Asks a lot of the questions we've been discussing around here. One thing stood out to me, though:
Quote:
(Matthias) dropped some 30 pounds over the summer, and he looked leaner and quicker during rookie camp.
He lost 30 pounds? In the span of one summer? That can't be healthy, nor good for his development. Didn't he look skinny as it was last year in his call-up? It's great that he looks quick, but he's going to need some muscle to deal with some of the talented centers in the Southeast.
All in all, it's a good article considering it's coming from the official website. I figure it'd be more "rah-rah we're going to the playoffs" but it asks realistic questions that are going to be answered over the course of the season.
Asks a lot of the questions we've been discussing around here. One thing stood out to me, though:
He lost 30 pounds? In the span of one summer? That can't be healthy, nor good for his development. Didn't he look skinny as it was last year in his call-up? It's great that he looks quick, but he's going to need some muscle to deal with some of the talented centers in the Southeast.
All in all, it's a good article considering it's coming from the official website. I figure it'd be more "rah-rah we're going to the playoffs" but it asks realistic questions that are going to be answered over the course of the season.
Nice post, Clint. It would be interesting to discuss these ten points as a group.
Note that it said he lose "some" 30 pounds. Meaning, kind of near. I wouldn't put too much weight in the exact number being 30. If so, yikes! But I don't think that's the case. Mentions have been made about how good and strong and fast he looks. I think he's lost weight, but not too much.
Irrelevant. He's still proven himself that he can handle a significant load while arguable the best goaltender of this generation is on the shelf.
Its definitely not irrelevant. The NJD team is better than the panthers. It only proves he can handle the load with a good team in front him. Lets see how he does when he has to face 40 shots a night. Anderson carried this team for portions of last season.
Its definitely not irrelevant. The NJD team is better than the panthers. It only proves he can handle the load with a good team in front him. Lets see how he does when he has to face 40 shots a night. Anderson carried this team for portions of last season.
I don't know where the belief that Anderson "carried" the team for "portions" of last year come from. He had a long streak of games starting at the end of November into the middle of December. After that his longest streak of starting was three games, of which he had two such streaks. He went 1-2 in one (allowing 14 goals) and 3-0 in the other (allowing only seven goals, but the team scored a total of 15).
Until he gets a legit play making center the answer is no.
I think it has more to do with Nate's attitude than who he plays with. He was, and apparently will again this season, put with Weiss and Booth and played well when his effort was there. It's up to Horton, not to some guy to come in and make him more.
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"If checking were allowed in golf, I'd have all the green jackets!" -John Daly
Hey Clint, I was actually being sincere! The one time I do that in my life--I get slammed for it!
WILL BRYAN ALLEN RETURN 100 PERCENT FROM KNEE SURGERY?
Man, I hope so too. And I think he will. Which means a lot, because while we lost Bouw, the rest of the defense group we lost weren't exactly stellar stuff IMO.
WHO STEPS UP ON DEFENSE?
McCabe, duh. Allen. Ballard. All of them. I think we're going to see a better 'group' effort than we did last year--when there may have been the temptation to let Jay take care of things at times.
CAN ROSTISLAV OLESZ EMERGE AS A TOP FORWARD?
I don't know as I'm not conversant enough to make an intelligent comment, not knowing enough about him. I'll leave that to you guys.
WILL THE PANTHERS IMPROVE IN SHOOTOUTS?
Of course we will! One guy we picked up was two of three (if I have the numbers right) and the defenseman was 2-2? This is one area we're going to be better at--and, as Rattrick pointed out, it's not as if that's going to be hard to do, given how bad we were last year.
CAN NATHAN HORTON BE AN ALL- STAR?
Yes, but it's Nate Horton who will make up his mind to do so, or not. I think his pride was hurt a bit last year. I think he's a bit miffed at all the attention Booth (rightfully) got last year. He wants some of those cheers to go his way. I am predicting here that we're going to see a new and highly charged Horton this year.
And if he doesn't, then I'm going to write a new book: "Horton hears a Boo!" (Not sure if that's been done yet; apologies if so).
WILL THE PANTHERS SURVIVE THE EARLY SCHEDULE?
I think that this team is going to be much better than last year early on--but it's such a tough schedule. I'm hoping for survival, honestly.
CAN SHAWN MATTHIAS FULFILL THE PROMISE?
Again, I don't know enough about Matthias to comment--but from what some of you guys have written, I'm very, very interested in seeing.
WILL JEFF TAFFE MAKE THE TEAM?
Could go either way, couldn't it? He's either a big surprise, or he's gone. One or the other.
DOES VOKOUN HAVE AS STRONG A BACKUP IN CLEMMENSEN
Yes, of course he does. But I think that Vokoun is going to be THE big surprise this year. In my gut, I feel that there's something going on there, that's going to result in a standout series of performances. Vokoun really has nothing to prove--and yet so much to prove. Not sure if that makes sense, but I fully believe he's going to be very focused this year and will be outstanding. From the get-go.
CAN MICHAEL FROLIK IMPROVE ON HIS ROOKIE SEASON?
I agree with Ratty and think he will too. The reason? He's intelligent. He's got that drive, that spark. There's just "something" in this kid that's difficult to describe but makes him a potential star. As long as he doesn't cut across the middle one time too many (and he does worry me on that point) I think he's going to build on what he learned last year. Let's not forget, it took him a while to get in the lineup (correct?) and then more time to get settled. He did nothing for a long time. I think he's going to be just fine. Someone like Frolik you don't stop.
Of course we will! One guy we picked up was two of three (if I have the numbers right) and the defenseman was 2-2? This is one area we're going to be better at--and, as Rattrick pointed out, it's not as if that's going to be hard to do, given how bad we were last year.
Yep, Reinprecht was 2/3, and Koistinen was 3/4. That's pretty good. Add that to Horton, and that's a decent shootout lineup.
And yeah, it would be pretty hard to be worse than last year, so there's nowhere to go but up. Also, Andy god bless him, even though he was a great backup, he was horrible in shootouts. If Clemmer is at least decent in shootouts, that further improves us.
Yep, Reinprecht was 2/3, and Koistinen was 3/4. That's pretty good. Add that to Horton, and that's a decent shootout lineup.
And yeah, it would be pretty hard to be worse than last year, so there's nowhere to go but up. Also, Andy god bless him, even though he was a great backup, he was horrible in shootouts. If Clemmer is at least decent in shootouts, that further improves us.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Anderson's problem in shootouts more or less the fact that while he has superior positioning, he doesn't have overly quick reflexes or recovery, so that he's fairly easily beaten one-on-one by skilled forwards?
That's what I took it to mean when he himself said he wasn't "as athletic" as Vokoun.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Anderson's problem in shootouts more or less the fact that while he has superior positioning, he doesn't have overly quick reflexes or recovery, so that he's fairly easily beaten one-on-one by skilled forwards?
That's what I took it to mean when he himself said he wasn't "as athletic" as Vokoun.
Yeah, that was part of the problem. He also didn't have the best form. He was good at being a positional goalie behind a solid defense because of his size. But when you saw replays of the shootout goals, you could see so many holes when the shooter was coming in at him. This is when they showed the shooter POV camera angles. He gave way too many options to the shooters.
Gorten is a fool. Matthias didn't lose 30 pounds. I'd say 10-15 is probably more like it.
That does sound high. its not like he was just some 300lb slob, he's a professional athlete and i don't see how somebody already at a high fitness level could drop so much so quickly.
That does sound high. its not like he was just some 300lb slob, he's a professional athlete and i don't see how somebody already at a high fitness level could drop so much so quickly.
sounded odd to me as well but apparently, he had bulked up last summer and was up to 235. i'm shocked but... straight from the horses mouth (http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=498475), it's true. i didn't notice the huge weight gain. my gawd - how the hell'd the training staff let him get away with a plan to add *that* much bulk??? that's not the way you train for hockey.
maybe this explains a bit more why he was struggling; he was literally in a different body.
sounded odd to me as well but apparently, he had bulked up last summer and was up to 235. i'm shocked but... straight from the horses mouth (http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=498475), it's true. i didn't notice the huge weight gain. my gawd - how the hell'd the training staff let him get away with a plan to add *that* much bulk??? that's not the way you train for hockey.
maybe this explains a bit more why he was struggling; he was literally in a different body.
Yeah, I saw that too. That's nuts. He didn't even seem close to that heavy. It would explain a lot though. That said, did he have to lose 30 pounds? He played at 212 in junior 2 years ago. Now he's 205. Seems a bit light for his size. Pete said he went under the weight he told him to be at for this season. He said "at or below", but still.....seems like too much.
