Centers. Does anyone realize....

thomas vanek

Registered User
Sep 19, 2005
397
58
That at the moment we have the 12th and 16th highest scoring centers in the league? So it would be perfectly accurate to say that we have two top-20 centers at the moment, and they're both young. I like this.
 

Fire Lindy

Trust the System
Jan 3, 2011
3,835
0
You could say we have two top 20 centers in scoring at the moment through 15 games, but we don't have one top 20 center at the moment imo. They aren't good enough defensively to be considered top centers. To me, your top center has to be good both ways or be exceptionally good offensively (stamkos).

I do feel really good about Hodgson though.
 
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zenthusiast

cybersabre his prophet
Oct 20, 2009
19,173
6,712
Two top-20 offensive centers, this year? Sure. All-around I'd say we have 0 in any given year. Maybe Hodgson gets there next year.
 

kirby11

Registered User
Mar 16, 2011
10,150
5,078
Buffalo, NY
Ennis is the second coming

Not sure if serious or trolling people who think ennis is that good...
And our center situation is still not that good although I think Hodgson is on the path to becoming a good #1. Ennis, not so much. I really don't see him as a viable, long term solution as the 2nd guy, either. He's just such a defensive liability. I'd prefer we get another guy who can be the 2nd line center/take tough defensive minutes so ennis can either center a 3rd scoring line or move back to top 6 as a winger
 
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Zip15

Registered User
Jun 3, 2009
28,135
5,431
Bodymore
Isn't that where Darcy got in trouble with his "two top-20 centers comment?" I believe he relied on PPG to rationalize it.
 

kcoxsabresfan

Registered User
May 4, 2010
195
9
You could say we have two top 20 centers in scoring at the moment through 15 games, but we don't have one top 20 center at the moment imo. They aren't good enough defensively to be considered top centers. To me, your top center has to be good both ways or be exceptionally good offensively.

I do feel really good about Hodgson though.

Agreed
 

lifeisruff

Registered User
Oct 29, 2009
1,854
70
wny
Production,Roy was always in the top 20 among centers, of course Hodgson is only in his second year, so we can still hope for more.
 

Rhett4

Buffalo Selects Jack
Jul 9, 2002
13,125
0
Amerks #ROC
Production,Roy was always in the top 20 among centers, of course Hodgson is only in his second year, so we can still hope for more.

Roy was also defensively responsible, too. He didn't have the best attitude, but he was a solid, 70-point 1B center in this league. The problem was that the Sabres never had the 2A center necessary to provide depth down the middle. Oh Connolly...
 

tsujimoto74

Moderator
May 28, 2012
30,635
23,420
Ennis hasn't been getting much love here lately (I get it, he's a small one-way player, not the "kind of player you win with," etc.), but he's by FAR the most productive player we have outside of VHP. He's been doing a commendable job this year in a secondary scoring role where he's no longer getting easy match-ups.

That said, he still stinks defensively, and Hodgson has a ways to go in that regard too. I don't think either is truly a top 20 center in the league right now. But I'm happy with how both have performed so far this year, and I have really high hopes for Hodgson in particular in the future.
 

NotABadPeriod

ForFriendshipDikembe
Oct 28, 2006
53,068
10,169
Remember guys like Kesler/Spezza have been hurt. But defense does have to factor in somewhat.

It's good to see our young centers produce, that's for sure.
 

stokes84

Registered User
Jun 30, 2008
19,444
4,375
Charleston, SC
Ennis being a sinkhole defensively is a myth. He'll never be a selke candidate, but he's not nearly as bad as people make it out.
 

Fire Lindy

Trust the System
Jan 3, 2011
3,835
0
Briere was a defensive liability and everyone loved him, not sure why ennis gets so much hate. If he produces who cares

Briere was also producing at more than a PPG for us, can't really complain about defense when you're putting up elite numbers.

I do agree that the Ennis hate is unwarranted though, he's doing exactly what he was drafted to do. Blame Darcy for not acquiring a center that we can count on defensively, Ennis is more suited as a winger IMO, even though he has produced quite well as a center. No one should be complaining about Ennis' game so far though, he's been the most productive player outside of the top line.
 

ZZamboni

Puttin' on the Foil
Sep 25, 2010
15,399
1,449
Buffalo, NY
I don't know where anyone on this forum is reading most of the comments regarding Ennis, and then being intellectually honest with yourself, you come to the logical conclusion that there's actual honest to god "hate" for him.

:loony:


I've seen critical judgements, or opinions. I've seen facts. I've seen predictions of his future. I've seen trade proposals.

I can't seem to find enough hateful comments to count on one hand regarding Ennis overall as a Sabre. Little snide comments during games is just knee jerk snap observations. Not overall hatred for the guy :dunno:
 

cybresabre

prōject positivity
Feb 27, 2002
9,576
1,496
+
Hodgson is tied for 4th in the league (any position) with 13 even strength points.
 

Myllz

RELEASE THE KRAKEN
Jan 16, 2006
19,621
1,424
Vegas
Right now we have one top 20 center mainly because of his linemates, and one top 20 winger who's currently playing center out of necessity. Hodgson has potential to stay top 20 for his career, but Ennis should go back to the wing when other centers are on the roster.
 

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