|
|
Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Oct 15, 2007 19:37:11 GMT -5
So, what does everyone think so far?? Based on what I have read and heard.
1. Team is a very hard working group.
2. Defense is relatively young and still making mistakes. I would expect this to improve as the season goes on. As a youth coach I will always stand by the fact that defense is the hardest position to teach.
3. Too many short handed goals allowed. Not sure about the PP and PK numbers. Didn't have time to look.
4. Looks like Saginaw is getting pretty balanced offensive production.
5. Goaltending needs to step it up with the 2 vets that are in net. These guys need to lead the way and help "cover up" for the relatively inexperienced defense corps. Daniels and Bus need to play like Mason in London.
6. Breen has emerged as the Spirit enforcer. How many fights has he been in already??
Would like to hear what everyone else thinks. God I'm homesick for hockey. Thanks everyone for your posts but it's just not the same as watching live and in person.
|
|
|
|
Post by IGive1 on Oct 15, 2007 20:54:27 GMT -5
Team is playing a little better than I thought they would. They are fun to watch. Games against Plymouth and London are going to be really important.
O/As, with the exception of Asselen are disappointing. Sinfield does not have presence needed for an O/A; too timid. Zaborski simply does not pass the puck, if I can notice it, certainly his line mates can. He looks to shoot and passes only as a last resort.
Still need a big forward who can score.
Heard Craig went home. Is Chappel still hurt?
|
|
|
|
Post by spiritfan8 on Oct 15, 2007 21:59:42 GMT -5
Chappell is skating, but at least 2-3 weeks away from playing.
|
|
|
|
Post by eric8199 on Oct 15, 2007 22:03:14 GMT -5
ShanghaiSpiritFan, your assessment is pretty much on target. I think our power play has been pretty good, at least what I have seen in the four home games I've been at.
As for goaltending, Bus was pretty good the other night, I think it was the defense that let us down and almost cost us the game (and giving them a 5 on 3 at the end of the game), but it's hard to evaluate him on one game. Daniels is great when he's on, but I just don't think he's a consistent enough goaltender to lead this team. Sorry if others disagree, but he just doesn't seem to be able to do it. He stops unstoppable shots, but lets in the weak ones...
I agree with IGive1 about the over-agers. Is McDounough (sp?) an over-ager? For some reason I thought he was, and if he is, HE doesn't fit that description.
Zaborski has his moments, but he has NOT been the player I expected to see this season. I expected a lot more from him, and I haven't seen it yet. Hopefully that changes.
Combs is my favorite, as you can tell by many of my posts. Great to see him at the top of his game this season. STAY HEALTHY!!!
I think we fix our D problems and we will be a force to be reckoned with. It's early, but that is definitely where the work needs to be made.
|
|
|
|
Post by jrp0629 on Oct 15, 2007 22:14:29 GMT -5
Has anyone else heard about Tom Craig going home? Thats news to me. As for sinfield, he is a waste of an overage position. We need to get some D going.
|
|
|
|
Post by sensspiritfan on Oct 16, 2007 7:43:49 GMT -5
Why do people think that Sinfield is not a good OA. Take a look at who is on the ice in all critical situations eg: playing Sarnia he was on the ice every time the Stamkos line was on. He is very reliable, just take a look at the way Crawford has excelled since playing with Sinfield. He keeps the game simple by moving the puck intelligently. He does not lose the puck in the slot in our own end or at center ice like another D that everyone seems love.
|
|
|
|
Post by eric8199 on Oct 16, 2007 8:34:58 GMT -5
You know, I've seen good play out of Sinfeld too. I've been impressed with him, and I think he's performing better than Zaborski. The proper level for an OA? not sure, but he's doing well.
|
|
acin
2nd Liner
Posts: 181
|
Post by acin on Oct 16, 2007 11:48:48 GMT -5
Sinfield is one of those players that would rather pass the puck to make a good play than be the hero and shoot and miss, which many of these players do. He does his job, which is defense, to protect the puck from the net and to pass it up to the offense. He is reliable, it's rare that I've seen him have a horrible game. You may think he's timid, and while I disagree, wouldn't you rather have a 'timid' player than someone whose racking up the penalties which we usually get scored on? I don't see any other OA doing a spectacular job, especially not Zaborsky..who is drafted btw.  Overall, the team will get better. Have to remember their young. but they will find their feet. |
|
|
|
Post by aj0512 on Oct 16, 2007 13:27:56 GMT -5
Overall I think we've played better than what our record actually shows. We probably should have won at Windsor a couple of weeks ago, and we probably should have beaten Belleville. This is a very hard working group of kids and sooner or later those games will be wins and not overtime losses. So far, Coach Watson has stuck to his promise that we'd have a hard working team, and that's all we can ask for. The goaltending could be better, but it's not just about Daniels and VanBuskirk. You have to include the young defense we have, and as a group they're still learning. My only real complaint is our special teams...we've given up too many shorthanded goals. The penalty kill could probably be better. The powerplay looks good though. But the bottom line is that Saginaw is definitley a playoff team, and once we get there, anything can happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sparky on Oct 16, 2007 16:49:51 GMT -5
While someone mentioned Crawford's improvement while playing with Sinfield, I have to disagree. I feel that Crawford has been one of our biggest disappointments this year. I expected much more of him. Our entire defense is one gaping hole. The only player that stands out defensively to me is TJ Brodie. Williams stands out, but only for his offensive capabilities.
On the other end of the ice, I have not been impressed by Zaborski or Mursak this year. I think that everyone in the league has learned Jan's moves and he's not trying anything different. I'm not saying his performance has been sub-par by any means, just not as exciting as it was during the first half of last year. His goal against Barrie though, was a beauty! The main standouts up front for me are, Combs, McD, little McD, Murovich, Swarz, and Pleckaitis
|
|
|
|
Post by Frogger1 on Oct 17, 2007 6:20:06 GMT -5
I almost completely agree with Sparky. The only things I would add is a) Asselin has played very well. b) Williams defense is subpar and his selfishness on the ice is wearing thin on me c) Murovich seems better than his 3rd line standing thusfar d) I know it's early but the Pachis has done nothing yet
|
|
|
|
Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Oct 17, 2007 6:55:54 GMT -5
b) Williams defense is subpar and his selfishness on the ice is wearing thin on me. If everything I have heard is true, coach Watson won't put up with it for very long either. Can you elaborate on the "selfishness" comment?? Stupid penalties?? Carries the puck too much without passing?? |
|
|
|
Post by SaginawGensFan on Oct 17, 2007 9:43:58 GMT -5
Can you elaborate on the "selfishness" comment?? Stupid penalties?? Carries the puck too much without passing?? Yes. Plays around the OTHER TEAM'S goal more than his own. Then gets caught out of position & takes dumb penalties. I like Nigel, love the Paul Coffey end to end skating, but dang, you can't do it EVERY time up ice! He needs to pass the puck more when rushing up ice. So many times he is rushing up ice & instead of looking for & making a great pass he tries to split the d & ends up out of position. When we have control in the opposition's end, THEN be selfish & shoot (if you have a lane). |
|
|
|
Post by eric8199 on Oct 17, 2007 13:12:51 GMT -5
Williams does, VERY OFTEN, skate the puck in from the Spirit blue-line all the way to the other team's goal. I've seen him do it many times. which is funny because his shot is MUCH MORE effective from the blue-line.
His dumb penalties almost always go like this: Williams is out of position. He makes a mistake, turns over the puck, something like that. Then he takes a cheap shot on the next person he comes into contact with. Penalty. Almost every time it is his frustration with his mistake that causes the penalty.
|
|
|
|
Post by SaginawGensFan on Oct 17, 2007 16:14:49 GMT -5
...and as to NOT make this a 'rip on Nigel' thread, I do have to say that with the proper coaching & teaching, Nigel will be a very, very good d-man. He IS a good d-man already, he just has mental lapses. I am sure some of it is youth, and he will grow into a very capeable d-man for many years to come.
|
|
