Italian Stallion
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 27, 2010 10:26 PM PDT
in Arthur
25 comments
"The decision was based on we want him to play in the league for 15 years, not for five years … if we can do anything to alleviate the pressure of this year, have him go back and play major junior hockey and do the things that he does well, continue to develop, I think the next step will be a lot easier."
-Randy Carlyle on sending Luca Sbisa down, Per OCR
ARTHUR:
And with that, Sbisa was sent back to the WHL. But he didn't just twiddle his thumbs in the Major Juniors 'doing the things that he does well.' He stormed the International stage twice, representing Switzerland at both the World Juniors and the Vancouver Olympic Games. An abdominal injury would knock him out of the Juniors, but a broken ring finger could not keep him from finishing the Olympics, where he climbed the depth chart of a porous (sorry, had to) Swiss defense.
Due to injuries and International competition, Sbisa spent only 29 games in the WHL this season. He served 17 with Lethbridge (ironically one less than he played with them last year, as he spent much of the season in Philadelphia) and was subsequently traded to Portland, where he played 12 regular season games and 13 playoff games.
I didn't see any of his WHL games this season (because I thought it would be too painful to watch after the Olympics), but nothing I saw of him in camp, the NHL or International play indicated he was a fragile kid who needed to have the pressure alleviated. If anything, I wonder if we've damaged our relationship with him, as many of his quotes on the day he was traded are grateful to the Flyers organization for giving him 40 games (1 playoff game) as a 19 year old. The Ducks organization, meanwhile, showed themselves to be a little too GP obsessed, giving Kyle Calder a look before Dan Sexton and having more faith in Nick Boynton than Luca Sbisa. If we put any more Boyntons in his way this year, it'll be a looooong RFA negotiation next year.
Statistical year-in-review after the jump...
NHL
Advanced NHL stats courtesy of Behind The Net
| GP | G | A | P | Corsi | +/- | Sv% | PIM | PDrwn | SOG | MsS | BlkF | BlkA | SH TOI | PP TOI | TOI/G | Sft/G |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.9 | -1 | 965 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 1:40 | 5:15 | 12:37 | 16.8 |
World Juniors
| GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- | SOG | S% |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 6 | 0 |
WHL
Lethbridge
GP
G
A
PTS
+/-
PIM
PPG
SHG
17
1
12
13
0
18
0
0
Olympics
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
SOG
TM
5
0
0
0
0
0
7
85:17:00
WHL
Portland
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PPG | SHG |
| 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
-Playoffs
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PPG | SHG |
| 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
0 recs |
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How can you rag on Calder? He had 10 points(5 goals) in 10 games during the ECHL playoffs. I think he would be the perfect replacement for Teemu if he decides to retire. How sweet would a second line of Calder – Offensive Boynton- Lupul(now w/ 50% less back) be? ; )
yeah, i know. it was a pun. I just didn’t put in the smiley face or whatever
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 27, 2010 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Can't wait for next season
I really want to see this kid play a full NHL season, give him the keys already.
Me too! He’s not the second coming of Scott Niedermayer or anything, but this kid skates like it’s breathing, so effortless. Maybe it’s vest to say he’s a Visnovsky only with less shot and better defensive awareness. No matter what, I expect to be impressed next year.
by Daniel AC on Apr 28, 2010 9:11 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Me too
As we discussed a few nights ago, I think a Luca/Lubo pairing would rock.
by PhantomPretender on Apr 28, 2010 11:40 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The Luca/Lubo pairing idea is nothing new. I’ve been looking forward to seeing that pairing since the beginning of the month.
i actually don’t like it as a pairing. So, from your statement yankeeken, I guess I’ve been disagreeing with you the longest.
From an X’s and O’s standpoint, they both play the same natural side, and Lubo stated before that it bothers him to be moved from it. I also like the look of Lubo with a grittier guy, just to open up the ice for himself more often. Obviously a rook takes what he can get, but I don’t think Sbisa necessarily maximizes Lubo’s game.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 28, 2010 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Ya, but in all honesty we don’t have many options. The main reason I like the idea is probably a desire to not do to Lubo next year what we did to Scotty this year. I just don’t want to handicap Lubo by putting him in a pairing with an incredibly inept defenseman (ex: Wiz). Also, I’ve been one to pay attention to a D-man’s natural side.
I think Scotty gets put in that situation because he’s so good defensively though. People expect Scotty to be able to cover for somebody else’s mistakes. I don’t think people expect that of Lubo. He’s clearly an offensive guy who needs the type of defenseman that wander away on him. That’s why Lubo never played with Wiz and why he saw so much Brookbank and Ward.
I really don’t think it’ll be a problem. The Ducks want Lubo to be a scorer, not a stopper. They’ll pair him with a solid defensive guy. Scotty on the other hand, is expected to do both…poor bastard
Lubo and Wiz actually did play together on a power play. The Don’t Dunk On Us blueline.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 28, 2010 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah let’s get us a guy who can make a bone rattling hit when our offense has to quickly turn to defense.
Visnovsky/Vishnevski. Boom. Done. Call the KHL and make it happen.
Murray doesn’t have a problem with Eurasians. He drafted Bobkov. Make it happen.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 28, 2010 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I won't soon forget this:
Luca Sbisa disarming Crosby, then Rick Nash on consecutive breakaways in the Olympics. Who really knows? This may have been the high point in his career, but it sure looked convincing at the time. I would really, REALLY like to see a Sbisa-Lubo D pairing.
"Abtholoootleee"
he played in the Atlantic so I’m sure he saw his fair share of Crosby and the travails of shutting down the wide open skill game. I thought handling Rick Nash was money, though. It’s tough to look at a defenseman successful in the East and say, he’ll totally work out West. From what I’ve seen, especially in camp, Luca Sbisa will totally work out west.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 28, 2010 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
seeing his play in the olympics really restored my faith in him. I remember when he played his first few games, he seemed VERY shakey. If I remember correctly he had a few costly turnovers, and I remember him actually falling down with the puck at one point. Who knows, maybe it was just nerves of playing with a new team.
I would like to see his recent play for a bit more to ease my doubts though
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