Kilger wants more ice time
Oct 28, 2002 21:21:25 GMT -5
Post by wade on Oct 28, 2002 21:21:25 GMT -5
Kilger hopes for more ice time
Canadian Press
10/28/2002
(CP) - At the height of the NHL playoffs last season, Montreal forward Chad Kilger's ice time hovered around 16 minutes. Early this season it has dropped to nine.
Kilger, who has two assists in eight games, hopes to see more.
``We have a lot of depth,'' Kilger said, by way of explanation. ``It doesn't leave a lot of ice. The ice time I've been getting is basically fourth line. I hope to get back to the ice time I was getting last year in the playoffs.''
The Cornwall, Ont., native has been the victim of the numbers game. For once, the Habs have been able to avoid the injury bug early in a season.
That, plus the additions of Mariusz Czerkawski and Randy McKay, has eaten up playing time.
But at 6-4 and 224 pounds, Kilger is easily Montreal's biggest forward and will be needed in an Eastern Conference that boasts the likes of Keith Primeau, John Leclair and Zdeno Chara.
Kilger's size, ability to make room for some and create traffic for others, means he's probably in Montreal to stay for the foreseeable future on a team with a lot of many small forwards.
``It would be nice to get on the power play,'' said Kilger. ``I think one of us (McKay) is going to get the opportunity to get in front of the net and create some traffic.''
Canadiens centre Yanic Perreault said having a big winger like Kilger opening up room makes his job easier.
``We don't have very many big guys,'' said Perreault. ``He's been pretty physical for us since I got here.
``When you play with a guy that finishes his checks it makes more room for you out there.''
Kilger, who turns 27 next month, spent the 1992-93 season at the Tier II level with the Cornwall Colts. Just three seasons later he was seeing action in the NHL.
After knocking around from team to team - his resume includes NHL stops in Anaheim, Winnipeg, Phoenix, Chicago, Edmonton and Montreal - Kilger found he couldn't get the ice time he thought he deserved. And when he did manage to see action, he was more worried about making a mistake than making an impact.
He credits wife Jana with being a rock of support during those long nights in Edmonton, when as a member of the Oilers he spent many a night watching games rather than playing.
New challenges loom in Montreal. He has to bring his hard-hitting checking game on a regular basis.
``It's something every player strives for,'' Kilger said. ``I'd like to be given opportunities . . . to be given a little more responsibility.''
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He's one of our biggest forwards.. when he checks.. he checks hard.. i think he should get more ice time considering the fact that he's huge .. someone big we've been looking for yet we already have
Canadian Press
10/28/2002
(CP) - At the height of the NHL playoffs last season, Montreal forward Chad Kilger's ice time hovered around 16 minutes. Early this season it has dropped to nine.
Kilger, who has two assists in eight games, hopes to see more.
``We have a lot of depth,'' Kilger said, by way of explanation. ``It doesn't leave a lot of ice. The ice time I've been getting is basically fourth line. I hope to get back to the ice time I was getting last year in the playoffs.''
The Cornwall, Ont., native has been the victim of the numbers game. For once, the Habs have been able to avoid the injury bug early in a season.
That, plus the additions of Mariusz Czerkawski and Randy McKay, has eaten up playing time.
But at 6-4 and 224 pounds, Kilger is easily Montreal's biggest forward and will be needed in an Eastern Conference that boasts the likes of Keith Primeau, John Leclair and Zdeno Chara.
Kilger's size, ability to make room for some and create traffic for others, means he's probably in Montreal to stay for the foreseeable future on a team with a lot of many small forwards.
``It would be nice to get on the power play,'' said Kilger. ``I think one of us (McKay) is going to get the opportunity to get in front of the net and create some traffic.''
Canadiens centre Yanic Perreault said having a big winger like Kilger opening up room makes his job easier.
``We don't have very many big guys,'' said Perreault. ``He's been pretty physical for us since I got here.
``When you play with a guy that finishes his checks it makes more room for you out there.''
Kilger, who turns 27 next month, spent the 1992-93 season at the Tier II level with the Cornwall Colts. Just three seasons later he was seeing action in the NHL.
After knocking around from team to team - his resume includes NHL stops in Anaheim, Winnipeg, Phoenix, Chicago, Edmonton and Montreal - Kilger found he couldn't get the ice time he thought he deserved. And when he did manage to see action, he was more worried about making a mistake than making an impact.
He credits wife Jana with being a rock of support during those long nights in Edmonton, when as a member of the Oilers he spent many a night watching games rather than playing.
New challenges loom in Montreal. He has to bring his hard-hitting checking game on a regular basis.
``It's something every player strives for,'' Kilger said. ``I'd like to be given opportunities . . . to be given a little more responsibility.''
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He's one of our biggest forwards.. when he checks.. he checks hard.. i think he should get more ice time considering the fact that he's huge .. someone big we've been looking for yet we already have