R_Dudley

Watching some other games last night during the play by play for the Jets game they said as long as someone drives the net it creates space and opportunties for the puck handler. I was then looking for that in other games and sure enough saw that it seems like pretty basic approach in the offensive zone to have somone drive the middle lane/net and take the defensemen with him and to have the another along the boards looking for the best play. Is it me or does it seem only our top line(26,19,29) does that regularly and the 2,3,4, line sabres almost always have all 3 forwards cycling the wall instead of one taking the middle.

You need a coach that adjusts his system to take advantage of your players skills vs. imposing your system on them for this to happen. This QFT Considering over half these guys stayed home during the lockout I expected them to come into the shortened season in the best shape of their lives, especially the ones we were counting on, Ennis, Stafford, leino, myers, foligno, sekera, etc. Oh and yes please enough with the Gerbe experiment, it's a great story and all against all odds but it is not helping this team in todays game.

Yeah this is a head scratcher. He defintely has nothing to prove in the Q but could benefit from the 25 minutes a game of ice tme in all aspects of the game (PK,PP, 5 on 5) assuming we can influence his junior team to develop him that way. Problem with that is also what i heard in LR interview on Sabres site is that some of his hesitation and misplay can be attributed to the different system he was playing in Q vs Sabres. Does 9 minutes a game of the Lindy Ruff line shuffle improve him more that 25 minutes of the Q all around play ? That is the question. I could also mention the various theory's already floating around this board on whether LR develops or regresses players. So all that said, since he is an 18 year old and I don't want to Ruff up his confidence I say send him back down to let him play more to his natrual abilites and continue to build his confidence before he is systematized by LR. Oh and spend some peg'mula to bring in a vetran center to fill the need they have for some depth.

Not true of everyone and backed by my post in yesterdays game thread. I knew they were not as bad as there record indicated and Buffalo was not as good as theirs. I am interested in understanding this Sabres team this year. As other's have said this team already has looked eerily familar to some previous dysfunctional under achieving teams we have seen before. I can't tell yet what Lindy's plan is for this team this year assuming he has one. Puck possesion fast paced or defense first score off the breaks. I am also concerned that some of the players we are counting on do not appear to be developing/maturing. So a home game after a stinker in front of your home crowd with a chance for redemption. I hope to see us out hustle the other team for pucks, finish checks, drive the net, show the PP has a clue , do not leave this game on Miller and have the 2nd and 3rd lines chip in on the scoresheet. Let's go Buff-a-lo !

This. And again why I said and remain cautiously optimistic. However at some point after another; different year, different players, simular result you have to start to look at coaching.

Yes I am also cautiously optimistic, If following this team for many years has taught me anything it's that. That said if carolina can continue to play poorly for two more games than a sweep is possible. Let's go Buff-a-lo !

Happy Birthday girl, may the sabres make it a blast with a win oh and a Bday shout out to LaLaLa as well. Beers on me for our sabrespace Bday posters, put it on my tab. Come on Blfo lets start a win streak.

+1 Yeah I do not put much into what is said but more what is done. Team is on record as saying they want to change that attitude and repuation they have. When one of your softer players steps up then you other tteams should expect more than that from your players that do have that in their game.

Pretty neat look at the stats. I am so glad hockey is back. Have been getting my fill with CI. watched quite a bit the last couple of days. Certainly looks like some teams coming out of the gates pretty fast and other's still gelling. I hope the Sabres of the 1st and 3rd period is going to be our team. Let's go Buff-a-lo !

Finally like christmas morning, time to open our sabres and see what we got for this season. Please no coal, I've been good this year Terry, honest. Oh and please, please may I have the olympic Miller to start out the seasin till the rest of the team gel's, anything less and I'm afraid of seeing last season's start as rerun. Let's go Buff-a-lo!

yeah what he said. It's a good thing i read before I predicted, it saved me some typing. I do agree with some other's here this will be a bubble team they could just as easily end up 9-10 as 7-8. I am interested to see if Lindy continues his generate offense from his defenseman style to compensate for lack of forward scoring. Last season's team total scoring was way down. Curious if he has any answers for 4 that and the underperforming PP. we will know soon enough

Yeah my sentiments exactly. I also agree with you PA that I think I am numb to hoping for the changes that I think this organization still needs at coach. It is what it is and they are still my team go sabres. On a side note watching the Pens-Flyers I hope Bflo is ready for the physical game I expect Phl to be bringing tomorrow. Oh snap Lindy is still coach and doesn't believe in that style.

:w00t: Well played. Although I will confirm that I agree it is(er was) time for a change. Unfortunately I also agree with the majority no matter what happens playoffs or not Ruff will get his pass once again.

Yeah still don't think my favorite team has enough of that yet either. I will be curious to see how he does with really skilled linemates. Guess it depends on if he has to play more policeman than power forward.

Some good idea's here, nice to see you getting your game ready Ink. I like the party in the box idea alot as a real possibility. I too am surprised with the PGH connection that it doesn't sound like they are going more down that path.

Spectacular ! Best quote and image of the year.

Amen to that. Let the good times roll.

I took a peek at http://www.capgeek.com/sabres/ and agree Leino if he does not really step up his game. As a second maybe it is wishful thinking after that horrible attempt at humor in that stafford workout video but if stafford does not come back in top shape and stay at the same level he was clicking at with Ennis and Foligno than I would not be sorry to see him traded or bought out. Besides the trade away salary option I am interested in is if new CBA has any changes/restrictions on renegotiating a players contract, turning salary into signing bonus for adding a year or two for a lower annual salary or more performance orientated. I could see the team going that route as well with just a single buyout like Leino's

Well now what a reunion. Been a sometimes lurker but enjoyed the free time for other endeavors. Labatt, nice kickoff Taro, love the taint. Chaz, mon ami Sheri, Bio, great memory of the fu man workout, classic piece of what was/is wrong with this team attitude wise. PA, welcome back and how about kotter for your Satan replacement you horshshack. ;-) Ghost, a little close to home with that analogy heh, I think you were that camp counselor, Nfreeman, nice to see your in, Wonder, sten,d4, and all you others good to see the gangs all here. Keep up the great conversations.

Happy Stuffing your selves all you Turkeys. Hope you and yours are all safe and enjoying your Holiday. The longer the lockout the less I am missing hockey and enjoying all the extra time I have for family and life, however I do miss the comadarie of this board.

I do not think all the appropriate choices are listed. I want an option to take the side of the "Fans" which would be what is good for the league and enhancing the game like eleven, and deluca and weave are also saying. Really should not be any harder than a 50/50 partnership to continue to build, strengthen and increase the market for the game.

Yeah lets add people and relatives that tell the same story over and over again oblivious to the fact they may have already told you this umpteith times and expect you to laugh at the punch line like you never heard it.

People who get impatient and curse at me while I back into my parking spot because I need to statisfy my OCD tendencies to always be pointed in the correct direction and satisfy my impatientness with the need for hasty get aways. ;)

I am sorry to hear and offer my heartfelt condolances. I know how hard putting your dog to sleep is after doing that with our 14 years young lab just 3 years back. We had her as a puppy before children so she really was the beginning of the family for my wife and I and it was very, very hard. Now 3 children and a new lab puppy later we are experiencing the joy as family all over again. Take some time to grieve but maybe in time allow for another to share life with again. We kept some of the toys from our last to the new dog and I swear she knows she was preceded by a great dog and at times even has some similar personaility traits although that could just be the lab coming through. My complaint, summer is over, school started already here today for the first kid and the nice slower summer pace is going right out the window now from morning to night starting with the get the kids out of bed, on the bus on time shuffle to the get home, get dinner, do homework, after school activities fire drill. So while I reserve the right to complain, all in all I wouldn't trade it back for the single life in a second or a lifetime. ;)