Player evaluation: Greene
MATT GREENE
This season: 82 games, 2 goals, 12 assists, 111 penalty minutes, 19:44 average ice time.
The good: In a moment that was an odd high point of the season, Greene went down to the ice to block a shot and ended up taking a puck off the side of his face at the end of a March 9 victory over Vancouver. It's probably not something Greene wants to duplicate very often, but it represents the type of play he brings to the Kings. Greene's body is practically a roadmap of scars, bruises and cuts, and in many ways he brings the same ``warrior'' mentality that Mattias Norstrom used to bring. On top of all that, he's a steady defenseman.
The bad: Greene's biggest negative is his tendency to take penalties, although coaches don't always mind those penalties if they're taken in the correct situations. Greene's offensive potential is limited, and he's not a great puck-mover, but that's not exactly what the Kings were looking for when they acquired him.
Going forward: Greene's toughness, leadership ability and age (he turns 26 next month), coupled with the contract extension he signed last year, should make him a valued member of the team for years to come. Other defensemen have more pure skill, but Greene has a certain intangible quality, one that Terry Murray recognized when he made Greene an alternate captain before the season.
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J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
.com.
Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
@dailynews.com.
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started the season OK then went very slowly, progressively got better as the season went on. number grade I give him a 77/100 for the whole season, or C+
but part of the Kings' lower team GAA can be attributed to him. so that's good
Yeah, Green is our new Norstrom.
He gets a solid B, but I'm adding a "+" to that just for the bloody face incident.
I can't believe he is turning 26 next month. I would have guessed closer to the 30 and for that alone that B+ is creeping closer to that A-!
I love the game that Greenie brings to the team.
However, he really needs to learn how to fight if he wants to step up his game. Every time he dropped the gloves this year he looked lost and beaten.
once again, great evaluation of greener, rich...
he is our new matty norstrom...we can even call him "matty" w/out being called on it...!
he should be a significant defensive presence next season, allowing the more offensive d-men the ability to do what they can while he protects home plate...
nice season...and he's entering his prime years...i think he's got a lot of great things like leadership, physicality and sacrifice that his teammates can benefit/learn from...go matty!
He's a really solid stay at home guy. I'd like to see him start punishing people more but we'll se how that goes.
He's a great part of the core of the defense.
Can't complain about a guy who "takes one for the team", which is an invaluable asset come playoff time.
Can't believe we traded an elite puck mover for an average stay-at-home defenseman. Even an old, past his prime Sean O'Donnell played better AND played against the other team's top lines. In a couple of years Colton Teubert will probably make Greene expendable.
I really like Greene. In fact, seeing as Doughty was the obvious choice in many of our eyes last draft, and that Williams, Tuebert, Bernier, Purcell, Lewis, etc have yet to have a significant impact, I feel safe in saying that Matt Greene has been the single best move Lombardi has made so far. Not to mention getting Stoll as well. Greene is EXACTLY the type of defenseman I am thrilled to have on the team: young, tough, hard hitting, smart positionally, intense leader. Yes he needs to fight better and could work on his foot speed, but overall he is a great building block for this team. He's definately no star, but I think he is almost as important to the core of the defense as Doughty is.
So I guess I disagree with Johnny Kick a bit :)
...not to mention 10th in the league in blocked shots and 20th in hits.
wisconsinKingsfan said:
"Can't complain about a guy who "takes one for the team", which is an invaluable asset come playoff time."
Now all the Kings have to do is make the playoffs...
We traded an "Elite" Puck moving defensemen ( Who never seems to be able to stay healthy for an extened period of time ) For a practically indestructable team oriented player, who sacrifices himself continually for his teammates by doing all unpleasant tasks, like shot blocking, clearing the front of the net. And, Oh yeah, blocking shots with his Face. Plus throw in one of the best Face off men in the game. I can't believe people are still questioning this trade. I liked Lubo too, but put Greene and Stoll back in Edmonton and they would be in the playoffs.
He's taken some dumb penalties, but not as dumb as Gauthier. He's a more skilled player than Gauthier, and less prone to dumb mistakes. Yeah, he takes penalties, but a lot of them were acceptable. If they lose Gauthier (I hope), Greene will be the guy that keeps the toughness. And he's surrounded by MUCH better D-men than himself, so if he's a weakness there it's not a huge hit.
For MJB..."GOOD JOB GREENER!!!"
I'll miss him saying that 50 times a game!!
He is perfect for what he is, if that makes sense. Foot speed is an issue, but I think he will be able to compensate better with experience. Let's remember that he had only 150 regular season games of experience coming into this season.
My grade is not based on how his skill level matches up against all of the other defensemen in the league, but rather how he preformed within the expectations for this season. I say A.
I give Greene a solid A.
He was exactly what we were looking for. You don't need flash from a guy like him...just steady and tough defense, which he gave us every night. He kind of reminds me a little of Jeff Boukeboom. Not sensational, but the Oilers and the Rangers weren't winning the cup without him.
To think he's an average defensemen shows little understanding of the game of hockey...
As for his fighting technique, as long as he's willing to drop the gloves, the end result is meaningless. By willing to drop them, he's earned the respect of the other players around the league.
TM knew what he was doing when he put an "A" on his sweater.
I agree JDM best trade DL has made.
GREENER SMOKES FOOLS!!!!
'nuff said.
Tough, works hard, stands up for his boys, uses face as a backstop, What more do you want from a stay at home D-man?!?!
I love this guy! He needs to stay for a long, long time. While he's here, he can teach other guys how to be hockey players and not hockey 'skaters'.
Cynic said:
GREENER SMOKES FOOLS!!!!
LOL, I forgot about that.