How does this poop get started? Some anonymous Joe on the internet makes this baseless comment and now others are picking it up. Do you really think an NHL hockey team with all the knowledge they have are going to pick the guy if this nonsense were true?
- paulr

Somebody got it from some Richard named Bob, and it been spread like manure ever since.

Saw the video clip on Laine - have to agree - that looks pretty nasty. It was the way his left leg whipped around after contact. What a tough deal for him

Somebody got it from some Richard named Bob, and it been spread like manure ever since.
- mohel

Bob has spread manure before.

Holloway with two goals tonight, including the OT winner. I was willing to give away Tampa’s first for him, and the Blues get him for a third. With his size and speed, he’d look good on one of our centers left side, and he’s starting to find the back of the net.

How does this poop get started? Some anonymous Joe on the internet makes this baseless comment and now others are picking it up. Do you really think an NHL hockey team with all the knowledge they have are going to pick the guy if this nonsense were true?
- paulr

Yes I do believe that his skating style could be an issue. A serious knee injury could occur. If it was cut and dried, why was a big fuss made about it. Did he get drafted a couple slots lower? What exactly did KD mean saying he was gambling on Demidov by making a serious trade offer?

I don’t know if there is a serious issue with a knee injury, but I need to hear this discussion by those in authority and I doubt we have yet to get a clear picture on the knee injury issue

Yes I do believe that his skating style could be an issue. A serious knee injury could occur. If it was cut and dried, why was a big fuss made about it. Did he get drafted a couple slots lower? What exactly did KD mean saying he was gambling on Demidov by making a serious trade offer?

I don’t know if there is a serious issue with a knee injury, but I need to hear this discussion by those in authority and I doubt we have yet to get a clear picture on the knee injury issue
- jhawk59

In the first paragraph you say you believe his skating style could lead to an injury. In the second paragraph you state you don’t know if it will. Soooo what do you believe?

I don't think anyone has played tremendously better than him.

Certainly not Philips, Del Mastro or Crevier. Jones was a bit all over the place to start.

Playing 17 to 18 mins \ night and getting the more cushy pairings would be better. I just don't see how you can send a guy who was a NHL regular down to the AHL. And I can't think of any examples where someone has played all of a NHL season (aside form the time he missed for his fathers funeral) went down to the AHL and then became an impact player. If he goes down I don't think he will come back up and ever be a player of any consequence.

Plenty of journeymen but if that's the case then he's going to be more of a Rundblad or maybe a Gus at the high end and that's not really a player that is of any use to them.
- fattybeef

Pretty stern take, fatty. The kid will be fine as long as he stays in the NHL but if he goes down he'll never be a player of consequence? ....... I think it's a numbers game to an extent concerning KK's NHL career so far. Last yr numbers say jrs or Bigs. This yr they say we lose Phillips to waivers or we send down a kid who didn't belong in the NHL last yr.

I might crawl out on a limb and say if KK doesn't season offensively down on the farm he may never be an offensive player of consequence. IMO he isn't blessed with offensive IQ and as a result won't properly develop that part of his game in the Bigs.

And Demidov is a knee injury waiting to happen

BTW Blues knot the score 2-2 in period three

Mrzak in net entire game, not Comesso who reportedly was to have been in net tonight
- jhawk59

I thought Weeks dressed not Commesso.

In the first paragraph you say you believe his skating style could lead to an injury. In the second paragraph you state you don’t know if it will. Soooo what do you believe?
- paulr

The knee injury issue has no clear answer yet. This was harranged over for so long who knows for sure

Keeping a D man in the big show even if he wasn’t ready sure helped Adam Bovquist.
- LAHawk

Boqvist landed in the very best spot he could have, in FLA. At least we know he'll be slotted properly, goes into a system that won the cup and a squad talented enough to do so.

The knee injury issue has no clear answer yet. This was harranged over for so long who knows for sure
- jhawk59

J, this is a chance to follow a player who some may think his mechanics are poor enough it may make him susceptible to injury...... I don't see it but 10-12 yrs will answer the question.

Impressed with a group of 6 Dmen all under 23, IIRC, all but 2 spent most of the yr in RKF last yr and they showed well tonight. No small feat, no safety net for these kids.

The few times 2 pure rookies played as a pairing last yr they got totally caved.

Pretty stern take, fatty. The kid will be fine as long as he stays in the NHL but if he goes down he'll never be a player of consequence? ....... I think it's a numbers game to an extent concerning KK's NHL career so far. Last yr numbers say jrs or Bigs. This yr they say we lose Phillips to waivers or we send down a kid who didn't belong in the NHL last yr.

I might crawl out on a limb and say if KK doesn't season offensively down on the farm he may never be an offensive player of consequence. IMO he isn't blessed with offensive IQ and as a result won't properly develop that part of his game in the Bigs.
- Mr Ricochet

I can see both sides, fatty makes a good point, and I believe that KK does break camp with the Hawks. The kid played over 26 minutes tonight, LR is testing him in all situations, we’ll see.

J, this is a chance to follow a player who some may think his mechanics are poor enough it may make him susceptible to injury...... I don't see it but 10-12 yrs will answer the question.
- Mr Ricochet

I heard on NHL radio on the Hockey Prospects shows Shane Malloy (Wiz’s buddy) that Demidov dangles the puck with his feet facing 9 to 3 that he won’t be able to get away with it at the NHL level and his legs will be susceptible to injury from getting hit trying that maneuver against pro’s.

So it has nothing to do with his skating stride, but more about learning what maneuvers he will be able to get away with against pro’s

Keeping a D man in the big show even if he wasn’t ready sure helped Adam Bovquist.
- LAHawk

Or he just wasn't a good enough skater or defender to make it work. Also a lot of concussions and other bad luck injury wise.

Should be interesting to see what happens in Florida if he stays healthy.

Or he just wasn't a good enough skater or defender to make it work. Also a lot of concussions and other bad luck injury wise.

Should be interesting to see what happens in Florida if he stays healthy.
- fattybeef

Yeah I don't think it was rushing him, he just didn't have it. He doesn't have the physical aspect at the NHL level IMO.

Pretty stern take, fatty. The kid will be fine as long as he stays in the NHL but if he goes down he'll never be a player of consequence? ....... I think it's a numbers game to an extent concerning KK's NHL career so far. Last yr numbers say jrs or Bigs. This yr they say we lose Phillips to waivers or we send down a kid who didn't belong in the NHL last yr.

I might crawl out on a limb and say if KK doesn't season offensively down on the farm he may never be an offensive player of consequence. IMO he isn't blessed with offensive IQ and as a result won't properly develop that part of his game in the Bigs.
- Mr Ricochet

I don't think Philips is a NHL defender. He has the physical tools but doesn't seem to think the game well. All the time in Rockford won't help that. If he was lost to waivers I don't think that would be impactful.

How much longer is Kaiser out. It is useless to send him back to Rockford again, unless you think he will be no more than a bottom pair defenseman in the NHL, but I think he has second pair qualities.

How much longer is Kaiser out. It is useless to send him back to Rockford again, unless you think he will be no more than a bottom pair defenseman in the NHL, but I think he has second pair qualities.
- LAHawk

He is kind of in-between to me, I just question his ability to win battles because he occasionally just seemed to get out muscled.

He is kind of in-between to me, I just question his ability to win battles because he occasionally just seemed to get out muscled.
- breadbag

I really believe that Kaiser may only become a third pair guy as the mail carrier but more just the offensive puck mover on his pair so long as he is not rag dolled and can at least not get totally outmuscled. He has to be smart like Larry Murphy and dirty sometimes. He has to be really good offensively for a second pair job if his defense is too weak. Now perhaps after another year or two he conceivably is stronger but he has to be able to have technique and leverage because it is not all about brute strength in battling.

I could envision he starts in Rockford say a three or five game conditioning stint and Phillips stays up at least until Kaiser is recalled.

Richardson and KD have watched and I trust they will not make a wrong call if someone is demoted or traded. Let us see if anyone gets claimed off waivers/out of minor league option for demotion

I don't think Philips is a NHL defender. He has the physical tools but doesn't seem to think the game well. All the time in Rockford won't help that. If he was lost to waivers I don't think that would be impactful.
- fattybeef

Sorry Mr Richochet but I concur with this opinion I would love to be wrong because Phillips could surprise us somewhat and start thinking the game and using his strength more as an asset I am willing to allow Phillips to stay for a while in the NHL and prove he belongs Some players may turn out ok after forever more years and connect; this could be the case with Phillips. Some players have to accept what they must do and cannot do when it goes against the grain of how they used their natural ability all these years but now they cannot get by just in skill alone. Could that be true for Phillips- don’t know but this may be his final year here if he doesn’t improve

Or he just wasn't a good enough skater or defender to make it work. Also a lot of concussions and other bad luck injury wise.

Should be interesting to see what happens in Florida if he stays healthy.
- fattybeef

Kind of fun looking back and when he was drafted I mused, oh a real skill guy someone for real as an offensive catalyst not a half fake offensive D Keith type.

He has had a checkered injury history and I am cheering for him with Florida

I really believe that Kaiser may only become a third pair guy as the mail carrier but more just the offensive puck mover on his pair so long as he is not rag dolled and can at least not get totally outmuscled. He has to be smart like Larry Murphy and dirty sometimes. He has to be really good offensively for a second pair job if his defense is too weak. Now perhaps after another year or two he conceivably is stronger but he has to be able to have technique and leverage because it is not all about brute strength in battling.

I could envision he starts in Rockford say a three or five game conditioning stint and Phillips stays up at least until Kaiser is recalled.

Richardson and KD have watched and I trust they will not make a wrong call if someone is demoted or traded. Let us see if anyone gets claimed off waivers/out of minor league option for demotion
- jhawk59

While not totally a positive thing, we have a D core that will probably miss a moderate number of games with injuries (based on the previous track record) so there will likely be opportunities nearly as much as last season for the young players to get their minutes. The young guys playing will just have a bit better supporting cast around them.

Tonight felt like a real glimpse into the future (minus Artyom Levshunov who is not back from injury) but we had the young guy D going strong. Korchinski, Vlasic, Del Mastro, Phillips, Allan, Crevier, it was the young guns night on the back end with everyone 23 and younger. Korchinski & Vlasic leading the way. Korchinski with nearly 27 minutes, Vlasic with nearly 24. The other 4 getting their reps in that 17-18 minute range.

Yeah I don't think it was rushing him, he just didn't have it. He doesn't have the physical aspect at the NHL level IMO.
- breadbag

I didn’t see KK in his 26 minutes win one board battle, nor be able to handle anyone physically in front of the net.

I didn’t see KK in his 26 minutes win one board battle, nor be able to handle anyone physically in front of the net.
- LAHawk

I didn't either and the real playing doesn't start for a couple of weeks.

This is a bad NHL team anyway with 4 older veteran Dmen, so send him to Rockford for half or the full season and play the hell out of him there - the Vlasic blueprint is there to be followed.