Raffl Out 6 Weeks

[EVille3]

lower body injury per Frank Seravalli...ouch

 

[awaz]

 

[awaz]

tweeters saying Vandevelde took Raffl's spot on the top line this morning.

I don't like that at all.

 

[EVille3]

tweeters saying Vandevelde took Raffl's spot on the top line this morning.

I don't like that at all.

Maybe it's a speed thing? Not so much skill but able to keep up?

 

[awaz]

Maybe it's a speed thing? Not so much skill but able to keep up?

the quote from berube was something along the lines of 'they need someone who plays simple' on that line. meh. I think you have 7-8 guys on this team that should be playing top 6 minutes. to put someone like vandevelde, one of the few forwards you have that doesn't deserve top 6 minutes, there is just ridiculous to me.

 

[Maverick426h]

I think that Bellemare would be the obvious choice for that top line spot alongside Giroux and Voracek.

 

[awaz]

I think that Bellemare would be the obvious choice for that top line spot alongside Giroux and Voracek.

I would definitely support that.

 

[Maverick426h]

That way you still don't need to mess with the 2nd and 3rd lines, plus Bellemare has the speed to keep up, has shown the ability to chip in offensively and is also responsible defensively. In addition, he averages a lot more minutes than Vande Velde and is clearly able to take on more.

 

[dspice07]

yea...don't understand the vandevelde promotion at all

 

[chy1127]

Speculation is that Raffl has a fracture and that's why 6 weeks. VV has played some with G and Jake during games. He was double shifting at least 1 game last week and definitely last night when Raffl went out. I don't think he looks that bad. Has good speed but is not a 1st line guy. I think Frenchie is more of a Center. I like Schenn on the 2nd line. Not sure about this one.

 

[lasgop8]

God dammit!!!! I love his two way style of play.

 

[Maverick426h]

Yes, this does suck, but we did just get Lecavalier back, so it's not an enormous issue. The greater issue is our defense, but with guys like MDZ, Schultz, Grossmann and now Colaiacovo stepping up as of late, we appear to be alright. It looks like Coburn is returning soon as well and that's a huge deal to me.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Damn this sucks

 

[FlyerFinFan]

I feel bad for the kid as he was coming into his own and the line was flying. I'd sooner call up Laughton and take a peek at him. Maybe VV will surprise us though.

 

[Cobiemonster]

I feel bad for the kid as he was coming into his own and the line was flying. I'd sooner call up Laughton and take a peek at him. Maybe VV will surprise us though.

I hope VV plays well but I'm skeptical - we'll see what happens though

 

[Maverick426h]

G and Jake are one of the most prolific scoring tandems in the entire Nhl, so I don't think you're necessarily going to slow them down, no matter who joins them on the top line. That is the good news here.

This is just a shame because Raffl was looking more and more at home with them in the past several games. He was finding the open areas and they were getting him the puck for high quality chances.

 

[Progeriakid]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Cooter drafted with the idea of a top line winger/center ceiling??? Why the hell not give him a shot instead of constantly hiding him on the checking line?? All I hear is how he's going to develop into a fantastic player yet all we get outta him is 3rd line minutes with below average offensive production. Yes his defense is great but as an offensive player you would expect a little more on the offensive side.

 

[Maverick426h]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Cooter drafted with the idea of a top line winger/center ceiling??? Why the hell not give him a shot instead of constantly hiding him on the checking line?? All I hear is how he's going to develop into a fantastic player yet all we get outta him is 3rd line minutes with below average offensive production. Yes his defense is great but as an offensive player you would expect a little more on the offensive side.

I think his ceiling is and always was a second line shutdown center that can also give you 60-70 points, much like a Patrice Bergeron. I definitely feel he can get there and when he does, that's a very valuable player to have.

However, he's not there yet and it is early (in the season and his career), but he's on pace for 25 goals and only G is averaging more ice time among our forwards, so he's really not a third line guy.

 

[Maverick426h]

At 19:23, Couturier is essentially getting top line minutes while not actually playing on the top line. It's because he is used in all situations. He's obviously defending the top line of the opposing team at even strength, then he's on the top penalty kill unit and the second power play unit. He plays more than Voracek does because he's not a one dimensional player. That's not a knock on Voracek, because he is extremely dynamic offensively without question and nobody wants him killing penalties instead.

 

[Progeriakid]

Thx bro that makes sense.