Comments on: Recap: Avalanche 5, Blue Jackets 1 http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1 Your NHL 3rd jersey source (with some Colorado Avalanche stuff mixed in) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1771 thedoctor Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:50:15 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1771 i disagree -- Smith does do one thing pretty well: kill penalties. Rycroft was never good on the PK; in fact, he was pretty bad. the Avs needed another 4th liner who could work on the PK, and Smith fits that role. Rycroft doesn't. Seems like a good move to me. Obviously, when Richardson comes back, I expect Smith to be the healthy scratch if he's not sent down. Richardson is better in pretty much every way. i disagree — Smith does do one thing pretty well: kill penalties. Rycroft was never good on the PK; in fact, he was pretty bad.

the Avs needed another 4th liner who could work on the PK, and Smith fits that role. Rycroft doesn’t. Seems like a good move to me.

Obviously, when Richardson comes back, I expect Smith to be the healthy scratch if he’s not sent down. Richardson is better in pretty much every way.

]]> By: Dario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1768 Dario Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:38:30 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1768 I'm with DD on this one. I don't see what is so special about Smith. I think what's frustrating about a guy like Smith is that he's just not very good at any one thing. I mean, you can name a LOT of guys on this Avs team over the years who aren't that impressive but can do at least one thing really well. Larsen couldn't do much, but he finished checks. Hinote can't skate backwards but he finishes checks and aggravates. Messier had the skating ability of Happy Gilmore but could block shots on the PK. I just don't know what Smith does well. One thing you could say for Rycroft is that for a smaller guy he always finished checks. I think at that low minute 4th line position you could at least give McCormick or some younger guy in your system a taste. I wouldn't be too opposed to make the position a bit of a rotation for guys like Stewart, Jones and McCormick. Let them get their minutes in the AHL but bring them up from time to time to get the experience. At least with a prospect type guy you can look for something they do really well and perhaps during an injury they will be up to speed to take a bigger role if needed. A guy like Smith just doesn't seem to be great at anything. A lot of good commentary on the game I agree with. I was perplexed by the three penalties on the Avalanche in the first period. Brunette gets a penalty for crosschecking himself in the back in to the goaltender? I can see how the refs are compelled to blow the whistle any time a goaltender gets hit. However, it was pretty obvious why he ran in to him and even after the whistle they had opportunities to whistle the make up call. The call on Svatos was pure crap. Svatos has his stick down and both hands on the stick going after the puck. I know Svatos is no saint when it comes to hooking but that call had me ticked. Last, DD we disagree on Sauer's call against Nash. I thought he played that exactly how it was supposed to be played. His stick was down below his knees but he got called. You said it was a 100% right call. I didn't like it at all and I think Nash got the Micheal Jordon treatment. I think the same ref made the call. Both guys never took their hands off their stick and both Svatos and Sauer made good faith efforts at the puck while making body contact with their forearms or hips. On the positive side Skrastins looked much, much better. He didn't play that horrible containment game on the PK and skated after the puck carrier. The PK was just more aggressive and effective. I think that's the right philosophy with all the skill you have. I mean, if a team like Detroit or something dances around your skaters for scoring opportunities you 1. Depend on your goaltender as your best player on the PK and 2. You adjust your tactics for that game to a more containment (keep them on the outside) approach. With teams like Columbus, or even one line teams like Vancouver why not make them show their skill? Make them make a play instead of waiting for them to make a mistake? I’m with DD on this one. I don’t see what is so special about Smith. I think what’s frustrating about a guy like Smith is that he’s just not very good at any one thing. I mean, you can name a LOT of guys on this Avs team over the years who aren’t that impressive but can do at least one thing really well. Larsen couldn’t do much, but he finished checks. Hinote can’t skate backwards but he finishes checks and aggravates. Messier had the skating ability of Happy Gilmore but could block shots on the PK. I just don’t know what Smith does well. One thing you could say for Rycroft is that for a smaller guy he always finished checks. I think at that low minute 4th line position you could at least give McCormick or some younger guy in your system a taste. I wouldn’t be too opposed to make the position a bit of a rotation for guys like Stewart, Jones and McCormick. Let them get their minutes in the AHL but bring them up from time to time to get the experience. At least with a prospect type guy you can look for something they do really well and perhaps during an injury they will be up to speed to take a bigger role if needed. A guy like Smith just doesn’t seem to be great at anything.

A lot of good commentary on the game I agree with. I was perplexed by the three penalties on the Avalanche in the first period. Brunette gets a penalty for crosschecking himself in the back in to the goaltender? I can see how the refs are compelled to blow the whistle any time a goaltender gets hit. However, it was pretty obvious why he ran in to him and even after the whistle they had opportunities to whistle the make up call. The call on Svatos was pure crap. Svatos has his stick down and both hands on the stick going after the puck. I know Svatos is no saint when it comes to hooking but that call had me ticked. Last, DD we disagree on Sauer’s call against Nash. I thought he played that exactly how it was supposed to be played. His stick was down below his knees but he got called. You said it was a 100% right call. I didn’t like it at all and I think Nash got the Micheal Jordon treatment. I think the same ref made the call. Both guys never took their hands off their stick and both Svatos and Sauer made good faith efforts at the puck while making body contact with their forearms or hips.

On the positive side Skrastins looked much, much better. He didn’t play that horrible containment game on the PK and skated after the puck carrier. The PK was just more aggressive and effective. I think that’s the right philosophy with all the skill you have. I mean, if a team like Detroit or something dances around your skaters for scoring opportunities you 1. Depend on your goaltender as your best player on the PK and 2. You adjust your tactics for that game to a more containment (keep them on the outside) approach. With teams like Columbus, or even one line teams like Vancouver why not make them show their skill? Make them make a play instead of waiting for them to make a mistake?

]]> By: Draft Dodger http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1764 Draft Dodger Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:41:46 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1764 maybe...but I haven't really seen it yet. maybe…but I haven’t really seen it yet.

]]> By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1763 thedoctor Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:32:09 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1763 oh, me too jibble. guite is definitely > smith. but smith > rycroft, in reference to DD's points. :) oh, me too jibble. guite is definitely > smith. but smith > rycroft, in reference to DD’s points. :)

]]> By: Jibblescribbits http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1760 Jibblescribbits Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:20:44 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1760 Yeah but Guite kills penalties, and actually may be the only Av who actually WINS draws. I like Guite, and he could possibly be banged up, but I am surprised they keep Smith in and bench Guite as well Yeah but Guite kills penalties, and actually may be the only Av who actually WINS draws. I like Guite, and he could possibly be banged up, but I am surprised they keep Smith in and bench Guite as well

]]> By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-notebook/10-14-2007/recap-avalanche-5-blue-jackets-1#comment-1759 thedoctor Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:09:41 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/archives/318#comment-1759 good summary as always, DD -- but I disagree about Wyatt Smith. I think he's been ok to meh at even strength, but he kills penalties! and kills them well! Rycroft can't do that. good summary as always, DD — but I disagree about Wyatt Smith. I think he’s been ok to meh at even strength, but he kills penalties! and kills them well! Rycroft can’t do that.

]]>