The bottom line is he was the right man for the job. The line produced, he went 8-10 on faceoffs and played almost 18 minutes
- jcragcrumple

He shouldn’t be on the power play though. His speed allows him to play at the pace that Skinner and Reinhart are playing at but I’d rather see Thompson play the “Eichel” role so to speak on the PP.

Of which I've pointed out he basically had 0 to do with it. You could almost argue they produced DESPITE him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Like the 2 on 1 where he managed to fall on his own behind. Erod has a role on the team. To me he’s just a 3rd line/4th line tweener. Somebody has to play that spot though till Eichel gets back.!

Of which I've pointed out he basically had 0 to do with it. You could almost argue they produced DESPITE him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Good post

Of which I've pointed out he basically had 0 to do with it. You could almost argue they produced DESPITE him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Except the fact that he won the D zone draw and orchestrated the breakout that led to the Reinhart goal. The only reason one would argue that is an inability to admit they were wrong

Like the 2 on 1 where he managed to fall on his own behind. Erod has a role on the team. To me he’s just a 3rd line/4th line tweener. Somebody has to play that spot though till Eichel gets back.!
- Pegullaville

I agree

The bottom line is he was the right man for the job. The line produced, he went 8-10 on faceoffs and played almost 18 minutes
- jcragcrumple

Other than the 2-1 I thought he had a solid game. He kept pucks deep last night that allowed Skinner and Samson to work. He didn't wow me, but was solid. I like him up there more than Larry, but still think Mitts is the more natural fit based on skill set.

Given Mitts' minutes, Housley or Botts or both, do not agree.

Yeah, Skinner and Reinhart drove the line no doubt, but go to the beginning of the play on the Reinhart goal and see Rodrigues win the D zone draw (8/10 on faceoffs last night) and get the zone exit. He didn't have a point, but was he bad there? No, he was perfectly fine and the line contributed 3 goals. He's filling in admirably, especially considering he is the lowest-paid Sabre. Too much hate for the guy
- jcragcrumple

Not sure if you are referring to the Reinhart goal or Skinners second goal when referring Rodriguez winning the draw and getting the dzone exit. I missed the game and only watched the highlights, but it looked like the Reinhart goal started in the Ozone and Skinners started in the Dzone with ERod winning the draw, but Bogo cleared the puck to Skinner that lead to the breakout.

Either way I did notice ERod on the ice for all 3 Panther goals. The first one he misplayed it by reaching for a loose puck instead of covering for Dahlin who moved up. The second one was him unable to tie up Hoffman. 0G, 0A, 0 +/-, 0 hits, 0 blocked shots, 0 takeaways, 0 giveaways. He may have went 8 for 10 on face offs, but other than that did he have any positive impact on the game?


Edit:
I did look at the play by play which shows that Erod did get a Dzone faceoff win on Reinharts goal, however it's hard to correalate a faceoff 30 seconds prior to a goal being scored to be directly related. Especially when Dadonov is credited with a giveaway prior to the goal being scored as well.

Not sure if you are referring to the Reinhart goal or Skinners second goal when referring Rodriguez winning the draw and getting the dzone exit. I missed the game and only watched the highlights, but it looked like the Reinhart goal started in the Ozone and Skinners started in the Dzone with ERod winning the draw, but Bogo cleared the puck to Skinner that lead to the breakout.

Either way I did notice ERod on the ice for all 3 Panther goals. The first one he misplayed it by reaching for a loose puck instead of covering for Dahlin who moved up. The second one was him unable to tie up Hoffman. 0G, 0A, 0 +/-, 0 hits, 0 blocked shots, 0 takeaways, 0 giveaways. He may have went 8 for 10 on face offs, but other than that did he have any positive impact on the game?
- adambuffalo

2nd panthers goal Dahlin should have been back but was interfered with by Yandle that caused that 2 on 1. That was the reason for the loud booing that followed, I wouldn't slap that one on E-Rod either way...

Edit: might be 1st panthers goal...not positive, but the 2 on 1 goal wasn't E-Rod's doing.

Except the fact that he won the D zone draw and orchestrated the breakout that led to the Reinhart goal. The only reason one would argue that is an inability to admit they were wrong
- jcragcrumple

Sorry but we have all ready determined that face offs don't really matter much....

William Nylander - 7M cap hit (next year) 0.25 ppg, 12 games - Amazing

Sam Reinhart - 3.7 cap hit, 0.98 ppg, 41 games - Disappointing for a 2nd overall
- TheSabresTaco

Nylander career PPG: 0.70
Reinhart career PPG: 0.62

Nylander’s been miserable, I’m sure hopping right into NHL hockey after missing months didn’t help. He still has 2 60 point seasons to Reinhart’s 0. I’m happy for Reinhart though, if this season is the new norm for him then it makes up for the first few seasons of mediocrity. If Reinhart is a consistent 70 point guy then I’ll eat my humble pie. I’d still like to see him in a second line role cause I think the team will have more success with one line scoring then two.

2nd panthers goal Dahlin should have been back but was interfered with by Yandle that caused that 2 on 1. That was the reason for the loud booing that followed, I wouldn't slap that one on E-Rod either way...

Edit: might be 1st panthers goal...not positive, but the 2 on 1 goal wasn't E-Rod's doing.
- RhinoFan

He was at the point covering for Dahlin, which was the correct spot to be, but then over committed on a loose puck which led to the 2 on 1.

Not sure if you are referring to the Reinhart goal or Skinners second goal when referring Rodriguez winning the draw and getting the dzone exit. I missed the game and only watched the highlights, but it looked like the Reinhart goal started in the Ozone and Skinners started in the Dzone with ERod winning the draw, but Bogo cleared the puck to Skinner that lead to the breakout.

Either way I did notice ERod on the ice for all 3 Panther goals. The first one he misplayed it by reaching for a loose puck instead of covering for Dahlin who moved up. The second one was him unable to tie up Hoffman. 0G, 0A, 0 +/-, 0 hits, 0 blocked shots, 0 takeaways, 0 giveaways. He may have went 8 for 10 on face offs, but other than that did he have any positive impact on the game?
- adambuffalo

The line produced (and no, not "despite him"), he did his job on the dot, and he had the speed to keep up. Most everyone was sure it was goin to be a disaster, and he would bee replaced by mid game. Didn't happen. He aquitted himself well and showed that he truly is a player who can play up and down the lineup. All of this while being the lowest paid forward on the team. This board can keep hating, but Housley made the right call, and the results proved it. Incredible that no one can appreciate that he stepped into an almost impossible void

He doesn't get nearly enough credit for being where the puck is. That's why he gets so many, and they absolutely are, ridiculous/lucky assists like the one off his skate tonight. I said it before, but how many times can you be lucky before it's more than luck? I mean statistically it's very unlikely to be that lucky for that long.
- Wetbandit1

Good point

He was at the point covering for Dahlin, which was the correct spot to be, but then over committed on a loose puck which led to the 2 on 1.
- adambuffalo

Disagree, Dahlin was rotating back to his position by the time the actual turnover occurred. Dahlin was interfered with or that's a 2-2. If it was a 2-2 it's probably not a goal. I'm not saying it's Dahlin's fault, but definitely wasn't E-Rod's.

Nylander career PPG: 0.70
Reinhart career PPG: 0.62

Nylander’s been miserable, I’m sure hopping right into NHL hockey after missing months didn’t help. He still has 2 60 point seasons to Reinhart’s 0. I’m happy for Reinhart though, if this season is the new norm for him then it makes up for the first few seasons of mediocrity. If Reinhart is a consistent 70 point guy then I’ll eat my humble pie. I’d still like to see him in a second line role cause I think the team will have more success with one line scoring then two.
- Pegullaville

If Reinhart played on the Leafs and Nylander on the Sabres for the same amount of time, would you agree Samson would have the higher PPG average?

Agree about the 2nd line. Forget who posted it, but I think last night proved Skinner and Reinhart can do it themselves if need be. Give Tage and Sheary to Jack, spread the wealth.

It's never safe to give out full length contracts to guys that aren't your franchise players, especially ones hitting their UFA years. But Skinner not only plays a self preserving game, he also has speed to burn. You give lugs like Okposo and Lucic giant deals, their average speed in today's NHL is going to make them look like sloths a couple years into the contract.

Ryan Stimson wrote a nice little piece about why and how Skinner should be paid, and how "safe" it would be to extend him long term.

https://theathletic.com/6...r-jeff-skinner-look-like/

He also wrote a follow up piece exploring trade options for Skinner if a contract can't be agreed upon. However, methinks, based on actual performance and several Botterill interviews, they're not going to let him go easily.
- TheSabresTaco

I’m wondering how we all feel about Skinner at 8mil + if his shooting% drops next year to a more reasonable 15% instead of 23%
Then he’s scoring around 35+ goals instead of 50+

Not sure if you are referring to the Reinhart goal or Skinners second goal when referring Rodriguez winning the draw and getting the dzone exit. I missed the game and only watched the highlights, but it looked like the Reinhart goal started in the Ozone and Skinners started in the Dzone with ERod winning the draw, but Bogo cleared the puck to Skinner that lead to the breakout.

Either way I did notice ERod on the ice for all 3 Panther goals. The first one he misplayed it by reaching for a loose puck instead of covering for Dahlin who moved up. The second one was him unable to tie up Hoffman. 0G, 0A, 0 +/-, 0 hits, 0 blocked shots, 0 takeaways, 0 giveaways. He may have went 8 for 10 on face offs, but other than that did he have any positive impact on the game?


Edit:
I did look at the play by play which shows that Erod did get a Dzone faceoff win on Reinharts goal, however it's hard to correalate a faceoff 30 seconds prior to a goal being scored to be directly related. Especially when Dadonov is credited with a giveaway prior to the goal being scored as well.
- adambuffalo

Good post

Exactly how I saw it.

Some people have a hard time admitting they are wrong.

To act like erod did anything special last night, is a joke

I’m wondering how we all feel about Skinner at 8mil + if his shooting% drops next year to a more reasonable 15% instead of 23%
Then he’s scoring around 35+ goals instead of 50+
- jdfitz77

What if skinner shoots twice as much next year?

70 goals at 15%?

Good post

Exactly how I saw it.

Some people have a hard time admitting they are wrong.

To act like erod did anything special last night, is a joke
- Boss34

Not what I said at all. I said he filled in admirably for the most important player on the team. Which is true. And 8/10 on the draw which led to the Reinhart goal. Which is true. And that he's underappreciated due to his versatility. Which - yes, is true. You wanted him to fail. He didn't.

Nylander career PPG: 0.70
Reinhart career PPG: 0.62

Nylander’s been miserable, I’m sure hopping right into NHL hockey after missing months didn’t help. He still has 2 60 point seasons to Reinhart’s 0. I’m happy for Reinhart though, if this season is the new norm for him then it makes up for the first few seasons of mediocrity. If Reinhart is a consistent 70 point guy then I’ll eat my humble pie. I’d still like to see him in a second line role cause I think the team will have more success with one line scoring then two.
- Pegullaville

Averaging over 20goals a season isn’t “mediocre”

I like what Sam has been able to do this year to be honest. I think part of the reason why it doesn't seem like he's producing is because he's not even remotely flashy. At all. Not 1 area of his game stands out and "wows" you. Doesn't mean he's not effective though.
- HonkFortheGoose

The only thing that really stands out for me is his hand/eye coordination. Have seen him make make some amazing tips on shots from the point. Even last night on Skinner's fist goal, the puck was in the air going out of the zone and he picked it out of the air to keep it in.

What if skinner shoots twice as much next year?

70 goals at 15%?
- Boss34

He’s on pace for about 250 shots this season
No one gets to 500 shots
No one even gets to 400

300 would even be a reach
That would be his career high
But Skinner’s shooting% isn’t sustainable
His previous best was 14.4% as a rookie
Last year, he was 8.7%

So I’m thinking 15% (give or take) is a pretty reasonable expectation moving forward

That would mean somewhere in the range of 35-40 goals instead of the 50+ he’s probably gonna get this year

So if it’s around 35goals,
are we still happy with Skinner at 8.5mil per?

Dahlin back on the number one power play with Okposo going to the second unit.

New blog

He’s on pace for about 250 shots this season
No one gets to 500 shots
No one even gets to 400

300 would even be a reach
That would be his career high
But Skinner’s shooting% isn’t sustainable
His previous best was 14.4% as a rookie
Last year, he was 8.7%

So I’m thinking 15% (give or take) is a pretty reasonable expectation moving forward

That would mean somewhere in the range of 35-40 goals instead of the 50+ he’s probably gonna get this year

So if it’s around 35goals,
are we still happy with Skinner at 8.5mil per?
- jdfitz77

I feel 8.50 Large is a little steep but prob right, I would be more happy with 7.75-8, if Skinner stays healthy and can put up 4 shots per game, he will score between 30-35 at 10% SP, at 15% he is scoring 45-50 goals. I would be happy with it at 8.50 large...