At least he has his shooting percentage over 8%

he was at 5% near the halfway point of the season.

Side note on dumb penalties, living legend has only taken 2 penalties this year
- jcragcrumple

but is his shooting percentage up because he just misses the net instead of registering the shot?

but is his shooting percentage up because he just misses the net instead of registering the shot?
- SabresFaninIndiana

A

He played one game on a line with Skinner, and Skinner scored a goal assisted by Thompson, then they gave him a period and a half on Eichel’s line, when Jack came back from injury, and they didn’t do well (Eichel went pointless in 3 games after too)

I’d hardly constitute that as puking all over himself.

Again, he’s looked lost lately. But I’d attribute some of that to getting pulled off a top line after a few bad shifts with line 1. He hasn’t had any confidence since
- sbroads24

imo, he really looks like a square peg...he doesn't have enough speed to play an up-tempo game, doesn't have the smarts to make up for that...he doesn't hit, can't play defense very well and has no vision outside of himself and the puck...that said, he's pretty good with is stick and if you get him into open space he's deadly

*shrugs*

he is what he is right now...he doesn't have enough all-around game for a top-six role and he's totally miscast on an energy line leaving him third-line duties...and he just got bumped out by smith and Rodrigues who play the type of game the Sabres want to play

Take it for what it is. I read this on twitter, I have no inside info. Also I certainly don't think he's the proper age and at 9.5M per, he may very well be beyond our means in terms of the cap.

But I guess the Sabres called about Jamie Benn.
- RhinoFan

Homie's source(s) said this rumor was BS

Just sayin

imo, he really looks like a square peg...he doesn't have enough speed to play an up-tempo game, doesn't have the smarts to make up for that...he doesn't hit, can't play defense very well and has no vision outside of himself and the puck...that said, he's pretty good with is stick and if you get him into open space he's deadly

*shrugs*


he is what he is right now...he doesn't have enough all-around game for a top-six role and he's totally miscast on an energy line leaving him third-line duties...and he just got bumped out by smith and Rodrigues who play the type of game the Sabres want to play
- Michael Pachla

100% agree. I think he can be a good player for us though. I think he can be a 40 point guy who plays on our third line with 2nd PP minutes. He needs to add weight and improve his stop and starts/short area quickness. He does have really good hands and a really good shot. It’s just whether or not he can put the rest of it together.

Homie's source(s) said this rumor was BS

Just sayin
- Powerslave

If I remember correctly when the Dallas thing first came out about ownership slamming Benn and Seguin 89 said Botts called Dallas but it wasn't anything more than are they available thing.

I could be totally wrong that it wasn't 89. But all I remember reading was it was a simple phone call that never went anywhere.

100% agree. I think he can be a good player for us though. I think he can be a 40 point guy who plays on our third line with 2nd PP minutes. He needs to add weight and improve his stop and starts/short area quickness. He does have really good hands and a really good shot. It’s just whether or not he can put the rest of it together.
- Pegullaville

they also need to figure out how to best use him and right now it doesn't seem as if there is a best way

100% agree. I think he can be a good player for us though. I think he can be a 40 point guy who plays on our third line with 2nd PP minutes. He needs to add weight and improve his stop and starts/short area quickness. He does have really good hands and a really good shot. It’s just whether or not he can put the rest of it together.
- Pegullaville

"Hard," yes. But "good" would mean accurate, and it isn't, so it's not.

A
- Boss34

Homie's source(s) said this rumor was BS

Just sayin
- Powerslave

I believe Homie. Just found it interesting.

"Hard," yes. But "good" would mean accurate, and it isn't, so it's not.
- Der Kaiser

How do you know he's not shooting for the glass?

If I remember correctly when the Dallas thing first came out about ownership slamming Benn and Seguin 89 said Botts called Dallas but it wasn't anything more than are they available thing.

I could be totally wrong that it wasn't 89. But all I remember reading was it was a simple phone call that never went anywhere.
- Stripes77

Sounds about right. These things usually get blown out of proportion.

I just love the way Benn plays...when he isn't bouncing Eichel's head off the glass that is.

"Hard," yes. But "good" would mean accurate, and it isn't, so it's not.
- Der Kaiser

He's more accurate than Kane...

It can be made to work.

imo, he really looks like a square peg...he doesn't have enough speed to play an up-tempo game, doesn't have the smarts to make up for that...he doesn't hit, can't play defense very well and has no vision outside of himself and the puck...that said, he's pretty good with is stick and if you get him into open space he's deadly

*shrugs*

he is what he is right now...he doesn't have enough all-around game for a top-six role and he's totally miscast on an energy line leaving him third-line duties...and he just got bumped out by smith and Rodrigues who play the type of game the Sabres want to play
- Michael Pachla

And Vladimir Sobotka and Lockport Larry will never provide that to him.

But my beef is the fact that for whatever reason they will continue to put guys who don’t produce or play defense (Sheary for 30 games, Okposo didn’t score for 20+ etc) in top 6 or PP roles for extended periods of time, but Thompson gets a short leash.

He's more accurate than Kane...

It can be made to work.
- RhinoFan

Evander 9.2 career S%
Tage 7.4

According to Hockey Reference

anyway we're fighting now

And Vladimir Sobotka and Lockport Larry will never provide that to him.

But my beef is the fact that for whatever reason they will continue to put guys who don’t produce or play defense (Sheary for 30 games, Okposo didn’t score for 20+ etc) in top 6 or PP roles for extended periods of time, but Thompson gets a short leash.
- sbroads24

point taken, but...sheary at least has speed, can get in on the forecheck and is quick to the puck...Okposo can actually play a fourth-line role with gus and larry and the trio can be effective...not saying that Okposo justifies his salary in that role, but he's versatile enough to do that...Thompson lacks versatility at this point in his development

imo, he really looks like a square peg...he doesn't have enough speed to play an up-tempo game, doesn't have the smarts to make up for that...he doesn't hit, can't play defense very well and has no vision outside of himself and the puck...that said, he's pretty good with is stick and if you get him into open space he's deadly

*shrugs*

he is what he is right now...he doesn't have enough all-around game for a top-six role and he's totally miscast on an energy line leaving him third-line duties...and he just got bumped out by smith and Rodrigues who play the type of game the Sabres want to play
- Michael Pachla

This is a hell of an analysis.

If they could teach him to use his size in a defensive role, he could be a force. His reach is incredible.

point taken, but...sheary at least has speed, can get in on the forecheck and is quick to the puck...Okposo can actually play a fourth-line role with gus and larry and the trio can be effective...not saying that Okposo justifies his salary in that role, but he's versatile enough to do that...Thompson lacks versatility at this point in his development
- Michael Pachla

If you can only play Skinner + Sheary in the ozone, and Thompson is on your bottom 6, then you have a big problem. You're forced to give Thompson no ice time or put him in bad situations.

Too many extreme defensive liabilities on this team.

And Vladimir Sobotka and Lockport Larry will never provide that to him.

But my beef is the fact that for whatever reason they will continue to put guys who don’t produce or play defense (Sheary for 30 games, Okposo didn’t score for 20+ etc) in top 6 or PP roles for extended periods of time, but Thompson gets a short leash.
- sbroads24

I don't care what line he plays on, but I think he needs reps in a game

I don't care what line he plays on, but I think he needs reps in a game
- jcragcrumple

I’m actually ok with him sitting. His game has totally fallen off last week or so and he’s still young.

I’m not ok with pretending he’s going to succeed or score goals with 17,29,81 etc

Evander 9.2 career S%
Tage 7.4

According to Hockey Reference
- Der Kaiser

Actually after double checking, you are right Kane is slightly more accurate, but I wasn't referencing S%, but TSA vs SOG. Kane this year is at 60.4% and Tommer is at 55.1%. Last time I looked Thompson was a couple percentages above Kane, so he must have taken a few wide recently or Kane's been more accurate lately. I believe it was 59-57 Thompson last time I looked.

My point was simply that inaccuracy, if you have a hard shot, can still work out.

It's atleast every other game.
- Sabre_Tooth

More like every other shift

Check out @ClappRyan10’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/Clapp.../1093287320822865920?s=09
- adambuffalo

I love the two comments.

So Lockport Larry is in and T.T is out, WTF Phail, sit Okslowpoke or Sabotka or pretty much anyone else in the bottom 6...