On Wed, 27 Oct 1993, Tony Biscardi wrote:
 
 Although I personally strongly agree with this if Kaj Linna
> is listed as the best defensman from the East (These repeated accolades
> heaped apon Linna convince me that defensemen are rated only on their scoring,
> not on their defensive ability as Linna is unfit to carry Rich Brennan's skates
> when it comes to defensive ability),
 
While I might be forced to agree with you about Linna, he *is* an
exciting player to watch.  As far as he and Brennan go . .  well, neither
of them are Tom Dion, admittedly.  However, your assessment of Eastern
bias on offensive defensemen vs. defensive defensemen might be a bit
unfair.  Kaj Linna is an outstanding *player* period, regardless of
position (sound like a Bourque argument?  no thanks)  which explains his
presence on the list.  It's always seemed to me that HEA teams, at least,
tended to have smaller, more mobile defensemen (excepting UM and BU who
had large and mobile defensemen) than Western teams.  But that doesn't
*always* translate to a bias towards offense.  If a defenseman can't
skate worth a damn, it won't matter how big he is-- he won't be an asset
defensively.  Conversely, there have been smaller defensemen who were
successful in college hockey.
 
As a postscript, who *would* be worthy to carry Rich Brennan's skates?
 
 
>
> P.P.S. - Just a thought.  Unrealistic.  But then again...  I have wondered
> what could happen if someone grabbed the better Writers from the Hockey-L
> and started up an official college hockey production.  Heck, with Mike alone
> we could probably outdo anyone in knowledgable journalism.
>
> Throw in a few people to interview players and coaches, get a production
> person, promote it (give out first issues free at various hockey games
> through-out the nation), and who knows...
>
> Just a thought.  Unrealistic.  But then again...
 
I don't know-- doesn't sound so unrealistic to me.  But then again, I'd
be so grateful to read (or, perchance, write for) such a publication that
I'd be willing to forgo realism at least for awhile.
 
David Josselyn
[log in to unmask]
 
Go Argus!
 
"Didn't you see the puck hit my skate?"  --D. G.  (Mike knows . . )