[Hafizzle]

old_time_hockey, on Oct 20 2009, 03:17 PM, said:

Actually if you listen to Kevin describe the 2 leagues (WHL to NCAA) he said skill wise are on par but the WHL is FAR more physical and he wasn't quite ready for that adjustment when he first came to the Giants.

He was asked to go play for the Giants to learn under Don Hay what it takes to be a complete hockey player. You can see he is progressing...that is if you ever decided to go out to a Giants game and watch him in person rather than just look at stat pages then make a half cocked post.

He is really learning when to pinch and when not to. And 3pts in 2 games this past weekend...yeah that isn't going to get it done.

I think going to the Giants to play under Don Hay was the smartest thing he did and it's gonna help him big time.

[old_time_hockey]

Tips 2 @ Giants 4 - F
2. VAN Cunningham, (8) (Manning, Hodder), 2:27
2. VAN Gallagher, (6) (Connauton, Manning), 14:04 (PP)
3. EVT McCrea, (3) (Theriau, Dailey), 2:47 (PP)
3. VAN Gallagher, (7) (Manning, Connauton), 8:42 (PP)
3. EVT Hunt, (1) (Gudas, Tochkin), 14:45
3. VAN Henry, (5) (Musil, Kytnar), 19:20 (EN)
Shots
Everett Silvertips 8 8 6 22
Vancouver Giants 5 9 10 24
3 Stars
1. VAN - 10 Lance Bouma
2. VAN - 11 Brendan Gallagher
3. EVT - 21 Zack Dailey

Look at the shots. Any Giants team that gets under 30 shots is in for a bag skate their next practice. But the scoring % tonight might have saved them from puking after skating in practice. I have NEVER seen a Giants team get under 30 shots and win by 2.

Kevin keeps up his point streak tonight with 2A. Kevin as NHL scouts I have talked to is "getting it". Kev is drinking the Don Hay Kool-aid and figuring out what it is to be a 2 way player. The score sheet tonight has him as a -1 but that isn't right. 2 even strength points but one goal against regular stregth puts him +1 in my books. That will be fixed later.

Good win for the Giants and good on Kevin for "getting it" and adding to his stats. Canucks brass and fans should expect this young man to produce in the future. Might need a season or 2 in the AHL but this kid has the skill to be an NHLer.

This post has been edited by old_time_hockey: 23 October 2009 - 10:21 PM

[avelanch]

old_time_hockey, on Oct 23 2009, 10:18 PM, said:

Tips 2 @ Giants 4 - F
2. VAN Cunningham, (8) (Manning, Hodder), 2:27
2. VAN Gallagher, (6) (Connauton, Manning), 14:04 (PP)
3. EVT McCrea, (3) (Theriau, Dailey), 2:47 (PP)
3. VAN Gallagher, (7) (Manning, Connauton), 8:42 (PP)
3. EVT Hunt, (1) (Gudas, Tochkin), 14:45
3. VAN Henry, (5) (Musil, Kytnar), 19:20 (EN)
Shots
Everett Silvertips 8 8 6 22
Vancouver Giants 5 9 10 24
3 Stars
1. VAN - 10 Lance Bouma
2. VAN - 11 Brendan Gallagher
3. EVT - 21 Zack Dailey

Look at the shots. Any Giants team that gets under 30 shots is in for a bag skate their next practice. But the scoring % tonight might have saved them from puking after skating in practice. I have NEVER seen a Giants team get under 30 shots and win by 2.

Kevin keeps up his point streak tonight with 2A. Kevin as NHL scouts I have talked to is "getting it". Kev is drinking the Don Hay Kool-aid and figuring out what it is to be a 2 way player. The score sheet tonight has him as a -1 but that isn't right. 2 even strength points but one goal against regular stregth puts him +1 in my books. That will be fixed later.

Good win for the Giants and good on Kevin for "getting it" and adding to his stats. Canucks brass and fans should expect this young man to produce in the future. Might need a season or 2 in the AHL but this kid has the skill to be an NHLer.

he had 2 power play p[oints, not even stregnth. and he was on for the even stregnth tally of the other team, that's -1, not +1.
http://www.whl.ca/st...game_id=1006287

still, he's looking good, I hope he just continues to get better and better. perhaps he'll be on the moose next year he he improves enough this year (since he was drafted out of the NCAA he can go there at any time)

This post has been edited by avelanch: 23 October 2009 - 10:28 PM

[Sanford]

He is pretty good... Not much whl defensemen has a point a game.

[RO8!!]

avelanch, on Oct 23 2009, 10:26 PM, said:

he had 2 power play p[oints, not even stregnth. and he was on for the even stregnth tally of the other team, that's -1, not +1.
http://www.whl.ca/st...game_id=1006287

still, he's looking good, I hope he just continues to get better and better. perhaps he'll be on the moose next year he he improves enough this year (since he was drafted out of the NCAA he can go there at any time)

If I'm not mistaken isn't he already 19 and would get to play there next season anyways? Wasn't his draft year last? But again I could be wrong.

[falcon]

RO8!!, on Oct 24 2009, 12:52 AM, said:

If I'm not mistaken isn't he already 19 and would get to play there next season anyways? Wasn't his draft year last? But again I could be wrong.

Yea I think Connauton is the almost the same age as Sauve, so he could probably play for the moose next year.

[Jimmy_the_scot]

Connauton follows a unique path

From Hockey's Future. Pretty good read. Not much new that I can see other than personal life stuff.

[avelanch]

apparently Connauton just made anamazing defensive play, closed the gap and eliminated all options of the offensive player. they have a powerplay now.

[Donky]

If Kevin can absord all that Don Hay is feeding him this year he is going to take one enormous step up the depth charts. Offense is already there and a good skater with an increase in size..we could have a complete player on our hands.

[DeNiro]

Connauton with a goal tonight in a 5-4 win over the Rockets. He now has 15 points in 16GP, not too shabby.

[avelanch]

http://www.vancouver..._highlights.htm

he gets the first goal, not sure why a dman was at the crease, but it was a PP so I guess they rotated? good job anyway.

[Jimmy_the_scot]

avelanch, on Oct 26 2009, 02:21 PM, said:

http://www.vancouver..._highlights.htm

he gets the first goal, not sure why a dman was at the crease, but it was a PP so I guess they rotated? good job anyway.

It looked like they were on the powerplay in the 1-3-1 formation. He was actually in the right spot.

[Victorious Secret]

Although Connauton didn't register a point on Saturday when the Giants won 8-2 over Chilliwack, he still has 15 pts in 18 GP. Not too bad at all.

By the way I wouldn't look so much into his -7 rating...

[avelanch]

Kevin had a goal and assist last night.
That puts him at 19GP 7G 10A 17PTS -6 24PIM

That's good enough for 5th best D-man in the WHL, 5th best rookie, and best rookie D-man.

It's also notable that he's the top D-man on the Giants and 4th overall on the giants (and, of course, top rookie).

This post has been edited by avelanch: 05 November 2009 - 09:58 AM

[Abaddon]

This guy is playing insane. I'm surprised this thread isn't more popular.

Seriously, he's looking Mike Green-esque.

I would like Mike Green.

[avelanch]

I'm surprised as well, especially since he actually plays in Vancouver.

[one night]

Abaddon, on 05 November 2009 - 10:50 AM, said:

<br />This guy is playing insane. I'm surprised this thread isn't more popular.<br /><br />Seriously, he's looking Mike Green-esque.<br /><br />I would like Mike Green.<br />

<br /><br /><br />


He does not have the cute eyes that all the puck bunnies look for.

[avelanch]

one night, on 05 November 2009 - 01:20 PM, said:

He does not have the cute eyes that all the puck bunnies look for.

Kevin...

...is not amused.

[PopRocks]

nice to see hes off to a hot start, im pretty sure we all know he has the offensive tools, but him developing his two way game is the main priority i'd have to say.

[old_time_hockey]

avelanch, on 26 October 2009 - 07:21 AM, said:

http://www.vancouver..._highlights.htm

he gets the first goal, not sure why a dman was at the crease, but it was a PP so I guess they rotated? good job anyway.

well taking last season (2008/09) what would happen on the Giants PP is Blum and Regner would man the points. What ever 3 forwards went out didn't matter. That is the thing under Don Hay. His system is of interchangable parts.

If the faceoff was won the point men would run the PP distributing the puck. More often than not Kane would slip his check and get a cross crease pass or get the garbage in front.

Should they lose the faceoff, 4 men would rush down (including 1 dman). Battle in the corner or end boards while the better skater stayed at the line. So the fact that a Giants Dman was down low on a PP is the game plan.

A perfect Giants game is create a turn over at the opposition blue line and then bring crazy puck support. They have always had the dmen and goalie to support that. Especially when you have/had people like Meszaros, Fistric, Festerling and Regner on D. People like Mikkelson (only guy I know that can skate as fast forwards as backwards)and Festerling knew they had to use their positioning and speed to their advantage. People like Blum knew when to pinch. Of course it helps when you have the all time WHL shutout leader in net behind you. But even this year the Giants have the best 1 - 2 punch in net with Jamie Tucker and Brenden Jensen since Sexy and Blaine Neufeld winning the Memorial Cup. Neufie is easy to overlook...but if the Giants didn't have him to settle Tyson down in the first round against Chilliwack, who knows what would have happened. I still will never forget him spilling off the bench with a big trainers towel waving it after each win. A better teammate you could not have.