November 24, 2014

Thoughts on Parenteau; Kreider; some Trade Talk; Horvat; Versteeg and more …

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It’s with no small amount of sadness that I share the news of the passing of Pat Quinn, who died Sunday night at the age of 71. The members are sharing their memories and stories of Quinn here.

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After five points in his first five games with Montreal, P-A Parenteau has just five in 18 games since. And now his ice time is reflecting his production – down to just under 13 minutes Sunday. It gives him 43 points in his last 78 games. Truly a product of his linemates – and there is no version of a Tavares or a Duchene in Montreal to help Parenteau owners out of this one.

I had spoken a lot in the summer about Chris Kreider and how he was not only a multi-category stud, but potentially one of the best this year. And that even if his offense flatlined to just over 40 points, he was a ‘can’t miss’ because of the other categories. So far, that has been fairly true, as his PIM is already at 40 and his plus/minus has been in the positive. But his points were below that 40-point pace and his shots-on-goal were disappointing as well. Last night he pulled some of the numbers back in line thanks to two assists, seven shots on goal, five hits and a plus-3 rating.

With Lee Stempniak sidelined, you’re seeing a bump in ice time for the kids. Anthony Duclair saw his highest ice time since October 25 on Sunday, with 13:37. He picked up his first point since November 3.

Here were the Rangers line combos – and make sure you bookmark Frozen Pool for these:

 

22.35%	EV	16 BRASSARD,DERICK – 61 NASH,RICK – 36 ZUCCARELLO,MATS
20.39%	EV	20 KREIDER,CHRIS – 26 ST. LOUIS,MARTIN – 21 STEPAN,DEREK
14.51%	EV	63 DUCLAIR,ANTHONY – 62 HAGELIN,CARL – 13 HAYES,KEVIN
12.94%	EV	19 FAST,JESPER – 15 GLASS,TANNER – 28 MOORE,DOMINIC

 

And while I’m at it, I’m taking suggestions on what we should add to the player profiles page (to see one, just click on a player name in these ramblings).

Look at this beauty steal by Marty St. Louis before going roof daddy…

 

 

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Stephen Weiss scored two goals in two AHL games over the weekend and is back with Detroit. Apparently he feels healthy for the first time in over a year. Not ready to trust that just yet…

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Rene Bourque played his first game with the Ducks. Just 10 minutes of ice time but he still managed three shots on goal. Here were the line combos:

 

21.32%	EV	17 KESLER,RYAN – 19 MAROON,PATRICK – 21 PALMIERI,KYLE
20.96%	EV	7 COGLIANO,ANDREW – 33 SILFVERBERG,JAKOB – 44 THOMPSON,NATE
20.59%	EV	39 BELESKEY,MATT – 15 GETZLAF,RYAN – 10 PERRY,COREY
16.91%	EV	14 BOURQUE,RENE – 67 RAKELL,RICKARD – 12 SMITH-PELLY,DEVANTE

 

Bruce Boudreau really doesn’t want to give Jakob Silfverberg a chance on the big line, does he? Silfverberg will get 40 points this year without playing a game on the Getzlaf – Perry line. But I’d love to see his point totals if he actually got a few games on it.

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After scoring his first career NHL goal Thursday, Bo Horvat followed it up with his first three assists last night. Horvat is clicking with Jannik Hansen, who scored three. Playing with Horvat is just what the doctor ordered for Hansen, who is really only effective when a skilled player lines up with him. Looks like Horvat is that player, and now Hansen has five goals in his last three games.

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Kris Versteeg has 13 points in his last 12 games and it appears that he’s found some of the old magic again. The injury problems that he went through in Florida looked to take a permanent bit out of his future production, but clearly he is completely healthy and suffering no more ill effects. Prior to his injuries, he was starting to look like a 70-point player. He’s starting to look like that again, though I suspect the production will drop off again once Patrick Sharp returns.

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Cody Eakin has quietly put up five points in his last three games for Dallas, if you’re looking for some short-term help at center.

Meanwhile, rookie phenom (?) John Klingberg has six points in his last four games. Seriously, pick this guy up with full confidence, if you haven’t already done so. During those four games, Trevor Daley and Alex Goligoski each had just a point. Klingberg’s arrival also forced Kevin Connauton onto waivers and then off to Columbus.

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Jakub Voracek – 22 points in 13 games!

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Milan Lucic calls Dalton Prout “gutless” for this punch: