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Shake-up creates new lines to face Sens
One of Ted Nolan’s messages to the Sabres since taking over is to be consistent. He reinforced the words by being consistent with Buffalo’s forwards. Despite their struggles, Nolan essentially kept his lines intact. He gave them every opportunity to mesh and improve.
They didn’t, so time’s up.
The biggest shakeup involved the top line of Stafford, center Cody Hodgson and left wing Matt Moulson. They will all be on different lines after extended slumps. Stafford has no goals in 13 games, Moulson has two in 16 and Hodgson has one goal and one assist in 10 outings.
“Our top line is having a little trouble,” Nolan said. “Maybe the chemistry isn’t quite right, so we talked to them and decided instead of trying to have one we’ll have three. We have to get this thing turned around together.”
The lines Monday featured Moulson skating with the hot duo of center Tyler Ennis and right wing Zemgus Girgensons, Stafford with center Steve Ott and left wing Marcus Foligno, and Hodgson in the middle of Luke Adam and Matt D’Agostini. The fourth line was a four-player unit of Ville Leino, Cody McCormick, Brian Flynn and John Scott.
good move to let them skate together for so long despite not producing just to remove that as a player complaint. now nolan has put the focus squarely on the players heads with no lookbacks regarding 'letting chemistry develop', at least for a while
regarding foligno:
“Everybody told me how he was going to be a big, powerful forward and be a force,” Nolan said. “Then I when I got here I saw a big guy. I didn’t see a powerful guy. He wasn’t using his attributes to his benefit. He’s a big man that can be a little bit more physical. He’s been doing that lately, and in return he’s been playing really well for us.”
a little bit more physical? the last guy he fought was spotting with brain matter oozing out his ear canal so yeah i guess so. hopefully just the threat will now keep foligno out of fights bc that was brutal. thank goodness it looks like he doesnt relish that kind of barbarism. as long as the nhl sanctions boxing on ice they force you to try to get guys like foligno (a bruiser who can play) and scott (not so much)
One of Ted Nolan’s messages to the Sabres since taking over is to be consistent. He reinforced the words by being consistent with Buffalo’s forwards. Despite their struggles, Nolan essentially kept his lines intact. He gave them every opportunity to mesh and improve.
They didn’t, so time’s up.
The biggest shakeup involved the top line of Stafford, center Cody Hodgson and left wing Matt Moulson. They will all be on different lines after extended slumps. Stafford has no goals in 13 games, Moulson has two in 16 and Hodgson has one goal and one assist in 10 outings.
“Our top line is having a little trouble,” Nolan said. “Maybe the chemistry isn’t quite right, so we talked to them and decided instead of trying to have one we’ll have three. We have to get this thing turned around together.”
The lines Monday featured Moulson skating with the hot duo of center Tyler Ennis and right wing Zemgus Girgensons, Stafford with center Steve Ott and left wing Marcus Foligno, and Hodgson in the middle of Luke Adam and Matt D’Agostini. The fourth line was a four-player unit of Ville Leino, Cody McCormick, Brian Flynn and John Scott.
good move to let them skate together for so long despite not producing just to remove that as a player complaint. now nolan has put the focus squarely on the players heads with no lookbacks regarding 'letting chemistry develop', at least for a while
regarding foligno:
“Everybody told me how he was going to be a big, powerful forward and be a force,” Nolan said. “Then I when I got here I saw a big guy. I didn’t see a powerful guy. He wasn’t using his attributes to his benefit. He’s a big man that can be a little bit more physical. He’s been doing that lately, and in return he’s been playing really well for us.”
a little bit more physical? the last guy he fought was spotting with brain matter oozing out his ear canal so yeah i guess so. hopefully just the threat will now keep foligno out of fights bc that was brutal. thank goodness it looks like he doesnt relish that kind of barbarism. as long as the nhl sanctions boxing on ice they force you to try to get guys like foligno (a bruiser who can play) and scott (not so much)
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