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Post by MJA on Sept 14, 2005 19:30:20 GMT -5
Ted is also not an idiot, it's easier to motivate a skill player to play harder than to make a scorer out of a hard worker with no skill. Graham may get the whip more often but he is still a guy that can put up 80 points and almost singlehandedly win some games. He is a glass half full/glass half empty type of player. Nothing has ever been said of Graham's injuries last year ... we all know he broke his leg ... but he also injured his shoulder which was never really mentioned. I believe he injured it in a fight with Charles Fontaine ... and shortly after that he broke his leg. When he returned many noticed he wasn't taking faceoffs ... and the shoulder injury was the reason ... also a reason why he played very soft in the playoffs. Nolan mentioned he had shoulder surgery not long ago and that he was only recently playing with any type of physical contact in practice. That was never known during the playoffs ... and I think Graham deserved a little slack considering. Seems to me he actually toughed it out ... played hurt ... and showed some character. So what does that say about Graham's "half hearted" efforts the year before last? Was he injured then too? Graham is inconsistent and hopefully Nolan will change that this year providing Graham comes back.
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Post by SteveUL on Sept 14, 2005 20:45:23 GMT -5
Nothing has ever been said of Graham's injuries last year ... we all know he broke his leg ... but he also injured his shoulder which was never really mentioned. I believe he injured it in a fight with Charles Fontaine ... and shortly after that he broke his leg. When he returned many noticed he wasn't taking faceoffs ... and the shoulder injury was the reason ... also a reason why he played very soft in the playoffs. Nolan mentioned he had shoulder surgery not long ago and that he was only recently playing with any type of physical contact in practice. That was never known during the playoffs ... and I think Graham deserved a little slack considering. Seems to me he actually toughed it out ... played hurt ... and showed some character. So what does that say about Graham's "half hearted" efforts the year before last? Was he injured then too? Graham is inconsistent and hopefully Nolan will change that this year providing Graham comes back. I have lower expectations for an 18 yr old than a 19 yr old ... when he was 19 I expected much more than he gave ... and him playing injured wouldn't allow it to be delivered. I can't speak for anybody else ... but thats the way I look at it. I also don't hold on to past failures with anger ... I have high expectations for him and expect him to deliver. No excuses this time.
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Post by jacvet on Sept 14, 2005 20:49:55 GMT -5
it is girard the overager
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Post by chootoi on Sept 14, 2005 20:57:20 GMT -5
graham's size alone puts his NHL potential through the roof amongst the average Q'ers. plus he's got the skill to go with it. a good coach can do wonders for rounding him out into a better all around player. and if there's a coach that's gonna push him to that level, it's ted nolan.
IMO this is bruce graham's make or break year. i think this season will decide if he's a potential NHLer in 3-4 years, or a career AHL/ECHLer.
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