How did Rita do yesterday?

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:23 am

I was at my kids games yesterday and I missed the ugliness.

Aside from that, what or how did Rita do? I did see a clip of him playing with Crosby.

DelPen · Post by **DelPen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:33 am

If you factor in his first game on a new team playing the 1st line when he's always been playing 3rd and 4th line minutes he did well.

He had 3 shots on net and they were hard shots. That tied Crosby and Recchi for the lead in shots yesterday.

He also hustled and back checked and played both corners pretty good so he might be a good fit.

SirSidTheKid · Post by **SirSidTheKid** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:47 am

I dont know to much about this kid's history, other then him not playing much- but what i saw yesterday if you give him some time with the team he may be a good fit somewhere in this lineup.. I just esp like how he moves his feet with puck, definately works hard

topshelf · Post by **topshelf** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:15 am

I only got to see the third period of the game, but for someone who hasn't been playing much in Edmonton, he didn't look out of place at all.

Bowser · Post by **Bowser** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:29 am

Rita, a top two line talent, was badly misused in Edmonton because he wasn't a Ryan Smyth type. The Penguins got the best end of the deal by acquiring the winger and dumping Tarnstrom. I hope the carcass in the GM office can find it in himself to dump Cory Cross for a defensemen desparate team like Toronto.

DelPen · Post by **DelPen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:22 am

I would bet money that Jackman and either Cross or Melichar are gone at the deadline because while I don't think they are good they at least have experience and provide depth for a playoff team.

Bowser · Post by **Bowser** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:23 am

I've been on record that I think Melichar goes to NY Rangers by the deadline and not sure what to think about our other crap defensemen.

Post by **netwolf** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:47 pm

Bowser wrote:
Rita, a top two line talent, was badly misused in Edmonton because he wasn't a Ryan Smyth type. The Penguins got the best end of the deal by acquiring the winger and dumping Tarnstrom. I hope the carcass in the GM office can find it in himself to dump Cory Cross for a defensemen desparate team like Toronto.

Even if he can't, it's no big deal. By all accounts, Cross' next year is a club option. They can just cut him loose. Worst case is they have to pay him a little less than half of this year's salary.

NIN · Post by **NIN** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:41 pm

Rita is just alittle bit better than Fata. HE had a nice wrist shot but Lundquist could have stopped it in his sleep, and I know that because he was asleep during that game. Rita's best chance came on the power play, he was setup on a cross crease pass and could have burried it but he lost it in his skates and couldnt finish.

FallenHero96 · Post by **FallenHero96** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:46 pm

NIN wrote:
Rita is just alittle bit better than Fata. HE had a nice wrist shot but Lundquist could have stopped it in his sleep, and I know that because he was asleep during that game. Rita's best chance came on the power play, he was setup on a cross crease pass and could have burried it but he lost it in his skates and couldnt finish.

I dont know what you saw, but I saw Rita take two very good wrist shots that were key saves for Lundquist. The whole team didnt play well, but Rita had 3 of the teams 14 shots... at least he was trying to make something happen. Will need to see more of him, but so far I dont think he looked bad at all.

Post by **Kicksave** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:50 pm

FallenHero96 wrote:
NIN wrote:
Rita is just alittle bit better than Fata. HE had a nice wrist shot but Lundquist could have stopped it in his sleep, and I know that because he was asleep during that game. Rita's best chance came on the power play, he was setup on a cross crease pass and could have burried it but he lost it in his skates and couldnt finish.
I dont know what you saw, but I saw Rita take two very good wrist shots that were key saves for Lundquist. The whole team didnt play well, but Rita had 3 of the teams 14 shots... at least he was trying to make something happen. Will need to see more of him, but so far I dont think he looked bad at all.

One post the glass is half empty, the other post is the glass that is half full.

NIN · Post by **NIN** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:57 pm

Kicksave wrote:
FallenHero96 wrote:
NIN wrote:
Rita is just alittle bit better than Fata. HE had a nice wrist shot but Lundquist could have stopped it in his sleep, and I know that because he was asleep during that game. Rita's best chance came on the power play, he was setup on a cross crease pass and could have burried it but he lost it in his skates and couldnt finish.
I dont know what you saw, but I saw Rita take two very good wrist shots that were key saves for Lundquist. The whole team didnt play well, but Rita had 3 of the teams 14 shots... at least he was trying to make something happen. Will need to see more of him, but so far I dont think he looked bad at all.
One post the glass is half empty, the other post is the glass that is half full.

Fata has got a few shots like that on net too. Im not ripping him, im just saying is alittle better than Fata. If Rita is willing to muck it up alittle he could be better than Fata all around.

Fact is, Rita got some long range wristers on net because defensemen will allow that 10 out of 10 times. There was nobody there for a rebound so shooting obviously wasnt displaying great hockey sense. The shots were wicked but Fata and most every player in the league can make that same shot. He had alot on it but they gave him all day to tork it up because like I said, nobody is beating an NHL goalie too often from that range.

FallenHero96 · Post by **FallenHero96** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:01 am

NIN wrote:
Kicksave wrote:
FallenHero96 wrote:
NIN wrote:
Rita is just alittle bit better than Fata. HE had a nice wrist shot but Lundquist could have stopped it in his sleep, and I know that because he was asleep during that game. Rita's best chance came on the power play, he was setup on a cross crease pass and could have burried it but he lost it in his skates and couldnt finish.
I dont know what you saw, but I saw Rita take two very good wrist shots that were key saves for Lundquist. The whole team didnt play well, but Rita had 3 of the teams 14 shots... at least he was trying to make something happen. Will need to see more of him, but so far I dont think he looked bad at all.
One post the glass is half empty, the other post is the glass that is half full.
Fata has got a few shots like that on net too. Im not ripping him, im just saying is alittle better than Fata. If Rita is willing to muck it up alittle he could be better than Fata all around.

Fact is, Rita got some long range wristers on net because defensemen will allow that 10 out of 10 times. There was nobody there for a rebound so shooting obviously wasnt displaying great hockey sense. The shots were wicked but Fata and most every player in the league can make that same shot. He had alot on it but they gave him all day to tork it up because like I said, nobody is beating an NHL goalie too often from that range.

I see where you are coming from, but I really think it is hard to make that judgement after just seeing him for one game, a terrible game at that.

As far as shooting when no one was there for a rebound, you cannot call that not displaying great hockey sense. Its called a shot on goal. You can't stop and wait for someone else to get there before you shoot. A shot on goal is never a bad play, hockey 101.

NIN · Post by **NIN** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:25 am

I see where you are coming from, but I really think it is hard to make that judgement after just seeing him for one game, a terrible game at that.

As far as shooting when no one was there for a rebound, you cannot call that not displaying great hockey sense. Its called a shot on goal. You can't stop and wait for someone else to get there before you shoot. A shot on goal is never a bad play, hockey 101.

[/quote]

Thats right, its always a good play to shoot it but what I didnt see is a guy trying to make a convincing argument to stay on the top line, like I had hoped. If he would have tried a skating move and swong wide WITH the puck and got something going on the forecheck I would have been more impressed with that than the shots. MAybe he will try some moves next game, because whether he realizes it or not he isnt going to be on Crosby's line the rest of the season if he doesnt produce. Seeing what he can do is one thing, costing Crosby the Caldur is another.

Rita has the absolute best chance to show what he is capable of and he better show something more than Fata caliber hockey.

Post by **netwolf** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:16 am

I still say NO ONE had a good game for the Pens on Saturday. They all laid a collective egg. The closest one was Fleury and he got sucked in to the suckitude exhibited by the rest of the team.

I was waiting for Fleury to skate over to the bench, take himself out of the game and tell Therrien, "if they aren't going to play in front of me, then I'm not playing anymore either!"

Seriously, that was as about as bad as they could possibly play. The only way it could be worse is if they were to duplicate it on Wednesday.

Judging Rita off of that game is not fair. In addition to the team being horrible, he went from playing 4th line minutes to playing 1st line minutes and on a new team. That's a tough adjustment to make, even if the team had played well.

NIN · Post by **NIN** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:01 am

netwolf wrote:
I still say NO ONE had a good game for the Pens on Saturday. They all laid a collective egg. The closest one was Fleury and he got sucked in to the suckitude exhibited by the rest of the team.

I was waiting for Fleury to skate over to the bench, take himself out of the game and tell Therrien, "if they aren't going to play in front of me, then I'm not playing anymore either!"

Seriously, that was as about as bad as they could possibly play. The only way it could be worse is if they were to duplicate it on Wednesday.

Judging Rita off of that game is not fair. In addition to the team being horrible, he went from playing 4th line minutes to playing 1st line minutes and on a new team. That's a tough adjustment to make, even if the team had played well.

I agree that they played bad as a whole but if the subject is Rita than im just going to say what I thought of Rita and how he worked with his linemates.

If he is talented and he beleives he can be a top 6 winger in the league someday then its time to show that now. One game is one game and I never said not to play him anymore or anything. in fact now that he has had a few days to settle and practice there are no excuses left.

If he has top 2 line talent we are going to find out over the next 4 or 5 games. Looks more like another 1st round class of 99 bust if you ask me. NHL ability never means NHL greatness, as we all know.

Post by **Eisbahren** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:54 pm

What were the offensive lines against NYR, please?

Jesse · Post by **Jesse** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:19 pm

Bowser wrote:
I've been on record that I think Melichar goes to NY Rangers by the deadline and not sure what to think about our other crap defensemen.

What on earth would the Rags' want with Joey?

Post by **netwolf** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:43 pm

Jesse wrote:
Bowser wrote:
What on earth would the Rags' want with Joey?

He'll fit in perfect with the Czech World Tour dude! If they want him, they are probably guessing that being around all those Czech would get him back to past form. Not that bad of a gamble depending on what they are wiling to give up.