- A_SteamingLombardi

- Marwood

Thanks Carol. Will you be doing any coverage of junior Summer tournament?

Everyone has their eye on OJ's push for the NHL. The alternative of getting loaned to Europe sounds like a complicated process. London would have to agree and European team make room into their season for him to develop on roster.

However, if OJ earns it in camp and shows he's ready. Well, we know Hutton was overused on the left side last season. Set him back. Perhaps for his confidence and development a rotation with OJ would allow for competition and measured development. Could help with confidence and learning without being overworked or overwhelmed. So when the invevitable injury plague hits they will both be on better ground to do more.

I missed pump and dump as a thing on this thread, sounds erotic and kind of messy. Stecher and Hutton's numbers speak for themselves. Only one of them played top4 minutes and didn't get absolutely schooled the entire time.
- neem55

Actually their rookie numbers are pretty similar when they both played top 4.

Stecher had 3 g 24 pts -16 his first year playing almost exclusively with Edler (73 games)

Hutton Had 1 G 24 pts -24 his first year playing ~ half the season with Tanev. (75 games)

At 5v5 They both played 1174 minutes their first season.

Stecher 13 A 85 shots
Hutton 1 G 15 A 70 shots

- CanuckDon

Actually their rookie numbers are pretty similar when they both played top 4.

Stecher had 3 g 24 pts -16 his first year playing almost exclusively with Edler (73 games)

Hutton Had 1 G 24 pts -24 his first year playing ~ half the season with Tanev. (75 games)

At 5v5 They both played 1174 minutes their first season.

Stecher 13 A 85 shots
Hutton 1 G 15 A 70 shots
- belcherbd

Yeah they had promising rookie years. But Hutton had a sophomore set back playing in a bigger role.

But here's your choices as they are now since both play different sides.

Stecher or Biega, Subban.
Hutton or OJ, Wiercoch, Pedan. (Holm needs NA adjustment in AHL)

Thanks Carol. Will you be doing any coverage of junior Summer tournament?

Everyone has their eye on OJ's push for the NHL. The alternative of getting loaned to Europe sounds like a complicated process. London would have to agree and European team make room into their season for him to develop on roster.

However, if OJ earns it in camp and shows he's ready. Well, we know Hutton was overused on the left side last season. Set him back. Perhaps for his confidence and development a rotation with OJ would allow for competition and measured development. Could help with confidence and learning without being overworked or overwhelmed. So when the invevitable injury plague hits they will both be on better ground to do more.
- Nuck4U

I don't understand this notion....he played slightly more his second season to his first ~ 30 seconds a game more. He improved his PP play leading the team in points for the 2nd year from the back-end on the PP. (I know its a low bar)

The only thing that really changed from season 1 to season 2 for Hutton was he went from being paired with a good, some might even say ELITE partner to being paired with replacement level players or a rookie.

Fair enough, I'm in the pro-Makita, ant- pump and dump crowd.....that is to say I like Hutton and think Stecher is overrated.
- belcherbd

Hey bro, Mom says hi, wondering how life is in Nanaimo and why don't you ever call?

But I still love ya...

Hey bro, Mom says hi, wondering how life is in Nanaimo and why don't you ever call?

But I still love ya...
- Makita

Mom knows that I don't call as much any more because the ad nauseam here...I mean with her gets old

I don't understand this notion....he played slightly more his second season to his first ~ 30 seconds a game more. He improved his PP play leading the team in points for the 2nd year from the back-end on the PP. (I know its a low bar)

The only thing that really changed from season 1 to season 2 for Hutton was he went from being paired with a good, some might even say ELITE partner to being paired with replacement level players or a rookie.
- belcherbd

Yes, he wasn't ready to carry a pairing. It wasn't ice time but his role and responsibilities. It increased against top lines and he wasn't on par or above his paired new partners enough. So that hurt him in performance and consistency.

But can see him be more effective if he was in a competitive rotation for games. Also, you can leave it all on the ice and not worry about saving some for next game too. If OJ is ready to push him there then it can work. Both will be needed when MDZ and/or Edler break down as is their usual NHL injury norm.

Actually their rookie numbers are pretty similar when they both played top 4.

Stecher had 3 g 24 pts -16 his first year playing almost exclusively with Edler (73 games)

Hutton Had 1 G 24 pts -24 his first year playing ~ half the season with Tanev. (75 games)

At 5v5 They both played 1174 minutes their first season.

Stecher 13 A 85 shots
Hutton 1 G 15 A 70 shots
- belcherbd

This is incorrect. he didn't play top4 until january of his first year, for about 25-30 gmaes. He was awful. he didnt play anywhere close to 71 games with tanev, edler is tanev's partner.

This is incorrect. he didn't play top4 until january of his first year, for about 25-30 gmaes. He was awful. he didnt play anywhere close to 71 games with tanev, edler is tanev's partner.
- neem55

I think maybe you misunderstood what I wrote. ~ this symbol mean approximately and I said he played approximately half the season with Tanev.

When Edler went down Hutton played top pairing minutes with Tanev the rest of the season and certainly wasn't awful IMO.

I think maybe you misunderstood what I wrote. ~ this symbol mean approximately and I said he played approximately half the season with Tanev.

When Edler went down Hutton played top pairing minutes with Tanev the rest of the season and certainly wasn't awful IMO.
- belcherbd

Ok, you're entitled to your opinion. Statistically, he was in the bottom 5 of all top 4 defenseman. I personally thought he was in over his head the minute he got thrown in there.

London has produced so many NHLer's... I don't really get the hate at all, seems really uninformed. Wiercoch, Holm and Biega are all AHL calibre d-men IMO (although, Holm I admittedly know a lot less about).
- neem55

Theres absolutely no hate here at all, I don't know where are you getting that notion?

All I'm saying is 1. OJ has done just about everything we can at the OHL level.
2. Sure Weircioich, Biega and Holm are AHL level defensemen, but thats more than OJ is, so what makes you think he's ready to leap frog these guys and be ready for the NHL? Just let the kid come into camp/pre-season and lets reassess then.
He may be good enough for 7th and maybe thats the best thing for him this season, getting sheltered minutes and learning slowly.

Theres absolutely no hate here at all, I don't know where are you getting that notion?

All I'm saying is 1. OJ has done just about everything we can at the OHL level.
2. Sure Weircioich, Biega and Holm are AHL level defensemen, but thats more than OJ is, so what makes you think he's ready to leap frog these guys and be ready for the NHL? Just let the kid come into camp/pre-season and lets reassess then.
He may be good enough for 7th and maybe thats the best thing for him this season, getting sheltered minutes and learning slowly.
- Brooks_Light

That sounds about right how it could play out.

Ok, you're entitled to your opinion. Statistically, he was in the bottom 5 of all top 4 defenseman. I personally thought he was in over his head the minute he got thrown in there.
- neem55

and given the fact that we're talking about both Stecher and Huttons rookie years, one undrafted, one 5th rounder, coming straight out of college (to playing double the amount of games) in a top 4 role, what did you expect?

Maybe lower your expectations.

Ok, you're entitled to your opinion. Statistically, he was in the bottom 5 of all top 4 defenseman. I personally thought he was in over his head the minute he got thrown in there.
- neem55

Of course he was no argument there, considering he was a rookie asked to play top pairing minutes while the team pushed for a playoff spot, he did well.

If you are comparing him to all top for D, I assume using minutes played, and he only played top 4 half the season doesn't it make it even more impressive?

How did Stecher compare vs all top 4 D last year? Unless every D in the league got worse, I imagine he is also bottom 5.

and given the fact that we're talking about both Stecher and Huttons rookie years, one undrafted, one 5th rounder, coming straight out of college (to playing double the amount of games) in a top 4 role, what did you expect?

Maybe lower your expectations.
- Brooks_Light

Agreed. Not to mention the fact that Hutton was essentially the first drafted Canuck d prospect to crack the roster in years. On one hand, everyone is preaching patience and development yet when a kid fails to become a certified 'top 4 D' in his rookie season pps explode.

God help poor OJ...

Agreed. Not to mention the fact that Hutton was essentially the first drafted Canuck d prospect to crack the roster in years. On one hand, everyone is preaching patience and development yet when a kid fails to become a certified 'top 4 D' in his rookie season pps explode.

God help poor OJ...
- Whiskey-Tango

God did help OJ and now hes on the brink of Parole.

Agreed. Not to mention the fact that Hutton was essentially the first drafted Canuck d prospect to crack the roster in years. On one hand, everyone is preaching patience and development yet when a kid fails to become a certified 'top 4 D' in his rookie season pps explode.

God help poor OJ...
- Whiskey-Tango

Yet to give some minutes to a lesser D who has more experience is out of the question for most.

Agreed. Not to mention the fact that Hutton was essentially the first drafted Canuck d prospect to crack the roster in years. On one hand, everyone is preaching patience and development yet when a kid fails to become a certified 'top 4 D' in his rookie season pps explode.

God help poor OJ...
- Whiskey-Tango

Where are you getting this from? Some people are saying to have OJ as our 7th D, and others are saying Juniors or Trade a D(Hutton in the case) if your going to make room for him. Though I am sure everyone would prefer Edler moved.

Where are you getting this from? Some people are saying to have OJ as our 7th D, and others are saying Juniors or Trade a D(Hutton in the case) if your going to make room for him. Though I am sure everyone would prefer Edler moved.
- Retinalz

Has to do with the previous convo and placing unreasonable expectations on rookie Dmen, in this case, Hutton.

Agreed. Not to mention the fact that Hutton was essentially the first drafted Canuck d prospect to crack the roster in years. On one hand, everyone is preaching patience and development yet when a kid fails to become a certified 'top 4 D' in his rookie season pps explode.

God help poor OJ...
- Whiskey-Tango

I already feel sorry for him.

Has to do with the previous convo and placing unreasonable expectations on rookie Dmen, in this case, Hutton.
- Whiskey-Tango

With a promising rookie campaign, it was only natural there would be expectations on him to improve in his second year. Every fan of every team does it to players. This year he needs to improve and show he is a 35-40pt guy if he is going to be a top 4 mainstay. I think if OJ shows he is better at camp than Hutton make room for OJ, otherwise send OJ back to Juniors, or Europe.