GARTH'S CORNER: Jack's Back

"Eichel played a leadership role on Team North America."


How? By kindly stepping aside and letting other players take his spot?

"Eichel played a leadership role on Team North America."


How? By kindly stepping aside and letting other players take his spot?
- lumlums

I was thinking the same thing . Seems he let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL . I could understand him holding back as to not get hurt,(or maybe he didn't) but I still hoped to see more of him. All eyes were on the 1st overall pics. That could have played something into it too. Thursday and Friday are gonna be some good games

I was thinking the same thing . Seems he let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL . I could understand him holding back as to not get hurt,(or maybe he didn't) but I still hoped to see more of him. All eyes were on the 1st overall pics. That could have played something into it too. Thursday and Friday are gonna be some good games
- cabin

Kid's going to be fine, not fair to judge him based on a handful of September games when the players are still getting in to game shape. That being said, only in Garth's world would anybody view Eichel's demotion to the fourth line as a reason to bolster his confidence. If anything that should have put a chip on his shoulder for this season.

Kid's going to be fine, not fair to judge him based on a handful of September games when the players are still getting in to game shape. That being said, only in Garth's world would anybody view Eichel's demotion to the fourth line as a reason to bolster his confidence. If anything that should have put a chip on his shoulder for this season.
- lomez

It also happened the game after the hit he took. Was said to be favoring his shoulder afterwards. Could have been just a precaution and opportunity for the others to move up. I'm ok with it. He seams healthy coming into camp.

It also happened the game after the hit he took. Was said to be favoring his shoulder afterwards. Could have been just a precaution and opportunity for the others to move up. I'm ok with it. He seams healthy coming into camp.
- cabin

That is true, the fact that he appears to be healthy is the most important thing for you guys going forward. Kudos to him for bouncing right back up from that shot.

And it was a clean hit, btw

That is true, the fact that he appears to be healthy is the most important thing for you guys going forward. Kudos to him for bouncing right back up from that shot.

And it was a clean hit, btw
- lomez

Yes . I don't remember anyone saying different.

Yes . I don't remember anyone saying different.
- cabin

Again... Garth's world...

I was thinking the same thing . Seems he let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL . I could understand him holding back as to not get hurt,(or maybe he didn't) but I still hoped to see more of him. All eyes were on the 1st overall pics. That could have played something into it too. Thursday and Friday are gonna be some good games
- cabin

Not that it has any bearing on his career, or even this coming season, but he was way down the list of best forwards for NA. There is just no other reasonable way to put it.

Not that it has any bearing on his career, or even this coming season, but he was way down the lit of best forwards for NA. There is just no other reasonable way to put it.
- Aetherial

How many goals did McDavid have again? I can't quite remember?

I think Gostisbehere was the best player on the team. Matthews was really good too. When he wanted to be Eichel was really, really good. It's just that a lot of the time he didn't seem to care so much.

RNH was probably the best player that got zero attention.

And I really liked Morgan Rielly's game too.

I mean Brandon Saad was invisible and he scored 31 goals last year. I think drawing any real conclusions based on 3 games is ridiculous.

Steve Simmons of the TO Sun reported Eichel put on a diva act after he was dropped to the 4th line. Not a good sign from a cornerstone player.

Anyone who didn't think McDavid was the top player needs to get their head a shake.
Matthews was very good. The Ghost? Best player? He can't check his coat. Part of the reason they didn't qualify. More to the game than putting up points.

Steve Simmons of the TO Sun reported Eichel put on a diva act after he was dropped to the 4th line. Not a good sign from a cornerstone player.

Anyone who didn't think McDavid was the top player needs to get their head a shake.
Matthews was very good. The Ghost? Best player? He can't check his coat. Part of the reason they didn't qualify. More to the game than putting up points.
- EugenesAxe

Notice the " " ? A little touchy, aren't we?

McDavid wasn't the best player, if anything Matthews was better. Gaudreau definitely was, and so was MacKinnon. Maybe if McDavid tried another move other than that backhand forehand he does every single time he gets a break... I'm not saying he wasn't good, he definitely was, but hands down the best? No way.

Gostisbehere was very, very good. How was he even remotely a reason why they didn't qualify? He scored 4 points and was +4. And don't give me the +,- doesn't matter bull. Look at the stats page and all the players with the most points were all +, and all the players with no points were all minus. You want to know who was a reason? Seth Jones, he was awful. Ryan Murray wasn't great either. They didn't advance because they didn't take Russia seriously enough before it was too late, because they ran through everyone else like they were playing an AHL team.

And you'll forgive me if I don't give a flying (frank) about what Steve Simmons has to say, he's worse than Larry Brooks.

How many goals did McDavid have again? I can't quite remember?

I think Gostisbehere was the best player on the team. Matthews was really good too. When he wanted to be Eichel was really, really good. It's just that a lot of the time he didn't seem to care so much.

RNH was probably the best player that got zero attention.

And I really liked Morgan Rielly's game too.

I mean Brandon Saad was invisible and he scored 31 goals last year. I think drawing any real conclusions based on 3 games is ridiculous.
- Wetbandit1

Gotisbehere really surprised me, a lot. Parayko was great also.
RNH, Gaudreau, Mackinnon all had a great tournament.
Rielly had flashes of brilliance and some bad moments too. Leafs fans have seen that from him already. I would like to see some consistency from him. Then again, he hasn't had much in the way of partners.

Notice the " " ? A little touchy, aren't we?

McDavid wasn't the best player, if anything Matthews was better. Gaudreau definitely was, and so was MacKinnon. Maybe if McDavid tried another move other than that backhand forehand he does every single time he gets a break... I'm not saying he wasn't good, he definitely was, but hands down the best? No way.

Gostisbehere was very, very good. How was he even remotely a reason why they didn't qualify? He scored 4 points and was +4. And don't give me the +,- doesn't matter bull. Look at the stats page and all the players with the most points were all +, and all the players with no points were all minus. You want to know who was a reason? Seth Jones, he was awful. Ryan Murray wasn't great either. They didn't advance because they didn't take Russia seriously enough before it was too late, because they ran through everyone else like they were playing an AHL team.

And you'll forgive me if I don't give a flying (frank) about what Steve Simmons has to say, he's worse than Larry Brooks.
- Wetbandit1

Wow, I agree with this whole post, except Matthews wasn't better than McDavid.

Wow, I agree with this whole post, except Matthews wasn't better than McDavid.
- Aetherial

That's fair. I was saying it more in the sense that the other poster made it seem like anyone who didn't think McDavid was the best was dumb. There's a bright future and present for the NHL that's for sure. A new golden age perhaps? You could definitely tell that Gaudreau has more experience than most of the team though. He seemed much more even throughout.

What amazes me is that anyone gives a poop.

The internet is the worst place on earth

What amazes me is that anyone gives a poop.

The internet is the worst place on earth
- Ripped Fuel

Fair enough...But why are you here?

I was thinking the same thing . Seems he let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL . I could understand him holding back as to not get hurt,(or maybe he didn't) but I still hoped to see more of him. All eyes were on the 1st overall pics. That could have played something into it too. Thursday and Friday are gonna be some good games
- cabin

"He let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL."

Are you implying that Eichel allowed this? Like he had something to do with the actual decision process. More like he just wasn't the best of the bunch. In your next post you say he was put on the 4th line due to potential injury. If he was injured he wouldn't be playing. Do you think there's even a remote possibility that he was on the 4th line because the other players were thought of as being better by the coaching staff?

Not that it has any bearing on his career, or even this coming season, but he was way down the list of best forwards for NA. There is just no other reasonable way to put it.
- Aetherial

Exactly. Some will try and find any reason than the most obvious one.

"He let the younger crowd prove their worth in the NHL."

Are you implying that Eichel allowed this? Like he had something to do with the actual decision process. More like he just wasn't the best of the bunch. In your next post you say he was put on the 4th line due to potential injury. If he was injured he wouldn't be playing. Do you think there's even a remote possibility that he was on the 4th line because the other players were thought of as being better by the coaching staff?
- Cptmjl

He seemed timid , not a good series for him. Expected more, others looked better than him.

Don't know why and don't care.

Fair enough...But why are you here?
- EugenesAxe

Because this USED TO BE the Buffalo Sabres blog..its become the Auston Matthews fan club blog.

Hasn't played a single game and I'm truly hoping he loses a leg in a traffic accident.

Because this USED TO BE the Buffalo Sabres blog..its become the Auston Matthews fan club blog.

Hasn't played a single game and I'm truly hoping he loses a leg in a traffic accident.
- Ripped Fuel

GARTH'S CORNER: Jack's Back
- garth

Your obsession with this guy is unhealthy and raises questions ......

Garf, did Eichel play in the World Cup?

Because this USED TO BE the Buffalo Sabres blog..its become the Auston Matthews fan club blog.

Hasn't played a single game and I'm truly hoping he loses a leg in a traffic accident.
- Ripped Fuel