Sure if the giveaways were forced. His are just blatant. Did you see the reverse hit he tried to do on Malkin, while he had the puck and then fell down??? Who the (frank) does that!?
- mdw7413

(frank)ing Trouba does, that's who

but on a night where they lost a defenseman and killed a billion penalties, overall he was important player last night, led everyone in the game in minuites played

Trouba was a beast last night on the penalty kill and while they held the lead, he's extremely physical, they really have no one else like him

I am surprised how little gifts he has offensively though, so that remains a disappointment for that money
- jimbro83

He has a bomb from the point, he hesitates to uses it and instead wrists shots wide of the net

It feels like Hajek hasn’t gotten nearly enough of a chance. I don’t understand how he doesn’t play over Smith or JJ. Now Bitetto. Is he still hurt or something?
- Slimtj100

He was pretty bad last year after the year before where he came up from the Pack and played real good till his shoulder got shattered. Maybe he hasn't been good at the camps or anything? I wouldn't mind giving him another shot, but he hasn't looked good.

He was pretty bad last year after the year before where he came up from the Pack and played real good till his shoulder got shattered. Maybe he hasn't been good at the camps or anything? I wouldn't mind giving him another shot, but he hasn't looked good.
- mdw7413

I saw one glimpse of Hajek in recent memory, during camp when Lafreniere annihilated him into the boards

Sure if the giveaways were forced. His are just blatant. Did you see the reverse hit he tried to do on Malkin, while he had the puck and then fell down??? Who the (frank) does that!?
- mdw7413

Game of inches. We'd all have praised him if he landed it and put Malkin on his ass

(frank)ing Trouba does, that's who

but on a night where they lost a defenseman and killed a billion penalties, overall he was important player last night, led everyone in the game in minuites played
- jimbro83

I think they should give his minutes to Fox. Just have Fox, Miller and Lindgren play 35 minutes a night.

Game of inches. We'd all have praised him if he landed it and put Malkin on his ass
- Bean_Dip

True.
But, I literally can't think of another time I've seen a player miss a reverse hit!

I think they should give his minutes to Fox. Just have Fox, Miller and Lindgren play 35 minutes a night.
- mdw7413

well last night without Smith that would have been a 60 minute night for Fox lol

I saw one glimpse of Hajek in recent memory, during camp when Lafreniere annihilated him into the boards
- jimbro83

Yeah, that was his highlight from camp.

Speaking of which, where is that nasty side of Laf? I heard all about it pre-draft. Maybe he is still getting comfortable doing the little things right, but I want to see that player that was talked about before the draft.

well last night without Smith that would have been a 60 minute night for Fox lol
- jimbro83

He could do it.

Yeah, that was his highlight from camp.

Speaking of which, where is that nasty side of Laf? I heard all about it pre-draft. Maybe he is still getting comfortable doing the little things right, but I want to see that player that was talked about before the draft.
- mdw7413

he just seems to not have a lot of confidence yet, seems like he's in awe of playing with Panarin sometimes

while K'Andre, that kid has more confidence already than I ever would have imagined

He was pretty bad last year after the year before where he came up from the Pack and played real good till his shoulder got shattered. Maybe he hasn't been good at the camps or anything? I wouldn't mind giving him another shot, but he hasn't looked good.
- mdw7413

Not for nothing, Bitetto looked terrible and we know JJ is bad. So makes no sense to me

Not for nothing, Bitetto looked terrible and we know JJ is bad. So makes no sense to me
- Slimtj100

they need to play Bitetto though to expose for expansion

the expansion rules are dumb, hopefully this is last team forever

they need to play Bitetto though to expose for expansion

the expansion rules are dumb, hopefully this is last team forever
- jimbro83

Rangers have a handful of guys to expose that I wouldn’t lose sleep over. That shouldn’t be a thing, unless they don’t enough dmen to expose. Which I guess is what you mean?

Rangers have a handful of guys to expose that I wouldn’t lose sleep over. That shouldn’t be a thing, unless they don’t enough dmen to expose. Which I guess is what you mean?
- Slimtj100

yeah, that's what I mean, they don't have enough to expose, they need to play Bitetto so he meets requirements

he just seems to not have a lot of confidence yet, seems like he's in awe of playing with Panarin sometimes

while K'Andre, that kid has more confidence already than I ever would have imagined
- jimbro83

It amazing he picked up hockey so late. Imagine where he would be if it was his sport from like pee-wee's?? He is like Bo Jackson, probably could play any sport he wants

Not for nothing, Bitetto looked terrible and we know JJ is bad. So makes no sense to me
- Slimtj100

I'm not against seeing Hajek, but maybe he has been worse than those 2 guys

Yeah, that was his highlight from camp.

Speaking of which, where is that nasty side of Laf? I heard all about it pre-draft. Maybe he is still getting comfortable doing the little things right, but I want to see that player that was talked about before the draft.
- mdw7413

I think it's coming.
I was thinking about precisely that last night. I hope that this is his adjustment period to competing against men rather than adolescents. He doesn't look out of place in his first month in the league. I have hopes that this is his baseline and great things are not far away!

I think it's coming.
I was thinking about precisely that last night. I hope that this is his adjustment period to competing against men rather than adolescents. He doesn't look out of place in his first month in the league. I have hopes that this is his baseline and great things are not far away!
- Tonybere

Yeah. This better not be his base line.

In all seriousness though it probably is him just adjusting, I mean he hasn't looked bad by any stretch. Just not what I expected. I will try to be patient.

WPG fans have said it... Morrissey made Trouba look a lot better than he actually was.

WPG fans have said it... Morrissey made Trouba look a lot better than he actually was.
- aecliptic

I think that's exactly what the problem has been. For as much crap as i give him, i think anytime he's had a responsible partner his boneheaded moves are somewhat mitigated and he is more effective. Hopefully K'Andre can anchor his dumb ass

I think that's exactly what the problem has been. For as much crap as i give him, i think anytime he's had a responsible partner his boneheaded moves are somewhat mitigated and he is more effective. Hopefully K'Andre can anchor his dumb ass
- picklerick

That's the problem though. You don't pay someone 8 million a year that needs someone to cover up for him.

That's the problem though. You don't pay someone 8 million a year that needs someone to cover up for him.
- TPC

Agreed. But this is the world we live in now. Troubaworld

WPG fans have said it... Morrissey made Trouba look a lot better than he actually was.
- aecliptic

a defensive role even strength

Just catching up. I think this is the Trouba I imagined we were getting, he will always be solid, but never a true #1 guy. He was never worth the contract, but I always will say the trade we gave them that you had to make that move.

Trouba has never been a real driver of offense. He literally had one good year in Winny on that front. Just leave him on the PK and a more defensive role even strength. We have plenty of guys who will create a ton of offense, we don't need Trouba to do that.

Agreed. But this is the world we live in now. Troubaworld
- picklerick

Yep. If only we could renegotiate that contract for a few million less. He's a good 2nd pairing guy, which is what he will be here. Unfortunately, he's not paid that way.