Ridiculous statements like this do nothing more than undermine your already suspect credibility.



If they put him in position to make the most of his strengths instead of one that he's not well suited for, he would likely show he's worthy of a larger role. Even in the role they have him in, he's done better than Berube has portrayed in his statements on the player. He's made plays/passes that could have been goals if they landed on the stick of say a Matt Read or Brayden Schenn as opposed to the worst shooter on the team in Zac Rinaldo. There's a reason Zac was avergaing more than twice the amount of shots on goal than he did before playing with Akeson and got no shots on goal when Akeson was scratched for two games.



You said Akeson wasn't a standout in the Rangers series and was a passenger and did nothing to drive the play etc. I posted the videos to specifically to show you that this was clearly not the case (not to show he "looks good" in general). What did you link CV videos for?
- exlund

You're first comment is ridiculous. This isn't about you or me. It's about Akeson. I won't get personal.

You keep posting about Akeson's abilities with the puck. That is not the issue. He has puck skills, he can make plays with the puck. That is not why he isn't getting more playing time. It's his play away from the puck that is the issue. That is what is going to decide how good of an NHL player he will be, or even if he can stay in the NHL. And Berube knows that.

Correct, Akeson was not a standout in the Rangers series, in my opinion. He did however play well. Making a few plays does not prove that he drove possession. Showing a few videos also doesn't prove it. I did the same thing for Vandevelde to show how easy it is to pick out a few of the best plays a player made, and say see, look how good he is?

Rinaldo and Bellemare were easily the better players on that line when it was together this season. All that matters is how Akeson is playing this season. I don't think he's been awful. But he also hasn't been that good. Which is why he is at best, the 12th forward on this team right now. When Lecavalier comes back, he may be the 13th. The only forward that he is ahead of right now is Blair Jones. That may or may not change this season. I still think he has some potential. But he is going to have to get better in some other areas to earn more icetime.

You're first comment is ridiculous. This isn't about you or me. It's about Akeson. I won't get personal.

You keep posting about Akeson's abilities with the puck. That is not the issue. He has puck skills, he can make plays with the puck. That is not why he isn't getting more playing time. It's his play away from the puck that is the issue. That is what is going to decide how good of an NHL player he will be, or even if he can stay in the NHL. And Berube knows that.

Correct, Akeson was not a standout in the Rangers series, in my opinion. He did however play well. Making a few plays does not prove that he drove possession. Showing a few videos also doesn't prove it. I did the same thing for Vandevelde to show how easy it is to pick out a few of the best plays a player made, and say see, look how good he is?

Rinaldo and Bellemare were easily the better players on that line when it was together this season. All that matters is how Akeson is playing this season. I don't think he's been awful. But he also hasn't been that good. Which is why he is at best, the 12th forward on this team right now. When Lecavalier comes back, he may be the 13th. The only forward that he is ahead of right now is Blair Jones. That may or may not change this season. I still think he has some potential. But he is going to have to get better in some other areas to earn more icetime.
- MJL

I disagree. You and Berube can continue to have this view...doesn't make it right.

You're first comment is ridiculous. This isn't about you or me. It's about Akeson. I won't get personal.

You keep posting about Akeson's abilities with the puck. That is not the issue. He has puck skills, he can make plays with the puck. That is not why he isn't getting more playing time. It's his play away from the puck that is the issue. That is what is going to decide how good of an NHL player he will be, or even if he can stay in the NHL. And Berube knows that.

Correct, Akeson was not a standout in the Rangers series, in my opinion. He did however play well. Making a few plays does not prove that he drove possession. Showing a few videos also doesn't prove it. I did the same thing for Vandevelde to show how easy it is to pick out a few of the best plays a player made, and say see, look how good he is?

Rinaldo and Bellemare were easily the better players on that line when it was together this season. All that matters is how Akeson is playing this season. I don't think he's been awful. But he also hasn't been that good. Which is why he is at best, the 12th forward on this team right now. When Lecavalier comes back, he may be the 13th. The only forward that he is ahead of right now is Blair Jones. That may or may not change this season. I still think he has some potential. But he is going to have to get better in some other areas to earn more icetime.
- MJL

And it's not so much about how good or bad Akeson has been thus far this year as it is the way he's being handled isn't allowing him to show how he can add value and show his potential worth in the larger picture. A player like him simply isn't going to be able to showcase his strengths and "earn" that promotion by playing in a miscast role as fourth line checker. And it's also about Berube calling him out when some of the other players have made worse mistakes and get a pass/promoted. Like you've said it's a long season and things happen that could give him his shot to move up. I just hope that happens before he's so far into Berube's doghouse that he gets phased out completely.

I disagree. You and Berube can continue to have this view...doesn't make it right.
- exlund

And vice versa. That you disagree doesn't make it wrong either.

And it's not so much about how good or bad Akeson has been thus far this year as it is the way he's being handled isn't allowing him to show how he can add value and show his potential worth in the larger picture. A player like him simply isn't going to be able to showcase his strengths and "earn" that promotion by playing in a miscast role as fourth line checker. And it's also about Berube calling him out when some of the other players have made worse mistakes and get a pass/promoted. Like you've said it's a long season and things happen that could give him his shot to move up. I just hope that happens before he's so far into Berube's doghouse that he gets phased out completely.
- exlund

I don't agree with that. Players such as Raffl and Bellemare, and even Vandevelde have been able to earn more playing time and promotions due to their play on the 4th line in limited minutes. All 3 of those players can offer more then what Akeson has shown in terms of overall play currently. If you're more effective as a player overall, then you will get more leeway from a coach when making mistakes. I don't agree with singling out players, but that's a fact of life in pro sports. All players aren't treated equally, and sometimes even unfairly. But I beleive that is more of a message being sent, then a criticism. I'd prefer that to happen behind closed doors then publicly. Excuses kept being made for Akeson rather then looking at his play, and what he has earned to this point of the season. I share the same concerns that a player with some upside won't be able to break through, and wind up going somewhere else and getting a better chance, and succeeding. But I'm not going to ignore the players role and the current situation because of that.