Greenway sucks, he is supposed to be tough but let Zadorov laugh at Sabres. The PK was number 1 in league without him in the lineup, stop saying he’s so great on PK when Buffalo was last place with him in lineup
dahlin needs kevyn to go get a wizard forward so he doesnt feel like he has to be wizard, the idea of 'risky defensemen' is not a winner over the course of 82 games.
Any interest in trading for Kadri if he is available? It will be costly though but it will help on the faceoffs. I assume UPL starts against Washington ? Kekkalainen was at the laffs CBJ game on wed night .How long do you think they carry 3 goalies for?
It feels that if Doan and Tuch aren't on the ice, then no one sits in front of the goal. The PP looked like it was 2 styles, in that there was movement by the outside edge guys, but the other 2 on the inside (and none in front of the goal) were very stagnant. I don't know if that is typical, but when you see really good puck moving teams play the PP, all components are moving. The biggest takeaway I have noticed in all 3 OT loss games, the glaring problem I noticed was when a Sabre has the puck, and the other 2 need a change, for some reason that person either dumps it in, or tries to do a 1 on 3 while teamates change which results in giving opponents possession.
Shocking that a team with two legitimate top six forwards and oft injured Norris thy don’t have enough top end skill to finish. If only Adams knew that 🤔
On Dahlin, I'm not worried about him. He's a top-caliber defenseman and will be fine. On Byram, I haven't really minded him. He had two graphic giveaways against Columbus (one in OT), but the good Western Canada Boy instinct kicked in both times, he skated guilty and personally snuffed out both chances. Corrected his mistakes in real time. The defense will ultimately be a strength. It's still only 11 games.
The goaltending worries me. This is Alex Lyon, who he's been, and he ain't it. He's capable of getting hot. He's always turned back into a pumpkin sooner-than-later. Want a graphic example?
In March & April of 2023, he made nine starts, talking over the net in Florida from a $10M/yr goalie and went 6-2-1, with a 2.2 GAA, and a .930 SV%, getting Florida into the 8th spot by a point. Anyone remember whose four-goalie rotation finished 9th? He started teh first three games of their first round series against record-setting Boston, melted down, gave the crease back to Bobrovski who took them the rest of the way to the final. In the two year since in Detroit, he wasn't able to decisively establish himself as the #1 over Ville Husso, James Reimer, and Cam Talbot.
Maybe Colton Ellis is it. He has some pedigree. Maybe he's like a Jacob Markstorm, languishing in one team's system for four years without getting a real shot, then moving to another team and establishing himself as a legit NHL goalie. But; to paraphrase a great philosopher, "'Might' is a shitty strategy." Waiting for Guffman? Waiting for Luukkonen. A healthy Luukkonen looks to me like their best best to be the guy who gets on a roll and stays on a roll.
On Helenius, I'm holding off on him. He followed a four-point game with an OT game-winner, but he's done all of his damage in three games (4-2-6, 11 shots, +1). The other five games, 0-0-0, -2, 18 shots. I'd kind-of like to see it on a more night-in/night out basis from him in Rochester before calling him up. Consistency is the toughest thing for a young player to get to. He's only 19. It doesn't have to be RIGHT NOW for him. Let him cook.
Matthew you are bang on with what Adams should do. However you failed to state that since he is him he will do nothing as he has every year. While they’re playing better it shows that if they had a competent GM they’d be a contender instead of just playing well now. In 3 straight losses by the way.
17 Comments
Whose skates do I have to sharpen to get a live show?
Power is abysmal at hockey, get him off the Sabres PRONTO
Greenway sucks, he is supposed to be tough but let Zadorov laugh at Sabres. The PK was number 1 in league without him in the lineup, stop saying he’s so great on PK when Buffalo was last place with him in lineup
Matty looks less tired today 😅
How come power has a puck jump over his stick at least once a game?
dahlin needs kevyn to go get a wizard forward so he doesnt feel like he has to be wizard, the idea of 'risky defensemen' is not a winner over the course of 82 games.
Mean ther not loosing games but not winning either at least they picking up the poin NHL should go back to ties
Any interest in trading for Kadri if he is available? It will be costly though but it will help on the faceoffs. I assume UPL starts against Washington ?
Kekkalainen was at the laffs CBJ game on wed night .How long do you think they carry 3 goalies for?
Two OT losses trace directly to Dahlin giving up possession in OT.
Average goalie = OT losses in the last 3 games
It feels that if Doan and Tuch aren't on the ice, then no one sits in front of the goal. The PP looked like it was 2 styles, in that there was movement by the outside edge guys, but the other 2 on the inside (and none in front of the goal) were very stagnant. I don't know if that is typical, but when you see really good puck moving teams play the PP, all components are moving. The biggest takeaway I have noticed in all 3 OT loss games, the glaring problem I noticed was when a Sabre has the puck, and the other 2 need a change, for some reason that person either dumps it in, or tries to do a 1 on 3 while teamates change which results in giving opponents possession.
Somebody call Paul Gaustad and fly him in to teach this team how to win faceoffs.
Shocking that a team with two legitimate top six forwards and oft injured Norris thy don’t have enough top end skill to finish. If only Adams knew that 🤔
On Dahlin, I'm not worried about him. He's a top-caliber defenseman and will be fine. On Byram, I haven't really minded him. He had two graphic giveaways against Columbus (one in OT), but the good Western Canada Boy instinct kicked in both times, he skated guilty and personally snuffed out both chances. Corrected his mistakes in real time. The defense will ultimately be a strength. It's still only 11 games.
The goaltending worries me. This is Alex Lyon, who he's been, and he ain't it. He's capable of getting hot. He's always turned back into a pumpkin sooner-than-later. Want a graphic example?
In March & April of 2023, he made nine starts, talking over the net in Florida from a $10M/yr goalie and went 6-2-1, with a 2.2 GAA, and a .930 SV%, getting Florida into the 8th spot by a point. Anyone remember whose four-goalie rotation finished 9th? He started teh first three games of their first round series against record-setting Boston, melted down, gave the crease back to Bobrovski who took them the rest of the way to the final. In the two year since in Detroit, he wasn't able to decisively establish himself as the #1 over Ville Husso, James Reimer, and Cam Talbot.
Maybe Colton Ellis is it. He has some pedigree. Maybe he's like a Jacob Markstorm, languishing in one team's system for four years without getting a real shot, then moving to another team and establishing himself as a legit NHL goalie. But; to paraphrase a great philosopher, "'Might' is a shitty strategy." Waiting for Guffman? Waiting for Luukkonen. A healthy Luukkonen looks to me like their best best to be the guy who gets on a roll and stays on a roll.
On Helenius, I'm holding off on him. He followed a four-point game with an OT game-winner, but he's done all of his damage in three games (4-2-6, 11 shots, +1). The other five games, 0-0-0, -2, 18 shots. I'd kind-of like to see it on a more night-in/night out basis from him in Rochester before calling him up. Consistency is the toughest thing for a young player to get to. He's only 19. It doesn't have to be RIGHT NOW for him. Let him cook.
Matthew you are bang on with what Adams should do. However you failed to state that since he is him he will do nothing as he has every year. While they’re playing better it shows that if they had a competent GM they’d be a contender instead of just playing well now. In 3 straight losses by the way.
Your top line LW has zero goals. When does this become a topic? After 15 games? 20?
They have to put Thompson back at center. How much longer is Ruff going to be stubborn and allow this center depth to be so weak