Alumni in the Pros - April 2008

[Josh '99]

[quote French Rage]Plus hasn't Pokulok had injury problems?  Has Jessiman?[/quote]Jessiman has mainly had sucking problems.

[evilnaturedrobot]

Jessiman had a bunch of injury problems a few years ago, I recall him missing most of his junior year with an ankle injury.

Us Ranger fans are still bitter over the pick, but it's ok because the remedies are already here, there names are: Brandon Dubinsky, Marc Staal, Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Fedor Tyutin, and Henrik Lundqvist.

What's somewhat funny is that, with the exception of Staal, the Rangers have done poorly in the first round, but they've cleaned up in the later rounds.  They've survived the Jessiman pick.

[Cactus12]

I don't see much of a rangers future for Jessiman, fourth line or otherwise. Renney already has 3 potential fourth line right wings (orr, prucha, sjostrom), all of which he likes for his system.

LeNeveu is starting to get attention though. Again, I don't know that Renney is looking past Valiquette, as he seems to come up relatively big in the small number of games Lundqvist doesn't play. Maybe?

[Jacob '06]

[quote Cactus12]
LeNeveu is starting to get attention though. Again, I don't know that Renney is looking past Valiquette, as he seems to come up relatively big in the small number of games Lundqvist doesn't play. Maybe?[/quote]

I think Leneveu is the type of goaltender that really needs to play a lot of games to be good. He has to feel really comfortable and have his instincts working well since much of his technique is positioning. I'm not so sure he would thrive being a backup to Lundqvist who plays so many games.

[Josh '99]

[quote Cactus12]LeNeveu is starting to get attention though. Again, I don't know that Renney is looking past Valiquette, as he seems to come up relatively big in the small number of games Lundqvist doesn't play. Maybe?[/quote]You never know what free agency will bring.

[CUontheslopes]

O'Byrne a healthy scratch tonight after playing the last two and being minus 1.

Maybe he should've played...Boston up 4-3

[Rita]

Game 6 Sharks v. Flames just about to get underway and Douglas Murray is starting.

The note above was the "obligatory Alumni news" item. The real point of this post is to not that the play-by-play announcers for a team should not be growing playoff beards. The playoff scruff does not look good on Sharks TV man Randy Hahn! ::uhoh::

[calgARI '07]

Flames win.  Game 7 Tuesday.

[redGrinch]

HF interview w/ Bitz (click)

[redice]

The Elmira Jackals were eliminated from the ECHL playoffs Sunday.   Topher can now concentrate on his studies.

It's been fun to watch him with the Jackals.   He dominated in the faceoff circle.

[billhoward]

[quote redice]The Elmira Jackals were eliminated from the ECHL playoffs Sunday.   Topher can now concentrate on his studies.

It's been fun to watch him with the Jackals.   He dominated in the faceoff circle.[/quote]

He was so close to the puck.

[Jacob '06]

On Vs. during the Habs Bruins game they were talking about the crowd taunting Thomas. They said they asked Thomas and he said he heard worse in his college days at Vermont. The announcer then says "yeah they heard bad stuff at places like Harvard and Cornell Daren Eliot." How the heck did Harvard get mentioned in there? Would've been nice if Eliot reminded them that Harvard has no fans.

[David Harding]

[quote redGrinch]HF interview w/ Bitz (click)[/quote]
I thought that this was the most interesting comment, something that certain other players might have benefited from.

HF: Cornell has a strong hockey program, maybe a little bit different style than here, but what do you think you learned there that helped prepare you to play pro?

BB: I think just the defensive zone aspect of the game. At school it's something we stressed -- take care of your own end first. We played a pretty rigid system at school. You learn to play in a system -- you're not just skating around out there freewheeling it. I think learning to play in a system you're better able to adjust when you come here, even though it is different.

[JDeafv]

We played a pretty rigid system at school.

Perhaps too rigid?  

Barry Melrose had a piece earlier in the year about the Washington Capitals playing in such a rigid system under former coach Glen Hanlon that they weren't able be create goal scoring opportunities.  The system changed under Bruce Boudreau to a disciplined system with options for all players on the ice, not just the most skilled, and the Capitals went from near last to making the playoffs.  

The game is changing at all levels and the rigid system style of hockey (i.e. NJ Devils during their two recent Cup wins) is making way to the more open yet disciplined approach.

[The Rancor]

[quote Jacob '06]On Vs. during the Habs Bruins game they were talking about the crowd taunting Thomas. They said they asked Thomas and he said he heard worse in his college days at Vermont. The announcer then says "yeah they heard bad stuff at places like Harvard and Cornell Daren Eliot." How the heck did Harvard get mentioned in there? Would've been nice if Eliot reminded them that Harvard has no fans.[/quote]

lynah east has lots of cornell fans.