The Grit Rankings: Which Sabres players do you think play with that dog mentality?

[LGR4GM]

15 hours ago, Weave said:

Girgensons played with grit.  

I agree. I would have added him but decided only signed players and RFAs for this. 

[Big Guava]

Sadly I think Zach Benson is already the biggest "dog" mentality player on the team as a rookie.

[Wyldnwoody44]

Watch, in some strange turn of events we make the playoffs, get destroyed in game 1 and the light just clicks and we turn into a reincarnation of the mid 2000s Boston teams. 

 

A man can dream. 

[Pimlach]

So we add forwards, all with grit, and one defender with lots of grit.  

[JohnC]

10 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

So we add forwards, all with grit, and one defender with lots of grit.  

It's obvious this roster needs players who play a tougher brand of game. But that will be insufficient if the rest of the lineup collectively doesn't also add a more disciplined element to their game. Obviously, not every player is built to play a rugged style of game. But that doesn't mean that there can't be a greater emphasis on responsible two-way and consistent energetic play. How many games did you watch where it seemed that this team played like it was fatigued while the opposition played with energy. Especially on back to back games, the teams simply won't have it. That's the reality of a long and grinding season. It just seems that it happened to us more than it did to other teams. We now have a coach that will hold the players accountable. That in itself should make a big difference. 

[Stoner]

Lindy's Dog House.

[bunomatic]

I managed to find two at forward and one D man. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

None of the above, ok maybe Dahlin and Clifton.   

As a forward group, they don’t crash the net, they don’t forecheck well or backcheck well.  It’s O zone time wasn’t very long and why we are amongst the worst teams in allowing HDCA for the last few years.  

The funny thing Adams traded away the one center he had willing to do those things.  Cozens should be gritty player and isn’t and Tage is a huge physical presence who plays a finesse game.  Greenway is a big guy who can play a gritty game and did in Minn.  He has hit a few guys in Buffalo but hasn’t really resulted in significant turnovers.  Benson has the want to, but gets knocked off the puck to easily. Quinn and JJP are finesse forwards at this point and don’t have much physicality in their games (yet?) Skinner does go to the net and is annoying, but doesn’t hit anyone or block shots or backcheck.  Tuch is willing to block shot and hit occasionally, and has a solid all around game built on speed and passing.  Krebs is willing to take the body but does nothing else well.  

Truthfully until the entire forward group as a whole commits to playing a tougher brand of hockey the Sabres will be stuck in 2nd gear.  Maybe Ruff can instill that commitment. Maybe.  

There is more grit on defense.  Dahlin and Clifton lead the way there, but that about it.  Mule’s job is to be gritty but he can’t stay healthy so what good is it?  Joki, Johnson, Bryson don’t add physicality.  Power for a kid his size does a great job of blocking shots but almost never takes the body. 

This is a team as soft Anderson’s custard.  They were built for speed, they lack proper depth and they lack a winning culture.  Good luck Lindy. 

As we see in the playoffs, teams that are hard to play against win.  To achieve that goal with the players we have is impossible without substantial change.  We need 4 new forwards  including 2 centers and they must have a good 2 way game.

We also need a top 4 who is committed to playing in zone defense.

[Thorner]

21 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

Now let's consider those whose opinions really matter, the rest of the league. It's an hour before game time. The opposing lockerroom.

Boys, keep your head up for __________.

Watch ______________ on the forecheck.

Don't let _____________ get to the net and bother our keeper.

Hey PA, keep your head up 

 

[Believer]

Grit?

Dahlin, Benson, Krebs… nearly every shift

Greenway, Tuch, Samuelson… when they feel like it

Cozens, Peterka, Quinn, Joki, Byram… each in stages of WannaBe

[JP51]

On 6/14/2024 at 1:51 PM, Mr. Allen said:

Where’s the “none of the above” button?  lol

Amen, the only thing more astonishing than the abject lack of grit on this team is the Front Offices complete disregard for it and ultimate lack of understanding  of its necessity. I am not talking Broad Street Bullies I am talking hockey players who are tough to play against. Dont even need to be monsters... But they need to be your leaders, embedded on the team and expect others to do the same... the ones that look at Owen Power grab him and say you are 6'6 220 lbs... take the body.  We literally do not have 1 of these players maybe Dahlin is rounding into this... but we need 5. I am not sure we have any in the pipeline either maybe Bowen... figure skaters.. we got. 

[LGR4GM]

I am going to lock this. Maybe we need a new thread with all the new adds? I have to run but if anyone is board...

The 3 grittiest forwards ended up as:

1. Zach benson
2. Jordan Greenway
3. Dylan Cozens

The 2 grittiest defenders ended up as:

1. Connor Clifton
2. Rasmus Dahlin

Wonder how much those forward rankings would change right?