Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Wideman is perfectly fine on the PP. Plus if you take Wideman off, who do you put on with Brodie, Hamilton and Gio? Russell, who consistently shoots wide and send the puck out of the zone? Engelland? A forward?
I actually think that, while Russell has better mobility and obviously is better at blocking shots, Wideman's decisions on defence are slightly better - he doesn't go to the boards and get caught quite as much. He has a higher hockey IQ than Russell IMO.
|
I couldn't disagree more. Wideman is guilty of at least 5 bone headed plays per game. If he's under the slightest bit of pressure he either ices the puck or passes to the opposition's defensemen at the point.
Russell is amazing at keeping both the puck and the players to the outside. He's not good at retrieving the puck, but he keeps quality scoring chances to a minimum. That is the system Hartley wants them to play and he is very good at it.