NHL: Buffalo Shuffling Along
Buffalo Shuffling Along
Let us just forget about Chris Drury and Daniel Briere because the Buffalo Sabres sure have. Even with their absence, this is still an incredibly deep team capable of winning. Recent signings of Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek in the off-season not only curb the problem they had with their co-captains but it gives them a good nucleus to build around.
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McKeen's was on hand for a recent Sabres game and files these notes on several young players the organization is counting on.
Buffalo Sabres
Derek Roy C, Buffalo
Emerging from the shadows of Drury and Briere, Roy assumes the No. 1 centre position following a career best - 63 points last season .. led the NHL preseason in scoring with 13 points displaying his offensive flair and creativity .. smaller pivot who eats up the ice with quick bursts of speed and great change of direction .. he handles the puck as if it were on a string, as he stickhandles ever so close to his body making it very difficult to poke check the puck away from him .. he makes strong plays in the offensive zone which often to lead to chances .. he is able to pry pucks away from the sideboards and escape in traffic to make a heads-up play .. he shows little fear in going to the net - a trait learned from Briere, as their approach is very similar .. he has good concentration in close, as his hand/eye coordination serves him well to bat down loose pucks or put it through his legs .. a mainstay on the PP and sees PK time as well .. smart defensively but he does not always wish to engage in corner battles and at times, let's up in one-on-one pursuit .. Roy has matured and processes the game differently than years passed .. he is much more methodical coming into the offensive zone and does not rush the play .. he sees his options and does "Gretzky like" half turns when he crosses the zone to find the trailer or find an open teammate .. has developed sensational chemistry with Vanek that dates back to his Rochester days but is now flip-flopping the right side with either Afinogenov or Stafford .. regardless of whom he plays with, he is on the cusp of NHL stardom and career high offensive totals this season.
Drew Stafford RW, Buffalo
The degree in which Stafford's game has matured cannot be measured on the scoresheet but in the confidence that two-time coach-of-the-year, Lindy Ruff has in him .. already seeing prime time action on the Sabres first line alongside Roy and Vanek .. gives the Sabres much-needed size up front and can play a physical game, a dimension the top line is missing .. can set the tempo of the game with a hit .. he drives to the net often, as his massive frame shields the puck .. he creates by throwing the puck on the net for players like Vanek to bury in close .. he always stays with plays to see how they develop .. he locates outlets and since he constantly moves his feet at all times, it allows him to get to the puck quicker and into better scoring positions .. he moves into open ice to create and his stick preparation in anticipation of a one timer is very mature .. he is a finisher, as his quick stick is capable of scoring many goals .. played in only half of the Sabres contests last year due to cap restrictions .. his play, although limited in the playoffs also helped him mature him as a player .. he should be able to draw from these positive experiences and become a premier power forward in the game.
Dan Paille LW, Buffalo
A team player through and through, Paille came into camp determined to make the roster out of the gate .. after several years of grooming in the AHL, Paille provides the Sabres with a dependable fourth-line centre capable of playing quality minutes within the team system .. has clever puck skills and vision .. he disguises his actions well and can put players into decent scoring chances with his creativity .. an average skater, it does not hinder him completely but he does not usually win many foot races .. what he excels at is working hard .. he eagerly blocks shots and passing lanes .. he cuts down the ice and limits scoring chances because he is positionally in place .. very rarely does he make a mistake in the defensive zone .. he is not afraid to pay the price to create a scoring chance .. he will go to the slot with his stick down and take a beating just for the chance to get the puck on the net .. a maturing offensive game, he is slotted in between Mair and Ryan, a line that causes a disturbance and chips in on occasion.
Mike Ryan C, Buffalo
Ryan is a player who makes the best and most of his limited minutes .. after seeing spot duty last year, he joins the Sabres on the hard working, fourth line .. a highly imaginative player whose hands and feet are very quick .. he is smart with the puck and makes solid plays in the neutral zone that lead to productive rushes the other way .. he plays with sand paper and often gets involved down low and especially along the boards .. modest stride is complimented by quick acceleration as he explodes with the puck on his stick .. cannot sustain the speed over the course of a shift but is effective in open ice .. makes good decisions with the puck, as he is quick to distribute it .. has the potential to move up the lines due to his skill set .. if he can play with faster, more skilled players, he might be able to produce at a healthier pace.
Nathan Paetsch D, Buffalo
Paetsch approaches hockey much as he does life with a laidback style .. sat out for the majority of last year's playoffs, Paetsch returns this season to add much-needed depth and youth on the backend .. calm and reserved in his decisions, making the safe, casual play with the puck, whether it be firing it off the boards or a short pass in his zone to advance the puck .. not an overwhelmingly strong defender, he uses his finesse skills to defend .. he certainly needs to get stronger to fend off players along the boards but he does a good job of establishing good body positioning, as he usually gets to the puck first .. low-maintenance player in terms of creating offence .. he has a good shot but has not been encouraged to use it, as Buffalo only goes with one defender on the PP .. he does however get his shots through and places them always on the net .. Paetsch's ability to keep things simple and not play outside his limits has been well received by the coaching staff.
Capital Gains
The Washington Capitals have not made the playoffs since the 2002 season. Finishing in the bottom half of the league has its rewards, as they have managed to secure many top draft picks. The fire sale of a few years ago which brought in a surplus of first and second round selections is finally starting to culminate and the Capitals are reaping the benefits.
McKeen's takes a first hand look at Nicklas Backstrom and an ever-improving backend.
Washington Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom C/RW
After leading his Swedish team Brynas, in scoring in consecutive seasons, the Gavle native makes his debut in the NHL .. originally slated to play on a line with Ovechkin, he is playing out of his natural position of centre to assume a spot on a line with fellow countryman Nylander .. athletic and agile .. he has finesse skills and is more of a playmaker than a finisher .. his ability to make a quick touch pass in traffic sets him apart from his peers .. he sees the ice very well .. he has great hand/eye coordination and is able to bat down many loose pucks .. his skating is not explosive but he has good NHL speed .. he shows good short-term speed in which he can pounce on a loose puck in confined spaces .. due to his hockey sense, he is able to stay with many plays .. his positioning is mature for a player his age .. did not shoot the puck at all during this game and will need to display his shot, as he has yet to score in the opening eight games .. lacks a physical dimension to his game .. his upper body is very weak and he often finds himself on the losing end of most checks even the ones he administers .. he is elusive and can slither out of the way if he sees a hit coming .. has all the tools to be a talented playmaker much like his counterpart and now linemate Nylander.
David Steckel LW/C
After several seasons up and down with the AHL affiliate, Steckel is finally getting his chance, albeit on the fourth line .. strong on faceoffs although a natural winger .. he was used in many key draws throughout the game .. a fixture on the PK, he often played in 3-5 situations .. he is not overly offensive but his long reach and tricky puck skills in close make him a threat .. his long stride also helps him in all facets of his game, as he can make up ice in a shorter period and as a result, becomes more involved in the play .. thick body and difficult to knock off the puck .. his speed is deceptive like most big players in that they do not appear to be moving but it is a testament to Steckel's speed that he was never out of position and around the puck .. a complimentary player who fulfills a role.
After leading the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals and finishing first in team playoff points, Fleischmann joins the Capitals in a fourth-line, checking role .. did not see much ice this game and has struggled to make an impression in the early going .. needs to show more consistent efforts in all areas of his game .. he shows signs of competing but too often, he finds himself out of the play .. attempting to be assertive and show that he will not be pushed around .. his confidence has waned and as a result, his puck skills have suffered .. too often, he looks to distribute the puck as fast as he can and is not showing that patience that made him a top scorer in the AHL .. his skating has also stunted his game .. his first step lags and as a result, he often finds himself chasing the play .. will need time to develop.
Slowly developing into a reliable, no nonsense defender cut from the same cloth as a Uwe Krupp .. very effective down low, as his long reach and healthy mobility enable him to defend .. has to make quicker adjustments in his footwork when he sees a faster forward coming down the wing, as on occasion he gave up the outside .. has earned the trust of coach Hanlon and as such he has been awarded PP time .. not overly puck savvy but he does make simple plays to keep the pressure in the opposition's zone by making smart dump ins and throwing the puck on the net .. his shot still needs work as does his release .. relishes in the role of defensive defenseman, as he is playing many key minutes and having an impact on the game.
Former first round pick is finally starting to feel his game in the NHL in what would be his fifth season .. he appears much more comfortable handling the puck and is taking more chances offensively .. commanding time and space with his massive frame, his puck skills are not refined but jumping into the play has made the opposition back off .. has improved his overall mobility and athleticism .. he has a surprisingly fast first step, which allows him to push up on forwards and maintain gap control .. he is comfortable defending, as he is physical in front and down low .. his game has taken quantum leaps in the past two seasons, as he is maturing into a top-four defenseman.
What a difference a year can make as Green comes into camp 10 pounds heavier and beaming with confidence .. a highly skilled and athletic defenseman whose offensive abilities could be the best on the team .. he is quick and agile .. his lateral mobility is fueled by a strong lower core and explosive leg strength .. great puck skills, he is ultra-composed with the puck and rarely is forced into making a bad play .. his first pass is always on the stick .. he is developing patience with the puck but still wants to force things and is slowly learning through takeaways what he is capable of doing .. saw time on the PP and was a threat when the puck was in his possession .. uses his skating and quick skills to defend however, he has a nasty side to him and will fight forwards in front .. needs to curb his aggression, as sometimes it gets the best of him .. has all the tools and skills to be a No. 1 defenseman in this league and be a quality point producer.