Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14934648)

I totally get what you're saying about sometimes missing things when watching defensemen because our mindset as fans is set on "score score score!" You almost have to train yourself to watch the game differently. Instead of watching the puck carrier, try watching the defensemen closest to him. It's not always the most entertaining, but you'll learn a lot! I've done it enough now to where I almost flip a mental switch from "defensive" to "offensive" viewing.

Oh man, I'm glad you brought up Murray. This kid has a TON of upside! Prepare yourself for a full-fledged, long winded Matty scouting report ...

The big thing I notice with him is his mobility. He's extremely agile. But, combined with that, he KNOWS where he needs to be. This is a problem a lot of young d-men have when making the NHL transition - they know how to play the game, but aren't always confident in where they need to be to make a play against bigger, faster forwards (Tyler Myers still hasn't figured it out). Murray, at only 20 years old, has that figured out. He gets to the right spots, and he gets there quickly.

He's got above-average offensive skills, so I can't fault you for wanting him to produce more. I would say give him some time for those instincts to mature and adapt themselves to the quicker NHL pace. If his coaches are being smart, they're telling him to focus on his defensive game, and let the offense just come as a result.

Perhaps the thing I most like about him though is his smarts. At TWENTY years old, he plays a fairly mistake-free game. He'll mess up here and there, as even vets do, but it amazes me at how smart he is on the ice. As I've said 8 million times here, the casual fan never notices a defenseman until he makes a mistake, and that's perhaps why Ryan Murray hasn't gotten a lot of press lately... he simply plays smart smart hockey for a kid his age. He looks like a multi-year vet out there already.

In terms of what to work on, I would just say size. He's not overly big (just checked, and he's 6-1, 195), but at twenty I doubt he's done growing. I'm sure he could easily bulk up by a few pounds and still not lose his agility. The sky is the limit for this kid.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14934722)

Great point about being at the game. Being live is an excellent way to watch the finer points of the game. Sit a few rows higher if you can, and man you'll get a great view of what's going on in terms of positioning. I also love watching the far-side defenseman, which you can see really well live. Our tendency is to follow the puck in the D zone, but when it's in the corner, try watching what the d-man in front of the net is doing, versus the one in the corner. Also, watch the centerman to get a better idea of where he is. They have such a complex duty in the defensive zone, and you really know a good center by seeing how he plays in his own zone.

Agree about Murray's passing. One of the greatest, most underrated assets a defenseman can posses is making a strong first pass out of the zone. I think defensemen themselves undervalue it and don't work on it like they should, but it can really be the difference-maker between a goal for your team versus a goal for the other team. Chara is one of the best breakout passers in the game. Erik Johnson on the Avs is another great one who doesn't always get noticed.

Originally Posted by Rebecca De Mornay (Post 14934860)

:lol Tim is obviously just jealous at the amount of hockey knowledge that can be gained if you are awake to watch the entire game and not heading to bed with 10 minutes to go in the 1st period.

edit: hopefully things turn around for him now that the wings are in the east.

Originally Posted by TMoore4075 (Post 14934853)

Do you need a cigarette after all of that ejaculation? lol

Originally Posted by TMoore4075 (Post 14934878)

Yeah I'm an old fart. Last night, with a 730 start, I didn't make it though the 3rd. But that was the nyquil. I swear to God, with a kid, I've been sick more times the 2.5 years he's been around then I was the previous 5 years probably.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14934905)

Nah, I just roll over and go to sleep.

Ain't this the truth. Luckily, my kids are getting into hockey now that they are old enough to understand what is going on, as long as I translate it to their language. The penalty box is the "Naughty Box" (something I think I should create for my wife and I), and between periods is called "Taking a rest". Also, it took a minute to explain that hitting people is ok in hockey, as long as you don't "hit them in the numbers" or with your stick.

When the playoffs started last year, the kids noticed we weren't watching the Avs anymore and asked why they weren't playing. After trying for a bit to explain playoff seeding and W/L records to 4 year olds, I eventually gave up and just said, "they stopped listening to their coach so they had to go home and couldn't play anymore". So whenever a team would get eliminated, they'd get all tsk tsk and chide the team for not listening to their coach. :lol EDIT: Also, after they watched the Stanley Cup-winning game, it took a bit to explain that a team doesn't get the Stanley Cup after ANY win. :lol

Of course, "watching" a game is relative... usually we're playing with legos on the floor or something while it's on. A lot of times, I wait until they go to bed at 8:30, then flip on the TV.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14934905)

Nah, I just roll over and go to sleep.

Ain't this the truth. Luckily, my kids are getting into hockey now that they are old enough to understand what is going on, as long as I translate it to their language. The penalty box is the "Naughty Box" (something I think I should create for my wife and I), and between periods is called "Taking a rest". Also, it took a minute to explain that hitting people is ok in hockey, as long as you don't "hit them in the numbers" or with your stick.

When the playoffs started last year, the kids noticed we weren't watching the Avs anymore and asked why they weren't playing. After trying for a bit to explain playoff seeding and W/L records to 4 year olds, I eventually gave up and just said, "they stopped listening to their coach so they had to go home and couldn't play anymore". So whenever a team would get eliminated, they'd get all tsk tsk and chide the team for not listening to their coach. :lol EDIT: Also, after they watched the Stanley Cup-winning game, it took a bit to explain that a team doesn't get the Stanley Cup after ANY win. :lol

Of course, "watching" a game is relative... usually we're playing with legos on the floor or something while it's on. A lot of times, I wait until they go to bed at 8:30, then flip on the TV.

Originally Posted by TMoore4075 (Post 14934965)

I hope G will watch it with me when he gets a little older. I'd be fine playing legos or cars or something during it. I'm sure I'll have to explain to him the hitting part too.

I like the tsk tsk about not listening to the coach. When they asked why the Avs weren't playing anymore, did you start to cry? lol

Originally Posted by Roose13 (Post 14935214)

This is the greatest thing I have ever read :lol:lol

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14935325)

I'm sure he will after seeing how much his dad digs it. I noticed my kids really started to enjoy it after having seen it live.

I didn't cry in front of the kids when they brought up the Avs. I'm past the point of tears. It was all anger at that point. They started to mimic me every once in a while and just yell, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" at the TV during an Avs game for no apparent reason.

Originally Posted by bonzo48280 (Post 14934922)

Hawks power play hovers near the bottom of the league, Stan Bowman goes an acquires an above average PK-er in Versteeg; Brandon Bollig continues to get penalty kill time while Versteeg and Patrick Sharp sit on the bench and don't get one second of PK time.

Coach Q rocks.

EDIT: Sharp and Versteeg suck at killing penalties anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRyO6PhOYA0

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14935325)

:lol It's great to hear how they perceive things. I've realized after a few conversations about it that they kind of think of the offseason as a really long time-out. To them, they think these hockey players live and breathe hockey. They don't quite comprehend that they are normal people who do things besides play.

Originally Posted by lockman21 (Post 14935641)

Wait........what? This is like hearing that Santa isn't real for the first time.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14935674)

Just like the Santa thing, I'm waiting a bit to break the news to them. It's kinda fun letting them believe that hockey players really are sitting in a corner of their house on a time-out chair all offseason, just waiting to be let off so they can go back to playing.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14934371)

Chris, I was a bit disappointed to see the Avs make Yandle act the fool last night. Not his best game.

HOWEVER, someone who is really giving me a defense hard-on right now, and especially last night, is Ekman-Larsson. I picked him up for my fantasy team this year, and I'm glad I did. The guy looks great out there, especially beyond fantasy-type stats. EXCELLENT positioning and pacing... an underrated skill among defensemen (i.e., when a guy is bearing down on you entering the zone, the rate at which you close the gap between he and you). Good physically in terms of moving guys off the puck; great positioning in the offensive zone, where he always seems to make the right play.

Very impressed with how he's developing.

Originally Posted by lockman21 (Post 14935701)

Also, I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope the top line for team USA in Sochi is Parise - Backes - Kane.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14935325)

And yes, I totally have them calling the Capitals the Crapitals. My wife (a Pens fan)

Originally Posted by ~Crashintome89~ (Post 14935840)

wait wait wait wait what the hell?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14935879)

At least she's not a Flyers fan... I don't think our relationship could have lasted.

I was disappointed in the pens thing too, but the fact that now she has gone from knowing literally nothing about the game to someone with pretty damn good hockey knowledge is downright sexy. I'll let Geno Malkin be her favorite player as long as she keeps making comments like, "Jordan Staal... He's that guy who played for Pittsburgh but wanted a trade cuz he was on like the third line right?" Or, "Max Talbot.... Remember when he fought and then shushed the crowd?"

<erection>

Originally Posted by lockman21 (Post 14935933)

I once had sex with a girl that was wearing nothing but my Patrick Sharp sweater.

Originally Posted by lockman21 (Post 14935933)

I once had sex with a girl that was wearing nothing but my Patrick Sharp sweater.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14936168)

Did Dave feel weird wearing a teammates sweater?

Originally Posted by lockman21 (Post 14935933)

I once had sex with a girl that was wearing nothing but my Patrick Sharp sweater.

Originally Posted by TMoore4075 (Post 14936133)

Dave Bolland would be pretty disappointed.

Originally Posted by fonzz41 (Post 14936168)

Did Dave feel weird wearing a teammates sweater?