Shutdown Pair

Tag: Jason Spezza

  • Mystery Players, Center Edition

    Let’s play a game.  I’ll give you the stats for several centers in the league, and you tell me which ones are ‘number one’ centers.  Ready, GO:

    • Player A:  28G, 49A for 77 points, 1.07 points/game in 2010/2011.  24G, 57A for 91 points, 1.14 P/G in 2009/2010.
    • Player B:  24G, 58A for 82 points, 1 P/G for 2010/2011.  26G, 43A for 69 points, .86 P/G for 2009/2010.
    • Player C:  32G, 44A for 76 points, .95 P/G for 2010/2011.  25G, 43A for 68 points, .89 P/g for 2009/2010.
    • Player D:  19G, 57A for 76 points, 1.13 P/G for 2010/2011.  19G, 50A for 69 points, 1.05 P/G for 2009/2010.
    • Player E:  21G, 36A for 57 points, .92 P/G for 2010/2011.  23G, 34A for 57 points, .95 P/G for 2009/2010.

    So who are they?  Drum roll, please!

    A:  Brad Richards
    B:  Derek Roy (10/11 numbers extrapolated to a full season)
    C:  Jonathan Toews
    D:  Ryan Getzlaf
    E:  Jason Spezza

    A couple of those guys missed 10-15 games in a season (Spezza and Getzlaf especially), but the numbers are still close, aren’t they?  And yet, some folks around town scoff at Roy as a top-flight center.  There’s usually one or two centers who outperform the crowd (Sedin or Crosby for example) but beyond that, this is what you get as a number one C.  I was curious about these numbers, and I hope this gives you another perspective on the center pursuit by the Sabres.

  • Gameday 2010-2011 – Sabres at Senators

    You know, what was AWESOME to type.  Yes, boys and girls, it’s hockey time again, with the Sabres opening their schedule away at the hated Senators.  The lineup is ‘healthy‘, so all 23 roster players could be in the mix.  Myers is paired with Morissonn, beyond that the defense pairings are in flux.  Sekera has the inside track to play, which would leave Butler and Weber out.  Gerbbe is the odd forward out, tonight at least.  Pascal Leclaire in goal for the Sens, probably Miller for the Sabres but haven’t seen anything for sure yet.

    For the Senators, Jason Spezza hurt his groin and may miss the game.  It remains to be seen if the Sabres will take advantage this year.  Volchenkov is gone, Gonchar in on D.  Let’s get this year started on the right foot, with a win against these jerks.  I’m probably out of posting action the rest of the weekend, and may be stuck listening to the game on the radio or following on my phone, so whoever goes on Saturday, make it loud.

    edit:  Lines and pairs here, but no official word on Miller.