GAME DISCUSSION THREAD GDT: Ottawa at Buffalo 12-10-13 at 7:00 PM EST

[spndnchz]

Lehner with the start in net for the Sens.

[darksabre]

Gameday Preview: Senators at Sabres

 

 

Just realized he is Bryan Murray's nephew. A little family betrayal at work if he comes to Buffalo.

[26CornerBlitz]

Ted Nolan speaks with the media following Tuesday's morning skate at First Niagara Center: Ted Nolan Press Conference (12/10/13)

[...]

Love the shakeup of the lines. Exactly what I've been saying should happen, although I think Stafford should be on the first line with Girgs.

 

Also, I am not surprised about Leino being sat. I need to find my psychoanalyst predictions from when Teddy took over.

 

This ends the pat-myself-on-the-back post.

 

...Hodgson on the third line...hee hee hee.

[JJFIVEOH]

Has Stafford been benched.... Ever?

 

I like Nolan putting his foot down, but so far Ruff, Rolston and Nolan have yet to grow some balls and bench that sluff. Yeah he's playing better under Nolan, but so is Leino. Since Nolan's first few games Stafford has regressed back to his old self. I'm sick of him getting away with it. Just because he's playing better doesn't mean it's good.

[LGR4GM]

Has Stafford been benched.... Ever?

 

I like Nolan putting his foot down, but so far Ruff, Rolston and Nolan have yet to grow some balls and bench that sluff. Yeah he's playing better under Nolan, but so is Leino. Since Nolan's first few games Stafford has regressed back to his old self. I'm sick of him getting away with it. Just because he's playing better doesn't mean it's good.

Quick name 4 natural RW's who play for the Sabres... ###### it name just 2.

[nfreeman]

Leino sitting tonight. Don't think anyone mentioned it.

Scratched. Nolan is not happy with his lack of production. Also he was -2 vs the Habs.

Nolan's not happy with his effort in practice, either, per Hoppe and Harrington.

 

Interesting.

[dudacek]

 

This ends the pat-myself-on-the-back post.

 

...Hodgson on the third line...hee hee hee.

 

Except Hodgson's back checking and physical engagement are somewhat improved under Teddy.

The issue is his scoring has dried up.

I haven't liked the chemistry between Hodgson and Moulson.

[LGR4GM]

Except Hodgson's back checking and physical engagement are somewhat improved under Teddy.

The issue is his scoring has dried up.

I haven't liked the chemistry between he and Moulson.

That is because there shouldn't be any chemistry between the two. Moulson and Stafford play a similar game of waiting to cash rebounds and being ok in the corner when needed. Moulson shoots better and has a bit more drive but they have very similar production styles which is a reason they fail together.

 

Moulson and Hodgson also play a similar game. Cody has more puck possession but he wants to pass to a shooter where Moulson and Stafford are cherry pickers. Not one of those three will dig pucks out of corners with any regularity.

[...]

Except Hodgson's back checking and physical engagement are somewhat improved under Teddy.

The issue is his scoring has dried up.

I haven't liked the chemistry between Hodgson and Moulson.

 

There's no "except" here. He and Moulson are slackers. Hodgson is simply not interested in going to the net. Moulson barely so, despite the rep he came here with. Hodgson's back-checking issues are simply not the beginning and end of the problems with that guy and Nolan seems to be recognizing that.

 

 

[LGR4GM]

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks

Corey Crawford will be out for about three weeks, per Coach Q. Video from morning skate to come. #Blackhawks

 

There's no "except" here. He and Moulson are slackers. Hodgson is simply not interested in going to the net. Moulson barely so, despite the rep he came here with. Hodgson's back-checking issues are simply not the beginning and end of the problems with that guy and Nolan seems to be recognizing that.

Which is exactly the reason trading Pominville was stupid. Pominville actually complimented Cody and covered up for some of his deficiencies on defense.

[...]

Posted 13 November 2013 - 04:14 PM

I can't wait to see what Nolan does with Hodgson and Moulson.

 

 

 

 

Posted 14 November 2013 - 02:30 PM

 

 

I tend to agree. I think Stafford stands a better chance under Nolan than Hodgson. I think Stafford is the victim of the worst of the Lindy years, and being in the Regier-era atmosphere his entire career. He, essentially, has been led astray, and I think his rebellious, rock-n-roll attitude COULD warm up to Nolan's style.

 

I think Girgs is similar to an un-tainted Stafford, somewhat rebellious, "rock-n-roll", but untarnished yet and way more intense. I think Girgs will love Nolan.

 

I think Hodgson ultimately doesn't survive; I think he'll complain to the media about Nolan, but he'll be perhaps the only player on the roster this year who does.

 

Moulson will probably do okay, I think his future depends on the rest of his line.

 

Ennis will like Nolan, I think, and will benefit from Nolan's direction.

 

I think Leino will probably not survive. His nature is to be contradictory, and he'll pretty much conflict with Nolan.

 

I see Foligno being neutral-ish. I think he may like Nolan's game, but won't like his style so much. Don't know why, but that's my gut reaction since I'm thinking about it. Foligno will be a good soldier, though, and probably do well under Nolan.

 

Ott, Ott, hmmm, I think Nolan might not think much of Ott at the beginning, but they may grow on each other. I think Nolan will remind Ott of his father and he'll quickly grow to like Nolan, which will lead to the work, which will lead to Nolan warming up to Ott.

[Eleven]

Has Stafford been benched.... Ever?

 

I like Nolan putting his foot down, but so far Ruff, Rolston and Nolan have yet to grow some balls and bench that sluff. Yeah he's playing better under Nolan, but so is Leino. Since Nolan's first few games Stafford has regressed back to his old self. I'm sick of him getting away with it. Just because he's playing better doesn't mean it's good.

 

I believe he has been benched. Not long enough--a whole season or two would be fine by me--but I think he has been.

 

EDIT: Google tells me that Rolston and Ruff each benched him at least once.

[IKnowPhysics]

EDIT: Google tells me that Rolston and Ruff each benched him at least once.

 

At least.

[Derrico]

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks

Corey Crawford will be out for about three weeks, per Coach Q. Video from morning skate to come. #Blackhawks

 

 

Which is exactly the reason trading Pominville was stupid. Pominville actually complimented Cody and covered up for some of his deficiencies on defense.

 

I know you do not intend to do this as they really are separate transactions but I find it amusing how much you hate the Pommer trade and mix that with the man crush you have on Zadarov, whom that draft pick was a key piece in the Pommer trade.

[kishoph]

Scratched. Nolan is not happy with his lack of production. Also he was -2 vs the Habs.

 

He should of seen him a month ago.

[26CornerBlitz]

Drew Stafford speaks with the media following Tuesday's morning skate at First Niagara Center: Drew Stafford Interview (12/10/13)

 

Brayden McNabb speaks with the media following Tuesday's morning skate at First Niagara Center: Brayden McNabb Interview (12/10/13)

 

Tyler Ennis speaks with the media following Tuesday's morning skate at First Niagara Center: Tyler Ennis Interview (12/10/13)

[JJFIVEOH]

I believe he has been benched. Not long enough--a whole season or two would be fine by me--but I think he has been.

 

EDIT: Google tells me that Rolston and Ruff each benched him at least once.

 

Thanks. I must have forgotten. Although I did mean to say scratched, not benched. Now sure if it makes any difference.

[26CornerBlitz]

Sabres’ Ville Leino to sit tonight, not sure what Ted Nolan wants from him

 

Ted Nolan said he isn’t down on or losing patience with Sabres center Ville Leino.

 

So why is the interim coach scratching the Finn, who has zero goals this season, tonight against the Ottawa Senators?

 

“Certain players with a certain skill set, they have to bring it,” Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “And if you’re not going to play as well as you can, sometimes it’s better to sit and look and observe for a while, and hopefully when he gets back in he’ll play the way he’s capable of playing.”

[Eleven]

Thanks. I must have forgotten. Although I did mean to say scratched, not benched. Now sure if it makes any difference.

 

Same thing in this context.

[TrueBlueGED]

Leino struggling as a center, who knew? Not that he'd set the world on fire as a winger, but I think you know what I'm getting at.

[26CornerBlitz]

Sens Head Coach Paul MacLean speaks with media before tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center: Dec. 10: Paul MacLean Pregame

[nucci]

Leino sitting tonight. Don't think anyone mentioned it.

it's in the original post with a X next to his name. Can they buy him out now and release him or have to wait until end of the year?

[LGR4GM]

I know you do not intend to do this as they really are separate transactions but I find it amusing how much you hate the Pommer trade and mix that with the man crush you have on Zadarov, whom that draft pick was a key piece in the Pommer trade.

I guess I could expand upon this.

 

The Jason Pominville trade is exactly why DR should never be allowed to build a team. At the time of the trade Jason Pominville was producing and easily the Sabres best two player and top RW. The next closest RW was Stafford :sick: . Now Pominville being a two-way player and Hodgson being Hodgson, meant that they had natural chemistry together. Pominville was very good along the walls not below the goal line. Meaning that pucks were being fed to the center. Pommers has a great shot too. The logical play was actually to trade Vanek. Now obviously we will never know how that would have worked out and so on but Jason Pominville was the wrong player to trade off this team.

 

On to the draft. Nikita Zadorov should have been drafted earlier. He was not because of the Russian factor and his single year of NA exposure. We are lucky we drafted him. I competent GM should have still managed to get us either that pick or Zadorov and trading Vanek last year would have netted us something in that ballpark I have no doubt.

 

Now how can I justify arguing for keeping Pominville but loving Zadorov? I fully believe that Pominville should have been kept and getting Zadorov was luck. I think a real Gm could have traded Vanek gotten the same pick and get the only real RW the team had. I am not sure if that all makes sense but I hope it sheds some light on it.

[dudacek]

This is how you create a culture of accountability on a young, bad team.

 

Give the veterans the responsibility. When they fail, hold them accountable.

The kids watch and learn and decide they don't want that to happen to them.

Slowly add more responsibility onto the shoulders of those kids that you see as part of your future.

 

Teddy has a grasp of basic human thinking that Rolston was too wrapped up in his technical details to ever understand.