I went to see the Rocket game last night! It was a great game, but I was surprised by my impressions of certain players. In some cases players who I am very excited about did not impress, in other cases players I have been counting out, probably deserve a call up.
The Good:
Roy: This was the player that I was the most excited to see. He did not play badly, but most of the plays he tried got broken up, including on the PP. I know he is putting up points, but based on what I saw, we need to leave him in the AHL for a while. He is trying things, which is great, but some of the things he is trying would be badly exploited by NHL defenders.
Gignac: This guy is a bulldozer. He's fast, he can shoot, he goes to the dirty areas. I know it's one game, but he was by far the most dangerous guy on the ice every single shift. I honestly did not even know he existed, but he could help the Habs today. I would make him the first forward called up.
Farrell: On the PP, Farrell just looks like Nick Suzuki. He protects the puck well, does not get into trouble, and he's always assessing whether he can make a safe play or a dangerous play. His feet are always moving. Honestly I think he is going to be an amazing top 6 NHLer, but like Roy, let's let him cook a while and try things in the AHL.
Maillet: Did not even know this guy existed, but he can Dangle.
Trudeau: This guys is just solid. He's not flashy, but he does everything well, kinda like Harris last year. He should be in the NHL and would be on another team. He deserves a trade.
The Bad:
Dobes: He was awful. 4 goals on 9 shots. The team gave a few breakaways so it's not all his fault, but he was lacking confidence and giving HUGE rebounds every time the puck came near him. Got pulled after 1 period.
Kidney: INVISIBLE.
Mailloux: He's got a good shot, but I saw something that made me really mad. At one point in the 3rd after the Rocket had come back and taken the lead, a scrum erupted behind the Sens net and all the players got involved. It was violent. Mailloux just hung back 20 feet from the fighting and the Rocket had to fight 4 on 5. It was worse than Petry not standing up for Monty. For a guy who is supposed to play tough, it was embarrassing. If that's how bad he wants it, I'm sorry to say he'll NEVER make the NHL. Hopefully someone wakes him up.
All in all it was fully entertaining and I highly recommend going to see a Rocket game if you have not.
You are overreacting it's funny
William Trudeau is 21 yo, was Laval worse defenseman for the first 10 games ... he is two years away from being waivers exempt
This year should be his first AHL season, good thing he played last year in the AHL. 21 yo, deserves a trade lmao. You know ****all about development
Riley Kidney : Needs to play in the ECHL, I always said his game wouldn't translate to the pros. But gotta be patient and give him 2-3 years before making a statement
Brendan Gignac : I honestly did not even know he existed ... It's his 3rd season with the Laval Rocket, I think you are just not following the Rocket enough ...
You are overreacting it's funny
William Trudeau is 21 yo, was Laval worse defenseman for the first 10 games ... he is two years away from being waivers exempt
This year should be his first AHL season, good thing he played last year in the AHL. 21 yo, deserves a trade lmao. You know ****all about development
Riley Kidney : Needs to play in the ECHL, I always said his game wouldn't translate to the pros. But gotta be patient and give him 2-3 years before making a statement
Brendan Gignac : I honestly did not even know he existed ... It's his 3rd season with the Laval Rocket, I think you are just not following the Rocket enough ...
CBA man, why you always gotta be a hater?
I mentioned several times that this is only one game which I am basing my impressions on.
Yes I do not religiously follow the Rocket. It does not make my impressions any less valid. Some guys were noticeably good and some were noticeably bad. Also, and very importantly, you notice different things watching hockey in person than on TV.
I fully admit during the regular AHL season, I only watch clips of the Rocket, not the games. But I DO watch a lot of NHL hockey and I DO know the difference between players who are putting in a full effort and players who are not. I also DO know who is making decisions at a speed that is faster than the other guys on the ice, and who is making good decisions and bad decisions with their puck touches.
Frankly, I wish you were open to a civil discussion, but you are so toxic man. It's sad.
You are overreacting it's funny
William Trudeau is 21 yo, was Laval worse defenseman for the first 10 games ... he is two years away from being waivers exempt
This year should be his first AHL season, good thing he played last year in the AHL. 21 yo, deserves a trade lmao. You know ****all about development
Wooooahh buddy, chill out man, the guy is just giving his own personal opinion.
@jonh514; I have also been to a LAval game this year. Just like you, my main focus was on Roy. And I was left with mixed feelings about his game at the moment. He did seem a little lazy and not very proactive. He seemed to be relying on his talent/skills totally, and barely putting in lots of effort. His plays did get broken up a lot.
On the game I went to, the player that stodd out was one that I couldn't have cared less about: Jayden Struble.
Oh, and Dobes was also in net when I went to that game. And I was sorely disappointed. I was excited about him this year, but he seems to have a hard time getting his game back.
And yes, Mailloux disappointed me a lot too.
jonh514; I have also been to a LAval game this year. Just like you, my main focus was on Roy. And I was left with mixed feelings about his game at the moment. He did seem a little lazy and not very proactive. He seemed to be relying on his talent/skills totally, and barely putting in lots of effort. His plays did get broken up a lot.
On the game I went to, the player that stodd out was one that I couldn't have cared less about: Jayden Struble.
I think he's injured. He did not play last night in any case. Was keeping an eye out for him as well.
Didn't watch the game, but there's an actual rule that tries to prevent Dmen from joining scrums in the offensive zone after a whistle. That could be a reason Mailloux didn't join in.
"Rule 76.2, paragraph 11
Following a stoppage of play, should one or both defensemen who are the point players or any player coming from the bench of the attacking team, enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circle during an altercation, gathering or “scrum,” the ensuing face-off shall take place in the neutral zone near the blue line of the defending team. This rule also applies when an icing, an intentional off-side, or a high-sticking the puck violation (by the team of greater numerical strength of its opponent) has occurred, and the ensuing face-off is to be in the offending team’s defending zone. Should any of the non-offending players enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circle during an altercation, gathering or “scrum,” the ensuing face-off shall take place in the neutral zone near the blue line of the defending team."
Didn't watch the game, but there's an actual rule that tries to prevent Dmen from joining scrums in the offensive zone after a whistle. That could be a reason Mailloux didn't join in.
"Rule 76.2, paragraph 11
Following a stoppage of play, should one or both defensemen who are the point players or any player coming from the bench of the attacking team, enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circle during an altercation, gathering or “scrum,” the ensuing face-off shall take place in the neutral zone near the blue line of the defending team. This rule also applies when an icing, an intentional off-side, or a high-sticking the puck violation (by the team of greater numerical strength of its opponent) has occurred, and the ensuing face-off is to be in the offending team’s defending zone. Should any of the non-offending players enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circle during an altercation, gathering or “scrum,” the ensuing face-off shall take place in the neutral zone near the blue line of the defending team."
When your teammates are being attacked, losing the ideal faceoff is the least of your worries.