Vande Sompel

I've been super busy this hockey season and finally made it to my first Gens game of the season in Ottawa. Although it was my first game of the year, I try to keep up to date by following the team online. I was surprised to see Vande Sompel played the majority of todays game on the wing. I knew that the book on him was that he's a skilled offensive dman who could be a liability in his own end. Have they permanently moved him up to forward or is he just currently filling in at forward? And how long have they been had him up? Thanks.

He's on defence 99% of the time but whether this is due to injuries or recent lack of team scoring, maybe they experimented with him up front today In my opinion, he's too valuable a rushing, puck carrying defenceman to use up front.

Yeah, today for the majority of the game they had him out with Laughton and MDC. Then they flipped him back to D at the end.

What are they thinking with him up front. He's their only reliable puck moving defensemen. Sullentrop, Lepkowski, Petschenig & Desrocher while good in their own ways are not mobile, swift skating, puck moving d-men. You can't have just big hulking d on the back end you need some mobility. Arguably one of the most stupid things I've seen DJ Smith do.
Vande Sompel has his defensive liabilities but so do most of his calibre and age. That's why you pair him with a more stay at home defensively sound guy. This just adds to my frustration from the past two games. If you want more scoring double shift Laughton, Dal Colle, Latour, Smoskowitz, Sterk & Cassels. Don't put your best offensive d-man on forward

I agree M88 , I'm concerned with the disarray in the lineup right now , 3 losses and counting against inferior opponents , don't know what the hell the coach is doing , the players seemed lost and unmotivated out there .

Make a first line that will get you the goals , then split the rest up to balance out the attack , I'm sorry but Latour is not a top 3 forward , no business on the first line .

Altshuller has played too much , give him some rest and Appleby more time in net

The line juggling has to stop , it's too late in the season for that , don't want first place to slip away

Ok that rant is for the coach , now the players have got to get off their horses called complacency and bring it !

Too many guys waiting around for Laughton to do it all the time , I'm talking to you Cassels , Dal Colle , Latour , smoskowich ........the vets need to show some grit and desire , otherwise volunteer for some pine time and let the rookies skate on your behalf ! It would be less painful to watch than the display the last 3 games

I agree with the other topics you mentioned as well. First being Latour, he is not a first line player, he is not a top 6 player. He is a 3rd liner with some offensive ability, if surrounded by playmakers. Now the arm chair hockey fan, that enjoys junior hockey will say but look at his points, how is he not a top player. Well there is know denying Latour is OHL caliber, and effective, but he benifits largely from playing with Laughton & Dal Colle I mean if I played with Gretzky an Lemieux I'm sure I'd get a bunch of points to from strictly being on the ice with them. Latour is a checker an he should play a checking role. I'd personally rather see Hunter Smith with those two if your gonna use a 3rd line type player with them. As smith for his size is kind of a soft player, I think using him in a checking role is a disadvantage to the team, because Latour is a very effective checking forward. Throw Smith-Laughton-Dal Colle as line one and have Smoskowitz-Sterk-Cassels as your 2.

I also have an issue with the line juggling. I watch every generals game if not live then on TV an every game the forward lines change. Why is my question, why do you change your lines when your winning ? It blows my mind. Look at the Leafs they have used the same lineup throughout their winning streak. You don't change what's working.
As for Altshullers work load, again I agree Appleby has proven he's more then capable of handling games against bottom feeders and middle of the pack teams. Would I start him vs Sudbury, London, Kingston.. No. Could he handle it, yeah probably. What I mean is on back to backs he's capable of playing an winning. The kids confidence only goes down sitting him for long stretches.

I think DJ gets a lot of his guys, but he may also fall victim to guys toning him out. He's a good coach, but this concept of him going to the AHL next year I don't see it.

Any update on his injury from today.....last i heard it was his shoulder and that was at the end of the game!!!

If he didn't return I'm thinking possibly dislocated or seperated shoulder. But could just be a bone bruise or a stinger. Dislocation 2-4 weeks, seperation 4-6, others day to day

Any injury updates on V S ?

Thats what i was wondering too but did'nt really get an answer???