Babs is kind of set in his ways: if he likes a player, particularly the plugs, he's loyal to a fault (see Hunwick, Cleary, Glendening, Froese, Smith).

If he doesn't like you, *ahem* Holland, Corrado, you're just kinda (frank)ed either way.

But yeah, I thought Holland looked fine to start the year. I recall at one point when we had Brown, Holland, and Hyman in pre-season on that 4th line thinking, that's gotta be one of the more skilled 4th lines in the league.
- gravyface

everyone loves sosh so thats a win

martin leads the league in hits

ben smith is a much needed rightie in the faceoff circle

the 4th line is fine... too many people look for offense from a 4th line... its not what its for... its for cycling down low and wearing the opposition D down.

yup...4 and 1 in their last 5.... time to start changing things.
- Dozzer

I think a lot of what makes Matthews great is his hockey sense and finding the open area. He seems to float around sometimes because of that. I would like to see Matthews play a little more north-south. He has the size and speed he should use it more.

I expect as he gets older, he is just going to get bigger and stronger. If he adopts a bit of a power forward element in his game, he is going to be a beast!

I am glad they tried Nylander away from Matthews, I like the idea of splitting up the kids, so the other team can't focus on shutting down two of them at once...

Babs is kind of set in his ways: if he likes a player, particularly the plugs, he's loyal to a fault (see Hunwick, Cleary, Glendening, Froese, Smith).

If he doesn't like you, *ahem* Holland, Corrado, you're just kinda (frank)ed either way.

But yeah, I thought Holland looked fine to start the year. I recall at one point when we had Brown, Holland, and Hyman in pre-season on that 4th line thinking, that's gotta be one of the more skilled 4th lines in the league.
- gravyface

Agreed, I liked that setup as well.

You're being facetious, I know, but we're winning despite what the deadweight is doing. Polak/Marincin have been godawful and Martin/Smith have been pretty dismal too.
- gravyface

marincin sucks

polak blocks shots and hits... he is useful... he wears opposition forwards down

martin and smith are dismal how? they are doing their jobs perfectly

I think a lot of what makes Matthews great is his hockey sense and finding the open area. He seems to float around sometimes because of that. I would like to see Matthews play a little more north-south. He has the size and speed he should use it more.

I expect as he gets older, he is just going to get bigger and stronger. If he adopts a bit of a power forward element in his game, he is going to be a beast!

I am glad they tried Nylander away from Matthews, I like the idea of splitting up the kids, so the other team can't focus on shutting down two of them at once...
- Aetherial

Yeah, it's amazing that he's 220 lbs or whatever already at age 19. He could add ten or twenty pounds of man strength and be a freak beast.

I think a lot of what makes Matthews great is his hockey sense and finding the open area. He seems to float around sometimes because of that. I would like to see Matthews play a little more north-south. He has the size and speed he should use it more.

I expect as he gets older, he is just going to get bigger and stronger. If he adopts a bit of a power forward element in his game, he is going to be a beast!

I am glad they tried Nylander away from Matthews, I like the idea of splitting up the kids, so the other team can't focus on shutting down two of them at once...
- Aetherial

yeah... matthews will be fine ... he is just snake bitten... whats important is he still gets his chances.

as for the north south thing he might be actually under instruction not to play that way this year... first year in the league... babs might want him focused on seeing the open ice.... would make a lot of sense for his development actually... they arent trying to win the cup this year... thats still 2-3 years away... people need to temper expectations

everyone loves sosh so thats a win

martin leads the league in hits

ben smith is a much needed rightie in the faceoff circle

the 4th line is fine... too many people look for offense from a 4th line... its not what its for... its for cycling down low and wearing the opposition D down.
- Dozzer

Let me know when that starts to happen with ours and I'll change my tune.

Let me know when that starts to happen with ours and I'll change my tune.
- gravyface

tell me... without naming names... what do you want to see from a 4th line?

tell me... without naming names... what do you want to see from a 4th line?
- Dozzer

Exactly that: get behind the D, cycle, chew minutes, chip in a goal once in a while.

Our 4th line is not doing that, not with Martin and Smith.

Smith's been decent on the draw, but beyond that, their possession numbers are brutal and they're giving up scoring changes to other 4th lines, not Crosbys and Kopitars.

Exactly that: get behind the D, cycle, chew minutes, chip in a goal once in a while.

Our 4th line is not doing that, not with Martin and Smith.

Smith's been decent on the draw, but beyond that, their possession numbers are brutal and they're giving up scoring changes to other 4th lines, not Crosbys and Kopitars.
- gravyface

martin (i really could care less about smith) leads the league in hits... precisely what he was brought in to do... which means... they dont expect high possession numbers from him... they brought him in to hit the opposition when they have the puck

martin (i really could care less about smith) leads the league in hits... precisely what he was brought in to do... which means... they dont expect high possession numbers from him... they brought him in to hit the opposition when they have the puck
- Dozzer

Agree to disagree.

Time for breakfast.

Agree to disagree.

Time for breakfast.
- gravyface

bacon

bacon
- Dozzer

This handeyhj character is not a Sabres fan and doesn't go to their blog. Just a troll.

handeyhj = Mike

handeyhj = Mike
- Symba007

Great one idiot

Great one idiot
- twiztedmike

marincin sucks

polak blocks shots and hits... he is useful... he wears opposition forwards down

martin and smith are dismal how? they are doing their jobs perfectly
- Dozzer

I agree with you.

Except I don't think Smith has really done his job well.

Either way I agree Polak is a bottom pair guy and he is one of our 6 best d men. He should be playing every night. And In the last 5 games I've liked Martins game.

marincin sucks

polak blocks shots and hits... he is useful... he wears opposition forwards down

martin and smith are dismal how? they are doing their jobs perfectly
- Dozzer

If Smiths job is to get completely torched when he's on the ice then yes, he is doing it perfectly.

I love how Mathews has one good game and everyone starts comparing him to mcdavid. Everyone thought he was the next great one. They thought leafs were playoff team. The goalie is very questionable, defense sucks and to much pressure on 19 year kids. The leafs will be good team in 3 years stop thinking they are good now and stop comparing Mathews to players out of his league. I told you he would end up with around 50 points this year just under wat jack had last year because he has no protection.
- hanleyaj

I think you'll like hockey if you give it a try.

I agree with you.

Except I don't think Smith has really done his job well.

Either way I agree Polak is a bottom pair guy and he is one of our 6 best d men. He should be playing every night. And In the last 5 games I've liked Martins game.
- Santo_44

I think Martin is fine on the 4th line with two other decent options. Having a 4th line that can score would be nice, pretty sure Rangers fourth line has like 10 goals this season.. smith Martin Sosh may struggle to get that together all year.

I think Martin is fine on the 4th line with two other decent options. Having a 4th line that can score would be nice, pretty sure Rangers fourth line has like 10 goals this season.. smith Martin Sosh may struggle to get that together all year.
- ClarksonDavid

Sosh adds some skill to that line.

Martin-Holland-Sosh

Would be my preference.

I thought Holland was playing well and noticeably working hard to start the season, still not sure why Babs switched him out.
- Zezel

Need someone to provide no offense, lose faceoffs and get killed defensively..... Had to put in smith to cove those basis.

everyone loves sosh so thats a win

martin leads the league in hits

ben smith is a much needed rightie in the faceoff circle

the 4th line is fine... too many people look for offense from a 4th line... its not what its for... its for cycling down low and wearing the opposition D down.
- Dozzer

When smith is on e ice the puck doesn't leave our zone. He provides nothing. He provides nothing he's a (frank)ing blackhole.

marincin sucks

polak blocks shots and hits... he is useful... he wears opposition forwards down

martin and smith are dismal how? they are doing their jobs perfectly
- Dozzer

Yikes.