Player Discussion Sammy Blais

[ThirdEye]

I was sad to see Buch go but we all knew it was going to happen.

Reading the descriptions of Blais I was initially very curious to see him play for us. He raised above my expectation.

I miss American-Buch but Blais has been great so far. Exactly the type of player this team needs. Hopefully he can inspire Kreider.

Kreider has been on a mission this season, so maybe he has already?

So far he's made it hard to temper expectations. Silky hands + willingness to go to the net = good things happen

 

[ThirdEye]

Great thing about Blais is he will set a tone physically every game. Even when he's not scoring he's hitting... hard. Can certainly see him getting into the heads of a lot of players

 

[Chytilmania]

Great thing about Blais is he will set a tone physically every game. Even when he's not scoring he's hitting... hard. Can certainly see him getting into the heads of a lot of players

Him and Laf need to turn into the bash brothers on the same line.

 

[GbgRanger]

Kreider has been on a mission this season, so maybe he has already?

So far he's made it hard to temper expectations. Silky hands + willingness to go to the net = good things happen

Yeah, Kreider has thrown his body around a bit. Maybe he feels he actually have some backup by his team mates this year.

 

[Raspewtin]

Blais hits so comically hard it looks like a break in the physics engine of a video game. he'll glide at 4 mph and the guy he hits flies up 4 feet in the air

 

[duhmetreE]

Wonder what the extension will look like.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Wonder what the extension will look like.

If it's based off of Goodrow's he deserves 12 years @ 6M AAV

 

[ThirdEye]

Wonder what the extension will look like.

He still has a lot to prove, but if it comes to that the Rangers might have no choice but to try and sign him for a reasonable deal since they'll need to save space for all of the youngsters

 

[bl02]

Goes to the net, sends pucks to the net and puts players into the boards. Winning recipe.
If he continues like this he will be a huge fan favorite.

 

[NYSPORTS]

I guess it doesn’t have to be the 1970’s to be loved for physical play.

Kid is awesome and a welcomed addition imo. Not to say Buch is not missed b/c he is.

 

[Adam Fox Time]

Could this trade turn out to be... good?

 

[NYR2007]

Trades for players like this show it’s not all about what your team looks like on paper

 

[NYR Viper]

4th liner…

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Blais hits so comically hard it looks like a break in the physics engine of a video game. he'll glide at 4 mph and the guy he hits flies up 4 feet in the air

That's what impecable hitting technique looks like.

We had oh so many big bodies hitting mofos, with what looked like speed and force and almost always turned out to be a fart in the wind-like hit.

Love Samuel Blais.

I guess it doesn’t have to be the 1970’s to be loved for physical play.

I never got the narrative, that there is no more hitting, or less of in today's game.

I always felt the West was ridiculously physical in comparison to the East. Everytime I watched Western Conference PO's or even many reg. season games, there is tons of heavy, clean, crushing hits. Come playoff time it becomes a battery solo in some matches in the West.

It's feels like it was only us / most of the East, not hitting well and nearly enough.

Gallant and the addition in the bottom-6 really turned that around for us.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I guess it doesn’t have to be the 1970’s to be loved for physical play.

Kid is awesome and a welcomed addition imo. Not to say Buch is not missed b/c he is.

Hitting will always be a part of the game. I do think theres a balance. Players who take themselves out of position to make a huge hit, and then give up a massive breakaway, are not good players. Players who hit while separating the puckcarrier from the puck, and then causing a turnover are good players. I dont need a huge hit, i need an effective one.
That being said the playoffs will always be a war of attrition body wise. Teams like the isles/caps/stl will just wear you down with contact until you shy away from those areas of the ice. The goal is to make them shy away first.

 

[RangerLifer]

Yeah, Kreider has thrown his body around a bit. Maybe he feels he actually have some backup by his team mates this year.

I think you nailed it right there!

 

[RangerLifer]

Blais has been a one man wrecking crew and I LOVE IT!

 

[duhmetreE]

3 years- 9M? too much? Too little?

buy time for Berard, Othmann and/or Cuylle.

 

[duhmetreE]

Yeah, Kreider has thrown his body around a bit. Maybe he feels he actually have some backup by his team mates this year.

The entire team is. People forgot how we used to play under Torts... slowly morphing in to 'turn around and hit you with my ass' and then the patented 'drive by stick check'...

Torts > AV > Quinn.. Turk is a blend of Torts and AV, but closer to Torts.

 

[RangerLifer]

I guess it doesn’t have to be the 1970’s to be loved for physical play.

Kid is awesome and a welcomed addition imo. Not to say Buch is not missed b/c he is.

Pavel WHOchnevich.

 

[Speedtrials]

Reminds me of Todd Harvey from the dark years. Just plays an honest north south game, hits hard, and soft hands.

 

[Rempe73]

He seems like he has endurance issues for sure. His shifts are super short and he glides a lot out there. But when he hits he hits hard. And he's clearly got skill.

Yea good point. That, his defense, and his skating concerns me that he never makes it as a top 6 player. Although if he can be a great 3rd liner who can play anywhere in the lineup for relatively cheap, I’ll be ok with that. To me, I see the potential, but he’s 25.

I appreciate the skill, vision, and grit for sure though.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Sammy plus a 2nd round pick. Drurys move does not look so bad now.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Sammy plus a 2nd round pick. Drurys move does not look so bad now.

TF you doing, trying to defend Drury ... the trade still stinks imo, his tenure still stinks imo and I don't trust him and his rookie GM ass one bit.

Everybody could have made the trades Drury made so far.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

TF you doing, trying to defend Drury ... the trade still stinks imo, his tenure still stinks imo and I don't trust him and his rookie GM ass one bit.

Everybody could have made the trades Drury made so far.

But they didn't make those moves. Drury did. Every one of his moves has worked out so far. Reaves, Blais, Goodrow, Nemeth, Hunt, and Gallant. It's early but I will give credit where credit is due.