
He’s a one trick pony… I counted twice in those highlights where he utilized a teammate - very poor! The skating is unique obviously, but he doesn’t have the leg strength/power (like Crosby or Kaprisov) to bull his way thru or bounce off guys to make more space for himself.
His skating would be even more effective if he saw his teammates were out there too!
As a future Duchene replacement is the most likely on ramp too the league for Stranges in my veiw, but I'm not sure his development window & Duchene's departure will line up in a way that works out for all parties.
I confess I've only seen highlights of him but he reminds me abit of a raw/poor man's Kaprizov.
I don't think "poor man's" does justice here. It's more like if a trilobite could skate like Kaprizov.
Or a sidewinder rattlesnake 😬
When would you say is the expiration date on Stranges breaking into the league?
The end of this season. He should get more minutes this year, so if he can capitalize on that, we're cooking. Otherwise I fear he'll simply be too WEIRD for coaches.