TYLER ENNIS ON HIS WAY TO BUFFALO

[SwampD]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 10 goals in two games.

[Wraith]

I have taken shots at Connolly involving his after-hours activities, no doubt. I also have taken shots at his lack of on-ice dedication. How many loose pucks pass him by, while he doesn't bother to reach a stick out? How bad can he possibly be in his own end? Has he ever, EVER stuck up for a teammate under pressure, or a teammate being bullied by an opponent? (Has he ever even stuck up for himself?) Do you think he's a good example to younger players?

 

When he finally played a full season, I watched and gave him a chance. Still, I don't think I'm wrong. He's talented as can be, but he's a dilettante who never will be what he could be, because he really isn't dedicated to the game. In the words of another poster, he's a "nine-to-fiver." Puts in his time, grabs his check, and he's out. I want him and Stafford (I have no idea about his after-hours habits, but wow, he doesn't show effort in games) off of this team in the worst way.

 

Yeah, he's a points leader. But his total should be 150%-200% of what it is, given his raw skill. The guy will not amount to a damned thing in this league, even though he's able enough, because he just doesn't care. When he's gone, we'll miss him like we miss John Tucker.

It irritates me that you're making me agree with PA on this one, but I have to. You clearly harbor an IRRATIONAL dislike of Connolly, to the point where you're ignoring obvious facts. I'd try to let it go, if I were you. It's probably not healthy.

[Xray]

I have taken shots at Connolly involving his after-hours activities, no doubt. I also have taken shots at his lack of on-ice dedication. How many loose pucks pass him by, while he doesn't bother to reach a stick out? How bad can he possibly be in his own end? Has he ever, EVER stuck up for a teammate under pressure, or a teammate being bullied by an opponent? (Has he ever even stuck up for himself?) Do you think he's a good example to younger players?

 

When he finally played a full season, I watched and gave him a chance. Still, I don't think I'm wrong. He's talented as can be, but he's a dilettante who never will be what he could be, because he really isn't dedicated to the game. In the words of another poster, he's a "nine-to-fiver." Puts in his time, grabs his check, and he's out. I want him and Stafford (I have no idea about his after-hours habits, but wow, he doesn't show effort in games) off of this team in the worst way.

 

Yeah, he's a points leader. But his total should be 150%-200% of what it is, given his raw skill. The guy will not amount to a damned thing in this league, even though he's able enough, because he just doesn't care. When he's gone, we'll miss him like we miss John Tucker.

Correct me if i get this wrong.

You'd like to get rid of the points leader because according to you he doesn't put in an effort you believe he could have more points.

So are you say you'd rather have a player with less points who is trying his best?

 

Is a player who tries his hardest and falls short of Connolly better for the team?

[shrader]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 10 goals in two games.

 

7 in one game and then 3 in the next game with a goalie doing his best Jocelyn Thibault impression. God I love that Boston is saddled with that awful contract.

[Eleven]

1. Do you think Connolly's good enough to be leaving the Sedins, Ovechkins and Crosbys of the NHL in his dust? I mean, take almost a point a game player and double that, and that's what you'd have. Playing for Lindy Ruff, there shouldn't be many complaints about his production.

 

2. Maybe you're one of these guys who thinks he could have played in the NHL. If only, if only... Many people have little concept of what it takes to get there. They things kids of privilege just get promoted along until they're facing off in the bigs. Guys who aren't dedicated don't make it to the NHL, let alone come back from two serious concussions to stay there.

 

3. Connolly is the only Sabre who went after Gomez after Gomez ran Miller. Connolly. He's apparently liked and respected in the lockerroom.

 

4. Connolly is a significant plus player since the lockout, and a great penalty killer. Lazy players who are bad in their own end don't have those things on their resume.

 

Wow. Quadruple wow. Connolly must have hit on your mother in a drunken stupor.

 

 

1. I think that if he put in 100%, a comparison to a Sedin wouldn't seem so out of the ordinary. He has the skill. (Isn't that what we used to call him? Remember why?)

 

2. Yeah, PA, I'm that guy. And you're the guy who thinks he could coach in the NHL. Come on.

 

3. He did crosscheck Gomez. Great. One physical play in a history of slacking off (which doesn't just include lack of physicality).

 

4. How many times per game does a puck pass him by because (a) he can't be bothered to reach out his stick, or (b) he can't be bothered to put it into second gear to get to the puck?

 

And leave my mother's drunken stupors out of it.

 

Wraith, thanks for the perspective check, but there's nothing irrational about it; I mean, it's not taking over my days and nights or anything. Except I am making a voodoo doll. And building a sort of shrine, but the candles are black and all the pictures of him are defaced and upside-down.

[Stoner]

1. I think that if he put in 100%, a comparison to a Sedin wouldn't seem so out of the ordinary. He has the skill. (Isn't that what we used to call him? Remember why?)

 

2. Yeah, PA, I'm that guy. And you're the guy who thinks he could coach in the NHL. Come on.

 

3. He did crosscheck Gomez. Great. One physical play in a history of slacking off (which doesn't just include lack of physicality).

 

4. How many times per game does a puck pass him by because (a) he can't be bothered to reach out his stick, or (b) he can't be bothered to put it into second gear to get to the puck?

 

And leave my mother's drunken stupors out of it.

 

Wraith, thanks for the perspective check, but there's nothing irrational about it; I mean, it's not taking over my days and nights or anything. Except I am making a voodoo doll. And building a sort of shrine, but the candles are black and all the pictures of him are defaced and upside-down.

Like you wouldn't want Timmah to be your daddy.

[SwampD]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 10 goals in two games.

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 16 goals in three games.

[Stoner]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 16 goals in three games.

 

Yep, nothing like boosting your offense by losing your leading scorer. Makes perfect sense!

[static70]

Yep, nothing like boosting your offense by losing your leading scorer. Makes perfect sense!

He wasn't and isn't the leading scorer, he is the leader in points, but not in scoring. Assists are another one of those stats that can fool people. Connolly is and always will be a line 2 center, nothing more. He does have a decent pair of hands and some decent vision on the ice, but he also has his short comings and not in the injury dept. either.

 

He lacks hustle in the corners and along the boards and often looses puck control because he does hang on to the puck too long.

The increased scoring however, can also be attributed to Vanek's absence as well.

 

I think the opponents have additional advantages to increased scoring, but overall, I would say it is the young guys, specifically the addition of Kennedy with Roy and Gerbe and Ennis to the roster that has energized the offense, and not at the expense of the defense I might add.

 

It all looks good now, but give me Vanek and Connolly come playoff time please. I wouldn't mind seeing Ennis stay though. Maybe in place of Ellis or Mair.

[Stoner]

He wasn't and isn't the leading scorer, he is the leader in points, but not in scoring. Assists are another one of those stats that can fool people. Connolly is and always will be a line 2 center, nothing more. He does have a decent pair of hands and some decent vision on the ice, but he also has his short comings and not in the injury dept. either.

 

He lacks hustle in the corners and along the boards and often looses puck control because he does hang on to the puck too long.

The increased scoring however, can also be attributed to Vanek's absence as well.

 

I think the opponents have additional advantages to increased scoring, but overall, I would say it is the young guys, specifically the addition of Kennedy with Roy and Gerbe and Ennis to the roster that has energized the offense, and not at the expense of the defense I might add.

 

It all looks good now, but give me Vanek and Connolly come playoff time please. I wouldn't mind seeing Ennis stay though. Maybe in place of Ellis or Mair.

 

Now I got it. Lose your leading scorer and your perennial 40-goal scorer and now you're cooking with gas!

[Eleven]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 16 goals in three games.

 

But they love him in the locker room.

[wjag]

 

 

Wraith, thanks for the perspective check, but there's nothing irrational about it; I mean, it's not taking over my days and nights or anything. Except I am making a voodoo doll. And building a sort of shrine, but the candles are black and all the pictures of him are defaced and upside-down.

Well at least there isn't any blood or pentagrams..

[nfreeman]

Let's see, Gray Cloud doesn't play - 16 goals in three games.

The Sabres would score 400 goals a year if they played Fla, Tampa and Boston exclusively.

[static70]

Now I got it. Lose your leading scorer and your perennial 40-goal scorer and now you're cooking with gas!

Ok, so the NHL stopped keeping track of Time In Offensive Zone for teams earlier this decade. A couple of friends of mine pulled out the stop watches, Pens and note pads to keep track for fun, since my buddy records every game. Here is what we have currently for your Vanek and Connolly team.

 

TIOZ with Vanek and Connolly in, Gerbe and Ennis out:

5 game stretch in March - 16:32 per game

 

TIOZ with Vanek and Connolly out, Gerve and Ennis in:

3 game stretch in March - 20:09 per game

 

Now granted, this stat does not include nuetral zone play, only play over the blue line, and it does not take into account line by line, since the lines change up for a variety of reasons, but it is evidently clear that there is increased puck control in the offensive zone as well as increased scoring quality scoring chances with the young kids in. This does not however, dictate that Vanek or Connolly are responsible for this, once again, there is a variety of reasons not the least of which is team mates play and how they handle the puck.

 

There is however, a clear indication that the young guys go balls to the wall when they are in the line up and they do show an early prepensity for smart decisions and pure hustle to maintain puck control and help establish those quality scoring chances.

 

I want to thank Charles and Randle for sitting with me last night and early this morning to look this over, I woke em up at 5am to watch the last game we were looking at on this. Of course, my buddy Charles doesn't want to see me for a week now :)

[deluca67]

Tim Connolly. Sabres leading scorer, by far. Teammates cheered when he was re-signed last trade deadline day. Should win the Masterton Trophy. Bum.

You meant the Massengale Trophy I believe. :thumbsup:

[SwampD]

The Sabres would score 400 goals a year if they played Fla, Tampa and Boston exclusively.

Actually, without Timmy they would score 437 (5.3 PPG). With him it would only be 254 (3.1 PPG).

 

Aren't stats fun? If it wasn't PPG, I'd just find some other stat to prove my point that he is Gray Cloud.

[Stoner]

Actually, without Timmy they would score 437 (5.3 PPG). With him it would only be 254 (3.1 PPG).

 

Aren't stats fun? If it wasn't PPG, I'd just find some other stat to prove my point that he is Gray Cloud.

 

The Connolly Indians call you Posts With One Hand.

[Stoner]

Ok, so the NHL stopped keeping track of Time In Offensive Zone for teams earlier this decade. A couple of friends of mine pulled out the stop watches, Pens and note pads to keep track for fun, since my buddy records every game. Here is what we have currently for your Vanek and Connolly team.

 

TIOZ with Vanek and Connolly in, Gerbe and Ennis out:

5 game stretch in March - 16:32 per game

 

TIOZ with Vanek and Connolly out, Gerve and Ennis in:

3 game stretch in March - 20:09 per game

 

Now granted, this stat does not include nuetral zone play, only play over the blue line, and it does not take into account line by line, since the lines change up for a variety of reasons, but it is evidently clear that there is increased puck control in the offensive zone as well as increased scoring quality scoring chances with the young kids in. This does not however, dictate that Vanek or Connolly are responsible for this, once again, there is a variety of reasons not the least of which is team mates play and how they handle the puck.

 

There is however, a clear indication that the young guys go balls to the wall when they are in the line up and they do show an early prepensity for smart decisions and pure hustle to maintain puck control and help establish those quality scoring chances.

 

I want to thank Charles and Randle for sitting with me last night and early this morning to look this over, I woke em up at 5am to watch the last game we were looking at on this. Of course, my buddy Charles doesn't want to see me for a week now :)

 

Interesting. I didn't know the league kept those stats. I was going to do this one night, but I figured it would be too tough. Even that stat can be deceiving though. If the other team is hanging out behind the net, waiting for the teams to change, or in clear possession on a breakout, do you still count it?

 

I think you have to consider quality of opponent in such a small sample.

 

It's funny though. Only with Lindy Ruff behind the bench, could there be a discussion, on an offensively challenged team, of whether we like the leading scorer and 40-goal scorer.

[Taro T]

The Connolly Indians call you Posts With One Hand.

The Connolly Indians? :unsure:

 

What happened to the Fugawee Indians?

[Stoner]

The Connolly Indians? :unsure:

 

What happened to the Fugawee Indians?

 

They are bald, and very perseverant, dedicated and sportsmanlike.

[shrader]

Since it is evidentally fact now that Ennis-Gerbe in place of Vanek-Connolly has energized this team, I'll throw this one out there. What if all 4 were on the active roster?

[nfreeman]

It's funny though. Only with Lindy Ruff behind the bench, could there be a discussion, on an offensively challenged team, of whether we like the leading scorer and 40-goal scorer.

Holy agenda-driven non sequitur, Batman! Why not just say "only with Kathryn Bigelow winning the Oscar" or "only with DeLuca getting a Three Dog Night tattoo?"

[static70]

Interesting. I didn't know the league kept those stats. I was going to do this one night, but I figured it would be too tough. Even that stat can be deceiving though. If the other team is hanging out behind the net, waiting for the teams to change, or in clear possession on a breakout, do you still count it?

 

I think you have to consider quality of opponent in such a small sample.

 

It's funny though. Only with Lindy Ruff behind the bench, could there be a discussion, on an offensively challenged team, of whether we like the leading scorer and 40-goal scorer.

We did keep track, the best we could in video (the camera man can't put the Sabres bench on the offensive zone in the same shot, we should talk with him on this :)) of when Gerbe and Ennis were on the ice and how much time they did spend in the offensive zone, to the best of our ability. We broke it down in percentages, since it varied game to game.

 

Connolly - 21% of 5 on 5 time in offensive zone across 5 games

Vanek - 19% of 5 on 5 time in offensive zone across 5 games

Ennis - 26% of 5 on 5 time in offensive zone across 3 games

Gerbe - 34% of 5 on 5 time in offensive zone across 3 games

 

As stated, it varied game to game, for example, the Dec. 11th game with Gerbe in it facing Chicago he only spend 21% of the time in the offensive zone, however, he was in the top 5 to do so on the team. We did not look at the Wash. game on Dec. 9th, we only went 3 games in, but my buddy tells me he reviewed it and it appeared as though Gerbe spent quite a bit of time in the offensive zone, he ended up with a goal and an assist that game.

 

It was noted however, that with Stafford playing with Roy and Vanek as opposed to Kennedy, that line played just over 90% of their TOI in the defensive zone, where as Kennedy on that line dropped that number to 76%. Also, Charles counted 9 more transitional rushes per game on that line with Kennedy on it into the offensive zone.

 

Once again, this is only based on what can be seen on the recording from the televised game, so there are going to be variables we just don't see. But by all accounts, it is abundantly clear that Gerbe and Ennis most definitly affect the flow of the game and momentum as well with regards to puck control in the offensive zone.

[Two or less]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/32597-Tyler-Ennis-hoping-to-stick-in-the-NHL-with-the-Buffalo-Sabres.html

 

Article on Ennis from the CP.

[Stoner]

Picking up the Masterton discussion from earlier in this thread.

 

Miller gets the Buffalo nod. See the link on the news link page.

 

Kind of curious.