While everyone is worried about Kass...

Im a little worried about Coho coming into the next season.

He has the potential to be our number one center. I just don't know if Ruff will play him there...every Sabre fan wants to acquire a proven number 1 but IMO that will be at the expense of Hodgsons development.

Hes going to be working hard this summer and hopefully gives the staff no reason not to have him center Vanek and Pommer.
- HotSauceBlueChs

I have a theory about number 1 centers.

They should be Left handed. There are obviously a few exceptions (Lemieux, Yzerman) but for the most part, your number 1 center should be a left handed playmaker.

Cody Hodgson has bamby legs and can only play in the offensive zone. Yes he's got great offensive instincts, shot and passing ability but he's missing two very important things. Speed and defensive awareness. Good like recovering from a bad defensive read with his speed. Ugly combo.
- Boinker

Those things you can train. Speed/Agility/Leg Strength are all things Im sure will be addressed in the off season.

Defensive Play is harder obviously but he has quite awhile to learn. Really in Buffalo he had some breakdowns but really his defense wasn't some glaring problem. I dunno.

With Zach, he comes across as dumb and can be unmotivated..angry and still immature. That takes time and can be really difficult to grow out of. Hell we have all had to deal with it growing up.

i dont want to burst anyone's bubble but i dont think kassian will have a 25 goal season ever. but if he miraculously develops into the player buffalo thought he would be then gave up on, it will take a while. he also backed off of being the tough guy that lindy wanted. i am happy we got rid of him, especially for a guy like hodgson. could both be a bust? maybe but i'd still rather have hodgson.
- LizzyJo

Dustin Penner was acquired for a first round pick and a first round defensive prospect. This was after his well know character issues. I have no doubt in my mind Kassian will be better than Penner. There's a reason players like them are sought after. They're hard to find and can make a serious impact on a team. It's a lot easier to find second line centers than power forwards like them.

Those things you can train. Speed/Agility/Leg Strength are all things Im sure will be addressed in the off season.

Defensive Play is harder obviously but he has quite awhile to learn. Really in Buffalo he had some breakdowns but really his defense wasn't some glaring problem. I dunno.

With Zach, he comes across as dumb and can be unmotivated..angry and still immature. That takes time and can be really difficult to grow out of. Hell we have all had to deal with it growing up.
- HotSauceBlueChs

you cannot teach speed

you cannot teach speed
- malcohol

A better word would be train I guess

Dustin Penner was acquired for a first round pick and a first round defensive prospect. This was after his well know character issues. I have no doubt in my mind Kassian will be better than Penner. There's a reason players like them are sought after. They're hard to find and can make a serious impact on a team. It's a lot easier to find second line centers than power forwards like them.
- Boinker

better than penner? of course. but is that really saying much? don't get me wrong i like the kid, but i will always think he is a bust until he proves me wrong.

you cannot teach speed
- malcohol

You can improve speed if you have a really good, strong stride but if it's choppy and short, like Cody's, you're going to be hard pressed to improve it. It's been his weakness since junior and I haven't seen much improvement. It's not just his skating either. Even when he stands on the ice it looks like he's weak on his skates.

better than penner? of course. but is that really saying much? don't get me wrong i like the kid, but i will always think he is a bust until he proves me wrong.
- LizzyJo

Penner was actually looking promising with those 25-30 goal seasons he put up.

better than penner? of course. but is that really saying much? don't get me wrong i like the kid, but i will always think he is a bust until he proves me wrong.
- LizzyJo

Hodgson has had such a small sample size with Buffalo he is no more of a bust than Kassian at this point. They have done very little with each of their new teams.

You cant call players exiting their rookie season busts but rather predict where their careers will end up.

They are good players right now. So many variables are going to play out in the next year its insane.

Hodgson has had such a small sample size with Buffalo he is no more of a bust than Kassian at this point. They have done very little with each of their new teams.

You cant call players exiting their rookie season busts but rather predict where their careers will end up.

They are good players right now. So many variables are going to play out in the next year its insane.
- HotSauceBlueChs

they could both be busts. but we will need more time to figure that out. i'm just saying kassian was sooooo over hyped.

better than penner? of course. but is that really saying much? don't get me wrong i like the kid, but i will always think he is a bust until he proves me wrong.
- LizzyJo

Penner was playing college hockey at Kassians age. He didnt get NHL ice time and until two years older than Kassian currently is. Todd Bertuzzi had 7 goals in 52 games at a year older than Kassian. Notice a common theme with big power forwards? It takes a little longer for them to develop.

they could both be busts. but we will need more time to figure that out. i'm just saying kassian was sooooo over hyped.
- LizzyJo

45 percent of the overhyping was by Buffalo fans before he was traded....

55 percent of it was by TSN and every Canadian analyst siding with the Canadian team

IMO

Hodgson and Kassian will both be fine. Hodgson will likely be a very good second line center someday and possibly be Buffalo's next captain. Kassian should be able to at least be a consistant 30 goal scorer with his skill set. Both of them have flaws in their game, Hodgson's is his foot speed and his defensive awareness and positioning, Kassian is his conditioning and hockey sense. Hodgson should be able to overcome his defensive liabilities and foot speed if he can learn to position himself better by reading the play. You don't have to be a super fast player, if you can put yourself in a position to challenge the puck carrier and take away his options. Kassian should also be able to overcome his obstacles, a very intensive off-season training program will get him up to the levels that the Canucks want and experience will help with hockey sense. It takes a while to be able to think the game at the NHL level because the speed is so much faster from Junior.

45 percent of the overhyping was by Buffalo fans before he was traded....

55 percent of it was by TSN and every Canadian analyst siding with the Canadian team

IMO
- HotSauceBlueChs

i never thought kassain was good. 70% of the fan base thought he was some kind of lucic. which won't happen.

Good luck... this guy wants to play like he's Gretzky; we saw basically no edge to his game at all, and he doesn't have enough skill to play a skill game

Shocking that the Buffalo fans came to troll.

For such a small fan base, they sure have a large number of trolls on this site.

Penner was playing college hockey at Kassians age. He didnt get NHL ice time and until two years older than Kassian currently is. Todd Bertuzzi had 7 goals in 52 games at a year older than Kassian. Notice a common theme with big power forwards? It takes a little longer for them to develop.
- Boinker

Absolutely...Kassian will be a very good 25 goal power forward in three years, and I'll be really really happy with that!!!

Shocking that the Buffalo fans came to troll.

For such a small fan base, they sure have a large number of trolls on this site.
- Scooby_Doo

I think you guys have a much less tolerant version of the word "troll".

On the Leafs boards that's called "posting a message". You guys would have seizures if you spent a minute in EE's thread.

i never thought kassain was good. 70% of the fan base thought he was some kind of lucic. which won't happen.
- LizzyJo

I could see him becoming more of a wheeler.

I think you guys have a much less tolerant version of the word "troll".

On the Leafs boards that's called "posting a message". You guys would have seizures if you spent a minute in EE's thread.
- Juice

I think you guys have a much less tolerant version of the word "troll".

On the Leafs boards that's called "posting a message". You guys would have seizures if you spent a minute in EE's thread.
- Juice

If I came on a Leafs thread and said Reimer, Schenn or Kadri in any sentence I'd be banned for 6 months.

These Sabres fans have come here and contributed absolutely nothing to the conversation. Their sole purpose is to derail the thread. That is the definition of troll.

PS: you are trolling too.

If I came on a Leafs thread and said Reimer, Schenn or Kadri in any sentence I'd be banned for 6 months.

These Sabres fans have come here and contributed absolutely nothing to the conversation. Their sole purpose is to derail the thread. That is the definition of troll.

PS: you are trolling too.
- Scooby_Doo

This is what it's like for any fan of another team coming into this thread:

when gillis said before they needed SIZE...he didnt say a player that can play Now!... Kassian wasnt NHL ready...thats why Sabres had him in the AHL...he is still a few years away, yes Kassian looked outta place at times when he did start for the canucks...plus he wasnt hitting, im still not into this player...wait and see..be interesting how he starts next season

If I came on a Leafs thread and said Reimer, Schenn or Kadri in any sentence I'd be banned for 6 months.

These Sabres fans have come here and contributed absolutely nothing to the conversation. Their sole purpose is to derail the thread. That is the definition of troll.

PS: you are trolling too.
- Scooby_Doo

I hardly think they are trying to "derail" the thread...they've said "he's not what you think he'll be" pretty much.

Sensitive bunch you guys have become.

If I came on a Leafs thread and said Reimer, Schenn or Kadri in any sentence I'd be banned for 6 months.

These Sabres fans have come here and contributed absolutely nothing to the conversation. Their sole purpose is to derail the thread. That is the definition of troll.

PS: you are trolling too.
- Scooby_Doo

You ok? Or are you always complaining?