Interesting read on Luca Caputi

[bhaw]

Let him play a full AHL season, then judge where he is. A whole lot of hype has been thrust on this kid here. If he can become a third liner that can pot a few, it will be good. But that will be viewed as a disappointment because of all the hype here.

Agreed, I can't figure out who we'll be most disappointed with from overhyping them, Gianluca or Goose...

I think Goose... mainly because of the misunderstanding of how a defenseman can be good without hitting someone every 3 seconds. He's already pegged as top 4 so we can trade off Whitney. We've also had a couple extra years to overhype him.

Caputi is relatively new, so it's just starting. Maybe by the end of the year it will switch where Caputi is pinned as a 30 goal scorer, but I think a season in the AHL will get his numbers back down where we realize he may only be a 3rd liner that can spend some stints on top 6 duty. Who knows though

At least he's not lazy and unmotivated...

[Idoit40fans]

I don't really see any reason that Caputi can't fill the same role that Malone filled in a couple of years. At least the same even strength role. When he fills out, he should be a pretty big guy and has good enough hands to clean up garbage. That should be his floor if he fills out and his body holds up. No reason he can't be a 20 goal scorer in that role.

[bhaw]

I don't really see any reason that Caputi can't fill the same role that Malone filled in a couple of years. At least the same even strength role. When he fills out, he should be a pretty big guy and has good enough hands to clean up garbage. That should be his floor if he fills out and his body holds up. No reason he can't be a 20 goal scorer in that role.

I think the same was said of Ouellett

[Idoit40fans]

I don't really see any reason that Caputi can't fill the same role that Malone filled in a couple of years. At least the same even strength role. When he fills out, he should be a pretty big guy and has good enough hands to clean up garbage. That should be his floor if he fills out and his body holds up. No reason he can't be a 20 goal scorer in that role.

I think the same was said of Ouellett :D

Ouellet doesn't have the size to do that, nor did he have any significant success at scoring in juniors(Given that it is just juniors, but still). People that thought he could do something like that were too used to the rico fata era.

EDIT: wow that was an uninformed statement, I guess Ouellet did have a couple of good years in juniors, but still didn't have the size.

[mikey287]

Fun fact: When Ouellet skates, the ice is slowly pulled out from under him just to mess with him...or, at least that's how it appears...

[bill from turtle creek]

I don't really see any reason that Caputi can't fill the same role that Malone filled in a couple of years. At least the same even strength role. When he fills out, he should be a pretty big guy and has good enough hands to clean up garbage. That should be his floor if he fills out and his body holds up. No reason he can't be a 20 goal scorer in that role.

I think the same was said of Ouellett

Ouellet doesn't have the size to do that, nor did he have any significant success at scoring in juniors(Given that it is just juniors, but still). People that thought he could do something like that were too used to the rico fata era.

EDIT: wow that was an uninformed statement, I guess Ouellet did have a couple of good years in juniors, but still didn't have the size.

Ouellet was a great scorer in juniors, had 20 goals in his only ECHL year, then scored 30 and 31 at WBS. Of course, his career NHL stats are 52-64-116, which isn't bad at all for playing 187 total games. He is, nonetheless, vilified here.

[WWGRD]

I don't really see any reason that Caputi can't fill the same role that Malone filled in a couple of years. At least the same even strength role. When he fills out, he should be a pretty big guy and has good enough hands to clean up garbage. That should be his floor if he fills out and his body holds up. No reason he can't be a 20 goal scorer in that role.

I think the same was said of Ouellett

Ouellet doesn't have the size to do that, nor did he have any significant success at scoring in juniors(Given that it is just juniors, but still). People that thought he could do something like that were too used to the rico fata era.

EDIT: wow that was an uninformed statement, I guess Ouellet did have a couple of good years in juniors, but still didn't have the size.

Ouellet was a great scorer in juniors, had 20 goals in his only ECHL year, then scored 30 and 31 at WBS. Of course, his career NHL stats are 52-64-116, which isn't bad at all for playing 187 total games. He is, nonetheless, vilified here.

He plays like Recchi, but he's 20 years younger.

[DelPen]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

[Corvidae]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

His junior career has certainly been better. I think this could come true in 3 or 4 years. Here's hopin'!

[mikey287]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

As in, will be better? Is better now? Will have a better career? Will have a higher peak?

[DelPen]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

As in, will be better? Is better now? Will have a better career? Will have a higher peak?

Caputi is better now. People fail to remember Malone is an average hockey player who only does well in contract years.

[Henry Hank]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

As in, will be better? Is better now? Will have a better career? Will have a higher peak?

Caputi is better now. People fail to remember Malone is an average hockey player who only does well in contract years.

I don't know if there's really evidence to support that. Before he signed his last contract, he had a pretty typical year for him, inconsistent and finishing around his usual 20/20. I still don't even buy that he only picked up his game last year because it was a contract year. In terms of his production, I believe the main factor there is that he played with Malkin when Malkin went on a tear that few players have matched in recent years. Malone was having a normal season before that line took over. And as far as the rest of his game does, I think that was a transformation that was really taking shape in 06-07 and carried over into last season.

I don't even want to put expectations on Caputi. He had a big year in the OHL last year, but he also was an older player and played on a power house team. I feel comfortable saying he could probably be a solid third line type that can play spot duty on the top two lines. Which, in a bold statement, I'll argue is what Malone really still is.

[mikey287]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

As in, will be better? Is better now? Will have a better career? Will have a higher peak?

Caputi is better now. People fail to remember Malone is an average hockey player who only does well in contract years.

So, you are trying to tell me that Gianluca Caputi, right this second, is a better NHLer than Ryan Malone?

[K2]

He's at least twice as good as Jan "Funky Cold" Hrdina

[canaan]

Jan "Funky Cold" Hrdina

probably the greatest nickname i've ever heard for anybody.

[Mongoose87]

Jan "Funky Cold" Hrdina

probably the greatest nickname i've ever heard for anybody.

Don't hate on the Hrd-man.

[PenguinHockeyFanatic]

I read the article and went straight to youtube and watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5m8VueG56A . I love how he reacts at the end of the fight. Anyone think he'll give the Kennedys of the team some competition for fourth line minutes?

I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a great one.

[mikey287]

I read the article and went straight to youtube and watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5m8VueG56A . I love how he reacts at the end of the fight. Anyone think he'll give the Kennedys of the team some competition for fourth line minutes?

I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a great one.

"I'm supposed to think this player is gonna make the NHL coming from some garbage league after watching a few YouTube highlight videos?" - paraphrasing you re: Janne Pesonen

"I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a GREAT one." - after seeing a YouTube highlight of Caputi in an even lower tier league...

[Troy Loney]

I read the article and went straight to youtube and watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5m8VueG56A . I love how he reacts at the end of the fight. Anyone think he'll give the Kennedys of the team some competition for fourth line minutes?

I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a great one.

"I'm supposed to think this player is gonna make the NHL coming from some garbage league after watching a few YouTube highlight videos?" - paraphrasing you re: Janne Pesonen

"I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a GREAT one." - after seeing a YouTube highlight of Caputi in an even lower tier league...

Luca Caputi is the greatest fourth rd draft pick ever....or of the 2007 NHL entry draft.

[rasbatch]

He's at least twice as good as Jan "Funky Cold" Hrdina

Are you sayin my Jan Hrdina autograph is worthless? Pfft!

[Idoit40fans]

I read the article and went straight to youtube and watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5m8VueG56A . I love how he reacts at the end of the fight. Anyone think he'll give the Kennedys of the team some competition for fourth line minutes?

I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a great one.

"I'm supposed to think this player is gonna make the NHL coming from some garbage league after watching a few YouTube highlight videos?" - paraphrasing you re: Janne Pesonen

"I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a GREAT one." - after seeing a YouTube highlight of Caputi in an even lower tier league...

Thats pretty much what i've come to expect.

[André]

I read the article and went straight to youtube and watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5m8VueG56A . I love how he reacts at the end of the fight. Anyone think he'll give the Kennedys of the team some competition for fourth line minutes?

I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a great one.

"I'm supposed to think this player is gonna make the NHL coming from some garbage league after watching a few YouTube highlight videos?" - paraphrasing you re: Janne Pesonen

"I'm quickly becoming a fan, he is going to be a GREAT one." - after seeing a YouTube highlight of Caputi in an even lower tier league...

Zing!

[KG]

I'll say it now, Caputi > Malone.

As in, will be better? Is better now? Will have a better career? Will have a higher peak?

Caputi is better now. People fail to remember Malone is an average hockey player who only does well in contract years.

Malone will be missed...Fedotenko is no Malone...

[Jesse]

I don't even want to put expectations on Caputi. He had a big year in the OHL last year, but he also was an older player and played on a power house team.

I cannot stress this enough.

[Idoit40fans]

It doesn't really matter, most people here aren't asking for a ton, if he fails to be a 3rd liner, he is a disappointment regardless of what expectations we have for him. Anyone that scores 100 points in juniors then goes on to play on the 4th line is an utter disappointment.