Speed bump. Sauer absence will have an affect for sure but good teams find away around these things. Tampa should not be a problem at MSG. They've sucked on the road. No excuses.
I think you have to give some credit to Sauer for how well MDZ is playing though. Giving him a defensively responsible partner to work with has really helped him. Can't say I'm excited for an MDZ-Emminger pairing.
Disagree, he's been more than adequate in that role this season...
So far I would agree. Still doesn't change the fact that he was thrust into a top-4 role. He is a 3rd pairing defenseman at this point in his career, and there isn't anything wrong with that. I have liked his play.
Disagree, he's been more than adequate in that role this season...
I think he is a borderline top 4 with a player like Sauer. They compliment each other nicely because not only does Sauer hedge the risk of some of MDZ's plays but MDZ takes the pressure off the dzone with his offense and puck movement or atleast the threat of it.
If Del Zotto carries a player like Eminger and that line has decent results, I think that shows that Del Zotto atleast deserve the title of a competent 4th defenseman.
Also, while he's certainly better then Eminger/Stralman/Woywitka, Sauer has had his fair share of struggles this season. The past 5 or so games especially
Unfortunate news. Hopefully, it is a very mild concussion and he doesn't skip a beat. This team will have difficulty handing a prolonged absence from him.
I think Del Zotto has been adequate in the top 4, but that has plenty to do with the play of Sauer. BTW, at even strength, Sauer has had just as much of an impact offensively as Del Zotto, if not more. Del Zotto has been playing better on the PP, but he is not doing all that much offensively at even strength.
At least Stralman gets a chance, although I think they should have called up Valentenko.
I'm not surprised, but I'm also not going to jump off a cliff just yet. I'll wait and reserve comment until we know more.
EDIT: OK, Did not see the latest from Torts confirming a concussion.
So here goes. A Reminder. Hockey can be a brutally tough sport. In the space of just a few minutes we lost one key player and could have lost three. It's great to have skilled, gritty players with huge hearts making beautiful plays. But a team like the Toronto will attempt to physically impose their will. You have to have a response....and it can't just be more skill, grit and heart.
Anyone who does not get this...well I just don't know what else to say.
Unfortunate news. Hopefully, it is a very mild concussion and he doesn't skip a beat. This team will have difficulty handing a prolonged absence from him.
I think Del Zotto has been adequate in the top 4, but that has plenty to do with the play of Sauer. BTW, at even strength, Sauer has had just as much of an impact offensively as Del Zotto, if not more. Del Zotto has been playing better on the PP, but he is not doing all that much offensively at even strength.
At least Stralman gets a chance, although I think they should have called up Valentenko.
Stralman is on a tight lease. With Stepan, Richards, Girardi and even Mc's ability to play the point on the powerplay he will be back on the bench if he cant hold his own.
But, Day-to-day is good, it could have been much worse.
And, as has been the discussion in here, MDZ has most definitely played like a top 4 defenseman this season. He's kept his head on straight.
Completely disagree.
Day to day just means they have no idea the severity of it yet and when he will stop feeling symptoms. He could be out months worst case scenario, best case scenario he's back in a week or two and it ended up being a very minor concussion. But that sure didn't look like anything minor.
Del Zotto was perfectly fine in the top 4 role with Sauer. Sauer could cover for him a lot. Im pretty scared about a Del Zotto/Eminger matchup.
