Alumni in the Pros - May 2009

redGrinch · May 06, 2009, 03:39:05 AM

Sasha Pokulok's been activated again and is playing for South Carolina in the ECHL playoffs. It'll be interesting to see what the Caps do w/ him in the offseason; he's a restricted free agent.... I'm not sure if they'd tender the standard current+10% offer; the driving factor is not so much the money, but the depth they've got at D both at the NHL-level and at Hershey, and they're also up against the 50 contract limit. It's sounding like John Carlson has jumped ahead of Sasha on the Caps depth chart now also. If Sasha's going to make it, he's got to play well in Hershey all next season.

oceanst41 · May 08, 2009, 07:23:27 PM

Shawn Thornton is a late scratch, and Bitz will be in the line up against the Canes tonight.

oceanst41 · May 08, 2009, 10:19:30 PM

Well the good news was that Bitz played well enough to be promoted to the 3rd line for the final period, the bad news for Bruins fans was that Wheeler and the rest of the line up played like ::pain::, so much so that Bitz needed to be promoted to shake things up.

oceanst41 · May 10, 2009, 07:42:57 PM

Bitz back in the lineup for game 5, replacing Blake Wheeler. Wheeler is an unhealthy, healthy scratch I believe. He did take a shot off his foot in game 3, but has played so poorly that I don't think it was a tough decision to give Bitz the nod.

Jacob '06 · May 10, 2009, 07:49:09 PM

Bitz just had a great defensive shift with 2 blocked shots.

oceanst41 · May 10, 2009, 08:44:54 PM

He's had a great game so far. He has put some life into Ryder and Krejci (who are buzzing around Carolina's zone tonight), and is doing all the dirty work necessary to get them open and put a body in front of Ward. Now Carolina has another line to defend besides the Savard-Kessel-Lucic line.

Jeff Hopkins '82 · May 11, 2009, 08:03:34 AM

Also heard a Cornell mention during the game.

He did have a solid game and got more ice time in the third period (or at least got mentioned more).

ftyuv · May 12, 2009, 03:10:58 PM

Bitz is expected to play again tonight, on the second line.

oceanst41 · May 12, 2009, 07:21:16 PM

And on what I count as his second shift, guess who parks in front of Cam Ward to screen him on Montador's goal. Bitz ::rock::

sah67 · May 12, 2009, 07:52:23 PM

Some first period comments from the Bruins thread on HFBoards:

"Wow, Bitz has been awesome in this one so far. He deserves a goal."

"I really hope Wheeler is watching Bitz closely and taking notes on how to use his size to his advantage."

"anyone else glad when Bitz is out there? smart player, and will win many more battles than he loses- what a good player to have on this team."

cbuckser · May 12, 2009, 08:17:43 PM

Pierre McGuire, who is doing color commentary for TSN tonight, just gushed about Byron Bitz.

oceanst41 · May 12, 2009, 08:36:45 PM

And Bitz draws a penalty in the final minute of the second with more great work along the boards.

ftyuv · May 12, 2009, 08:39:49 PM

No doubt about it -- he's playing amazingly. So far (at the 2nd intermission) he looks like he deserves a star.

oceanst41 · May 12, 2009, 08:46:50 PM

[quote ftyuv]No doubt about it -- he's playing amazingly. So far (at the 2nd intermission) he looks like he deserves a star.[/quote]

He's been great the last two games on that line. He's doing all the dirty work necessary to get Ryder and Krejci open.

Trotsky · May 12, 2009, 10:24:50 PM

Bitz' TOI keeps going up. Ironic that despite doing "thankless work," he's getting a lot of love on the broadcast.