GrassValleyGreg

Can't believe somebody was calling for a tank. 3 games in!!! :lol: :lol:

Dear God guys, we're missing two guys from our top 6 including one superstar. It's an 82 game season. Chill.

Mouls could round out that top 6 role when we're at full go. He's leading Girgs and Ennis at this point imo. Either way, nice to see his game game.

Won that period big time. Not saying much but hopefully we can get a couple in in the second. Agree with Dudacek, Lehner is having trouble with rebound control up high. Needs work there. We have two high skill D-men for the first time in a very long time. Makes you realize their importance in transition. Will be something when we get are two speed guys back.

sick mortal combat move from Lars

should have seen the first. this is actually quality road puck possession. (against a bad team) Let's cash one in!

Yay! A quality shift! Love Oks game. Skill and heart tends to age well.

Kuli = high skill. Hate to say it but I see Reino as the weak link tonight.

But happy to hear them also super critical on themselves in the post-games.

Damn super critical on here tonight two games in. Fine, smart road game. Some bad bounces after getting some good ones in Edmonton. ROR-Reino-Oks worth the price of admission alone. Kuli is a weapon in transition. Risto looks elite.

ROR 24:00

One thing I didn't know about Oks until he became a Sabre: hes got the smarts. What a beautiful complementary game when matched with ROR and Reino. Line is looking very very strong.

I think ROR has been on the ice for the last 6 minutes.

Haha our last game last year? My god man, have some faith in what is looking to be a hard-working, smart hockey team.

Man, what a beaut Kuli is in transition.

Reino showing off the jets.

A pretty brutal booth for any type of analysis.

Interesting recap. Thanks for sharing yse.

Cool. I said I'm excited to see him play with ROR and Okposo. When he returns.

Most of my observations followed the narratives emerging from camp. -Ennis looked good. Strong (see those biceps??) and vintage hands. Excited to see him with two smart players in ROR and Ok. -Okposo is so solid with and without the puck. His puck possession will be a factor this year, especially along the boards on the PP. -Mouls actually looked playable. Fought for pucks and it didn't look like he was skating in mud. More like dirt. Could be solid in front of the net on our PP2. -Lehner was the most encouraging obviously because of the importance of his position. His comments off ice have displayed a mental preparedness and toughness, and it showed on ice with his calm play and very sound positioning. And his offseason conditioning showed in his agility and recovery time. -Deslauriers played his game very well tonight. He'll be making a push for the bottom six. -Bogo was brutal. Does not have a good mental game and shouldn't be running the point of any kind of power play. -The kids played well and the Amerks will be fun to watch this year. Get to the War Memorial Rochester! I understand it's game two of preseason so please don't attempt to pop my balloon. I'm grounded. But this team is hitting all the right notes and I'm going to enjoy the excitement! Looking forward to seeing the team when it's infused with some elite talent.

Bogo brutal so far. Love to see Ennis and Okposo developing their chemistry. Beauty pass from Ok and deflection by Ennis just wide.

Lehner looks fantastic. Concentrated, agile and quick from butterfly to standing. Ennis showing evidence of old form with some nice hands on the PP. Tempered expectations but what a boost these two could be.

Sabres.com coverage has been markedly improved this year, adding to the overall competence of a well run franchise. For the first time in some time, the site's articles have added insight equal to this community. Highly recommend checking out LaBarber's articles daily. Can't help but be excited about the camaraderie, work ethic and overall positivity of the team. Good on GMTM for making a conscious effort to get character vets like Mouls (play was atrocious, but relationship with Eich alone may be worth half of his contract), Gorges and Gio. Definitely a solid blueprint for future tank copycats. Of course there may be no role model more valuable to the character of the team than ROR. Don't know if there is new training staff in place, but players look noticeably bigger and to a man talk about an increased workload this offseason. Also Reinhart is perfect. Toews-esque in his public persona. Very excited about the steps he takes this year.

Fair enough! But enough room for both I'd say! Edit: Although I don't know these "many people" who feel critics are out of touch. Generally just crappy. But good critics are more often respected for their opinion.

Haha ok pick out a single irrelevant word. Fair enough, not healthy but normal. When I raise the flaws of a movie or book I really liked, it is not a defense mechanism. It's discussing the imperfection of a near perfect product. I think it's important to identify any shortcomings in hopes they are resolved the next time around. It's the role of most critics. Difficult to improve without it. And its not like anything new was brought up. Many hockey observers "perceive" the coasting and over-reliance on talent of Eichel. This is not groundbreaking. The good (and frustrating) thing is that it is fixable and likely to change with maturity. Believe me, it's easier to try and find the elite talent of Eich than it is his failings.