Michael Pachla: Building the 2016-17 Buffalo Sabres roster--C, Zemgus Girgensons

Gus Gus . Hopefully it was just a sophomore slump and it's over.

Gus Gus . Hopefully it was just a sophomore slump and it's over.
- cabin

I like this spot for him

I like this spot for him
- Michael Pachla

Seems like there will a whole lot of positives with this team this season. Scoring and winning will bring even more. All the players should thrive from it.

"He may just need a place to call home and third-line center just may be that spot."
-MP



Good read. You say smart things.

Seems like there will a whole lot of positives with this team this season. Scoring and winning will bring even more. All the players should thrive from it.
- cabin

Really looking forward to a bounce back season from him. Although at this stage of his career and development, "bounce back" doesn't seem like the right term.

Really looking forward to a bounce back season from him. Although at this stage of his career and development, "bounce back" doesn't seem like the right term.
- The Don

Getting back on track ?

Stability may be the key here as Girgensons has shown a propensity to adapt to a change, albeit not as quick as some may like. While watching him as an 18 yr. old in Rochester as well as a rookie the following year, you could see the wheels churning as he absorbed his surroundings. He wasn't hitting the scoresheet as much as most thought he should but he wasn't just floating either and it showed with his playoff scoring in the AHL and his half-a-point/game 2014-15 season.

He may just need a place to call home and third-line center just may be that spot.

Its September. Season starts in October. Too late for "May."

Moulson has a down year and he's an irredeemable bum. Girgensons has a down year and he's just in need of a home and having difficulty adjusting to a new system.

He's a pro. PERIOD HARD STOP. Get it in gear, or get it gone.

Really looking forward to a bounce back season from him. Although at this stage of his career and development, "bounce back" doesn't seem like the right term.
- The Don

He is so upset about how last season went for him, it should be interesting to see how he looks to start the year this year.

Hoping he has a much better season, offensively at least. His defensive game wasn't really an issue, at least I don't think it was.

Getting back on track ?
- cabin

I'm hoping more for a big step forward. With O'Reilly and Eichel playing in front of him, he should just be able to have some fun and play his game.

Even though he has just the one year contract, the pressure isn't really on him but on the top two lines to produce.

Stability may be the key here as Girgensons has shown a propensity to adapt to a change, albeit not as quick as some may like. While watching him as an 18 yr. old in Rochester as well as a rookie the following year, you could see the wheels churning as he absorbed his surroundings. He wasn't hitting the scoresheet as much as most thought he should but he wasn't just floating either and it showed with his playoff scoring in the AHL and his half-a-point/game 2014-15 season.

He may just need a place to call home and third-line center just may be that spot.

Its September. Season starts in October. Too late for "May."

Moulson has a down year and he's an irredeemable bum. Girgensons has a down year and he's just in need of a home and having difficulty adjusting to a new system.

He's a pro. PERIOD HARD STOP. Get it in gear, or get it gone.
- SomeoneGerman

This post could apply to many.

Risto MAY be a #1
Kane MAY score 30 goals
Lehner MAY stay healthy
Okposo MAY be a Chinese power forward.

Girgensons is still very young, and his underlying numbers are good. So id expect more

Stability may be the key here as Girgensons has shown a propensity to adapt to a change, albeit not as quick as some may like. While watching him as an 18 yr. old in Rochester as well as a rookie the following year, you could see the wheels churning as he absorbed his surroundings. He wasn't hitting the scoresheet as much as most thought he should but he wasn't just floating either and it showed with his playoff scoring in the AHL and his half-a-point/game 2014-15 season.

He may just need a place to call home and third-line center just may be that spot.

Its September. Season starts in October. Too late for "May."

Moulson has a down year and he's an irredeemable bum. Girgensons has a down year and he's just in need of a home and having difficulty adjusting to a new system.

He's a pro. PERIOD HARD STOP. Get it in gear, or get it gone.
- SomeoneGerman

There's a pretty big difference between Moulson having a down year at this point in his career and Girgensons having one. Come on, you're better than that...

This post could apply to many.

Risto MAY be a #1
Kane MAY score 30 goals
Lehner MAY stay healthy
Okposo MAY be a Chinese power forward.

Girgensons is still very young, and his underlying numbers are good. So id expect more
- sbroads24

wtf?

I'm hoping more for a big step forward. With O'Reilly and Eichel playing in front of him, he should just be able to have some fun and play his game.

Even though he has just the one year contract, the pressure isn't really on him but on the top two lines to produce.
- The Don

I disagree. A major part of our struggles last year was secondary scoring. He had virtually 0. We need that third line to not only play well defensively, but they need to put the puck in the net. Without that, there's too much pressure for the top lines to contribute all the scoring.

There's a pretty big difference between Moulson having a down year at this point in his career and Girgensons having one. Come on, you're better than that...
- HonkFortheGoose

With all due respect, you are not able to analyze Girgensons objectively.

This post could apply to many.

Risto MAY be a #1
Kane MAY score 30 goals
Lehner MAY stay healthy
Okposo MAY be a Chinese power forward.

Girgensons is still very young, and his underlying numbers are good. So id expect more
- sbroads24

What, Is there a May in Sept sale going on that I didn't know of ?

wtf?
- SomeoneGerman

JVINCE

This post could apply to many.

Risto MAY be a #1
Kane MAY score 30 goals
Lehner MAY stay healthy
Okposo MAY be a Chinese power forward.

Girgensons is still very young, and his underlying numbers are good. So id expect more
- sbroads24

I AM expecting more. That's why I say get it in gear or get gone.

If he doesn't meet expectations then his underlying numbers suggest he's a great riverhockey guy, but not a real asset for a pro system.

The questions about all the guys you list need answers. This is the year we have to expect the answers.

JVINCE
- sbroads24

You have a better memory than I do. That one goes WAAAAAAYYYY back.

Now your post is very very funny.

With all due respect, you are not able to analyze Girgensons objectively.
- SomeoneGerman

Wow...

Just because he's a player that I'm a fan of doesn't mean that I can't objectively form an opinion about him. I'm just as disappointed in the season he had last year. But there's a major difference in seeing a vet guy that's clearly on the decline have a bad season and seeing a young player with a brand new coaching staff as well as half of a roster of turnover struggle for much of the season.

You must have missed the part of the blog where it's mentioned that his defensive play wasn't bad. He just didn't contribute offensively as much as the team needs him to. The possibility that he has a better season this year than last year is far greater for him than it is for Moulson.

With all due respect, you are not able to analyze Girgensons objectively.
- SomeoneGerman

Then I'll say it.

There is a big difference between Moulson having a down year at this point in his career than Girgensons having one.

Moulson is 32 and has played 8 full NHL seasons.

Girgensons is 22 and has play 4.

Forgive me if those numbers are not 100% accurate, but I think you get the point.

I AM expecting more. That's why I say get it in gear or get gone.

If he doesn't meet expectations then his underlying numbers suggest he's a great riverhockey guy, but not a real asset for a pro system.

The questions about all the guys you list need answers. This is the year we have to expect the answers.
- SomeoneGerman

Agreed, which is why I say if we were to finish bottom 10, unless there are big injuries to Eichel or Risto, or maybe #23, then the team needs a shake up.

We have a lot more experience here than even a year ago.

We added Kulikov and Okposo who both have hundreds of games under there belt

Agreed, which is why I say if we were to finish bottom 10, unless there are big injuries to Eichel or Risto, or maybe #23, then the team needs a shake up.

We have a lot more experience here than even a year ago.

We added Kulikov and Okposo who both have hundreds of games under there belt
- sbroads24

I expect this team to be fighting for a playoff spot all season anything less and it's an epic fail.

I expect this team to be fighting for a playoff spot all season anything less and it's an epic fail.
- dadeadhead

X2

Is tonights game on ESPN ?