Willis up; Cibak down

Per WDAE...

Credit: puckin' A (http://www2.sunshinenetwork.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=006956)

Nice.

:handclap: :handclap: :handclap:

Now its time for #24 to rise up and smite his enemies with a torrent of goals.

-Pete Choquette

Does anybody else here think maybe Feaster should've moved Somervuori from Hamilton to Hershey to take Willis' spot and send Cibak to Hamilton in order to rescue Eero?

-Pete Choquette

Does anybody else here think maybe Feaster should've moved Somervuori from Hamilton to Hershey to take Willis' spot and send Cibak to Hamilton in order to rescue Eero?

-Pete Choquette

I was thinking the same thing. But back to Willis....hell froze over...he got called up!!! Holy smokes.

Does anybody else here think maybe Feaster should've moved Somervuori from Hamilton to Hershey to take Willis' spot and send Cibak to Hamilton in order to rescue Eero?

-Pete Choquette

While that may have some benefit, there is a limit to the number of times a team can move a player within the AHL. I'm not talking about call-ups or send-downs, but the type of moving you are talking about.

For instance, I had asked Feaster a few weeks ago why he's not moving Dicaire to Hershey since the Bears are light on defense and he could probably benefit from the strong affiliation we enjoy there (not to mention some mentoring from Trepanier).

Feaster said they've been thinking about it, but since Dicaire has already been moved once (Hershey to Utah), to move him Dicaire back to Hershey means he can't be moved anywhere else (within the AHL) for the rest of the season. So, he is waiting out the situation in Utah for awhile.

Back to Somervuori to Hershey, Cibak to Hamilton...

If you move Eero to Hershey, you *eat* up one of his moves, and if Willis comes back down (or the Avalanche gets healthy and sends Brigley, Stevens, Moore, Krestanovich, et al. back to Hershey), Feaster has to move Eero back to Hamilton, which would lock Eero in Hamilton for the rest of the season. No options left to reassign within the AHL.

As far as Cibak saving Eero... I don't know about that. Hamilton has a stiff set of centers in Gratton, Higgins, and Plekanec. I assuming you mean saving Eero offensively. IMO, Cibak is not superior offensively to any of Hamilton's core centers. If Eero is having trouble "scoring" with Gratton, Higgins, or Plekanec, then I don't think Cibak is going to help in that regard. Plus, as I've posted elsewhere, I don't think Cibak get playing time at center in Hamilton anyway. Not with those guys.

According to Yahoo's boxscore of tonight's game against the Habs, Willis' stats were 18:25, +1, 5 shots. Pretty good for a first game after a call-up.
How was his play? Who did he play with?

According to Yahoo's boxscore of tonight's game against the Habs, Willis' stats were 18:25, +1, 5 shots. Pretty good for a first game after a call-up.
How was his play? Who did he play with?
I was VERY happy with him, personally. He and Vinny find each other, and he worked hard all night. Missed on a breakaway, but heck, all our forwards do that lately. ;)

He played with Lecavalier all night, I'm not sure if St. Louis was with them the whole time, but he was most of the night.

How was the officiating in this game and who's stick struck Stillman?? Shane brings lots of intensity to Vinny and Marty's line, good callup hopefully his career can get back on track.

1st/2nd period and first half of the 3rd the line was Shane/Vinny/Freddy. Marty overlapped w Vinny in middle of the 3rd (Freddy missed a couple shifts in the 3rd) then they went right back to Shane/Vinny/Freddy.

Marty played with Vinny some on the penalty kill and power plays. You can check out the shift chart at:

NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/onthefly/scoreboard/htmlreports/SC020358.HTM)

1st/2nd period and first half of the 3rd the line was Shane/Vinny/Freddy. Marty overlapped w Vinny in middle of the 3rd (Freddy missed a couple shifts in the 3rd) then they went right back to Shane/Vinny/Freddy.

Marty played with Vinny some on the penalty kill and power plays. You can check out the shift chart at:

NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/onthefly/scoreboard/htmlreports/SC020358.HTM)
I must have been seeing things then, I thought I saw St. Louis out there with them more often.

Led the team in SOG and was +1... you're not going to see this guy go down to the AHL again. He'll hurl himself in front of a bus before he allows that.

If Hamilton's so awful for centers why the jableep did we just send them Svitov again?

-Pete Choquette

Maybe because we've already maxed out our allotted number in Hershey (especially with Colorado starting to send guys back down)? Maybe Hamilton asked for Svitov back to help out with the other russian kid? Maybe it's a form of exile? :dunno:

Anyone from Hamilton around to give us some perspective??

Doug Jarvis thinks very highly of Svitov. He'll get plenty of playing time in Hamilton. I imagine this is short-lived reminder to Svitov that he needs to work hard every shift. Seems he must be reminded repeatedly.

My big question is with both Svitov and Cibak down, who's playing center with the Bolts?

Doug Jarvis thinks very highly of Svitov. He'll get plenty of playing time in Hamilton. I imagine this is short-lived reminder to Svitov that he needs to work hard every shift. Seems he must be reminded repeatedly.

My big question is with both Svitov and Cibak down, who's playing center with the Bolts?

Well, Dave already takes a LARGE majority of the faceoffs for the team so does he move to C to open a spot up on wing?? Is that probable?? Maybe the team brings up Perrin (which would suck for Hershey) or maybe something else is in the works (i.e. trade)?

How was the officiating in this game and who's stick struck Stillman?? Shane brings lots of intensity to Vinny and Marty's line, good callup hopefully his career can get back on track.

The officiating was typical of what we have seen in the NHL this season; mysterious calls and non-calls. It won't improve anytime in the foreseeable future so it is not worth discussing unless it is particularly egregious.

Stillman appears to have been nicked by Lukowich's stick as it was lifted by one of the Canadiens.

I must have been seeing things then, I thought I saw St. Louis out there with them more often.

I saw Roy playing with them a bit before he was injured. Why, Tortorella, why?

Roy was with Vinny and Willis because Stillman was out for part of the first after taking the high stick.

Started out Modin-Lecavalier-Willis; Stillman-Richards-STL... after Stillman went out Roy went with 4-24 line and Modin moved down with his MRS buddies.

No one has mentioned this yet, but Willis was the reason VL scored his goal. After the puck went back to VL, Willis (as he did all night long) went right to the net and was directly in Theo's sight line when the shot went in. On the replay Theo raised his arms (like Khabi did on the Zednik goal) as if to say, "I didn't see it."

I thought Willis had that slapshot from between the circles. My gosh, that was a rocket. Theo got a piece of his glove on it - or his mask, and it went directly to the side, so he barely got a piece of it. He made a beautiful drop pass to Vinny to set up a scoring chance in the first. Also threw 3-4 hits. Didn't do much damage, but (SADLY), you don't see TB players even trying to hit anymore.

Torts, in the Times, called Willis the best offensive player last night. Got a pat on the back for the VL goal on the bench. Torts must have seen the screen.

Willis kept getting thrown out there, too. Not like Affy (whom I like), who will start the game on a top line and find his way down 1/2 way through. Unlike Affy, also, Willis was not hesitant in the least with the puck. Looked to shoot, quick passes, good show of maturity in the offensive zone. Broke up some plays as the 3rd man back defensively, too.

Would have been so nice for him to score on that semi-break. Showed great speed to get around the guy and pick up the saucer pass the CTV crew drooled over from VL. CTV tried to make the excuse that the shot was extremely difficult for Willis as Theo is a "backward" goaltender, but he just missed the far, upper corner.

If he plays like he did last night, he'll find the scoresheet plenty and will continue to get minutes.

Great to see.

What was NOT great to see was more inconsistent focus from our #1. I love Khabi, but there is NO WAY that trickled backhander should go in at that time of the game.

Good analysis, Chad. I also was thrilled with Willis' play, and noticed most of the things you pointed out as well.

If there was even a single blemish on his play last night, it had to have been a series in the offensive zone in the 3rd period. Willis came down the right side, and dropped a pass to Vinny, then turn and cycled. Vinny then immediately dropped a pass to Modin, who then immediately dropped it back to a cycling Willis. Shane wasn't expecting such a bang-bang drop pass cycle, and the Habs went back the other way with it.

Sound like a nit-picky thing, but when you're tooting the Willis horn has loudly as I've been, I must give at least a semblance of being objective. ;)

What was NOT great to see was more inconsistent focus from our #1. I love Khabi, but there is NO WAY that trickled backhander should go in at that time of the game.
*sigh* and that's the truth. He had no comments after the game, I'm sure he's not too happy with himself. The kids at the TBL board are calling for his head already. He didn't look all that sharp to me last night, sad to say, but I'm sure he'll bounce back.

I was overall pretty happy with the effort last night, but the result just about killed me, I'm trying not to think about it. :)

Well, Dave already takes a LARGE majority of the faceoffs for the team so does he move to C to open a spot up on wing?? Is that probable?? Maybe the team brings up Perrin (which would suck for Hershey) or maybe something else is in the works (i.e. trade)?

I was told tonight at the Radio Show that the Lightning are not going to bring up a player to replace Svitov at this time. I guess that means Dave and Tim spilt up.

Willis just looks hot out there, he had some great chances tonight and he is constantly pushing the puck up. Plus he and Vinny seem to be finding a comfort level, so this may be very interesting. My personal opinon is that the trade winds are blowing- what with the AVs scouts here last week- something may be brewing.

Willis just looks hot out there, he had some great chances tonight and he is constantly pushing the puck up. Plus he and Vinny seem to be finding a comfort level, so this may be very interesting. My personal opinon is that the trade winds are blowing- what with the AVs scouts here last week- something may be brewing.

Avs were likely there for Biron and the Sabres.

Willis COULD secure a scoring line spot with Tampa with a few more consistent efforts in all areas of the ice.

While he did miss on the breakway in MTL and last night on the odd 3-on-0, there was one sequence early in the first when BOTH dmen went to the corner in the TB end and Willis went to follow, stopped, stayed in front of the net and laid down his stick to break up a pass. If he would have followed the play - or not realize there were no dmen around to watch the net, that's a goal. That same shift he hit some Sen behind the Lightning net, separating him from the puck, gained position and got the puck out of the zone.

You didn't see a lot of that in the past.

Give Willis and Lecavalier a few more games together and there's not such a gaffe as there was on that 3 on 0.

Avs were likely there for Biron and the Sabres.

Willis COULD secure a scoring line spot with Tampa with a few more consistent efforts in all areas of the ice.

While he did miss on the breakway in MTL and last night on the odd 3-on-0, there was one sequence early in the first when BOTH dmen went to the corner in the TB end and Willis went to follow, stopped, stayed in front of the net and laid down his stick to break up a pass. If he would have followed the play - or not realize there were no dmen around to watch the net, that's a goal. That same shift he hit some Sen behind the Lightning net, separating him from the puck, gained position and got the puck out of the zone.

You didn't see a lot of that in the past.

Give Willis and Lecavalier a few more games together and there's not such a gaffe as there was on that 3 on 0.

I certainly hope that Tortorella gives Willis/VL some time together, looks like it could be an effective combination. Not sure he cuts them the slack he does others. Maybe a couple of buzz cuts and "19" jerseys would buy them some time.

Sad, but true.

Everyone knows I'm a Richards homer, but I'm not blind to his poor play lately.

Last night especially. Quite honestly, I FULLY expected to see him on the bench after Grahame was pulled last night. When I didn't see him carrying the puck up ice, nor in the middle, I thought for sure Torts was now sending a message to Richards. Then someone dumped it in the corner and Richards was hiding along the RW wall.

I hate to say it, but if he did it for Vinny the night before, he should have done it for Richards last night.

Sad, but true.

Everyone knows I'm a Richards homer, but I'm not blind to his poor play lately.

Last night especially. Quite honestly, I FULLY expected to see him on the bench after Grahame was pulled last night. When I didn't see him carrying the puck up ice, nor in the middle, I thought for sure Torts was now sending a message to Richards. Then someone dumped it in the corner and Richards was hiding along the RW wall.

I hate to say it, but if he did it for Vinny the night before, he should have done it for Richards last night.

I don't understand why Richards is being allowed to play the way he has been. Says more about the coaching of this team than the player. Tortorella defended his last little conflict with VL as "just coaching".

Richards has always struck me as a prideful player who would respond to a benching or criticism. The entire scenario is strange.

Chad, you're not a homer if you can recognize the reality of the situation.

My issue with Richards and the lack of "tough love" by Torts especially this season just proves to me that Richie is a favored child.

Richards and his agent went overboard to build a case that he was an elite player coming out of his rookie contract and deserved a substantial increase, a bigger contract than Vinny's based on his superior performance. So why should Torts hold Vinny to a higher standard than Richie?

Chad, you're not a homer if you can recognize the reality of the situation.

My issue with Richards and the lack of "tough love" by Torts especially this season just proves to me that Richie is a favored child.

Richards and his agent went overboard to build a case that he was an elite player coming out of his rookie contract and deserved a substantial increase, a bigger contract than Vinny's based on his superior performance. So why should Torts hold Vinny to a higher standard than Richie?

Excellent question. Has Tortorella become the NHL equivalent of zen master Phil Jackson and realizes that all players should be treated differently in order to get the most from their skill set? Naaah.

It certainly appears to be nothing more than preferential treatment which makes little sense. Tortorella keeps talking about playing with "jam" and no one, other than Stillman, plays with as little jam, or grit, as Richards.

I'd like to know the rest of the story.