Connolly: yes or no?

Simple question for those who read today's story: If Tim Connolly is healthy Wednesday, do you play him? If so, who do you take out?

---John Vogl

Comments

[Jon]

Chad,

Unless I saw really, egregiously bad plays, I wouldn't know how to determine that a player (like Vanek or Kotalik) doesn't _care_ about the game. I'd generally give a pro athlete the benefit of the doubt on that. ...Well, unless the player in question is Miro Satan. : )

Kotalik, Vanek and Max care, I think. To me, the question is more about which is willing/able to mesh his own (lazy/reckless/adjective of choice) style of play w the team's "system." Afinogenov seems the least able.

Regardless, and before I write more, I agree w you that all three of them could stand to have a fire lit beneath them.

I'm surprised I'm doing this, but I'm going to defend Kotalik -- even though he should be a 30-goal scorer and a fierce hitter but isn't:

Kotalik is one of the Sabres' best in puck-possession scrums along the boards. Max avoids that part of the game like the plague. That's hard for me to overlook in Max's case bc he contributes so little else. He doesn't forecheck, he doesn't kill penalties. He played about nine minutes in the last game - and deservedly.

Vanek is also pretty good at possession along the boards. (Staff, Mair, Goose and Hecht battle on the walls, too, though they maybe aren't as good as Vanek and Kotalik.)

Kotalik (and the rest of the team except Roy) are more careful and responsible w the puck than Max.

Afinogenov's tendency to play for the hightlight reels is exciting, no doubt. But he sacrifices too many, higher percentage plays (like dumping and chasing when he reaches the blue line, for example). The flip side of that is that he gives the other team chances. His +/- speaks to that, sorry as I am to trot that out again. W the Sabres D under construction, and given Miller's likely exhaustion, the Sabres can't jerk around w the puck. When they can make simple plays, they have to. More to the point, though, the Sabres are better when they play simply.

Re Vanek: I wouldn't mind if he sat one out. Maybe the simple fact that he can get white-hot at any moment is what keeps him in the lineup at times. In life and in hockey, I guess, some guys can get by on reputation now and then.

You're right that, given how lazy he can look, playing Vanek might be unfair to some Sabres. Dan Paille, for example, usually has to really bust it just to stay in the lineup.

Totalling making this up now -- Maybe from the bench, Lindy sees positives to Vanek's game that fans watching on TV miss. (Or do you go to all the games?) Vanek will never be confused w Chris Drury, but in his current scoring drought, Vanek has been first-in on the forecheck a few times. To me, that says he's trying to do something, even though it's not as sexy as scoring. Forechecking is generally thankless work, so guys who do it care, I'm thinking.

[Dan]

My concern is that Tim Connolly really didn’t look to be 100% in the last couple of games he played. His mobility and upper body strength didn’t appear to be very good. If he is healthy enough to go, then the Vanek / Kotalik / Afinogenov line seems to be the place where he could do the most good.

I got a feeling that when Tim and Max came back right after the trade deadline, Lindy really didn’t want to put them back in the line-up. I can’t help but wonder if he’s being pushed to keep them both active in hopes of creating a possible off season deal … ???

[Chad]

If you're going to play Connolly, sit Kotalik or Vanek. Here's the implicit message Ruff sends if he sits Afinogenov instead of one of those two: "Who cares if you are one of the four or five guys out of twenty moving your feet, giving consistent effort and looking like you gave a damn about what was happening to this team during the losing streak, I'm going to continue playing lazy and unmotivated players (Vanek, Kotalik...even Stafford before he went with Kaleta and Mair) while you are a healthy scratch." Effectively, that's what Ruff would be saying if he sits Max over those other guys.

Everybody loves this idea of Connolly playing with Kotalik. You know, the "great passer" and "great shooter" putting their skills together, creating an unstoppable force; the perfect complements, if you will. Unfortunately, that's all it is: an idea. Facts and numbers (one and the same) show that those two just aren't that effective of a combination. All three of Kotalik's March goals have come with Connolly out of the lineup. Since Timmy started playing part-time, Kotalik has eight goals, only one of which was assisted by Connolly (the 8th goal in an 8-4 rout of Nashville, no less).

So, now that we see Connolly is irrelevant to Kotalik's performance, let's talk about Kotalik's negative attributes. First off, he's lazy. During the four game losing streak he was sleepwalking through the games. He really looked like he could have cared less. He'd take his shift, not hit anyone, not even look remotely dangerous in the offensive zone, and then skate back to the bench. When I, and many others, questioned the heart of this team, he was one of the main offenders that I had in mind. Do we really want a guy who seems like he doesn't care one way or another whether the teams wins playing in the biggest games of the year? Secondly, he creates nothing for other players. He has two assists in the last month, both coming in the Nashville game where every player had unbelieveable stats. Finally, he's a liability at even strength. Kotalik hasn't scored an even strength point in his last 9 games. Since Max's return, Kotalik has three points in 9 games and is a -3, while Max has seven points and is only a -1. Also, don't forget Afinogenov has put in more consistent effort and singlehandedly won them that last Philly game. Really, Kotalik is a guy you need to have on the ice? Get serious.

Then we get to Vanek. You know, he of two goals in his last twelve games, he of a +/- rating of -8 in his last nine games. Where is he? He is invisible in 90% of his shifts right now. Where is the guy from last year? Have we ever seen a player this talented under-utilize his skills so much? At this point, really, he is a more-skilled, European version of Dave Andreychuk, standing in front of the net, deflecting shots and swiping rebounds. Andreychuk was a nice player, but he'd never get paid the kind of money that Vanek received. Vanek is the most maddening player on this team. One month he looks unstoppable, the next month invisible. He has a boku of skills and he just refuses to use them. Ruff needs to send him a message that he needs to bring his game and his effort on a nightly basis or he's going to sit.

Sorry for the length of the post, but it's frustrating to read people trashing on Max when other players deserve it far more than he does. I've had my issues with Max in the past, too, but he's looked pretty good since returning from the injury. Keep citing his -11 rating (-10 of which came before the injury when I agree he was playing terribly), but he's been far better than Kotalik and Vanek since his return from injury.

[george]

This is a No Brainer: Scratch Max or Vanek...Very simple!!!!

[Bster]

Jon,

I agree. Max is my choice to sit as well. Connolly at centre with Kotalik and Tommy Boy is the way to proceed. Max is pushing it out there but Connolly means more to the team as a whole because of his playmaking abilities. He makes the others around him that much better. Max, and his lack of defensive awareness, his penchant for holding the puck too long and in the absolute wrong places, can be such a detriment to the team's balance.

Kaleta stays, Connolly takes Max out. Kotalik stays cuz he is bound to bury one of those wonderfully placed Connolly passes.

[Hambone Johnson]

Could you even imagine if drury was playing with TC's injury? Bucky and sully would be writing a daily diary about this 'warrior'. But its Connolly, so he gets labeled as a distraction and a burden to team chemistry. I'm not trying to knight Connolly as a hero, but at least realize this guy is in crazy pain even on off days. He should be getting more respect for putting the team ahead of his own well being.

[Marc]

I say you go with the line-up you have now, that's hot. If they keep switching it up every game they're never gonna get any consistency going. I really don't get why the organization is so high on Connolly, he hasn't done much since he's been here. It's not worth disrupting the chemistry that they have at the moment to insert him for 1 game.

[Tricky Dick]

Of course you play him.

If this question was asked after a 20-game winning streak, then I might reconsider....

[Chris R]

You have to play him. He is certainly better than most of the forwards on the team. To use the premise "they are on a roll" is ridiculous. They have won two games. He is the best passer on the team and makes the PP click. He also kills penalties and doesnt miss a shift. I dont know if the other posters have had hip problems, but they are incredibly painful. He could have shut it down months ago, but this guy is gutting it out in the hopes of helping the team win and get to the playoffs. That is usually the type of attitude that is rewarded in Buffalo.

[Don K.]

The people of Buffalo can thank Mr Gollisano for the fall of the Sabres from top to will they or won't they make the playoffs. The ex- Sabres around the league looks like an all-star team. Open the pocketbook Mr G. The team puts 18 thousand plus fannies in the seats every game! If you want the team to stay competitive, you must open the purse strings!
Don K.

[Jon]

I'd play Connolly and bench Afinogenov in a second. ...Anything to get Afinogenov off the ice.

The Sabres should start the forwards who can play defensively and who won't turn the puck over. Max - at -11 (team-worst) - isn't one of them.

It's not just the stat.
On D and in transition, he's rarely in the right place. He doesn't get open in the neutral zone for outlets. Obviously, he's not deep in the defensive end, either, disrupting the opposition's offense. He seems to just circle, waiting for loose pucks that he can sweep in on uncontestedly. At best, he's lazy. Worst, he leaves his defensemen hanging out to dry.

He kills rushes with sloppy passes and he makes dekes at the blue line that throw him teammates offsides. He stickhandles everyone to death, except opposing goalies. (Haven't seen a guy as bad on breakaways since Mike "hard passer" Grier was here.)

Maybe I'm being too hard on him. Since returning from injury he's got seven points in nine games (I think). But if he used his speed intelligently, he'd be a terror to play against, and the Sabres would be better.

He should be making space for his teammates on offense. And he should be hustling back to break up opponents' rushes - the Sabres' young, inexperienced D could use the help, too. He doesn't do either.

I don't understand how he avoids getting scratched.

[JB]

I concur with the majority of the posts here - The Sabres are better off with Connolley out of the lineup. What they need now is consistency and familiarity. Bringing him into the lineup after having such success for the last two games. Besides, Andrew Peters needs someone to keep him company.

[Hambone Johnson]

If you want to wake up Vanek, put in Connolly. Simple as that. He's the best playmaker on the team, and he makes #26 a force. He also improves the power play. Also, it's not like we're deep at center. Despite the two wins, we're a better team with TC in the lineup. There is no easy choice on who to remove, but Kotalik or Kaleta would be the only two I think we could stand to lose at this point. I'd say Kotalik because I like how the Kaleta line is playing and wouldn't mess with it.

[Brian]

NOOOOOOOO.

Unless of course you dump the nearly useless Al Kotalik.

[DC Sabres Fan]

Keep him out. Its not like they aren't used to playing without him. I mean, he's missed what...200 games over the past 3 seasons? I think its time to not only sit him, but get rid of him.

[Amanda]

Keep Timmy out. I think it's more important to have him for the playoffs and resting him now might make that possible.

[WAZ]

Sit him for now. He may be handy if we make playoffs and have other injury issues although i cant see him lasting many games if we make it.

[Philbootny]

.
Sit Tim and rest his aching hip. Let your winning lineup ride.
.

[Stephen]

Shut Timmy down for the season. :(

[antman from cincy]

Keep the current roster. It's working ...

[Dominic S]

I hate to say this, but I think I agree. Connolly brings so much to the game. It really sucks to lose him. But at this point, i think a bit of cohesion is more important to the team. If they can't count on him playing every other night for two months, then i think you gotta cut your losses...

[Tim]

No. Tell him to get his hip sanded, or whatever. There is no way he's going to be able to keep up this routine in the playoffs anyway, if he's having trouble with the schedule now. Let these guys get used to playing with each other.