After listening to Ryan Miller's post game comments, here is my take on this team.
Too many guys aren't playing for the team. This is a direct result of immaturity, and selfishness.
I'm sick and tired of watching some guys give it their all, and others try to do it their own way.
Derek Roy- You are such a pretty boy; candy ass, prima donna. You play the system some nights, others you don't. You're our own little Oli Jokinen. You need to have a serious gut check, or be kicked the fuck to Edmonton this summer, you can go die there.
Tim Connolly- Stop over handling the puck! Jesus Christ, I watch you all the time over handle the puck, take away your own shooting angle, and then pop a shot into a guys leg pads. Watch the top players in this league, they touch the puck, look up, look for open pass, nothing? Shoot then. Not Dangle to the net, and hope something opens up.
Thomas Vanek- You quit. Simple as that, you quit on this team. You don't work hard with your current line mates, because you don't trust them.
Drew Stafford- You need a gender transplant. You are 6'2 210 pounds, and play like you're Roy's size. You aren't a dangler, you aren't a sniper, you're supposed to be a power forward. USE YOUR FUCKING BODY. Shield the puck, crash the net, play AGGRESSIVE hockey!
Toni Lydman- You're having a good 10 games, build off it.
Craig Rivet- Better, not good, but better. Find your physical game, and you'll be fine.
Butler- Sophomore Slump much? Come on man, you show flashes of brilliance with long stretches of Derka Derka hockey.
Sekera- Much improved, especially after the olympics. Keep your head up kid, you're improving every game.
Pommers- Some shifts you look excellent, some shifts you look scared. Are you afraid of physical contact with someone bigger than you? If so we may get a 2 for 1 gender transplant deal with you and Stafford. Also, please shoot a wrist shot, just once for me, so that I know you can do it.
Grier, Goose, Kaleta- You guys work hard every night. Shame we cant cut off some of our Top 6 guys hands, and put them on your bodies, because you guys give it your all, you just dont have scoring talent.
Mair- Why are you still here
Kennedy- STAY OUT OF THE FUCKING BOX. You've gotten better, but you can't take stupid penalties.
Ellis- Nobody expects much out of you, and you still under achieve way to go!
Lalime- If we let you play, please clean up your puck control.
Miller- Again, spectacular, and I dont expect that to change.
All in all, this team needs to reshuffle lines, and show some heart. More importantly they need to become a TEAM. It's a mess; too many individuals. Lindy has babied these guys for too long. You yell at them, they ignore you. You be a nice guy, they ignore you. Perhaps it's time for this "core" to be shaken up.
I'm really starting to believe the biggest problem on this team is Roy. Like I said before he's our own little Oli Jokinen. Just does what he wants, with total disregard for the team. It's becoming incredibly frustrating to watch night in and night out.
_________________ "She's like plan C after an 18 pack"
I couldn't have said it better myself.... very nice summary of an uninspired, heartless, gutless, weak, pansy, effort by a lot of these guys.... Not sure what Lindy needs to do, but he needs to do something.... can he make Stafford bring a purse on the ice with him... he plays like a puss, he should carry a purse... make him do it in practice, if he continues, he starts the game with a purse... for pommers a fanny pack..... vanek, god i don't know what to do with him... Timmy plays with himself too much, freaking SHOOT!!!! and Roy, well im at a loss for his ass too... but Stafford needs skate with a purse!
_________________
Belief - Commitment - Character - Discipline - Trust
I haven't said it in a while, so I'll repeat it. Once the players know the coach is going through the motions, it's over. If you want me to post some Jim Mora interviews to prove it, I will, but you've all seen them already. The coach has lost the players, again. They aren't playing to their abilities, their POTENTIAL strengths, or to their hearts. The NHL doesn't have sweetheart GM-Coach situations very often, because this is what it often breeds. You want a solution, here it is, and I think we'll mostly all agree.
Quinn out Regier out Ruff-stays, but needs a strong hockey GM. Suits and ties need not apply. Someone that gets them to believe in Lindy again, or straight fires him. No more love affairs in the front office.
I haven't said it in a while, so I'll repeat it. Once the players know the coach is going through the motions, it's over. If you want me to post some Jim Mora interviews to prove it, I will, but you've all seen them already. The coach has lost the players, again. They aren't playing to their abilities, their POTENTIAL strengths, or to their hearts. The NHL doesn't have sweetheart GM-Coach situations very often, because this is what it often breeds. You want a solution, here it is, and I think we'll mostly all agree.
Quinn out Regier out Ruff-stays, but needs a strong hockey GM. Suits and ties need not apply. Someone that gets them to believe in Lindy again, or straight fires him. No more love affairs in the front office.
Renee Robert? Gilbert Perreault? Rick Martin? I like the Robert choice, he said some things a few years back about Regier and his style that put him on the outs with the team, but man, did he speak the truth. But I would love the FRENCH CONNECTION to come back as a team and get it done.
_________________ Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about. Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:58 pm Posts: 2631 Location: Take a guess...
PuckSniperPensel wrote:
Roy is one of the only things right with the top 6 folks.
He sets Vanek and Hecht up on multiple occasions, and they always fuck it up.
We don't need a better center for Vanek. We need a better fucking WING for ROY!
Agreed, and quite frankly i'd be pissed if I were roy, and the bumbling, slow-as-molasses linemates he's had remained with him. I've BEEN on a team situation where you're constantly setting guys up with primo chances, and they CONTINUALLY fuck it up, shit is frustrating, and it leads to not wanting to distribute to those guys anymore.
Roy is one of the only things right with the top 6 folks.
He sets Vanek and Hecht up on multiple occasions, and they always fuck it up.
We don't need a better center for Vanek. We need a better fucking WING for ROY!
Agreed, and quite frankly i'd be pissed if I were roy, and the bumbling, slow-as-molasses linemates he's had remained with him. I've BEEN on a team situation where you're constantly setting guys up with primo chances, and they CONTINUALLY fuck it up, shit is frustrating, and it leads to not wanting to distribute to those guys anymore.
I actually like Vanek, but I have to completely agree with PSP and YIR on this. Vanek is trying, I see his pissed off look after every shift, but that seems to be the problem, its after every single shift. My question is this: What had Vanek clicking so well with Roy the last 2 seasons that is missing this season? Have we not noticed something here?
_________________ Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about. Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.
Roy is one of the only things right with the top 6 folks.
He sets Vanek and Hecht up on multiple occasions, and they always fuck it up.
We don't need a better center for Vanek. We need a better fucking WING for ROY!
Agreed, and quite frankly i'd be pissed if I were roy, and the bumbling, slow-as-molasses linemates he's had remained with him. I've BEEN on a team situation where you're constantly setting guys up with primo chances, and they CONTINUALLY fuck it up, shit is frustrating, and it leads to not wanting to distribute to those guys anymore.
I actually like Vanek, but I have to completely agree with PSP and YIR on this. Vanek is trying, I see his pissed off look after every shift, but that seems to be the problem, its after every single shift. My question is this: What had Vanek clicking so well with Roy the last 2 seasons that is missing this season? Have we not noticed something here?
The problem stems back to Roy. His play is unpredictable this year. He dangles a ton, he shoots other times, he passes other times. He's not playing within the offensive system, he's doing it his way. Miller and Ruff both mentioned it last night. Guys do it their way, and cheat the system, and we don't convert on our chances.
I'm sure in the offensive zone, there are cues as to what to do. Example being Roy has the high slot, and the two wingers have position low, one is supposed to crash the net, the other is to allow for an outlet. Roy then changes direction, and heads away from the slot, one wing is supposed to fill behind the net, while another allows as crossing opportunity. Then Roy again, dangles and changes direction, back to the Crash and outlet set up. Players are hurrying to get back to proper position, they get a pass, and aren't at an ideal shooting angle, then try to get creative, and boom, turn-over going the other way.
It's a matter of Roy having to simplify his game, to become more of a team player, rather than a creative player. Especially because he doesn't pass like a Crosby or Savard, nor does he shoot like an Iginla, Ovechkin, or Parise, and doesnt power his way to the net like a Langenbruner or a Getzlaf.
Those guys are prime examples of the best in the business at doing what they do. Roy isn't the best at anything, and needs to adapt his game to be a team game, much like a Thornton, Heatley, or St. Louis. He has the ability to be a great player, but he's got the head to be the next Max Afinogenov
_________________ "She's like plan C after an 18 pack"
The problem stems back to Roy. His play is unpredictable this year. He dangles a ton, he shoots other times, he passes other times. He's not playing within the offensive system, he's doing it his way. Miller and Ruff both mentioned it last night. Guys do it their way, and cheat the system, and we don't convert on our chances.
Roy needs to play the system. But being "unpredictable" is not a bad thing. That's what scorers are supposed to be like. Is he going to pass? Is he going to shoot? If the defense doesn't know, they're going to give him some room to work.
That said, he can only play that way inside the offensive zone. He's got to keep making his passes in the neutral zone if the team is going to be successful, and that's his only fault.
That said, with the people he's been playing with, I really can't say I blame him. Vanek fucks things up almost every time he touches the puck. Hecht does alright, but he's only capable of catching a pass, crossing the red line, and dumping it in. Stafford is playing like the biggest pussy on the face of the earth.
Quote:
I'm sure in the offensive zone, there are cues as to what to do. Example being Roy has the high slot, and the two wingers have position low, one is supposed to crash the net, the other is to allow for an outlet. Roy then changes direction, and heads away from the slot, one wing is supposed to fill behind the net, while another allows as crossing opportunity. Then Roy again, dangles and changes direction, back to the Crash and outlet set up. Players are hurrying to get back to proper position, they get a pass, and aren't at an ideal shooting angle, then try to get creative, and boom, turn-over going the other way.
It's a matter of Roy having to simplify his game, to become more of a team player, rather than a creative player. Especially because he doesn't pass like a Crosby or Savard, nor does he shoot like an Iginla, Ovechkin, or Parise, and doesnt power his way to the net like a Langenbruner or a Getzlaf.
Those guys are prime examples of the best in the business at doing what they do. Roy isn't the best at anything, and needs to adapt his game to be a team game, much like a Thornton, Heatley, or St. Louis. He has the ability to be a great player, but he's got the head to be the next Max Afinogenov
I disagree with a lot of this. Lets review the highlights.
0:39 - Roy makes a nifty move to get around the outside, and throws a VERY SMART shot on goal - leg height, opposite side... perfect for a rebound, rather than ripping a wrist shot upstairs only to have it go into a chest or glove. Then look who fans on the rebound.
1:03 - Vanek breaks into the offensive zone, and tries to leave a drop pass for Roy instead of getting it deep. Roy had no chance to get to that puck, it's sent the other way, and Ovechkin gets a great opportunity to score. This is another example of Roy's wings making shitty plays.
Don't stop after Ovechkin makes his play. Stafford comes down the middle. Roy is wide open on the wing. Stafford fucks around and tries to pass like a little girl, and he surrenders the puck and it gets cleared out of the zone.
2:01 - Anther opportunity on offense, started with Kaleta, but Roy was again following the rules on the forecheck. One chases behind the goal, the other plays the wall so he can't send the puck around (Roy in this play) and the third crashes down the middle to cut off a pass.
The defenseman tries to send it around. Roy stops it, passes it to the slot for Mair, and it turns into a great chance. If he's playing with a winger who can actually score, that's a goal for Buffalo.
2:59 - Our one goal of the game, started and nearly ended with Roy folks. He gets the puck high on the wall, stickhandles until he gets pressured, and rips a wrist shot. Sure it goes wide, but when you shoot, you get either A. a goal, B. A faceoff in the zone, C. a rebound or D. a dump in.
In this case, the puck ends up as a dump in. Probably a good thing, because even if a rebound came out, look at Hecht and Pominville coasting. Somebody needs to drive hard to the fucking net. Again, that's the responsibility of the wingers.
Now, you all think that play by Washington was a give away and we got lucky, but Roy snuck in behind because he anticipated that drop pass. Look how it turned out. He finally gets a winger to finish.
4:36 - Roy corrals the puck in the neutral zone, and goes in 2 on 2 with Vanek. He leads the rush, and puts a little drop pass to Vanek.
Vanek should have shot, but instead he tries to go around and the play is broken up.
However, Vanek redeemed himself on this play (the only time he did something good this game) by going to the wall to corral the puck, and centers it to Butler.
Butler goes in for the shot, and look how's planted himself in front of the goal looking for a rebound; scrappy little Derek Roy. He dives to try to get the shot off, but gets stopped by the defenseman.
There are plenty of other examples that aren't shown in this video, like Roy's centering chip pass to Vanek that he ends up shooting over the goal.
I'm not just picking on you Jay, but I'm tired of hearing people bash on Roy. He's the best center we have. He improved his faceoffs big time this season, and he's the only player on the top six really earning his money on both ends of the ice.
You want to know why he doesn't pass? Because his team mates fucking suck and he knows it.
If he gets paired with Torres, the goals are going to come. Just you watch.
He's definitely breaking the rules of the system, and he needs to stick with it no matter how bad his team mates blow opportunities, but I understand his frustration when he's originally doing everything right, and the people around him are fucking it up.
Which reminds me PSP, anyone know where Connolly dissappeared to?
Connolly has one problem when he isn't playing well; he doesn't run his plays with speed.
When he makes plays, he flies into the zone and doesn't stop like this:
When he looks like shit, he crosses the blue line, slows down, cradles the puck, and tries to loft passes to the crease after every has already caught up like he was doing last night and has been doing since his streak ended.
Go to the zone with speed and don't stop Connolly. Your problems will be solved.
Derek Roy is so frustrating because he can be brilliant when he wants to, but most of the time he doesn't seem to be trying or he just tries to do everything himself. I don't know...maybe he needs to see a sports psychologist. Him and Vanek, because Vanek gets way too down on himself and it shows in his lack of production. Pominville? Well maybe he needs glasses because he's either whiffing on the puck or not even remotely close to hitting the net.
_________________ "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Derek Roy - Skating through three guys is for Ovechkin and Nash. Play for the name on the front.
Tim Connolly - I actually don't have much of an issue with Connolly.
Thomas Vanek - You can't control what chances you get, but you can control the effort. If you're not scoring then work, backcheck, dish the puck, hit.
Drew Stafford- You need a gender transplant and a seeing eye dog. Good lord.
Toni Lydman- More killbows please.
Grier, Goose, Kaleta- You guys work hard every night. Shame we cant cut off some of our Top 6 guys hands, and put them on your bodies, because you guys give it your all, you just dont have scoring talent.
Mair- I don't like you. I never liked you. That said, you've probably had more scoring chances this week than anyone else...
Kennedy- STAY OUT OF THE FUCKING BOX. AND STOP SUCKING AT FACEOFFS. DO YOU EVER ACTUALLY NOT GET TOSSED? You've gotten better, but you can't take stupid penalties.
Hecht - What a difference a year makes.
The only thing you can control every second of every game is your effort. If it's there, good things will come.
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