Bottomline of Saku's play...

Ando · Guru

Bottomline of Saku's play...

JohnM · Guru

Uh-oh, here we go...

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Uh-oh, here we go...

Ahh..finally someone else creating some controversy so I can take a break hehehe

brew · Member

And-o, you're complaining again for nothing.... most of the time I agree with you but on Koivu's rant you're way off. The guy gives his heart out every night. If you feel like bitching at someone why not do it at Souray who gave up the puck numerous times again(especially on the PP) or Kovalev/Samsonov who are doing nothing again

Ando · Guru

Ah no way gang!

And-o stands by that assessment BIGTIME!

Have a look! All And-o wants/expects is MORE SHOTS!

...he has done well...but he needs to do better offensively...especially versus Chicago's garbage middle!!!

It's true!!!

JohnM · Guru

Is there stats on passing? I'm not sure, probably not. Saku is known to be a passer but I do agree he should shoot more. As they say "just shoot, you never know what'll happen". Look at the first game where he shot.

Ando · Guru

Yeah Johnny...that is all And-o is saying...a number one centre needs to play like one every night and that includes offense!!!

20...TWENTY minutes and not one shot!

Everyone can hop on And-o...but this board is generous to Saku...VERY generous!!!

...awful!

(stats for passing wash-out as assists...and there are loads of centres who are better playmakers than Saku who tally shots!!!)

macneil · Guru

and-o , koivu is a passer first and shooter second . and after watching the game last night i know he had atleast 1 shot because i remember habby making the save . now ryder is a shooter and he only has 9 according to tsn so thats a concern . i agree they all should be shooting more but koivu doesnt have a good shot . i found last night that chicago blocked a lot of shot or passes and that pissed me off , and they were very aware of sourey on the pp and we had no 2nd opt6ion it seemed . but we should have won the game but win some lose some i guess.

AB Habman · Guru

Ando wrote:

When your number one centre plays +20 minutes (including on every single PP) versus the likes of Brian Smolinski and does not register a single shot-on-goal…well…c’mon!!!

In fact, through six games so far (on the number one line mind you) Saku has registered only 10 shots-on-goal.

…this guy needs to shoot more!!!

And-o certainly thinks that Saku has had the top line buzzing…and he contributes at both ends…BUT…BUT…if he wants to be THE guy…he needs to get pucks on net.

He has an excellent shot. He has excellent linemates. He gets loads of ice (wayyyy too much in fact). He plays EVERY powerplay! So…really….what’s the issue here gang???

Consider that guys like Wellwood, Carter, Gomez, Sakic, Steen, Drury, etc, etc, etc…ALL have over 20 shots so far!!!

C’mon gang…this is obviously a basic expectation of centremen!!! THIS IS WHAT BUGS AND-O! Expect more...And-o does!!!

Really And-o??? My grandma shoots harder than Saks. Saks isn't a goal scorer. His strength is carrying the puck then dishing off in the offensive zone with a short pass usually to Higgins who skates close to Saks. Many times Higgins will skate by and take it off his stick when Saks draws traffic. The last thing we want is Saks giving the puck to the goalie.

Have to let the goal scorers score goals....Higgins and Ryder. That's why they have chemistry right now. They know their rolls.

-- Edited by AB Habman at 13:32, 2006-10-19

Ando · Guru

macneil wrote:

...and after watching the game last night i know he had atleast 1 shot because i remember habby making the save...

NHL.com must lie then!

...this is what And-o is talking about gang!

Most other teams have gotten +20 shots out of their #1 centre...that is all And-o is saying!

SAKU NEEDS TO SHOT MORE!

20 minutes of playing time per night...and 10 shots in 6 games...a fact!

...pretty ugly when you think about it versus other top line guys!

Fatherhab · Senior Member

Saku started out the season dominating the face-off circle. I question whether he starting to fatigue already.

Buffalo 19-10 65% Toronto 17-12 58% Philly 17-7 66%

Ottawa 11-5 68% Calgary 7-7 50% Chicago 6-11 35%

barry33 · Guru

In defence of Koivu, the fact that he is not shooting enough can be attributed to his unselfish attitude. Saks, you have my permission to start being SELFISH! I do it all the time!

Ando · Guru

Fatherhab wrote:

...I question whether he starting to fatigue already.

...looks like you have found your answer!

Gainey needs to pay (over pay if necessary) in order to make Saku a permanent number two centre before...well...you know what usually happens next when he get's 'gassed' and starts the 'hokey pokey'!!!

And-o's short-term solution is simple though...give Saku 15 minutes MAX per game...parachute in a Pleks or a Bonk shift with Higs and Ryder if need be once in a while...and challenge Saku to shoot more....wayyyyyyy more!

...and NEVER AGAIN have Saku play on the PK...EVER! Would you take your Ferrari grocery shopping when a perfectly fine mini-van is available???

Muller93 · Guru

Ando wrote:

...and NEVER AGAIN have Saku play on the PK...EVER! Would you take your Ferrari grocery shopping when a perfectly fine mini-van is available???

And-o you are really coming up with some golden ones. This one and lipstick on a pig have been pretty impressive.

Having said that...you have fallen prey to thinking that shots on goal is a reflection of anything. I tell you...look at that line. It dominates every game. And Koivu is the oil that keeps that engine running.

What you witnessed last night was a team that figured out that you can ignore the "dancing" "prancing" Russians on line # 2 and focus on shutting down Koivu...I fear that other teams will figure this one out.

Key Lime · Guru

Why don't we ask Saku to be the scrapper now that Downey has jello brain syndrome. Whatever....yawn yawn

Ando · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

Whatever....yawn yawn

...just whistling past the graveyard, eh!?!?!? Hence the problem!!!

...oh, and Mulsey...we need an oil change - BADLY!

(And-o will try and keep the metaphors coming)

macneil · Guru

NHL.com must lie then! if this was directed to me then yes they are lieing because i watched the game and saw him take the shot , at least 1 . now that is irrelevent , i agree with you that they need to shoot more. and i dont think hes getting tired fatherhab , its just going against better centers , players learning his tendencies , and other centers finding their grove . its funny that after our first loss and-o posts his first anti koivu thread of the year , he could have picked ryder who has less shots than koivu and plays as much and is the triggerman on the line but he reverts back to what he knows and that is dump on koivu when thing go wrong .

Key Lime · Guru

It's funny how you take every post as a chance to shine...

In any case, I'll stick try to stick to the issue here. Saku looks solid out there. That line looks solid out there. They are by far out best line. There's a book called "The Art of Letting Go". Are you coming to the reunion, I'll actually give you a copy cause I care for your well-being Ando.

Muller93 · Guru

Ando wrote:

...oh, and Mulsey...we need an oil change - BADLY!

And-o is in need of a giant muffler and some radiator fluid to vent all that hot air.

Koivu...best player by far this year to date...why cast stones at our best player...

Key Lime · Guru

I'll always remember my 900th post because that's the one that I said that Saku Koivu has ballz.

He's a fighter on and off the ice. Just a few years ago we were wondering if he was going to live. Just a few months ago we were wondering if he would come back from serious eye damage. He came back from both with solid overall play but from now on, every time someone rants on Saks. i'll just have to file it under W for Whatever!

JohnM · Guru

Saku is the man! He proves it over and over again. His linemates have taken a chapter from his book, now it's time for others to do the same.

-- Edited by JohnM at 21:24, 2006-10-19

Traveling Hab · Veteran Member

Saku has the luxiry of having two finishers on his line. He needs to be the playmaker he is and let them shoot. If he keeps up this rate, I am more than happy. The only reason Saku should shoot on this line is to keep the opposition honest. He will not score as often as Higgins or Ryder.

He is a playmaker, and with the line he has, he can do his job.

If there is any knock against Koivu right now, it is that he may be too fragile to keep playing this brililantly all year long.

But make no mistake, if he could, he would be one of the tope players in the league.

We have enough things to worry about to start worrying about Saku's play. He is doing very well.

He should be measured by his linemates shots on goals, not his own.

Diehardhabsfan · Veteran Member

Muller93 wrote:

Koivu...best player by far this year to date...why cast stones at our best player...

I agree that Saks is having a great start, but I think Higgins has been our best player so far.

Figaro · Guru

This is and-o crazy talk. Saku is not fatiguing. We're at game 7. And he doesn't wear out - he got an axe to the face and cancer, hardly symptoms of being tired. He's already exceeding the PPG you guess for him and his line is on fire and, dare I say it, the best line we've had in years! Give it up.

Ando · Guru

Figaro wrote:

...Saku is not fatiguing...And he doesn't wear out...the best line we've had in years!

3 things you need to keep telling yourself I guess!

Figaro · Guru

Ando wrote:

Figaro wrote:

...Saku is not fatiguing...And he doesn't wear out...the best line we've had in years!

3 things you need to keep telling yourself I guess!

I really dont understand how you can be a Habs fan....seriously. You constantly bag on one of the best players we've had in years...anyway, time to move on to an actual topic. This whole "the sky's green" vs. "the sky's blue" is really getting old...after like 4 years...

JohnM · Guru

SAKU! SAKU! SAKU!

Muller93 · Guru

3 point night for Koivu...crucial ones at that.

He is awsome!

Traveling Hab · Veteran Member

I think the bottomline of Saku's play is that as of right now, he is brilliant. Our biggest concern with him should be that he might get hurt, but as for his play, no concerns whatsoever. He is brilliant in all 3 zones and has great chemistry with his linemates.

Figaro · Guru

The point is that your #1 centre should be getting more than 3 points a game.