Thornton Bust??
Byeong uk Yook
do much
in his first year may be a blessing in disguise since it lowered
expectations.
There won't be as much pressure on him this year as last. He will
definitely
improve, especially statswise.
Workman
these young players there are only 19 years old for crying out loud Throton
will still become a good player.
Randy Workman
Byeong uk Yook wrote in message <35CBD3CA...@yahoo.com>...
Kristy Gleason
either has their head up their own butt or they simply know very little
about hockey or assessing hockey talent.
A couple facts about Joe T:
1. While he played in Juniors, he was bigger than most of the other kids
(taller and heavier).
2. Joe had never been in a weight room before coming to the Bruins.
3. Joe didn't know anything about nutrition (ate lots of junk food, not
loaded up on energy-providing carbs like pasta, etc.).
4. Joe had never played against men.... people his own size or bigger, and
definitely stronger than him.
5. Since Joe has been in Boston (16 months or so), he's gone from 190ish to
225ish, under the tutelage of Fitness Guru Mike Boyle.
Pat Burns knew Joe wasn't ready to play at the NHL level last season. He
did, however, realize that Joe would be in the exact same predicament THIS
year as he was last year if the B's had sent Joe back to Juniors.... not in
the least prepared to deal with the physicality and speed of the NHL. Joe
got a good taste of that last season, learning the game, learning how to
play defensively as well as offensively (teaching him how not to be a
cherry-picker), simply LEARNING what it takes to be a successful player in
the NHL.
Fans' expectations of Joe Thornton may be lower this year since he produced
very little in the goals and assists column, but I think it's safe to say
that Bruins management and the coaching staff are expecting a whole lot more
out of the just-turned 19-year-old this upcoming season.
If you consistently watched the Bruins last season, you could the learning
curve as the season progressed. By the playoffs, Joe may not have been
potting goals left and right, but his talent was shining through on several
occasions.
I saw Joe at Revere Beach at NHL Breakout '98 in late June. He's definitely
bulked up (his legs are SOLIDly muscled now, whereas last year at that time,
they were unconditioned, and his upper body is better defined as well).
Kyle McLaren is another one who looked much like a skinny kid his first year
in the league... he filled out nicely over the past two seasons, and it
shows in the devastating hits he delivers. I suspect Joe T. will fill out
even more over the next couple of years as well.
-- Kristy
--
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
* Kristy Gleason I know it's easier, to walk *
* Nashua, NH away, than look it in the eye *
* aka Woobie "Surrounded" - Dream Theater *
* Email: kri...@mv.mv.com *
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
NJDevilCup
>I agree it was a bust but I think there is way too much pressure to put on
>these young players there are only 19 years old for crying out loud Throton
>will still become a good player.
>
>Randy Workman
I don't think there's a clear indication either way. He's reminiscent of
Radek Bonk (big but not bulky), and those players seem the most likely
to bust. The obvious exception was Lemieux. I think it had to be somewhat
embarassing for Joe to watch Samsonov win the Calder right under his
nose. If he focuses on his own game and just tries to contribute, he should
do fine. If he tries to be "the man" and do it all himself, the chances that
he'll fail are greater.
Kuch
Go Devils!
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Go Minnesota Vikings! Go Gopher
Rob
and the fact that he will be in much better shape this year, I think
he will have a solid year, probably on the 2nd line.
Rob
On Fri, 07 Aug 1998 23:28:07 -0500, Byeong uk Yook <piu...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
domifan1
He's not scoring, so his confidence drops, and the idiots in Boston don't
send him down because it would be unpopular with the fans. I'm tired of
watching these owners ruin good young kids by doing this. Classic example,
look at Samsonov. They left him down in the minors until HE was ready to
show his stuff in the NHL. He did a fine job. Hopefully Thornton will
rebound, and those yahoo's in the front office will let him play in the
minors this year.
Byeong uk Yook wrote in message <35CBD3CA...@yahoo.com>...
Trevor Peter Peterson
: Classic mistake, bring the kid up at 18 and let him play the whole year.
: He's not scoring, so his confidence drops, and the idiots in Boston don't
: send him down because it would be unpopular with the fans. I'm tired of
: watching these owners ruin good young kids by doing this. Classic example,
: look at Samsonov. They left him down in the minors until HE was ready to
: show his stuff in the NHL. He did a fine job. Hopefully Thornton will
: rebound, and those yahoo's in the front office will let him play in the
: minors this year.
The problem is that they cannot send him to the minors, he would have to
go to junior again and after playing in the NHL it would be a step
backwards and would not help his development at all.
Trevor
domifan1
get his confidence up, grow a little mentally and physically, and maybe be
ready for the NHL this time. He was obviously not ready to jump into the
NHL. Very very few players have ever come in at such a young age and made
an impact.
Trevor Peter Peterson wrote in message <6qif5i$q0n$1...@missing.its.to>...
Kristy Gleason
Trevor Peter Peterson <ac...@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca> wrote:
>domifan1 (domi...@nwlink.com) wrote:
>: Classic mistake, bring the kid up at 18 and let him play the whole year.
>: He's not scoring, so his confidence drops, and the idiots in Boston don't
>: send him down because it would be unpopular with the fans. I'm tired of
>: watching these owners ruin good young kids by doing this. Classic example,
>: look at Samsonov. They left him down in the minors until HE was ready to
>: show his stuff in the NHL. He did a fine job. Hopefully Thornton will
>: rebound, and those yahoo's in the front office will let him play in the
>: minors this year.
>
>The problem is that they cannot send him to the minors, he would have to
>go to junior again and after playing in the NHL it would be a step
>backwards and would not help his development at all.
>
>Trevor
>
'minors' by edict of any NHL team. He CHOSE to come to America two years
ago and signed with the IHL Detroit Vipers. The Bruins drafted him fresh
off the scene in June of 1997, and he spent NO time in the minor leagues
during this past season.
Had Thornton been sent back to Juniors last season, he would be in much the
same boat this season as he had been last season. Playing head and
shoulders above all his peers the previous season, never having gone into a
weight room, and likely be just as floundering this upcoming season as he
was last season. He did a LOT of learning throughout the year, and Burns
and company didn't put any pressure on him EXCEPT to learn the ropes of the
NHL. Over this summer, he's been working out 4-5 days a week, eating
nutritionally sound meals, and will likely be expected to perform far better
this season.
new toy
being nagged by injuries all year.
domifan1 wrote:
>
> Classic mistake, bring the kid up at 18 and let him play the whole year.
> He's not scoring, so his confidence drops, and the idiots in Boston don't
> send him down because it would be unpopular with the fans. I'm tired of
> watching these owners ruin good young kids by doing this. Classic example,
> look at Samsonov. They left him down in the minors until HE was ready to
> show his stuff in the NHL. He did a fine job. Hopefully Thornton will
> rebound, and those yahoo's in the front office will let him play in the
> minors this year.
>
Joe-B
>Ummm... Samsonov was drafted in 1997. He didn't spend any time in the
>'minors' by edict of any NHL team. He CHOSE to come to America two years
>ago and signed with the IHL Detroit Vipers. The Bruins drafted him fresh
>off the scene in June of 1997, and he spent NO time in the minor leagues
>during this past season.
Many IHL teams are the minor league affiliates for NHL teams so in
effect Samsonov did spend a year in the "minors". Thorton and the
Bruins would have benefited greatly if they had the option of sending
him to a league below the talent level of the NHL, but superior to
Juniors.
>Had Thornton been sent back to Juniors last season, he would be in much the
>same boat this season as he had been last season. Playing head and
>shoulders above all his peers the previous season, never having gone into a
>weight room, and likely be just as floundering this upcoming season as he
>was last season. He did a LOT of learning throughout the year, and Burns
>and company didn't put any pressure on him EXCEPT to learn the ropes of the
>NHL. Over this summer, he's been working out 4-5 days a week, eating
>nutritionally sound meals, and will likely be expected to perform far better
>this season.
I highly doubt that a another season in juniors wouldn't have done
Thornton good. After signing him to a multi-million dollar contract
you can rest assured that the Bruins would have had a personal trainer
or strength and conditioning coach making frequent visits to wherever
Joe was playing. Last season was a wasted year for Thornton in terms
of development. The histories of other players returned to juniors
contradict your position that an 18 year old doesn't stand to benefit
from another year of juniors. One need only look at the Bruins Jason
Allison as an example of this. Allison dominated in his second year of
juniors scoring 118 pts, only 4 pts less than Thorton scored in his
final junior season. But rather than rushing Allison to the NHL he was
returned to juniors for a 3rd season where he scored 142 pts. Allison
didn't get better by sitting on the bench watching the big boys play
and neither will Thorton. I do think it's foolish to label Thornton a
bust. He simply wasn't ready for the NHL yet. In a year or two he'll
be an outstanding player provided he gets the playing time he needs to
develop.
Joe
Troy Lundrigan
>Had Thornton been sent back to Juniors last season, he would be in much the
>same boat this season as he had been last season. Playing head and
>shoulders above all his peers the previous season, never having gone into a
>weight room, and likely be just as floundering this upcoming season as he
>was last season. He did a LOT of learning throughout the year, and Burns
>and company didn't put any pressure on him EXCEPT to learn the ropes of the
>NHL. Over this summer, he's been working out 4-5 days a week, eating
>nutritionally sound meals, and will likely be expected to perform far better
>this season.
>--
>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
>* Kristy Gleason I know it's easier, to walk *
>* Nashua, NH away, than look it in the eye *
>* aka Woobie "Surrounded" - Dream Theater *
>* Email: kri...@mv.mv.com *
>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I'm not sure whether or not playing on the fourth line with
Baumgartner and another guy was the best thing that they could have
done for him. Apparently Boston had little trust in his junior
organization.
Thornton has gained about 30 lbs of muscle in the past several months
(he's 225 now). That should help him big time and give him more ice
time. It also show us that he's determined to make an impact. 30 lbs
is a hell of a lot.
Troy
Rich Reitman
sending Thornton back to juniors for another season of dominating other
teenagers. Some people on here understand the rules regarding junior-aged
players and their restrictions on where they play...the others don't seem to
want to get it...The Bruins COULD NOT send Thornton to the minors because
its a rule that if they don't keep him on their roster then he only has the
option of going back to juniors and CANNOT BE RECALLED unless there are
emergency situations in Boston. The Boston management felt that it was
better to let him get used to the lifestyle of the NHL (playing with older,
mature players; the traveling schedule; etc.) This is a kid who is a young
19...wasn't he drafted at 17 and barely made the age cut in last year's
draft? Look for him to generate about 15-20 goals this year with PIMs
somewhere in the 100's if he plays regularly. He has added muscle and weight
and showed in last year's playoffs that he isn't about to back down from a
fight with anyone.
As far as Samsonov, he played in the IHL which is a little higher calibre of
play than the AHL. The players are older and basically career minor
leaguers. The IHL is spread throughout the US so Samsanov had a year to get
used to playing with older players and the busier travel schedule. Also, the
hard part has yet to come for Sergei. The tough part of having a great
rookie season is coming back in year 2 to prove it wasn't a fluke. Bruins
fans might remember Blaine Lacher. He had a sub 3.00 GA in his rookie year
and was retired from hockey altogether within 2 years.
The IHL is less of a developmental league which is why most NHL teams have
their affiliates in the AHL. There are only 2 or 3 IHL teams affiliated
with the NHL these days.
In essence, give an 18 year old kid more than one season before declaring
him a bust. Ever hear of a goalie named Dominik Hasek? He spent two long
years in Chicago before they dumped him off on Buffalo and he turned out
ok...
new toy wrote in message <35CD2F5B...@mail.earthlink.net>...
