Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
Showed enough to stick and then worked hard to get into the lineup and did what he had to do. Ruzicka is actually a terrible example for you to use because he did everything he was asked to do and improve in the areas where he showed weaknesses. Still not a Selke nominee but can play at both ends of the ice. Sutter does not fear putting the BIG kid out there.
|
You're moving the goalposts. The point was made that while Phillips didn't have a great camp/preseason, neither did Ruzicka. If anything, Ruzicka's may have been worse. Instead of acknowledging this fact, you say anything you can to avoid acknowledging it.
Rosie made the team because of his size, and because of what he showed last year. Darryl wanted to give him another shot and not give up on him, despite his bad camp/preseason, because he saw potential in him last year.
And that's kind of the point with Phillips. A bad camp/preseason is not a reason to give up on a player. What he's showing in the AHL right now is exceptional, and it would be a shame if this team cast him aside without trying him out in a serious way in the NHL.
Quote:
|
You may consider the preference to size as unfair to guys like Phillips, but that is just the game. There's a reason why guys under 250 don't get to the NFL to play the offensive line, or guys that run a 6.0 forty don't make it to camp at all. To play in certain leagues you need certain characteristics. To play in the NHL you need size, or you need to be exceptional. Exceptional players don't get cut mid-training camp.
|
You sound just like 2000 Craig Button.
Phillips has clearly taken a step since training camp. 16 points in his last 8 games in the AHL. No harm in bringing him in for a 2 week NHL audition.
And no I don't think the 4th line is the place to play him. It would just be setting him up for failure so that people could turn around and say "see, he's not scoring, I told ya so!"