Comments on: Doing the math on the top 4 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/ gorillacrouch [at] gmail.com Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:12:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Gorilla Crouch » Looking at the D-men via the PK http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2215 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:55:19 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2215 [...] Lilja, Ference and Sopel’s PK ability might give them the inside track on making the squad The big battle at Red Wings training camp appears to be for the three spots that are up for grabs on the blueline. You can all but pencil Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Cheli into the top 5. I’ve made my case for why I think Brent Sopel has a solid chance to claim the #4 d-man spot and there’s even more support for this position when you look at the penalty kill. I think the penalty kill stats are going to give us some insight into how the sixth and seventh d-man spots are going to be filled. [...] […] Lilja, Ference and Sopel’s PK ability might give them the inside track on making the squad The big battle at Red Wings training camp appears to be for the three spots that are up for grabs on the blueline. You can all but pencil Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Cheli into the top 5. I’ve made my case for why I think Brent Sopel has a solid chance to claim the #4 d-man spot and there’s even more support for this position when you look at the penalty kill. I think the penalty kill stats are going to give us some insight into how the sixth and seventh d-man spots are going to be filled. […]

]]> by: On Sopel at On the Wings http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2206 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:48:03 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2206 [...] I realize I’m a little late to chime in on this topic. Others have said their piece already and made some great points. See Abel to Yzerman, Gorilla Crouch, and yzerman is god. [...] […] I realize I’m a little late to chime in on this topic. Others have said their piece already and made some great points. See Abel to Yzerman, Gorilla Crouch, and yzerman is god. […]

]]> by: Dave http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2205 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:19:16 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2205 Good points on Meech. I just want to a) see him make the squad and then b) see how he looks in Detroit. Then I'll be more confident as far as developing an opinion on him. Good points on Meech. I just want to a) see him make the squad and then b) see how he looks in Detroit. Then I’ll be more confident as far as developing an opinion on him.

]]> by: Pete K http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2204 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:07:30 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2007/09/11/doing-the-math-on-the-top-4/#comment-2204 I think I could have been clearer about what role I intended for Meech or Lebda - I look at either as the #5/6 d-man, and if Meech were to come in it would be at the expense of Lebda, since they are basically the same player from what I can tell. Lilja would be the #4 guy but not in terms of the PP. Now I have no problem bringing the guy in, but I've just heard a lot about Sopel's slapper, being a poor-man's Schneider, making a big impact on the PP. I just think that, it's not clear he's that good, and also I just don't think it makes sense to build your PP around a strategy that will have to be changed in the postseason. The shooting wide thing is good, but it seems like a bit of a gimmick to me and I wonder if teams will adjust to it and figure it out. I think I could have been clearer about what role I intended for Meech or Lebda - I look at either as the #5/6 d-man, and if Meech were to come in it would be at the expense of Lebda, since they are basically the same player from what I can tell. Lilja would be the #4 guy but not in terms of the PP.

Now I have no problem bringing the guy in, but I’ve just heard a lot about Sopel’s slapper, being a poor-man’s Schneider, making a big impact on the PP. I just think that, it’s not clear he’s that good, and also I just don’t think it makes sense to build your PP around a strategy that will have to be changed in the postseason. The shooting wide thing is good, but it seems like a bit of a gimmick to me and I wonder if teams will adjust to it and figure it out.

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