GAME DAY: Carolina Hurricanes @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Dec. 12th, 2009

N4L wrote:Looooooooved Winchester tonight!

I've been saying it since they tried to stick with with 15-19: the kid has top-6 potential. He's taken some time to get adjusted to the speed of the NHL game, but you can really see some of his offensive game starting to shine through. His vision is up there with Spezza, Alfredsson, and Kovalev, although obviously not yet on that level.

I think he tops out as a really good 3rd line guy, just dont see him being top 6, that's just me though.

Spezza had 6 SOG? Wow.

Kind of ironic that on his 400th goal Kovalev was actually trying to feed Foligno. After the last game it's good to see that he hasn't completely given up on the kid.

What the heck was with Alfie tonight? Bad penalty was about the only time I noticed him.

So where does Neil fit in?

asq2 wrote:So where does Neil fit in?

Right where Shannon is.

N4L wrote:I think he tops out as a really good 3rd line guy, just dont see him being top 6, that's just me though.

He reminds me a little of Fisher. Fisher took a while to be a top-six guy, even though he held the job for a few years earlier.

wprager wrote:

N4L wrote:I think he tops out as a really good 3rd line guy, just dont see him being top 6, that's just me though.

He reminds me a little of Fisher. Fisher took a while to be a top-six guy, even though he held the job for a few years earlier.

Doesnt have Fishers shot or speed. Again, this is just my opinion, really like Winchester but dont see him being anything more then a good 3rd line center. Hopefully he is Ottawa's 3rd line center for a long, long time.

N4L wrote:

asq2 wrote:So where does Neil fit in?

Right where Shannon is.

Once again we have too many third liners: Shannon, Regin, Wichester -- you can probably add Cheechoo to that list. Do we keep him around because injuries will happen, or do we move him?

wprager wrote:

N4L wrote:

asq2 wrote:So where does Neil fit in?

Right where Shannon is.

Once again we have too many third liners: Shannon, Regin, Wichester -- you can probably add Cheechoo to that list. Do we keep him around because injuries will happen, or do we move him?

Well, that PP will suffer without him as the QB...

Seriously though, Shannon is just keeping Neils spot warm. The guy doesnt have a goal in something like 25 games... just useless.

Gohan wrote:

N4L wrote:Looooooooved Winchester tonight!

I've been saying it since they tried to stick with with 15-19: the kid has top-6 potential. He's taken some time to get adjusted to the speed of the NHL game, but you can really see some of his offensive game starting to shine through. His vision is up there with Spezza, Alfredsson, and Kovalev, although obviously not yet on that level.

His shot will probably be an issue going forward.

wprager wrote:What the heck was with Alfie tonight? Bad penalty was about the only time I noticed him.

Like I said, didn't digest his birthday cake yet.

Gohan wrote:

N4L wrote:Looooooooved Winchester tonight!

I've been saying it since they tried to stick with with 15-19: the kid has top-6 potential. He's taken some time to get adjusted to the speed of the NHL game, but you can really see some of his offensive game starting to shine through. His vision is up there with Spezza, Alfredsson, and Kovalev, although obviously not yet on that level.

The kid is good at everything. Doesn't really have any flaws. Or rather, his only flaw his he's not great at anything. But he has a good shot, will battle on the boards, good vision as you said, and a nice touch on his pass. I'm really happy to see Clouston sees all this, and is rewarding him with more time, especially on the PK.

Interesting statistics to note about Winchester is he has the 2nd fewest giveaways on the team, only Donovan has less. Winchester has the best faceoff rating at 61.5%. He's averaging 2 hits per game, and has only taken 1 minor penalty.

Winnie is indeed the Pooh!

marakh wrote:

Gohan wrote:

N4L wrote:Looooooooved Winchester tonight!

I've been saying it since they tried to stick with with 15-19: the kid has top-6 potential. He's taken some time to get adjusted to the speed of the NHL game, but you can really see some of his offensive game starting to shine through. His vision is up there with Spezza, Alfredsson, and Kovalev, although obviously not yet on that level.

His shot will probably be an issue going forward.

No question, but he's a passer first. I wouldn't expect him to ever put up more than 15 goals, but I could easily see him topping 40 assists.

N4L wrote:Doesnt have Fishers shot or speed.

True, on the other hand I think he sees the ice better than Fisher does. Less tunnel-vision.

N4L wrote:Hopefully he is Ottawa's 3rd line center for a long, long time

You mean, until he's traded for Filatov.

wprager wrote:What the heck was with Alfie tonight? Bad penalty was about the only time I noticed him.

Alfie has been like that for some time now. I think its either that the lack of practice and the lack of PK time is making it tough for him to get as involved as he's used to being, or he's hurt enough to lose some of that concentration that usually makes him so effective. It's probably a little of both.

TBH, It's about time we win some games without Alfie being a star.
It's good going forward.

One guy who isn't getting nearly enough credit this season is Ruutu. The guy is having one heck of a year. He's easily one of our most effective and consistent players. He's on pace for his best statistical season (2 years in a row) and he makes some of the best decisions of any player on the team---A few boneheaded, pesty moves here and there, but otherwise, he's been oustanding.

...really liked his game tonight.