thesportsbuff Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 At one point he did. Now he just controls the puck and ends up backiing up to the blueline and tossing it back down low. You confuse his first 6 games with his last ten. Lindy started giving him more ice time and he sqwandered it. He certainly had a bigger impact in his first six games, but his puck protection/possession is still important... especially considering the Sabres have hardly been able to sustain ANY pressure in the offensive zone at all. That "backing up to the blue line and tossing it back down low" happened ONE time (that I noticed anyway), otherwise he has been monstrous on the puck. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he has been playing GREAT by any means, but honestly Kassian vs McCormick vs Ellis is a no brainer. Worst case scenario you play Kassian instead of one of them and it's a wash. You don't lose any offense or grit, maybe don't add much either. Best case scenario you add some offense.
nfreeman Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 There is a meeting of the minds coming at the Arena on Tuesday. Let's see what happens............ Haha! It's getting a little juicy out there. At the very least this is Black putting Darcy on notice he needs to do something, but this is a diplomatic change in tone expressing some urgency. http://www.wgrz.com/...d=1358854315001 I agree with the urgency, which is great, but I didn't hear him say anything about a meeting on Tuesday specifically. I love Ted Black's candor. Me too. funny, i didnt get any of that from Blacks comments all i got from that interview is that they are aware the team has problems and we are going to get together to discuss them. then he says Darcy is free to make moves whenever he finds them, and throws in the old injury excuse (although he seemed to soften on using that as a full excuse). Sounds like the meeting this week will be to decide if they are buyers or sellers this season Well, my takeaway is that TB thinks what's happening now is not acceptable and that there is NFW they are going to just keep icing the same lineup/GM/coach and hope things magically improve. I also don't think TB mentioned injuries as an excuse -- just the opposite. He said something like "there's injuries, but then there's also inconsistent play" -- i.e. the injuries don't excuse the results. I think something is going to happen. I would guess we are talking 3mil if we seriously wanted to resign him although 2 would be ideal. I agree though there is too much mediocrity in the talent department on this team. Why? He had 14 goals 2 years ago, 17 goals last year and is on pace for less than 10 this year. No one is going to give him a big contract. Name me one thing Kass has done the past ten games. I adore him but he needs to be better for a full time slot. Kassian hasn't had points in a few games IIRC but he seems to have a knack for putting the puck into dangerous areas in the O zone (in a good way), and noone on the team can protect a puck along the wall the way Kassian does. IMO he absolutely needs to play and learn on the job. I see no benefit to benching him and playing no talents like Ellis and Kaleta. This kid is our future. Don't ###### with his head. Let him play and learn. And for ###### sake, put him with linemates that will help him develop his game. Well, I agree with Chz (although I too am less than thrilled with the TC avatar). There's a bit too much romanticizing of Kassian going on around here. It's not good for a young player's development to get ice time that he doesn't earn. Now McNabb, OTOH, has been very good. My greatest fear is Regier trades a couple promising young guys and leaves the core intact. I fully believe until I see otherwise that Pegula and Black willfully drank the kool-aid Darcy was serving and they wholeheartedly bought in. Until Blacks recent comments I thought that his and Pegulas support was entrenched but now I'm not sure. I'd feel better if he mentioned underachieving stars or poor coaching. He kind of leaves it open. If its trades, some of that remaining core have to move to see a sea change of attitude and philosophy for the sabres.IMO. This isn't DR's MO. He tends to value young players highly and doesn't part with them easily.
bunomatic Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 I agree with the urgency, which is great, but I didn't hear him say anything about a meeting on Tuesday specifically. Me too. Well, my takeaway is that TB thinks what's happening now is not acceptable and that there is NFW they are going to just keep icing the same lineup/GM/coach and hope things magically improve. I also don't think TB mentioned injuries as an excuse -- just the opposite. He said something like "there's injuries, but then there's also inconsistent play" -- i.e. the injuries don't excuse the results. I think something is going to happen. Why? He had 14 goals 2 years ago, 17 goals last year and is on pace for less than 10 this year. No one is going to give him a big contract. Well, I agree with Chz (although I too am less than thrilled with the TC avatar). There's a bit too much romanticizing of Kassian going on around here. It's not good for a young player's development to get ice time that he doesn't earn. Now McNabb, OTOH, has been very good. This isn't DR's MO. He tends to value young players highly and doesn't part with them easily. I agree but he also doesn't part with his core too freely. Some of which haven't been earning their ice.
LGR4GM Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 I'm a girl penalized for having a brain. Might as well go with sackless Timmay. I am not exactly sure what this means but girls with brains are much more preferable. Name me one thing Kass has done the past ten games. I adore him but he needs to be better for a full time slot. It is really hard to point at any sabre over the past 10 games and say they deserve a spot. As for Kassian, I think he deserves a spot more than Kaleta or Stafford right now. His size, aggression, and overall game is fairly good for a kid his age. He needs to work on timing and skating but he is def better than some of the ppl we have in the lineup right now IMO.
fiftyone Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 Kassian has set up several scoring chances, and his size and strength along the boards alone is enough to keep him in the lineup over an undersized "enforcer" who will play 5 or 6 minutes. We haven't had someone who controls the puck along the boards like Kassian since at least pre-lockout. Maybe if he was playing with goal scorers instead of Matt Ellis and Paul Gaustad some of that possession would translate into goals. He reminded me of Zubrus in his short time here.
darksabre Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 He reminded me of Zubrus in his short time here. He also has good sight behind the net that we haven't had since Briere.
Wyldnwoody44 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 yea but we still have stafford so its all good! :wallbash: I like to sit in the "First Row Sports" when I go to see a game because it has the best view. A bit late, but Thank you sir!! Heres to hoping 2012 brings us some better and more exciting hockey!! Also is Kotalik in Rochester, or did he leave to play overseas? If hes down there, why havent we called him up for a veteran presence and a killer shootout man? Just wondering as I havent kept up on the AHL too much.
LabattBlue Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 A bit late, but Thank you sir!! Heres to hoping 2012 brings us some better and more exciting hockey!! Also is Kotalik in Rochester, or did he leave to play overseas? If hes down there, why havent we called him up for a veteran presence and a killer shootout man? Just wondering as I havent kept up on the AHL too much. He is in Europe, and even if he was in Rochester, the Sabres would not have the cap space to call him up.
Bmwolf21 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 He is in Europe, and even if he was in Rochester, the Sabres would not have the cap space to call him up. Nor would he help.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.