FrenchConnection44

I think the most central issue is defensive effort a) for the forwards on back checking and b) understanding of how to play defense for certain of our defensive players. Have to pick up players in the offensive zone instead of standing there watching the puck. Look at the Islanders. Even on the Greenway goal they were still fighting to back check. We need that effort. obviously gave up a bad goal when Clifton fell. Just got to be stronger there. But our first line has to start to play tougher and start to score. Tage doesn’t look near as locked in as he did last year. Hopefully he has his head on straight.

How was that not goalie interference by the Islanders on goal 2? Ridiculous. How do the replay people miss that? come on! Totally kicked Levi’s leg in the crease and screened him from moving after the rebound. Also prevented Levi from kicking the puck further away.

Apparently the Sabres themselves got the countdown wrong. They are still waiting for their season to begin.

I get the whole one game thing. So it’s not panic time. But … The same impoverished D is showing up. Poor back checking. Sometimes a complete lack of D awareness. What is Jokiharu doing on that first goal? Are there no defensive coaches on this team? He’s just gliding down the ice on the left side, completely unaware of where the Rangers forwards are, watching the guy with the puck. Just pure, unequivocally bad defense. Maybe we should have traded him?! He looked exactly like last year. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Or hired a specialist defensive assistant. The defense has not improved from last year. I don’t blame Levi. Two goals scored in wide open nets because there was no backside defending. One goal scored on the power play screen, and there was no defenseman checking the guy out of the way. And a fourth goal given up from wide-open shooter dead center in the slot. He might should’ve stopped that, but it’s still something the defense gave away. And teams (at least the Rangers) appear to have figured out our offense, especially the power play. And sometimes it feels like our offensive players get a shot, and they just fire straight at the goalie. Cozens made a great move on the one back hand chance, but then he just flipped it right into the gut of the goalie. What does he expect to happen there? The fact is, last night, one team came ready to play and another didn’t. Either we turn things around in ice awareness and develop some intensity, or Granato is not going to be here in January. I really like the guy and the way he has handled the young players. But they are going to have to step up, and so is he, with some serious intensity. Maybe he needs to bust some chops and let these young guys know this kind of play won’t be tolerated. And teach some better defending. Just normal defensive awareness and it’s a 2-1 game going down the end of the 3rd period. if we are going to be a Cup contending team, we should be winning games like this 5 to 1. A playoff team and we should be getting a tie out of this game. I still love the young talent on the team, and we are still the youngest team in the NHL on average. So not pessimistic. But I think both tactically, and emotionally, this team needs to get a fire lit under them by somebody.

Great discussion here.

So sad. Hard not to love the guy. He was such a gift to hockey as an announcer. His personality was really likable. And he was good at what he does. 🙏 for Barry.

I’m thrilled over this. Any player on any long term contract has to work his butt off to improve for it to be worthwhile. As far as his play, Power clearly proved he is a very good player last year for a 19 year old at the start. But one with tremendous upside. His skill set was clearly on display. He was 6’5+ and 215-218. He eventually (2 yrs) needs to play in the 235ish range. Unless he’s lazy and unethical, he’s going to get there and will be an improved skater with greater strength and balance. When he does fill out physically and with the right coaching he has a chance to become a Victor Hedman type player. Physically dominant on defense with offensive firepower. I think we needed to go this route to lock up our young stars. Can’t wait to see what this team will be two years down the road when these younger prospects are in the league playing mature hockey.

Really need to get this nucleus signed and sealed.

Almost identical thoughts on Clifton re his Bruins stint. The Bruins play a much more disciplined, ‘structured’ as you put it, and physical form of hockey. And Buffalo doesn’t. And one has to wonder if that doesn’t make him struggle to fit. Don’t think they can send Benson down at this point. He will surely get at least 9 games, then see where we are. He’s played his way on the team. Benson’s play makes me even more disappointed in the Savoie injury (to say nothing of Quinn!). Savoie actually looked good and even better - tho different - than Benson this season up until his injury. Not arguing he’d have made the team. But still disappointing we didn’t get to see him against higher NHL level talent. I really like Granato in a lot of ways. He is a players coach. But I’ve been wondering about whether he has any sort of system? Other than, be aggressive on offense and use your talent? Of course, this team is not geared for some sort of grind it out defensive system. But they need to play total hockey, not just go for it offensively. And one wonders whether they will generate the same amount of offense as last year - will teams have figured out how to slightly neutralize some of our talent? Decent breakdown here:

Whenever teams play poorly there is a tendency to say, “it’s just preseason.” The outcome is not the issue. It’s how the team plays. Last preseason game you want starters to play well. But what we are seeing is the same defensive lapses we saw last year on a regular basis. That’s just not a positive. Maybe even more than signing new players to help we needed to hire a defensive assistant coach to help teach better defensive fundamentals for both forwards and Dmen?

But have the other teams had more starters or similar to us?

It is concerning to me that even in preseason, we seem to be lapsing on simple fundamentals, like backchecking. I can’t remember which goal it was, but Mitts was way behind on the play, and just didn’t back check the player that scored because the player was ahead of him on the ice. That seems to me just simple laziness or inattentivness to the game. And it looked like the same level of defense we played last year, both defenseman and forwards spread out, but not bothering to guard anyone, really. There just seems to be very little aggressiveness in taking on players around them. I don’t know that teams can just turn that mental switch on when the season starts, but we will have to hope. By no means, should we panic, as we have a good nucleus of players, but it would be nice to see us playing more aggressive on defense. I was a little surprised we put Kulich at center, and Kris Baker mentioned that. I would’ve thought he would be a winger. Put him at the wing to use his speed and let him be set up for shots by a play making center. That, given his shot, imo, is his best position.

Wow. Amazing. Very cool.

I like the mentality. They know they need to pick it up and mature. All those young guys will be a year older and there are young guys pushing for roster spots. Gotta compete and be tough mentally.

I was going to the 77 concert. It was Plant’s 5 year old son who died. I remember that part like yesterday. But somehow had it in my head that he drowned (probably a rumor), but he had some stomach virus of some sort. The Bonham death was another awful tragedy.

Fascinating with all this young talent. I agree that this is not necessarily an indication of what it will be like come regular season. I think this is the time to experiment with different lines and see what happens. Rather than being staid and getting stale. Plus they always need to switch things around during the year with players struggling or getting nicked so it’s useful to mix and match in camp to develop a comfort level. And, one never knows what kind of chemistry may develop with 2-3 players. So I suspect they want to try these guys with different mates and see what happens. I agree about the young guys in camp. Seems smart to want to see them on some of the big lines and see what happens. And I suspect they want the young guys to get a feel for what it takes to be a top player and playing alongside really good players will be an education for them. Help them perhaps develop faster. One or two may really shine. Hopefully. Tuch not being with Tage would be surprising come the regular season. But if it looks good in the preseason with him on another line I could see it. Defensively, barring some shock, the top 6 seem set. And it could be this current set of pairings is the way they want it to go - or hope. I could see it going that route. But also suspect they may switch around a bit. 🤷🏼‍♂️

What I like about seeing the camp lines is it shows how much talent we have in the system. And it’s missing Quinn and Savoie! As well as guys going to college. More depth of talent among forwards than defensemen or goalies of course. But still pumped about what we have going here.

Wow! That’s fascinating stuff. So Harvey was from Buffalo? (Yeah, can’t brag about that connection anymore) Are you referring to the Zeppelin concert on the tour during which Robert Plant’s son drowned (seems like a few days or couple of weeks prior)? I had tickets to that concert. So sad. Being the same age as U2 (I am basically saddled in the middle of the four), also being Irish from both parents, and growing up in Buffalo, I have always felt a kinship with the band. Music of my life. But something about their music often reminded me of my life in Buffalo. Can’t really explain it.

Let’s hope there are no brawls or fights that break out! 😬 Crazy all the fights. Don’t understand. I’ve seen more melee’s since the preseason this year than I remember over the past 30 years. That near brawl at the 49ers game was terrible. It’s a problem the NFL has to address. A fan in New England fell and hit his head after getting punched and died Sunday night! Just awful.

Gosh darn it. Been reading about this and saw the video. He was really playing well. Flashing a lot of talent. But no need to rush him. Need to get him at 100% before pushing further.

So I am hearing that that Dahlin … … is close to signing. Really close. Very close. He’s on the verge … Almost 😅 Just … about … to … Pen … in hand. Straining … He’s there putting pen to … Pa … Apparently, the line … … on the paper … … is still … blank. 😒

Savoie and Rosen really stood out to me. But haven’t finished watching. Nice to see them win and score. I like the talent we have. I think Benson showed his abilities at times but is going to have to get stronger and improve his speed to the degree he is able. But he can build up his legs and body and improve his speed enough and also build up for endurance at the NHL level. But he’s just 18. He will come along. In a way, not dominating at this level should be a positive for him, serving as a motivation over the course of this year.

By the time Benson gets fully ready/acclimated to the NHL I suspect Kulich could join Tage and replace Skinner (2-3 years out). I am high on Kulich given his deadly sniper shot and his work ethic. Don’t think he will be a 3rd liner for long.