Question!!

[sabrfan]

Will the addition of Rick Martin as skills coach help to improve Zhitnik's accuracy? .I for am glad someone is there to help in the skills area. I think we need that for a while and hats off to them for hiring someone like Martin. Hope it helps i cant see how it wont.

[eSabre]

I don't anything will improve Alex's accuracy except for Alex. A coach might foster the ability to learn, but at this stage in his career, I don't think anything's going to change.

I do believe Martin will be able to influence the young guys, i.e.: Kotalik, Afinogenov, Dumont... and that could help.

[Hurls]

Rick Martin had enough influence on getting Hasek to Solid Gold! Keep him away from the youngins!

[Jim Bob]

Only one thing will help Z hit the net more:

Changing the curve on his stick.

Although, from what I saw of camp Z was doing a much better job of hitting the net. Perhaps he wants to fight to keep some of the PP time that he's likely to lose to Delmore.....

[bleedblue]

As Esabre said, I don't think that a coach can help a player so late in his carrer. The coach might give him tips, but after you do something for so long, it is hard to give it away.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Originally posted by Jim Bob
Only one thing will help Z hit the net more:

Changing the curve on his stick.

Although, from what I saw of camp Z was doing a much better job of hitting the net. Perhaps he wants to fight to keep some of the PP time that he's likely to lose to Delmore.....

Changing the curve and not taking as many slap shots. Nice thing about Delmore is he uses the ole wrister.

I don't know about you Jim (or any goalies out there), but I love it when a shooter winds up with a slapshot. It gives the goalie time to set up and the shot is much more inaccurate.

[Snarf]

I was going to say the same as Lafontaine, if he don't take a slapshot everytime he may hit the net more. I am guessing Lindy and the assistants have told this to him in the past, so I don't know if Rick Martin will help in his case. As much as people rip Zhitnik, he is the best defenseman on this team and eats up a lot of ice time. I guess that we saw him score some goals when he was brought in (I believe his first shot as a Sabre was a goal, but then so was Ray's) and expect more of that. He is a valuable part of this team, and hopefully Delmore can put some pucks on net so we have one defenseman that can hit the net.

[Forum21]

Martin's not there for the old guys, he's there for the young guys like connolly.

[Jim Bob]

I don't know about you Jim (or any goalies out there), but I love it when a shooter winds up with a slapshot. It gives the goalie time to set up and the shot is much more inaccurate.

The only time I don't like it is when it's a guy with a huge shot that's accurate.;)

[LALAFONTAINE]

But even then, you give credit to the shooter for a great shot you had no chance on. It's a win/win!