Wanted 19 like he wore at Michigan (Yzerman), second favorite was 91 (Fedorov, not retired but out of circulation (hang the banner you assholes)), next two were 25 (Mike Green), and 21 (Tatar), then 17 (Brad Richards), finally he said fuck it and flipped 1 and 7. 71.
I know people are worried about Danielson but he’s still at a .5 point per game pace. Kasper averaged .49 points per game his lone year in GR and that was coming into the league after already playing pro hockey for two years. The reality is GR is a great defensive team but has very little firepower. It hasn’t helped that Lombardi and Mazur have been out most of the season either. I am confident Danielson has 50-60 point potential as a C in the NHL, with 65-70 point potential if he moves to the wing.
I wouldnt say I'm worried about Danielson, I'd say I'm not in a rush to call him up and think some more time in the AHL wouldn't be the worst thing for him. He isn't going to come in now and play in this top 6 and I'm not sure he'd immediately improve the 3rd line significantly, so this is one of the cases I think the wings leaving him down in GR is acceptable
Didn’t Kasper have a slow start because he was coming off of injury then hit his stride as he got healthy/used to NA hockey? Whereas Danielson started fine and now is in a super long slump?
Yes Kasper was hurt but he was still much more ready to play in the AHL based on his time in Sweden. Plus GR is just bad offensively. 7th fewest goals. 6th worst PP.
I’d put more stock in Danielson if he had been playing great and then hit a rookie wall around now, but his production has been bad for months. Maybe his assist last night will get him going, first point in 9 games. What’s more concerning though is his goal scoring. 1 goal in his last 26 games. 55 shots in that stretch, 1.8% SH%.
GR is completely devoid of offensive talent fwiw. Not saying that's completely to blame his struggles. But his rookie year in AHL and he's the top focus on the opponents scouting report, with little supporting cast is tough. Normally you'd get to work your way in and get some easier matchups but that's not happening. With that said. BUST. In Vin we trust.
Is part of Grand Rapids lack of scoring not Danielson’s fault? Of their last 65 goals, Danielson has just one of them. If Danielson just shot at league average for a forward (~12%), Grand Rapids’ offense would be league average.
I mean that’s a lot of pressure on a 19 year old player saddle with Austin Watson almost all season. He’s not shooting well but he’s also not going to stay a 2% player.
It feels like this is one of those weird things where guys deemed Draper picks can’t be considered good.
Danielson is 20 and has been the entire season. I don’t think it’s unfair to have slightly higher expectations for a top 10 pick to be 27th in rookie scoring in the AHL. Certainly isn’t a Draper thing as he’s about the only Draper pick that I can think of that’s really been criticized outside of Brady Cleveland. Cossa and Augustine have exceeded their expectations thus far, specifically with Cossa slightly outplaying Wallstedt the past two years. Emmitt Finnie is looking like one of the best picks of his draft. 7th rounder, 6’1” 190 lbs and has put up 29+39=68 in 44 games this year in the W.
This draft seems pretty shitty, if there was ever a year to move our 1st to improve the team I would say this is it.
Hilarious, have a really good under 30 player signed to a pretty good contract with term left on it who should be a good player still when the core develops, let's trade him!
The entire Freep sports section are clickbait trolls. Unfortunately the News editor is a “just asking questions” conservative libertarian. So there is no subscription option.
Since January 1st, GR has scored 1 goal or less seven times. The good news is Mazur has been back for a few games now, and Lombardi returned last night. That will help, but it’s just a snake bitten group right now.
Was he on the 1st line at the end? Thought he was 3C. 6th in ESTOI amongst forwards tonight. Regardless he showed how terrible Sullivan had his lines initially. Larkin a 4th line winger to start. Connor on the 1st line to being scratched in lieu of Krieder and his 6 mins tonight. Trocheck with just 10 mins. What a waste bringing them.
I’m guessing Larkin sits out tomorrow but conversely I’d say the same about Boldy and Faber. No excuses, need to win.
5 in 7 doesn’t sound right. But yeah NHL schedule makers need to be Elon’d. There’s no reason for a 4 games played disparity at the “all star” break and definitely not at the trade deadline.
Or 5 in 8. Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. Or if just Wings, 5 in 8. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.