Horcoff is proving everyone that his 73 point season in 05-06 wasn't a fluke and he wasn't being overpaid ($3.6 million)!!!
Horcoff has 49 points in 50 games this season. He's a great two-way forward and he's not being overpaid. He's now in Top 20 in Scoring. (12th best as a center)
I remember before the season started how much bashing Horcoff got on this boards and I always supported him. He's proving his worth now.
Horcoff is really fast, but I think Marleau might have a slight edge. Either way, they are both good centres with Horc having the better year. Horc has pulled the offense (along with penner and hemmer) for the most part of the year.
Horcoff has been having an exceptional year, he is a little bit slower than Marleau but his two way game is a bit better.
Horcoffs success has come mainly because he is now Hemsky's primary trigger man and has seen some easy gimme feeds this year. He's tailored his game around Hemsky's style of play and we're seeing the benefits.
Now the Oilers just need some solid depth to become anything more than a 10th-12th place team.
As an Oiler fan, before the season started, I will admit that I was not a huge Horcoff supporter. The thing that is really making me happy from an Edmonton prespective, is that players generally have breakout years in contract years (very frustrating) but Horcoff has shown that he is a great 2-way guy, showing some consitency.
He is very vital to this team right now because he is a producing veteren and showing solid leadership to a very young team. He has made me very happy this year and I am disappointed in myself for not being a Horcoffian!!!!!
Horcoff has been having an exceptional year, he is a little bit slower than Marleau but his two way game is a bit better.
Horcoffs success has come mainly because he is now Hemsky's primary trigger man and has seen some easy gimme feeds this year. He's tailored his game around Hemsky's style of play and we're seeing the benefits.
Now the Oilers just need some solid depth to become anything more than a 10th-12th place team.
Exactly. I don't see that as a bad thing though. You gotta give him credit for deciding to change almost his entire offensive game and mold himself into a player that can cash in on Hemsky's feeds. Never in the past have "Horcoff" and "trigger man" been used in the same sentence before this season....and it's not like those amazing passes from Hemsky just started this season. He's always been a pass first player but this season he's decided to shoot when it's on his stick.
Horcoff definitely has the big edge in effort this year. If you watch the two, you would rather have Horcoff on your team going into April.
Exactly. Marleau's a great player (having an off-season), and I think edges Horcoff in god-given ability, but you will be hard pressed to find many players who work harder than Shawn Horcoff. I believe MacTavish has said he considers Horcoff the hardest working player in the league, and I can certainly see why he would. Horcoff's gone from 4th line scrubber barely playing, to first line centre playing 18-25 minutes per game in just 5 season or so.
He's the perfect guy to have on a young team, because he sets such a great example. Who's to say a guy like Cogliano, who doesn't exactly have Hemsky's hands, doesn't look at Horc and say "Hey, if he can do it, why can't I?"
Exactly. I don't see that as a bad thing though. You gotta give him credit for deciding to change almost his entire offensive game and mold himself into a player that can cash in on Hemsky's feeds. Never in the past have "Horcoff" and "trigger man" been used in the same sentence before this season....and it's not like those amazing passes from Hemsky just started this season. He's always been a pass first player but this season he's decided to shoot when it's on his stick.
Horcoff in the offseason went to the Easton stick factory in Mexico and worked on a stick that was exactly what he wanted. He also went to see a sports psychologist and he mentioned in an interview that one of the things he worked on was actually getting a 'shoot-first' mentality towards the game.
He also was apart of a huge offseason training program with some of the other oilers, and he came into this season the best shape he has ever been in. This guy is a true pro, and we are seeing the results of his dedication to his job.
Suddenly those Horcoff > Marleau posts aren't stupid.
Of course. Neither do the Tim Thomas>Mikka Kiprusoff posts.
Horcoff is a very hard-working player, and that's what I like about him. He doesn't have anywhere near the talent Marleau has, but in the end, it's how you use your talent. Horcoff uses his talent far better than Marleau does.
his team in last in the division and 14th in the confernce.
I've never understood these types of arguments. When a guy has 21 goals and 49 points in 50 games, the teams lack of success clearly isn't because of him.
Of course. Neither do the Tim Thomas>Mikka Kiprusoff posts.
Horcoff is a very hard-working player, and that's what I like about him. He doesn't have anywhere near the talent Marleau has, but in the end, it's how you use your talent. Horcoff uses his talent far better than Marleau does.
Then you haven't watched him play. Horcoff is hard working but also talented too.
The Hemsky Penner and Horcoff line sure has a lot of upside. Hemsky looks way better this season.
Hemmer is shooting a lot more, his placement has improved leaps and bounds over last season. He's also making smart decisions when he has the puck more so than in the past; the fact that he has somebody who will put the majority of his beautiful feeds in the back of the net doesn't hurt either.
Penner has been a god send down low, he can cycle the puck like very few and the last twenty or so games it seems like he's finally really gelled with Hemmer and Horc.
The weird thing about Horcoff is his shot is almost night and day difference from the past. His wrist shot is so much better this year.
I've never really seen a guy come into a new season training camp with almost a completely different shot. Horc works out like a beast in the off-season, ala Brind'Amour.
Hemmer is shooting a lot more, his placement has improved leaps and bounds over last season. He's also making smart decisions when he has the puck more so than in the past; the fact that he has somebody who will put the majority of his beautiful feeds in the back of the net doesn't hurt either.
Penner has been a god send down low, he can cycle the puck like very few and the last twenty or so games it seems like he's finally really gelled with Hemmer and Horc.
A lot of people look at Penner as a guy that is just along for the ride but I don't think so. He came into camp out of shape and on a little bit of a Stanley Cup hangover. He dropped his weight down and his ice time was increased in December. He has been VERY effective. Hemsky is obviously the key piece but everyone makes each other better.
Penner
First 25 games: 4 goals, 7 assists, 12 points
Goals per game of 0.15. That's 13 goals over 82 games.
Last 25 games: 11 goals, 8 assists, 19 points.
Goals per game of 0.46. That's 38 goals over 82 games.
