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Sabres Foligno struggling



Howard Simon

howard@wgr550.com

I’d call it a sophomore slump but technically Marcus Foligno is still a rookie. 

It might not seem that way since Foligno played in 23 games last season but anything under 25 games and you are still considered a rookie by NHL standards.

Whatever the case, this season has been much more of a struggle for the 21 year old Foligno.

The left winger has just one goal  and is a team worst minus eight.  That goal came back on January 27th in a 3-2 loss at Washington so the Buffalo native drags an 18 game goal drought into tonight’s game at New Jersey. The 6’2”, 227 pound winger is pointless in his last eight games.

Foligno has scored a point in just six of his 23 games this season.  Last season he had a point in 9 of 14.

There were pretty high expectations for Foligno  based on how well he played at the end of last season and how he experienced instant chemistry on a line with Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford.

Foligno played in 13 games after being called up from Rochester on March 10th and wound up with six goals, 13 points and was a plus six.  It was probably unfair to expect Foligno to produce goals at that pace(35 over the course of a full season) because his shooting percentage  was 26%, which is very high for most forwards.

However, no one anticipated that shooting percentage to be way down at 2% this season.

Foligno is still doing what he can to help the Sabres.  He does have seven assists and has been better of late in terms of his physical presence. 

The Sabres fourth round pick in the 2009 draft said his benching on February 28th at Florida caught him by surprise but has probably helped him.  Foligno admitted he was confused about what kind of player he is and at times he was certainly guilty of over stickhandling and attempting to be a finesse player.

When Foligno is on his game, he is all about playing north-south, dumping pucks in and working on a forecheck, winning one on one battles along the boards and digging pucks out for linemates.

But when presented with the opportunity, Foligno does need to do a better job of finishing.  Just the other night in Carolina, he had a pair of good chances but couldn’t beat Canes goalie Justin Peters.

Filed Under :  
Topics : Sports
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Locations : Buffalo, Florida, New Jersey, Rochester, Washington
People : Drew Stafford, Justin Peters, Marcus Foligno, Tyler Ennis
03/07/2013 12:08PM
Sabres Foligno struggling
Please enter your comments below.
03/07/2013 12:15PM
I thought his last three games were his best
I agree that before he was sent to the press box, we was the worst player on the ice for the Sabres. He is a very important part of this team. Needs to bang in corners for turnovers, stand in front of the net and take the punishment, and but fear into wingers trying break outs up the middle.
03/07/2013 12:27PM
Foligno
He is a BUST. Nothing like his dad Mike when he played. Absolutely NOT. The waiver wire is where he belongs. A huge disappointment. Should have gotten his brother Nick. He's way better. How did Regeir miss the boat on Hamrlik? He should have picked him off waivers and then waived Sekera. He could have got Hamrlik before the Rangers did to help the power play. The Rangers then maybe could have taken Sekera off our hands via waivers. The man just don't think. YA TAKE CHANCES. What an idiot. FIRE REGEIR!!!
03/07/2013 12:37PM
L0SERS all the way now for almost 50 years.......lol
It is almost a half century of having the Buffalo Sabres and what do you have? 2 Cup appearances, No Stanley Cups and a team that misses the playoffs more than it makes it in a league where you have a 53% chance of making the playoffs each year (16 out of 30 teams make the playoffs). Do I really need to say anything more? Carolina, Tampa Bay and Anaheim have al been around a lot less than the Sabres but they have all won Stanley Cups. How anyone can call Buffalo, NY "Hockey heaven" is beyond me. I think it just shows how little people in Buffalo understand professional hockey. Now if you are referring to Buffalo as "Hockey Heaven" because the fans will sell out all of the games and buy all the mechandise year after year no matter how bad the Buffalo Sabres are then yes, you would be correct that for an owner, Buffalo, NY is "Hockey Heaven" financially because you don't ever have to worry about putting a competitive team on the ice thanks to the delusional and extremely uneducated fans of Buffalo, NY. Enjoy another century (combining Bills and Sabres) of nothing but losing all you Buffalo sports fans....that is if you even still have those teams in your city.
03/07/2013 12:38PM
What do you expect Howard?
He is no better than an AHL hockey player. A hopeful like Luke Adam. What happened to Adam after his 10 goals last season? The same thing happened to Foligno. Minor leaguers that can't handle the NHL. The whole organization is a joke or haven't you noticed?
03/07/2013 1:11PM
seaon ticket owner
He has no hands.
03/07/2013 1:26PM
yeah, we know.
Because we watch the games.
03/07/2013 2:05PM
Coaching & Communication
A 21 yr. old player should not be "confused" about the type of player he should be. Where are the coaches to explain exactly what they expect from him and explain what his role is within the team? Miller has also mentioned the unclear identity of this team in the recent past.
03/07/2013 2:06PM
send him down
he needs to get some dirty work in the AHL and get his confidence back
03/07/2013 2:30PM
Don't believe the hype......
Fans are so desperate and rabid, that expectations get blown out of proportion. Foligno was labeled as can't miss because of his name and 13 games he played last year. His Jr. career statiscally was no better than Kaleta. The difference is that Foligno once he left Jr's. was playing 1st line in Rochester and last year when called up put with higher skilled players and playing a regular shift. Kaleta has never had that opportunity nor the minutes. Fans assume the transition should be automatic. It's not. Know why Kaleta kills penalties ? Because he can think the game. What works in Jrs. and the AHL doesn't guarantee NHL success. Richards dove.
03/07/2013 4:12PM
he needs time
WE can all agree on the fact that,sabres aren't playing well this season or even close to what we expected them coming into this seaon. However that can be a big part of why foligno is "confused" he's trying to do too much all at once,I actually watched foligno play live in some AHL games. He was a very dominant force whenever he was on the ice,he banged fore-checked very well.Its simple the things he did well in the AHL he has not been sticking too. In other words stick to what you know a coach should say to foligno AND lastly he's only 21 he needs time ...if that means send him down or GIVE him more nhl minutes then do it. But thats up to the gm to decide whats best for this kid ....SO THEN DO IT Regier!
03/07/2013 4:29PM
TRADE HIM...
To Boston they would love him and he would THRIVE!!! Thats what happens when you play for a REAL NHL FRANCHISE!!! WALLMART SUCKS!!! FOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EVER EXTENDIUM REGEIRISM!!! 4
03/07/2013 4:32PM
Kaleta can THINK? LMAO!!!!
Holy SHEEET!!! Maybe that's why he HITS EVERYONE FROM BEHIND!!! What a BUCKETHEAD... STOP THE DRUG USE!!!!! LoOsersssss!!! FOREEVER NOW!!!
03/07/2013 10:35PM
Richards dove and Kaleta "Thinks the game" !!!! WHAT THE ....
Hilarious!! Now if I was gonna dive, it would DEFINITELY NOT be FACE FIRST INTO THE BOARDS ON A POWERPLAY NO LESS! And GET THIS: KALETA CAN ACTUALLY THINK!!!!!???? LMAO!!!! Yes He's always thinking of his NEXT CHEAPSHOT! What an IDIOT! PLEASE STOP THE DRUG USE IN THIS COUNTRY!! FOREVER FORE EXTENDIUM REGEIRS.
03/07/2013 10:46PM
Unbelievable: 42 years, be bold.
I have been a loyal sabres fan since 1971 and just witnessed a very good effort by the sabres in a lost cause to the Devils. They lost to a team of their equal; or in other words, 2 offensively impotent, and defensively deficient non-cup contenders going at each other on the road to nowhere, at least for this season. Basically a "signature" loss for this team that is characteristically reflective of their performance and character (lack of poise under pressure) since 2007. The going gets a little tough and they crumble and are incapable of stopping the other team from stepping on the accelerator. Dear Mr. Black and Pegula, surely you recognize the sabres have a number of promising younger players (Hodgson, Porter, Brennan, Foligno and Flynn) that are potential quality 3rd and 4th line players, but are lacking centerpiece players for a top line (sorry, but Vanek would be a 2nd liner on more than 1/2 the nhl teams because of several holes in his 2-way game and skillset). And you surely recognize this team gets "outsized" on a consistent game to game basis, resulting in lack of puck possession, being outshot at a 3 - 2 on a fairly routine basis, and difficulty winning games in regulation. The purging of the undersized players has progressed at too slow a pace over the last few years (Connolly and Roy) and the team continues to accumulate these smallish "4A" players who, despite their best efforts are more often than not outbattled and outreached for the puck. Foligno is young and still learning the game but has the physical potential to be a large, physical 2 way player, something this team desperately need. Nonetheless, after 42 years and counting without a cup including over 15 years of talent management under Mr. Regier, don't you think a change in the talent management decisionmaker is in order to right this franchise? Mr. Rolston shows promise but clearly has not been give a full hand in terms of size skill and talent to mold. Why not be daring and obtain a GM with stanley cup winning credentials and ambitiously trading for some of the best players instead of obtaing a stable of 2nd 3rd and 4th liners? The list includes Corkum, Moore, Boyes and on and on. Isn't it time to unload the "regressers" at a faster pace, who have cost this franchise SEVERAL games in the standings with their poor effort or non-factor play this season (Myers, Leopold, Gerbe, Stafford). The team can not continue to be a halfway house or rehab facility for these types. At least not until they become winners and eliminate virtually all doubt (just like the Patriots were able to do over the last decade of play in the NFL). Nor can this team be one that allows players to play with such lack of effort and focus without consequence (trades) until their family comes on a road trip a 3rd of the way into the schedule. As a loyal fan, me and so many others have seen this happen too often over the last 42 years, yes thats F-O-R-T-Y T-W-O years and counting. Not a cup winning formula for sure. The team has some fine prospects but there is a big donut hole where center piece star players with GREAT all round skills and leadership are needed. Granted they are few and far between, but they are there and can be had with a keen eye for talent and some crafty maneuvering...neither of which appear to be the strength of Mr. Regier. There are much better prospects than Grigorenko who is already showing a penchant for that "historically characteristic sabres flair" for not engaging in the corners. By the time the current prospects will be ready to win, players like Vanek, Pominville, Regehr and possibly Miller will be past the point agewise where they can be viable contributors to that. Be bold, make the moves now: replace the GM with one with credentials, then get young, get prospects, get more blue chip draft choices. As a life long Buffalonian, I guarantee the fans will love it and the positive response will jump off the charts. Until that happens you will be hearing many catcalls in the arena from me and many others that will grow over time, including: "Darcy Must Go" and "42 years".
03/08/2013 1:30AM
Pathetic comments
I feel bad for some of the people who comment on this board. Their lives are so sad and pathetic that they try to derive please from insulting other people. Also, Foligno is 21 years old and we are talking about a 24 game stretch on one of the worst teams in the NHL. I'd say the jury is still out on him.
03/08/2013 9:15AM
Re: Pathetic comments
The jury must still be out on Regier too. He hasn't been fired. Hope you do realize that this team sucks. What would you do about it?
03/09/2013 8:01AM
Hockey Hell
It seems to me that a lot of the young players climb a long road to get here and soon settle into hating the game.
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