Mike Green suspended for 3 games, for elbowing. No injury, 2 minute penalty. I call it Mike Greengate. It has prompted discussions on media bias, counter replies, and generally been pretty silly. For one thing, Green was kneed later in the game and sent off with some sort of injury. Three games off is just what the doctor ordered anyway. But in the end, it’s nothing but a distraction. Does Mike Green have a history of dirty, borderline plays that deserve big suspensions? Nope. But his physical play is remarkable for one thing – he only hits when he gets pissed, and then just a few hits.
I believe the Caps would be better off if Green stepped into a hitting role a little more often. Every game? No way. But by adding a random element to his hitting game, he could make some more space for himself. Pothier does this very well, for instance. And Erskine too, tho in a reverse way.
As it is, teams know that if they leave Green alone, he won’t be doing big hits. Clearly, some teams can’t resist and do it anyway. And in the end, why not? You might get him off the ice in a retaliation penalty.
For a contrast, look at Chris Pronger. He does not hit that much overall, in the course of a game. But he definitely will do it at some point in a game, so everyone keeps one eye on him out of fear. And this makes him that much more in control of the flow of the game. And no one thinks that he “only hits when he is mad” and so they don’t assign 3 game suspensions to him when he knocks he crap out of some unlucky forward.
This brings me to part two – Mike Green should not have gotten injured, because he should not, ever, be carrying the puck across the blue line in the lead. I have seen this time and again this season, although lately he has been doing it less.
And before anyone thinks I am down on Green, far from it. He is indeed able of making a one man offensive rush happen, allowing everyone else to line change, or get into great jumping off positions. He can punch down at just the right time, he can hold a puck in the zone, and he can hold a solid defensive zone game together as well. He was doing all wrist shots at the beginning of the season, and now is mixing that up, sometimes firing slapshots for goals or for deflections, and even the “bounce it off the rink into the crease” type. Good stuff.
But. He does not fare well when he carries the puck over the blueline on his stick. Dump it, yes. Lob it, sure. Pass to a forward who is sitting there hovering on the blue line like a vulture waiting to feed yes.
But carrying it in is not his strength. Usually it gets taken from him. Other times he gets hit. Or in this case he got his clock cleaned.
But you can only figure a guy that young with his skill level is just going to get better as he gets more experience. And if he stalls in his development at some future point, he is some serious trade bait.
-Bobomite