Line Shakeup: Shot for Bergenheim, Comeau?
by Dominik on Oct 14, 2009 12:30 PM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
25 comments
With the standard caveat that practice lines on Wednesday do not equal game lines on Friday, could we be looking at a kick-start for three Islanders youngsters as part of a "second" line around Josh Bailey? Or will Rob Schremp be the featured #2 center, insulated by veterans Doug Weight and Jon Sim on the wings?
Mark Herrmann reported these lines from today's practice:
Matt Moulson-John Tavares-Kyle Okposo
Sean Bergenheim-Josh Bailey-Blake Comeau
Doug Weight-Rob Schremp-Jon Sim
Richard Park-Nate Thompson-Tim Jackman
Extras--Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen
But before assuming Bergie/Bailey/Comeau is your second line (the "Show Me Something" line?), recall that against the Kings Monday those three got the fewest even-strength minutes this side of Tim Jackman and Joel Rechlicz. And those minutes weren't accumulated together. Looking at the play-by-play, Comeau got a significant number of EV shifts with Schremp and Weight -- who logged a lot of EV and PP minutes -- while Bergenheim and Bailey got a lot of EV time with Sim.
Of course, Scott Gordon mixes things up throughout the game -- Comeau replaced Bergenheim on Bailey and Sim's wing at one point in the 3rd -- and any time Rechlicz is in the lineup, there is a lot of mixing to fill out a "fourth" line.
But what say you to these lines -- and to the continued forced hibernation for Tambellini? Around this site, we've had some wondering WTF about Tambellini's health scratches, while others have focused on the need to give Bailey some wingers who can score. To the latter question -- is this an answer? And if these lines stick together Friday, what are the chances the Bailey line gets more even strength minutes than the Schremp + veterans line?
My prediction: If Ryan Miller has a Ryan Miller game, we remain frustrated regardless. If Miller has an off-game, we admire John Tavares and Kyle Okposo and retain a cheery mood for 24 hours (San Jose is up Saturday).
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Actually the test of a great athlete in any sport is how he does against other great athletes. I always enjoyed watching Seaver pitch but never more so than when he pitched against Gibson. If Miller is on his game, goals by JT, Kyle and Matt will be that much sweeter.
by BCISLEMAN on Oct 14, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I love the way bailey has played this year but after watching the few games that schremp has played in I would say that he is easily a top 6 forward on this team. My proposal is this.
Bergenheim – Schremp – Bailey
I feel like Bergenheim would work hard on the forecheck to win these the puck and help these two get room to use their ability and with Schremps positioning skills and his quick shot I think he would be a perfect compliment to Baileys much improved passing this season. As far as Schremp being centerman over Bailey from what i’ve seen he has been far superior on draws but that is without checking the stats I could be wrong. Then with that move done just drop Comeau (Clearly id prefer Tambi!!) to the wing on line three and slide the experienced centerman Weight to his familiar spot. Either way without a good quick shot on Baileys wing his sweet passes will be fruitless
by Big Swoopty on Oct 14, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bailey needs to be playing center. No way would I give Spare Part Schremp time at center at Bailey’s expense.
by BCISLEMAN on Oct 14, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOW!!! This has gotten ridiculous
There is nothing wrong with Josh Bailey. This is the natural progression youngsters take in this league moving from rookies to everyday reliable players. It is what it is.
Enjoy the ride
Nobody said this rebuild was going to be easy. It’s long hard road. It’s not something that;s completed in one game, one month, one season or two seasons. It’s a long slow grind where these kids take their lumps and learn the hard way.
Anyone wanna make a case that the team overall is WORSE than last season? The team overall is much better. Given the competition we’ve had with Boston and Pittsburgh last years team didn’t stand a chance against those guys.
Oh, and for all those getting on Bailey, wanna complain about Milbury dishin off all that talent and completely raping the cupboard? Guess what? As I recall, he did a lot of that with the consent of the fans when he took those short cuts. It’s not like EVERYONE thought he did a terrible job at the time. Chara, McCabe, Luongo (guy who couldn’t control his own rebounds) Luongo (Always in Goring’s dog house cause he was fat and ate too many doughnuts), Bertuzzi (guy with no heart what so ever) and the rest.
Yeah, those players were flawed. Most nights they looked like they could care less to be here. This current crop of kids are nothing like those guys who really don’t have a lot of heart. They never possesed one or had one materialize later in their careers either.
Let the process work itself out and just try to enjoy the ride.
by Chickendirt on Oct 14, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chara and Luongo don’t have a lot of heart? Can’t say I agree with that statement. I never thought moving Luongo after only two years made any sense. And we certainly got a player FOR Chara who never had any heart.
Bailey is this team’’s future along with JT, Kyle, and about a half dozen other core guys. Schremp has yet to prove to me that he belongs here and he certainly shouldn’t be taking Josh’s spot at center.
by BCISLEMAN on Oct 14, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is anyone really getting on Bailey thought? For all I’m concerned, he can be in a funk all year and I’d still believe in him (albeit with fears).
It’s been four games, nothing. For me, I’m more just tossing around what would best help him succeed — and would a line with Comeau and Bergenheim be that? Might be his best option for now.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 4:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I am Gordon, I settle on making JT and Josh my top two centers. I have a line built around JT that works well. Now I have to experiment to find a good working line for Josh to center…knowing full well though that players obtained through draft, FA, and trade may preempt whatever I do now.
by BCISLEMAN on Oct 15, 2009 5:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im definitely not getting on him about his draws im just saying at this point in his career it might be better for him to worry about his positioning and playmaking abilities to build some confidence on the ice during the 60 minutes of the game and work on his face-offs in practice against the best his team has to offer… he will only take maybe 8 draws a game anyway I just feel it best to win most of them so maybe he can have more time with the puck to work on breaking down NHL defenses which is done as easily in practice
by Big Swoopty on Oct 15, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
*isnt dont as easily in practice
by Big Swoopty on Oct 15, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’ll definitely need to keep working on his faceoffs. I haven’t looked into it, but it would be interesting to check the evolution of a cross-section of centers to see how their FO% has changed over time.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea and ive been desperately searching the last day but can’t find any websites that have faceoff statistics. Its quite frustrating
by Big Swoopty on Oct 15, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NHL.com keeps FO stats. You have to click around to sort what you want. It’s frustrating that they don’t show up in a player’s year-to-year career stats. But you can go to the NHL’s individual stats page and filter by season, and by stat type.
So for example, Crosby was at 51.3% last season, 51.4% the year before, 49.8% in 2006-07, and 45.5% in 2005-06.
There’s probably a quicker source, but I’m horribly inefficient at finding these things.
Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.
by Dominik on Oct 15, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Totally Agree
This team has (and Ive mentioned this before on other threads) and cant stress enough goo quality character guys. These players bring to every practice enad every game on the ice and off it to. These recent draft picks were selected based not only in talent but hockey sense and integrity. These are the guys who will grow as a team as well as well as being involved in the community. Not being prejudice but you dont see too many russians on this team and theres a reason why, like chick said a couple of games or even a season its going to b alot of ups and down and rowing pains in the end the true character will reveal itself based on the quality and the character of the personnel
by steelermafia on Oct 14, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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