BlueandYellow wrote:
But since he's not a defensemen, he doesn't "breakout" a lot, and I've seen nothing but a good "breakout" from him. I saw a decent play where he helped out Monty when he failed at "breakout". I'm putting "breakout" in quotation because that's a shitty way of saying CARRYING IT OUT OF THE ZONE.
Nah. There's a lot more to the breakout than just carrying the puck out of the zone. Teams have multiple plays they go to on the breakout, tons of passes based on where they regain control of the puck, the positioning of the opposition... there's a TON more to the break out than just carrying it out of the zone.
As a wing, it shouldn't affect him that much, because they're usually the last players to handle the puck on the breakout. Occasionally, however, they are forced to dip down to the circles and make the final pass to another player streaking out of the zone. This happens when you play a team that likes their defensemen to pinch a lot.
As a center, you've got to be in good position to receive a pass from your defensemen, then either turn and play it up to your wings, or shield and dish it off to the side walls back to one of your defensemen.
Skating the puck out of your own zone doesn't happen unless the other team is changing players, or you're on the power play.
Sabres1996 is referring to Boyes' pass selection.
I haven't noticed whether it's been good or bad. I've missed a few of the games he's played since he was traded here.
But like I said, the breakout hasn't been a strong point of the Sabres' system so far this season, and Boyes won't just pick up on it right away because every team does it differently.