STOP WITH THE DRAFT AND TEAM BUILDING CONVERSATION SINCE IT DOES NOT RELATE TO THE TOPIC.
'k? Am I clear?
I think it's fairly related. The question is "can this team actually do it" and many fans are posing the counterpoint, asking "should this team actually do it." And the draft talk is all related to answering that second question.
I think it's fairly related. The question is "can this team actually do it" and many fans are posing the counterpoint, asking "should this team actually do it." And the draft talk is all related to answering that second question.
It isn't and I've put two (now three) posts in here about it. It's about finishing the season.
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(Not directed at haseoke)
A few of you don't seem to get that when you're told to cut it out and get back on topic, continuing to reply and comment on exactly that stuff is not going to get you far. I'll be cleaning this up later when I can access from home -- there will be a different thread for it since it is, in point of fact, not the same as if they finish the season out and make the playoffs.
This is the final word on it. IF there is any further commentary regarding drafting, draft position, scouting or any other bull **** that has nothing to do with the out and out topic at hand, there will be infractions handed out. That includes responding to this post. GOT IT?
Good.
Go look for the "Draft Position" thread. It's been moved there.
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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
It's a fairly large deficit to overcome. How far back were we when we bottomed out last year? Understanding, obviously, that by this time last year the team had flipped the switch.
It's a fairly large deficit to overcome. How far back were we when we bottomed out last year? Understanding, obviously, that by this time last year the team had flipped the switch.
9 points out of 8th right now isn't unreachable. They has to play every game like it is their last and receive some help from those above but I don't think it is out of the question.
What odds does Vegas give this of happening? (Seen something to that effect the last couple of weeks.... x% chance of making the playoffs...)
As I recall they were pretty bleak. And the boys in Vegas aren't in business to lose money.
I'll keep cheering for wins and making the playoffs but I don't believe it's going to happen. The hole is too deep, it's too late and the team has not had anything greater than a 2 or possibly 3 game win streak all season (right?). The odds makers are likely correct.
Although last year's run may have been ignited by Pegula's purchase of the team and the buzz it created, they still did it. The ability of the team is certainly there.
They have to buy in to whatever Ruff is preaching right now. It appears as though they've done that in three consecutive games.
Ted Black's recent comments on WGR about looking to bring in players that will contribute a year or two down the line make me wonder if the organization thinks they can do it.
Although last year's run may have been ignited by Pegula's purchase of the team and the buzz it created, they still did it. The ability of the team is certainly there.
They have to buy in to whatever Ruff is preaching right now. It appears as though they've done that in three consecutive games.
Ted Black's recent comments on WGR about looking to bring in players that will contribute a year or two down the line make me wonder if the organization thinks they can do it.
The first month of the season, when the team was playing well, coupled with the run they made last year with the same core and the off-season changes of the team.
You can't honestly say that in terms of talent, this is a bad team. They're not.
The problem lies in the number of players unwilling to buy into Ruff's system and/or Ruff's inability to convey that system or get players to listen to him.
In terms of talent, this is a good team. That's why I think they can go on a run and make the playoffs.
(does NOT mean that's what I want to happen. Players should buy into what their coach is preaching year round. Not selectively. Staff and personnel needs an overhaul.)
The first month of the season, when the team was playing well, coupled with the run they made last year with the same core and the off-season changes of the team.
You can't honestly say that in terms of talent, this is a bad team. They're not.
The problem lies in the number of players unwilling to buy into Ruff's system and/or Ruff's inability to convey that system or get players to listen to him.
In terms of talent, this is a good team. That's why I think they can go on a run and make the playoffs.
(does NOT mean that's what I want to happen. Players should buy into what their coach is preaching year round. Not selectively. Staff and personnel needs an overhaul.)
talent on paper is meaningless...
they have a poor mix of talent. too much of the same. not enough of what they need
they have a poor mix of talent. too much of the same. not enough of what they need
they have no center talent
the system doesnt fit the roster
All fair points.
However, I'll stick by what I said. I think it was the core of Vanek and Pominville, plus the good late-season play of Ennis, Gerbe and Myers, that got them into the playoffs last year (and some stand-up goaltending from Jhonas).
I don't think it's unreasonable to think that this team can catch fire. Both Tylers have played strong recently. Miller has been great the past few games. Vanek and Poms are Vanek and Poms. Leino has been good. Goose and Kaleta have looked less and less like scrubs and more like the checking-line roleplayers they should be.
I can argue that the Sabres deserved the win against the Rangers. They outplayed the East's top team. They didn't bury against the game's best goaltender. They were physically and mentally engaged in that game.
I don't expect them to get in. But these past few games have shown me that the team has the ability to do so. It's applying the ability consistently and being mentally engaged in every single game and buying into Ruff's system (even with a redundancy of soft/passionless players [wingers]) that's key from here on out.
However, I'll stick by what I said. I think it was the core of Vanek and Pominville, plus the good late-season play of Ennis, Gerbe and Myers, that got them into the playoffs last year (and some stand-up goaltending from Jhonas).
I don't think it's unreasonable to think that this team can catch fire. Both Tylers have played strong recently. Miller has been great the past few games. Vanek and Poms are Vanek and Poms. Leino has been good. Goose and Kaleta have looked less and less like scrubs and more like the checking-line roleplayers they should be.
I can argue that the Sabres deserved the win against the Rangers. They outplayed the East's top team. They didn't bury against the game's best goaltender. They were physically and mentally engaged in that game.
I don't expect them to get in. But these past few games have shown me that the team has the ability to do so. It's applying the ability consistently and being mentally engaged in every single game and buying into Ruff's system (even with a redundancy of soft/passionless players [wingers]) that's key from here on out.
actually, Vanek is in one of his worst slumps of his career. 2 goals in his last 18 games... no goals in his last 10 games. -10 in his last 18 games... ouch...
playing 500 hockey down the stretch would be impressive for this bunch...
The first month of the season, when the team was playing well, coupled with the run they made last year with the same core and the off-season changes of the team.
You can't honestly say that in terms of talent, this is a bad team. They're not.
The problem lies in the number of players unwilling to buy into Ruff's system and/or Ruff's inability to convey that system or get players to listen to him.
In terms of talent, this is a good team. That's why I think they can go on a run and make the playoffs.
(does NOT mean that's what I want to happen. Players should buy into what their coach is preaching year round. Not selectively. Staff and personnel needs an overhaul.)
I keep reading these references to the "great start" to the season, etc. I wish people would bother to look back at the schedule in the first 6 weeks of the season, because you'll see A LOT of softer opponents. ALSO, the Sabre's, after 6 weeks, had played a few more games than many of the teams around them, which juiced their overall ranking since they had more chances to gather more points. AT THAT TIME, I was warning people (in conversation, not on here), that they had a soft early schedule AND all the teams around them had 2-3 games-in-hand on the Sabres. I mentuion this because it was frustrating to see them playing poorly yet have so many insisiting they didn't need any changes because they're #2 in the East and #1 in the division, blah, blah, blah. I honestly wasn't surprised as they started dropping like a rock. It was inevitable given their HEALTHY play.
Anybody who doesn't understand this team is fatally flawed, either hasn't been paying attention---or is suffering from an acute case of Sylvesteritis.
I keep reading these references to the "great start" to the season, etc. I wish people would bother to look back at the schedule in the first 6 weeks of the season, because you'll see A LOT of softer opponents. ALSO, the Sabre's, after 6 weeks, had played a few more games than many of the teams around them, which juiced their overall ranking since they had more chances to gather more points. AT THAT TIME, I was warning people (in conversation, not on here), that they had a soft early schedule AND all the teams around them had 2-3 games-in-hand on the Sabres. I mentuion this because it was frustrating to see them playing poorly yet have so many insisiting they didn't need any changes because they're #2 in the East and #1 in the division, blah, blah, blah. I honestly wasn't surprised as they started dropping like a rock. It was inevitable given their HEALTHY play.
Anybody who doesn't understand this team is fatally flawed, either hasn't been paying attention---or is suffering from an acute case of Sylvesteritis.
No. The last couple game have been better, no doubt, but in addition to another incredible run, it would also require a team like the Lightning or Isles to steal points from teams ahead of us. Also, the nine-point gap could increase to 10-13pts after games-in-hand are played out before our next game on Saturday.
Agreed - I think it will actually require more than just 2 teams above them to slump badly in the final 2 months. Despite the sudden awakening and glimmer of optimism from the last 3 games, I'm hardly brimming with confidence that the team can go on the kind of .750 winning clip they'd need to catch up.
actually, Vanek is in one of his worst slumps of his career. 2 goals in his last 18 games... no goals in his last 10 games. -10 in his last 18 games... ouch...
playing 500 hockey down the stretch would be impressive for this bunch...
I'm aware of Vanek's struggles. When I said "Vanek is Vanek," I meant it in that for the most part, we know what we're going to get from him. Contextually, I put that in a bad spot in my sentence.
My point is that they have, for the most part, the same core in tact as last season coupled with some new talented players. The talent is there. Hot streaks happen in hockey. It happened for us last year, and there's no reason we can't catch fire and see it happen again.
That said, we'd get ousted in the first round again and it'd be back to the drawing board. This core isn't good enough to win (when it matters). They are, however, capable of catching fire and going on a run.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squantosawuss
I keep reading these references to the "great start" to the season, etc. I wish people would bother to look back at the schedule in the first 6 weeks of the season, because you'll see A LOT of softer opponents. ALSO, the Sabre's, after 6 weeks, had played a few more games than many of the teams around them, which juiced their overall ranking since they had more chances to gather more points. AT THAT TIME, I was warning people (in conversation, not on here), that they had a soft early schedule AND all the teams around them had 2-3 games-in-hand on the Sabres. I mentuion this because it was frustrating to see them playing poorly yet have so many insisiting they didn't need any changes because they're #2 in the East and #1 in the division, blah, blah, blah. I honestly wasn't surprised as they started dropping like a rock. It was inevitable given their HEALTHY play.
Anybody who doesn't understand this team is fatally flawed, either hasn't been paying attention---or is suffering from an acute case of Sylvesteritis.
Whether or not they had an easy schedule is irrelevant to me, because now we're one of the bottom teams in the league. We were winning games. Period. The games in hand point is fair, but even then we probably would have been around 4th or 5th in the conference when all of the games were even.
As for your last point, I'm not saying the team isn't fatally flawed. I'm not saying they're good. I am saying they're capable of going on a run and sneaking into the playoffs.
Look at this way. They would need 92'ish points to make the playoffs right? NYR was the 8th seed last year with 93. Carolina was 9th with 91.
So they would need to go something like 20-7-4 or some bat**** crazy record. 93 points? 21-7-3.
BUT! You say Montreal made the playoffs in 2010 with 88 points?? Okay, then we still need to go 18-9-4.
Yeah, ain't happening.
Where they will finish? I'll take the bottom of the pile at between 13th - 15th. Almost a 75% chance of it. Hell, I would put A LOT of money on it too.
Last edited by TakeThatTootoo: 02-03-2012 at 08:06 PM.
