I heard on 1040 yesterday the Advertising commitee at head office were putting Chaput on Programs and possibly tickets

Thats how you sell your team to this city
- vancity787

Should we expect a Chaput Dog?

seems like Willie really like his 4th line simple.... dumping the puck, getting a good forecheck, killing time in the offensive zone. I'd label them as an energy line? is that the right term?
- Crazybagoham

I dunno.

i think of an energy line as...having energy or creating energy by making big hits, getting in on the forecheck, forcing turn overs and generally taking it to the opposition, creating a spill over effect that pumps up the other lines.

our 4th line right now is safe. v safe.

best spot for him, hes the guy on the lineup to rise up and make everyone better
- WhiteLie

Sadly, I don't see JV that way. Hockey IQ what it is too. He's not a creator or elevator per say but a needed piece you add to a high talent line. Like the mag wheels to a sports car. But uselsss on a run down Skoda.

I actually miss Dorsett.
Say what you will, be he was great on the forecheck and always seemed to get a couple shots per game.

When he was on a 4th line, there was at least a possibility of some offence eventuating.
Right now? Not so much.
- dbot

I think his biggest criticisms were his contract and Willie's use of him, but I miss him too. He's a guy that brought it every night, gave that energy boost and passion with his feisty play. He would be a straight line player and make hits, we havent seen much of that lately

I actually miss Dorsett.
Say what you will, be he was great on the forecheck and always seemed to get a couple shots per game.

When he was on a 4th line, there was at least a possibility of some offence eventuating.
Right now? Not so much.
- dbot

I don't mind not much offense from our 4th line as long as they are reliable defensively. Skille is basically Dorsett-lite until we get him back next year

Chaput has been better at the AHL level. I don't like Gaunce or Chaput but I don't believe Grenier is a better option. If that Labate had been healthy he would be my preference as at least he is physical.
- CanuckDon

All i'm saying is we know now after 60-90 games at the NHL level, what Chaput and Gaunce bring, and for 4th liners - its not much. They're definitely replaceable.

Maybe Boucher, Labate or Grenier are not better options, but why not give them 30 games? As 4th liners on this bubble team, we really got nothing to lose and who knows one of them might prove us wrong and surprise everyone.

I dunno.

i think of an energy line as...having energy or creating energy by making big hits, getting in on the forecheck, forcing turn overs and generally taking it to the opposition, creating a spill over effect that pumps up the other lines.

our 4th line right now is safe. v safe.
- dbot

ya you have a point, my mind went right to that 4th line boston had when you said that (think it was paille,thorton and campbell) that's an energy line.

maybe the "too afraid to make a play" line?

Oh, well im thinking because JB wouldnt owe them any sort of loyalty (look at Jensen/Shinkaruk) one could argue Gaunce is very similar to those 2 (overrated in junior, went up in the draft and can barely make the league now). Just seems odd that Gaunce has been in the line up all year, considering he only plays 4th line
- Crazybagoham

I don't mind not much offense from our 4th line as long as they are reliable defensively. Skille is basically Dorsett-lite until we get him back next year
- NorthNuck

Skille has been skating his butt off, so I really liked that PTO contract. i have a lot of respect for Dorsett as well, he has way more tools than ppl give him credit for, fights all the time (considering hes kind of a shrimp),and on top of it all he has some really soft hands and is a good skater. Yeah, the contract isnt great, but I really like him in our bottom 6

good point.

my guess is it comes down to what WD wants from a 4th line, which seems to be defensively responsible.

our 4th line doesn't light it up, or smash em up, but they don't seem to be out of position much or take bad penalties.

in saying that, i'd like to see Boucher get a couple games, to see if he can bring a spark.
- dbot

Then why are they out there in the dying minutes of a game when we are down by a goal?

Sadly, I don't see JV that way. Hockey IQ what it is too. He's not a creator or elevator per say but a needed piece you add to a high talent line. Like the mag wheels to a sports car. But uselsss on a run down Skoda.
- Nuck4U

I dont necessarily mean elevator as in playmaker, but that teams focus on him so much that others get opportunities. Like when Ovechkin is on the ice, guys are focused on where he is and try to take away his space, leaving more room for others, thats the kind of impact I hope JV has in Utica

I don't mind not much offense from our 4th line as long as they are reliable defensively. Skille is basically Dorsett-lite until we get him back next year
- NorthNuck

Well then you must like our current 4th line, the safety line.

Skille has been skating his butt off, so I really liked that PTO contract. i have a lot of respect for Dorsett as well, he has way more tools than ppl give him credit for, fights all the time (considering hes kind of a shrimp),and on top of it all he has some really soft hands and is a good skater. Yeah, the contract isnt great, but I really like him in our bottom 6
- Crazybagoham

Then why are they out there in the dying minutes of a game when we are down by a goal?
- Retinalz

Nice try buddy.
Although i like a lot of the roster, i aint WD!

Then why are they out there in the dying minutes of a game when we are down by a goal?
- Retinalz

If there was an answer to that i'm sure we'd also cure world hunger/poverty/cancer.

I actually miss Dorsett.
Say what you will, be he was great on the forecheck and always seemed to get a couple shots per game.

When he was on a 4th line, there was at least a possibility of some offence eventuating.
Right now? Not so much.
- dbot

I miss Dorsett as well. Hopefully it isn't a career ending injury

I dunno.

i think of an energy line as...having energy or creating energy by making big hits, getting in on the forecheck, forcing turn overs and generally taking it to the opposition, creating a spill over effect that pumps up the other lines.

our 4th line right now is safe. v safe.
- dbot

Bringing it hard today
- NorthNuck

Only so many times one can complain about Megnas ice time. May as well just enjoy the day.

Same can be said about any player though. We wouldnt have Burrows if we never gave him a shot as his numbers in Jr, AHL and early NHL days were nothing spectacular. Giving someone a chance based on what he did years ago over what he shows today in practice is not how I want my team run
- WhiteLie

Totally agree...players earn it
U bust your ass & make ppl notice u is my take.
None of this get a chance crap or he deserves a shot.
Thats what a couch potato would have u believe.

Well then you must like our current 4th line, the safety line.
- dbot

I'm glad they're not giving up 3 goals a game if that's what you mean. IMO you should expect very little offensively from a 4th line, shouldn't have to ever rely on them to produce points. That is, if your top 9 are a proper top 9. Ours are not, but I think with a complete forward group our current 4th line would look pretty good.

Only so many times one can complain about Megnas ice time. May as well just enjoy the day.
- VANTEL

All i'm saying is we know now after 60-90 games at the NHL level, what Chaput and Gaunce bring, and for 4th liners - its not much. They're definitely replaceable.

Maybe Boucher, Labate or Grenier are not better options, but why not give them 30 games? As 4th liners on this bubble team, we really got nothing to lose and who knows one of them might prove us wrong and surprise everyone.
- Brooks_Light

Fair enough, I just don't think Grenier brings more to the table than Boucher, Labate or Magma. Benning isn't going to start experimenting with AHL players when they are chasing a playoff spot. When they are out of the race, we will see Subban and Labate get some ice time (Grenier is doubtful).

Skille has been skating his butt off, so I really liked that PTO contract. i have a lot of respect for Dorsett as well, he has way more tools than ppl give him credit for, fights all the time (considering hes kind of a shrimp),and on top of it all he has some really soft hands and is a good skater. Yeah, the contract isnt great, but I really like him in our bottom 6
- Crazybagoham

Really? When?

I'm glad they're not giving up 3 goals a game if that's what you mean. IMO you should expect very little offensively from a 4th line, shouldn't have to ever rely on them to produce points. That is, if your top 9 are a proper top 9. Ours are not, but I think with a complete forward group our current 4th line would look pretty good.
- NorthNuck

It goes back to what you want out of 4th line.
It sounds like you (like WD) prefer a defensively responsible 4th line that doesn't make a lot of mistakes, doesn't get out position and doesn't take a lot of chances offensively.
That's cool.

I don't expect a lot of goals from a 4th line, but my preference is a line that has speed on the forecheck, pressures the other team to make turn overs, gets the odd chance, takes it to the net hard and is willing to scrap. But that's just me.

I'm glad they're not giving up 3 goals a game if that's what you mean. IMO you should expect very little offensively from a 4th line, shouldn't have to ever rely on them to produce points. That is, if your top 9 are a proper top 9. Ours are not, but I think with a complete forward group our current 4th line would look pretty good.
- NorthNuck

well.... Willie likes to believe this a 4 line team, or that we are build up to one, but our bottom 6 literally has no production, our defense doesnt produce much either. So I would disagree, 4th line becomes important offensively because we play them almost 15 minutes so they need to pull their weight. Just my thoughts on that though