Winning faceoffs is only a small part of the game. I would have pointed to the penalties before I pointed to the facoffs. That being said, they managed to overcome all of it and come out on top. Good teams do that. Bad teams use those as excuses as to why it wasn't their fault they lost.

I think this team may have turned the corner a bit. The mentality of the team is so much different. Removing Roy and inserting Ott is a big part of the reason why.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think faceoffs are a HUGE part of the game
When u lose a draw u have to chase the puck around to get it back instead of dictating play... That expends a lot more energy... And in a season w so many games in such a short period, that will come into play
And to your point about the penalties,
You committ a lot more penalties when u don't have the puck as opposed to when u do...
Generally, teams that are really good at faceoffs are pretty successful
It's not the only factor of course, but an important one

Grigs...what a (frank)in beast

The Leafs Powerplay... a (frank)in beast
- poohcrumbs

Grigs...what a (frank)in beast
- poohcrumbs

Hey tell Seguin to stop running our goalie.... Ooops I mean Kessel my bad

here's my take

lindy has been sheltering grigorenko's minutes. we need to give him more minutes so he stops playing soo timidly. he has not been a defensive liablility but he has not been playing with confidence. i dont see the benefit of sending him back down to the Q where he's dominating the weaker competition. its not like we have been putting him in a checking line role. he has had to play with matt ellis because of all the pk and pp situations.

toronto is a great skating team that seems to be selling out defensively this season and he didnt look bad vs philly.

honestly im more worried about our defense. something is off about them and i cannot put my finger on it. its not specifically 1 guy more than another. they just look off.

Grigs...what a (frank)in beast
- poohcrumbs

Hahahaha...
He'll be fine, it's only 2 games
I'm expecting around 10goals and 30points from him this season
I think that's reasonable, and a nice start to a career for him
Right now he's being brought along slowly,
But with his skill-set its only a matter of time...
And once he starts seeing some work on the PP points will come easier as well

If 25 doesn't play with better players, I believe he is gone after his 5 games & Lindy is only giving him a taste of the NHL.
Honestly, there is no reason to keep him here if he is buried on the third line getting 10 minutes a game.
- madcow251

Truer words never spoken.

If he's not with skill players his talent is wasted and possibly his confidence takes a hit. I would imagine its easy for young kids to let doubt creep into their game..

Lindy will find a way to ruin his game.

Just wanted to say, best Sabre without a goal has been Ennis. On his shifts he's made some nice passes and just generally kept the puck away from the other team. Very visible out there. Althought he needs a haircut.

here's my take

lindy has been sheltering grigorenko's minutes. we need to give him more minutes so he stops playing soo timidly. he has not been a defensive liablility but he has not been playing with confidence. i dont see the benefit of sending him back down to the Q where he's dominating the weaker competition. its not like we have been putting him in a checking line role. he has had to play with matt ellis because of all the pk and pp situations.

toronto is a great skating team that seems to be selling out defensively this season and he didnt look bad vs philly.

honestly im more worried about our defense. something is off about them and i cannot put my finger on it. its not specifically 1 guy more than another. they just look off.
- joshs

Lindy is bringing him along slowly
I'm fine w that... He'll get a bigger role as the season moves along

I agree about our defense
The thing that will determine whether we are a team tht can win a round or two, or be a team that can really make a deep run, is going to be their consistency IMO
I'd really like to see us get another top4 guy in here to help improve back there

Lindy is bringing him along slowly
I'm fine w that... He'll get a bigger role as the season moves along

I agree about our defense
The thing that will determine whether we are a team tht can win a round or two, or be a team that can really make a deep run, is going to be their consistency IMO
I'd really like to see us get another top4 guy in here to help improve back there
- jdfitz77

It's funny because as much as everyone is criticizing the defense, they're not giving up odd man opportunities like they were last year. I wouldn't say our defensive play has been the best, but it's also been better than I think people realize.

I also think Sulzer has been the best of the group as well.

Lindy is bringing him along slowly
I'm fine w that... He'll get a bigger role as the season moves along

I agree about our defense
The thing that will determine whether we are a team tht can win a round or two, or be a team that can really make a deep run, is going to be their consistency IMO
I'd really like to see us get another top4 guy in here to help improve back there
- jdfitz77

Giordano is the d man I think that could really help this team out

I would overpay for him as well

Leopold, Adam, Mcnabb and a second?

is that enough to get it done?

Truer words never spoken.

If he's not with skill players his talent is wasted and possibly his confidence takes a hit. I would imagine its easy for young kids to let doubt creep into their game..

Lindy will find a way to ruin his game.
- Pairo11

So what would u do then?
Can't break our top line up right now
Maybe switch Stafford & Leino/Hecht?
But then you have Ennis playing without much "offensive" talent

I think u bring him along slowly like we have been
Get him PP time as the year moves along
And then next year you see a line of
Ott-Grigorenko-Armia
There's your talent for him to play with
But for now, we gotta realize that we only have 6 "offensively" talented guys on our roster... It only allows for so much wiggle room

I do think Hecht has played pretty good, maybe Leino helps on that line... Or maybe Gerbe will even get a shot there?

here's my take

lindy has been sheltering grigorenko's minutes. we need to give him more minutes so he stops playing soo timidly. he has not been a defensive liablility but he has not been playing with confidence. i dont see the benefit of sending him back down to the Q where he's dominating the weaker competition. its not like we have been putting him in a checking line role. he has had to play with matt ellis because of all the pk and pp situations.

toronto is a great skating team that seems to be selling out defensively this season and he didnt look bad vs philly.

honestly im more worried about our defense. something is off about them and i cannot put my finger on it. its not specifically 1 guy more than another. they just look off.
- joshs

Our defense has been fine, teams will get zone time against us thats going to happen, but we have yet to give up a breakaway or 2 on 1 I beleive in 2 games. Regehr, Myers, Leo have looked rusty, Sekera, Sulzer and Ehrhoff look like they have fresh legs and skating pretty well, I think this unit will really gel when Myers finds his game. When he plays an all around good game it seems the whole team does

Giordano is the d man I think that could really help this team out

I would overpay for him as well

Leopold, Adam, Mcnabb and a second?

is that enough to get it done?
- homiedclown

I think you're giving up an awful lot to get 1 guy. Especially when McNabb is going to be a top 4 in another year or so.

It's funny because as much as everyone is criticizing the defense, they're not giving up odd man opportunities like they were last year. I wouldn't say our defensive play has been the best, but it's also been better than I think people realize.

I also think Sulzer has been the best of the group as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

We are 2-0 Defense has been keeping up with the offense .

I think you're giving up an awful lot to get 1 guy. Especially when McNabb is going to be a top 4 in another year or so.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would have agreed before this season

Have to give to get and if they think this team could make a run, he is the type of player they should target for the back end IMO

It's funny because as much as everyone is criticizing the defense, they're not giving up odd man opportunities like they were last year. I wouldn't say our defensive play has been the best, but it's also been better than I think people realize.

I also think Sulzer has been the best of the group as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Youre right, its not like theyre terrible or anything... I think or defense has been adequate
But to go far in the playoffs they'll have to be better though

When I look at our team, that's the area that needs most improvement IMO

I would have agreed before this season

Have to give to get and if they think this team could make a run, he is the type of player they should target for the back end IMO
- homiedclown

And what happened this year that changed that? I've watched a bunch of Rochester games. Other than 1, he's been pretty solid. I'm pretty sure every dman down there has sat for a game here or there due to the fact that there were so many at one point. Now that Brennan and Finley aren't there, it's opened up a little space.

He has been on the top pairing with Pysyk again since the lockout ended. They're not going to move him. Even if he had a rough patch.

Youre right, its not like theyre terrible or anything... I think or defense has been adequate
But to go far in the playoffs they'll have to be better though

When I look at our team, that's the area that needs most improvement IMO
- jdfitz77

Considering that other teams are giving up 5+ goals all over the league, I'd have to say ours has been pretty good. Once they get more comfortable, I think they'll be even better.

And what happened this year that changed that? I've watched a bunch of Rochester games. Other than 1, he's been pretty solid. I'm pretty sure every dman down there has sat for a game here or there due to the fact that there were so many at one point. Now that Brennan and Finley aren't there, it's opened up a little space.

He has been on the top pairing with Pysyk again since the lockout ended. They're not going to move him. Even if he had a rough patch.
- HonkFortheGoose

I was just throwing out a name to land a top 4 d man to upgrade the team.

Giordano is the type of upgrade that is needed and I know we would have to overpay to get him. They would want great potential and mcnabb fills that.

I watched a few games on line and mcnabb looked good in all but one.

The big reason I would want him moved is a selfish reason to win a bet. And I think Giordano is a stud that fills what the fans thought we woud get with Rivet and or RR

Giordano is the d man I think that could really help this team out

I would overpay for him as well

Leopold, Adam, Mcnabb and a second?

is that enough to get it done?
- homiedclown

Great minds think alike
I actually brought his name up last week
Calgary is in cap hell next year & I think they'll realize the need to rebuild and he'll be available
No freaking way I trade them McNabb though

Brennan + (maybe Catanacci?)
Adam will likely not be a useful piece for us unless he finds his mojo again (I hear he's been better though, had a 10game point scoring streak recently I believe)
I know he completely fell apart, but if he continues to refund his game, maybe he's a guy we can play w Ott & Grigorenko to get a little more scoring ability on that line?
That's prob wishful thinking though

Leo to a team like Calgary doesn't make sense to me
I think they'll be looking for youth
Leo to the Flyers or some other team looking to make a run (Detroit?) could get us a good return
I'd trade Leo to the wings for Darren Helm in a heartbeat
(I'd even take Abdelkader)

Our defense has been fine, teams will get zone time against us thats going to happen, but we have yet to give up a breakaway or 2 on 1 I beleive in 2 games. Regehr, Myers, Leo have looked rusty, Sekera, Sulzer and Ehrhoff look like they have fresh legs and skating pretty well, I think this unit will really gel when Myers finds his game. When he plays an all around good game it seems the whole team does
- sbroads24

yeah i hope its just rust. your right they havent gave up a breakaway or been beaten horribly on a play. every goal that we have given up this year (even the dissallowed goals) all have been fault less goals. we have only given up 3 goals and we have won every game. i guess im just overreating to all the zone play against.

G

Leo to a team like Calgary doesn't make sense to me
I think they'll be looking for youth
Leo to the Flyers or some other team looking to make a run (Detroit?) could get us a good return
I'd trade Leo to the wings for Darren Helm in a heartbeat
(I'd even take Abdelkader)
- jdfitz77

he has played with the flames before and he could be a plug in player for the season for them. We would have to overpay to pry Giordano out of Calgary

I wonder if they were showcasing Leopold last night

Giordano is the d man I think that could really help this team out

I would overpay for him as well

Leopold, Adam, Mcnabb and a second?

is that enough to get it done?
- homiedclown

As a guy who sees Giordana a lot, I wouldn't trade for him for that kind of money. JMO

Considering that other teams are giving up 5+ goals all over the league, I'd have to say ours has been pretty good. Once they get more comfortable, I think they'll be even better.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agree, just don't know if this group can be good enough
IMO, the only real "top4" guys we have are Ehrhoff and Myers-
And they are both "offensively" focused
We need at least one "solid, stay-at-home, banger" that can play against other teams top lines if we are going to be successful in the playoffs IMO
This group will get us to the playoffs,
I'm just not confident in how far they take us

But u do make a good point,
I do think they'll get better too