Anyone else notice how good this kid is? He is such a smooth skater and really good with the puck. Man does he ever look like he is going to be a player. The way he skates along the offensive blueline with the puck and pressure on him is sick and he's just a rookie. I think he has a chance to be a hell of an offensive dman.
Anyone else notice how good this kid is? He is such a smooth skater and really good with the puck. Man does he ever look like he is going to be a player. The way he skates along the offensive blueline with the puck and pressure on him is sick and he's just a rookie. I think he has a chance to be a hell of an offensive dman.
Somehow I don't think this thread would be up if Frans Nielsen had capitalized when Guerin robbed Goligoski near the end of regular time.
But Gogo has a lot of things going for him. Needs to be better defensively and find a way to not suffer his lack of physique as much. The other way... well, I can only concur. He has all the tools.
We have two gems in him and Letang. The latter has played very well whenever I've seen us lately. Very much improved defensively.
i like gogo, but i think he really needs to buld up some.
he (along with letang) need to shoot more on the PP.
as to the above comment. watching letang eat up major minutes this year.....cant see how anyone isn't impressed. probably the best skater on the blue line even when everyone is healthy (and yet, he's still younger than gogo)
it will be interesting to see what the FO does when sarge and whits get back. and what they'll do in the offseason when gonch becomes an UFA
Last edited by The Pens Are Back*: 11-09-2008 at 03:42 AM.
no way the first thing i thought when i saw this thread is that letang deserves his own thread over gogo. i'm developing a man crush everytime i see this guy save someone's ass.
as to the above comment. watching letang eat up major minutes this year.....cant see how anyone isn't impressed. probably the best skater on the blue line even when everyone is healthy (and yet, he's still younger than gogo)
Tonight I was most impressed with Brooks Orpik starting a rush behind his own net and going all the way down to the corner in the Isles zone (where he caught a rut in the terrible ice and fell down). We know he's pretty mobile but that was some serious speed right there. Goligoski makes some rookie mistakes but overall he's doing fine. Notice how his shots are usually on the net? Now if he'd only shoot more...
Most of our defence will be a joy to watch in the near future in the skating department. Sarge, Orpik, Whitney, Letang and Gogo are all great skaters.
Gologoski does put the puck on net at appropriate times. I feel more relieved when hes out there on the pp. Alot of times we just pass the puck around looking for the perfect play...i love when #13 puts one towards the net...good things happen (ie. tonights tying goal).
I'd take Letang over GoGo, but we're so spoiled to have two good young developing defensemen. We're going to be so deep once Gonchar and Whitney return, their injuries may end up being a blessing in disguise assuming we can keep stealing a point here, two points there.
no way the first thing i thought when i saw this thread is that letang deserves his own thread over gogo. i'm developing a man crush everytime i see this guy save someone's ass.
I gotta agree with that. I'm loving Gogo a tonne, but Letang is starting to prove his overall game. I think in a couple short years, both these guys are going to make Gonchar expendable, if we are unable to re-sign him. If we can though, what would that look like?
Gonchar-Orpik
Whitney-Letang
Gogo-Scuds
I think we'd have to move Gonch, but Whitney on the 1st line and then pair Gogo & Letang together.
Goligoski has been impressive overall, but there are times he looks absolutely like a rookie. Against the Isles he had several turnovers, was pushed around a bit on the boards, took several ill-advised shots at the point and got burned by Guerin in OT and Okposo on the Isles' third goal. The thing that surprises me about him, is how small he looks on the ice. I know he's under 6 ft. but he needs to seriously bulk up next offseason, it'd help him along the boards and add some mustard to his shot.
The Islanders pressured very well on the PK, and you people who say you wish they would shoot more, well, you must have never played hockey because it's really hard to shoot a puck with any confidence unless you're set up, and the way they were pressuring just made it impossible for people to hang onto the puck long enough for Gogo or someone else to set up.
Crosby even had to move out and get room for a few slappers as it was hard for others. They don't pressure Crosby as much because if they close in on him, he'll make them look stupid with some move that we've never seen, and probably score anyways... the Islanders just have a good PK.
Goligoski has been impressive overall, but there are times he looks absolutely like a rookie. Against the Isles he had several turnovers, was pushed around a bit on the boards, took several ill-advised shots at the point and got burned by Guerin in OT and Okposo on the Isles' third goal. The thing that surprises me about him, is how small he looks on the ice. I know he's under 6 ft. but he needs to seriously bulk up next offseason, it'd help him along the boards and add some mustard to his shot.
Hes 6'0"s....But could bulk up from the 187 lbs to a more respectable 200 lbs
I've been extremely impressed with Gogo's offensive game, and his instincts especially. He's not afraid to shoot, and look what it led to last night. However, I've been more impressed with Letang's defensive game this season. While he does need to gain some tenacity and shoot a bit more on offense, apart from some forgivable mistakes, he's been superb defensively. He's extremely good physically for his size too. Strong, fluid skater, with good passing skills. Just needs to realize when to shoot. Extremely impressed by the two so far.
He looks extremely comfortable out there in the offensive zone.
An example is last night on the 1st TK goal. Goligoski was on the front end of that 3 on 2, thereby creating that odd man break. I liked that there was no hesitation on his part and he stormed up the ice, providing a passing option and thus occupying one of the two Islander dmen/subsuquent backchecker.
That was something he did freely at WBS, basically every game. Not saying that is always good, but he has great instincts of when to and not to do it.
Seeing him do something he was totally comfortable doing at WBS was a good sign. Because that was large part of his game down at WBS. Hopefully he can continue to do that. (1) being given the reigns to do that by the coaching staff and (2) having the confidence to do it at this level.
If we resign Gonchar dare i say well have a top 5 defense in 3 years. Gogo really looks like he could become a brian rafalski of sorts. Great pick by the pens. Letang as well.
I never thought he'd transition this easily to the NHL. His patience and decision-making are pretty incredible for a first year player.
Yeah, never expected he'd be contributing like this so quickly but he would have never gotten the chance without the injuries to Whitney and Gonchar. In a sink or swim type situation, both Letang and Goligoski are thriving.
Yeah, never expected he'd be contributing like this so quickly but he would have never gotten the chance without the injuries to Whitney and Gonchar. In a sink or swim type situation, both Letang and Goligoski are thriving.
Question is what happens when those 2 are back? Id guess these would be the pairings again.
I think it'd go back to an Orpik/Gonchar tandem on the 1st pairing, then a Whitney/Gill and Letang/Goligoski on the 3rd pairing perhaps?
It does depend on which Whitney comes back, the one that wasn't great defensively or the one that started to make us all feel proud in the playoffs.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. I think Letang and Gonch are both defensively responsible enough to play on the 1st pair together, plus Tanger's right-handed shot and amount of ice time he's been getting make it an even more appealing 1st pair. My D pairings:
Letang/Gonchar
Whitney/Orpik (showed great chemistry a couple years ago when Whits was healthy)
Goligoski/Gill/Scuderi(either Gill or Scud will be scratched)
--Hell, when Whits and Gonch get back, Sydor AND Eaton are tradeable since we also have some depth down on the farm in case of emergency.
