46 replies to this topic

[msweet]

After the first pre-season game I said he would make the team.. it was obvious he was/is an NHL caliber defensemen

With that being said, he could go on a Rafalski course or an Oduya course

It's way too early to tell

[Devs4LIFE]

Well the only defenseman to play more even strength time than Taormina was Corrente, so Jmac certainly feels comfortable with him in our own end.

[DevilNurn]

After seeing him with Lowell last year I was on the bandwagon before he even got to NJ. He's making well on my expectations .

[devlman]

Wow. It's one thing to be skeptical of the kid, but you are way off base, if you ask me. I won't believe this kid is for real until we see the same performance for the next 20-30 games, but to deny the fact that he has been very good for an NHL rookie defenseman playing 20+ minutes a night, you have to be blind.

Well until last night we had one win in 5 with a terrible D. So him playing 20:00 min doesnt say much to any good he has done. To me, he has not looked good, not even for a rookie. Hes a good skater and has potential in that department. Hes Mike Mottau's step-child.

[Joe B]

Well the only defenseman to play more even strength time than Taormina was Corrente, so Jmac certainly feels comfortable with him in our own end.

Was going to wait until about 20 games in to kinda go over a few points, but it seems to me that Johnny Mac is more comfortable with the kids he has first hand experience with in the AHL last year then some of the players that have been with the club. Tao instead of Greene stands out the most in my mind.

Not saying it's neccesarily a bad thing, but it was something I have noticed from the first game. Maybe Tao has outplayed greene in practice, but it has stood out to me.

OMG had plenty of ice time last night<deservedly so> as well.

joe

[ungar]

It's been a long time since our team had a real offensive defenseman. I'm hoping Tao will become a real scoring threat from the blueline.

[iamtheprodigy]

I like what he's done so far too. It's encouraging to see that he seems to be a little bit better every game. Obviously that can't go on forever but as long as he keeps improving in the d-zone and keeps firing pucks on net, he will be a useful asset, for sure.

[MantaRay]

I think he is off to a fantastic start offensively, but is nowhere near as good overall as Rafalski. He has great teachers and a lot of potential.

Johnny Mac has to watch his minutes moving forward as its a long season and rookies tend to burn out by January if they are overplayed.

[Neb00rs]

NO

He cant pass to save his life. His goal last nite was a floater that Price mistimed. His assist to Kovy in Buffalo was a result of a fortunate bounce his way. His breakouts and reads are horrible. He has been the worst defenseman on a terrible defense so far. I dont know why hes even in the NHL.



Thats cuz he didnt know what else to do.

Are you really that bad at analyzing hockey?

[devlman]

Are you really that bad at analyzing hockey?

Are you really that bad at adding to a discussion?

Youre one of those who says 'yay he scored a goal, it must mean hes awesome'

Edited by devlman, 22 October 2010 - 02:23 PM.

[Neb00rs]

Are you really that bad at adding to a discussion?

Youre one of those who says 'yay he scored a goal, it must mean hes awesome'

He's not awesome. What you said was that he has not looked good even for a rookie ...that's kind of far from awesome. You also said he "can't pass to save his life", you brushed aside his goal last night and his assist vs. Buffalo, and you called him the worst defensemen on the team and questioned why he was even in the NHL.

Again, are you that bad at analyzing hockey?

[Marshall]

There were only like 6 guys screening him on the shot. That's on Price for sure.

[CarpathianForest]

Taormina looks real good but you gotta take it with a grain of salt. Fraser looed pretty good last year when he scored a goal in his first NHL game.

[devlman]

He's not awesome. What you said was that he has not looked good even for a rookie ...that's kind of far from awesome. You also said he "can't pass to save his life", you brushed aside his goal last night and his assist vs. Buffalo, and you called him the worst defensemen on the team and questioned why he was even in the NHL.

Again, are you that bad at analyzing hockey?

I stand by that. So, again, maybe you are that bad at analyzing hockey?

Edited by devlman, 22 October 2010 - 02:57 PM.

[Devils731]

Taormina looks real good but you gotta take it with a grain of salt. Fraser looed pretty good last year when he scored a goal in his first NHL game.

I don't think Fraser has ever had a 6 minute game where he looked good. A little over the top, but really, even when playing 6 minutes you could see he didn't belong in the NHL.

Taormina is playing well, when you throw in it's his 2nd year pro and he's 24 you have to say he's playing great for his situation. Taormina and White have easily been the best defenseman on the team so far this year. If Andy Greene was playing like this people would be saying he was worth $6 million.

I stand by that. So, again, maybe you are that bad at analyzing hockey?

So Taormina is just lucking into playing major minutes, being even on a minus team, scoring points, and following up a big AHL season?

[CarpathianForest]

So apparently I'm the only one on this board who likes Henrik Tallinder?

[Devils731]

So apparently I'm the only one on this board who likes Henrik Tallinder?

He's been struggling but he'll turn it around.

[devlman]

So Taormina is just lucking into playing major minutes, being even on a minus team, scoring points, and following up a big AHL season?

Obviously the coaches see something in him, perhaps some potential. My point is that he has not played well so far to me. With the injuries on D that we have its not too hard to get big mins.

So apparently I'm the only one on this board who likes Henrik Tallinder?

I think Tallinder has been solid, after that shaky first game.

[CRASHER]

So apparently I'm the only one on this board who likes Henrik Tallinder?

I loved him standing up for our goalie last night... hell the team as a WHOLE did that last night, maybe the biggest change on this team since Burnsie was here....

[DevilinLA]

I don't think Fraser has ever had a 6 minute game where he looked good. A little over the top, but really, even when playing 6 minutes you could see he didn't belong in the NHL.

Taormina is playing well, when you throw in it's his 2nd year pro and he's 24 you have to say he's playing great for his situation. Taormina and White have easily been the best defenseman on the team so far this year. If Andy Greene was playing like this people would be saying he was worth $6 million.



So Taormina is just lucking into playing major minutes, being even on a minus team, scoring points, and following up a big AHL season?

You mean he isn't?