hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 First off, I'm not trashing the Canucks. This isn't an "over-reaction" thread; I've noticed and observed this particular aspect of Booth's game for over a month now (I know, I'm a self-proclaimed expert). But, as disappointed as I am about the Canucks going down 0-2 to the Kings, I still believe they can come back and win this series. One game at a time. (But, to be honest, the way they're playing now, and the way they're tooled as a team, I don't honestly think they'll make it past the 2nd round...that hurts to me to say it, but just watching some of the other series, and those teams just seem to be playing with an extra urgency, or jump, that is missing from our team this year. Hoping they can turn things around in L.A. Back to my point... Have any of you noticed that David Booth can't pass? I've been watching him for a while now, and he just doesn't have the East-West, team-instincts kind of game. Of course, he's got great speed, he's strong on the puck, hard to knock-off and will also deliver a good hit once in a while. He has "exciting" one-on-one moves coming down the wing, he drives to the net fearlessly and in doing all this, he certainly creates chances through shots on goal, rebounds and just plain wrecking havoc. But he can't make a basic cross-ice pass, tape to tape. Especially when the target teammate is skating full-speed, his timing is off. I've noticed that his backhand pass attempts are even more atrocious; usually ends up being a turnover. Again, I hope I don't come across as picking on the guy, but this is just something I've noticed. I guy like Mikael Samuelsson, for example, though not as fast, can move the puck, has natural hockey sense, and makes up for lack of speed with smart hockey plays, and an above average shot. Same with Chris Higgins. This guy hustles hard (as does Booth!), but he has more hockey sense than Booth. He can make those basic tape-to-tape passes, and he seems to create The way Booth is most effective is off rushes. And if some one gets him the puck while he's busting down the wing. But the issue is he can't pass, and if he can't pass, he's not using his line mates well (heard that before, right Kes?). Consider Kesler. We can all agree he's not a play-making centre. He's the kind of player that dominates defensively (usually) and really depends on his line mates to distribute the puck well. Think last year: Kesler's line mates were Raymond and Higgins and sometimes Samuelsson. All these guys complimented Kesler's game because they each had varying degrees of hockey sense (more than Booth), could create space for one another, and simply got good quality scoring chances. With Booth, however, as a player who is dependent on others to create for him, and with Kesler not being that type of Centre, it just seems to be a bad match. Kesler, in the end, can adapt pretty well to different types of line mates...but Booth can't. Anyway, I've written more than I expected. Just let me know your thoughts, if you've noticed the same thing about Booth, or not. Am I missing something? (I'm really no expert, I don't even play ice hockey, but I think I've watched enough to make some comparisons). Btw, in my opinion, the best passers on our team, from best to not-so-good: Sedins Higgins Salo Hamhuis Bieksa Edler Raymond Kesler Lapierre Hansen Burrows Tanev Rome Ballard .. .. Booth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Carell Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Edler does not deserve to be 5th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 Edler does not deserve to be 5th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biasbieksa Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Yea ive noticed it for a while. He lacks a LOT of hockey knowledge. But he plays a hard game. Ive liked his physicality in the playoffs. You cant underestimate how much that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzam Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 WHOA TOOK YOU THAT LONG TO REALIZE THAT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugli Fruit Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I remember one where he tried to make a backhanded pass to Ballard (Booth was by the benches, Ballard at center ice), and he passed it 6 feet behind Ballard. Ugh... You should have Raymond actually on the list, top 10. He makes some good passes. His only problem right now is finishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 WHOA TOOK YOU THAT LONG TO REALIZE THAT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etsen3 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I like his game, he's been working pretty hard so far. But you're right about the passing. It's just not part of style I guess. He needs to go with someone to pass him the puck. Why not try him with Sedin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 I remember one where he tried to make a backhanded pass to Ballard (Booth was by the benches, Ballard at center ice), and he passed it 6 feet behind Ballard. Ugh... You should have Raymond actually on the list, top 10. He makes some good passes. His only problem right now is finishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magician Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Edler does not deserve to be 5th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Vanderhoek Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I like the physical element Booth has brought to this Playoff series, however I pointed out some similiar things in his game when the season was still young and in fact I compared his stickhandling, passing, slow to get the shot off, and not so agile skating agility to that of Steve Bernier. I was ripped but I tell you they are similiar in this aspect. Booth im a fan of because he is a Canucks player, perhaps that will change as I see him play more. Maybe im ignorant and did not pay as much attention before when he was with Florida, but I thought he was looked at as a topend player a couple yrs ago ? Anyways im not about bashing Booth either, but I think people might have thought a different more productive player was coming to Vancouver, I did. Maybe he rubbed me the wrong way when he was Tebow'ing it on CBC's after hours at the beginning of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 I like his game, he's been working pretty hard so far. But you're right about the passing. It's just not part of style I guess. He needs to go with someone to pass him the puck. Why not try him with Sedin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugli Fruit Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 You're right about Raymond, I noticed that I missed him. I placed him 7th on the list (actually 8th because of Sedins). He can make good smooth, smart passes. When he's not falling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 Really? I thought that was an exellent pass to Kopitar yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Chili Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 nobody can pass on that 2nd line not booth not raymond not kesler except maybe higgins when he's assigned there booth,raymond, kesler are all the same..individual plays with speed and shoot at a distance. that whole line is a mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bd71 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I like the physical element Booth has brought to this Playoff series, however I pointed out some similiar things in his game when the season was still young and in fact I compared his stickhandling, passing, slow to get the shot off, and not so agile skating agility to that of Steve Bernier. I was ripped but I tell you they are similiar in this aspect. Booth im a fan of because he is a Canucks player, perhaps that will change as I see him play more. Maybe im ignorant and did not pay as much attention before when he was with Florida, but I thought he was looked at as a topend player a couple yrs ago ? Anyways im not about bashing Booth either, but I think people might have thought a different more productive player was coming to Vancouver, I did. Maybe he rubbed me the wrong way when he was Tebow'ing it on CBC's after hours at the beginning of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodgson99 Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 nobody can pass on that 2nd line not booth not raymond not kesler except maybe higgins when he's assigned there booth,raymond, kesler are all the same..individual plays with speed and shoot at a distance. that whole line is a mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugli Fruit Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Wrong thread I know, but maybe put Kesler with Henrik and see what happens? Kesler tries to shoot every chance he gets, so a 100% playmaker might help him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les And Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Booth can't pass?????????? The entire Canuck team seems to have lost their ability to pass the puck. Passing to the headman last year was their strong point. This year, the puck ends up behind their receivers, in their skates, ten feet in front of them or is passed directly for one of the Kings to intercept. The Canucks have no break out power this year, they have no intensity and win about 5% of the races to the boards for the puck. Even when they did win a faceoff, the Kings ended up with control of the puck. Sami Salo has fallen the furthest. Eighty percent of his passes last night were either zone dumpouts with no target receiver or passed directly to a King-s player. He used to be the Canucks most reliable defenceman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanKeslord17 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Yup, he's terrible at passing. He needs to play with Hank: Higgins-Henrik-Booth Raymond-Kesler-Burrows Lapierre-Pahlsson-Hansen Weise-Malhotra-Kassian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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