GDT: #12 – Sabres at Isles Sat Feb 9–7:00PM ET– TV: MSG-B – Radio: WGR-AM (Myers may sit)

[Sabre Dance]

I don't think that's the problem. Both Ruff and Myers have said that he's a guy who struggles to add weight/muscle, and all the more so because he's trying to do it without losing his mobility. Which is really hard when you're 6'8". I'm not sure why he always these slow starts, but I don't think it's a problem with off-season training.

He needs to get stronger. He skates really well from what I see, and 5-7lbs of muscle will not hurt him that much. I dont think he is much stronger today then he was at 20. He still gets pushed around by much smaller players.

 

[BWidz8930]

No, Brennan will bring more offence to the table than TM will.

You're basing this on what exactly? Not only does Brennan struggle to get his shot on net, he can't carry the puck up the ice. He's got 1 point in 15 career games, playing almost exclusively in an offensive-zone start/PP role. Comparing him to MAG is really not a stretch at this point.

 

[HockeyH3aven]

You're basing this on what exactly? Not only does Brennan struggle to get his shot on net, he can't carry the puck up the ice. He's got 1 point in 15 career games, playing almost exclusively in an offensive-zone start/PP role. Comparing him to MAG is really not a stretch at this point.

Agreed. He's like the defenseman version of Mancari. Very good AHL player, just not enough natural talent to be a consistent NHL player. That being said, 15 games is still a tiny sample size for a young player, even a multi-year pro. He may still become a solid NHL defender, but for somebody touted as an offensive guy you'd think there would be signs. Even MAG made you go "wow" sometimes with his play in the offensive zone. Brennan has done absolutely nothing to show he can produce offense at the NHL level.

 

[CrankyJay]

Hopefully this jumpstarts Myers again.

Wasn't he benched last year you for a game or two? Then he came out with the best game of his life and leveled off again.

 

[tsujimoto74]

He needs to get stronger. He skates really well from what I see, and 5-7lbs of muscle will not hurt him that much. I dont think he is much stronger today then he was at 20. He still gets pushed around by much smaller players.

Did I say he doesn't need to get stronger? No, I said the kid has a hard time putting on weight/muscle (though I don't believe it's for a lack of effort), particularly because his best asset is his skating and he doesn't want to lose that.

He was a project when we picked him, and he's still a work in progress now. I have no problem being patient with Myers, because I feel his upside is 100% worth the wait and the struggles. I'm just hoping Ruff doesn't completely ruin him.

 

[chadthestampede]

Agreed. He's like the defenseman version of Mancari. Very good AHL player, just not enough natural talent to be a consistent NHL player. That being said, 15 games is still a tiny sample size for a young player, even a multi-year pro. He may still become a solid NHL defender, but for somebody touted as an offensive guy you'd think there would be signs. Even MAG made you go "wow" sometimes with his play in the offensive zone. Brennan has done absolutely nothing to show he can produce offense at the NHL level.

As is "Wow, that was terrible."

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

As is "Wow, that was terrible."

??? MAG was great offensively, just a complete liability defensively

 

[HockeyH3aven]

As is "Wow, that was terrible."

As much as people like to pile on him, early on MAG was producing well on the powerplay. He made some nice passes and could carry the puck. He looked solid in the playoff series against Philadelphia from an offensive standpoint.

Hockey Canada was impressed enough with him that he made Team Canada for the World Championships that off-season. Obviously it's nowhere near the Olympic team, but even at that level most of the guys who made the team were good to very good NHL players.

The only thing Brennan has done is put some dents in the end boards/glass.

 

[jBuds]

Wasn't he benched last year you for a game or two? Then he came out with the best game of his life and leveled off again.

I thought he was playing well after the scratch until he got hurt? Could be wrong. All of the slop is one big pile the last two+ years

 

[Sabre Dance]

Did I say he doesn't need to get stronger? No, I said the kid has a hard time putting on weight/muscle (though I don't believe it's for a lack of effort), particularly because his best asset is his skating and he doesn't want to lose that.

He was a project when we picked him, and he's still a work in progress now. I have no problem being patient with Myers, because I feel his upside is 100% worth the wait and the struggles. I'm just hoping Ruff doesn't completely ruin him.

WHy does everyone blame Ruff? He lets Myers play. Most of Myers mental mistakes come by trying to do too much with the puck or being too aggressive on his pinch.

Why not stop this stuff for now, let him concentrate on being a defensive minded player until he learns to make better decisions. Work on making him a shut down defensive player rather than a do it all player. I would rather him be more conservative and shutdown then be a 50+ point player right now. Too much on his plate IMO.

 

[HockeyH3aven]

WHy does everyone blame Ruff? He lets Myers play. Most of Myers mental mistakes come by trying to do too much with the puck or being too aggressive on his pinch.

Why not stop this stuff for now, let him concentrate on being a defensive minded player until he learns to make better decisions. Work on making him a shut down defensive player rather than a do it all player. I would rather him be more conservative and shutdown then be a 50+ point player right now. Too much on his plate IMO.

Ruff is his coach. Since Myers has played under Ruff, he's gotten worse and worse every year. He is having problems he never had in his rookie year. His offensive game has completely disappeared, he has developed bad habits (reaching and not skating).

I think you have to blame some of that on the coach. Myers has all the tools and as a rookie was as composed and confident as any vet. Since then he has only gotten worse. Coaching has a large part to do with that IMO.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Ruff is his coach. Since Myers has played under Ruff, he's gotten worse and worse every year. He is having problems he never had in his rookie year. His offensive game has completely disappeared, he has developed bad habits (reaching and not skating).

I think you have to blame some of that on the coach. Myers has all the tools and as a rookie was as composed and confident as any vet. Since then he has only gotten worse. Coaching has a large part to do with that IMO.

Maybe its more about teams knowing Myers better. Maybe he will never be a huge offensive threat ever again. What I care about more is that he becomes a shutdown defensive player. If he can be a mix of McKee and Campbell in the future, then great, but right now I would like to see him play a more simple game.

I guess that would be blaming Ruff also because IMO RUff wants him attacking, although some fans here think otherwise. Myers is ultra aggressive and its hurting him. IMO he is the same player from his rookie year but teams play him differently now that they know what he wants to do. Plus Miller isnt saving him anymore like he did his rookie year.

 

[CrankyJay]

I thought he was playing well after the scratch until he got hurt? Could be wrong. All of the slop is one big pile the last two+ years

Yeah...that's right. He got hurt for being overly aggressive. He swung the pendulum all the way over on the other side.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

He needs to get stronger. He skates really well from what I see, and 5-7lbs of muscle will not hurt him that much. I dont think he is much stronger today then he was at 20. He still gets pushed around by much smaller players.

I disagree with this. I never see him get overpowered, but I see people basically skate circles around him pretty often. When he does decide to move people, they get moved.

I'm of the opinion that whatever he's doing in strength training is doing him no good on the ice. He's not going to be Pronger. He should work on what he excels at, and that's speed.


Anyhow, I think benching him is a good move and I hope it has the same effect as it did last time. Without the suspension.

 

[sabrescupchamps2099]

Well, its been confirmed. Myers is sitting and Kaleta, Sekera are back.

I wanted to say here that tonight would be an easy game for the Sabres since the Isles are struggling even worse than we are. (any pro team that loses against their own farm team in a scrimmage obviously has problems); but you know the Sabres will always find a way to mess a game up. 4-3 Isles. Sabres struggle in the 3rd period again and fail to tie.

 

[5 Minute Major]

He had a good game when he played with Pardy. I didn't think Myer's last game was any good.

I didn't think he was very good, either.

 

[thefifagod]

Big win on Thursday
Can we play with confidence?
Here comes a letdown

Sabres come out strong in the first but can't get a goal, crumble in the second again, lose 3-2.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

Well, its been confirmed. Myers is sitting and Kaleta, Sekera are back.

I wanted to say here that tonight would be an easy game for the Sabres since the Isles are struggling even worse than we are. (any pro team that loses against their own farm team in a scrimmage obviously has problems); but you know the Sabres will always find a way to mess a game up. 4-3 Isles. Sabres struggle in the 3rd period again and fail to tie.

Just as a side note, the Bruins also lost to their farm team in a scrimmage.

 

[Woodhouse]

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday
Nabokov makes 7th straight start in goal. Visnovsky and Bailey in, Cizikas back in. Boulton, Reasoner, Finley out for #Isles.

Link: https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/300359864889274368

 

[sabrescupchamps2099]

Just as a side note, the Bruins also lost to their farm team in a scrimmage.

That I didn't know.

laugh at my stupidity.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

The benching last year jumpstarted Myers...and then he got hurt. While Leopold has been ****, if the benching works again this year there is more to gain by scratching Myers, and then bringing him back next game and sitting Leopold.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Leopold Sulzer
A pair to make us all cringe
Tavares kills us

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I say 2-1 us. Maybe the message sent cvia bench (disclaimer: MAYBE) will do something.

 

[Chainshot]

Under-over on breakaway goals by Grabner tonight set at 1.5. I'll take the over.

 

[Woodhouse]

Note: OP Additions - A/V

Err, post #4 ... 2.09 – Lindy Ruff speaks with the media following Buffalo's morning skate. <4:04>