Can't wait until Nolan is just gone
Not defending Nolan but no coach stands a chance with this team.
Can't wait until Nolan is just gone
And listening to Hamilton right now on WGR. Murray hasn't been any happier with the teams play than Nolan is.
Not defending Nolan but no coach stands a chance with this team.
I disagree. Many of these guys performed better just last season, among them Ennis, Stafford, Hodgson, and Moulson. You know, 4 of the "top 6".
The crazy thing was that they had a number of pretty good scoring chances but couldn't bury it. Boston had a couple of seeing-eye shots from the point. I like Enroth, but the big goalies are better able to see those screened shots through traffic. And Boston is great at creating screens. Rayzor is right about this point - we have enough big boys on this roster that they should be doing a better job of screening the goalie. Moulson, Stafford, Stewart, Foligno, Deslauriers all need to park it in the paint and let guys like Ennis, Risto, Myers, Gionta, etc. try to get the puck to the crease. The Sabres had a positive Corsi for at least the 1st period, but it didn't amount to anything.
Some other observations:
• I want to like Stewart, but he is a giveaway machine. I noticed it in the Florida game, and then again tonight. He makes a lot of passes that don't connect or shots that get blocked and then wind up in rushes going the wrong way. He needs to simplify his game and keep it close to the net.
• Meszaros is absolutely brutal. They need to bench him, if not waive him, immediately. Benoit too. I'd like to see Zads and then Pysyk after he gets a few more games in Rochester. Maybe they could bring back Rory Fitzpatrick. I guess McBain is in Russia.
• Foligno was pretty invisible tonight. He's ridiculously inconsistent with his effort. He needs to get serious.
I disagree. Many of these guys performed better just last season, among them Ennis, Stafford, Hodgson, and Moulson. You know, 4 of the "top 6".
The Sabres played two home games this weekend and this 47 year old man has scored more than they have.......if you know what I mean.
Which is why I get a tad nervous about him playing with Stewart. A player thats never shaken that label of inconsistent player.
You're implying that Nolan is the cause of these guys' poor play? Then your point must be that Ron Rolston got much more out of those players...
EDIT: Maybe I misinterpreted. On first review it seemed like you were trashing Nolan for the team's poor play rather than pointing out that this team simply played better (at times) last year than it's playing currently.
As he should be, it's unacceptable. I have never been so irritated since this rebuild started.
I'm quickly getting there. His message wore thin faster than I thought it would.Can't wait until Nolan is just gone
Yep, that's all I was saying.
Still, since the start of Nolan's tenure last year through to tonight, I have gone from being a big supporter to climbing on the fence with concern for his apparent favouritism toward a single dimension of playing styles, to leaping firmly down on the side of thinking that Nolan himself is a very one-dimensional coach.
And possibly not so suited after all to this team.
False hope.
Cody Hodgson in his post game interview talked about how the are better coached this year than last. That its night and day on the PP. That the coaches are coming up with different plays to try and create scoring chances. The team is finally execute them properly but they can't finish right now. That they need to keep plugging away and things will finally break. But that they are very frustrated.
Yep, that's all I was saying.
Still, since the start of Nolan's tenure last year through to tonight, I have gone from being a big supporter to climbing on the fence with concern for his apparent favouritism toward a single dimension of playing styles, to leaping firmly down on the side of thinking that Nolan himself is a very one-dimensional coach.
And possibly not so suited after all to this team.
From what I can see, I think he's right. Their breakout attempts are much better this year. They have more movement and creativity on the PP and their zone entries are much better, and they have much better puck support (most games) than last year. People who aren't seeing that either aren't watching close enough or are blinded with anti-Nolan bias.
Cody Hodgson in his post game interview talked about how the are better coached this year than last. That its night and day on the PP. That the coaches are coming up with different plays to try and create scoring chances. That the team is finally executing them properly but they can't finish right now. That they need to keep plugging away and things will finally break. But that they are very frustrated.
I've been a Nolan supporter since the day he came back (I know - bandwagoner, right?) The 'one-dimensional' style of play is sort of a chicken/egg argument for me. Nolan definitely preaches a certain style of physical, gritty, dirty areas play. That's certainly not every player's forte but I think part of the reason he's pushing that style so hard is because there are so few roster players with the talent to play (and win) a different game. When you can't complete two or more tape to tape passes in a row, it's gonna be tough to create those highlight reel plays - that's when you've gotta start throwing everything at the net and hoping a rebound is scooped up by the guy pulling a Brett Hull with one skate in the crease.