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Post by Johnny Verdun on Jan 24, 2002 17:40:08 GMT -5
I posted this first on another board. I won't do that again.
First, though, I have to confess, I'm finding the bells and whistles here a bit difficult to get used to. I liked the way I used to feel that I was arriving at a specific place, and could see the whole town as I rode in....But now, now it's like entering the matrix...a labrynthine world of interconnected and interdependant realties....Which portal will you choose, sir?
Anyway, that's my "stop the world" whine....
Allright, here it is: Now that Kilger's back, why not have both him and Asham in the line up, and on the same line?
Either Kilger/Van Allen/Asham or Simpson(Odjick)/Kilger/Asham??
Isn't this obvious if you've already missed the first answer, which is to use Kilger on the second line?
I mean, can they be serious about platooning Kilger, Odjick, Simpson, Van Allen and Asham as though they are of equal value to the organization? Kilger and Asham are 25 and 23. The average age for the other guys is 31. I don't want to get an aneurysm railing at Therrien for dressing either Kilger or Asham over the next few weeks, but not both at the same time. Am I worrying for nothing?
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Post by WhyteKnight63 on Jan 24, 2002 19:30:29 GMT -5
I would like to see if a guy like Kilger is good enough to be on the 2nd line. He sure has the size, I believe he's got the skills, now all he needs is a chance, a decent chance!!!
If not, then I would go with the alternative of a good checking 4th line:
Hossa-Kilger-Asham (2nd PK unit)
Simpson/Odjick-Kilger-Asham (Toughness)
Ward-Kilger-Asham (Punishing 2nd PK unit)
I do not know how all of you feel, but there seems to be a lot more talent on our team and it sure is starting to look good when we can start thinking of 4th lines that look like these (Compared to what we've had for the last 15 years...)
Are there any other good combinations I am forgetting?
Starting to look forward to Audette and Koivu's possible returns... I sure hope they BOTH come back!!!
Cheers!
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Post by Doc Holliday on Jan 25, 2002 7:30:29 GMT -5
Though I agree Kilger certainly has a spot at least on a 4th line, I hesitate to think of him as a guy who can help on an offensive line on a constant basis. The speed and checking abilities are there, his hands aren't bad but the offensive flair isn't all that great and his shot doesn't impress me.
One important aspect of Kilger's play is that he isn't an enforcer and therefore doesn't have the type of impact that big guys like Laraque, Simon and Brashear for example, can have on a offensive line. Basically if you're gonna use a guy who'll score only 10-15 goals on a top lines because you need his shoulders work, you better be darn sure other players are talented enough to really benefit from his check work, which, IMO, isn't all that obvious in Montreal for now.
That being said, I am still not sure if what I saw of Kilger last year (for a short period) was overachievement on his part or something he could eventually break out to offer on a contant basis if his confidence builds up. After all the guy never stayed more then 2, 2 and half season anywhere, so by offering him stability on that side of things, we might be pleasantly surprised. For now I still say the guy reminds me a lot of Patrick Poulin...
Asham/Kilger/Ward would be a very good 4th line, one with a lot of jump, spirit and bang.
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Post by BadCompany on Jan 25, 2002 8:14:27 GMT -5
I'm with Doc on this one. I just don't see Kilger as being good enough offensively to ever really explode on a top scoring line. Some guys have it, some guys don't. Looking over his career, going all the way back through his junior and AHL days, Kilger has scored more than 17 goals a grand total of once. He is just not a finisher, and while he is a big hitter, he is not a protector per se - he doesn't fight, nor does he stick his nose into front-of-the-net scrums. He tends to be a peacemaker.
I like him as the eventual 3rd line center, eventually taking over from Joé Juneau as the guy who covers the top guys from other teams. Kilger is big enough, hes strong enough, fast enough, good on faceoffs, immensely coachable. You can teach sound defensive play if you have a willing student - you can't teach how to score goals.
Odjick/Petrov - Kilger - Asham is a great 4th line in my opinion, providing (and this is a big question mark) Therrien can find a way to get them ice time. Kilger already kills penalties, so he gets on that way, but Asham will need some skillful coaching manouvering in order to not waste him. Maybe 2nd line powerplay, as a park your butt in front of the net kind of guy? Or maybe he too can be groomed as a defensive specialist, killing penalties and eventually taking over Dackell's spot on the 3rd line? Regardless, Kilger and Asham need to play at least 8-9 minutes a game, and preferably 12-14. Don't know if the coach is up to that.
Kilger is a project, as is Asham for that matter. But they are both saveable projects in my opinion.
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Post by HFTO on Jan 25, 2002 18:13:17 GMT -5
I like Cad kilger as well and think the only way he can improve is to play but is there room for him to move up in the next couple of years?
Right now we have Savage,Gilmour Petrov
Zednik,Perreault,Ribeiro
Dackell,Juneau,Bulis
Ribeiro's showed he has the skill to play on one of the top two lines will Kilger add more than the ever surprising Petrov,can you afford to take the chance.Once Koivu and audette return some hard decisions will have to be made,I hope Kilger sticks we need his size but given a full lineup in the immediate future can he realistically be moved up from the fourth line?
Can someone update me on the play of Jason ward.
thanks
HFTO
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