MurderOnIce wrote:I think it is a bit too early to throw him under the bus and back over him and run over him again and backup...
He is still VERY young, he has shown flashes, he has been bad too. I think he has the potential to be a nice clam passer and a solid defensive player. Will he ever live up to being a first rounder, likely not, but he has potential to play in the 4 spot I think. He needs some solid coaching and I am leary of our coaching of young defencemen in the last couple of years. Picard, Lee, Bell etc... have not flourished. Each has shown potential. If they are all busts do you blame every player or do you at least shine a light on the coach responsible for defensemen. Is it Carvel? Is it?
P.S. I think the Brendan Bell love-in is a bit premature. He has had one real good game but often he has his defence partner pulling his hair out. He is fighting for his NHL life right now on a non-playoff team so he should be having a game like last night more often (not necessarily 2 goals but the effort at both ends was way better). Can he do it as a regular?... he hasn't proven it here, Toronto or Phoenix to my knowledge.
I am of your opinion as well... And I will also add that you can see a change in his gameplay throughout the game. A few times i've noticed when he didn't do something properly or was not in position, someone on the bench talks to him, and he doesn't make that mistake again. Or he'll join the rush, or he'll pass instead of shoot. It seems as though he is willing to learn, and he does heed the advice that is given to him. Personally, this is worth something and I think adds to his potential, because he is willing to improve himself and learn.
I don't see the love for Bell either. He really is overrated. This is a guy who was not good enough to make Phoenix or Toronto's defence, and yet people want to make him a staple on ours. He does have a good shot, but he is weak, and he's slow. When Godard beat him on the outside and then overpowered him to the inside, i was floored. Here is a guy who's sole job is to fight, and he outskates and overpowers one of our defencemen. He is not good defensively. Lee has nearly twice as many hits, and blocked shots, and has fewer giveaways than Bell.
Lastly, I'd like to give Picard another chance before burying him in binghamton. Of course if something comes along at the draft i'd trade him, but he's the one defenceman who has not been given a fair chance under Clouston. He played one full game under Clouston. I think after a few games learning Clouston's style, Picard can be a prototypical Clouston player, because he has the speed, he has the body to hit, and he has a solid shot. He also doesn't take stupid penalties.
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they did give him the first star that game, and he played a rather typical "Brian Lee" game that night ie nothing special.
