Why the players you think suck might actually not.

Great points on Boyle… he’s filling a role that we typically don’t appreciate until it’s gone. The stats don’t lie.

Nice work BiP. AA’s and Boyle’s defensive games are highly overlooked.

Would be nice for AA to get going a bit and pot some goals, but I don’t think it’s from lack of effort. He may not be considered the prototypical ‘center’ on the GAS line, but he’s always the guy on that line covering in the D-zone and back-checking like mad. I think he’s comfortable in that support role, leaving Stepan and Gaborik to create offense and take more chances.

I mentioned something similar about Boyle I think in a game thread; he’s playing exactly to what his role is on this team. Last season was more of an aberration in terms of scoring. Torts relied on him heavily since Stepan was still young, and AA still developing, he was the go-to center. Now with another year under the belt’s of AA and Stepan, and Richards being signed, Boyle’s pretty much been relegated to a defensive-first center, and doing that job quite well. He might get some more scoring in if Dubinsky continues to score and stays on that line.

AA has been arguably our best player this year, if you are looking at both sides of the ice.

His importance on the GAS line cannot be downplayed. Every single 2v1 stems from AA making the defensive play. He’s also more reliable in the face-off circle than anyone on our team not named Dubinsky.

Boyle is playing his game and doing what we need him too. No complaints there.

With Wolski, he looked good this season before he went down. I’d like to see what he does when he comes back before I comment.

It’s funny how many angry words I see get written over the 4th liners. Rupp, EC, Avery being the source of constant debate when they get so little ice time.

Then there are the people that are so willing to trade a couple of core homegrown players, for which the fanbase had been yearning for a decade plus.

In the cap era it’s tough to be strong at every position and for every line to fully realize it’s respectful role. Some guys might not be living up to larger contracts but those contracts were typically earned with a substantial track record and are due to escalating salaries of players developing past their entry level contracts and buying out some free agent years.

stats on boyle!

The only people on this team Im not in complete support of are Wolski & EC. You saw Wolski hasnt played enough to be judged fairly, I think his past performance is enough in my eyes. I dont want him in the lineup in place of someone who is currently there. In my opinion him & EC arent needed on this team unless an injury occurs.

No one at the NHL level sucks by the way. Unless the player skates like Cam Janssen, then they truly suck.

EC has his head in the clouds and I swear he’s dumb as a rock when it comes to hockey sense. He has the skill of a top 6 forward but the hockey sense of a 2 year old.

Wolski I think doesn’t play solid enough defense to warrant a spot on the team yet and if he isn’t going to get top 6 minutes well he shouldn’t be playing at all. Sadly, Wolski is lumped into that category of player with Zherdev, Kotalik, Antropov, and Frolov. Great hands but can’t really do much else.

Dubinsky has played well this season. His play away from the puck has been awesome, he’s one of the tops on the team for assists, and he’s had that physical edge to his play. The only thing that has really not been good is his finishing. For a while he didn’t look like himself on the offensive side of the puck, but now he is turning it around. Last night against the Panthers was a great game for him, unfortunately no goal. Dubi should no way be a whipping boy.

For Boyle, almost the same as Dubi. Good defense and nice physical play, his problem (I guess besides his finishing) is that he’s getting less minutes (and less offensive zone starts) due to BR being added to the team and Stepan becoming a better offensive player. Boyle as well should not be a whipping boy.

Anisimov? Please, one of the best 2 way forwards in the game. Like you said he will be a mini-Datsyuk, which is exactly what I think of him to turn out to be as well. One he gets fully in him prime around 26-28, he will be one of the best players in the league, very underrated player. Anisimov is not even close to being a whipping boy.

WW hasn’t played much this year, Avery played well for us when he was on the ice, and Rupp has been solid.

Screw EC