Player Discussion Mattias Samuelsson, LHD, Hurt Again

[Chainshot]

He has a good laugh over the cobra stick comment.

 

[Paxon]

Mattias Samuelsson aka Cobra Commander

 

[elchud]

At the end of the day we will only need 10-12 minutes a night from Samuelsson. Dahlin and Power will be splitting up 45 +

He will never be under 17 minutes a game unless he gets injured. He is our top PK defender and will see a lot of time in the 3rd period when we are protecting 1 or 2 goal leads. Even with Dahlin and Power he will play 18 to 20 mins a night.

There is no reason for us to be running Dahlin/Power 45 to 47 every night. That won't be happening the next couple seasons for sure. And even after that you would share that load for the playoffs. And as mentioned before if the situation calls for it Sammy may get more 3rd period minutes than any other D in many games.

 

[Fjordy]

Tampa D TOI:

Hedman - 25:20
McDonagh - 22:36
Sergachyov - 22:32

We could have something like this too.

 

[Chainshot]

Tampa D TOI:

Hedman - 25:20
McDonagh - 22:36
Sergachyov - 22:32

We could have something like this too.

As long as they don't have to drag Bogosian's lousy ass around for 11 minutes a night.

 

[Dubi Doo]

As long as they don't have to drag Bogosian's lousy ass around for 11 minutes a night.

Still can't believe Hedman was able to carry his ass to a cup a couple of years ago.

Also, does Samuelsson remind anyone else of Tallinder. Not a perfect comparison because I think Samuelsson is a bit more physical while Tallinder was more finesse, but with how active he is with his stick, his body work in the D zone, a strong skater, and really good in transition. Tallinder was a legit top pairing guy from what I remember, so not sure Samuelsson will ever hit that level, but I see him being a good top-4 player for a while. The great thing is- he'll be on our bottom pairing feasting on lesser competition. I really miss Tallinder-Lydman as a pairing. They were money together, but it seemed Tallinder could play with ANYBODY, and it won't surprise me if Samuelsson is similar in that regard.

We really do have the potential to ice the best defense in the league. At the very least it should be a very, very strong unit. Just need to hit on our blue chip offensive young players and Levi, and we'll be contending. Big question marks there, though.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

At the end of the day we will only need 10-12 minutes a night from Samuelsson. Dahlin and Power will be splitting up 45 +

The best part is that we'll be able to weather the inevitable injuries -- the left side will still have two top-pairing-caliber players on the left side even if one of them is out for an extended amount of time. Which happens all the time.

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

Still can't believe Hedman was able to carry his ass to a cup a couple of years ago.

Also, does Samuelsson remind anyone else of Tallinder. Not a perfect comparison because I think Samuelsson is a bit more physical while Tallinder was more finesse, but with how active he is with his stick, his body work in the D zone, a strong skater, and really good in transition. Tallinder was a legit top pairing guy from what I remember, so not sure Samuelsson will ever hit that level, but I see him being a good top-4 player for a while. The great thing is- he'll be on our bottom pairing feasting on lesser competition. I really miss Tallinder-Lydman as a pairing. They were money together, but it seemed Tallinder could play with ANYBODY, and it won't surprise me if Samuelsson is similar in that regard.

We really do have the potential to ice the best defense in the league. At the very least it should be a very, very strong unit. Just need to hit on our blue chip offensive young players and Levi, and we'll be contending. Big question marks there, though.

I could see that comparison. Physically they look similar on the ice. I always loved Tallinder, and truly, the Tallinder-Lydman pairing was one of the only ones I can remember where I felt legitimately comfortable when they were out there. Such a great tandem. I remember enjoying the Zhitnik-Smehlik pairing as well, but for the high-octane moments they had!

 

[Paxon]

I could see that comparison. Physically they look similar on the ice. I always loved Tallinder, and truly, the Tallinder-Lydman pairing was one of the only ones I can remember where I felt legitimately comfortable when they were out there. Such a great tandem. I remember enjoying the Zhitnik-Smehlik pairing as well, but for the high-octane moments they had!

For all his faults (like missing the next by 8 feet), Zhitnik was a tank. I'd love a RD Zhitnik on this team right now.

 

[Chainshot]

For all his faults (like missing the next by 8 feet), Zhitnik was a tank. I'd love a RD Zhitnik on this team right now.

Or Smehlik, pre-knee injury.

 

[Dubi Doo]

For all his faults (like missing the next by 8 feet), Zhitnik was a tank. I'd love a RD Zhitnik on this team right now.

Give me Numminen! That dude was great. I can't for the life of me remember who his partner was, though.

Ohhh...or a McKee-Campbell pairing again? Loved that pairing in 05-06!

 

[sufferer]

Give me Numminen! That dude was great. I can't for the life of me remember who his partner was, though.

Ohhh...or a McKee-Campbell pairing again? Loved that pairing in 05-06!

Dmitri Kalinin

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[The Drew]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

Not a chance. He brings a skillset the Sabres lack on the back end. Big, physical, calm and consistent in his own end. Even if he doesn't put up many points, he could still be this teams version of Jay McKee, but probably a little more dynamic than Jay was.

 

[Sabreality]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

Hell no.

 

[Fjordy]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

No, keep him

 

[Chainshot]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

The short answer would be no.

 

[The Blunder Years]

Anyone here want to send him out west to Los Angeles? LD for RD swap?

I think his ceiling could be much higher than we thought. His stock is probably only going to go up over the next few years.

Also I’m fine going 2007 and just having all lefties. Seemed to work then

 

[elchud]

Sammy and Dahlin. Do it now.

Sammy Dahlin
Power Bryson
Johnson Joker

 

[Chainshot]

Sammy and Dahlin. Do it now.

Sammy Dahlin
Power Bryson
Johnson Joker

Not for nothing, but the shifts they've had together Cobra has been more on the right as they set up to defend. It's fluid, but that was when Jokiharju was out.

It would be surprising if they went all left shot defensemen since the guy who wrote the initial "fancy stat" work showing how handedness does matter to defensive impacts is now part of their front office.

 

[Fjordy]

Not for nothing, but the shifts they've had together Cobra has been more on the right as they set up to defend. It's fluid, but that was when Jokiharju was out.

It would be surprising if they went all left shot defensemen since the guy who wrote the initial "fancy stat" work showing how handedness does matter to defensive impacts is now part of their front office.

Maybe it just happened, but Adams and Granato mention Dahlin on RD, it really makes sense.

 

[zuikan]

One of Samuelsson, Dahlin, Power has to go to RD.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

One of Samuelsson, Dahlin, Power has to go to RD.

No they don't, you can run all 3 as LD with Samuelsson getting more d zone starts. You run Dahlin and Power (when ready) about 18min ES + loaded speciality minutes to give them each 22ish minutes while Samuelsson gets the rest

 

[truthbluth]

Not for nothing, but the shifts they've had together Cobra has been more on the right as they set up to defend. It's fluid, but that was when Jokiharju was out.

It would be surprising if they went all left shot defensemen since the guy who wrote the initial "fancy stat" work showing how handedness does matter to defensive impacts is now part of their front office.

I would also counter that the stats guys themselves, much more than the journo’s that pump their tires, know the differences between “something matters,” and, “something is paramount.”