There is an answer and I have it to you. None of our dmen clear the crease. It is becoming quite common around the league. Because of rules changes clearing the crease has become a lost skill. That is the excuse.
Sorry Rush but that's the direction the game is going. I dont like it any better than you do. I'm not defending Carlson for his softness. For today's game his defensive play isnt bad. He plays the way most defence men play. Even the best defensive dmen in the league now are known for their ability to clear the crease.
I think you are comparing Carlson s defensive play to guys from the past but if you compare him to present dmen he is average. Maybe even above. There are a lot of poor defensive defence men in the league right now. Look at our team. Believe it or not Carlson is probably our best dman in our end this year. Its supposed to be Niskanen but he has been awful this year. Orlov has been worse. Kempny has been alright but he is very soft himself. He has been getting beat in the defensive and has been taking penalties because of it. Bowey and Siegenthaler are still young and making mistakes but they are progressing. I think Bowey is showing signs that he can be a physical dman.
The Caps aren't the only team with soft dmen. Even Hedman in Tampa isnt really a physical dman. If he was it would be down right scarey. There are very few Shea Weber type dmen left in the NHL.
You want to know my theory on Carlson. I think he is excellent offensively. And I think he is better than average defensively when compared to other dmen around the league now. He could be better. He has the size to be a dominant dman in this league.
And I think the league is getting sifter every year. The new dmen aren't big, physical, defensive dmen. They are soft puck moving dmen and guys that skate well.
Rush the game is changing quickly in front of our eyes. Ive really noticed the difference the past couple if years. Its not easy for us dinosaurs to accept.
I am ABSOLUTELY NOT comparing John Carlson to the D men of the past!! That would be senseless! It’s absurud! I take him, as is, and in the NOW!
You can’t furnish one scintilla of evidence, where I’ve justified my opinions on Carlson, by comparing him to the D men of the past!!
It would, however, be quite convenient for you to claim JUST THAT, as you’d never have to consider any SOLID, REAL TIME, evidence about his pathetic defensive play!
It allows you to easily dismiss ANYTHING contrary, that challenges what you want to believe about Carlson’s defensive skills!
An atmosphere you seem to set up well for yourself, on this board!! So no problem....who cares how you chose to permit influence on your thoughts! That’s your baby to deal with!
You, me, and all of us “dinosaurs”, as you call it, KNOW what true, solid, defensive skills look like!
It is laughable, IMO, to see you continually, and confidently state that Carlson is our best D man, defensively!
You, almost obsessively, NEVER miss an opportunity to put a positive “plug” in for him, from the EAST side of your mouth, while simultaneously professing, from the WEST side of your mouth, HUGE ACCOLADES, onto the greatness of the tough physicality of the D men of years gone by!
IMO, any reasonably minded person, who held high respect for the fundamental, physically tough, defenseman, from the good old days of hockey, could certainly claim Carlson, as a defenseman whose offensive production outweighs his overall negative defensive liabilities, and is therefore worthy, on balance, of his position!
But to say, in any way, that he represents GOOD defensive skills, against the backdrop of your persuasive, strong, and habitual, statements of support for physical prowess, that exist in your brain, I find, to be at a head-on collision, in logic, with one another!!
You seem quite intelligent to me, Maaco, so I have a difficult time accepting that you truly believe these obviously opposing thought sequences!
Rather, I’m more inclined to believe that you receive some form of strange gratification, from the negative attention that comes your way, by adopting and insisting on obstinate points a view, that stretch the boundaries or ridiculousness!!
I’m certainly not God, and could be totally wrong in my assessment of this... BUT, at a minimum, you do a great job, sometimes, of blurring the line between sincere, responsible, debate, VERSUS, the APPEARANCE of one who delves in receiving small pleasures, from immature “jollies”, in arguing for the sole purpose of being disruptive!!
I truly hope I’m wrong. Otherwise, only a fool would continue debating you!!
Maybe I am just such a fool?? Wouldn’t be the first time!!
Rush
