The unsung heroes of this team: O'donnell and Schneider

They both have been fantastic, especially when have really needed guys to step up. We lose Pronger and all Schneider does is pick up his game, especially defensively. I love the guys mentality on the PP, which is full of pass happy players...shoot, shoot, shoot. He's also a lot tougher in his zone than I thought he was.

O'donnell, rarely ever makes a mistake. Just an extremely intelligent veteran player whos' tough on the walls and in front of the net. He almost never turns the puck over, because he never forces anything. He was a very astute pick up by Burke a few years ago and has done nothing but play well for us for 2+ years. Another great thing about him, he can play with anybody and not skip a beat. He just does not get any credit at all, he's pretty good for a guy who many said was washed up when we got him.

I'm a sucker for unsung heroes. That's why I love Pahlsson so much. :thumbu: to your topic.

O'Donnell has been very quietly effective the past couple years. I remember hating the swapping of Carney for OD at the time, thinking that we were losing a lot of defensive effectiveness and leadership for only a little more physicality. Boy was I wrong. I think his hockey sense is very high, he might be a coach some day. It's also good that he's one of our more consistently physical defensemen. My only gripe is that he can't handle the big minutes.

Schneider's been good, and I think he's been extremely underrated among the greater fanbase (all the "LOL, no one wants a 39 year old defenseman at 5.65 million!"). He's also been significantly better in his own zone than I expected. He really was one of the best "replacements" for Niedermayer that was available on the marketm, and I think he's earned his salary. But I'm not sure I'd say he's been fantastic.

OD and schneider have been rocks all year.

Pahlsson...eh :sarcasm:

I'm a sucker for unsung heroes. That's why I love Pahlsson so much. :thumbu: to your topic.

O'Donnell has been very quietly effective the past couple years. I remember hating the swapping of Carney for OD at the time, thinking that we were losing a lot of defensive effectiveness and leadership for only a little more physicality. Boy was I wrong. I think his hockey sense is very high, he might be a coach some day. It's also good that he's one of our more consistently physical defensemen. My only gripe is that he can't handle the big minutes.

Schneider's been good, and I think he's been extremely underrated among the greater fanbase (all the "LOL, no one wants a 39 year old defenseman at 5.65 million!"). He's also been significantly better in his own zone than I expected. He really was one of the best "replacements" for Niedermayer that was available on the marketm, and I think he's earned his salary. But I'm not sure I'd say he's been fantastic.
Schneider skates like a 25 year old, he can be like Chelios and play into his 40's if he wants, especially given the lack of true quality dmen in todays NHL. His defensive reads are excellent 90 percent of the time and you can tell he brings a lot to the dressing room too.

O'Donnell will definitely be a coach if he wants to be. I wasn't sure how he'd fit with Pronger but he has far surpassed any expectations i've had of him since his arrival.

Schneider's inside body.

http://www.newprophecy.net/Jack_Elam.jpg

I kid.

OD will be a broadcaster when his playing days are over, I don't have a doubt in my mind. He has been very solid all year, hell since we got him. I love the way he plays. Dude owns the corners. Getting the puck to front of the net with him is damn near impossible. OD is the man.

I knew Schneids was going to be great. He just knows how the game works and how he fits in it. He's a great team player and steps up when called upon. Plus I love the head banging his does to the goalies after every win. I wonder if Jiggy and Hiller do though? ;)

OD's play this year reminds me a lot of Beauchemin last year.

Last year Beauchemin played a much simpler game and tried to do less then he is this year but was, IMO, a much stronger player doing that. This year he seems to want to be Scotty and jumps out of position too much without Scotty's speed to keep him out of trouble.

I am really happy with how OD and Huskins have improved this year. They both are a lot better then last year. And I really like Schneider out there, he just seems like he is have a ton of fun this year and is bringing a lot to the team.

After lurking for ages, I signed up to post at HF just to say THANK YOU! I have followed Mathieu for over 15 years, and I can't believe how under-recognized he has been in Anaheim.

I knew coming in, he would be odd guy out with fans as the newest addition to a team that had just won a championship, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad.

After lurking for ages, I signed up to post at HF just to say THANK YOU! I have followed Mathieu for over 15 years, and I can't believe how under-recognized he has been in Anaheim.

I knew coming in, he would be odd guy out with fans as the newest addition to a team that had just won a championship, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad.

Uhh...

?