Dallas Stars Player Of The Week: 1/25 - 1/31
by Brandon Worley on Feb 1, 2010 4:28 PM CST
in Analysis
35 comments
We're going to be introducing some new features here at Defending Big D, the first of which starts today. We may introduce a "goat of the week" feature, but right now we'll just focus on the positives.
Now, I could sit here and tell you who I think was the player of the week but since this is a dedicated and fiery community we're going to put it up to a vote.
We'll do this every Monday from here on out. Let me know if you guys want to do a "goat of the week" and we'll get that running as well.
Here are the nominees:
Brad Richards: 1G, 1 Point; -2
James Neal: 1G, 1 Point; -2
Brenden Morrow: 2A, 2 Points; Even
Jamie Benn: 1G, 1 Point; Even (12 shots)
Mike Modano: 3G, 3 Points, +3 (10 shots)
Steve Ott: 1G, 2 Points, -1 (10 shots)
Toby Petersen: 2A, 2 Points, +2
Mark Fistric: 2A, 2 Points; +4
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It is fairly obvious...
But hey, I thought we could vote on it!
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Feb 1, 2010 5:08 PM CST up reply actions
Yep, definitely.
Though Fistric has been great.
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What?!
Why can’t I vote for Turco? Oh yeah…
When reading quality hockey material isn't enough, The Black Green and Gold
Really? REALLY?
I’m all for dropping him off the PP, but does Nisky really deserve that? Last 5 games he’s got a +2 rating, 1 A, and 7 shots. You have to admit he has picked up his play, and people should really stop throwing him under the bus.
Watch out for the infamous "Two Minute" Turco
That handoff to a Coyote last night on his own blue line
Was……not good.
But I do think he’s looked better lately.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Feb 1, 2010 7:22 PM CST up reply actions
I admit the kid makes mistakes. alot.
I was at the game on Sunday, and I groaned along with everyone else when he let 3 or 4 pucks by him on the PP. I just don’t see why Crawford keeps him there, throw in Daley or Robi, I mean Nisky is on our first PP.
I am still "FRISKY FOR NISKY"
Yes and Robi and Skrats made mistakes that ended up in the net.
I’m really getting tired of the Niskanen hate. Good defensemen do not grow on trees and do not grow up over night. Niskanen needs a strong veteran presence to help him learn the ropes since he didn’t get to spend time in the AHL like the other young d-men. And remember the circumstances that got him here were not of his making. He did not sign a one-way contract like Brunner. His coaches decided to keep him up in the NHL, not him. If you want to complain about someone, complain about the coaches that put him in this predicament or that continue to put him on the PP. He doesn’t just up and decide to go out there on the power play. He is put out there by his coaches. He doesn’t decide how many minutes he will play or what d-partner he will have or which line he will play against. His coaches do.
Lay off the kid. He’s doing the best he can with the situation he is in.
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
he definitely has nhl talent
i just don’t see a sense of focus from him, and its clear from the amount of mistakes his making. he’s been paired up with everyone on this roster, and nothing has helped, while grossman and fistric continue to get better as the season progresses. niskanen has severely digressed, there is no other way around it. perhaps his potential was overinflated playing along side sergei zubov. but he has had the time to develop; that is no longer as fundamental of an excuse.
i’m not ready to ride him off yet, but he appears on the surface to be one of the least focused players on this team. i need more passion in front of our zone, and i need him to read the offensive play better. brad richards is a significantly better point man than he is, and that should not be the case after evaluating him two years ago.
i’ve been wanting him to be with karlis the whole season, a player who can cover for niskanen’s follies. fistric deserves more playing time, and i never really considered karlis to be a top 4 defensman anyways. robidas-grossman, daley-fistric, niskanen-skratskins (i know i spelled that wrong). put fistric on the powerplay, if you’re longing for a defenseman there. at least he’s earning his playing time, and needs more of it.
Sigh. I can't disagree with any of your points.
However, I do get the impression that it is more a lack of confidence in himself and just basic fear that has gotten hold of him. If you have ever talked to him in person, you know that he is one of the most earnest kids out there. I can’t believe that it is a lack of trying on his part. I see someone who is so afraid of doing the wrong thing that he can’t let his natural ability come through and ends up making more mistakes because of it.
I am to the point where I do believe that he should be traded, not for the Stars sake but for his own development’s sake. The Stars have not been able to make progress with his development and I think he would be much better off away from this negative environment, some place where he can make a fresh start and see his full potential realized. It has become quite obvious that this coaching staff does not know how to do that.
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
same title of response.
i know he’s trying, but his body language to me is that of someone with severe brunnstromitisis. and i do agree, i think it would be better just to part ways.
but with that being said, i’m a firm believer in a full season of evaluation. sometimes it takes these younger guys a while to get going. other than the richards trade, i really hate trades during the season. i think it alters roles and mindsets of some of the role play-type guys, and is disruptive to the team.
random note, but how about daley stepping up his defensive play? he’s been playing some solid D. i don’t think he’ll ever explode offensively. he might have a fluke season which he’s more than capable of having, but i’ve been much happier with his defensive zone play. razor pointed it out two games ago.
And just so you know.
I always enjoy your comments, you bring a great insider’s view to the game and the players that the rest of us can only imagine about.
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
i really appreciate that
likewise. for me personally to have never even been to a stars home game, i really enjoy constantly gaining new perspectives from different fans. there is so many tremendous writers and fans here, i never anticipated that when i first joined this community last summer.
and i really enjoy moments like this though, talking to other fans and sharing insight. its amazing that such a great group of stars fans have gathered from all the country, and the world for that matter, to share their love for this team. it is truly remarkable community going on here.
You know...
When I started this site last year, I had hoped to build a community of knowledgeable Stars fans that were friendly and could debate the team and the sport.
And this is what we have now. It’s remarkable.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Feb 2, 2010 3:50 PM CST up reply actions
You're not gonna cry are you? :P
No, seriously, if I had written that post about Niskie on some other sites, I would have been ripped to shreds and called any manor of names. I really appreciate the level of respect everyone gets here. Even more so because I’m a female fan.
Big Momma Myra Hugs all around. Now I’m off to dinner before I break into “We Are The World”.
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
I was going with Whitney, I believe the children are our future...
I must have this thing for hockey boys from Whitby with the initials JN.
The Bennster
He’s been a frickin’ monster this week. Yes, Mo’s been great, but I’m loving Jamie Benn this week.
Dallas Stars 4 Life: Stars Blogging From Hockeyville, Iowa
I'm a girl. The screen name can be misleading, I understand.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Feb 1, 2010 5:49 PM CST reply actions
i'm glad
that he’s elevating his game. same with fistric. he’s been great, even offensively rushing the puck. loving how he’s playing right now. and i’m going to be the only one optimistic about this, but perhaps brunnstrom starts to use his potential. i’ve been keying in on him a lot lately, and i think the confidence is starting to increase, which is really all he needs. the skills are there.
Tough decision:
Mike’s big games, or Fistric’s +4….
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
it really should be called
The Matt Niskanen Goat of the Week Award. And the first ever winner, Matt Niskanen! Take a bow! And for the love of God get rid of your terrible, terrible goatee.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A GOAT OF THE WEEK AWARD!!!
It just encourages the haters to hate that much more. I do not like to hear from the people who only come on here to put down someone. Nothing constructive about that.
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
Ok...
Uhh… We won’t do one.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
by Brandon Worley on Feb 2, 2010 10:17 AM CST up reply actions
Thank you! I didn't want to resort to physical threats. :P
Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365
JAMIE BENN
has been phenomenal.
Toby Petersen and Mike Modano should go win this award though. Their chemistry together is dynamic and i would love to see them carry that through the playoffs.(I have faith)
interesting...
Fistric was hands down the best D-man of the week. minus the beating the Flame with his own helmet thing. he gets better and more confident every game, and seems to throw his body around more every game.
Offense is a little tougher to decide. Mo has been really hot lately. but i think Benn has been a machine the past several games. in the words of Razor, he went alpha-male against the Coyotes the other night. also, Brunnstrom has looked solid recently. it would be great if the goals would start flowing for him.
as for the goat of the week…
entire d-core minus fistric. robidas had that horrible pass that ended up in the goal, as did niskanen and grossman,
As much as I ride Nisky...
Myra has a good point. Who is more the goat, the kid who’s trying or the coach who keeps putting him into situations to fail? Then again, you can also argue, who is more the goat, the coach who keeps putting players in a position to fail or the owner who’s tied the GM’s hands with no budget so the coach has to use the assets he has?
Tom Hicks – goat of the week.
I must have this thing for hockey boys from Whitby with the initials JN.
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