Player Discussion: Mark S Discussion

[Duke749]

Are you saying that Buff was the voice of accountability instead of the coach?
Could be. He held Kane accountable.

I think Buff’s personality kept everyone grounded and allowed the players to not always take things so serious. I feel something in that room changed when he left that we just can’t replace.

 

[surixon]

I think Buff’s personality kept everyone grounded and allowed the players to not always take things so serious. I feel something in that room changed when he left that we just can’t replace.

Yeah he was very much the good and funny cop. He probably balanced Wheeler's more intense personality.

 

[Orrrules]

Wanting pond hockey and not thinking all players are at their best when grinding in the corners is not the same thing. In the last decade or so, the list of top end players who are at their best playing a grinding style starts and ends with Crosby.

This statement is so crazy I can't even respond to it

 

[Orrrules]

Exactly. He was the one true leader on and off the ice. We have never recovered.

So what did Buff bring out in these guys that is missing

 

[Duke749]

So what did Buff bring out in these guys that is missing

C’mon. This guy was an elite player but for the most part, was just having fun out there. Who wouldn’t want him as a leader or teammate? Especially if some of the guys are real serious(Wheeler even admitted this a couple of years ago). I mean the guy rolled his eyes at the camera in the middle of a puck battle. lol

 

[Orrrules]

C’mon. This guy was an elite player but for the most part, was just having fun out there. Who wouldn’t want him as a leader or teammate? Especially if some of the guys are real serious(Wheeler even admitted this a couple of years ago). I mean the guy rolled his eyes at the camera in the middle of a puck battle. lol

I don't think anyone is saying that Buff wasn't a great teammate, he obviously was but is his absence the reason 55 has given up. How about 81 having a career year or Copp. Why do only some guys suck.

 

[FonRiesen]

Saying that defense, structure and goaltending doesn't is even bigger nonsense.

You're the only one that's oversimplifying and pretending it's about one factor when you said it's 99% perspiration. That's simply not true - it's a shallow sports quasi-aphorism that doesn't hold up. No one is saying pure offense will win a Cup.

The reality is that every additional facet of the game you improve increases your odds of winning (and even then there's no guarantee).

 

[Orrrules]

You're the only one that's oversimplifying and pretending it's about one factor when you said it's 99% perspiration. That's simply not true - it's a shallow sports quasi-aphorism that doesn't hold up. No one is saying pure offense will win a Cup.

The reality is that every additional facet of the game you improve increases your odds of winning (and even then there's no guarantee).

It is that simple, two way hockey, assignment sound and you do that by busting your ass. That takes a tremendous amount of energy and mental focus to play the right way. It's why PLD said the team needs an identity.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

There are rumblings this is an uncoachable group or at least that is a question being asked.

Where is this coming from? I could see a few being uncoachable and Maurice named them last year!

 

[jgimp]

I don't think anyone is saying that Buff wasn't a great teammate, he obviously was but is his absence the reason 55 has given up. How about 81 having a career year or Copp. Why do only some guys suck.

Maybe because it’s only some guys that care? I’m thinking FeFe has that O’Reilly syndrome from a few years back. It happens. It sucks, but it happens

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

This goes without saying - literally.

Sorry I said it then.

Except that when not stated fully, people sometimes misunderstand the cliches, even when they seem obvious.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I think Buff’s personality kept everyone grounded and allowed the players to not always take things so serious. I feel something in that room changed when he left that we just can’t replace.

The humour keeping them loose was 1 thing. Calling out bad play in real time is another.

Buff was/is a real character and was a bigger part of the success we had those first several years than some of us may have realized. I wish he had played out his contract but I respect his decision to do what was best for himself and his family.

 

[surixon]

Wanting pond hockey and not thinking all players are at their best when grinding in the corners is not the same thing. In the last decade or so, the list of top end players who are at their best playing a grinding style starts and ends with Crosby.

Yup amd there is only one Crosby. He also could play pretty much any style and excel at it. It's why he is one of the best players to have ever played.

There is more then one set way to win in this league and thay has been proven time and time again.

No one is saying abandon defense or abandon physical hockey. The team needs a system that optimizes the players they have. I think it's clear that we haven't had that the last three years and the results aren't there as a result.

 

[LowLefty]

Sorry I said it then.

Except that when not stated fully, people sometimes misunderstand the cliches, even when they seem obvious.

Your comment was worth stating - but when you break it down, you need to be good defensively before good offense becomes good defense.

 

[Zippity]

Sheifele and Wheeler felt threatened with Laine here.
Connor is leaving them in his dust this year. I’m sure 55 is having huge issues with that

 

[FFHockey]

And here you have it!

 

[BobTheSolarsystem]

Sheifele and Wheeler felt threatened with Laine here.
Connor is leaving them in his dust this year. I’m sure 55 is having huge issues with that

You can actually see Scheif light up when he accidentally ends up on the ice with Connor... its like he tries for those 30 seconds and then returns to his fly-by game

 

[Imcanadianeh]

Sheifele and Wheeler felt threatened with Laine here.
Connor is leaving them in his dust this year. I’m sure 55 is having huge issues with that

You can actually see Scheif light up when he accidentally ends up on the ice with Connor... its like he tries for those 30 seconds and then returns to his fly-by game

I don’t understand why people just make stuff up.

 

[BobTheSolarsystem]

I don’t understand why people just make stuff up.

You're right - Scheif is doing great and still playing a strong defensive game and leadership role.

 

[Imcanadianeh]

You're right - Scheif is doing great and still playing a strong defensive game and leadership role.

Well considering you didn’t say any of those things in your original statement so I don’t know why you’re bringing them up now.

 

[BobTheSolarsystem]

Well considering you didn’t say any of those things in your original statement so I don’t know why you’re bringing them up now.

Scheif is more engaged when he's out there with Connor... its not like I said the sky is green.

 

[Imcanadianeh]

Scheif is more engaged when he's out there with Connor... its not like I said the sky is green.

Weird that he played all last season with Connor and people said he wasn’t engaged, but for some reason thing year the only time he is engaged is when he accidentally gets to play with Connor.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Your comment was worth stating - but when you break it down, you need to be good defensively before good offense becomes good defense.

One hand washes the other. I really don't think you can separate them that way.

 

[HHel]

I don’t understand why people just make stuff up.

It just fact, that this team doesn't win nothing major with those two guys. You have seen the signs in last three years.

 

[Romang67]

Weird that he played all last season with Connor and people said he wasn’t engaged, but for some reason thing year the only time he is engaged is when he accidentally gets to play with Connor.

This entire season, KC and Scheifele have statistically done considerably worse while on the ice together than apart, so the claim that Scheifele only tries when he plays with KC doesn't hold even the slightest bit of water.