But if there are guys in the AHL who do have the footspeed to play in the NHL, why aren't they winning the Eddie shore award? Tyler Myers is the exception to the rule, but most NHL players spend at least a year or two in the minors. Is 24 too old to make the jump? A seasoned veteran in the AHL, too slow for the NHL? Since most hockey players hit their prime between 25-30 I would think he's still got some time to improve (although less than other players who get called up earlier).
As far as +/-, even if he's getting put out there in favorable situations, doesn't being a + player at least prove his line has a better goal differential than the other team's worst line? Isn't that all you want from a cheap third pairing defenseman?
I think Gragnani is just an easy target because he's the lowest guy on the totem pole. I see the same kind of hate on these boards for Matt Ellis lately. Matt is a perfect 4th line player, but he's not going to score 20 goals or beat up Milan Lucic so apparently he's a waste of space. How about holding some of the guys who are making $5+ million dollars this year accountable when the team scores one goal? Putting Brayden McNabb in for Gragnani on the power play isn't going to make a bit of difference.
What forum are you reading? The top guys on this team for various reasons have been ripped to shreds in the last several weeks/month.
Grags is an easy target because of his play on the top PP unit not his pay (btw thats an odd arguement since players making big bucks are the ones usually singled out because of their pay not the other way around). He has been our #1 PP QB from the start of the season on (with a small break for a few games from that role). There is a certain level of play thats expected in that role regardless of the pay or experience of that player.
Much of the frustration and rage about Grags is about how Ruff treats him in relation to other players. If you re-read the OP of this thread, he is as pissed, if not more so, with Ruff's use of Grags as he is with Grags.
I'm among the confused as it pertains to Grags and his continued death grip on a spot on the #1 PP unit. Its not like we don't have other options like Leopold, Pommer, Roy, Myers and to a lesser extent Sekera to try with Ehrhoff. Some of those options have proven track records as NHL PP pointmen. Something Grags does not have. To be blunt, Grags is a nobody in the NHL at this point of his career. Its a head scratcher why he gets the amount of slack he does from the head coach. Particuarly when proven vets are below him in the PP pecking order and other youngsters don't get the same slack he does. Its the reason for the jokes about him having incriminating pictures of Lindy.
But if there are guys in the AHL who do have the footspeed to play in the NHL, why aren't they winning the Eddie shore award? Tyler Myers is the exception to the rule, but most NHL players spend at least a year or two in the minors. Is 24 too old to make the jump? A seasoned veteran in the AHL, too slow for the NHL? Since most hockey players hit their prime between 25-30 I would think he's still got some time to improve (although less than other players who get called up earlier).
Some players play a style that suits the NHL, while others play a game that suits the AHL/Europe.
Those who play a game that suits the NHL are usually not able to stay in the AHL long enough to pile up the points to win the award.
Those who play a game that suits the AHL stay down there for that very reason, which means they are able to pile up the points required to win the award.
Career AHL'ers also become very familiar with the AHL game and get good at exploiting rookie mistakes (which are not as prevalent in the NHL) and do so frequently.
The somewhat lower compete and intensity levels in the AHL also play a part, as it allows for skill to take over a lot of the time.
In the NHL, compete level and intensity play a much larger role because more is on the line, so you can't get by purely on just skill.
Andrej Sekera saw a lot of power play time last night. He was brutal. How many giveaways did he have in that game? Clearly not the answer on the PP (even though he was taking Leopold's spot, not Grag's).
I just don't know. I am starting to get upset about this whole putting in rookies so they can learn concept. If it was my choice, I would ditch both of them. Adam has been transparent and MAG has been atrocious. The way this is going the Amerks will win the Calder Cup before the Sabres even get close to ECF or even division finals.
Andrej Sekera saw a lot of power play time last night. He was brutal. How many giveaways did he have in that game? Clearly not the answer on the PP (even though he was taking Leopold's spot, not Grag's).
I love this.
You rip Sekera for one game of suck on the PP and dismiss him as a possible answer on the PP after this one game. But you've defended two months of suck from Grags on the PP and think he could be the answer.
You rip Sekera for one game of suck on the PP and dimiss him as not the answer after this one game. But you've defended two months of suck from Grags on the PP and think he could be the answer.
You rip Sekera for one game of suck on the PP and dismiss him as a possible answer on the PP after this one game. But you've defended two months of suck from Grags on the PP and think he could be the answer.
Personally, I've been talking about Sekera's lack of ability once the team is set up in the offensive zone for a long time. He's had power play time before this season and has never produced. His decision making has improved back there at even strength, but he's still not a guy I trust to run the PP.
You rip Sekera for one game of suck on the PP and dismiss him as a possible answer on the PP after this one game. But you've defended two months of suck from Grags on the PP and think he could be the answer.
Some people have said Sekera would be a better option than Gragnani on the power play. He's way worse than Gragnani. And he's been in the NHL for four years and he's never been any good on the power play. I'm still waiting for someone to name a guy who can take Gragnani's place on the top unit.
I thought this was his best DEFENSIVE game of the year
No, it was a comment that everything Gluten Free sucks per the OP.
Without a doubt. He was actually making contact with the opposing forwards tonight...on purpose, too. I think there was only one or two complaints about him in tonight's GDT, so he must've been good.
Chugging along, continuing tp produce no matter who his line mates are.
Maybe we have a better player on our hands than any of us realize.
I think what we have seen this year is a talented rookie being a talented rookie. The biggest thing most rookies lack is consistency, and that is no different with Adam.
good minds think alike 
