nfreeman Posted March 9, 2013 Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 Of course it is a battle. But it is one the Ennis is losing. At even strength pucks are just not getting to the slot. He's just is not a guy that can bear down on the puck in traffic and wait and buy time for his wings to get to scoring areas. He doesn't have that kind of stability on his skates either (He gets knocked off his skates continually, compare to Pomminstein and hodgson who almost never get knocked off their skates). I'm not saying Ennis isn't a competitor or a skilled, I'm just saying this hasn't worked. Of course - Ennis' line is just not winning possession either. His even strength face-off percentage is 39% .......he's losing possession 61% of the time. Ennis belongs on the wing, or as a PP specialists. The trouble with this roster is there is no other option for #2 center. Hell there is barely a good option for #3 center. This is a bad roster. Hodgson was a gamble at #1 ....that has paid off. We have a #1 line. Ennis was a gamble at #2 - it has lost. There isn't a 2nd line. Grigorenko was a gamble at #3 ...and that has lost, the kid has lots of potential, he just can't carry the mail yet. There is not logical checking line either. This team is not going to win many. Ennis gets knocked off his skates more than any other forward. He gets up, but it is not a good sign for a center. He only finds room to the outside. Teams will give him the outside every time. Teams are made of lines. His entries don't break down the zone . He's not finding his wings inside the circles for shots. Its just how I see it. It ain't working. I expect similar results going forward. Stafford and Foligno have had weak scoring opportunities. They are holding possession on the walls, that's working ....Ennis's job is to support and move it inside ...it's not happening. I like Ennis too, its just not a working at center. Good stuff here, as always. Now I know what to keep an eye out for. To be continued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted March 9, 2013 Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 Winning face offs has nothing do with puck possession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunomatic Posted March 9, 2013 Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 I don't remember the first time this was talked about. I just watched the video, and are you kidding me? People are making a big deal about that? Wow........ I agree. I took worse from my pee wee and bantam coach who just happened to be my dad. No harm no foul in my mind. I don't agree with Lindys take on penalties. There are good penalties and there are bad. He might have explained that but I'm not someone who's coached what 1000 games so I won't make a judgement on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted March 9, 2013 Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hey! While we're at it, let's rehash that whole Drury/Briere thingamajig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted March 9, 2013 Report Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hey! While we're at it, let's rehash that whole Drury/Briere thingamajig! What ever happened between Teddy and Dominic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Days Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 He scored 31 goals in 62 games in a contract year. The next most he has scored was 20. He certainly has talent to be a very good player in the league but his work ethic and character has to come into question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastPommerFan Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? This exact issue is what I consistently saw with Stafford, Roy, and to a lesser extent Connolly post Drury-Briere. And he is terrible about not putting the extra effort into reaching passes a bit off mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? I have noticed and yes there is a reason why he does this. It is called being lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKnowPhysics Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? Hard to say without seeing an example at speed, and even then, it could be easy to make wrong assumptions about what the coaches have told him to do. Generally speaking, it's one the wings' fundemental defensive responsibilities to NOT get sucked down into the play in the corner, but having said that, the high half wall (above the dots) is a crucial must-win area of the ice in the puck control game. If you lose the puck here, it's dangerous turnover territory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted March 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I've been noticing it and saying it for half a decade now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I've been noticing it and saying it for half a decade now. I wanted to trade him right after his 31 goals in 62 games season. What do I win? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I wanted to trade him right after his 31 goals in 62 games season. What do I win? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ I stole fizzy lifting drinks. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who Else? Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I would love to see Stafford go, not because I don't like him or his performance. I just hope he can thrive somewhere else. By no means am I tryting to be a Stafford sympathizer, but when was the last time he actually played with a real center? And don't tell me Hecht, Leino, or even Ennis are bonified centers. Ennis is a very nice player, but he is just not a distrubuter. The best plays he makes are one's for himself. It seems when Stafford is on the ice he is constantly bringing the puck up the ice for opportunities. He should be getting a pass or chasing a dump in. I would love to see this guy get a chance in a place that has centers like Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, or even Colorado. If Darcy plays his cards right, the Sabres may even be able to pick up a 5th rounder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnyguy Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Watch Stafford attempt to recieve a pass sometime. It almost always hits off his stick and bounces away. I've had it with this guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ It's time for Darcy to give the gobstopper back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTS Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? There's no real hockey reason. The simple problem with Stafford is that while growing up people told him to the kind of guy that is always moving forward. So, really it's not his fault. By the way.. this is a Sabres problem. One of the things that drives me nuts about "the systems" that are being played. A winger who is standing still on the half wall is an easy target for even the slowest of forecheckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who Else? Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? This is a part of Ruff's "system". I can remember yelling at Grier and Dumont Kotalik and Pominville still does it. It might be partial laziness, but I think there is an imaginary line in the ice these players were taught not to chase a puck past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristian Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 There's no real hockey reason. The simple problem with Stafford is that while growing up people told him to the kind of guy that is always moving forward. So, really it's not his fault. By the way.. this is a Sabres problem. One of the things that drives me nuts about "the systems" that are being played. A winger who is standing still on the half wall is an easy target for even the slowest of forecheckers. This didn't happen for the first 2 or 3 games after Ruff was let go, or at least that's how I saw it. However, it is absoutely MADDENING to watch, and in recent games it has happened as much as ever. Also, I know of NO other team who let pucks squeeze through them on the boards as much as the Sabres do, while they always seem to lose the battle when trying to clear a puck through an opposing player hugging the boards. Never fails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKnowPhysics Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) Has anyone else noticed, that when the puck is in the corners, with Staff waiting at the half wall, and the puck squeaks out towards him, he waits for it. Like waits a long time for the dribbling puck to make it's way to him. He won't take a single stride toward the puck. Inevitably this allows an opposing player enough time to get to him and prevent a clear. Why does he do this? Is there a hockey reason not to move to the puck? The tally so far from the panel of experts is: Lazy Lazy No way to tell Lack of skill Childhood development Ruff Ruff Edited March 18, 2013 by IKnowPhysics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 The tally so far from the panel of experts is: Lazy Lazy No way to tell Lack of skill Childhood development Ruff Ruff Thinking about his 6 string and his next team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastPommerFan Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 Thanks guys. I've decided Stafford is my new Connolly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTS Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 This didn't happen for the first 2 or 3 games after Ruff was let go, or at least that's how I saw it. However, it is absoutely MADDENING to watch, and in recent games it has happened as much as ever. Also, I know of NO other team who let pucks squeeze through them on the boards as much as the Sabres do, while they always seem to lose the battle when trying to clear a puck through an opposing player hugging the boards. Never fails. That and the D who COULD skate the puck are choosing to dump the puck to the NON-MOVING winger who is 4 feet away. That's just insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobody Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 No - it shouldn't matter. Please, Darcy, trade him. Dave Davis @DaveDavisHockey 17m Wings beat writer says Regier may be unwilling to deal Stafford to Detroit since they'll be division rivals next season. Should that matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts