5th line wingnutt Posted August 2, 2010 Report Posted August 2, 2010 Left Wing: Vanek, Thomas Hecht, Jochen Niedermayer, Rob Kennedy, Tim Position Grade B Here Vanek is both the good news and the bad. Starting with the broken jaw at the end 2008-9 and continuing last year he has been fighting injury and had a hard time finding his mojo. Vanek suffers from having no true #1 center and no power play quarterback. Vanek is the sniper type who needs someone to get him the puck at the right time. Hecht is a decent second line winger or center. It took him a long time to make the transition from center to left wing but last year he got there. Niedermayer is a decent 3rd or 4th checking winger. Kennedy is also a decent 3rd or 4th winger, too small, but wins a few battles with stick skills and grit. I don’t see much upside on left wing except for Vanek, and only if we can get him some help.
Mbossy Posted August 2, 2010 Report Posted August 2, 2010 Left Wing: Vanek, Thomas Hecht, Jochen Niedermayer, Rob Kennedy, Tim Position Grade B Here Vanek is both the good news and the bad. Starting with the broken jaw at the end 2008-9 and continuing last year he has been fighting injury and had a hard time finding his mojo. Vanek suffers from having no true #1 center and no power play quarterback. Vanek is the sniper type who needs someone to get him the puck at the right time. Hecht is a decent second line winger or center. It took him a long time to make the transition from center to left wing but last year he got there. Niedermayer is a decent 3rd or 4th checking winger. Kennedy is also a decent 3rd or 4th winger, too small, but wins a few battles with stick skills and grit. I don’t see much upside on left wing except for Vanek, and only if we can get him some help. fixed
carpandean Posted August 2, 2010 Report Posted August 2, 2010 Just for consistency, I have to say that I'd list Niedermayer with "(possibly)" and add Ennis also with "(possibly)". Also, until camp comes and goes, Ennis has no more claim on a spot than Gerbe, so I'd add him, too. I'd say it's more likely Ennis, but it's not 100% set.
5th line wingnutt Posted August 2, 2010 Author Report Posted August 2, 2010 thanks for the fix. I saw the waiver stuff about 15 seconds after I posted.
Sabretooth Posted August 5, 2010 Report Posted August 5, 2010 Before the Kennedy fiasco, I say he was about to have a good year. Things have quickly changed. Vanek is good, but will need to step up the point production by himself and a point producing linemate, addressing a top center or right wing.
carpandean Posted August 5, 2010 Report Posted August 5, 2010 Seems like a good bet that the top-three leftwingers will be Vanek, Ennis and Hecht this year. I'd prefer to see Hecht in the checking role with Ennis on a scoring line, but they may start out reversed. On the fourth line, I'd expect to see Kaleta or McCormick, who are both natural right-wingers, switch to Gaustad's left. With their role, I don't think sides matter as much. Vanek's performance will likely rebound a bit, as last year was off his usual pace, but with no change down the middle, I'm not expecting a huge jump. The real question is whether he will maintain the intensity that we saw at the end of last year. Ennis could have a big first year or could slump with a bigger role and expectations. As sad as it is, this is probably the Sabres' strongest forward position. :sick:
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