The 2nd unit is painful, pretty much a guaranteed momentum shift for the opposing team, which is not how you want to end an unsuccessful pp. Even if you don't score, you at least want to be generating chances and tiring out the defenders. How they can be so inneffective against the other team's second tier defenders is mind boggling.
- CubanBuffet

2nd unit should have one job: run the goalie
Possibly take the goalie out of the game, and it will put us back on the PK where we can finish with the momentum

2nd unit should have one job: run the goalie
Possibly take the goalie out of the game, and it will put us back on the PK where we can finish with the momentum
- bezz44

see lack of grit.

I totally agree with all that your saying, where I disagree is with the sentiment earlier suggested that all of Benning's moves have been solid, when I hear solid I think good value. I'm not ready to suggest his moves have been solid yet, they may in time.
Also just because Benning got what he was given, doesn't mean he got good value. He did the best with what he had sure, but at this point I can't say that he did well.
- belcherbd

I think the *language* is being debated then... not the moves.

So far there has been contribution from the players acquired young and old. Even in the AHL(Pedan). Look how many times we got nothing out of Gillis' moves... not just in the first season...the entire time. Hard not to call Bennings moves solid when comparing to what we have been use to. Successful is a different story altogether imo. That will take time to evaluate.

In the end I think most of us are on the same page with you.

Now that I think of it, isn't our 2nd pp pretty much out 1 PK? That can't be good.

well at least my weekend wasn't all bad as I caught the Utica/Marlies game on Saturday.

Lines:

Jeffrey O'Reilly Grenier
Shinkaruk Friesen Jensen
Gaunce Zalewsky Sestito
DeFazio Acton Archibald

Pedan Huskins
Biega Lafranchise
Andersson Ehrhardt

Eriksson

Pedan had the OT game winner on a nice 2 on 1 set-up. This was my first chance to see Pedan play and I was pretty impressed. His skating is rather smooth for big guy and he did well to use his size & stick reach. On one play, he held the offensive blue line and gave crushing hit to Spencer Abbott, then raced back on the subsequent 2 on 2 and hip checked another Marlies player to clear out the Utica crease. His passing does seem weak, a few of his exit passes were intercepted and/or just weak and turned over. His shot is quick and appears to have some weight. At times he looked like a poor man's Darnel Nurse, skating the puck up the ice. His frame is lanky though, I think he could add an extra 5-10% body mass without losing too much speed.

Jensen was a ghost for this game.

Shinkaruk showed some improvement in his game. I found he was passing a lot more & using his teammates compared to the early season game I caught. He was a turnover machine in September. Although improved, he still seems a ways away from being dominant and being able to drive the play.

I also liked Gaunce's game. He's so smart positionally, knows where to go and is responsible defensively. He led the team with 6 shots and although mostly were from the perimeter, they ended up being dangerous with players driving the net and/or the goalie was screened.

Dan Cloutier was sitting with his family a couple seats over scouting the game. I was going thank him for those exciting WCE years but when I remembered the old playoff gif of a beach ball going through his legs, I stayed away as he'd probably think I was trolling him.
- Crying_Wrestler

Thanks

Now that I think of it, isn't our 2nd pp pretty much out 1 PK? That can't be good.
- CubanBuffet

I hate seeing Burrows smacking his stick on the ice, wanting the pass and then shooting it wide...

2nd unit should have one job: run the goalie
Possibly take the goalie out of the game, and it will put us back on the PK where we can finish with the momentum
- bezz44

I hate seeing Burrows smacking his stick on the ice, wanting the pass and then shooting it wide...
- hillbillydeluxe

shhhh we're trying to trade him.

I think Benning would be the first to argue that the value he got wasnt fair but what choice did he have?
- chompsey

I think that he sold Sbisa as a top 4 guy and Bonino as a 2C, now I really hope he didn't actually believe that or I do have some concerns about his ability to evaluate talent.

He did have a choice and I understand and even agree with what decision he made but I don't see why he deserves credit for the deal he made, most here all agree he was backed into a corner and it isn't surprising that the return was less than hoped for.
He clearly decided that it was in the best interests of the team to move Kesler before the start of the season and took the deal that was offered to him. I have no problem with that decision but I can't point to that trade as a success.

I think that he sold Sbisa as a top 4 guy and Bonino as a 2C, now I really hope he didn't actually believe that or I do have some concerns about his ability to evaluate talent.

He did have a choice and I understand and even agree with what decision he made but I don't see why he deserves credit for the deal he made, most here all agree he was backed into a corner and it isn't surprising that the return was less than hoped for.
He clearly decided that it was in the best interests of the team to move Kesler before the start of the season and took the deal that was offered to him. I have no problem with that decision but I can't point to that trade as a success.
- belcherbd

We could have got less and I would still be happy getting rid of Kesler.

I think that he sold Sbisa as a top 4 guy and Bonino as a 2C, now I really hope he didn't actually believe that or I do have some concerns about his ability to evaluate talent.

He did have a choice and I understand and even agree with what decision he made but I don't see why he deserves credit for the deal he made, most here all agree he was backed into a corner and it isn't surprising that the return was less than hoped for.
He clearly decided that it was in the best interests of the team to move Kesler before the start of the season and took the deal that was offered to him. I have no problem with that decision but I can't point to that trade as a success.
- belcherbd

Yes, he sold that to the "fanbase". How many of us do you think took that seriously?
Many had reservations concerning the viability of those players in those supposed roles. It is what it is, i have yet to hear of another alleged trade in which the return was better.

Frankly i'll take Anaheim's return instead of the "purposed" Chicago deal.

Not sure if I can agree with most of his moves being solid.

He might of had his hands tied on the Kesler trade but I don't think the return can been seen as solid at this point. Bonino needs to be a bigger contributor for this deal to be seen as a success.

Dorsett deal was solid, a 3rd round pick is good value for what he brings.

The Vey deal might be okay but at this point he hasn't been able to contribute enough either. Garrison while disappointing last year still led this team from scoring on the back end 33 points isn't amazing but it looks like Edler ( our best offensive dman) won't crack 30.

I like the Pedan deal, that was really good asset mgmt, in moving a useless guy in Mallet, but he still moved a 3rd for a questionable prospect.

Clendening for Forsling could be good but Clendening needs to have an impact this season for it to be considered a solid move. If Clendening doesn't stick or doesn't produce, Benning has thrown away another prospect for a gamble.
- belcherbd

Disagree with the majority of this post. The KeSler trade is what it is. There was only one suitor and he did well given the circumstances.
The garrison trade wasn't just about Vey for Garrison. Benning used that salary to aquire important free agents. He also dumped a bad contract with a NTC

I think all in all you are overstating the value of a 3rd round pick. The likely hood that the prospect has an NHL career is very low. I'd be surprised if Pedan doesn't become an NHL regular within 2 years. That's a win.
Same thing with the Forsling trade. We acquired a young, cheap and controllable asset for an extreme wild card. Chances forsling plays an NHL shift? My guess would be 20%.

Very pleased with what JB has acheived so far given the inflexibility of our current roster.

Yes, he sold that to the "fanbase". How many of us do you think took that seriously?
Many had reservations concerning the viability of those players in those supposed roles. It is what it is, i have yet to hear of another alleged trade in which the return was better.

Frankly i'll take Anaheim's return of the "purposed" Chicago deal.
- Whiskey-Tango

What was the proposed Chi deal again? TT and Shaw or something ?

Yes I would describe the trade exactly as " It is what it is".

Disagree with the majority of this post. The KeSler trade is what it is. There was only one suitor and he did well given the circumstances.
The garrison trade wasn't just about Vey for Garrison. Benning used that salary to aquire important free agents. He also dumped a bad contract with a NTC

I think all in all you are overstating the value of a 3rd round pick. The likely hood that the prospect has an NHL career is very low. I'd be surprised if Pedan doesn't become an NHL regular within 2 years. That's a win.
Same thing with the Forsling trade. We acquired a young, cheap and controllable asset for an extreme wild card. Chances forsling plays an NHL shift? My guess would be 20%.

Very pleased with what JB has acheived so far given the inflexibility of our current roster.
- CanuckDon

Totally agree. Unless you expect Benning to absolutely bend over every gm he makes a deal with its hard not to be impressed with what he has done so far.

What was the proposed Chi deal again? TT and Shaw or something ?

Yes I would describe the trade exactly as " It is what it is".
- belcherbd

I heard TT was off the table the entire time and yet the proposed deal consisted of something along the lines of TT and Kruger or something?

Then again the vast majority of people in the "know" stated that Kes would only accept a trade to Anaheim.

We will never know for sure, no point in evaluating a rookie GM off that trade alone.

I heard TT was off the table the entire time and yet the proposed deal consisted of something along the lines of TT and Kruger or something?

Then again the vast majority of people in the "know" stated that Kes would only accept a trade to Anaheim.

We will never know for sure, no point in evaluating a rookie GM off that trade alone.
- Whiskey-Tango

Yea, I think we just have to call this one a wash

see lack of grit.
- hillbillydeluxe

Yea, I think we just have to call this one a wash
- bezz44

Yeah, what was Gillis's first trade as a rookie GM? Booner?

Yeah, what was Gillis's first trade as a rookie GM? Booner?
- A_SteamingLombardi

I think it was Bernier for a 2nd and 3rd.

I think it was Bernier for a 2nd and 3rd.
- Whiskey-Tango

I think it was Bernier for a 2nd and 3rd.
- Whiskey-Tango

Hard to live up to a move like that

I think it was Bernier for a 2nd and 3rd.
- Whiskey-Tango

Not to mention his first free agent signing was a 3-year contract for Darcy Hordichuk...

I think it was Bernier for a 2nd and 3rd.
- Whiskey-Tango

He is still playing and contributing...

Vey is a rookie to.

First of all, I'm pretty sure trading away Garrison's contract was a first assignment...

Again, Kesler to the Ducks was the only trade. Hands tied completely.

Again, Vey is also a rookie.

...and how many "pick*s*" has Benning traded away? I may be wrong but I can remember 1.
- boonerbuck

3rd rounder for Dorsett