The Maven Responds (1/30)
Another quartet of inquiries to answer
Posted on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 1:10 PMBill: Stan, the Rangers have now given up more goals than they have scored. Why should they be considered an elite team?
The Maven Responds: Dear Bill: Good point. As long as they stay high in the standings, "elite" MIGHT fit them. We'll know better after they play the ELITE Bruins on Saturday. Thanks.
Bill: Stan, the power play has been non-existent since Petr Prucha was removed in favor of Brendan Shanahan last season. The kid set a record for most power plays goals by a rookie. So the question is simple: Why isn't Prucha on the punchless power play?
The Maven Responds: Dear Bill: The power play seemed to be coming around at Pittsburgh. Chances, yes; goals, not when needed. The Prucha issue is a mystery. Thanks.
RVCUTOLO: Mr. Fischler, I have made my feelings known to all in the past that ANY goaltender playing 70 games a season, not counting playoffs, is fool hardy. Having said that, consider this: We have mostly SMALL FORWARDS.
Now logic dictates you can ill afford to keep the two cream-filled cupcake defensemen we currently covert. Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival are a bad fit on this current team. Redden, in his day, was decent, truly nothing more! Redden is way to SOFT and SLOW. Rozsival is simply a HEADCASE. I assumed after Jaromir Jagr was gone MAYBE Rozsival would stop being so predictable about NEVER shooting the puck. Actually, according to Rozsival's psychotic logic, Jordan Staal never scores that ridiculous goal from that impossible angle. Obviously, Rozsival never has heard of shoot the puck at the net, see what happens!
Too many POWER PLAYS with him at the point go by the way side. Last night was a perfect example, yet again. When you have an opportunity to bury a team, BURY them! A bad deal no matter how you slice, it is a bad deal! Pull the plug on these two PLEASE! I'd rather go with two kiddies from our minors, as silly as that sounds. We need size, toughness and a point man that SHOOTS THE PUCK. Otherwise, it's a first- or second-round out yet again.
The Maven Responds: Dear RVCUTOLO: You're overreacting on some issues (defense); right on the goalie point. Kiddies from the minors is not the answer; not yet. Thanks.
Louie Louie: This team is going nowhere. Is it just me or does Joe Micheletti have the biggest man-crush on Marc Staal? It is getting offensive listening to him rave about Staal.
The Maven Responds: Dear Louie Louie: There's nothing wrong with commending a solid, young defenseman, which Staal happens to be. Thanks.
Hey guys, thanks for the great questions.
Sincerely,
The Maven
I'll get to more tomorrow, so if you want to pick my brain, CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A QUESTION.
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