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Gelinas as a forward


NewarkDevil5

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I've seen this bandied about, but as of yet it doesn't appear to have been attempted. Why not try him out as a forward? He's a big body with decent speed, a good shot (granted his slapper is what he's really good at, but I'm sure he could work on his wrist and snap), and decent offensive instincts. He could make for a great power forward and still play point on the PP.

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Because he's a good defenseman (or at least has potential to be) when PDB/Lou arent stunting his growth. Speaking of which, where is Adam Larsson....

 

He's played 50 games in the NHL this year. He's not having his growth stunted. If anything, he clearly needs more time in the AHL to work on his defensive game.

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Because he's a good defenseman (or at least has potential to be) when PDB/Lou arent stunting his growth. Speaking of which, where is Adam Larsson....

 

If he's a good defenseman, why is he constantly getting scratched over his lousy defense? If his defense can't be fixed properly, use him as a forward. I don't want him scratched because he's an offensive weapon, but I don't want him to cost us the leads he gains us either.

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Gelinas has a good wrister, but I don't see much there that would make him a good forward.  He's fast but not quick, and he's not strong enough in the corners yet.  Maybe in a few years this would be worthwhile but I don't think he's a fit for the DeBoer system at forward.

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Gelinas has a good wrister, but I don't see much there that would make him a good forward.  He's fast but not quick, and he's not strong enough in the corners yet.  Maybe in a few years this would be worthwhile but I don't think he's a fit for the DeBoer system at forward.

Getting strong in the corners is more important as a defenseman regardless of the system than it is as a forward. It's nice to have as a forward, but it's vital for defensemen. In some ways the skills he'd be working on if converted to forward are the same skills he's lacking as a defenseman, but in a less strategically dangerous situation.

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What makes people think he would be a good forward? Because he has offensive skills on defense? This is silly, he is much more valuable as a D. whether that be on the ice for the Devils or as a trade asset. If you turn him into a forward, you devalue him.

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If he's a good defenseman, why is he constantly getting scratched over his lousy defense? If his defense can't be fixed properly, use him as a forward. I don't want him scratched because he's an offensive weapon, but I don't want him to cost us the leads he gains us either.

 

Initially, he was scratched for making typical rookie mistakes. That send down to Albany seems to have hurt his confidence for now.

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What makes people think he would be a good forward? Because he has offensive skills on defense? This is silly, he is much more valuable as a D. whether that be on the ice for the Devils or as a trade asset. If you turn him into a forward, you devalue him.

Because he's big, can hit but otherwise doesn't seem to want to try to play D.

That said I would like to see him with Larsson again at the NHL level before I switched Gelly permanently. Both their best stretches as a Devil came with each other.

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His biggest asset is his shot from the point. 

To be fair, that's all we have seen. He might be equally if not more devastating from in tighter, or having the freedom to get creative and not worry about his defensive responsibility. 

Idk if it's a good idea or not, but if we get knocked out of the playoffs I want to see our younger guys get as much ice time as possible and it might be a neat little experiment that could free up some roster room to get Larson back up here.

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Who would Gelly even replace in the lineup as a forward?  Bernier?  It's not like Pete's inclined to throw any of the current guys into the doghouse since CBGB has been solidified as a key piece of the team since the '12 playoffs and trading off Loiktionov for Ruutu got rid of our disposable forward spot.

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Uhhh no. I mean I'm not opposed to it as a short term fix until we can find a way to send Salvador and Volch packing, but then again, it could hurt his progression as a defenseman. If we are looking for a guy to be a pretty good power forward, however, I don't see why Matteau hasn't seen any NHL time this year, but we were so fixed on having him up last year. Is he hurt or something?? He's put up good numbers in the AHL and had a great World Juniors

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