He probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves, but he gets more than RNH does.
- HonkFortheGoose

Might be because his name has come up in the news a lot over the last year for non hockey related reasons.

Up until the Det game (as in i didn't see much of it) i thought this was his best season yet (im deadly serious)

Points are everything apparently. When Risto shut down the triplets line in one of the TB games people were questioning whether he could be a top 4 (four!) d-man.

When he picks up a few secondary assists vs detroit but gets dominated now he's suddenly worth of being called a potential top pairing guy.
- Sabresfan-365

Girgs struggled for the first few weeks. Like maybe 2 or so. It took him a bit to catch onto the system that Bylsma wanted them to play. That's why the discussion that he had with Bylsma in Florida near the start of the year happened. He wasn't mad at Bylsma, he was frustrated with himself because he wasn't happy with his game. Since then, he's been pretty money. He's also had a TON of good scoring chances but hasn't been cashing them in for the most part.

I think he really must like playing in Detroit though. He seems to have good luck there.

It's exactly how we got trapped with Myers though. All we saw was points and plus minus, not the underlying problems.

That pairing gets pelted in it's own end. For now I suppose you could chalk it up to Gorges being too old and Risto being too young but it's still concerning.
- Sabresfan-365

which is why I want a top pairing d man brought in to play with him

(fowler)

It's exactly how we got trapped with Myers though. All we saw was points and plus minus, not the underlying problems.

That pairing gets pelted in it's own end. For now I suppose you could chalk it up to Gorges being too old and Risto being too young but it's still concerning.
- Sabresfan-365

I thought the Bogo/Coli pair was awful last game. Risto and Gorges haven't been a major concern of mine all year. Yes, they have their struggles in their own end, but every defensive pairing in the league does at certain times in every game.

Girgs struggled for the first few weeks. Like maybe 2 or so. It took him a bit to catch onto the system that Bylsma wanted them to play. That's why the discussion that he had with Bylsma in Florida near the start of the year happened. He wasn't mad at Bylsma, he was frustrated with himself because he wasn't happy with his game. Since then, he's been pretty money. He's also had a TON of good scoring chances but hasn't been cashing them in for the most part.

I think he really must like playing in Detroit though. He seems to have good luck there.
- HonkFortheGoose

Offensively sure, but up until the last week or so his defensive numbers were in the same breath as those who get nominated for the Selke. I think that's the role Bylsma wants him in, which is why im not really bothered by the lack of scoring right now.

That was a different coach and a different system and a different year. They haven't been able to replicate any instance of that success ( Moulson has been the best of the 3) apart. I don't care if they're put together, but I don't think that it's some magic formula that all of a sudden Girgensons is going to go off and get 30 assists and Moulson will get his Tavares numbers back and Ennis will become worth his money. All three are okay players.
- Zschalberg

You think Girgensons is just an ok player? Really?

You must not really be paying attention then. There's a lot more to being a good hockey player than scoring goals or getting assists.

He's not Jonathan Toews, but he's more than an OK player.

they haven't been paired up this year at all. atleast give it a look for a few games. how can you just ignore what they had last year?
- joshs

I'm not ignoring, I'm just saying they won't flip some magical switch and go from mediocre to performing like last year just because they're put together. I don't rightly care if they're on the same line or not. I've seen what you're going to get from Ennis at his best and I don't think it's a big enough contribution that he's an untouchable. If he gets us a good player then I say pull the trigger and never look back. If we keep him, then that's cool too.

Him and Moulson will never be the reason we are a good or a bad team. It takes a whole team to be good or bad. However, they will be the difference between us being a good and great team.

Offensively sure, but up until the last week or so his defensive numbers were in the same breath as those who get nominated for the Selke. I think that's the role Bylsma wants him in, which is why im not really bothered by the lack of scoring right now.
- Sabresfan-365

I'm not bothered by it either. I like the game he's playing. I love the fact that he's great as your #3 center and that he can play on the 2nd line when you need him to. He can play the PP or the PK. He's what I like to call the "swiss army knife" of hockey players.

which is why I want a top pairing d man brought in to play with him

(fowler)
- homiedclown

This makes a lot of sense if they ask Risto to tighten up and become more risk averse. Maybe thats why they've given him the green light this year, see how much offense he can put up and what kind of effect it has on his game. Bring Fowler in, take the offensive pressure off.

I'm not bothered by it either. I like the game he's playing. I love the fact that he's great as your #3 center and that he can play on the 2nd line when you need him to. He can play the PP or the PK. He's what I like to call the "swiss army knife" of hockey players.
- HonkFortheGoose

I thought the Bogo/Coli pair was awful last game. Risto and Gorges haven't been a major concern of mine all year. Yes, they have their struggles in their own end, but every defensive pairing in the league does at certain times in every game.
- HonkFortheGoose

This is an entirely different headache unfortunately


My concern is more that it's become a little to frequent for my liking but that's on me for having some sky high expectations from that pairing.

You think Girgensons is just an ok player? Really?

You must not really be paying attention then. There's a lot more to being a good hockey player than scoring goals or getting assists.

He's not Jonathan Toews, but he's more than an OK player.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think he's a good 3rd liner and an okay 2nd liner. I like him where he is now. When people want him on the 2nd line I disagree. If Girgensons is where you're looking for scoring I think that means you need better scorers. He should be in a checking role with players who don't have hands made of stone on a line that can be used against other teams talent and can also contribute some goals at times.

He's not a world beater, but I like him on my team. I think he'll be a valuable asset to have, I just don't think he's amazing. He's okay to good.

This is an entirely different headache unfortunately


My concern is more that it's become a little to frequent for my liking but that's on me for having some sky high expectations from that pairing.
- Sabresfan-365

I think when Pysyk's ready to go they should pair him with Bogo. Coli hasn't played poorly, but he's not exactly great either.

Leave the other 2 pairings alone.

I think he's a good 3rd liner and an okay 2nd liner. I like him where he is now. When people want him on the 2nd line I disagree. If Girgensons is where you're looking for scoring I think that means you need better scorers. He should be in a checking role with players who don't have hands made of stone on a line that can be used against other teams talent and can also contribute some goals at times.

He's not a world beater, but I like him on my team. I think he'll be a valuable asset to have, I just don't think he's amazing. He's okay to good.
- Zschalberg

He is in a checking role, playing against the opposing teams top talent. This post confuses me a bit

I think when Pysyk's ready to go they should pair him with Bogo. Coli hasn't played poorly, but he's not exactly great either.

Leave the other 2 pairings alone.
- HonkFortheGoose

I also really like the chemistry between McCabe and Pysyk....

I think he's a good 3rd liner and an okay 2nd liner. I like him where he is now. When people want him on the 2nd line I disagree. If Girgensons is where you're looking for scoring I think that means you need better scorers. He should be in a checking role with players who don't have hands made of stone on a line that can be used against other teams talent and can also contribute some goals at times.

He's not a world beater, but I like him on my team. I think he'll be a valuable asset to have, I just don't think he's amazing. He's okay to good.
- Zschalberg

I find it interesting that what you put pretty much contradicts what we've seen this year. Eichel has had issues trying to find guys that can keep up with him and that he looks comfortable with. Somehow, Girgensons seems to be one of those guys, yet because Bylsma really likes what Girgs does defensively, he doesn't keep him with Eichel very long.

At this point, I think it's super important to get Eichel rolling, so if I'm Bylsma, I'm putting Eichel and Girgs together for a bit to see what happens. Maybe having Girgs out there with him also takes some of the defensive responsibilities off Eichel's shoulders as well.

You think Girgensons is just an ok player? Really?

You must not really be paying attention then. There's a lot more to being a good hockey player than scoring goals or getting assists.

He's not Jonathan Toews, but he's more than an OK player.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree with this completely. Tons of quality scoring chances is good enough with me. Get a few to go in and u got urself a streak.

Our d is not a problem this year. We will need to find someone to play with risto next year but we might have that in our system already or we can address it come fa. I think the biggest concern with the sabres is that we dont have anybody who meshes with jack on the wing and we have 1 or 2 too many bottom line players (larsson, mcginn, pysyk coliacavo, weber) 1 foward and 1 dman need to go.

I agree with this completely. Tons of quality scoring chances is good enough with me. Get a few to go in and u got urself a streak.

Our d is not a problem this year. We will need to find someone to play with risto next year but we might have that in our system already or we can address it come fa. I think the biggest concern with the sabres is that we dont have anybody who meshes with jack on the wing and we have 1 or 2 too many bottom line players (larsson, mcginn, pysyk coliacavo, weber) 1 foward and 1 dman need to go.
- joshs

McGinn, Colaiacovo, and Weber are all UFAs after this year.

And in no way, should Psysk be mentioned with any of them.

Offensively sure, but up until the last week or so his defensive numbers were in the same breath as those who get nominated for the Selke. I think that's the role Bylsma wants him in, which is why im not really bothered by the lack of scoring right now.
- Sabresfan-365

He also is playing a secondary role to O'Reilly in terms of matching up with top lines.

If Girgs is going against other teams 2nd and 3rd lines, he needs to produce a little more than he has.

He's a good player, but he also needs to score. Same with the rest of the team.

It's why I'm hesitant to say anyone other than O'Reilly have been really good this year

He is in a checking role, playing against the opposing teams top talent. This post confuses me a bit
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

O'Reilly is doing most of this

I also really like the chemistry between McCabe and Pysyk....
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I do too, but the problem is when you take Coli out and put Pysyk in, you now have too many R's and not enough L's to make it work.

Pysyk can play the left, he did all year for Roch last year, which is why it's easiest to just move Coli out and plug Pysyk into the spot he's currently occupying.

O'Reilly is doing most of this
- sbroads24

I haven't looked at the advanced stats, nor do I care to. But Bylsma said when Girgs was out that he had to use the top line against the other teams top lines instead of our 3rd line. So something isn't matching up here.

He is in a checking role, playing against the opposing teams top talent. This post confuses me a bit
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I like him where he is right now. Don't want him moved up. He's in a good spot and fills a niche. He's not this all worldly great player, however, even in the position he's in. He's pretty okay. That's not an insult in any sense, he's just pretty okay. Does his job, helps out, plays with energy. Does the little things.

I find it interesting that what you put pretty much contradicts what we've seen this year. Eichel has had issues trying to find guys that can keep up with him and that he looks comfortable with. Somehow, Girgensons seems to be one of those guys, yet because Bylsma really likes what Girgs does defensively, he doesn't keep him with Eichel very long.

At this point, I think it's super important to get Eichel rolling, so if I'm Bylsma, I'm putting Eichel and Girgs together for a bit to see what happens. Maybe having Girgs out there with him also takes some of the defensive responsibilities off Eichel's shoulders as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'm not saying he doesn't have any scoring ability, because he does. But I don't want him on the second line with the expectation of needing 20 goals because that's not his game.

My big thing with Eichel is I'd love to get him scoring and getting assists but I want to see him just learn. If he goes 5 games with no points but isn't turning the puck over or trying to do everything himself then I'm okay with that. The expectations for goals and assists come next year for me

I agree with this completely. Tons of quality scoring chances is good enough with me. Get a few to go in and u got urself a streak.

Our d is not a problem this year. We will need to find someone to play with risto next year but we might have that in our system already or we can address it come fa. I think the biggest concern with the sabres is that we dont have anybody who meshes with jack on the wing and we have 1 or 2 too many bottom line players (larsson, mcginn, pysyk coliacavo, weber) 1 foward and 1 dman need to go.
- joshs

What about when Gorges, Weber, Carlo aren't here or are terrible again? That's why I'd like to find a long term solution. We don't have a potential #2 defenseman in the system (Guhle is not even 20 I believe so that'd be 3-4 years down the line) and I doubt we find one in Free Agency. They're hard to come by. That's why I think it should be the main priority. Let the rest settle itself out