I like Vanek. I admire what he does, I appreciate that he takes his slumps/shortcomings, and losing personally. I just think it's time he's someone else's headache. Every night it's something with him.
Roy was impressive tonight, sick of Stafford not using his size.. makes me sick seeing 5 foot nothing Ennis with the hit of the game and Stafford being a wuss..
Ennis tho.. A+++++ tonight, played with an extra jump in his game tonight
But we did win 2 in a row and guess what that means?!
Ugly:
-With the 13th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres, led by Darcy Reiger and Lindy Ruff, select Obscure Undersized Right Winger.
Why can't they tank right? If anyone argues against the tank, say hello to Pittsburgh and Chicago, the two most successful franchises in the league. They tanked for 2-3 years straight and reaped the rewards.
Oh, and Gaustad can talk as much **** as he wants. Not like we will see anyone in the playoffs to answer too.
Good:
-Miller was outstanding late.
-Ennis played like a superstar.
-Leino getting a goal. Boyes with some solid work on the game-winner.
-Ehrhoff-Myers has some kinks to work out but played very well. This could be an elite top pairing.
-Roy and Staff with good games.
-Back to back wins. -Brian Duff.
Bad:
-Vanek injury again.
-Stafford not finishing.
-Habs.
Ugly:
Good win.
It's been said before in a dedicated thread about Duff but props for listing him in the positives. I can't believe what a breath of fresh air - and professionalism - he brings to broadcasts, even if in limited stints. It's like night and day to hear his eloquent, insightful and impartial commentary in comparison to some of the incoherent babbling and homerism that Sylvester, Gare and Neale impose on us.
As I championed in the Pegula thread, I truly hope that the Sabres make Duff a permanent color commentator for all of the games next season. I rarely see him anymore on NHL Network beyond the occasional specials so presumably he could commit full-time to following the team home and away.
-I thought Gerbe/Ennis/Stafford were great at using there speed and creating chances and putting pressure on the Habs dmen. With Ennis out so long, you forget how much his speed can matter. Stafford was great tonight.
-Leino/Roy/Pommer did a great job on the cycle
Vanek getting hurt sucks. I'm guessing its his shoulder again.
-I thought Gerbe/Ennis/Stafford were great at using there speed and creating chances and putting pressure on the Habs dmen. With Ennis out so long, you forget how much his speed can matter. Stafford was great tonight.
-Leino/Roy/Pommer did a great job on the cycle
Vanek getting hurt sucks. I'm guessing its his shoulder again.
I certainly believe it matters a lot. As does Duff. During his radio appearances, he's invariably asked what's wrong with the Sabres, and he touches on the known issues--injuries, subpar goaltending, underperforming forwards--but he's consistently stated that one of the lesser talked about problems is Ennis' absence from lineup, because he's their fastest forward and creates space for everyone else on the ice, which causes defenders to back off and play a more cautious game, allowing the Sabres to carry more of the play when he's in the lineup.
Fun game to watch! Miller was great when needed, particularly in the 3rd, and we got secondary scoring! What a thing. I wonder how things will shake out with Ennis. He looked great at center.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beechsack
Who cares what he did or didn't say. Much worse than that is said every game.
That's nothing.
This. Players chirp each other on the ice all of the time.
Really? Our 4th line has been one of our best lines in a bunch of the games we've been playing recently. They were the only ones that would have any type of forecheck. Ruff made the right call rolling 3 tonight, but on other nights the team needed the 4th line badly which is why he kept rolling 4.
Yes, really. The team needed 4 badly? No, they didn't. Fact is that when benching the 4th line in the 3rd we are now 2-0, compared to 2-8 when not sitting them in January.
I'm hoping Kassian gets called up and Adam gets thrown back into the lineup Vanek out so Adam probably goes back in and Kassian called up to Replace Ellis or McCormick. We could use the extra offense.
LOL. Kassian isn't the answer. Rather have Ellis sent down and Chewy back up. Ellis will at least mentor these kids in Rochester, which they so badly need right now.
Ugly:
-With the 13th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres, led by Darcy Reiger and Lindy Ruff, select Obscure Undersized Right Winger.
Why can't they tank right? If anyone argues against the tank, say hello to Pittsburgh and Chicago, the two most successful franchises in the league. They tanked for 2-3 years straight and reaped the rewards.
Oh, and Gaustad can talk as much **** as he wants. Not like we will see anyone in the playoffs to answer too.
Yeah let's hate on the team for winning. You think the players give a **** about a high draft pick? Oh and in regards to Chicago they sucked for two years and got two top picks unlike the Pens who sucked for four straight years? You really want to go through 2-4 years of garbage hockey just in the hopes we get superstars? No thanks.
Out of Chicago's top players only Kane and Toews were top picks. Seabrook was picked 14th overall, Keith went 54th overall, Hjalmarsson was a 4th round pick, Hossa was signed in free agency, and Sharp was added in a trade. They didn't tank like the Pens did, and the only reason it worked for the Pens so well is because they got lucky and happened to win the draft lottery to get the best player in the game. A draft lottery the Sabres had just as much of a chance to win. Another one of those years the Pens were able to get a guy like Malkin. The other two years they got Fleury and Jordan Staal. Both of those guys are good players, but if we're gonna be awful for two years and get top picks I wouldn't be too happy if those were the two guys we ended up.
There is no guarantee you'll eventually be good just because you tank now. Go look at the past 5-10 drafts and you'll see plenty of tofitness busts, guys whose careers have never lived up to their draft position, or guys whose teams haven't won anything. There are also teams out there who haven't tanked and have had no problems finding plenty of good talent. Detroit for instance. Philly was really bad one year, but JVR's not the reason they're as good as they are. Giroux was a late first round pick.
Whose to say if the Sabres end up with a pick anywhere from 10-13 that they still won't draft a player who will end up being better than several guys taken ahead of him? Tyler Myers ring a bell? Whose to say they won't trade up a few picks to get a guy they really like?
LOL. Kassian isn't the answer. Rather have Ellis sent down and Chewy back up. Ellis will at least mentor these kids in Rochester, which they so badly need right now.
Good win.
