Just enough time to call Hainsey up

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I was discussing this on another board earlier today. Red  suggested that we demote Robidas to the AHL. While I used to be a Robidas supporter, I think the move would shake up a few less than motivated defencemen especially if Ron Hainsey gets the nod.

I think this might be the perfect time to call Hainsey up from Québec as there are just enough games remaining to consider him a rookie next year as well. Robidas is at -24 and counting, while Hainsey's addition could be a breath of youthful fresh air. It might work guys. Cheers.

[MPLABBE]

I think Robidas would have to clear waivers...I have no problem with losing him, because he is useless, but MT sees him as the second coming of christ , so he will stay.


I would love to see what Hainsey can do...he is better than Quintal, Bouillon, Robidas, Souray and some nights the rest of our defence.


It's really sickening seeing Traverse, Bouillon and Rivet on our 2nd PP unit when you could have a Hainsey on it.


On the bad side, MT would probably sit Hainsey the second he makes a mistake and he would ruin his confidence like he tried to ruin Markov's.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I hear ya' mark. I remember not so long ago we all thought our deepest position was defense. But whether we want to admit this to ourselves or not, it's either the collective team defense that shines or Théodore outright  .

I really don't know what happened to our defense. Two years ago we were 4th overall in defense and missed the playoffs by a point (I think it was only two years ago or was it three?  ). We had a very respectable defense with Jason Cullimore (I really liked that guy), Quintal, Rivet, Ulanov, et al. Opposing forwards had to look twice before crossing the blueline and we didn't get pushed around.

Though we showed some guts in Florida, we don't have that kind of respect any longer. Cheers.

[MPLABBE]

Wasn't Cullimore traded like 5 years ago? in the Tucker deal?


2 years ago(1999-2000) we played the trap very well, we had a bunch of defensive minded players and we just went on an unreal streak.The goalies were excellent and defense led by Weinrich among others was stingy.We won many 2-1, 3-2 games.

[Johnny Verdun]

Calling up Hainsey is a bad idea, imo.  

You don't look to a 20 or 21 year old to help your defence in the last ten games of a season.  If we had one (just one) dominant defenceman for him to play with, I might be persuaded, but to bring him up to play with Quintal, Rivet or even Brisebois would be asking for trouble, especially at this time of the season given that the pace is faster than normal (which is already a gear up from the AHL).  And to expect him to have an impact at this point is wishful thinking because he wouldn't be given more than ten minutes a night anyway.  

What they need to do is shorten the bench a bit and forget using Robidas or Traverse except perhaps in back to back games.  I would just go with Brisebois, Dykhuis, Quintal, Rivet, Markov and Bouillon the rest of the way.  You can't be benching Dykhuis for having a bad game, or Rivet for making a mistake, because the team suffers more in the long run from having Traverse or Robidas in the game instead.  There are other ways to handle mistakes and bad games at this time of the year that don't weaken the team for a period or for a whole game.  One of those ways is to make it clear to guys that you're going to go with them all the way and that if the team is going to make it in to the post-season they're going to have to step up.  Challenging guys like that is the better option with 10 games left, and especially when Traverse and Robidas are your only options.  Hainsey, to me, is not an option.

[seventeen]

I'm torn, JV. ÊOn principle, you're right. ÊAnd then I look and wonder how Hainsey could possibly be worse than Quintal or Bouillon. ÊAt least he wouldn't kick pucks into his own net, or let pylons skate around him. ÊI think this season's lost, however, unless Audette & Koivu both come back and make a difference. On balance, I guess I'd rather have Hainsey trying for a Calder Cup in the AHL.

[MPLABBE]

And then there is the MT factor...look at what he has done or tried to do with Hossa.I remember when he was first up with us, he scratched him and played BOTH Odjick and Simpson against the Panthers on that Monday afternoon.He was going to be scratched Saturday SO A NATURAL D-MAN COULD PLAY FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how dumb is that?


I don't want to see Ron in the pressbox eating popcorn, like Markov has done this year, like Ribeiro has done this year, like Hossa was supposed to do on Saturday...better keep him in Quebec and let him help the Cits win the Calder Cup.


Like JV said, just go with Breezer, Dykhuis, Markov, Rivet, Q and Bouillon.Don't give a second of ice time to Traverse and Robidas.