gilbert11

Yeah, some people were even saying this last season. Unfortunately they were right and the team regressed.

I had scanned the Web and found most of the answers you other posters provided but nowhere did I find it 100% definitive. There was a lot of guesswork, even with the Canadian dominant hand on top of stick theory. i also found ideas like “maybe they saw someone else shooting left and copied”. Along with the Canadian idea, it was also pointed out that when we started getting exposed to European players, it was noticed that the majority of them also shot from the left side, although not to the high percentage of Canadians. So, with the left sided theories being somewhat puzzling and the dearth of right shooting defenseman, why don’t more defenseman switch to the right side shooting to play the right side on the ice? Recently I saw the TNT NHL studio crew do a demonstration of the disadvantages of a left shooting defenseman playing on the right side. (I believe this was between periods of a Sabres game after they acquired Byran and he was playing the right side. With the physical and fast pace of hockey, it was startling what they demonstrated. One scenario was a left handed shooting Dman coming around the net on the right. If he’s forechecked, his stance is open to the middle of the ice instead of the side boards. A loss of the puck is way more dangerous. Another scenario was the left side Dman passing the puck behind the net to a left shooting right Dman. For the right Dman to gather the puck, his back is to the side he should be carrying the puck to. It looked very awkward. Then, after he controls the puck, he has to get his whole body, plus his stick around the net before he can pass it up the ice to the forwards. A right shooting defenseman only has to get his stick far enough past the net in order to be able to pass the puck up the ice. The forechecking issue also comes into play here.

I’m curious as to why there are more NHL players that shoot left handed vs right handed. I looked at the Sabres roster and for 20 skaters I checked, 14 of them are a left handed shot vs 6 right handed. That’s 70% left handed. The estimated percentage of left handed people is only 10%. What’s so different about shooting with a hockey stick vs swinging a bat or golf club? Except for switch hitters in baseball, it’s usually that right handed people swing a bat from the right side and the same with golf clubs. The first time I picked up a hockey stick, it was natural to hold it to the right side. So, are hockey players from Bizarro World or is there a legit reason to shoot from the left side?

What does everybody think of Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s career goals record? It’s probably inevitable but I’m actually rooting against him. Gretzky was one of a kind and I’d rather see his records stand. I didn’t get to see a lot of his games but when I did, he usually put on a show. The NHL didn’t have as much national coverage back in the 80’s and 90’s so I didn’t get to see as much of him as I would’ve liked.

IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’s OVER!!!!

Dahlin is arguably a top 5 defenseman.

It ain’t over til it’s over!! I suppose you are among the “fans” who thought the Bills were done going into the bye at 6-6.

Who was it on here the other day that said he sucks and should be traded? C’mon, fess up!!

Glad I decided to watch the Golden St Warriors game first and then inadvertently saw the score of this game. The Warriors are scrambling to make the playoffs this season but their efforts the last 2 days in Florida were top notch.

Could he be the 3rd significant player in recent memory to leave the Sabres and win a cup? He has the team but Bob is struggling in goal now.

I believe they’re going to do well in these games this week to close the gap towards a playoff spot (sucking us in to the hope). Then they’ll go on a road trip and get overmatched by Seattle, Vancouver and Edmonton, losing much of the momentum they gained. There are more winnable games down the stretch that they’ll win to stay close. Finally, with a playoff spot still possible, they’ll hit that season ending Florida trip and lay an egg, again.

The next 3 games are Detroit, Islanders, Detroit with the Wings and Isles tied for the last East playoff spot with 72 points, 7 ahead of the Sabres. A sweep of the 3 games would definitely put the Sabres in strong contention for a playoff spot. I also believe that losing all 3 would pretty much end all hope. 4 ir 5 points would help, but these 3 games are a golden opportunity. Coach Granato, please don’t start Comrie in goal for any of them.

VO’s first game in about a month, right before the trade deadline. Hmm.

Yeah, despite being the team’s highest scorer, of course Casey isn’t the best player. He’s been solid and improved so much. He becomes a RFA after this season so maybe that had something to do with it, plus a desire to get out. As far as all the LH defensemen, TNT did a great demonstration between periods on the impact of a LHD playing on the right side. Hopefully this is a stepping stone to another deal. Perhaps they have something in the works to trade like a Power or Ryan Johnson for a star center or a top RHD.

Some of you just don’t get that Okposo is the captain and leader of this team. I don’t think management would want to trade him.

You been watching games on ESPN Classic? Most teams play fast paced now. The scores this year are probably record high. You could say the defense is poor, though.

That probably was the most enjoyable game so far this season. Last season the team was fun to watch. It was not as fun this season so I wasn’t watching every game. Hopefully this is a good sign as the Top 6 were finally all playing.

Noticed that and it didn’t change much as the game went on. Fun to watch up and coming team playing Tampa Bay and so many empty seats?

I’m in

I’m in too!

Damn! Seems like he just retired, then that ceremony last season. Did what he loved for many years.

It pisses me off to watch Hard Knocks or clips from training camps where they let the players get away with those pussyass pushups where they just rock up and down a couple inches. Make them do real pushups!

Same here. With the Directv package I had and all the fees for equipment, I was paying just under $180 per month. YouTube is around $80. I added YouTube while weeding thru saved shows on the DVR but didn’t watch it much. Now that it’s my full time provider, I’m somewhat annoyed by not all shows letting you FFWD thru commercials.

I was laid off a few years ago, in my late 50s, with nearly 20 years of experience in the Software QA field. When I had no nibbles in 6 months, I decided to retire. My resume was tailored to only reflect that recent experience so they possibly figured I was at least in my mid 40s. That field generally looks for younger people privy to the new technologies.