I'm more interested in him from a next season standpoint.

A rookie that needs to work on the defensive side of his game? Heaven forfend!

Did he just suffer under unreasonable expectations there?
- nfph

He's never won a cup. Trade him now!

I'm thinking 15 to 20 as well. Hopefully higher.

If he's on a line with Vanek and Pominville all year, and both of them score 40, it will be a success, even if he scores only 5. Stats are grossly overrated. That's why Derek Roy is gone. Unless we're talking about a 90 to 100 point guy who can take over a game by himself, distribution of points is more important than the individual's statistics.

I dont need him to put up a lot of goals, what I do need him to do is allow players like Vanek and Pommer to open up and be able to use their offensive skill. I want him to be solid in the d zone as well. It doesnt matter if we score 4 goals when we give up 5.

goat-mez

I dont need him to put up a lot of goals, what I do need him to do is allow players like Vanek and Pommer to open up and be able to use their offensive skill. I want him to be solid in the d zone as well. It doesnt matter if we score 4 goals when we give up 5.
- hubie

I like this post..

I don't think we "need" a 70+ scoring center.. I think we just need a guy that will allow Pommer and Vanek to play at their best game.

I think we need a solid pass first Center, who can win draws, and is not a liability in the defensive zone. Vanek, Hodge, and Pommer will never be out there against another teams #1 line so we don't need them to be defensive minded.. just not liabilities.

goat-mez
- b0s0o1

I like this post..

I don't think we "need" a 70+ scoring center.. I think we just need a guy that will allow Pommer and Vanek to play at their best game.

I think we need a solid pass first Center, who can win draws, and is not a liability in the defensive zone. Vanek, Hodge, and Pommer will never be out there against another teams #1 line so we don't need them to be defensive minded.. just not liabilities.
- JVince11

exactly. I think when you take out Roy and insert Cody the people around him should be better. If he can hold up the defensive end will really help Myers and allow a player like Sekera to improve(I like being proven wrong and that he can be a decent member of this team).

I dont need him to put up a lot of goals, what I do need him to do is allow players like Vanek and Pommer to open up and be able to use their offensive skill. I want him to be solid in the d zone as well. It doesnt matter if we score 4 goals when we give up 5.
- hubie

well put

- JVince11

boom

I like this post..

I don't think we "need" a 70+ scoring center.. I think we just need a guy that will allow Pommer and Vanek to play at their best game.

I think we need a solid pass first Center, who can win draws, and is not a liability in the defensive zone. Vanek, Hodge, and Pommer will never be out there against another teams #1 line so we don't need them to be defensive minded.. just not liabilities.
- JVince11

yeah, but it would sure be nice to have one

yeah, but it would sure be nice to have one
- b0s0o1

whether we have a team of 40 pters or one at 100 it matter not to me if we don't win..


but yes it would be nice

yeah, but it would sure be nice to have one
- b0s0o1

I think that they have gotten bigger can wear a team down so they have the opportunity to put up big numbers.

yeah, but it would sure be nice to have one
- b0s0o1

I think there is a way a team has to be designed if you have a 70+ center.

Certain teams have very capable and productive wingers that just need someone to set them up.. (Getzlaf/Stastny/Bergeron)

Other teams have a very productive goal scorer and passer center (Malkin/Crosby/Stamkos) *rare breed*

I think we are a team built with very capable but not always consistent winger play that just needs a playmaker in the middle. I think Hodge and Ennis can be those guys.

I also think that Grigorenko could be a 30/40 type player one day.

I think that they have gotten bigger can wear a team down so they have the opportunity to put up big numbers.
- hubie

absolutely...it's a different game than it was five or six years ago

I think there is a way a team has to be designed if you have a 70+ center.

Certain teams have very capable and productive wingers that just need someone to set them up.. (Getzlaf/Stastny/Bergeron)

Other teams have a very productive goal scorer and passer center (Malkin/Crosby/Stamkos) *rare breed*

I think we are a team built with very capable but not always consistent winger play that just needs a playmaker in the middle. I think Hodge and Ennis can be those guys.

I also think that Grigorenko could be a 30/40 type player one day.
- JVince11

yeah, if thing fall the way they should, the sabres coulda landed themselves that in grigorenko

FORWARDS
Thomas Vanek ($7.143m) / Cody Hodgson ($1.667m) / Jason Pominville ($5.300m)
Marcus Foligno ($0.900m) / Tyler Ennis ($2.500m) / Drew Stafford ($4.000m)
Steve Ott ($2.950m) / Zemgus Girgensons ($1.625m) / Shane Doan ($7.500m)
Nathan Gerbe ($1.450m) / Ville Leino ($4.500m) / Patrick Kaleta ($1.025m)
John Scott ($0.600m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Tyler Myers ($5.500m) / Brayden McNabb ($0.900m)
Christian Ehrhoff ($4.000m) / Jordan Leopold ($3.000m)
Andrej Sekera ($2.750m) / Robyn Regehr ($4.020m)
Alexander Sulzer ($0.725m) /
GOALTENDERS
Ryan Miller ($6.250m)
Jhonas Enroth ($0.675m)
- Sabretooter

$7.5 million for a third line winger?!?! Holy jesus...and to think, people were female doging about Leino's salary...

to answer kevin's question, and i hate making predictions, i think hodgson is capable of a 20-25 goal/55-60 season...

and he could very well surpass that point total

yeah, if thing fall the way they should, the sabres coulda landed themselves that in grigorenko
- b0s0o1

and girgensons for that matter, the guys got a great shot, made a few beauty tape to tape passes in the offensive zone in the scrimmage. i think we'll be talking more about girgensons this season than grigs this season

and girgensons for that matter, the guys got a great shot, made a few beauty tape to tape passes in the offensive zone in the scrimmage. i think we'll be talking more about girgensons this season than grigs this season
- qcstudios

agreed...am all-in with the "latvian locomotive"

$7.5 million for a third line winger?!?! Holy jesus...and to think, people were female doging about Leino's salary...
- EricNearBuffalo

yeah, can you imagine him making that kind of cash..I get he has all the intagables that dont show up on the score sheet but hes scored 30 goals twice. Hes perfect for a team like the pens who are plugging in a guy where we need a guy to put us over the top.

and girgensons for that matter, the guys got a great shot, made a few beauty tape to tape passes in the offensive zone in the scrimmage. i think we'll be talking more about girgensons this season than grigs this season
- qcstudios

Yes in 2012-2013 season Girgensons will have the bigger impact..

But I think in the long run Grigorenko could be a 30g/40a player as a 1C and Girgensons could be a 22g/35a type player as a 2C

I just don't know where Hodgson, Ennis, Catenacci, and Sundher will all fit in by then.

I think in order to get full potential out of all of these players they have to be surrounded with the right type of wingers and I don't know if we have the right type of wingers currently to allow Grigorenko to be the player he "could be"

there we go talking about potential again.

$7.5 million for a third line winger?!?! Holy jesus...and to think, people were female doging about Leino's salary...
- EricNearBuffalo

not third line winger...

We will have 3 scoring lines that will all rotate and get somewhat equivalent minutes unless one line is just scorching at the moment.

Or one line size or speed would be more beneficial against who our opponent is that game.

Happy Birthday Ryan Miller..

the big 3-2

Happy Birthday Ryan Miller..

the big 3-2
- JVince11

Feel old when you can say you saw someone play in college and they turned 32