I think goose is a stand up guy and a decent grinder...good on the dot and defensively. however, he needs to play a couple seasons of rugby, because his fighting skills are a little embarrassing for a guy that big and tough. regehr didn't look awful to me against chara...there's only two guys i could really see getting the better of chara and one's on his own team (lucic). the worst part is that it's not because chara is any sort of strong or anything- it's the leverage and reach.

At least Goose has balls. And props to McCormick for throwing some fistacuffs even after a recent concussion. What McCormick did brings a team together.

We need all the toughness we can get. I want to see Goose, McCormick, Kassian, and Mcnabb on this team. Goose for his faceoff dominance and the willingness to just be there for his team. McCormick because the dude can fight, definitely an improvement from Peters. Kassian because he's a badass and will always be a badass. Man can just barrel his way though defenders while maintaining possession of the puck. Will be helpful while playing against teams like Tampa. McNabb because he can cleanly lay people out open ice like no ones business.

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mccormick isn't that good of a fighter... he's just got a shorter temper and goes after guys more his size. he's tough, but not dominant. i'm not sold on kassian yet, but i have been impressed thus far. i'm hoping mcnabb's skating develops sooner rather than later.

I will sacrifice some speed for willingness to try and improve.

McNabb drops Soupy-Umberger style hits on the reg...He is going nowhere.


Kassian is a straight fucking tank/bull. Who gives a shit about speed if he can barrel in over the line and impose his will on anyone around him. Kassian bull rush...wish he would do it more.

McCormick is like me...but on the team. Straight fed up with this shit. That is the reason for his short temper. Shit I would have dropped gloves and coldcocked whoever was in front of me after the third goal. At leas the other team knows your not a pussy like the rest of the team and you gain some respect from the opposition.

THIS

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i hope you know that skating =/= speed.

Skating is an implied equivalent of speed in most instances. I jumped to conclusions with your assessment of keeping up the youngsters because most people bitch about needing to go back down and work on "speed".

I assumed and made an ass out of myself. Many pardons.

Losing is tearing us apart. We need a winning streak!!!!!!!

The speed of the game and skating speed are separate variables, IMO.

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so. whens the good part start? was it before or after they fell 3-0 down to the devils?

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After they bent us over and before they pounded us in the ass.

The speed of the game has slowed recently anyways.

And skating speed between the players is almost and hardly very different or a factor in the team aspect. Hell, look at Jagr, he's by far, not the fastest guy out there on the ice, but he sure as hell knows where and when to be someplace on the ice.

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Right, but that's because he's got a billion years of experience, and is accustomed to the speed of the game...

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A major problem with this team is a lot of players dog it more than half the time. I think this has something to do with us bringing players up that simply aren't ready for the speed of the NHL. Look at Luke Adam last year. The guy looked great for the first part of his call-up, but eventually, we saw he couldn't handle the constant effort that's required on every single shift players play. Players are able to dog it in the AHL, and especially the juniors because either the talent pool is more spread out (CHL) or the players just aren't as skilled (AHL). Sure, they'll play hard in spurts, but most players were never required to work as much as they have to in the NHL. That's why guys like Mark Mancari's point values never transferred from the AHL. He didn't have to work as hard in the minor leagues than he did in the majors, and that's why the Sabres got so fed up with him after giving him plenty of chances.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Poise.

Guys are unsure of their assignments, and their system. Either a guy is hurrying a pass he just got, or he hangs onto it too long, because he didn't know what to do with it. It becomes more and more evident as the score gets worse, too. Even Terry Pegula can see this. Next time you see a vet Sabre do this, honk!

The best systems there are, imo, are the quick passing systems like DET and CHI. Uncertainty of your role there is suicide. It should be here too. Guys spend YEARS there learning their roles. Here they spend years being shuffled liked cards in a kids game, then are awarded big contracts.

Gerbe made the second half of that game his bitch. Hecht is playing lights out right now. Kassian and Adam paired up is straight up nasty. Pommers and Vanek continue their t-bagging of the NHL.

It took Gerbe paired up with Roy and Staff for those idiots pull their heads out of their asses.

With Leino coming back what do you see as the lines?

Geez, I dunno. He was good with Zach, but it looks like Zach is trying to be a play-maker, too. Definitely don't need 2 of them on the same line. If Zach can stick to power forward role, then it'll be ok. Throw Adam between them. He likes to shoot, and isn't afraid to go to the net.

We need to send Kassian down. He's not the force he was when he was first called up. It's clear that he needs more time in the AHL to learn the pro game.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550