Sabres Practice Dec 8, 2023

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Are you his agent? 

idk where you get this from. I never saw it. imo he was nowhere near Benson (even after a year in Rochester) than where Benson already is at a younger age. I see very little comparison at all. I also thought last year (and said it) that Peterka looked like the one with more potential on that Quinn Cozens Peterka line. 

Now I'm not saying Quinn won't eventually be good. He could be. I just don't remember this big impact you and some others seem to feel he had last year. Just another kid with a lot to learn imo. We will see how he is post injury. It's not any easy injury to bounce back from in a sport that involves a lot of stress and strain on ankles but time will tell. 

This will be fun. 

I'm glad Quinn's coming back. He was better than JJ Peterka last season so we'll see how matches up after his long injury. I have faith in him. 

[French Collection]

59 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Are you his agent? 

Really?

I am saying he is a good young player with potential to be really good. You like JJP more, I’m just saying I think Quinn has been better to date and think that pattern will continue.

I also said he and Benson are high IQ players, not comparing them as to whether one is better.

Quinn’s play may never get to his potential from this injury but I think he’ll be fine. I would be pleased if JJP and or Benson pass him as it would mean a high tide lifting all ships.

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, French Collection said:

Really?

I am saying he is a good young player with potential to be really good. You like JJP more, I’m just saying I think Quinn has been better to date and think that pattern will continue.

I also said he and Benson are high IQ players, not comparing them as to whether one is better.

Quinn’s play may never get to his potential from this injury but I think he’ll be fine. I would be pleased if JJP and or Benson pass him as it would mean a high tide lifting all ships.

Quinn last year:

 

[repster]

With fresh eyes, he reminds me of a shorter version of Jason Pominville with his puck movement and shot heaviness.

[bg17]

23 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Quinn last year:

 

I just don’t see it. Sabres might have blown the pick. Maybe. It’s too soon to say. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️🤦

 

I forgot how much skill he has. That shot…good heavens. 

[DarthEbriate]

What I remember of Quinn last season was his spatial awareness and his sense of pace. He was also, like Benson has shown, one of our more aware defensive forwards all last season, if sometimes overpowered by full-grown adults. As in the video @LGR4GM posted above... these isn't another Sabre on the roster who scores the goal against St. Louis, about a minute in, where he simply stops and waits out the goalie, knowing there's no threat to him for at least a couple seconds.

Quinn was the straw that stirred the Cozens-JJP line at even strength, and I strongly believe his hockey IQ will allow him to do that once again this year, even as he gets back to full strength on the ankle.

 

[Thorny]

7 minutes ago, repster said:

With fresh eyes, he reminds me of a shorter version of Jason Pominville with his puck movement and shot heaviness.

I like this comp. Good defensive awareness as well 

[pi2000]

I hope they take it slow with Quinn.  Achilles recovery is no joke, there's countless tales of athletes coming back too soon because they feel great... only to re-injure themselves resulting in a career threatening issue.

He has youth on his side, but I hope they keep him out of competition until Feb/Mar at the earliest...  it just takes time.

 

[LGR4GM]

14 minutes ago, repster said:

With fresh eyes, he reminds me of a shorter version of Jason Pominville with his puck movement and shot heaviness.

He's taller than Pommers.

[repster]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

He's taller than Pommers.

Wow, you’re right.  I never would have thought that was the case.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, repster said:

Wow, you’re right.  I never would have thought that was the case.

If I hadn't been looking up something else about the 2011 Sabres yesterday, I wouldn't have remembered either. 

[nfreeman]

IMHO:  

- Quinn was better than JJP last year, although JJP will probably be ahead at the end of this year (recognizing that we can’t know what would’ve happened without Quinn’s injury).  In any case both of them have very high upsides.

- Quinn has more game than Pommer did and will be better than Pommer was, assuming he stays healthy.

- I too am concerned about him coming back too soon and reinjuring the Achilles.

- If he stays healthy this season he could be a contributor in the 2nd half, although I wouldn’t expect a game-changer. 

[Mango]

2 hours ago, French Collection said:

Really?

I am saying he is a good young player with potential to be really good. You like JJP more, I’m just saying I think Quinn has been better to date and think that pattern will continue.

I also said he and Benson are high IQ players, not comparing them as to whether one is better.

Quinn’s play may never get to his potential from this injury but I think he’ll be fine. I would be pleased if JJP and or Benson pass him as it would mean a high tide lifting all ships.

JJP is probably the best winger on the team right now. And playing way better than any stretch Quinn put together last yea by a huge margin.

I am not putting Quinn down, but on top of that  he is also coming off a tough injury with his achilles. 

There is no way a “Quinn has been better to date”. It’s not close.

Once Tommers goes back to center, Mitts is firmly the next best or even 1a/1b C. Throwing JJP back with Cozens in that scenario will purely be to use JJP to get Cozens and Quinn going. Not because it’s a line that is or will be good in the short term. 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, French Collection said:

Really?

Dude, the "agent" comment was a joke. Do I have to put a smiley after every joke? Other people don't, but I will try to in the future. 

In any event, it's not that serious of an issue. 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, nfreeman said:

IMHO:  

- Quinn was better than JJP last year, although JJP will probably be ahead at the end of this year (recognizing that we can’t know what would’ve happened without Quinn’s injury).  In any case both of them have very high upsides.

I'm wondering if you mean offensively, scoring, or in his complete game? I was referring to the latter, while I know many of the Quinn fans here are looking primarily at his point total. Peterka last year showed me signs of grit and fortitude, determination, drive, and even a little 2 way ability. All of that matters to me and is why I had him above Quinn and still do. Was Quinn a better complete player in your opinion? 

It's quite possible Quinn will put up bigger scoring numbers than Peterka in the future, but I'm not convinced he will be a better hockey player. 

[Doohickie]

12 hours ago, French Collection said:

He was ahead of JJP and look at the steps that guy has taken so far this season.

Yes I was going to mention that.  If JJP and Quinn both consistently become the studs they've shown us they can be.... whoa nellie.

[Doohickie]

11 hours ago, French Collection said:

VO has been better lately but they needed more.

I was thinking that as the youth pushes up, if VO is still around it will be on the 4th line, and what I've seen out of him lately I think he could reinvent himself as a defensive specialist with some scoring touch.

Then again, maybe Robinson is that guy now.

[Doohickie]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

The players pick their songs.  I would do away with that, and hire a better crew to enhance and rev up the game day experience. 

I disagree. While I would like to see some players pick different songs (like TNT), I think have Abba playing for an Olofsson goal and whatever weird theater major thing Skinner is using at any given time make the dull songs worth it.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Doohickie

[Doohickie]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Quinn last year:

 

Watching that I wonder how much of Cozens' breakout year last season was due to having Quinn on his wing?

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Watching that I wonder how much of Cozens' breakout year last season was due to having Quinn on his wing?

It definitely had an effect; the three of them had some intense chemistry. They seemed to always know where the other was and it certainly helped boost Cozens' numbers 

[PerreaultForever]

Cozens had his breakout year because of Quinn? Somebody better memo KA on that. Guess he gave that big contract to the wrong guy. 

You guys are not remembering last season very accurately at all imo but whatever. Whatever last year was doesn't matter. It's what he does this year when he comes back that matters. 

[LGR4GM]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'm wondering if you mean offensively, scoring, or in his complete game? I was referring to the latter, while I know many of the Quinn fans here are looking primarily at his point total. Peterka last year showed me signs of grit and fortitude, determination, drive, and even a little 2 way ability. All of that matters to me and is why I had him above Quinn and still do. Was Quinn a better complete player in your opinion? 

It's quite possible Quinn will put up bigger scoring numbers than Peterka in the future, but I'm not convinced he will be a better hockey player. 

Quinn was ahead of jjp last year in terms of his 200ft game. Quinn was a better complete player than Peterka last year. 

 

[Carmel Corn]

10 hours ago, pi2000 said:

I hope they take it slow with Quinn.  Achilles recovery is no joke, there's countless tales of athletes coming back too soon because they feel great... only to re-injure themselves resulting in a career threatening issue.

He has youth on his side, but I hope they keep him out of competition until Feb/Mar at the earliest...  it just takes time.

 

Absolutely agree.....we don't want to see another Max Pacioretty scenario.

[French Collection]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Quinn was ahead of jjp last year in terms of his 200ft game. Quinn was a better complete player than Peterka last year. 

 

Quinn was on PP2 all season with some stints on PP1. He was also used on the PK.

[Jorcus]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'm wondering if you mean offensively, scoring, or in his complete game? I was referring to the latter, while I know many of the Quinn fans here are looking primarily at his point total. Peterka last year showed me signs of grit and fortitude, determination, drive, and even a little 2 way ability. All of that matters to me and is why I had him above Quinn and still do. Was Quinn a better complete player in your opinion? 

It's quite possible Quinn will put up bigger scoring numbers than Peterka in the future, but I'm not convinced he will be a better hockey player. 

I guess I have always been more of a Peterka fan. It's the case of this 2 guys come into together and one is a higher draft pick, that starts like gangbusters in the AHL then things go kind of side ways due to illness and Injury and the number 2 keeps growing and getting better. Peterka was a terror in the 21-22 AHL playoffs while for whatever reason Quinn was floundering around. The only goal he scored was against his own team. Then they both come up and the Cozens, Quinn, Peterka line clicks for a fast hard to handle second line. Quinn was given more opportunities than Peterka, Peterka was viewed as the the 2nd guy again mostly racing for pucks and trying to feed the others. Last year Peterka did have a habit of not having his stick on the ice when around the net or hesitating on the shot. Those habits are gone. When in attack mode puck on stick then off stick. If he is open he shoots. He has also gotten a lot stronger over the summer. 

I am not trashing Quinn but I have felt for a long time that Peterka has played equal or better. Quinn's return will be interesting. We all hope he goes on an improving path but I would not start him on the second line at the moment. Let him earn his way back up there.