In yet another of the long series of questionable moves made by Rangers head coach John Tortorella this season, P.A. Parenteau has been sent back to the Hartford Wolf Pack to make room for the activated Brandon Dubinsky. This all comes from Arthur Staple reporting on Steve Zipay’s blog, Blue Notes.
Parenteau was never given the opportunity to make a difference or get into the flow. He’s received unfair criticism for being essentially “too careful” with the puck, “too slow of a skater” and so on. While it may or may not actually be the case, it certainly seemed like Tortorella had made up his mind about Parenteau before he even gave the young man from Hull, Quebec the right opportunity to be successful.
Howlings is not sure if Parenteau has to pass through waivers before coming to Hartford, but while from a selfish perspective having Parenteau in Hartford would be a gigantic boost to the team’s chances of obtaining a second Calder Cup, We’re hoping Parenteau gets picked up by another team that will give him the chance to adapt and excel at the NHL level.
Michael Obernauer has this quote from Tortorella in his Blueshirts Blog, “Like I told him, from hashmarks down he’s made some good plays; other parts of his game we’re still concerned about – his skating, his play away from the puck,” the coach said. “If he scores some goals, maybe he doesn’t go down, but right now he’s the guy. But we’re not going to lose him, because I think he’s a guy that each time he gets called back up I think he gets better and better.”
Parenteau arrived in Hartford in time to watch the Pack fall in a shootout to Albany 2-1. More on that shortly.
Comments (3)
rcmsays:
December 14, 2009 at 9:41 PMInvisible on the ice but good in the shootouts. I read somewhere on your blog that someone watched an AHL game with Parenteau playing and P.A. was a step ahead of everyone else. Well I think he may not be up to the speed at the NHL level. Without the speed he won’t be open to take his good shot.And that is what separates many – perhaps Giroux also. I think alot of AHL players could play in the NHL but only on the 3rd or 4th line .And those guys don’t last long.
rcmsays:
December 14, 2009 at 9:44 PMMore on P.A. I am pretty certain was a one way contract. He has to go thru waivers.
Mitch Becksays:
December 14, 2009 at 9:52 PMRcm,
A few things:
1) P.A. is on a one way contract but that has nothing to do with his going up and own. It only affects the Rangers cap.
2) For P.A. in order to be successful he needs to be utilized in the right way. He didn’t get into a rhythm with any of his linemates because Tortorella never left him in the same spot for more than a minute. Playing on the second power play unit is no big deal. Put P.A. on a top two line and leave him there to adjust and he will come out on top.
3) People have to realize that he is NOT a scorer. He’s a playmaker who can also put it in the net but his strength in Hartford has always been his playmaking.
4) You don’t have to be Speedy Gonzalez in order to be successful at the NHL level. You have to have talent and be in the right situation that enhances your talent. So far that has not been the case with Parenteau. He’s a slwoer skater than Lisin not doubt about it. But P.A. also doesn’t turn the puck over and if he had a couple of guys on a line with him who could score he would be successful.
In fact on the Rangers unless it’s on the top line, there is nobody that can score and to single out Parenteau in our opinion is not only unfair, it’s wrong.
Giroux is much the same thing. He’s not been able to stay in the lineup for more than a couple of games at a time. Give him an extended stretch with talented linemates and he will light it up.