To what degree, if any, do we miss Leino?

[slip]

Arnott isn't a defensive center and has been unable to sign with anyone due to not being able to pass a physical.

Well, that answers that.

As far as Leino, guy barely makes a dent in our play if he's healthy. Frankly I'm glad he's injured otherwise the ***** fest over his contact would be deafening. Just speculating, of course.

 

[Paxon]

A lot in my opinion. We either need Leino or another top 9 forward. When FES sucks, we're limited in who we can put on the 2nd line to replace someone. The prospect of breaking up Vanek-Pom is less appealing without 1 more scoring forward in the mix.

 

[Jame]

I agree.

I also think they miss Tropp. Those two being out injured completely changed the look of this team.


We ended last season with this top 9.

Leino/Roy/Pommer ---> two way line that handled the heavy lifting defensively
Tropp/Hodgson/Vanek
Foligno/Ennis/Stafford

The Hodgson and Ennis lines were essentially 2/3 lines. Neither was truly a clear cut top 6 line nor had to handle much defensive work. Its a big reason why they thrived.

This year I thought we were going to see Leino at center with Ott/Pommer as his wingers resuming the role that line had the year before. It would have kept essentially the same top 9 setup from the year before.

But once Tropp/Leino were out of the mix we suddenly had some holes to fill. In desperation they kept Grigs up and re-signed Hecht. Two things unlikely to happen with those two health.

I don't buy that... you're insinuating that they kept an 18 year kid up, as a solution to injuries. I don't buy it.

 

[Chainshot]

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Some of the things he does well -- possession and playmaking -- may not have offset some of the things he does not do well -- ill-timed turnovers and a general lack of physicality.

 

[Eichel 9]

I don't think he'd make a difference at all if he played the same as he did last season. He'd just be another body out there not putting forth any effort, just like the majority of this team.

To be quite honest, even though I dislike the guy, this team does miss Roy a bit.

 

[jBuds]

I don't buy that... you're insinuating that they kept an 18 year kid up, as a solution to injuries. I don't buy it.

I don't think it's too farfetched, though I don't think that was the sole reason for keeping him. Not a solution to injuries, but a body to add to the mix depth-wise that they thought would benefit from NHL time.

 

[moltenlava26]

Arnott isn't a defensive center and has been unable to sign with anyone due to not being able to pass a physical.

I know Arnott isn't a defensive center but either is Hecht. At least Arnott, when healthy, would have provided something. Unless you enjoy lack luster effort and back hands into the stands that cause 5 on 3 PPs.

 

[Paxon]

I know Arnott isn't a defensive center but either is Hecht. At least Arnott, when healthy, would have provided something. Unless you enjoy lack luster effort and back hands into the stands that cause 5 on 3 PPs.

Hecht is still a better defensive center, always has been, and it's not even remotely close. Arnott might, MIGHT, be better offensively 5 on 5 -- might -- and would be better on the PP.

Arnott is not what we need. If we're talking about realistic, low-key needs, then we need a bottom 9 center who can win draws, play good defense, and not hurt you offensively. In other words, we need a guy who does the same things as Hecht, only better. The names are the same as we bandy about around this time + offseason every year.

 

[moltenlava26]

Can't buyout a player that's not under contract..

Wow. Its funny that I thought he had one more year. Dang time flies....

 

[moltenlava26]

Hecht is still a better defensive center, always has been, and it's not even remotely close. Arnott might, MIGHT, be better offensively 5 on 5 -- might -- and is would be better on the PP.

To be honest, I didn't really want either of them at this stage in their career. Hecht was a solid player, in his prime, but he just doesn't have it.
Arnott could have helped in front of the net on PPs, but I didn't know he had injury concerns.

UGH to both.

 

[moltenlava26]

Hecht is still a better defensive center, always has been, and it's not even remotely close. Arnott might, MIGHT, be better offensively 5 on 5 -- might -- and would be better on the PP.

Arnott is not what we need. If we're talking about realistic, low-key needs, then we need a bottom 9 center who can win draws, play good defense, and not hurt you offensively. In other words, we need a guy who does the same things as Hecht, only better. The names are the same as we bandy about around this time + offseason every year.

So unfortunately, Goose....

Just throwing it out there. Would you consider RoR a solid 2nd line center but could split the dirty work with Ott? Would you be willing to give up Pomer in a package to get him?

 

[joshjull]

I don't buy that... you're insinuating that they kept an 18 year kid up, as a solution to injuries. I don't buy it.

I'm saying Hecht AND Grigs wouldn't be here if Tropp AND Leino were healthy. Thats simple math. I'm also saying those two out and the complete mess it made with the lines played a role in Grigs stay. That simple common sense. The kid isn't ready

I do find ironic that you're essentially defending Ruff/Regier's decision to keep him up in light of your shredding them on most other things.

 

[Daz28]

I'm saying Hecht AND Grigs wouldn't be here if Tropp AND Leino were healthy. Thats simple math. I'm also saying those two out and the complete mess it made with the lines played a role in Grigs stay. That simple common sense. The kid isn't ready

I do find ironic that you're essentially defending Ruff/Regier's decision to keep him up in light of your shredding them on most other things.

You're right Josh. I think the teams needs Tropper more than Leino, but even both of them wouldn't have made a significant enough a difference, imo. As you said tho, it would have made the Grigs sit. better, and saved us from #55. I guess the bright spot is if they were healthy, we'd be closer to 9 than 15, which is pointless. Hopefully next season, we'll be injury free and have no roster issues at all(ie pretending Scott can actually play reg shifts).

 

[Newcastlesabre]

Not much in my eyes, he never really impressed last season or showed what he can do and you can't really miss what you've never had....

 

[Karate Johnson*]

Leino sucks. Stupid signing, and he'll hopefully never play another game here.

He's gonna be 30, and has 98 points in 220 games.

When we fire Darcy the new GM will fix it.

 

[Newcastlesabre]

Leino sucks. Stupid signing, and he'll hopefully never play another game here.

When we fire Darcy the new GM will fix it.

I actually thought he was a decent signing when we signed him. In hindsight....

 

[Karate Johnson*]

I actually thought he was a decent signing when we signed him. In hindsight....

Me too. But I'm not a GM. Looking back, it obvious how stupid it was.

The guy had 1 OK season.

 

[Newcastlesabre]

Yeah huge waste of money on the back of one season, very poor indeed. Has given us zero back.

 

[Karate Johnson*]

I just look at the ability to buy him out as a lucky break.

I don't wanna try and "make it work"

Let's just move on.

 

[wunderpanda]

Its a trick question, isn't it?

He didn't really do much on the Sabres, but it was foolish to try him as a centre. He was best used to compliment other skilled players, so putting him in the bottom 6 was ridiculous as well. Much like our misuse of Boyes when we had him.

He would be better for the development of Grigorenko than Hecht and Scott are tho.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

We miss him. Leighno was going to be a good puck possessor, and it seemed like Grigs gelled with him. We can all speculate but we won't know until he's back.