Pominville unfazed by low numbers

[SDS]

http://www.sabrespace.com/buffalo-sabres/article/pominville-unfazed-by-low-numbers/

 

Will JP finish strong again this year and hit 30G?

[Patty16]

His numbers have been going down since his one big year. At this rate hes severely overpaid for a two way player not contributing much offensively. I dont disagree he has a role on this team, but his salary could be better used for some offense. I hope he turns it around we are going to need some more offense for the playoffs.

[LabattBlue]

The timing of the article seems to be odd knowing that Pominville recently put up 8 points in a 4 game span. Pominville's numbers are down from the post lockout year(as mentioned in the article), but so are the numbers for the majority of NHL players.

 

His contract maybe slightly high, but not outrageous for a guy who will get you 60-70 points per year, kills penalties, plays on the power play and is rarely injured.

 

Write the same article about Roy and Vanek and it is more likely to get to the root of the problem.

[SwampD]

Even knowing all that, I feel that he is having one of his better seasons.

[Patty16]

The timing of the article seems to be odd knowing that Pominville recently put up 8 points in a 4 game span. Pominville's numbers are down from the post lockout year(as mentioned in the article), but so are the numbers for the majority of NHL players.

 

His contract maybe maybe slightly high, but not outrageous for a guy who will get you 60-70 points per year, kills penalties, plays on the power play and is rarely injured.

 

Write the same article about Roy and Vanek and it is more likely to get to the root of the problem.

 

agreed. i just hate pommers style of play so im more biased against him. I hate the slowly skate down the wing take a half slapper on net type of play. He's painfully slow too. That being said he has managed to put up points, just not this year, but what sabre has? ill take a bunch of career low performances from this team if they keep winning.

[Kristian]

agreed. i just hate pommers style of play so im more biased against him. I hate the slowly skate down the wing take a half slapper on net type of play. He's painfully slow too. That being said he has managed to put up points, just not this year, but what sabre has? ill take a bunch of career low performances from this team if they keep winning.

 

I disagree to a certain degree.

 

While Pommer isn't likely to win any speed skating contests, his style of skating makes him appear slower than he actually is.

 

Also, his style of play (little too much loafing for my liking) adds to that impression, but lately he seems to be skating harder.

 

Either that, or it's Vanek making him look faster :thumbsup:

[SabresFan526]

agreed. i just hate pommers style of play so im more biased against him. I hate the slowly skate down the wing take a half slapper on net type of play. He's painfully slow too. That being said he has managed to put up points, just not this year, but what sabre has? ill take a bunch of career low performances from this team if they keep winning.

There's actually a reason he makes that play, and it's really smart. First, he knows he can't get into position to move into the slot because the puck will be stolen. Second, he knows the passing lane is taken away to any of the forwards streaking in. So, what he does is he takes the slap shot hoping for a rebound that one of the streaking forwards can get to and put a rebound shot on net or he hopes it goes in. Every time he has taken that shot, I have never once seen a goalie hold on to the puck and not give up a big rebound in the slot. The problem is that the other players on the ice either overskate the puck or are not in position to take advantage of the rebound, but it's a very smart play if executed properly by the other players on the ice.

 

As for this year, I agree with some of the other posters. I'll take career low numbers from everyone on the team if that means the Sabres are winning games. I think scoring is down across the board in the NHL, so it's not a big deal if Pommer's not scoring as much. I think he has played really strong, especially during Connolly's point streak. He's playing a lot harder and more physical than he's ever played before and is working really hard and playing with a ton of effort. Really, I'd like to see more goals from Vanek before I worry about Pommer. Either way, keep winning games and the lack of scoring isn't a problem team wide. Start losing games and lack of scoring becomes a problem.

[nfreeman]

The timing of the article seems to be odd knowing that Pominville recently put up 8 points in a 4 game span. Pominville's numbers are down from the post lockout year(as mentioned in the article), but so are the numbers for the majority of NHL players.

 

His contract maybe slightly high, but not outrageous for a guy who will get you 60-70 points per year, kills penalties, plays on the power play and is rarely injured.

 

Write the same article about Roy and Vanek and it is more likely to get to the root of the problem.

I think it's bordering on outrageous. He's on pace for 57 points this year, with a $5.3MM cap hit. That's almost 10% of the team's total payroll. Here are some guys in this cap hit range:

 

Corey Perry

Ryan Getzlaf

Mike Green

Marty St. Louis

Sergei Gonchar

Jeff Carter

Marc Savard

Daniel Alfredsson

 

I like Pommer and think he's overall a good player. But his contract is, as I've said before, Darcy's worst move of the past few years.

[LabattBlue]

I think it's bordering on outrageous.

At the risk of repeating myself, if you believe Pominville's contract is outrageous, how do you fell about Vanek's contract?

[Stoner]

Whoa now. We can't have it both ways. Pominville plays in a defensive system, on a team that "rolls four lines" and treasures "balanced scoring." His coach constantly points out how hard it is to score goals in this league, and his goalie has said the system is designed, basically, to take a 1-0 lead into the third period and hang on for dear life. Pominville kills a lot of penalties, and on the power play, he's been taken out of a prime scoring position the last two seasons, as Ruff has acknowledged.

 

In other words, time and again, Pominville has been asked to sacrifice his stats for the good of the team, and he does it with a smile. And then gets ripped by some fans, and now is the subject of media attention, for production that is less than it "should be"? At least I haven't heard schizo Ruff come out and say he needs Pominville to produce more. He saved it, today, for Roy.

[LabattBlue]

Whoa now. We can't have it both ways. Pominville plays in a defensive system, on a team that "rolls four lines" and treasures "balanced scoring." His coach constantly points out how hard it is to score goals in this league, and his goalie has said the system is designed, basically, to take a 1-0 lead into the third period and hang on for dear life. Pominville kills a lot of penalties, and on the power play, he's been taken out of a prime scoring position the last two seasons, as Ruff has acknowledged.

 

In other words, time and again, Pominville has been asked to sacrifice his stats for the good of the team, and he does it with a smile. And then gets ripped by some fans, and now is the subject of media attention, for production that is less than it "should be"? At least I haven't heard schizo Ruff come out and say he needs Pominville to produce more. He saved it, today, for Roy.

:)

[nfreeman]

At the risk of repeating myself, if you believe Pominville's contract is outrageous, how do you fell about Vanek's contract?

Vanek's contract is a bit high but not outrageous IF he stays within 35-45 goals per year. For 25 goals, like he's on pace for this year? We ain't getting our money's worth, and if he stays at that level I will gladly term it "outrageous" as well. However, Vanek scored 36 and 40 in the 2 years after signing his big contract. After Pommer signed his, he scored 66 points (relative to 80 the prior year), and now he's on pace for 57.

[nfreeman]

Whoa now. We can't have it both ways. Pominville plays in a defensive system, on a team that "rolls four lines" and treasures "balanced scoring." His coach constantly points out how hard it is to score goals in this league, and his goalie has said the system is designed, basically, to take a 1-0 lead into the third period and hang on for dear life. Pominville kills a lot of penalties, and on the power play, he's been taken out of a prime scoring position the last two seasons, as Ruff has acknowledged.

 

In other words, time and again, Pominville has been asked to sacrifice his stats for the good of the team, and he does it with a smile. And then gets ripped by some fans, and now is the subject of media attention, for production that is less than it "should be"? At least I haven't heard schizo Ruff come out and say he needs Pominville to produce more. He saved it, today, for Roy.

1. Pommer is 3rd among forwards in ice time for the Sabres -- nearly 18.5 per game.

 

2. The year he scored 34 goals, only 2 were on the PP.

 

3. Any link or other support for the bolded statement?

 

4. I don't think anyone would argue that Pommer is a good all-around player with a good attitude. The question is whether he's overpaid. I'm not "ripping" him for under-producing. I'm criticizing Darcy for paying him about double what he should be making, and thus diverting $2.5MM of precious budget/cap space away from a better use.

[carpandean]

Pommer's production (points-wise) is not that far off from previous years and he always seems to turn it up down the stretch:

 

 

Last year, he was "on pace for 57 points" 69 games in, but still finished with 66.

In 2007-08, he was "on pace for 65 points" 49 games in, but finished with 81.

In 2006-07, he was "on pace for 60 points" 58 games in, but finished with 68.

 

I'm sure that he'll get it going again this year down the stretch and we'll see 65+ points.

[LabattBlue]

4. I don't think anyone would argue that Pommer is a good all-around player with a good attitude. The question is whether he's overpaid. I'm not "ripping" him for under-producing. I'm criticizing Darcy for paying him about double what he should be making, and thus diverting $2.5MM of precious budget/cap space away from a better use.

Pomminstein's market rate is under 3 mil per year? Seriously? :blink:

 

Time for me to move onto the next thread.

[shrader]

Pommer's production (points-wise) is not that far off from previous years and he always seems to turn it up down the stretch:

 

 

Last year, he was "on pace for 57 points" 69 games in, but still finished with 66.

In 2007-08, he was "on pace for 65 points" 49 games in, but finished with 81.

In 2006-07, he was "on pace for 60 points" 58 games in, but finished with 68.

 

I'm sure that he'll get it going again this year down the stretch and we'll see 65+ points.

 

That's the thing that bugged me about the story. The simple projections, average points per game, ignore the recent prolonged hot streak of the Connolly-Pominville-Hecht unit. I'm fine with where he is right now, as long as he can stick close to this current form.

[Patty16]

There's actually a reason he makes that play, and it's really smart. First, he knows he can't get into position to move into the slot because the puck will be stolen. Second, he knows the passing lane is taken away to any of the forwards streaking in. So, what he does is he takes the slap shot hoping for a rebound that one of the streaking forwards can get to and put a rebound shot on net or he hopes it goes in. Every time he has taken that shot, I have never once seen a goalie hold on to the puck and not give up a big rebound in the slot. The problem is that the other players on the ice either overskate the puck or are not in position to take advantage of the rebound, but it's a very smart play if executed properly by the other players on the ice.

 

As for this year, I agree with some of the other posters. I'll take career low numbers from everyone on the team if that means the Sabres are winning games. I think scoring is down across the board in the NHL, so it's not a big deal if Pommer's not scoring as much. I think he has played really strong, especially during Connolly's point streak. He's playing a lot harder and more physical than he's ever played before and is working really hard and playing with a ton of effort. Really, I'd like to see more goals from Vanek before I worry about Pommer. Either way, keep winning games and the lack of scoring isn't a problem team wide. Start losing games and lack of scoring becomes a problem.

 

I agree with the strategy thing, thats exactly why he does, but he does it all the time, never have i ever watched a player do it as much.

 

As for speed, i agree to a point, but youll never see him beat a dman to a loose puck or catch someone back checking, hes slow and his style isnt the reason.....vanek style makes him look so but he has decent speed.

[Stoner]

1. Pommer is 3rd among forwards in ice time for the Sabres -- nearly 18.5 per game.

 

2. The year he scored 34 goals, only 2 were on the PP.

 

3. Any link or other support for the bolded statement?

 

4. I don't think anyone would argue that Pommer is a good all-around player with a good attitude. The question is whether he's overpaid. I'm not "ripping" him for under-producing. I'm criticizing Darcy for paying him about double what he should be making, and thus diverting $2.5MM of precious budget/cap space away from a better use.

 

Millsie: "We've stuck to the system. Two goals did it tonight. We've had those games here and there where we've rewarded the fans but for the most part, this league is all about grinding it out, getting to the third period in a tight game and trying to hold on."

[nfreeman]

Pommer's production (points-wise) is not that far off from previous years and he always seems to turn it up down the stretch:

 

 

Last year, he was "on pace for 57 points" 69 games in, but still finished with 66.

In 2007-08, he was "on pace for 65 points" 49 games in, but finished with 81.

In 2006-07, he was "on pace for 60 points" 58 games in, but finished with 68.

 

I'm sure that he'll get it going again this year down the stretch and we'll see 65+ points.

Nice work.

[Stoner]

Nice work.

 

I'd do better if you encouraged me once in a while. Where's my little blue and gold star?

[nfreeman]

I'd do better if you encouraged me once in a while. Where's my little blue and gold star?

Very well.

 

 

Edit: can someone please tell me how to insert pictures, videos, etc.? Check it out.

[Stoner]

I thought it was insert image, but apparently not.

 

Edit: it shows up in preview post, but turns back into a link when published.

[Stoner]

You can always download it to your computer and then upload ("Attach this file" below). Then click on "Add to Post" on the right hand side opposite the thumbnail image.

 

[Stoner]

As for videos, click on the Insert Media icon (all the way on the right in the line of icons), then paste the URL of the video and hit the Insert Media "button."

[BillHoppe]

That's the thing that bugged me about the story. The simple projections, average points per game, ignore the recent prolonged hot streak of the Connolly-Pominville-Hecht unit. I'm fine with where he is right now, as long as he can stick close to this current form.

 

He has seven pointless games sandwiched between that streak. I've written many times about his second-half hot streaks. I only have so many words for the article.