buffalorefugee Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Has anyone but me noticed similarities with the play of Sekera and Zhitnik? Both can have hot streaks where they can do no wrong, example scoring Saturday but having a -4 rating.
Eleven Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 You are not the first person to notice it. And "do no wrong" does NOT mean a -4!
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Has anyone but me noticed similarities with the play of Sekera and Zhitnik? Both can have hot streaks where they can do no wrong, example scoring Saturday but having a -4 rating. No... Zhitnik was: a) more responsible and positionally sound on defense b) bigger and stronger c) hard to move off the puck in his own zone d) didn't panic e) had a harder shot and was not caught out of position nearly as much in transition f) had a mean streak when challenged and could get chippy g) would not have sat back and allowed 2 of those goals the other night I dislike Sekera more than Connolly when it comes to playoff hockey. There is a place for all skill up front. Even Phil Housley and Paul Coffey were tougher than Sekera...and they have 3x and 5x the offensive talent.
Kristian Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Honestly, if Sekera plays more than 7 minutes tonight, I'm wondering what Ruff is thinking.
K-9 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 No. If Sekera were the new Zhitnik the shot he scored on in game two would have missed the net by six feet. At least. GO SABRES!!!
Weave Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 No... Zhitnik was: a) more responsible and positionally sound on defense b) bigger and stronger c) hard to move off the puck in his own zone d) didn't panic e) had a harder shot and was not caught out of position nearly as much in transition f) had a mean streak when challenged and could get chippy g) would not have sat back and allowed 2 of those goals the other night I dislike Sekera more than Connolly when it comes to playoff hockey. There is a place for all skill up front. Even Phil Housley and Paul Coffey were tougher than Sekera...and they have 3x and 5x the offensive talent. I agree with all of this. I would love to see another Zhitnick on our defense. He was a horse in many, many ways. It pains me ever so much to think that we have defensemen not as tough as Phil Housley was.
korab rules Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 No... Zhitnik was: a) more responsible and positionally sound on defense b) bigger and stronger c) hard to move off the puck in his own zone d) didn't panic e) had a harder shot and was not caught out of position nearly as much in transition f) had a mean streak when challenged and could get chippy g) would not have sat back and allowed 2 of those goals the other night I dislike Sekera more than Connolly when it comes to playoff hockey. There is a place for all skill up front. Even Phil Housley and Paul Coffey were tougher than Sekera...and they have 3x and 5x the offensive talent. This is true No. If Sekera were the new Zhitnik the shot he scored on in game two would have missed the net by six feet. At least. GO SABRES!!! But so is this. Lets hope they play all night in the Flyers' end.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I agree with all of this. I would love to see another Zhitnick on our defense. He was a horse in many, many ways. It pains me ever so much to think that we have defensemen not as tough as Phil Housley was. Really....Phil Housley had so much talent that you could accept his passive defensive play. Sekera had clean shots on 2 guys the other day as one of the goals the guy was occupied by 2 backcheckers....but Sekera actually skated backwards, past the goaline as the puck went in. You can't even argue he was playing position....he just pure out pussed out. Zhitnik was built like a 6 foot Gerbe. He was a hoss that would get 30 minutes in playoffs. People liked to tease him and Smehlik, but they were a pretty solid duo for a while. Lydman and Tallinder with size and some oomph.
Patty16 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 No... Zhitnik was: a) more responsible and positionally sound on defense b) bigger and stronger c) hard to move off the puck in his own zone d) didn't panic e) had a harder shot and was not caught out of position nearly as much in transition f) had a mean streak when challenged and could get chippy g) would not have sat back and allowed 2 of those goals the other night I dislike Sekera more than Connolly when it comes to playoff hockey. There is a place for all skill up front. Even Phil Housley and Paul Coffey were tougher than Sekera...and they have 3x and 5x the offensive talent. Coffey and Housely are HOFers. Of course they do. Zhitnik was a whipping boy when he was here. Sekera is a career +5 at this point in his career. Zhitnik was -45 even though he scored more. Hate his play fine, but its a little hard to say sekera is that much worse in his zone when Zhitnik was a -45 at the same point and a -54 career.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Coffey and Housely are HOFers. Of course they do. Zhitnik was a whipping boy when he was here. Sekera is a career +5 at this point in his career. Zhitnik was -45 even though he scored more. Hate his play fine, but its a little hard to say sekera is that much worse in his zone when Zhitnik was a -45 at the same point and a -54 career. He was a -45 because he would be on the ice half the game and played in front of 12,000 fans half of his time here. He skates fast and went on a 5 game tear. That's why the puckbunnies like him.
Derrico Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Interesting. Everyone is in titled to their own opinion and I know Shikira is comming off of a bad game but didn't know so many posters disliked him. Personally I think there are going to be several people eating crow in three years....
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Interesting. Everyone is in titled to their own opinion and I know Shikira is comming off of a bad game but didn't know so many posters disliked him. Personally I think there are going to be several people eating crow in three years.... Terry, Ted and Darcy?
Derrico Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Terry, Ted and Darcy? Maybe, time will tell. All I can say is if we trade him this offseason we better be getting back a legitimate player. I'll be disappointed if we let him go.
Patty16 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 He was a -45 because he would be on the ice half the game and played in front of 12,000 fans half of his time here. He skates fast and went on a 5 game tear. That's why the puckbunnies like him. he avg 2 min more per game than sekera. Not why he was -45. He also played in front of Hasek. Sekera managed a +11 this year when the team let in one of the highest goal totals.
eball Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I don't proclaim to be an x's and o's guy when it comes to hockey, and I was similarly disgusted by the two goals referenced in this thread, but I also don't see how anyone could make a definitive evaluation of Sekera's long-term NHL viability at this point in his career. It seems to me he offers a great deal of potential; maybe this stage is just a little too big, too soon.
Richard Smehliks Ghost Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 How dare you tarnish my linemate's good name with the likes of Sekera. He may be a fellow countryman, but Alexei and I go together like the Czar and school boys.
X. Benedict Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I'm chuckling a little: Zhnitnik had over 1000 games Housley probably 1500 or more. Sekera is just coming into his own in this league. I see more Brian Campbell than Zhitnik or Housley. FWIW.
inkman Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Every team needs at least one Sekera type of player. His ability to clear the crease is non-existent but the rest of his game should more than offset this flaw. He can clear the zone with his feet rather than ill advised passes that much of the Sabres D is becoming accustomed to. I think in a couple years he may be elite.
Matt Rock Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Is the OP the next Jerry Sullivan? Do you watch or follow Sabres hockey? You do know he has been out a week with an upper body injury right? You know the muscles you use to be physical in a playoff series. If our defense wasn't so depleted he would be sitting on the bench resting. But since big tough physical defensemen like Morrison can't even get it done in the regular season let alone the playoffs, Sekera has to drag his injured ass off the bench and do his best. If it wasn't for Sekera and Myers, who by the way isn't a defensive stalwart yet, this team wouldn't have gotten the f'n puck out of there own zone this year. WATCH SOME SABRES HOCKEY!
Matt Rock Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 And to the guy that wrote he likes Connelys play better....
Weave Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I'm chuckling a little: Zhnitnik had over 1000 games Housley probably 1500 or more. Sekera is just coming into his own in this league. I see more Brian Campbell than Zhitnik or Housley. FWIW. Campbell showed more dash and flash while he was here but I think comparing him to Campbell is WAY closer than comparing him to Zhitnik, who could be nasty and dirty when called for and had plenty of size to be a force along the boards.
X. Benedict Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 Campbell showed more dash and flash while he was here but I think comparing him to Campbell is WAY closer than comparing him to Zhitnik, who could be nasty and dirty when called for and had plenty of size to be a force along the boards. I think it took Campbell about 5 seasons for the game to slow down for him, and to vary his speed and play with vision. I don't think it has happened completely for Sekera yet, but if it does, what an asset he's going to be. I think we see flashes of it.
Calvin Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I think it took Campbell about 5 seasons for the game to slow down for him, and to vary his speed and play with vision. I don't think it has happened completely for Sekera yet, but if it does, what an asset he's going to be. I think we see flashes of it. at this point in his career Sekera is way ahead of where Soupy was. Sekera can be elite, and at worst maybe a 2nd pair d-man.. however with the way our blue line has looked this year, he's getting pushed into playing top-pair minutes and he's still only 24. same thing for Myers. Myers is elite, no doubts. he got pushed into being the Sabres top d-man in his second year and his play suffered. we all hoped Monty and Leopold would be the elder statesmen who would allow Myers and Sekera to develop while they took care of business.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 he avg 2 min more per game than sekera. Not why he was -45. He also played in front of Hasek. Sekera managed a +11 this year when the team let in one of the highest goal totals. You're right....he's awesome. By the way....ask Rob Ray what he thinks about Sekera being too hurt to play.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted April 18, 2011 Report Posted April 18, 2011 I think it took Campbell about 5 seasons for the game to slow down for him, and to vary his speed and play with vision. I don't think it has happened completely for Sekera yet, but if it does, what an asset he's going to be. I think we see flashes of it. Why do you like the heartless dudes? You seem to be such a well rounded person.....I really do get confused. If Connolly and Sekera were hanging off a bridge...I would reach for Connolly...although be it with a Rob Niedermayer regular season effort type of reach.
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