Michael Ghofrani: Sabres Hold Off Rangers For 3-2 Win

Unfortunately there won't be a recap of Sunday's game, midterms and all that. I should be able to have something up on wednesday evening after the wings game.

Am I missing something with Pilut? Does he actually do anything?

What I see is a team with Dahlin, Montour, Jokiharju, Pilut: All smaller/medium sized puck-moving defensemen, with Montour being a pretty decent sized hybrid guy.

Then we have Miller, Ristolainen, McCabe, Bogosian: All bigger guys who play a physical game with a PP specialist in Ristolainen and a very under-utilized guy in Miller.

Bogosian is gone, but to me Pilut is still the odd-man out.

I don't see anything about him that sets him apart from any other defenseman on this team. If he somehow showed flashes of skill and creativity instead of playing a quiet game, would he still bring anything to this team that we need right now?

My answer is no.

For some reason this organization is in love with McCabe even though he sucks, so let's say Pilut replaces him. Okay then.

We still suck.

Unfortunately there won't be a recap of Sunday's game, midterms and all that. I should be able to have something up on wednesday evening after the wings game.
- Michael Ghofrani

Thanks for the space to let us yell !

Am I missing something with Pilut? Does he actually do anything?

What I see is a team with Dahlin, Montour, Jokiharju, Pilut: All smaller/medium sized puck-moving defensemen, with Montour being a pretty decent sized hybrid guy.

Then we have Miller, Ristolainen, McCabe, Bogosian: All bigger guys who play a physical game with a PP specialist in Ristolainen and a very under-utilized guy in Miller.

Bogosian is gone, but to me Pilut is still the odd-man out.

I don't see anything about him that sets him apart from any other defenseman on this team. If he somehow showed flashes of skill and creativity instead of playing a quiet game, would he still bring anything to this team that we need right now?

My answer is no.

For some reason this organization is in love with McCabe even though he sucks, so let's say Pilut replaces him. Okay then.

We still suck.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I like how he skates and he has an ability to get his shot on net through traffic (Colin Miller you suck at this) but he gets outmuscled in his own end and loses battles. Teams target him. He’d be a liability in the playoffs for sure. Like we’ll have to matter.

Move him in a package.

Dear Risto,

Please do this every shift, thank you :

https://twitter.com/Brady...tatus/1225990347668410368
- kritter65

Too bad they didn't show the 5 seconds before the start of that video, where he went for a loose puck in the corner and passed it up the middle right to a Rangers player, leading to a very dangerous chance.

Ristolainen is what he's always been: some good and some brain dead.

❤️❤️❤️
- jdfitz77

Watch the 5 seconds before that video began. That is the true picture of Ristolainen as a player.

He definitely needs more time in Rochester to develop and has Borgen ahead of him on the depth chart but he's moved ahead of Fitzgerald imo. Laaksonen has had a tough year for Ilves, has been terrible defensively. Hopefully Samuelsson will sign his ELC and be in Rochester next year.
- mhp

I've been trying to look up information on Laaksonen. Where did you see he's been terrible defensively?

Am I missing something with Pilut? Does he actually do anything?

What I see is a team with Dahlin, Montour, Jokiharju, Pilut: All smaller/medium sized puck-moving defensemen, with Montour being a pretty decent sized hybrid guy.

Then we have Miller, Ristolainen, McCabe, Bogosian: All bigger guys who play a physical game with a PP specialist in Ristolainen and a very under-utilized guy in Miller.

Bogosian is gone, but to me Pilut is still the odd-man out.

I don't see anything about him that sets him apart from any other defenseman on this team. If he somehow showed flashes of skill and creativity instead of playing a quiet game, would he still bring anything to this team that we need right now?

My answer is no.

For some reason this organization is in love with McCabe even though he sucks, so let's say Pilut replaces him. Okay then.

We still suck.
- BeadyEyedDouche

So putting the 6 together....

Dahlin (LD). Risto(Rd)
Joker (Rd). . Monte (Rd)
Pilut (LD). Miller (Rd)

McCabe and bogo out

You are playing one righty on the left, no matter how you cut it.

Pilut as a 5/6. Or risto partner on the second pair could work very well. Pilut isn’t flashy but you need that guy who you don’t hear a ton about. Plays solid defense, makes a good outlet pass and is a smooth skater. I can see that in Pilut. And I think he’s still growing into the North American game.

I still think you will see a few d men moved and potentially Borgen make the lineup next year....

With all that... my only untouchables on the backend are dahlin, joker, Borgen and Samuelson....

I've been trying to look up information on Laaksonen. Where did you see he's been terrible defensively?
- kingcong39

I read a tweet back in December from some European guy (finnish I think) that said Laaksonen has had a tough time this year defensively. I wish I could remember the name of the guy, let me check. It kinda checks out because Laaksonen is a -7.

I read a tweet back in December from some European guy (finnish I think) that said Laaksonen has had a tough time this year defensively. I wish I could remember the name of the guy, let me check. It kinda checks out because Laaksonen is a -7.
- mhp

Yeah, but didn't he hurt his shoulder

https://twitter.com/Sabre.../1226159360637915138?s=19

Asplund and Pilut to Roch?
Two of the only interesting young guys to watch...

I read a tweet back in December from some European guy (finnish I think) that said Laaksonen has had a tough time this year defensively. I wish I could remember the name of the guy, let me check. It kinda checks out because Laaksonen is a -7.
- mhp

Most likely this guy https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen

Asplund and Pilut to Roch?
Two of the only interesting young guys to watch...
- PrinceChill

Asplund going down makes complete sense.

Pilut going down does not.

I've been trying to look up information on Laaksonen. Where did you see he's been terrible defensively?
- kingcong39

The tweet was from Jokke Nevalainen, European scout for Dobber prospects.

Jokke Nevalainen @JokkeNevalainen Jan8

RHD Oskari Laaksonen (BUF) with the weak defensive effort in front of the net here. I have no idea what happened to him. He looks nothing like the player we saw last season.

I read a tweet back in December from some European guy (finnish I think) that said Laaksonen has had a tough time this year defensively. I wish I could remember the name of the guy, let me check. It kinda checks out because Laaksonen is a -7.
- mhp

https://twitter.com/CMDeD.../1220535123025768448?s=19

Sam Reinhart now has 14 goals at 5v5, putting him in a tie for 21st in the NHL with players like Patrik Laine, Timo Meier and Patrick Kane.

OH MY

The haters will not like this

I read a tweet back in December from some European guy (finnish I think) that said Laaksonen has had a tough time this year defensively. I wish I could remember the name of the guy, let me check. It kinda checks out because Laaksonen is a -7.
- mhp

Laaksonen has been on the ice for the second fewest shot attempts against of any of Ilves regular defenders (30+ games) and he's gotten the worst save percentage of any d-man from his goalie when he's on the ice.

The larger problem appears to be the team isn't generating as many attempts for as it needs considering his offensive usage

he's taken a step back from last year. There's not much to go on from last year so its hard to really know but in general you'd like to see more offense from him

Sabres have some interesting Dman coming up through the system with
Kreu
Kukkonen
Nyberg
Cronholm
Kreu is huge at 6'6

It hasn’t been easy for Miller, but this is the sort of play he can bring to his team and hopefully he sticks around beyond deadline day so Sabres fans can see more of it

If someone offers a scoring forward prospect in the AHL in the 20-22 year old range, ya gotta listen. But that goes for any d man not named Joker or Dahlin

Most likely this guy https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen
- Pegullaville

Yep. I know he's been on GR in the past, talked about Ruotsalinen, Davidsson, etc.

Laaksonen has been on the ice for the second fewest shot attempts against of any of Ilves regular defenders (30+ games) and he's gotten the worst save percentage of any d-man from his goalie when he's on the ice.

The larger problem appears to be the team isn't generating as many attempts for as it needs considering his offensive usage

he's taken a step back from last year. There's not much to go on from last year so its hard to really know but in general you'd like to see more offense from him
- Michael Ghofrani

https://twitter.com/jraba.../1217408008252284929?s=19

The above is the second to say injuries have been an issue this season for Laaksonen.

Yeah, but didn't he hurt his shoulder
- Buff36

I think he hurt his wrist or hand last spring. Seems like he's 100% now.

If someone offers a scoring prospect in the AHL in the 20-22 year old range, ya gotta listen. But that goes for any d man not named Joker or Dahlin
- jcragcrumple

He went for a 2nd a 5th back when he was crushing regular 3rd pair minutes. I can't see anyone offering a close to the NHL scorer in the 20-22 year old range.