Comments on: Living with the aftershock http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock Your NHL 3rd jersey source (with some Colorado Avalanche stuff mixed in) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:49:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mike @ MHH http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4607 Mike @ MHH Mon, 05 May 2008 15:13:05 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4607 I agree on Liles. The only reason to get rid of him is if you think Leo can turn in a couple of full seasons at the same level of play he showed in spurts this year. Why Leopold was the healthy scratch with the way he played the second half of the season always beffudled me. I think Liles is worth throwing some cash at, but because of Theo's likely asking price, he just might not be in the cards. I agree on Liles. The only reason to get rid of him is if you think Leo can turn in a couple of full seasons at the same level of play he showed in spurts this year. Why Leopold was the healthy scratch with the way he played the second half of the season always beffudled me. I think Liles is worth throwing some cash at, but because of Theo’s likely asking price, he just might not be in the cards.

]]> By: Eric The Red http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4596 Eric The Red Sat, 03 May 2008 19:17:54 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4596 If they don't keep liles it would be a big mistake in my opinion. I'm sure there were plenty of people who would have (or did) made us an offer for him at the trade deadline, and keeping foote who although I love him only has a few years left and losing liles plus the draft pick we gave up for for foote would significantly weaken our defense long term. If forsber is done (seems likely) at least we got to see him for a few more games and retire as an av. If sakic is done its just sad because he still has it. If they don’t keep liles it would be a big mistake in my opinion. I’m sure there were plenty of people who would have (or did) made us an offer for him at the trade deadline, and keeping foote who although I love him only has a few years left and losing liles plus the draft pick we gave up for for foote would significantly weaken our defense long term. If forsber is done (seems likely) at least we got to see him for a few more games and retire as an av. If sakic is done its just sad because he still has it.

]]> By: Jibblescribbits http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4595 Jibblescribbits Sat, 03 May 2008 17:18:44 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4595 Finger definitely makes mental mistakes, but he hasn't even played 100 NHL games yet. A lot of players with that kind of inexperience make mental mistakes. Again I understand the criticism and he is definitely an offender of play watching and being out of position. I think another year of seasoning will do him wonders (especially in a lineup that includes Adam Foote and Scott Hannan.) Finger definitely makes mental mistakes, but he hasn’t even played 100 NHL games yet. A lot of players with that kind of inexperience make mental mistakes.

Again I understand the criticism and he is definitely an offender of play watching and being out of position. I think another year of seasoning will do him wonders (especially in a lineup that includes Adam Foote and Scott Hannan.)

]]> By: Lowayne http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4594 Lowayne Sat, 03 May 2008 15:48:54 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4594 I was a huge Finger fan last year. Once he started to get more ice time I became more and more sure every game that he is not a guy I want logging lots of minutes. Not only was Finger our worst defender in the playoffs, he was also terrible about dumb penalties. His physical game is there, but he isn't big enough to be punishing. I can't tell if his defensive play is undisciplined or just sloppy. Everytime he screws up people brush it off and act like the rest of his game makes up for it. I don't get it. I still wouldn't mind keeping him around as a depth guy. I was a huge Finger fan last year. Once he started to get more ice time I became more and more sure every game that he is not a guy I want logging lots of minutes. Not only was Finger our worst defender in the playoffs, he was also terrible about dumb penalties. His physical game is there, but he isn’t big enough to be punishing. I can’t tell if his defensive play is undisciplined or just sloppy. Everytime he screws up people brush it off and act like the rest of his game makes up for it. I don’t get it.

I still wouldn’t mind keeping him around as a depth guy.

]]> By: Jibblescribbits http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4592 Jibblescribbits Sat, 03 May 2008 05:29:31 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4592 I think Finger is more mobile, again not hard to do, Sauer isn't very mobile at all, but I think Finger skates better. Sauer's (6-4, 220) is bigger than Finger (6-1, 205) but what good is it if he doesn't use it? I can't remember the last time Sauer really used his size to his advantage the way he should. He is more stay-at-home, but his defense really isn't that much better than Finger's in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, i like both players, a lot, but if we can only keep one this summer (and I think that may be the case) I think we need to keep Finger, especially since one of the Avs glaring weaknesses was points from the blueline. I think Finger is more mobile, again not hard to do, Sauer isn’t very mobile at all, but I think Finger skates better. Sauer’s (6-4, 220) is bigger than Finger (6-1, 205) but what good is it if he doesn’t use it? I can’t remember the last time Sauer really used his size to his advantage the way he should. He is more stay-at-home, but his defense really isn’t that much better than Finger’s in my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong, i like both players, a lot, but if we can only keep one this summer (and I think that may be the case) I think we need to keep Finger, especially since one of the Avs glaring weaknesses was points from the blueline.

]]> By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4591 thedoctor Sat, 03 May 2008 03:55:24 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4591 <i>more</i> mobile. sort of like being smarter than Jessica Simpson...it's not very hard. :) more mobile. sort of like being smarter than Jessica Simpson…it’s not very hard. :)

]]> By: Shane http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4590 Shane Sat, 03 May 2008 03:21:56 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4590 Did you just say "mobile" and "Sauer" in the same sentence? ;) Did you just say “mobile” and “Sauer” in the same sentence? ;)

]]> By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4587 thedoctor Fri, 02 May 2008 22:21:18 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4587 Jibble, I do agree that Finger a better offensive player than Sauer for sure. He also (before Salei) was the only guy willing to shoot from the point, it seemed. but the fact that this is Finger's 1st full season doesn't hold weight with me. He's 2 years OLDER than Sauer. If anyone is more likely to develop, it's the younger Sauer. I stand by my comment that Finger is dumb as a post on the ice. He is 100% the worst offender on the Avs in terms of play watching. I can't tell you how many times he got caught pyloning in his own zone mesmerized by the play. He also gets caught out of position constantly when he does decide to move in his zone. Players as slow as Finger must be very, very smart and positionally sound to succeed. Finger is neither. He's a good 7th defender, imo, and an average 5th or 6th. He played against competition he shouldn't have, imho, and I bet he'll continue to if he's re-signed. If he comes back at a ~1 million a year guy as a 6th or 7th, that's great. But as you say, it's a choice between Sauer and Finger most likely, and for that, I'd rather have a more mobile, bigger, smarter stay-at-home type in Sauer than a slow, physical, mid-sized, dumber, 2-way guy in Finger. Jibble, I do agree that Finger a better offensive player than Sauer for sure. He also (before Salei) was the only guy willing to shoot from the point, it seemed.

but the fact that this is Finger’s 1st full season doesn’t hold weight with me. He’s 2 years OLDER than Sauer. If anyone is more likely to develop, it’s the younger Sauer.

I stand by my comment that Finger is dumb as a post on the ice. He is 100% the worst offender on the Avs in terms of play watching. I can’t tell you how many times he got caught pyloning in his own zone mesmerized by the play. He also gets caught out of position constantly when he does decide to move in his zone. Players as slow as Finger must be very, very smart and positionally sound to succeed. Finger is neither.

He’s a good 7th defender, imo, and an average 5th or 6th. He played against competition he shouldn’t have, imho, and I bet he’ll continue to if he’s re-signed.

If he comes back at a ~1 million a year guy as a 6th or 7th, that’s great. But as you say, it’s a choice between Sauer and Finger most likely, and for that, I’d rather have a more mobile, bigger, smarter stay-at-home type in Sauer than a slow, physical, mid-sized, dumber, 2-way guy in Finger.

]]> By: Jibblescribbits http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4583 Jibblescribbits Fri, 02 May 2008 20:11:32 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4583 <blockquote>Finger I’ve never been a huge fan of — he did provide physicality when we had none…but we have Salei and Foote now. Finger is continually out of position, slower than Skratch, and dumb as a post. Losing him, would be addition by subtraction, imo.</blockquote> See i disagree with this. I think Finger, overall, is better than Sauer. Finger was essentially a rookie this season, as he played sparingly last season. If the choice is between the two (sauer and finger, which it essentially is) I would go with Finger. He's better on offense by miles, and I think he's nearly identical on defense. And I definitely don't think he's "dumb as a post". I saw him make a ton of smart plays this season.

Finger I’ve never been a huge fan of — he did provide physicality when we had none…but we have Salei and Foote now. Finger is continually out of position, slower than Skratch, and dumb as a post. Losing him, would be addition by subtraction, imo.

See i disagree with this. I think Finger, overall, is better than Sauer. Finger was essentially a rookie this season, as he played sparingly last season. If the choice is between the two (sauer and finger, which it essentially is) I would go with Finger. He’s better on offense by miles, and I think he’s nearly identical on defense.

And I definitely don’t think he’s “dumb as a post”. I saw him make a ton of smart plays this season.

]]> By: Dario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/05-02-2008/living-with-the-aftershock#comment-4582 Dario Fri, 02 May 2008 19:42:34 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=562#comment-4582 With that said DD, what kind of critisims does Jacques Cloutier have this year? No adjustments all year to free up Liles, last year making Skrastins a top pairing defenseman until an injury forced him to pair up Sauer and Clark. Granato should have been in charge of the PP all year long and we know what a disaster that was. It might be time for the assistant coaching crew to get a makeover. Then again, I'm still bitter. Like Sakic, I need the summer to let things sink in. With that said DD, what kind of critisims does Jacques Cloutier have this year? No adjustments all year to free up Liles, last year making Skrastins a top pairing defenseman until an injury forced him to pair up Sauer and Clark. Granato should have been in charge of the PP all year long and we know what a disaster that was. It might be time for the assistant coaching crew to get a makeover. Then again, I’m still bitter. Like Sakic, I need the summer to let things sink in.

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