mediumishot Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 Just in case you guys missed it, a little blurb ath the bottom of Alan Muir's article on SI.com.... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...otes/index.html The Sabres might just have something big in 5-foot 5-inch left wing Nathan Gerbe. The mighty mite led the college circuit with 68 points in 43 games for the Boston College Eagles in 2007-08 and was named USA Hockey's College Player of the Year. Of course, you can look out the window and spot a dozen guys with similar resumes selling insurance, so there were questions about his ability to take his game to the next level. But after scoring seven goals in his first eight games with Portland of the AHL, those concerns seem less pressing. Gerbe's speed and guile have made him not just one of the most dangerous scorers in the minors, but one of the most entertaining. Still there are plenty of doubts lingering around a player better suited to being a jockey. "It's an issue," one scout told SI.com. "We talk about guys who are 5-11 being undersized, and he's half a foot shorter than that. You look at him and picture [an NHL] defender putting a big mitt on his head while he swings wildly with both hands like in the old cartoons. It's a huge disadvantage. But he has the quickness that little guys have to have and he finds a way to burst through the holes. And this kid is clever. The things he can do with the puck are dazzling." The Sabres aren't having any trouble scoring now, but if the offense hits a rut this season, expect Gerbe to get a look.
Two or less Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 Awesome find. That's pretty cool his hot streak has even gotten the national media excited. Somethings to realize i think, he also scored 2 goals in pre-season. One against Montreal, which was a very nice goal and then against Columbus. Gerbe showed some real promise and great speed down the wings in pre-season, on NHL ice against NHL opponents.
carpandean Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 Awesome find. That's pretty cool his hot streak has even gotten the national media excited. Somethings to realize i think, he also scored 2 goals in pre-season. One against Montreal, which was a very nice goal and then against Columbus. Gerbe showed some real promise and great speed down the wings in pre-season, on NHL ice against NHL opponents. Roberval was not NHL ice ... :nana:
Tony P Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 What's 3 inches??? Not comparing mind you but I am saying that in hockey, moreso than any other of the big 4 sports, size doesn't always matter. Too short???
Two or less Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 Roberval was not NHL ice ... :nana: Yeah you got me, i didn't even think about that. lol But that was a world class blast though.
BetweenThePipes00 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 What's 3 inches??? Not comparing mind you but I am saying that in hockey, moreso than any other of the big 4 sports, size doesn't always matter. Too short??? OK, if we're NOT comparing, let's NOT compare him to someone a little more realistic ... he's much more likely to end up like This Guy ... which isn't horrible I guess, but ...
LabattBlue Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 OK, if we're NOT comparing, let's NOT compare him to someone a little more realistic ... he's much more likely to end up like This Guy ... which isn't horrible I guess, but ... What about... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1712
BetweenThePipes00 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 What about... http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1712 See, I think it is unfair to the kid to compare him to Dionne or even Fleury at this point in his career ... as far as we know right now the only thing he has in common with Marcel Dionne is his height, and he's actually a good 3 or 4 inches shorter. There have been HUNDREDS of little guys play in the league who could say that.
Two or less Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 See, I think it is unfair to the kid to compare him to Dionne or even Fleury at this point in his career ... as far as we know right now the only thing he has in common with Marcel Dionne is his height, and he's actually a good 3 or 4 inches shorter. There have been HUNDREDS of little guys play in the league who could say that. Didn't Fleury do drugs before games too? And that's why he was a complete maniac during the games? While i agree, you can't compare Gerbe to those two, esspicially since both played when the NHL was a much wide-open style of hockey and everyone and anyone was hitting the 50 goal mark, but i think it shows hope that there have been people before him to succeed. Martin St. Louis being the latest one. I know St. Louis is a bit taller but not by much. What Gerbe has achieved though, as the reporter says, is not seen on anyone. He dominated the frozen four. He has unreal goals. He tailed up the points. Scored 2 in pre-season. And now has 10 in AHL, his rookie year. Seems to me, this kid JUST keeps getting better. He also looked like he was a star when he played for the USA in the WJC.
MajorMinotaur Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 I've watched him a couple times, and I think one of the reasons he does so well is his hockey sense. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. A guy with great hockey sense is pretty much always better than a big guy with less.
shrader Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 What's 3 inches??? Not comparing mind you but I am saying that in hockey, moreso than any other of the big 4 sports, size doesn't always matter. Too short??? Do a google image search of players from that era and take a look at their size. These players are built like bulls now. And then there's the armor they're wearing. A 5'8 player from the 70's would look like a teenager standing next to today's players.
carpandean Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 Yeah you got me, i didn't even think about that. lolBut that was a world class blast though. That it was! :thumbsup:
wonderbread Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 What's 3 inches??? well...Depends on what 3 inches you are talking about! 3 inches in some situations can make all the difference ask this guy! NSFW
Samson's Flow Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 well...Depends on what 3 inches you are talking about! 3 inches in some situations can make all the difference ask this guy! NSFW thats some good stuff wonder. most of his clips are pretty good...
Taro T Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 See, I think it is unfair to the kid to compare him to Dionne or even Fleury at this point in his career ... as far as we know right now the only thing he has in common with Marcel Dionne is his height, and he's actually a good 3 or 4 inches shorter. There have been HUNDREDS of little guys play in the league who could say that. Unitl the kid MAKES IT in the bigs, it is unfair to compare him to any of the greats. But much like another Sabre that has been maligned much in the past (Tommy V) this kid has excelled at every single level he's been at and has dominated and scored clutch goals. Will he be as successful as Rico was or Vanek appears to be headed towards being? Maybe, maybe not. BUT, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt until he shows he doesn't deserve it. He's earned it at the lower levels.
inkman Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 A guy with great hockey sense is pretty much always better than a big guy with less. See Maxim Afinogenov. (he's not big but at least he's normal sized and has no feel for the game)
That Aud Smell Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 while i know that i'm biased because i'm a bc guy, i have to say that watching gerbe in the frozen four this past year was chief among the more enjoyable hockey experiences i'd had a in a while (the best one before that was watching ovechkin at the arena (he potted 2 and we lost)) -- wee nate is huge, huge, huge on talent and jam -- whether he sticks or not, i look forward to seeing what he can do with the big club.
shrader Posted November 7, 2008 Report Posted November 7, 2008 while i know that i'm biased because i'm a bc guy, i have to say that watching gerbe in the frozen four this past year was chief among the more enjoyable hockey experiences i'd had a in a while (the best one before that was watching ovechkin at the arena (he potted 2 and we lost)) -- wee nate is huge, huge, huge on talent and jam -- whether he sticks or not, i look forward to seeing what he can do with the big club. I enjoyed the '06 Frozen Four when Robbie Earl won the diving competition on his way to a national championship. :thumbsup:
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