Leblond, Brookbank, Rupp and Clarkson are all possibilities for Biss tonight.
Biss (AHL HW) brings the toughness that Stone (AHL MW) was widely credited for but never displayed. Biss has some talent too. Lest we forget that Biss was the highest scoring defenseman in the ECHL before he was called up to WBS last season.
Ray, just say "NO!" to Burke/Toronto.... A fourth line with Biss and Godard on the wings is gonna be a force if they can make it work.
Ray, just say "NO!" to Burke/Toronto.... A fourth line with Biss and Godard on the wings is gonna be a force if they can make it work.
Yeah, I was thinking Toronto too. Considering how Deveaux has been ducking HWs in the NHL, I'd imagine Burke would be looking for someone more willing.
Nice to see the kid get a very unexpected call up. This is a good decision on the part of MT, as DJ will bring some excellent faceoff skills as well as a solid two-way game to the lineup. Having someone of his size won't hurt too much either.
I'm not crazy about calling up Bissonnette as I don't see the point in having two slow enforcers on our 4th line, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what hapens...
I'm not crazy about calling up Bissonnette as I don't see the point in having two slow enforcers on our 4th line, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what hapens...
It might be because of the last Pens/NJ game, with Holik taking big runs at Letang and things like that.
I'm not crazy about calling up Bissonnette as I don't see the point in having two slow enforcers on our 4th line, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what hapens...
Bissonnette isn't a bad skater. Neither is Godard really, especially relative to his heavyweight peers.
Bissonnette isn't a bad skater. Neither is Godard really, especially relative to his heavyweight peers.
Granted, but in the end they are still both essentially enforcers that play more or less the same role. They may not be particularly bad skaters compared to other goons, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can keep up with players other than goons either.
I'm not sure I understand the concern over calling up prospects like Jeffrey and Caputi. Good prospects can play better if playing with better players, which happens when you go from an AHL to an NHL lineup.
Where the **** is Jock Callander when you need him?
I am a firm believer that when opportunity knocks, you better answer the door. A lot of careers were started because a player was needed at a particular time. Ready or not, here he comes. Of course, sometimes it hurts the player but I prefer teams that give young players a chance to shine when they are needed. There are also guys who are ready but they never get the shot, sometimes because teams are too conservative.
It's not an exact science. The Pens could give Luca Caputi 3 more years to develop and he may not become what we want...or he could be recalled tomorrow and go James Neal on us.
Personally, I don't like organizations that "coddle". And for the most part, we aren't like that. When a team needs a shakeup, or at the very least an injection of energy, it's never a bad idea to bring up a kid.
that's my two cents.
Fair enough, but I don't see anything to be gained when a guy very clearly isn't ready. I'm not even totally certain that description applies to Caputi or not, but from what I've read and looking at how slowly he started in the AHL, I thought that it did apply.
Jeffrey is another story, and I'm not really against bringing him up if the organization likes what they see so far.
Fair enough, but I don't see anything to be gained when a guy very clearly isn't ready. I'm not even totally certain that description applies to Caputi or not, but from what I've read and looking at how slowly he started in the AHL, I thought that it did apply.
Jeffrey is another story, and I'm not really against bringing him up if the organization likes what they see so far.
Of course, we probably won't know whether so and so is ready or not until they actually DO call him up.
Leblond, Brookbank, Rupp and Clarkson are all possibilities for Biss tonight.
Biss (AHL HW) brings the toughness that Stone (AHL MW) was widely credited for but never displayed. Biss has some talent too. Lest we forget that Biss was the highest scoring defenseman in the ECHL before he was called up to WBS last season.
Ray, just say "NO!" to Burke/Toronto.... A fourth line with Biss and Godard on the wings is gonna be a force if they can make it work.
I think Leblond is back down to Lowell, and Brookbank will probably be a scratch if their top 12 forwards are healthy. He'd been playing a little right wing on the fourth line when Madden was out.
Bissonnette will probably go with either Clarkson or Rupp, although Rupp should go with Godard since he's been fighting all the top guys this year.
* He was brought in to take draws and the coaching staff gave him several opportunities early on.
Unfortunately for the former Greyhound, the first two draws were against John Madden and the second two were against Bobby Holik. This is the equivalent of scoring your first goal against Marty Brodeur or dropping the gloves for the first time against Probert. While it has been done before, it is asking a lot from a young player. A lot of pressure. Jeffrey consequentially lost his four opportunities in the faceoff circle and did not see much time after he lost his final one against Holik in the second.
Threw a nice check on Mottau in the first. Although he was credited with only one hit, it looked like he made have had two or three. Regardless he played tenaciously when given the chance.
While he does not solve the Pens faceoff woes (as they had hoped) he does bring a lot of energy. I have always characterized him as a bigger bodied TK or Max Talbot in what he brings to a game.
Jeffrey's skating is not bad. He has short, North American style strides. While his skating could still get stronger, he never stops moving his feet and as a result is typically around the play. This foot-moving gets him a lot of penalty shots and draws a lot of penalties too.
....neighborhood just had a brownout, wonder if it was due to my neighbors xmas decorations....Thank goodness for wi-fi and laptops....
I would like to see the guy on a line with Crosby. Why not y'know?
He has to his faceoffs though if he wants to stay in the NHL.
Nice to see the kid get a very unexpected call up. This is a good decision on the part of MT, as DJ will bring some excellent faceoff skills as well as a solid two-way game to the lineup. Having someone of his size won't hurt too much either.
I'm not crazy about calling up Bissonnette as I don't see the point in having two slow enforcers on our 4th line, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what hapens...
The point of calling them up is they show energy and passion biz will fight your mom but not unless you tell him too he knows his role. People complain about the drafting and depth on this team but lately the system players have made the plays that lead to goals but do not show up on the score sheet. If biz was told to fight he would have.Anywho biz is not slow he just can not stop and start well lol
Last edited by dd7: 12-28-2008 at 05:02 PM.
Reason: spelling
I was impressed in Jeffrey's limited time these last two games. I think that given the chance he may be able to stay with the big club, if due to another injury, trade, or whatever.
It just seems like more is going to happen on this team to shake things up.
