Myers

[stokes84]

It is only preseason, but the form Myers is showing has me thinking. What if he blossoms into the player we all envisioned his rookie season? What does that do to the idea of the rebuild? How good can this team be if he is great, now and in the future?

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[struckbyaparkedcar]

It ends the rebuild and turns us into one of those young playoff teams that nobody wants to play even though we probably aren't winning the Cup, until we figure out how good the 15-16 crew actually are.

 

[haseoke39]

It sets us up to be a dominant defensive team in 3 years or so. We need to surround him, still. In the short term, it puts us in the playoff hunt.

 

[vcv]

It potentially allows the team to include another young defenseman as a trading chip in a blockbuster trade to get better up front.

It would also put them into a playoff spot, almost certainly.

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

Myers is definitely the lynch pin to our future. If he turns it on and maintains this consistency into the regular season, then the Sabres will win more games right away and possibly help cut the rebuild down. There are, of course, other factors centering around our rookies. Give them time to develop and there is no doubt this crew can contend.


Until he shows that consistency, i am afraid I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Myers to retreat back into his shell. I only pray he proves me wrong.

 

[jBuds]

Look no further than how tough it is to play against a top defenseman in the playoffs (Chara)

When you have a guy that dominant, pushing 30 mins of ToI...half the game, the other team has to stay on one half of the ice away from him.

The value of a top tier defenseman of that kind is immeasurable. I can't stress it enough. It makes your goalie look all-world and your D corps as a whole look allstar caliber. Get the other guys on the blueline to block some shots and stay disciplined positionally, and you become a very tough team to play against, as opponents' top guys are neutralized.

Only the deep teams with 3.5 lines that can come at you will pose a threat.

But Myers is not even close to there yet.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Biggest difference I see is Myers is playing the body rather than stick check. One play pops in my mind he was 1 on 1 with someone in front of the net and he just physically handled him instead of trying to knock the puck away.

Myers is not back, he is starting to become what we wanted him to be. A #1 physically hard to play against D. His offensive play will follow with confidence in his D zone.

 

[ZZamboni]

Look no further than how tough it is to play against a top defenseman in the playoffs (Chara)

When you have a guy that dominant, pushing 30 mins of ToI...half the game, the other team has to stay on one half of the ice away from him.

The value of a top tier defenseman of that kind is immeasurable. I can't stress it enough. It makes your goalie look all-world and your D corps as a whole look allstar caliber. Get the other guys on the blueline to block some shots and stay disciplined positionally, and you become a very tough team to play against, as opponents' top guys are neutralized.

Only the deep teams with 3.5 lines that can come at you will pose a threat.

But Myers is not even close to there yet.

Agree.

I am pessimistic so far. Myers stringing together a few preseason games does nothing for me. 20-30 games into the regular season, if he looks good, I'll start to breath a sigh of relief as to him STARTING to turn things around for good. Starting.

 

[jc17]

Agree.

I am pessimistic so far. Myers stringing together a few preseason games does nothing for me. 20-30 games into the regular season, if he looks good, I'll start to breath a sigh of relief as to him STARTING to turn things around for good. Starting.

I disagree.

Normally I would be pessimistic about a rebounding players as well but it is a different situation.

Its not like he's a forward that scored some goals and might have been lucky doing so. He is a defenseman that doesn't look lost, and looks fast and skilled with the puck and strong with out it.

When you say 'Myers stringing together a few preseason games", it sounds like he's made some nice plays and gotten a little lucky. I think he's playing well altogether and whether he makes nice plays or not will be a lot better this season.

 

[gallagt01]

I haven't caught a single preseason game so I can't comment on Myers' apparent resurgence thus far. I know he can be a dominant hockey player, and I'm hoping that's where he's headed.

I can say, however, that he seemed very, very composed - more so than ever - in his post-game interview with Duff after Wednesday night's victory.

He seemed mature and he carried himself like a leader. It was refreshing to see him take charge like that.

 

[Chainshot]

Pleased by what he's done in pre-season, eager to see how he handles things over the long-haul.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Pleased by what he's done in pre-season, eager to see how he handles things over the long-haul.

He's definitely had more jump to his step and seems more willing to rush the puck. I think the forwards being more cognizant of their responsibilities has helped with his confidence.

 

[ZZamboni]

I disagree.

Normally I would be pessimistic about a rebounding players as well but it is a different situation.

Its not like he's a forward that scored some goals and might have been lucky doing so. He is a defenseman that doesn't look lost, and looks fast and skilled with the puck and strong with out it.

When you say 'Myers stringing together a few preseason games", it sounds like he's made some nice plays and gotten a little lucky. I think he's playing well altogether and whether he makes nice plays or not will be a lot better this season.

Sorry if you interpreted what I typed into something I didn't type. He has nicely strung together a few preseason games. Your opinion is fine. Mine is what I typed.

 

[FamilyGuy716]

Agree.

I am pessimistic so far. Myers stringing together a few preseason games does nothing for me. 20-30 games into the regular season, if he looks good, I'll start to breath a sigh of relief as to him STARTING to turn things around for good. Starting.

I'm optimistic so far. It's early but Myers looks great.

 

[stokes84]

When you say 'Myers stringing together a few preseason games", it sounds like he's made some nice plays and gotten a little lucky. I think he's playing well altogether and whether he makes nice plays or not will be a lot better this season.

I like this point. He looks like a different player. Often last year, it seemed like he was uncoordinated, but so far he's looked super strong on his skates. It's not a random play here and there, it's a presence he is exuding.

 

[enthusiast]

If Myers were to become the Norris contender we'd dreamed of, it'd give the Sabres the Chara/Keith/Doughty to fit the mold.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I'm optimistic so far. It's early but Myers looks great.

This is where I'm at. If he were going to be as bad as last season, there's no way he'd look anything like he has in the preseason. There aren't any guarantees he can maintain this level of play against regular NHL competition, but I'm sure as hell excited to watch for it.

 

[Chainshot]

He's definitely had more jump to his step and seems more willing to rush the puck. I think the forwards being more cognizant of their responsibilities has helped with his confidence.

Rolston just getting guys to come back like they should last season helped all the defense. We know he'll hold people accountable with ice-time, so it's likely they'll keep it up or sit. Myers was best when joining the rush and just going, rather than worrying about being back, etc... Ehrhoff seems like a real easy partner for many of these guys, so those two together ought to be easy too.

Perhaps last year going off the rails proves a growth opportunity for Myers and he begins to fulfill all that potential. It wouldn't be the first time someone has had to overcome something to get there.

 

[Jacob582]

Forget where Calder Trophy Myers went. Where did preseason Myers go?

Many people have said it. Myers is reaching too much and not taking the body. It was evident on 2 different puck carriers (Brewer, Killorn) on the GWG.

I was thinking, to train Myers to move his feet and not reach to poke check so much they should give him a 4 foot hockey stick to practice with.

Back when I was in college I watched a couple hockey practices. They used to have the penalty killers play with their butt end of the stick down (no blade). I didn't understand it and assumed it was so the PPlayers could practice their puck movement. Today, I'm thinking it is good practice for the defenders to use body position and take the body instead of relying on poke checks.

 

[Chainshot]

I haven't had all that much issue with Myers since the start to the season, including last night. There were a few times he hurled people off the puck, including the one where he blasted Stamkos to the ice and drew a penalty. He hasn't been without mistakes, but then again, no defenseman is mistake free.

 

[Crazy Tasty]

I haven't had all that much issue with Myers since the start to the season, including last night. There were a few times he hurled people off the puck, including the one where he blasted Stamkos to the ice and drew a penalty. He hasn't been without mistakes, but then again, no defenseman is mistake free.

except for Smehlik.

 

[Paxon]

I haven't had all that much issue with Myers since the start to the season, including last night. There were a few times he hurled people off the puck, including the one where he blasted Stamkos to the ice and drew a penalty. He hasn't been without mistakes, but then again, no defenseman is mistake free.

Agreed. He doesn't look as dominating as he did in the preseason, but he's more or less "good Myers". Let's take it from there. I'm more concerned with his choices in the offensive zone, especially on the PP. He has a fairly strong wrister and should be using that to get shots through rather than abuse the glass with a slapshot.

 

[Jame]

I haven't had all that much issue with Myers since the start to the season, including last night. There were a few times he hurled people off the puck, including the one where he blasted Stamkos to the ice and drew a penalty. He hasn't been without mistakes, but then again, no defenseman is mistake free.

neither have I...

He's been pillaged by those running the asylum for a couple plays that were not his fault.
- The late goal against vs Ottawa is completely on Ennis. Myers was executing the system, Ennis was not.
- The Tampa OT goal... not sure what everyone was blaming Myers for on that one. Tampa got a lucky bounce and Vanek was floating... both had more impact then Myers getting slightly turned around on a quick play.

 

[Jame]

[/B]

except for Smehlik.

seconded

 

[Chainshot]

Agreed. He doesn't look as dominating as he did in the preseason, but he's more or less "good Myers". Let's take it from there. I'm more concerned with his choices in the offensive zone, especially on the PP. He has a fairly strong wrister and should be using that to get shots through rather than abuse the glass with a slapshot.

Yeah, he could be simplying things a bit on the PP -- he's not the only one who looks like they are pressing out there either.

He's had what, four different partners in four games? I've hated McBain with everyone -- except on the PP -- and the goals against the other night are at his feet. Last night's GWG... there was so much bad on that play with the entire four man unit that I can't put it on Myers singlularly nor even secondarily. Would I like to see him single-handedly turn that play the other way? **** yeah. But I'm not down on him for his entire body of work this season because of a small sample of plays.