Comments on: Late-Summer Intrigue Among the Forward Flanks http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/ A Haven for the Hockey Malnourished Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:36:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Off Wing Opinion http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34810 Off Wing Opinion Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:45:46 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34810 <strong>Shuffling Those Line Combinations...</strong> Ah, when we start to speculate about who is going to be playing where, life gets a whole lot more...... Shuffling Those Line Combinations…

Ah, when we start to speculate about who is going to be playing where, life gets a whole lot more……

]]> By: usiel http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34768 usiel Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:07:01 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34768 Regarding Steckel's speed he certainly didn't look slow during his last call up with the caps. I actually thought he was pretty fast though he could be aided by his good positioning and knowing where to be. Regarding Steckel’s speed he certainly didn’t look slow during his last call up with the caps. I actually thought he was pretty fast though he could be aided by his good positioning and knowing where to be.

]]> By: k http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34765 k Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:54:25 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34765 I love Steckel! I hope he gets up here this year!!! I love Steckel! I hope he gets up here this year!!!

]]> By: Brad http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34717 Brad Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:00:56 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34717 While I certainly agree that Steckel definitely has a great chance to earn a spot this year, I'm not sure I'd put him on the 3rd line. The way I see it, this year Fehr and/or Flash should be on a scoring line for most of the season with the Caps, especially since Flash has to clear waivers (with that in mind, I see him as either trade bait or a full time Cap frankly). So, put one of them as one of the top right wings, then Kozlov as the other (put him on the second line if you want to take some pressure of Backstrom, or the first line if Backstrom proves lives up to his defensively responsible reputation). Put Clarkie on the third line to turn that into a 40 (50?) goal shutdown line hopefully, then have a 4th line of Laich - Steckel - Brashear/Sutherby/other depending on the game. I know Vogs penciled Sutherby in as the 4th line center, and I certainly don't want to give up on him either, but it seems to me that, after last season, that spot is Laich's to lose. Plus, having Laich and Steckel on the 4th line would shift it from an energy line to a legitimate secondary shutdown line, something I think we could probably use on some nights. While I certainly agree that Steckel definitely has a great chance to earn a spot this year, I’m not sure I’d put him on the 3rd line. The way I see it, this year Fehr and/or Flash should be on a scoring line for most of the season with the Caps, especially since Flash has to clear waivers (with that in mind, I see him as either trade bait or a full time Cap frankly). So, put one of them as one of the top right wings, then Kozlov as the other (put him on the second line if you want to take some pressure of Backstrom, or the first line if Backstrom proves lives up to his defensively responsible reputation). Put Clarkie on the third line to turn that into a 40 (50?) goal shutdown line hopefully, then have a 4th line of Laich - Steckel - Brashear/Sutherby/other depending on the game. I know Vogs penciled Sutherby in as the 4th line center, and I certainly don’t want to give up on him either, but it seems to me that, after last season, that spot is Laich’s to lose. Plus, having Laich and Steckel on the 4th line would shift it from an energy line to a legitimate secondary shutdown line, something I think we could probably use on some nights.

]]> By: B.ORR4 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34698 B.ORR4 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:55:31 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34698 I've been a huge Steckel supporter for a couple of years now and I think his addition to the team will improve the PK maybe ten spots. However, I'm not sold on him nailing down a position on the third line. He certainly has the defensive instincts, but it's his speed that concerns me. The third line is going to be asked to match up against the opposition's top line. Frankly, I have a hard time seeing Dave staying up with the likes of Ottawa's big guns or Buffalo's fast forwards on a nightly basis. I don't have the same concerns with Gordon and Petty. Hopefully, I'll be proved wrong because I think Steckel can add a lot to this team. I’ve been a huge Steckel supporter for a couple of years now and I think his addition to the team will improve the PK maybe ten spots. However, I’m not sold on him nailing down a position on the third line. He certainly has the defensive instincts, but it’s his speed that concerns me. The third line is going to be asked to match up against the opposition’s top line. Frankly, I have a hard time seeing Dave staying up with the likes of Ottawa’s big guns or Buffalo’s fast forwards on a nightly basis. I don’t have the same concerns with Gordon and Petty. Hopefully, I’ll be proved wrong because I think Steckel can add a lot to this team.

]]> By: Vogs http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34697 Vogs Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:37:55 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/08/30/late-summer-intrigue-among-the-forward-flanks/#comment-34697 Nice post, pucks. And absolutely I had the draws on my mind. That was one of the key things that made the Gordon/Steckel combo so deadly in the spring of 2006. Two centers, both capable of playing wing. One lefty, one righty. Boudreau (and virtually every other coach on the planet) loves the luxury of two natural centers on a line, and when those two are both very adept on draws AND a righty/lefty to boot, what's not to like? That said, nothing will be handed to Steckel. This is Hanlon, not Boudreau, and it will be up to Steckel to open the boss's eyes. There are plenty of other very qualified and attractive options for the right side of that line, too. Nice post, pucks. And absolutely I had the draws on my mind. That was one of the key things that made the Gordon/Steckel combo so deadly in the spring of 2006. Two centers, both capable of playing wing. One lefty, one righty. Boudreau (and virtually every other coach on the planet) loves the luxury of two natural centers on a line, and when those two are both very adept on draws AND a righty/lefty to boot, what’s not to like?

That said, nothing will be handed to Steckel. This is Hanlon, not Boudreau, and it will be up to Steckel to open the boss’s eyes. There are plenty of other very qualified and attractive options for the right side of that line, too.

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