sameer666 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Absolutely. It's obvious to (virtually) everyone that the two have developed a real chemistry since being paired by Bowness, early this season. In fact, I'd have to say that after watching the game against the Habs, that Hammer misses Juice every bit as much as the haters were saying the opposite, when Bieksa was in and Hamhuis was out. As EOTM said, I disagree that he played "poorly" in all but the first half of this season. Another point that you seem to ignore regarding Juice's previous defensive play, (I know you're aware of it, because I've made the point several times in this thread) is the fact that early in his career, the Canucks were not the offensive juggernaut that they are now. They needed extra offense from the back end and Bieksa's occasional defensive lapses were seen by the coaching staff and management as an acceptable trade-off for the offensive contributions that he was making. I am actually a Bieksa supporter, but you also have to consider the fact it was Hamhuis' first game back too. But yeah i definitely agree that pairing is amazing and is going to be key for us in the playoffs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAILED-BY-THE-HAMMER Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 bieksa/hamhuis = seabrook/keith of last years playoffs only thing i have to say about bieksa is he cant take bad penalties or lose his temper in the playoffs like he did the past years maybe this norris trophy like year will boost his composure and lead the way defensively go canucks go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champions of Nothing Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 bieksa/hamhuis = seabrook/keith of last years playoffs only thing i have to say about bieksa is he cant take bad penalties or lose his temper in the playoffs like he did the past years maybe this norris trophy like year will boost his composure and lead the way defensively go canucks go. Let's not get ridiculous now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozonetragic Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I love how Juice is out with an injury but still manages to climb back on top of the league +/- ranking (Toni Lydman was a -2 today, Juice and Danny now 1-2 in the league, albeit Danny is tied with like 20 other players) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
لني Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 How did this get back down to the third page again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c0medyClub Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Im surprised Canucklion and amigo aren't criticizing Bieksa's recovery method.'Too much up and about on his feet, needs more resting. Trade him.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinated.pea Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 ^Blasphemy! Really, though, this team misses Juice He probably would've been there battling with Looch and Horton (though I can't exactly say if he would've necessarily won the battles...) Mark Lee says he's still about a week and a half away... but then again, it is Mark Lee... grain of salt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I miss Bieksa soooooooooooooo much. Honestly, though.....it's apparent from his and Edler's absence, just how important they both were in the minutes they ate up. One is more offensive and the other defensive...but their equal ability in the role they're playing on the team, seems unreplaceable at this point. No one looks as good with Hammer than Bieksa, and no on e compliments Ehrhoff, more than Edler.... I can't wait for both their returns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAILED-BY-THE-HAMMER Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Bieksa is a snarling beast on my nhl 11 season he leads in hits by a large margin and his plus/minus is outstanding he,s dearly missed and its always nice to have another right handed shot out there hope him well in his recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Im surprised Canucklion and amigo aren't criticizing Bieksa's recovery method.'Too much up and about on his feet, needs more resting. Trade him.' Still labeling me a pure unadulterated hater I see. ^Blasphemy! Really, though, this team misses Juice He probably would've been there battling with Looch and Horton (though I can't exactly say if he would've necessarily won the battles...) Mark Lee says he's still about a week and a half away... but then again, it is Mark Lee... grain of salt... I don't think Bieksa would have been able to handle those guys in front of the net any better than our other D did tonight. Bieksa, Edler, and even Alberts would all certainly be helpful to have as options against those bigger teams though and at least they may have tried to clear the crease. Right now Ballard is really the only physical D we have who even attempts to clear the crease consistently. He did okay tonight considering no one else really even bothered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinated.pea Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Still labeling me a pure unadulterated hater I see. I don't think Bieksa would have been able to handle those guys in front of the net any better than our other D did tonight. Bieksa, Edler, and even Alberts would all certainly be helpful to have as options against those bigger teams though and at least they may have tried to clear the crease. Right now Ballard is really the only physical D we have who even attempts to clear the crease consistently. He did okay tonight considering no one else really even bothered. Yeah but if he were in the lineup, he probably would've been the one to do it. Regardless of the fact of him being successful or not. Which was my point I was sort of disappointed with Salo's play tonight, as he was absent in front of the net for both Boston goals (not counting the EN of course). But everyone has bad games, and I'm sure Salo will shake this one off. I do like the Salo - Ballard pairing; looks like coaching staff are pairing them now early on so that they can develop some good chemistry going into the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick-in-Rink Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Kevin Bieksa you are... thoroughly missed right now, we could use you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Yeah but if he were in the lineup, he probably would've been the one to do it. Regardless of the fact of him being successful or not. Which was my point I was sort of disappointed with Salo's play tonight, as he was absent in front of the net for both Boston goals (not counting the EN of course). But everyone has bad games, and I'm sure Salo will shake this one off. I do like the Salo - Ballard pairing; looks like coaching staff are pairing them now early on so that they can develop some good chemistry going into the playoffs. No, I got your point and was actually agreeing with you. I want to see AV use Hamhuis-Ballard as our shut down pairing next game. Hamhuis-Ballard Ehrhoff-Salo Rome-Tanev Why not try ALL the possible combinations out while the opportunity is there. You know what they say to do when life gives you lemons..... This is a good opportunity to see if other guys are a fit together. You never know which guys are going to click. I say try them all out and give them a fair shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinated.pea Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 No, I got your point and was actually agreeing with you. I want to see AV use Hamhuis-Ballard as our shut down pairing next game. Hamhuis-Ballard Ehrhoff-Salo Rome-Tanev Why not try ALL the possible combinations out while the opportunity is there. You know what they say to do when life gives you lemons..... This is a good opportunity to see if other guys are a fit together. You never know which guys are going to click. I say try them all out and give them a fair shot. I think we've seen plenty of Hamhuis and Ballard playing together, though to be fair, not for a consistent stretch. I don't know I just think it's more important to build some consistency now rather than throw different pairings together simply just to test the waters, since Bieksa and Edler will slot in soon, and the coaching staff seem pretty comfortable with what we have. And it's not like these pairings right now have been bad. They've played well together and I'd rather they continue to do so rather than change up the pairings and potentially need to wait a couple games for them to get comfortable around each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I think we've seen plenty of Hamhuis and Ballard playing together, though to be fair, not for a consistent stretch. I don't know I just think it's more important to build some consistency now rather than throw different pairings together simply just to test the waters, since Bieksa and Edler will slot in soon, and the coaching staff seem pretty comfortable with what we have. And it's not like these pairings right now have been bad. They've played well together and I'd rather they continue to do so rather than change up the pairings and potentially need to wait a couple games for them to get comfortable around each other. I honestly don't remember ever seeing Ballard and Hamhuis play any games together consistently start to finish. The times I have seen them play together for shifts, they looked pretty good though. None of the guys currently together other than possibly Ballard and Salo will be playing together when everyone is back and healthy anyway so changing the pairings right now and giving that duo a shot probably would not have much, if any, negative impact. The bottom pairing would stay the same as it has been the last few games. I don't think any of the other top 4 are going to be somehow weakened by playing with others. In the current top 4, Hamhuis-Ballard is the only pairing that has not been tried in the games since both those guys came back. I find that odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinated.pea Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I honestly don't remember ever seeing Ballard and Hamhuis play any games together consistently start to finish. The times I have seen them play together for shifts, they looked pretty good though. None of the guys currently together other than possibly Ballard and Salo will be playing together when everyone is back and healthy anyway so changing the pairings right now and giving that duo a shot probably would not have much, if any, negative impact. The bottom pairing would stay the same as it has been the last few games. I don't think any of the other top 4 are going to be somehow weakened by playing with others. In the current top 4, Hamhuis-Ballard is the only pairing that has not been tried in the games since both those guys came back. I find that odd. I'm actually pretty sure there was at least one or two games they did because I remember the entire board ranting and raving about it haha. Exactly my point, though. Ballard and Salo are most likely the guys who will stay together for the long stretch so IMO it's kind of senseless to break them up when they have a good opportunity to play together consistently to get a feel for one another. To add, Hamhuis and Ehrhoff have also played well together, and playing with Ehrhoff will give Hammer the opportunity to play more offensive minutes, while playing with Ballard will allow Salo to play not-top pairing minutes and continue to ease into more minutes. It could possibly be due to the fact that they're sorta similar players, and it'll be better having that kind of presence on two pairings rather than just one, but that's just me speculating. Coaching staff has had their reasons and so far, they've had a lot of success with pairings. I may not know why they do it, but I trust 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAILED-BY-THE-HAMMER Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 <br />I'm actually pretty sure there was at least one or two games they did because I remember the entire board ranting and raving about it haha.<br /><br />Exactly my point, though. Ballard and Salo are most likely the guys who will stay together for the long stretch so IMO it's kind of senseless to break them up when they have a good opportunity to play together consistently to get a feel for one another. To add, Hamhuis and Ehrhoff have also played well together, and playing with Ehrhoff will give Hammer the opportunity to play more offensive minutes, while playing with Ballard will allow Salo to play not-top pairing minutes and continue to ease into more minutes.<br /><br />It could possibly be due to the fact that they're sorta similar players, and it'll be better having that kind of presence on two pairings rather than just one, but that's just me speculating. Coaching staff has had their reasons and so far, they've had a lot of success with pairings. I may not know why they do it, but I trust 'em.<br /><br /><br /><br /> you sounded like a hockey anlyst their Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyLahey Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Omg I can't wait to see what gets put in Canuckelion's sig! My vote is Kevin Bieksa's face on a sexy fireman photo. On a side not, it's interesting that right after Kevin Bieksa gets injured the Canucks go below 500 hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck1982 Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Wow, do the Canucks ever miss Kevin Bieska! Almost the whole teams play has dropped off since he has been injured. I would have to say, he has clearly been the Canucks top defenseman this season. I sure hope he gets back soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 This team needs a heart and soul guy like Bieksa back in the lineup, in the homestretch. It's not just his play that will be valuable...but his presence. I think we can clearly see a defence that is somewhat leaderless and doesn't have that one guy to rally around. I think Bieksa was that veteran guy on the blueline, that filled that role. It truly shows Bieksa'a off ice value....and why we should re-sign him. Can't wait for him to get back....and for some semblance of normalcy back on the blueline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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