The Elephant In the Sabres' Room: Fixing the Power Play

[PerreaultForever]

On 11/9/2023 at 7:18 AM, Thorny said:

What is stp?

as a motor oil you could say it means we need more greasy goals. That would be accurate. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Why isn’t JJP on the 1st PP?

[Taro T]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Why isn’t JJP on the 1st PP?

Because Skinner is a fixture and they continue to give Cozens time there as well.

Thompson and Dahlin are not coming off that unit (nor should they even be considered for removal).  Mittelstadt has (deservedly) moved up to that unit, but it'll be interesting to see if it's Mitts or Dylan that comes off when Tuch is healthy again.  Expecting it's Cozens that comes off, but not positive that'll be the outcome.

Would personally like to see Mittelstadt at the bumper, Peterka opposite Tommer, with either Tuch or Greenway down low.  When Benson is healthy, try him at the bumper and move Mittelstadt down low.

But can't see Granato EVER moving Skinner off that top PP unit.  (Nor Okposo getting bumped off the 2nd unit while he's still here.)  They try to claim it's a true meritocracy, but politics still play into some of the decisions.  

[Turbo44]

A good way to start is to not have Okposo and Krebs on PP2. JJ should be on PP1 and cozens on PP2 also

[dudacek]

46 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Because Skinner is a fixture and they continue to give Cozens time there as well.

Thompson and Dahlin are not coming off that unit (nor should they even be considered for removal).  Mittelstadt has (deservedly) moved up to that unit, but it'll be interesting to see if it's Mitts or Dylan that comes off when Tuch is healthy again.  Expecting it's Cozens that comes off, but not positive that'll be the outcome.

Would personally like to see Mittelstadt at the bumper, Peterka opposite Tommer, with either Tuch or Greenway down low.  When Benson is healthy, try him at the bumper and move Mittelstadt down low.

But can't see Granato EVER moving Skinner off that top PP unit.  (Nor Okposo getting bumped off the 2nd unit while he's still here.)  They try to claim it's a true meritocracy, but politics still play into some of the decisions.  

Cozens definitely came off in the 2nd half last night and it looked like Skinner as well, although I’m not sure if Skinner was more of a shift-related thing.

Greenway was on for Dylan and Peterka for Jeff.

Quite curious to see where they go with it tonight.

[Taro T]

9 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Cozens definitely came off in the 2nd half last night and it looked like Skinner as well, although I’m not sure if Skinner was more of a shift-related thing.

Greenway was on for Dylan and Peterka for Jeff.

Quite curious to see where they go with it tonight.

It seemed to be shift related because nearly positive Skinner started on that PP but came off at the 1st faceoff during the PP.

[Believer]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

But can't see Granato EVER moving Skinner off that top PP unit.  (Nor Okposo getting bumped off the 2nd unit while he's still here.)  They try to claim it's a true meritocracy, but politics still play into some of the decisions.  

Skinner?… Gotta let the Big Dog eat… and KO is the C.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Believer

[bob_sauve28]

Boy, this PP needs to get better!! 

[Taro T]

Curious if part of the problem on the PP isn't that they're practicing against the Sabres PK (minus Thompson and Tuch, the 2 longest PKers the Sabres use).

The Sabres use a fairly passive diamond/box but have the Fs giving decent pressure because they're so long.  The Sabres #1 PP unit practices against this, but they likely are going against Greenway and Okposo when they are working.  Which isn't nearly as imposing as would working against Thompson with Greenway or even Tuch with Greenway.

Wouldn't mind having them work against say, Krebs and Jost or maybe even Peterka, but with the 2 of them going balls out pressuring.  Couldn't make the PP unit any worse.  And maybe dealing with more pressure in practice would help them move the puck better/quicker when they see that in games.

[Warriorspikes51]

88

[bob_sauve28]

9 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

88

We have enough talent right now, the PP should be at least decent 

[Quint]

The PK of Sabres' opponents learned about the Sabres last year. They are now focused on containing Dahlin and stuffing Thompson and so far that has worked.

[GASabresIUFAN]

On the NHL pre-game on the NHL Network, they are killing the Caps PP and it looks just like ours.  Slow perimeter passing, bad zone entries, dumb penalties etc…. Sound familiar? He says they are too predictable and predictable PPs are easy to defend.  He suggests crashing the net, faster puck movement, and changing the look.    

[Carmel Corn]

On 11/13/2023 at 9:00 AM, bob_sauve28 said:

We have enough talent right now, the PP should be at least decent 

I would argue the second unit is lacking sufficient talent.  

[bob_sauve28]

Well, one thing is for sure, with Tage out the PP is going to have a different look. Statistically speaking it will probably get better, but that';s just because there really isn't anywhere for it to go but up 

 

Maybe in a strange way this actually helps the PP 

[French Collection]

46 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Well, one thing is for sure, with Tage out the PP is going to have a different look. Statistically speaking it will probably get better, but that';s just because there really isn't anywhere for it to go but up 

 

Maybe in a strange way this actually helps the PP 

They’ll have to make changes and it could succeed through committee.
VO may actually have a spot again but shouldn’t be the go to, just one of the threats. Mitts running things below the goal line or bumper? Tuch or Cozens in TNT’s spot or net front? Dahlin firing pucks through and guys crashing the net?

[French Collection]

Kyle Okposo has 9:31 of PP TOI this year. He has 0 PP pts. 
The bad PP numbers are not his fault, especially since it is PP2, but he has not helped at all. He does not help zone entries and his mobility and creativity limit him to a shooting option. He is not a sniper so his effectiveness is minimal.

I am not on the bring Kulich up train, he may not be ready 5v5, but I think he deserves a look for a PP spark.

[John Tucker]

They lack competent players to run any kind of PP other than a Tage one timer from the faceoff circle.  That’s really all they’ve known how to do with this current regime.  They lack the size and/or toughness to crowd the net and other than Dahlin, nobody on the point can even get a shot through.  Skinner does pirouettes, Tuch tries to skate through everyone, Mitts does a good job in the corners but can’t pass to anyone bc they’re always standing still.  VO does what VO does.  Power holds on to the puck too long then loses it.  And when KO is on the PP, albeit the second unit, you know you are void of NHL talent to make any sort of PP work.  Oh…and then there’s Matt Ellis running things.  🫣

[Taro T]

38 minutes ago, John Tucker said:

They lack competent players to run any kind of PP other than a Tage one timer from the faceoff circle.  That’s really all they’ve known how to do with this current regime.  They lack the size and/or toughness to crowd the net and other than Dahlin, nobody on the point can even get a shot through.  Skinner does pirouettes, Tuch tries to skate through everyone, Mitts does a good job in the corners but can’t pass to anyone bc they’re always standing still.  VO does what VO does.  Power holds on to the puck too long then loses it.  And when KO is on the PP, albeit the second unit, you know you are void of NHL talent to make any sort of PP work.  Oh…and then there’s Matt Ellis running things.  🫣

They run the PP they are coached to run.  Even lacking Thompson and Quinn (who didn't get PP1 usage last year) they could run a PP1 with Dahlin, Peterka, Tuch, Mittelstadt, & Cozens or Benson.  With a 2nd unit with Power, Benson or Cozens, Skinner, Olofsson, & Greenway in front of the net.  If they didn't want to use Greenway there, they could use 2 D adding RJ2 to that mix.  It's not the talent, it's the scheme (or lack thereof).

[mjd1001]

3 hours ago, French Collection said:

Kyle Okposo has 9:31 of PP TOI this year. He has 0 PP pts. 
The bad PP numbers are not his fault, especially since it is PP2, but he has not helped at all. He does not help zone entries and his mobility and creativity limit him to a shooting option. He is not a sniper so his effectiveness is minimal.

I am not on the bring Kulich up train, he may not be ready 5v5, but I think he deserves a look for a PP spark.

I wasn't happy with the Okposo re-singing, but I was "OK" with it. However, it seems like it is hurting the team a little bit.

He is "OK" on the 2nd Penalty killing unit. Other than that, hes not effective and sometimes a problem.  PP2 for the past few years he was pretty good, but he hasn't produced much at all in his limited time. Even strength he is the weak link on that 4th line, just being a tad bit slower to make his forecheck (which he used to be good at) not as good, and he is usually a half step late backchecking where he wasn't in the past.

[bob_sauve28]

Still the same...

[Buffalonill]

The whole coaching staff needs to go it's the same problems every game 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Buffalonill

[Norcal]

There is way too much skill for the PP to be so stagnant.

Where's the creativity?

 

[Believer]

1 minute ago, Buffalonill said:

The whole coaching staff needs to go it's the same problem every game 

DG is going nowhere…

KA could collaborate with DG and our NHL scouts to identify a few top NHL Assts who run solid PPs and recruit one… 

Do something.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Still the same...