Comments for Indicators of Success: Centers (West 2011) at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Mon, 20 May 2013 03:32:54 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18040 [b]RE: Backes[/b] I wrote about Backes 2 weeks ago under the RW, but I can elaborate a bit more. Much like Steen and Oshie, Backes is a Hitch favourite, so he'll get his time. I think with the fact that he's also the Captain, Hitch generally places more emphasis in leadership and gives his leadership group a bit more opportunity. If you look at the breakdowns right now. He's leading the team in ice-time and point production and pretty close to the leaders in PP ice-time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish as the team leader in points. I see somewhere around 60-65 come April. With 3+ minutes on the PP he'd be a 75 pointer, but that just won't happen with the depth that they have in STL. - Ryan Ma Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:35:39 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18039 [b]RE: Blues[/b] I think it's the whole "offense by committee" thing. There's just too many people there to figure out who's going to score on a consistent basis, which is what makes it so far to "deconstruct and evaluate". With a team like Vancouver, it's not hard Sedin, Sedin, Kesler is where most if not all of the value is going to be. In STL you have 7-8 players to choose from, which makes it that much harder. I also like Steen, I think what gives him a bit of an edge over the others is that he's offense-first, which is why they utilize him so much on the PP. I also like Oshie, I think he's a big body and has good hockey sense in knowing where to go and what to do. If he can get consistent 20+ mins a game and up to 3 on the PP. I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a point-per-gamer some day. Only problem for me is Berglund... I don't think the Blues can have both in the lineup, it's either one or the other, but I have a feeling management prefers Berglund over Oshie... Berglund I don't think is a factor of skill, it's just the lack of quality ice-time and opportunity. As mentioned before STL is just too deep. If you give the top-six the "typical" spread of ice-time. They'll be much better producers. You spread that same time over 9 players and everyone is going to be hurt by it. - Ryan Ma Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:26:11 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18037 [b]RE: Steen[/b] Sorry brain fart... Steen should be a buy... I used last week's template as a starting point and forgot to change the status. STEEN SHOULD BE A BUY! - Ryan Ma Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:15:59 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18033 Can we get a little Backes analysis thrown in since he's listed as a C/RW at Yahoo? - David Harrison Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:12:35 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18030 Great job here, very few players I find any fault in. Nailed everything, IMO. Good work delving into STL a little deeper. They are certainly one of the hardest teams to deconstruct and evaluate (both in Payne-era & Hitch-era). Personally, for me: Steen - like him. I'm buying him. He has a nice trend over his 3+ years in STL. Oshie - meh. His playing style makes him sexy. His ice-vision doesn't impress me. Berglund - ugh. Glad there is somebody else out there that just doesn't see this kid hitting his "potential" any time soon. Overall, great job! - Pengwin7 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:38:07 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18027 Curious why you listed Steen as a sell, but follow that up with, "Steen and Oshie both appear to be Hitch favourites, so now might be a good time to pick them up on the down low." - fajita123 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:38:29 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4154-indicators-of-success-centers-west-2011#comment-18024 I always like this analysis...I add one more and that is current pace which I compare to Dobber's initial projection....it allows me to see if someone has already given their points and will slow down...or are just slow in developing...much like the first half versus 2nd half scorers list that comes out in early January...especially key this year with the number of slow starts by high ranked players....iggie, staal etc - mike hess Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:30:20 +0100