The Devin Setoguchi Conundrum
by BReynolds on Feb 8, 2012 1:30 PM CST
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We are now 53 games into the regular season. That leaves just 29 games to go, by my math. At this point, the players on the ice are who they are, and it is time to address some concerns. Call us cynical, but when you are the key piece in a trade that sees Brent Burns go the other way, there has to be some expectations put on your shoulders.
Devin Setoguchi is on pace to have the worst full season of his career. A former 65 point, 30 goal scorer, Setoguchi has never approached those numbers since. Whether he can ever put them up again has yet to be seen, but it certainly will not be this season. At the current pace, he will score just 15 goals, and add twelve assists. Both would be career lows.
To be fair, he missed 13 games due to injury or healthy scratch, but he missed 12 games in 2009-10, and 10 last year and still bested these potential numbers.
The question at the back of everyone's head is: Did Chuck Fletcher get taken, ala Cam Barker, or is this just a bump in the road?
Quality of Linemates
Now, I don't have the fancy stats to fall back on here, but Setoguchi, until last night, was skating along side the best the Wild have to offer. Starting the season with Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley, the expectations could not have been set any higher. When the scoring didn't happen, Mike Yeo switched things up and put Setoguchi with Matt Cullen and an every changing cast of characters on the opposite wing.
That ever changing wing at one point was Pierre-Marc Bouchard, at another Guillaume Latendresse, at other times, Cal Clutterbuck. None of these players is a slouch when it comes to the offensive game. None of the players Setoguchi has lined up with have been poor offensive players.
Well, of course, until last night.
Reports out of practice today say he is back with Koivu and Heatley tomorrow night.
The quality of his linemates is not the issue. Moving on.
Shooting the Puck
When Setoguchi was introduced to the media, he joked that he doesn't pass the puck, he just shoots it. Fans were ecstatic. Fifty three games later, and Setoguchi ranks fifth on the team with 99 SOG. Dany Heatley (161), Matt Cullen (119), Kyle Brodziak (115), and Cal Clutterbuck (111) are all ahead of Setoguchi. Mikko Koivu is just five shots behind, and Nick Johnson just seven.
Not exactly what was expected. Not exactly up to par with past seasons. Even missing ten games last year, he put up 199 SOG. The only way he makes that this year is if he puts up an average of 3 1/2 shots a game for the rest of the year. Right now, his average 2.4 in the games he has played in. An extra shot on goal per game shouldn't be overly difficult to achieve, but to this point, he has just 10 games with more than 3 SOG.
Is the lack of shooting the problem? Certainly is a part of it.
Expectations
The expectations of Setoguchi are high. A fan favorite, the top defenseman on the team was traded for him, a pick, and a prospect. Until that pick and prospect come to the NHL, fans only see Setoguchi. The pressure is on him, fair or not. It would be rather difficult to convince anyone that those expectations were overly unfair, though. Fans expected him to shoot the puck. He isn't doing that. Expectations blown.
What were the expectations from Chuck Fletcher? They weren't spelled out in specifics, but you have to bet ten goals, eight assists, and a team worst -12 weren't on his wish list.
Attitude
Does Devin Setoguchi have an attitude issue? Every time he speaks to the media, he seems to be a professional. He is funny, gives good quotes, and says the right things. He does all of the off-ice, away from the game things that make an NHL player a good person. All of the photo-op things that a pro athlete does to make a difference in their community have been done.
Now, as brought up in the comment section here at HW several times, he did tweet a picture of his car while his team was getting beat down in Calgary. He did reportedly go out drinking with his buddies from the Sharks and miss a team function.
Is two incidents, both minor in the grand scheme of things, enough to label a player with attitude issues? For some, yes. For me, not yet. Yet being the operative word. The fans have begun to turn on him, something outside his, or the media's control. One thing is certain... an uptick in scoring would make all that go away.
What Now?
This is the overriding question with everything regarding the Wild. What now? It applies to every position, every player, every member of the administration. If you aren't asking that question, you aren't paying much attention.
With Setoguchi, the question is rather important. Is he available to trade? Will time on the third line send him a message? Is there a forward pairing that jump starts his offense?
Depending on your outlook of the season will color how you respond to how the team should handle Devin Setoguchi. If you feel it is a lost season, and he cannot turn his game around, you will feel the desire to trade him. If you are a masochist, you will feel the desire to drop him to the fourth line and let him toil away the season in obscurity.
The most likely scenario is that Setoguchi returns to the second line, is not traded, and returns next season for a another chance to prove himself. With the level of talent he has, that is the best plan for the Wild. Save for a deal that brings in another player that can score, Setoguchi isn't likely to go anywhere.
The expectations were high, and they weren't even close to met. An off season, or an indication of things to come? The only thing that will let us know that is time. Slow, painful, creeping time.
What say you, Wilderness?
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When he drives the net...
He is a force as we saw from the early part of the year.
That has disappeared for the time being.
The Wild keep finding ways into a funk, and this might just be a by-product of that.
But the Wild don’t have a good reason to give up yet. But if Grandlund and other prospects are with the Wild next year, Seto better step it up or get ready to be moved.
Tweets @sotsohockey
Setoguchi should be flourishing with Koivu
if he is the Thornton in this case. I would not give up on him yet. I know he is a “Professional” but he should be allowed some time to get used to a new place after spending his whole career in SJ.
I may be a Setoguchi apologist.
RIP FirstRowSports - Always Stolen But Never Forgotten
I like Seto’s potential (ugh, we’re back to potential) but if he doesn’t wake up soon he’ll be participating in the polar plunge next year
2010 Cam “no enthusiasm” Barker
2011 Brad “just plain stupid” Staubitz
2012 ?
by Pewterschmidt on Feb 8, 2012 2:01 PM CST via mobile reply actions
He's been hurt and shuffled all over the line up
I’m not ready to give up on him yet. He’s moved teams, had to learn a different system (a huge difference, he went from an offensive juggernaut to a defensively focused team), has missed time, and has played with a revolving door of linemates. Things were working well with him on the 2nd line with Cullen and Butch. Butch is hurt, but Christensen has some of the same abilities. Put those three together and see how well they do. That also gives the 2nd line a good face off man for the 75% of face offs Cullen gets booted from.
Heater-Koivu-Johnson
Christensen-Cullen-Seto
Powe-Brodziak-Clutter
Kassian-Peters-McMillan
Speaking of McMillan
In what universe is he a second line player? Not sure what that was all about last game but it is what it is.
If they insist on having Seto on the first line, let’s get back to basics with the rest of the lineup:
Heater-Koivu-Seto
Christensen-Cullen-Clutter
Powe-Brodziak-Johnson
Fourth Line
Definitely agree
Even though they weren’t producing, Cullen and Seto drew a lot of attention from other teams.
I don’t think him on the first line is the solution. When Lats was playing with Koivu and Heater they were really clicking. Johnson plays bigger than his size would indicate, I think they should give him a shot with Koivu and Heatley. Drop Seto to the 2nd line and try the PBC 3rd line as we had originally intended when Powe was signed.
If they insist on it, I agree with your lines. I don’t think that’s what they should go with though.
by J.A.Berty1330 on Feb 8, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions
I think Yeo's comments today from practice
about getting the top line going with Heater-Koivu-Seto almost confirms that Lats will not be back this year.
I saw that too
It’s unfortunate, but ultimately may work out. Koivu and Heater can adequately handle being the focus of other team’s defense. Also, we always seem to get adequate scoring from our 2nd and 3rd lines. Finally, Christensen will be with another skill guy in Cullen. Hopefully we’ll get to see his shot more often.
by J.A.Berty1330 on Feb 8, 2012 5:49 PM CST up reply actions
Let's be fair, he was not the centerpiece of the Burns deal.
To the fans he may be, but Fletch is on record saying that if SJ doesn’t throw Coyle in the deal, the deal doesn’t happen. Seto is merely the NHL player given back to us in the deal. But to the average fan, he is the symbol of what Burns was traded for because fans think in the here and now and not in the future like GMs.
That said, Seto seems to have an issue finding scoring areas on the ice. I think most of us saw Koivu and Brunette setting up Mittens beautifully each and every game only to watch in dismay as Mittens shot it into the stands, whiffed, or just fell down. So far, Koivu has not been able to set him up very well. He and even Heatley to a point have been unable to find the soft areas on the ice and get open. The team is constantly pressured by the opposition. Every opponent uses the same game plan against the Wild, constant pressure, take away time and space and the Wild cannot function. He is getting another shot on the “top line” with Koivu and Heatley. That hasn’t worked since the first game of the season so I don’t expect it to now. But it is clear that the only way Seto is going to put up any points is if he plays with more talented players. Expectations were high but he should be capable of 20 goals and close to 40 points. I would be happy with that, not sure if others would be but I would be. I don’t think they will give up on him just yet, but if he does not improve by next year’s trade deadline, he will probably be gone.
totally agree
Seto doesn’t seem to be able to make the subtle moves(and doesn’t have the hands imo)to find a spot to get that laser shot off. IMO, having him on a line with Heatley is not the best answer as their games are similar(not exactly the same)in that way. Though he’s a right handed shot I think he could benefit from watching how a guy like Rolston used to work with PMB by using that speed to get himself to the open areas and get that rocket shot off, or even how Hull used to do it. Of course there’s no Oates or Janney here. I could see guys like Granlund or even Larsson being good fits in the future. If he didn’t hustle every night I would have a bigger problem with the lack of production.
He'll be back next year.
He’s young, on a reasonable contract, and isn’t taking anyone else’s place at this time.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve never thought that the kid was going to be a superstar or anywhere near a point per game sort, but I do think that he has it in him to be a legitimate 2nd liner. I think the trade to MN just after he signed his new contract has affected his confidence a good deal this year. He’s deferring far too much in his game, has lacked consistency in effort, and he isn’t playing with any real fire in his game.
Give the kid the summer, get him working again, with a definite role on the team and some of the young guys coming in. I think we see an up tick in his performance. Still, I’d be looking for a guy who can hit at about 50 points or a bit more in a season.
We also should remember that Seto was not the primary piece of that Burns deal… the 1st and Coyle were definitely what Fletcher was after. Setoguchi was just a good addition.
he is who we tought he was
So fucking crown him!!
Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against
by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 8, 2012 2:22 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Denny green would be so proud
[slams fist into mic]
Official US Navy Seabee of the Hockey Wilderness
by Jolonco on Feb 9, 2012 11:07 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
in my opinion...
Seto is a guy who’s heart never really left SJ. I remember when the trade happened he talked a lot about the Sharks and not much about the Wild. Granted, the trade was a shock to him, and I am sure he was disappointed, but it doesn’t seem like he has fully embraced this team – just Heater, and his ex teammates when they are in town.
I think next year he finally jumps that hurdle and has a bounce back season (read: serviceable, not 30 goals). He’s a young guy trying to adjust to a situation that seems to be difficult for him to get over.
Just my 0.02
by gunslinger1 on Feb 8, 2012 2:36 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions
always issues
Mikko comes back and Seto gets put back on the top line again? I THINK THAT IS LAME ON ALL LEVELS! If he starts playing better just because MIkko comes back into the lineup and he is also playing with Heatley I will be even more mad because he should have been playing well regardless of who he was playing with in the first place!!! I hope he finds his game again and gets back on track!
Well
In a sense, Seto has been known as a shooter/scorer. Those guys often need distributers, and with Mikko and PMB out. We don’t have any.
agree
pair im with PMB and/or Granlund next year and see how he responds. Btw, why have we not yet signed Granlund?
by aceinthecorner on Feb 9, 2012 9:30 AM CST up reply actions
Because
Granlund wants to wait until after his SM-Liiga season is done. Rumor has it(via Finnish Hockey’s Future Board writers, so take this with a LARGE GRAIN of Salt) he wanted to stay in Finland one more year, and did not want the Wild to have leverage over him to make him come early. No idea if that is true or not.
He will sign in May. No advantage to him not.
Ok, one thing I dont know,
in the US, College players, when drafted at 18, can play 4 years of college hockey, then if they dont sign by the FA period after that season, they become free agents to sign a rookie scale deal with any team, Do Europeaners have that same luxury, or do they get thrown back in the draft over and over until 27?
I believe they keep getting tossed back in until they are 22(as of Dec. 31st of the draft year). So if you are wondering about Granlund never signing so he can become a FA, he in theory could do that. But only if he wanted to play in Finland for another 2 years. In the end that would only hurt him though, as he would still have to sign an ELC at 22. It would probably cost him a couple million dollars atleast in the long run to do that.
Of all the issues this team has...
Seto shouldn’t be at the top of the list. That’s not to say he is absolved, but his sins are nowhere near the “OMG! Get rid of him now” variety. Shit happens—especially when a lot of other shit happens.
Seto isn’t even close to a worry in my mind; not even a mild concern. Would I like to see him be playing better and did I expect as much? Sure, but he is definitely not worth abandoning after roughly 2/3 of a year. Plus, like was said before, the real wins from the Burns deal could most likely be Coyle and Phillips (I think that was the pick in that spot but don’t remember and don’t want to look it up).
Being from Minnesota, it would be rude to put something clever here.
I thought Seto and the Wild were at their best when we had the ‘big’ line (Heatley-Koivu-Latendresse) and the ‘fast’ line (Bouchard-Cullen-Seto). I really wish we had all of those pieces available to us know because those lines really worked. And with so much talent on those lines, it really spread out the threats, spread out the burden of scoring and it was awesome.
I think Seto feels the pressure, like everyone else, and is not responding well. We knew going into this season that he is a streakey scorer, so hopefully February is a month where the team can find som stability both on the ice and in terms of personel. This team has been so shuffled around with injuries, no one is ever on the same line more than a few nights in a row.
We’ve got lots of Seto to see before we can write him off. Give him some time to figure it out, because next year is the year when things start to matter. Next year, winning isn’t optional anymore.
Funny, because everyone seems to want to strike the Wild out.
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
by JSLandry on Feb 8, 2012 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Agree with the "fast" and "big" lines
too bad 33% of those lines is/are injured…
Too early to pull the trigger on selling Seto this year, apart from an outrageous offer that isn’t likely to come. He’s still only 25, and next year he will be more used to playing for the Wild and living in Minnesota. I can understand being 24 and thinking you have something nailed down only to have it pulled out from underneath you when you least expect it. I’m sure thats how he felt after the trade and its probably been on his mind in some form all season.
Not trying to justify his play and give him a full pass, but I think his best days are ahead of him and he just needs a refocused offseason to balance himself out.
Keep him logging top line/2nd line minutes and you never know. Could go on a streak and light things up a little in the last month or so. I’m not gonna hold my breath though.
Didn’t hear about the car tweet until right now though and that really has me bothered.
car tweet?
Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against
by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 8, 2012 6:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Setoguchi tweeted a picture of his car December 10th. Right in the middle of the Wild being killed by Calgary.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
Setoguchi was injured at the time.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
My take...
Update: warning – this might be coming from the side of me thats a father of three (all under the age of 7), U8 soccer coach, and middle school teacher. Procede with caution. Also its a little long… I fell asleep three times while writing it.
To me he is a 24 yr old kid who is a quite down in the confidence department. He goes from being a fan FAVORITE and just signing a new deal with the team he has played with his entire career, and is a yearly contender, to being traded by that team the following day. Professional or not that has to be a huge blow to you. Its a lot like getting dumped by a girl the day after you both decided to move in together. He comes here and has a bit of a slow start. Starts putting some pressure on himself. Things are just up and down, but at least the team is winning. So things aren’t going so bad with the new team. Then he gets injured. Comes back and now a bunch of key players are out, so he puts even more on his shoulders. Then he gets stuck in the quicksand (see: The Replacements). The more he tries the deeper he gets. Now he is just a shell of the former player. I think he just really just needs to get some confidence and a lot of support. If we are able to start winning and he can bury some pucks I think he will be fine for the rest of the year. He won’t be Stamkos, but I think he will start contributing. When players are streaky, to me that means they are not consistantly tough mentally and they tend to need more support than others (see: BTE). And they need to work through it. Now I know he is getting paid 3 mil and that should mean responsibility for carrying the load. So he does need to take some responsibility and get the puck in the net. But I am far from being ready to ship him off. Give him another offseason with us and see how he does. And I’ll probably take some flack for this, but I am not an apologist or am I giving excuses (maybe a little). He is NOT playing up to par and he NEEDS to play better. But I can also understand the lack of confidence. Maybe you guys (I can’t cause I live in Tampa now) can organize a huge fan group hug for him. That might make him feel better. At this point I might even fly up and join you (I’ll try anything to get this teams offense going).
There. That is my ramblings, procede with your daily lives. If you have come this far I apologize…
I have not been watching him play all season (and I’ve really just started keeping up with the Wild’s behind-the-scenes stuff), but I think this is relevant to any young guy getting traded. You make REALLY good points. It’s easy to forget that a 24 year old NHL player is just that… 24 YEARS OLD. It still didn’t even seem all that young to me until I realized that he is barely 1 year older than me. Yikes. I can’t imagine dealing with that level of craziness at this age… it’s intense!
Anyway, just wanted to say I like your perspective and I think it’s probably very relevant.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
I bet you would like to
be making that kinda dough thou right?
lol….
Damn right
But man I would cave under THAT kind of pressure… It’d be like Patty O.
Hell yeah.
But I couldn’t handle that pressure hahaha. (Ergo why I’m not an NHL player… it has nothing to do with my awesome skillz.)
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Good post!
I really haven’t heard any grumblings about Seto, a few off the collar comments about him gripping the stick a little to hard, but nothing in comparison to what we want to do to Zid.
That is true
I don’t think I have even heard anyone say they wanted him gone. At least around here, I gave up getting anything of value from Russo’s comment section, GIANT WASTE OF TIME. I know people have been disappointed in him, me included. But I think people tend to forget everyone has a story and everyone has adversity to deal with. Look at St. Louis. Guy was undrafted then worked his tail off and now he is the man. Its just a test of your character and I think Seto will find his groove. I think when he gets to the other side, he will be much better for it. And I hope he is on this team when that happens.
Now if we can just unload Zid’s contract, life would be golden…
seto=richards
lowest common denominator. fletcher. a rookie whose only equal in disappointment might be James ’i’ll be good someday’ Sheppard.
by toque10 on Feb 8, 2012 9:58 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions
I am not convinced he knows what he is doing
or that the Wild are any better off today than 2 years ago ….. or that anyone besides Minnesotas even care.
by toque10 on Feb 8, 2012 10:41 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
really????
Doing what he has been able to do with the prospect pool, all while keeping the team relatively competitive. A team that was BARREN with talent because of the atrocious handling of the franchise by HWSRN. Do you think he can erase all the mismanagement in 1 season? This is not baseball. You cannot just go out and buy anyone you want any year you want. There is a salary cap to deal with. Now he does have a way to go, and some of his deals have not panned out (though, like I stated in another thread, the Barker deal looked really good at the time. Even Russo was in favor of it. He just flopped BIG TIME. But that happens) But what he has been able to do to get people excited for the future of this team has been AMAZING. I think your view is VERY short sighted. I think we are MUCH better off than 2 years ago. Especially going forward. And that is what is important, being able to compete for years.
sure. if you want rookie coaches rebuilding
trying to get players to ‘buy’ in
by toque10 on Feb 8, 2012 11:00 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
cause they were doing so poorly when they were healthy and playing the system? I believe they were 1st in the NHL. It was when they got injured and started to drift away from the system that the wheels fell off.
Don't bother with him
If you look at toque’s short comment history, he/she expects that the Wild become instantly competitive overnight. Arguing is just going to be smashing your head against the wall. Ignore the comments and you’ll feel much better.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
Pay no attention.
This particular member of the Wilderness could find something negative to post about winning the lottery and being given the check by nude three foot tall hot women with flat heads.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
Anytime.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!
nude three foot tall hot women with flat heads
That’s an incredibly funny mental image. If that were real, it would definitely rival the midget wrestling I’ve seen as far as hilarity.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
sorry. soorry.
I was rewatching 24/7 and real passion got to me…..
by toque10 on Feb 8, 2012 11:28 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions
Yeah. OK.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
As much as I like Nash for the Wild,
and I’d consider that deal, I doubt the Blue Jackets take that. Nash is the heart of that team, and they are already aiming at a #1 draft pick this season. This would leave them with Jeff Carter and his ridiculously long contract to try to rebuild. I’m pretty sure they’d much prefer to move Carter and try to retool again around Nash.
Fact of the matter is that Nash has 6 more years at a $7.8 million cap hit with a couple seasons of a ‘No Movement’ clause. He’d have to waive that and decide that moving to another perpetual mediocre team is the best move for his ambitions. Even more than that, Columbus would have to decide to give up on their best player, who is under a long contract. If they would do that, it would require the Wild to send Granlund, Kuemper/Hackett, and our #1… and that’s just not going to happen.
by Krotz the Wall on Feb 9, 2012 8:26 AM CST up reply actions
I agree, but they are rebuilding. Nash has proven year after year he can’t take this team to the next level. I think Carter will be traded, so build this team through the draft. Get picks and prospects. Johansen will be the new team leader and fan favorite. This team is a few years away minimum, Nash doesn’t want to wait.
by Kingpin45 on Feb 9, 2012 10:42 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
Again...
The Wild would have to give up Granlund, 1 of Kuemper or Hackett, and their first round pick to get Nash. And, and it’s a big AND, Nash would have to waive his No Movement Clause for a trade to another team that is perpetually missing the playoffs. I just don’t see it happening from either side.
by Krotz the Wall on Feb 9, 2012 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
Bit of a reach, I’ll agree. Would they ask for Granlund, of course. Seto and Larsson would be replace him.
by Kingpin45 on Feb 9, 2012 10:59 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
Jackets to Wild is a huge improvement, let’s be serious. They have very few prospects and are currently the worst team in the NHL.
by Kingpin45 on Feb 9, 2012 11:00 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
Yes, but
there are other teams in the league that have the cap space, have prospects and picks, and might be a more attractive location.
Let’s be honest here. This is how the Wild will be viewed. They are a team that absolutely fell apart for a rookie coach. They’ve missed the playoffs, probably 4 years in a row. They are a year or two away from a serious youth movement in every aspect of the team roster. A youth movement typically means losing and inconsistency before winning.
Besides, the Wild would never be able to convince someone to part with their best player and convince them that Seto (and increasingly erratic probable 40 point scorer) and Larrson (a likely 3rd line center) is a valuable replacement in the deal for the Wild’s top prospect. You could try to throw Coyle in there, plus one of the goalies, and the pick. However, then you are the Wild and you have suddenly and completely changed direction and have to hope that Koivu/Nash/Granlund/Phillips/Brodin/Scandella/Clutterbuck/Bulmer/Hackett will be a contender with little to no help coming from the youth over the next several seasons.
I think it far more likely that the Wild will try to use their cap space and land good FA, like a Suter or a Parise, to add in with their youth movement.
by Krotz the Wall on Feb 9, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
Caption:
Staubitz: Heh heh, I can’t believe I’m on an NHL roster either
Butch: and what’s with that stache
Seto: Brad, I can put you in touch with some people in the San Fernando Valley
This quote:
“I want Seto, for his season to start right now,” Yeo said. “He’s such an important part of our group. He’s played some really good hockey for us at different points of the season. I just want him now to get back in the lineup, play with Mikko, play with Heater, and don’t have any hesitation whatsoever in your game. He’s a really effective player when he’s playing his best. But let’s just do it every night, let’s have fun doing it and I think that can definitely help ignite him.”
I believe that was directed to Setoguchi more than to the media/fans. My translation:
Seto, I’m giving you a fresh start – (confidence building quote) but know that you’ve been inconsistent – I’m putting you back on the top line with our best players so you have no excuse not to shoot the damn puck – (another confidence builder) – get more consistent – but no pressure – start doing better now
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- Tortorella comfortable and confident that Rangers will be at best in must-win game vs. Devils
- Shawinigan wins, advances to Memorial Cup semifinal
- Cataractes romp to 6-1 win, eliminate Oil Kings from Memorial Cup
- Despite loss, Phoenix Coyotes build solid foundation in the desert with run to West finals
