Michael Pachla: Impressions of and questions concerning--C, Ryan O'Reilly

First. Is the blog good?

Yes it is right on. Ror was just what this team needed and he will be a key for at least a while going forward. I am not in the locker room but players like him seem to be absent from a team like the Oil, and it shows in their lack of growth in spite of all that talent.

barring any significant injuries, assuming Jack and Sam continue their development, and Ennis comes back to form (all very plausible)....I don't see how ROR doesn't hit 70 points next season.

Before the trade, I thought O'Reilly was a Girgensons type. We didn't need two of that player... Turns out, I was way wrong. He is so much more than 28 is. I love this trade in hindsight and look forward to him on this team for years to come.

I was very against ROR when we got him. Didn't want to give up Zads, was very upset to give up Compher, and didn't want to trade a pick as well for a guy who only got 50-60 points and wanted to get paid like he was scoring 80-90.

Generally, I enjoy when I'm wrong about this stuff. ROR has not only delivered with the points (2nd highest in his career) but has obviously brought the leadership as well. Sam is the perfect example. The main thing that stuck out, especially in the beginning of the year, was how he made his line so much better. If you were a winger to ROR you were going to have a good game. Once they took you off your play dipped. Until Jack really took off and Sam got his legs under him ROR was the only thing stopping this team from nose-diving (Thanks Ryan )

Also of note is how they ended up playing when he got hurt for 11 games. We all expected an implosion and to coast back to the bottom and secure that 30th spot and instead they seemed to come together more and play solid hockey without him. Reminded me of the 2010-2011 Sabres when Roy was putting the team on his back and we were losing then went on a run when he went down. Only difference is when ROR came back we kept on chugging and doing well.

Tl;dr: ROR has been a success in Buffalo and moving forward even if he doesn't get 70 points he's improving the team in many ways.

Before the trade, I thought O'Reilly was a Girgensons type. We didn't need two of that player... Turns out, I was way wrong. He is so much more than 28 is. I love this trade in hindsight and look forward to him on this team for years to come.
- justplaintravis

in your (our) defense, we didn't know as much about o'reilly then as we do now

I was very against ROR when we got him. Didn't want to give up Zads, was very upset to give up Compher, and didn't want to trade a pick as well for a guy who only got 50-60 points and wanted to get paid like he was scoring 80-90.

Generally, I enjoy when I'm wrong about this stuff. ROR has not only delivered with the points (2nd highest in his career) but has obviously brought the leadership as well. Sam is the perfect example. The main thing that stuck out, especially in the beginning of the year, was how he made his line so much better. If you were a winger to ROR you were going to have a good game. Once they took you off your play dipped. Until Jack really took off and Sam got his legs under him ROR was the only thing stopping this team from nose-diving (Thanks Ryan )

Also of note is how they ended up playing when he got hurt for 11 games. We all expected an implosion and to coast back to the bottom and secure that 30th spot and instead they seemed to come together more and play solid hockey without him. Reminded me of the 2010-2011 Sabres when Roy was putting the team on his back and we were losing then went on a run when he went down. Only difference is when ROR came back we kept on chugging and doing well.

Tl;dr: ROR has been a success in Buffalo and moving forward even if he doesn't get 70 points he's improving the team in many ways.
- Zschalberg

this is a good post

in your (our) defense, we didn't know as much about o'reilly then as we do now
- Michael Pachla

I told you everything you needed to know, should just listen to me more often

I also don't see too much happening this offseason, as far as GM TM making minor changes to the lineup. I could see him pursuing a single major piece to make it worthwhile but aside from that, the 4th line is really all that's left to really tinker with.

Kane, Jack, Sam, ROR are set....and i imagine you have to insert Moulson and Ennis into the top 6 to start, if only just to see if they can come back to form before burying them (and their contracts) further down in the lineup. And then there's the 3rd line of Foligno, Gionta, and Larrson which also won't be changed because they were really clicking.

Waffles

Waffles
- jochfr

go on....

He brings what we've been missing since Drury left. Just not as clutch. But.... maybe that's where O'Rielly can add to his resume if he doesn't reach the 70pt. plateau. It sure is nice to like this team again.

go on....
- DDM-Coga

Chicken

Michael Pachla: Impressions of and questions concerning--C, Ryan O'Reilly
- Michael Pachla

Regarding the captain part. ROR will prolly have it as long as he is a Sabre. Jack and company will be fine wearing the "A" and be able to concentrate on scoring and winning games. With the attitude that ROR has infused into the rest of the team, it will be hard for them to forget how they got to where they are as a professional NHL hockey player.

Waffles
- jochfr

?????

Chicken
- jochfr

I like where this is going,

Chicken
- jochfr

thats racist...

He's gonna be a little pricy if he's topping out at 60 points,
But as long as he keeps shouldering the majority of the defensive duty against other top teams then I'm cool with it.
If he can avoid that long goalless streak & injury, he'd have had 30ish goals, which I think is a really good number for him.

Idk about it eventually being "Jack's team" though...
I'd be shocked if O'Reilly isn't our next Captain

...

He's gonna be a little pricy if he's topping out at 60 points,
But as long as he keeps shouldering the majority of the defensive duty against other top teams then I'm cool with it.
If he can avoid that long goalless streak & injury, he'd have had 30ish goals, which I think is a really good number for him.

Idk about it eventually being "Jack's team" though...
I'd be shocked if O'Reilly isn't our next Captain
- jdfitz77

60 points is really impressive now, this year only 40 players had more than 60points in the league, last year 48 players, year before that only 44 players. thats roughly in the top 5% of all players in the league

its getting harder and harder to score, if you hit 60 points is that very good to exceptional status. Its not elite or superstar, but there is only a handful of those anyways

He's gonna be a little pricy if he's topping out at 60 points,
But as long as he keeps shouldering the majority of the defensive duty against other top teams then I'm cool with it.
If he can avoid that long goalless streak & injury, he'd have had 30ish goals, which I think is a really good number for him.

Idk about it eventually being "Jack's team" though...
I'd be shocked if O'Reilly isn't our next Captain
- jdfitz77

Only 28 players had 30 or more goals this year. Not sure if ROR is in the top 30 in salary for forwards (although he is up there). I'd expect 25-40-65 as his average moving forward. If Jack can take the 1st line duties down the road and ROR gets to play against the 2nd pairing then maybe he'd get more. Also depends on who his linemates are. Another stat I'd like to see is how many of his goals came when 88 was here v when he was traded.

60 points is really impressive now, this year only 40 players had more than 60points in the league, last year 48 players, year before that only 44 players. thats roughly in the top 5% of all players in the league

its getting harder and harder to score, if you hit 60 points is that very good to exceptional status. Its not elite or superstar, but there is only a handful of those anyways
- DDM-Coga

Unless your name is Ovy or P.Kane.

I also don't see too much happening this offseason, as far as GM TM making minor changes to the lineup. I could see him pursuing a single major piece to make it worthwhile but aside from that, the 4th line is really all that's left to really tinker with.

Kane, Jack, Sam, ROR are set....and i imagine you have to insert Moulson and Ennis into the top 6 to start, if only just to see if they can come back to form before burying them (and their contracts) further down in the lineup. And then there's the 3rd line of Foligno, Gionta, and Larrson which also won't be changed because they were really clicking.
- nikel

I would disagree, We have a ton of cap room and why not go for it. Imagine the lines like this.

Kane-Oreilly-New player/Fasching
Reinhart-Eichel-New player
Moulson-Girgenson-Ennis-
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta-

Stamkos could be one of the new players and we have our high draft pick.( #1-3 please!!!!) If that 3rd line could regain chemistry from two years ago, that was our line 1. Now our good 3rd line becomes a great 4th line.

My first job when I was sixteen was cooking at KFC.

I like Popeye's better, now, but I still eat the KFC every now and again.