since you posted this when ror was a minus 2 tonight


our pp is pathetic
ror is a big part of it

our pp allows a high number of sh goals
ror is a part of it

but ror is a defensive specialist
yet when we have a lead late in the game and blow it, ror is on the ice

but ror doesn't have wingers
yet kane is putting up really good goal numbers and either okposo or pouliot is producing on that line

it's a cap era
I could find much better use for 7.5 mil, probably a second and a 3rd line center

if ror was putting 65 points a year, anchoring a top half pp unit, making his wingers better and showing all out hustle I would be absolutely fine with him


instead we have a 7.5 mil face off specialist

I promise you if we had oel or karlsson instead of ror on this roster, we would be a much better team
- homiedclown

I’m a stats guy, but I am convinced Ryan O’Reilly is incredibly over rated.

I think he’s a good player, just absolutely nothing more.

I think he’s a good player, just absolutely nothing more.
- sbroads24

he needs (needed) to be a great player

Ristolainen is pure trash in his own zone and not much better in the offensive zone

he needs (needed) to be a great player
- homiedclown

Great is pushing it. But he needs to be really, really good to justify his contract and us basically passing up a shot at Matthews/Laine/JP etc for him.

he needs (needed) to be a great player
- homiedclown

I usually don't put much stock into this but it's possible the system has something to do with it too.

You've probably noticed that the really good skaters on this team (all 3 of them) are the ones putting up positive numbers be it regular stats or fancy stats. And the noticeably bad skaters look extra bad. Just my 2 cents but thats the one common thing i see with the eye test.

Ristolainen is pure trash in his own zone and not much better in the offensive zone
- doppelthat

Most of his offensive numbers (save for the goals/assists) ranks him towards the high end range.

He's our roman josi. Soon as they can stop pretending he's good defensively because of his size and turn him loose offensively he'll be fine

I usually don't put much stock into this but it's possible the system has something to do with it too.

You've probably noticed that the really good skaters on this team (all 3 of them) are the ones putting up positive numbers be it regular stats or fancy stats. And the noticeably bad skaters look extra bad. Just my 2 cents but thats the one common thing i see with the eye test.
- Sabresfan-365

the pp stood out to me tonight


there was no up tempo
no rush
no sense of urgency
no sense of attack

honestly it looked no different then during 5 on 5 play in the islanders end


when the islanders had the puck, quick get into the other zone
pass, pass, pass
shoot

burst into the corner , dig out the puck
pass, pass, pass
shoot


etc

Great is pushing it. But he needs to be really, really good to justify his contract and us basically passing up a shot at Matthews/Laine/JP etc for him.
- sbroads24

Shea theodore looks terrific (cc kaiser, he really wanted him here too)

Most of his offensive numbers (save for the goals/assists) ranks him towards the high end range.

He's our roman josi. Soon as they can stop pretending he's good defensively because of his size and turn him loose offensively he'll be fine
- Sabresfan-365

myers syndrome?


I saw similar from him in years 3 and 4

seemed more worried in his own end, that his strength was not used


we brought scandella in so risto could be risto

or so I thought

the pp stood out to me tonight


there was no up tempo
no rush
no sense of urgency
no sense of attack

honestly it looked no different then during 5 on 5 play in the islanders end


when the islanders had the puck, quick get into the other zone
pass, pass, pass
shoot

burst into the corner , dig out the puck
pass, pass, pass
shoot


etc
- homiedclown

They're telegraphing due to lack of foot and pass speed. Its so bad even 5v5, the d-man could have 2 high percentage passes available but he'll choose the low percentage pass to jack being watched by two other guys, one of whom is presumably that teams best defensive forward.

myers syndrome?


I saw similar from him in years 3 and 4

seemed more worried in his own end, that his strength was not used


we brought scandella in so risto could be risto

or so I thought
- homiedclown

I hope not, scandella is more offensive than anything. we brought scandella in cause it keeps Guhle in the A and gorges off the ice...or so i thought lol

Great is pushing it. But he needs to be really, really good to justify his contract and us basically passing up a shot at Matthews/Laine/JP etc for him.
- sbroads24

I need to say I am glad he is on my team for more than half the games


I don't say I am glad he is on my team that often lately


maybe I expect more, I expect him to be an answer, not another issue with this franchise

I hope not, scandella is more offensive than anything. we brought scandella in cause it keeps Guhle in the A and gorges off the ice...or so i thought lol
- Sabresfan-365

I figured scandella would be the stay at home partner


not running our second pp unit

They're telegraphing due to lack of foot and pass speed. Its so bad even 5v5, the d-man could have 2 high percentage passes available but he'll choose the low percentage pass to jack being watched by two other guys, one of whom is presumably that teams best defensive forward.
- Sabresfan-365

it's very frustrating as a fan

I figured scandella would be the stay at home partner


not running our second pp unit
- homiedclown

nah they tried that in minny after his breakout year, once they moved him back in an offensive role with spurgeon he looked like his usually self again. I could see something similar with Risto here but to do that you'd need a pair of guys that bring the lindholm/manson type game

it's very frustrating as a fan
- homiedclown

Agreed

I bet it's driving Housley nuts

I think outside of a few really bad blunders early in the year Beaulieu has been very good in his role

Shea theodore looks terrific (cc kaiser, he really wanted him here too)
- Sabresfan-365

they are fun to watch


to think they have almost twice as many points as us


but at least the yotes won today

I think outside of a few really bad blunders early in the year Beaulieu has been very good in his role
- Sabresfan-365

we won 3 games out of the 25 he has played for us

Agreed

I bet it's driving Housley nuts
- Sabresfan-365

pretty much

he will probably go bald in 16 months

I just finished watching the game on the replay. Too me it really seemed that they would have had a good chance at getting the first NYI goal reversed with a challenge for goaltender interference. After the initial save when Lehner is trying to reposition himself another Islander comes across the crease and prevents him from having a chance at the rebound shot. I thought the team looked pretty good. Had chances to win, but we need more guys to capitalize on their chances. My 3 stars for the Sabres would be Girgs, Lehner and Jack.

I’m a stats guy, but I am convinced Ryan O’Reilly is incredibly over rated.

I think he’s a good player, just absolutely nothing more.
- sbroads24

I was just showing how bad +/- is as a stat. I thought we'd gotten past that. Apparently not.

Shea theodore looks terrific (cc kaiser, he really wanted him here too)
- Sabresfan-365

Who didn't want him here?

I think outside of a few really bad blunders early in the year Beaulieu has been very good in his role
- Sabresfan-365

Nah, it's just because he doesn't play. Hell, Tennyson got more minutes than him.

Agreed

I bet it's driving Housley nuts
- Sabresfan-365

They had one great passing play tonight to spring Jack and he tried to put the puck through the net and missed high and wide.

The biggest problem I see is that they, for whatever reason. stop in the neutral zone far too often. If they just keep their feet moving, it doesn't have to be blazing speed or anything, just keep moving forward, you make the other team react to you. Instead they get a play going and then slam on the brakes at the line because they're out of synch, and then the puck carrier either has to a) try and stick handle through 3 or 4 defenders, b) take an ill-advised shot or c) dump it in and try and recover; which is nigh on impossible because the other team already has a guy low ready for it. All of those things tend to just give the puck to the other team without much of a fight.

That one play they had tonight the D passed it up to Girgensons who merely re-directed it to Jack and he was in behind the defense. A quick pass, followed by a quicker pass. No one stopped moving and they got a high-danger chance out of it.