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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Pachla: The pangs of growing pains. Plus, the Skinner situation
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jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:01 PM ET
No of course his development is stagnant since his good stretch of games. Idk what the issue is, I’d assume it’s a mix of confidence being shot and the lack of consistency in his linemates. I do see a guy who has a good shot (albeit he needs to get it off quicker) and good hands. He has very good raw skills but he needs to find a way to be able to put him self in positions to use his assets properly. If Reinhart had Thompson’s shot he’d be a perennial 35 goal scorer. Thompson needs to develop his short area quickness, and more weight to his frame so he doesn’t get pushed off of pucks so easily, try to be more consistent with his play. He has shown glimpses of why Botts traded for him but the problem like everyone here has noted is that it’s very few and far between.
- Pegullaville


That’s a reasonable assessment
It’s just frustrating to watch him rip the puck wide so damn often
Maybe that is confidence, or he’s just gripping to tight, etc
Regardless...
i think sending him down to Rochester is the best move at this point

And imo,
It’s fair to question if he’ll ever put it all together to be a 25goal scorer
Could he still?
Of course
Hopefully I’m wrong
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:02 PM ET
Loves cocaine! (know from experience)
- CoHo_to_B-Lo


He’s been sober for a while now according to him
But yeah, back in the day...
i know for fact about a lot of stuff Peters would get into
CoHo_to_B-Lo
Buffalo Sabres
Location: East Amherst, NY
Joined: 02.29.2012

Feb 27 @ 2:03 PM ET
He’s been sober for a while now according to him
But yeah, back in the day...
i know for fact about a lot of stuff Peters would get into

- jdfitz77



Yeah this was 5-6 years ago. Had some pretty crazy nights with that guy
CoHo_to_B-Lo
Buffalo Sabres
Location: East Amherst, NY
Joined: 02.29.2012

Feb 27 @ 2:03 PM ET
He’s been sober for a while now according to him
But yeah, back in the day...
i know for fact about a lot of stuff Peters would get into

- jdfitz77



Actually your bar..... or old bar.
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Feb 27 @ 2:05 PM ET
He should no matter what his usage is
That’s a ridiculous statement on your part

- jdfitz77


Not really.

You're saying it's okay to play Sobotka over him. They have matching point totals and Sobotka plays about 3m more a game on top of 6 whole games where Tage was sitting.

You say that Tage should sit because he's losing to a goalie in his recent stat line. I'm asking why it's unacceptable for Tage, a 20 year old who is essentially just finishing his rookie year, but is okay for a 31 year old.

Again, I reiterate, if he was being used properly his stat line would beat any goalie , making that argument superfluous.
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:13 PM ET
Actually your bar..... or old bar.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo


Old Bar i used to work at
But it wasn’t limited to that
I’d see guys around town quite a bit back in the day
Some were just into drinking & girls
Some partied a bit harder

I don’t really wanna spread sh!t,
especially specifics
But it’s pretty well known that Peters used to have a really good time while out on the town
He was always a pretty funny guy though
He was non-stop quoting movies all the time back then too
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Feb 27 @ 2:14 PM ET
That’s a reasonable assessment
It’s just frustrating to watch him rip the puck wide so damn often
Maybe that is confidence, or he’s just gripping to tight, etc
Regardless...
i think sending him down to Rochester is the best move at this point

And imo,
It’s fair to question if he’ll ever put it all together to be a 25goal scorer
Could he still?
Of course
Hopefully I’m wrong

- jdfitz77


Last thing I promise. Pinky promise.

He's 21, not 20 sorry, just turned. He's played the majority of his time with a combo of ZG, Larry, Okposo and Sobotka. He averages 12m per game.

Is there a much worse situation for him to be in? I mean if he wasn't going to light the world on fire, he was pretty much destined to fail from day 1 right?

I will give a 21 year old kid who has 95 games under his belt a little more time as you suggested. I hope, and think, you are wrong lol. Hope I'm right.

Khmylev
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I'll take some olives on my pizza!, NY
Joined: 03.13.2015

Feb 27 @ 2:15 PM ET
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:16 PM ET
Not really.

You're saying it's okay to play Sobotka over him. They have matching point totals and Sobotka plays about 3m more a game on top of 6 whole games where Tage was sitting.

You say that Tage should sit because he's losing to a goalie in his recent stat line. I'm asking why it's unacceptable for Tage, a 20 year old who is essentially just finishing his rookie year, but is okay for a 31 year old.

Again, I reiterate, if he was being used properly his stat line would beat any goalie , making that argument superfluous.

- RhinoFan


Wtf are u talking about?
I’ve never said anything like that
I hate Sobatka in the top9
I’ve literally been beating it to death on here since the moment he was traded

The only one comparing Tage & Sobatka is YOU

Sobatka blows so bad i don’t even spell his name right! 😂😂😂
The ONLY instance he should play over Tage is in a line4 role, and on the PK
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:18 PM ET
Last thing I promise. Pinky promise.

He's 21, not 20 sorry, just turned. He's played the majority of his time with a combo of ZG, Larry, Okposo and Sobotka. He averages 12m per game.

Is there a much worse situation for him to be in? I mean if he wasn't going to light the world on fire, he was pretty much destined to fail from day 1 right?

I will give a 21 year old kid who has 95 games under his belt a little more time as you suggested. I hope, and think, you are wrong lol. Hope I'm right.

- RhinoFan


Yeah, he’s in a tough spot
Not saying he isn’t
But the thing that Tage supporters seem to keep ignoring is that when he does get chances, he isn’t cashing in

That’s not Sobatka’s or Girgs’ or anyone else’s fault

When Tage shoots wide or fumbles the puck,
it’s on HIM


And of course he needs more time & could still develop into something
But... if (for example) the Ducks had wanted him instead of Guhle,
I wouldn’t have hesitated to include him in a trade like that
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:25 PM ET
If Simmonds falls to us in the 2nd round,
he’d be a beast of a DT to add

I still like Devin White a lot at #9 if we don’t trade back
Having 2 stud LBs would not be a bad thing
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 27 @ 2:39 PM ET
Yeah, he’s in a tough spot
Not saying he isn’t
But the thing that Tage supporters seem to keep ignoring is that when he does get chances, he isn’t cashing in

That’s not Sobatka’s or Girgs’ or anyone else’s fault

When Tage shoots wide or fumbles the puck,
it’s on HIM


And of course he needs more time & could still develop into something
But... if (for example) the Ducks had wanted him instead of Guhle,
I wouldn’t have hesitated to include him in a trade like that

- jdfitz77

Here’s what you are missing or just refusing to acknowledge because you don’t like him.

His teammates give him 0, absolutely 0 help on the scoresheet.

He’s played a total of 45 minutes with Reinhart and Skinner and has 2 goals and a primary assist. Which by minute is a PPG basically ( no I’m not saying he’s a PPG player)

With Sobotka he has 4 goals and 2 primary assists.......in over 300 minutes

Thompson also has 0 secondary assists. Which means he’s been granted 0 easy points.

His point total is bad. It doesn’t just doesn’t 100% reflect what he has done.
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:45 PM ET
Here’s what you are missing or just refusing to acknowledge because you don’t like him.

His teammates give him 0, absolutely 0 help on the scoresheet.

He’s played a total of 45 minutes with Reinhart and Skinner and has 2 goals and a primary assist. Which by minute is a PPG basically ( no I’m not saying he’s a PPG player)

With Sobotka he has 4 goals and 2 primary assists.......in over 300 minutes

Thompson also has 0 secondary assists. Which means he’s been granted 0 easy points.

His point total is bad. It doesn’t just doesn’t 100% reflect what he has done.

- sbroads24


Where have i discounted any of that?
In the post u just quoted,
I literally just wrote:

“Yeah, he’s in a tough spot.
Not saying he isn’t”

Here u go,
Literally just making sh!t up AGAIN

Good grief

You KNOW i hate Sobatka
I was the one who bashed him while YOU defended us getting him

However...
you have STILL yet to tell me how it’s anyone’s fault but Tage when he constantly shoots wide
Or doesn’t cash in on all the chances he’s had
Even when he was playing “well”
He wasn’t cashing in on his chances then
Yet you’d say something like,
“It’ll come...”

Well... it’s hasn’t


Yes, he’d have more chances if he played with better players
I never once said he wouldn’t

But u really need to face that he isn’t finishing on the chances he does get
And that’s an issue for him
Plain & simple
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:47 PM ET
Here’s what you are missing or just refusing to acknowledge because you don’t like him.

His teammates give him 0, absolutely 0 help on the scoresheet.

He’s played a total of 45 minutes with Reinhart and Skinner and has 2 goals and a primary assist. Which by minute is a PPG basically ( no I’m not saying he’s a PPG player)

With Sobotka he has 4 goals and 2 primary assists.......in over 300 minutes

Thompson also has 0 secondary assists. Which means he’s been granted 0 easy points.

His point total is bad. It doesn’t just doesn’t 100% reflect what he has done.

- sbroads24



He's not getting a lot of help, but he's not helping himself, either.

He's clearly not a defensive guy, he's not a puck carrier, he is supposed to be a scorer. And yet, as seen here, he has THE WORST SHOOTING PERCENTAGE of all the team's forwards not named Zemgus, Vladimir (or oddly, Rodger).



He's part of the problem, not just a victim of it.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 27 @ 2:52 PM ET
Where have i discounted any of that?
In the post u just quoted,
I literally just wrote:

“Yeah, he’s in a tough spot.
Not saying he isn’t”

Here u go,
Literally just making sh!t up AGAIN

Good grief

You KNOW i hate Sobatka
I was the one who bashed him while YOU defended us getting him

However...
you have STILL yet to tell me how it’s anyone’s fault but Tage when he constantly shoots wide
Or doesn’t cash in on all the chances he’s had
Even when he was playing “well”
He wasn’t cashing in on his chances then
Yet you’d say something like,
“It’ll come...”

Well... it’s hasn’t


Yes, he’d have more chances if he played with better players
I never once said he wouldn’t

But u really need to face that he isn’t finishing on the chances he does get
And that’s an issue for him
Plain & simple

- jdfitz77

I literally said, to you, just yesterday, he isn’t playing well.

Now who’s making stuff up
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Feb 27 @ 2:59 PM ET
I literally said, to you, just yesterday, he isn’t playing well.

Now who’s making stuff up

- sbroads24



PS - Tage's CAREER shooting percentage is lower than his shooting percentage this year.

Somehow, this horrible stretch of play is actually an IMPROVEMENT

https://www.hockey-refere.../players/t/thompta01.html
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 27 @ 3:00 PM ET
He's not getting a lot of help, but he's not helping himself, either.

He's clearly not a defensive guy, he's not a puck carrier, he is supposed to be a scorer. And yet, as seen here, he has THE WORST SHOOTING PERCENTAGE of all the team's forwards not named Zemgus, Vladimir (or oddly, Rodger).



He's part of the problem, not just a victim of it.

- Der Kaiser

Question -

Do you think Jack Eichel or Sam Reinhart have a positive effect on Skinner’s shooting %?

Conversely, would Sobotka have a negative effect?


Tage Thompson shoots at 33% while Reinhart is on the ice with him



sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 27 @ 3:02 PM ET
PS - Tage's CAREER shooting percentage is lower than his shooting percentage this year.

Somehow, this horrible stretch of play is actually an IMPROVEMENT

https://www.hockey-refere.../players/t/thompta01.html

- Der Kaiser

His CAREER consisted of 4th line minutes on St. Louis with guess who has his linemates ??

Vladimir Sobotka and Dinitry Jaskin
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 3:04 PM ET
I literally said, to you, just yesterday, he isn’t playing well.

Now who’s making stuff up

- sbroads24


U keep blaming Sobatka and his other linemates for his struggles

Do i need to go back & quote what you’ve been saying all day?

Here’s a synopsis of what you say about Tage,

“He’s not playing well LATELY”
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
What do u mean?
I just said yesterday Tage isn’t playing well
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka


It’s laughable dude
The guy has been outscored by a goalie
There’s no sugarcoating it

And it’s NO ONE ELSE’S FAULT when Tage consistently doesn’t cash in on the chances he gets
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 3:06 PM ET
Question -

Do you think Jack Eichel or Sam Reinhart have a positive effect on Skinner’s shooting %?

Conversely, would Sobotka have a negative effect?


Tage Thompson shoots at 33% while Reinhart is on the ice with him

- sbroads24


Really?
You’re gonna resort to an extraordinary small sample size to defend your point?
Lol... ok then
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 27 @ 3:06 PM ET
U keep blaming Sobatka and his other linemates for his struggles

Do i need to go back & quote what you’ve been saying all day?

Here’s a synopsis of what you say about Tage,

“He’s not playing well LATELY”
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
What do u mean?
I just said yesterday Tage isn’t playing well
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka
BUT Sobatka


It’s laughable dude
The guy has been outscored by a goalie
There’s no sugarcoating it

And it’s NO ONE ELSE’S FAULT when Tage consistently doesn’t cash in on the chances he gets

- jdfitz77


I forget how insufferable you usually are.

Enjoy your day
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 27 @ 3:09 PM ET
I forget how insufferable you usually are.

Enjoy your day

- sbroads24


I blame my insufferability on Sobatka
It’s clearly all his fault
gordong
Location: NY
Joined: 02.06.2007

Feb 27 @ 4:21 PM ET
Personally I think they need to wait to call anyone up until they are eliminated
from the playoffs, because we all know Phil is not going to give them any chance otherwise.

IT MAKES ZERO SENSE TO CALL ANYONE UP AND PLAY THEM ON THE 4TH LINE

if they are going to call them up, give them an opportunity to actually play and have a chance! if they aren't willing to do that no sense calling up anyone.


and Seriously, if the winning percentage is not better by the end of the year they NEED to FIRED HOUSLEY! IF Not then we have at least 2 more years of sucking ass.

TheHank
Location: Yawn.
Joined: 01.11.2017

Feb 27 @ 4:26 PM ET
Personally I think they need to wait to call anyone up until they are eliminated
from the playoffs, because we all know Phil is not going to give them any chance otherwise.

IT MAKES ZERO SENSE TO CALL ANYONE UP AND PLAY THEM ON THE 4TH LINE

if they are going to call them up, give them an opportunity to actually play and have a chance! if they aren't willing to do that no sense calling up anyone.


and Seriously, if the winning percentage is not better by the end of the year they NEED to FIRED HOUSLEY! IF Not then we have at least 2 more years of sucking ass.

- gordong

All of this. Amen
gordong
Location: NY
Joined: 02.06.2007

Feb 27 @ 4:33 PM ET
I blame my insufferability on Sobatka
It’s clearly all his fault

- jdfitz77


It's actually anyone not named

Dahlin
Ristro
Jack
Skinner
Sam
Mitts
Montour
McCabe
Ullmark


4th line 1
4th line 2
4th line 3


Everyone else can go and I could care less about them, Keep three whoever's for the 4th line.


So currently we have 12 players (and Im being generous), the rest need to go.

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