inkman Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 I was not really sure what the Sabres had with "Reggie" as him teammates like to call him but it has started to come into focus and I think he may already be among the organ-eye-zations top 4 defenseman. While he may not be as experienced, I think his skill set are as good as anyone on the team and I would trust him over anyone not named Spacek and Tallinder. How do you guys feel?
FogBat Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 I'm still trying to figure out why DR didn't unload Kalinin on San Jose or someone else. They say that a change of scenery is sometimes a good thing.
Team Strike Force Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 He's got potential to be in the top four, but I expect we'll see some maddening play from him over the next year before he fully acclimates to the NHL.
X. Benedict Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 He certainly seems to be making the most of the opportunity, and he looks like he can skate all day.
carpandean Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 He keeps playing better the longer he's up here and looks like he has a lot of potential, but he's not "there" yet. Definitely better than I feared and as good as you could expect from an AHL call-up. He still makes some rookie mistakes and shouldn't/can't do anything too fancy yet, but I do expect to see him in the line-up full time next year. On a related note, Weber has a lot of potential, too. He's a little bit younger and not as far progressed, but he's also a different type of defender. He's bigger, more physical and more stay-at-home. The two of them offer some potential for future balanced D. Though, we still need to pick up some veteran D for the next season or two.
FogBat Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 He keeps playing better the longer he's up here and looks like he has a lot of potential, but he's not "there" yet. Definitely better than I feared and as good as you could expect from an AHL call-up. He still makes some rookie mistakes and shouldn't/can't do anything too fancy yet, but I do expect to see him in the line-up full time next year. On a related note, Weber has a lot of potential, too. He's a little bit younger and not as far progressed, but he's also a different type of defender. He's bigger, more physical and more stay-at-home. The two of them offer some potential for future balanced D. Though, we still need to pick up some veteran D for the next season or two. What if Numminen finally gets healthy? Or do you think he's already hit his swan song?
Goodfella25 Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 Sekera has definitely arrived. There are many times where I forget he's a rookie out there, especially now with Weber and Funk as the most "green" players on the roster. ...and in no way was that a shameless plug for the Sabres Green Team.
nfreeman Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 Do they really call him Reggie? That's good info, ink. In any case, I think he is one of our top 4 right now, even when everyone's healthy (not including teppo). I also think he has great potential -- maybe to be as good as Campbell was. I wouldn't be too surprised if by the end of next year he is as good as Soupy was in 05-06. He doesn't have Soupy's slapper from the point or confidence to fly up the ice with the puck, but he's talented enough to develop these over time. He makes better decisions in the defensive zone than Campbell did early in his career. Regarding Weber, he's looked OK, but I did notice that Funk got more ice time than Weber did last night. BTW, I don't think Teppo's coming back next year, but I hope I'm wrong.
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 BTW, I don't think Teppo's coming back next year, but I hope I'm wrong. Same here... My God, he is 40... That's my age! :blush: :blush: Who else is older in the league? Chelios and Hasek, and they didn't have open heart surgery!
SwampD Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 I was very excited when they called him up and wondered why it took so long. I think that is he there and he's going to get better. That bodes very well for us.
bob_sauve28 Posted March 15, 2008 Report Posted March 15, 2008 He's farther along than Campbell was when he was first brought up. The kid can play!
ofiba Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 He looks good, but still makes too many boneheaded plays for my liking. He'll get better with every game.
RayFinkle Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 He's farther along than Campbell was when he was first brought up. The kid can play! Soupy was brutal his first couple of times up.
inkman Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Posted March 16, 2008 Soupy was brutal his first couple of times years up. fixed
Knightrider Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 Do they really call him Reggie? That's good info, ink. In any case, I think he is one of our top 4 right now, even when everyone's healthy (not including teppo). I also think he has great potential -- maybe to be as good as Campbell was. I wouldn't be too surprised if by the end of next year he is as good as Soupy was in 05-06. He doesn't have Soupy's slapper from the point or confidence to fly up the ice with the puck, but he's talented enough to develop these over time. He makes better decisions in the defensive zone than Campbell did early in his career. Regarding Weber, he's looked OK, but I did notice that Funk got more ice time than Weber did last night. BTW, I don't think Teppo's coming back next year, but I hope I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure Weber called him Reggie duing the intermission interview during the Canes game. Speaking of which, for a Pittsburgh guy, he sure picked up the Canadian accent quick enough...
deluca67 Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I would't mind seeing Sekera, Weber and Funk stay in the lineup. Spacek comes back you take out Pratt.
2ForTripping Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I think Jaro will be out longer than Tree, if that is the case keep Pratt in and let Tree be the scratch and let the current set up try to continue forward.
Wraith Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I'm pretty sure Weber called him Reggie duing the intermission interview during the Canes game. Speaking of which, for a Pittsburgh guy, he sure picked up the Canadian accent quick enough... Fer sure.
BuffalOhio Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I'm pretty sure Weber called him Reggie duing the intermission interview during the Canes game. Speaking of which, for a Pittsburgh guy, he sure picked up the Canadian accent quick enough... Well, reading into some of the articles about him, he hasn't been around Pittsburgh regularly since he was 14.
bob_sauve28 Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I'm pretty sure Weber called him Reggie duing the intermission interview during the Canes game. Speaking of which, for a Pittsburgh guy, he sure picked up the Canadian accent quick enough... Ya, I noticed that too! I was kinda shocked he wasn't Canadian when I heard his voice
bob_sauve28 Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I would't mind seeing Sekera, Weber and Funk stay in the lineup. Spacek comes back you take out Pratt. Well, playing against Carolina and Toronto is one thing, let's not pass judgement too quickly. Yes, they have looked good so far. Very happy with them at this point
Bmwolf21 Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I think Jaro will be out longer than Tree, if that is the case keep Pratt in and let Tree be the scratch and let the current set up try to continue forward. Yep - don't mess with success, especially for Kalinin's return. On a side note, I've been debating which Oz character to use as Kalinin's nickname. I've seen Timmy referred to as the Tin Man, but are Kalinin's problems primarily from lack of heart, brain or courage?
Doohicksie Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 The Sekera-Weber combination is just balls-out the best I've seen in a while. They complement each other. Sekera is the smooth-skating, positionally-sound Lidstrom-type, and Weber plays the body really well. It doesn't even matter whether Weber has a stick when covering an offensive, because he's going to play the body regardless. It's kind of refreshing after all the time Sabres players have been spending watching players on the rush but never really DOING anything about it. Anyway, once Weber has taken the puck carrier out of the play, Sekera's always in position to pick up the puck. They also seem much better, as a tandem, of advancing the puck up ice than what we've been seeing lately. I think some of the guys on the big club have been battling the post-Briere & Drury (& now Soupy) hangover and it's been dominating their thoughts too much. Weber and Sekera, meanwhile, have been in Rochester playing sound hockey. The come up to the NHL and waddya know... more sound hockey.
carpandean Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 but are Kalinin's problems primarily from lack of heart, brain or courage? Yes. Oh, you wanted to choose just one?
Campy Posted March 16, 2008 Report Posted March 16, 2008 I would't mind seeing Sekera, Weber and Funk stay in the lineup. Spacek comes back you take out Pratt. Not sure I agree with that. Funk performed well enough this weekend, but I like the idea of a stay-at-home defensive D'man being in the line up down the stretch. Pratt, to my eyes and ears, doesn't get the credit he deserves for providing a stable veteran presence along the blueline. I know many here have been down on him - and sure, he's not great by any stretch - but I think that, overall, he's played solidly and that he's grown more comfortable in his role on the club and has improved throughout the season. I'd scratch Funk and keep Pratt dressed, but there's probably a reason I'm a teacher and not an NHL coach. ;)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.