Re: GDT: Nov. 1; Canucks@ Flames; 6:30 pst on TSN
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:57 pm
Hodgson is ready to learn the NHL. The canucks have a spot open for him given the injury to Raymond. I fail to see why Hodgson would be best served going back to the AHL right now. If he wasn't one of the top 12 forwards on the team then sure he should be in the AHL instead of the press box. But he is one of the 12 best and is where he belongs. Certainly he has some struggles. In particular his defensive play can be suspect as he isn't the biggest guy but also because he is learning a new position. He seems to be drawn down too far down in the defensive zone and can't get to the boards or the point when he needs to. Might be his center instincts taking over when that happens. I think offensively he's doing quite well.
Booth has points in back to back games now and has drawn a couple of penalties with his speed and strength. Think back to the Bourque penalty. I don't think anyone but Kesler or Booth can draw that penalty because it was drawn using speed and strength. Maybe a healthy Raymond is fast enough to draw the hook but he is also much weaker and may have just been bodied off the puck. Booth hasn't been great but I'll take OK for now. OK with the intangibles of grit, strength and speed will do just fine until Kesler can get his game back (remember it's going to take 15ish games for Kesler to get to where he needs to be).
Booth has points in back to back games now and has drawn a couple of penalties with his speed and strength. Think back to the Bourque penalty. I don't think anyone but Kesler or Booth can draw that penalty because it was drawn using speed and strength. Maybe a healthy Raymond is fast enough to draw the hook but he is also much weaker and may have just been bodied off the puck. Booth hasn't been great but I'll take OK for now. OK with the intangibles of grit, strength and speed will do just fine until Kesler can get his game back (remember it's going to take 15ish games for Kesler to get to where he needs to be).