Kunitz..

[smoothmoneyb]

Alright somebody had to do it.. that is, create a thread highlighting how unbelievable Chris has been playing this year. 11 goals and 27 points in 22 games! This guy is a legit top line winger. He's been sort of flying under the radar this year, but is quietly having an all star caliber season. After receiving a good bit of criticism early on, he's been nothing short of fantastic. I remember after the first couple of weeks, there was a thread created where Chris took a lot of criticism. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the next game after that thread was created that he seemed to turn his game around (six goals in 2 games) and hasn't looked back since. I'm starting to form the opinion that he REALLY is a huge part of what makes the Malkin and/or Crosby lines successful..

[Beveridge]

Just think, he was a whipping boy the first few games of the season. Then he got sick.

I want that flu.

[pcm]

If only we had a few more...

[Beveridge]

in before "and to think, Kunitz was the throw in on the Tangradi trade"

[mikey287]

Alright, somebody had to do it.. that is, create a thread highlighting how unbelievable Chris has been playing this year. 11 goals and 27 points in 22 games! This guy is a legit top line winger, and although he's been somewhat flying under the radar, he is quietly having an all star caliber season. After receiving a good bit of criticism early on, he has been nothing but fantastic. I remember after the first couple of weeks, there was a thread created where Chris took a lot of criticism. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the next game after that thread was created that he seemed to turn his game around (six goals in 2 games) and he hasn't looked back since. I'm starting to form the opinion that he REALLY is a huge part of what makes the Malkin and/or Crosby lines successful..

So what you're saying is that we shouldn't decide who to trade based on who has had 5 bad games...? I wish I had thought of that...

Yes, Kunitz has been excellent. Good complimentary winger on a scoring line.

[smoothmoneyb]

Alright, somebody had to do it.. that is, create a thread highlighting how unbelievable Chris has been playing this year. 11 goals and 27 points in 22 games! This guy is a legit top line winger, and although he's been somewhat flying under the radar, he is quietly having an all star caliber season. After receiving a good bit of criticism early on, he has been nothing but fantastic. I remember after the first couple of weeks, there was a thread created where Chris took a lot of criticism. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the next game after that thread was created that he seemed to turn his game around (six goals in 2 games) and he hasn't looked back since. I'm starting to form the opinion that he REALLY is a huge part of what makes the Malkin and/or Crosby lines successful..

So what you're saying is that we shouldn't decide who to trade based on who has had 5 bad games...? I wish I had thought of that...

Yes, Kunitz has been excellent. Good complimentary winger on a scoring line.

Of course we shouldn't trade a player based on a few bad games, even based on 20 bad games if they've been a solid player in the past and/or the potential is there. There are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well.. do we have replacement players within the organization who can fill that particular skill set, and who are also ready to play right now? Would this player bring good value in return? Could we aquire a player/players in return that fills a more glaring need better than the player we are trading away does? Is their trade value higher than their particular skill set and what they bring to this team? It's all about BUYING LOW AND SELLING HIGH. But yeah, you definitely don't want to trade away a player who's had a solid career just b/c he's had one bad streak. You never know, he might go on to rack up another 200+ points over the next few years playing somewhere else..

Spoiler:

Mark Recchi

Spoiler:

Yeah I probably shouldn't have gone there..

[shmenguin]

He's always been a slow starter. Gotta remember that next year when people say things like "get Chris Kunitz off this team"

[guiner]

As good as he has been, I still think they should consider moving him back with Malkin/Neal and let Bennett play with Crosby. That kid knows how to create space and time in order to make passes and he just slides into soft spots. I think Crosby would get him the puck in very good scoring positions.

[malksby8771]

Can I still call him our MVP without you guys eviscerating me?

[dbizzle66]

Alright, somebody had to do it.. that is, create a thread highlighting how unbelievable Chris has been playing this year. 11 goals and 27 points in 22 games! This guy is a legit top line winger, and although he's been somewhat flying under the radar, he is quietly having an all star caliber season. After receiving a good bit of criticism early on, he has been nothing but fantastic. I remember after the first couple of weeks, there was a thread created where Chris took a lot of criticism. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, it was the next game after that thread was created that he seemed to turn his game around (six goals in 2 games) and he hasn't looked back since. I'm starting to form the opinion that he REALLY is a huge part of what makes the Malkin and/or Crosby lines successful..

So what you're saying is that we shouldn't decide who to trade based on who has had 5 bad games...? I wish I had thought of that...

Yes, Kunitz has been excellent. Good complimentary winger on a scoring line.

Of course we shouldn't trade a player based on a few bad games, even based on 20 bad games if they've been a solid player in the past and/or the potential is there. There's many other things that need factoring in as well.. do we have replacement players within the organization who can fill their particular skill set, and who are also ready to play? Would they bring good value in return? Could we aquire a player/players in return that fills a more glaring need more than the player we are trading away? Is their trade value higher than their particular skill set and what they bring to this team? It's all about BUYING LOW AND SELLING HIGH. But yeah, you definitely don't want to trade away a player who's had a solid career just b/c he's had one bad streak. You never know, he might go on to rack up another 200+ points over the next few years..

Spoiler:

Mark Recchi

Spoiler:

Yeah I probably shouldn't have gone there..

Except the Recchi trade worked out pretty well ...

[shmenguin]

Can I still call him our MVP without you guys eviscerating me?

that theory still doesn't hold up

[smoothmoneyb]

Except the Recchi trade worked out pretty well ...

I was kidding around about the whole Recchi thing, although I was actually referring to the last time we sent him packing to the Thrashers.. although I shouldn't have said traded since I think he was just waived.

Anyhow, I didn't want to derail this thread into some argument about Recchi, Letang, Orpik or anyone else. Just wanted to give props to Kunitz for his overall play this year, and acknowledge
what a fantastic season he is having so far.

[smoothmoneyb]

Can I still call him our MVP without you guys eviscerating me?

that theory still doesn't hold up

Yeah Sid's the MVP, no doubt. You could definitely make an argument for Kunitz being the second most important player on the team this year, though.

[shmenguin]

I think we've won far more games as a result of Neal's unique abilities than Kunitz's

[smoothmoneyb]

As good as he has been, I still think they should consider moving him back with Malkin/Neal and let Bennett play with Crosby. That kid knows how to create space and time in order to make passes and he just slides into soft spots. I think Crosby would get him the puck in very good scoring positions.

There's no doubt he would help the Malkin/Neal line tremendously, but I just don't see the coaching staff moving him from Sid's line with the kind of year he's having, nor do I think that it would really be fair to Sid considering that Kunitz is one of the few players that Sid is truly comfortable playing with, and who he's developed an on the ice chemistry with over the past few years. I don't necessarily have any issues with BB being tried out with Sid, just not at the expense of moving Kunitz from that line. With that said, the coaching staff will probably do something like this as soon as Malkin returns :roll:
We just need a Kunitz clone..

[smoothmoneyb]

I think we've won far more games as a result of Neal's unique abilities than Kunitz's

Like I said, you could make an argument for Kunitz being the 2nd most important guy on this team.. Neal would obviously be in that conversation as well. If we're talking about adding in last year, than yeah I'd put Neal above Kunitz. But this year Kunitz has more points (27-22) and only two less goals (11-13). Kunitz does a lot of the little thing that Neal doesn't really do, and overall is probably a better even strength player. Neal is more of a power play specialist, and he's one of the best in the biz. But as far as an overall game, I might have to go with Kunitz. But like I said, an argument could be made either way..

[columbia]

The goal last night was a thing a beauty.

[Pitts]

And to think he's done it all while having to lug around Crosby and Dupuis!

[malksby8771]

Can I still call him our MVP without you guys eviscerating me?

that theory still doesn't hold up

Yeah Sid's the MVP, no doubt. You could definitely make an argument for Kunitz being the second most important player on the team this year, though.

He's taken A LOT of pressure off Sid IMO. Sid's got what, 10 assists on Kunitz goals? Those sick passes Sid makes have to go to someone in position who knows exactly where Sid will dish those passes to. Perfect winger for Sid. Perfect winger for this team. I guess I'll concede he's the second MVP to Sid but that's all I'll concede about Kunitz's game this season. He's been phenomenal

[dbizzle66]

Except the Recchi trade worked out pretty well ...

I was kidding around about the whole Recchi thing, although I was actually referring to the last time we sent him packing to the Thrashers.. although I shouldn't have said traded since I think he was just waived.

Anyhow, I didn't want to derail this thread into some argument about Recchi, Letang, Orpik or anyone else. Just wanted to give props to Kunitz for his overall play this year, and acknowledge
what a fantastic season he is having so far.

Lol... showing my age ... I was thinking about Rick Tocchet ... anyways I agree with props to the Honey badger

[penmyst]

Kunitz deserves some respect.

He's one of those guys who isn't flashy in his game. He's got better than average hands. Has better than average physical presence, both hitting and creating space. He's got better than average offensive sense. He's competent on the boards. He only has average speed, but hustles hard most nights. And he does a good job getting into soft spots offensively, which is useful with a guy like Crosby out there.

My favorite part of his game is his hitting. While he's not going to rack up a ton of them, and they aren't going to blow anybody up...... he has this style of hitting that really punishes guys.

He's never going to catch a lot of national press attention, or even most fans since his performances are very workman-like. But the numbers he is putting up speak for themselves.

[DesertPenguin]

Kunitz deserves some respect.

He's one of those guys who isn't flashy in his game. He's got better than average hands. Has better than average physical presence, both hitting and creating space. He's got better than average offensive sense. He's competent on the boards. He only has average speed, but hustles hard most nights. And he does a good job getting into soft spots offensively, which is useful with a guy like Crosby out there.

My favorite part of his game is his hitting. While he's not going to rack up a ton of them, and they aren't going to blow anybody up...... he has this style of hitting that really punishes guys.

He's never going to catch a lot of national press attention, or even most fans since his performances are very workman-like. But the numbers he is putting up speak for themselves.

Kimmo Timonen begs to differ

[smoothmoneyb]

Just a couple of things..

1. Kunitz for the Hart!! (hey it could happen...)
2. My favorite part of that video^ is when all the Flyers fans stand up and start applauding after Timonen gets layed out. Quite a bright bunch they've got over there..
3. Kunitz IS the scoring winger we need for Crosby's line. He's also the physical winger we need. Problem is that we just need one more. IMHO he was a huge part of what made that Malkin/Neal line so successful last year. We're not going to be able to acquire a Vanek or Stamkos caliber player, but we need need to find another Kunitz type for the 2nd line.. probably is going to be hard to come by, but that's the type of player we need... a smart player who works hard, plays a scrappy physical game, can keep up with Malkin/Neal and who can hold his own offensively..