Second, regardless of what happens tonight I am so, so, so happy about seeing Teppo Numminen on the ice again. I don't care if he's old, slow, decrepit or whatever else people want to say, I love him. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I think the affect his loss had on the team - on the ice and off - has been desperately underrated by just about everyone.
And thirdly, I think next season the letters should stay exactly where they are right now. Jason Pominville with the C, Jochen Hecht and Derek Roy with an A. (Agree? Disagree?)
I'm hoping to have the first part of my Western Conference playoff primer up later today. If you want hard hitting, stat-based analysis, well, you might want to try somewhere else. Otherwise you won't want to miss it!
9 comments:
Good point about Teppo. he might be old but he's steady and experienced in all sorts of situations, and that is something this team was sorely lacking this season.
and it was a scary situation for him. I'm so glad he's back and healthy!
And I agree with the Captaincy situation. Pommers certainly has earned his stripes, Royzie has stepped up big time, and Hecht has been super consistent and quality all year long.
Just make the Captains permanent this time, Lindy. Please!
I will always hate the rotating Captains. I can understand that he wasn't sure who the leader was at the beginning of this year, but by next season he's gotta make a decision.
I agree that Teppo's absence has been supremely UNDERATED all year. If you watch him (perhaps not tonight because of the layoff), you will notice that when he is in the defensive zone and the puck is on his stick, shortly thereafter, it is leaving the zone. Very little thing that happens frequently. And it happened frequently for two seasons. I pointed it out to my sister, and during a game she said "Oh my God, you are really right about that" Since it far less sexy than a red headed spin-o-rama, it goes unnoticed. But I have to question, how many of the goals that went in at inopportune times this year would not have, were Teppo out there to clear the puck out? Hard to know, but I think a few games may have been salvaged.
Plus, you gotta love the hair on that guy!!
Mark, I do agree that wherever the letters go it should be permanent. I think Lindy should have a good handle on who can grow into being a leader. Now it's time to let them do it.
Vanek's Hair, I prefer Teppo's hair not greased back - or at least not so greased that it looks immovable. It's not bad in the picture in the post. As long as it has some flow in it, I'm fully behind Teppo's hair.
I really do think that the letters should stay the same. Those three have proven that they deserve them.
Assuming the Sabres keep exactly the same players they have now, I agree with your captain choices. However, if they sign an older veteran (someone like Teppo, but not necessarily him), then I think at least one of the letters goes on that guy. Nothing against the younger leaders like Pomminville, but I think this team sorely needed a truer veteran leader this year (and management obviously banked on Numminen being that guy).
Anne M, that's a good point. I wasn't taking potential new blood into consideration and I wasn't thinking about Teppo either. I could see an argument for giving an incoming veteran a letter although I'd have to know who that guy is before I'd definitely commit to that especially since some of the young guys really did grow into those roles as the season went along.
I hope and pray they let Pomers keep the captaincy. He's worked his ass off to get here and has truly become this teams pulse. I would be more than fine with Roy and Hecht getting the A's again, although if Numminen does in fact return, I'd be fine with him getting/regaining one too (who would lose the A? I don't know but probably Roy).
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