GARTH'S CORNER: Nolan Likes What He's Seeing

GARTH'S CORNER: Nolan Likes What He's Seeing
- garth

i like what I am seeing around here

Ecstatic about Ennis staying. Don't like the ruhedal plays. Hopefully he stays in Roche a while and adds some muscle.

What a god awful contract for a guy that has never topped 50 points in a single season.

What a god awful contract for a guy that has never topped 50 points in a single season.
- blacksheep1

A different story on a decent team.

A different story on a decent team.
- sippyd

I think he'd easily put up 20-30-50 + on the wing with a legit center after we draft one next year.. guy shouldnt be a center anyway, was like 38% on faceoffs last year. Hes put up 20 goals with minimal talent on his lines.

What a god awful contract for a guy that has never topped 50 points in a single season.
- blacksheep1

I guarantee you he will score at least 60 points in a season within the next 5 years of the contract. Even on our poop team.

What a god awful contract for a guy that has never topped 50 points in a single season.
- blacksheep1

During the lockout season, he had 34 points. I think 17 points in 34 games is doable. I know it doesn't exactly mean he has had a 50 point season, but he was surely on pace for one during the shortened season.

I think he'd easily put up 20-30-50 + on the wing with a legit center after we draft one next year.. guy shouldnt be a center anyway, was like 38% on faceoffs last year. Hes put up 20 goals with minimal talent on his lines.
- sabres2016

The problem with this theory is that he's light years better in the middle than on the wing.

I hope the only reason he got that much cash was for the sabers to make sure the will reach the floor for years to come.

I hope the only reason he got that much cash was for the sabers to make sure the will reach the floor for years to come.
- jake24242

Sadly, 20-20 guys are now being paid $4M-$5M.
It's the new normal, and nobody should like it.

However, at least they are paying him that through his prime years (25-30) and are not paying him that until he is an old man.

Sadly, 20-20 guys are now being paid $4M-$5M.
It's the new normal, and nobody should like it.

However, at least they are paying him that through his prime years (25-30) and are not paying him that until he is an old man.
- kingcong39

Hey it could be worse. You could have vinny locked up like us

I love all the "intelligent" comments from posters of other teams about Ennis' contract.

Clean up your own backyard first (Clarkson, Emelin, Dubinsky, Wisniewski).

I love all the "intelligent" comments from posters of other teams about Ennis' contract.

Clean up your own backyard first (Clarkson, Emelin, Dubinsky, Wisniewski).
- grand-magus

Sadly, 20-20 guys are now being paid $4M-$5M.
It's the new normal, and nobody should like it.

However, at least they are paying him that through his prime years (25-30) and are not paying him that until he is an old man.
- kingcong39

This. It does seems a bit high on the surface, but it's the going rate.

I hope the only reason he got that much cash was for the sabers to make sure the will reach the floor for years to come.
- jake24242

Pegula is more interested in spending to the limit than the floor. These aren't your father's Buffalo Sabres. Money is no object.

I love all the "intelligent" comments from posters of other teams about Ennis' contract.

Clean up your own backyard first (Clarkson, Emelin, Dubinsky, Wisniewski).
- grand-magus

You do know that these posters don't actually work for those other teams? They really have no say in "cleaning up their own backyard".

Anyone can have an opinion about any player in the NHL regardless of what it says your team affiliation is under your username.

The problem with this theory is that he's light years better in the middle than on the wing.
- buffalofan19

Based on what? The fact that he's not great in the d zone, can't win faceoffs (38% last year), and he still scored 20 goals back when he was playing on the wing?

Also, only 92 players in NHL has 50+ points last season

The problem with this theory is that he's light years better in the middle than on the wing.
- buffalofan19

i agree, we could hope that his game has advanced by playing center for the last few years though. maybe his time in the middle will allow him to distribute more, attack the net more, and stickhandle pointlessly into the corner less.

Based on what? The fact that he's not great in the d zone, can't win faceoffs (38% last year), and he still scored 20 goals back when he was playing on the wing?

Also, only 92 players in NHL has 50+ points last season
- sabres2016

Actually watching the games and not reading a stat sheet for one.

He scored his 20 goals playing a 2nd/3rd line winger role. When he was put on the top 2 lines he has had more success playing the middle, both with his production and his playmaking abilities.

He is really good along the walls and in the corners for a guy his size. Not to mention he is an underrated player in the defensive zone. Using his bad faceoff percentages as your argument makes you look silly. Grigorenko had one of the better faceoff percentages on the team when he was here does that make him good?

Girgensons is the coaches Son, he will get the most ice time so he can use his 41% faceoffs to win big games. Ted Nolan is more excited to see Girgensons give Reinhart a concussion then watch buffalo's only game breaker at forward do well

Girgensons is the coaches Son, he will get the most ice time so he can use his 41% faceoffs to win big games. Ted Nolan is more excited to see Girgensons give Reinhart a concussion then watch buffalo's only game breaker at forward do well
- MrSquirrel

He's Back - Hide your nuts !

Actually watching the games and not reading a stat sheet for one.

He scored his 20 goals playing a 2nd/3rd line winger role. When he was put on the top 2 lines he has had more success playing the middle, both with his production and his playmaking abilities.

He is really good along the walls and in the corners for a guy his size. Not to mention he is an underrated player in the defensive zone. Using his bad faceoff percentages as your argument makes you look silly. Grigorenko had one of the better faceoff percentages on the team when he was here does that make him good?
- Stripes77

Faceoffs are a pretty significant part of being a center. If you lose 62% of them, you shouldn't be taking them. Faceoffs aren't the end all.be all but they are important, your grigorenko argument makes you look silly. Its not my whole argument.

He may be underrated in the dzone, but hes not great (a top 2 center should be). And in the offensive zone it doesn't matter if you're a center or a wing.

My original argument is faceoffs and defensive zone, there are players that will be better at both, and IF they are top 2 centers (production wise) THEN move him to a wing where he has shown that he can play and produce. At very close to the same level

Faceoffs are a pretty significant part of being a center. If you lose 62% of them, you shouldn't be taking them. Faceoffs aren't the end all.be all but they are important, your grigorenko argument makes you look silly. Its not my whole argument.

He may be underrated in the dzone, but hes not great (a top 2 center should be). And in the offensive zone it doesn't matter if you're a center or a wing.

My original argument is faceoffs and defensive zone, there are players that will be better at both, and IF they are top 2 centers (production wise) THEN move him to a wing where he has shown that he can play and produce. At very close to the same level
- sabres2016

Faceoffs are NOT a significant part of playing center. Its the ability to get the puck AFTER the faceoff. Konopka is one of the best faceoff guys in the league and when he was on the ice after winning a draw the Sabres spent most of his shift pinned down in their end.

He produced one year playing wing and was the teams 2nd leading scorer playing the pivot. He will be their highest producing center this season. His game is better suited for the middle where he can go in either direction.

Faceoffs are NOT a significant part of playing center. Its the ability to get the puck AFTER the faceoff. Konopka is one of the best faceoff guys in the league and when he was on the ice after winning a draw the Sabres spent most of his shift pinned down in their end.

He produced one year playing wing and was the teams 2nd leading scorer playing the pivot. He will be their highest producing center this season. His game is better suited for the middle where he can go in either direction.
- Stripes77

Probsbly not worth having this conversation if you think the faceoffs are insignifican, but whatever. What happens after matters but if you start with the puck even 55% of the time vs 38% you have a better chance of winning... if you havent noticed possession has become a pretty strong indicator of success in the NHL.. and again in the offensive zone (where you generally score most of the goals) it doesnt matter your position. I will give you that he's better on the rush as a center