eman

and UPL wasn't much better last game. Hopefully Comrie plays well or perhaps getting a vet goalie wasn't such a bad idea. Levi looking awfully average tonight.

Agreed. Baby steps first. Lots of youth in the lineup that needs to experience that type of intensity. So different from the regular season.

and for the first time in many seasons, I am optimistic in the direction this club is going. I really like the job KA is doing. He will need to find a vet goalie in my opinion to ease Levi in and not have him shoulder everything (I still am not 100 % sold on Luukonen but hey, let him fight for a spot and if he can earn it, so be it) The defence needs serious upgrading. It needs to get tougher and stronger to keep the slot clear. Way too many point blank chances last season. The playoffs showed they are a completely different animal than the regular season. Toughness is still required in this league.

Again, I agree that Jack had to be moved, and I like what KA is doing in regards to this club. Improvement is there, and he got 2 really good players in return. I just see it as a wasted opportunity for this club. Jack is very talented. Was he immature while in Buffalo?- YES. I admire the guts of the Vegas organization to gamble on trading for him and allowing him to get the surgery. It paid off exactly as they hoped it would, for the club and Jack. Not only did he mature in that organization. He proved to be the talent that was written. Playoff leader in points and now a Cup Champion in his first go round' in the playoffs. If the roles were reversed, and the Sabres pulled off this kind of move, everyone on these posts would be crowing about what an awesome manoeuver by management to go after it. People can say hindsight is 20-20 but Vegas is without a doubt, an organization to be admired. 2 Cup finals in 6 seasons and now a Stanley Cup Championship. Sometimes you have to go for it. Now I am hoping that the Sabres make the playoffs next season- in fact, I expect them to. Anything less is a regression for me. As good as the Sabres were at times last season, the grit level is going to have to be elevated as you can see, if you watched this season's playoff series. Those were tough, punishing playoffs and |I'm not sure this team, as currently constructed will go past a first round.

Well, someone did trade for Jack, and the surgery was a success, and that club is now a Stanley Cup Champion. Doesn't get any better than that. The Golden Knights now have in 6 years what a Sabres organization would love to have, and have yet to achieve. Hopefully we are headed in the right direction. Let's hope the 23-24 season isn't a set back from the 91 points from last season. I get people dislike Jack here but he called his shot, it worked out, and I admire him for doing it.

Las Vegas is the city of gamblers......................................and now, a Stanley Cup Champion City!

Exactly! I do honestly believe Dr. Cappuccino's invention will become the new normal for this type of injury. I really do. No surgery is a guarantee on anything but I believe if you're an athlete with the condition Jack had, it may be a career ender and what do you, or your club have to lose by going for it? And for the record, I think faith in the Sabres medical staff had everything to do with it. It sealed the deal.

Look, what I'm saying is Dr. Cappuccino's invention? (again, just my opinion) may become the new normal for athletes. It's a game changer. You have to start somewhere and someone has to gamble on it. It worked out great for Jack. The Sabres and Jack's crew reached an impasse on this issue. He took a couple of serious crosschecks and a crushing hit by Tkachuk in the finals and seemed no worse for wear. Jack may be the guinea pig so to speak but if he has a lengthy career, he will be the poster boy for this type of surgery. All credit to Dr. Cappuccino. He may become even more reknowned than he is already. Someone performed that surgery and it wasn't Cappuccino. Was he swayed by the Sabres organization? Anyhow, so far, so good. I don't think Jack regrets a thing and really, why should he?

Oh I agree with what you're saying. But look at the end result. Vegas (a town known for it's "gambling") took a gamble on Jack and the advice that Jack's Doc's provided to them. I will bet you, funny enough, that we will see more of this surgery as the years go on. No way Jack was coming back to the Sabres, especially after this disagreement, regardless of whether he had requested a trade the season prior. The Sabres were under no obligation to trade Jack regardless of the wishes of himself or his agent. This medical mistrust sealed the deal, as did Lindros blaming Flyers medical for clearing him to return, even though he told them he didn't feel right and he felt it lead to his4th concussion soon therafter. Which lead to Bobby Clarke taking the C off him for going to the media about it. That ended that relationship. Dr. Cappuccino should have had more faith in his work. I am sure we will see more of it in the future. Anyhow, good for Jack, it all worked out for him and the Sabres seem to be rising with the pieces they got in return. I can't help but be happy for him. He matured in that organization. I wish it would have happened here.

It certainly got tested in the final. He took a couple of beauty crosschecks and got nailed by Tkachuk. So far, so good. Plus a Stanley Cup ring to boot and leading scorer in the playoffs. I think it's working out for him.

feel free to correct my mistakes.

and a true one.

Most likely the vast majority of these clubs need to update their medical staff regarding new procedures. Too "old school" or maybe too beholden to club management to keep their plum positions. Eichel and his Doc's were right on the money.

It hit the breaking point with the medical staff of the Sabres. Jack's Doctor's were correct about the surgery Jack wanted for his neck and the Sabres medical staff was wrong. Jack lost faith in the the teams medical staff and that severs any remaining goodwill with the organization. I liken it to the Lindros Philly situation with Eric's concussion issues. He didn't feel he was ready to return to the lineup while the Flyers medical staff said he was. Once a player loses faith with something so important to their career, the relationship is over. And as far as I'm concerned, good for Jack. Sometimes you do have to look out for your own best interests. Looks like it worked out well for him!

Agreed, but they were penalties and they were unnecessary.

The entire next week will be much much tougher. They'll need at the very least, strong efforts to avoid embarrassment. I hate to say it but it starts tonight with St. Lou. Any night they take off will result in a bad beatdown coming up.

Here's hoping! Personally, I like the guy. Watched NJ beat the Leafs in OT last night. Totally bought into Lindy's system and extremely hardworking young guys. They deserve their success.

And they chanted "We're sorry Lindy" just recently. Apology was accepted by Mr. Ruff. All is well in NJ! at least he gets there..........

It can. Maybe Lindy Ruff might have something to do with that? People here wrote him off on these pages, but Lindy is a good coach and his teachings seem to be paying dividends in the swamp! Amazing what good coaching can do.

Gentlemen, enjoy what is left of this season. I am out on this club for the rest of this season. They have no realistic hope of making the playoffs let alone challenging for a spot. The jury is still seriously out for me on coach Don Granato. Hope the Leafs don't humiliate the Sabres on Saturday but I do see that as a possibility. Tired of watching the regression yet again. I don't give a crap what they do in March and April when the season had been long decided for them. Time to watch other clubs playing good hockey. This club continues to embarrass with an entire different set of characters. Can't see the home arena filling up anytime in the forseeable future. I cannot see what could drastically change in the next week or so that would get this team to play inspired, solid hockey. Barry Trotz is out there. His hire would make me consider watching this crew again. Peace! Happy Thanksgiving to you all and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Go Bills!!!!

The defence is absolute a$$. It stinks. It is, and has been (along with prior goaltending, the achilles heel of this club the past several seasons) Watching these Sabre games and seeing the numerous odd man rushes, 2 on ones, 3 on two's and clear cut breakaways is alarming. I think our goaltenders have actually done a decent job stopping most of those from ending up in the net. Way too porous D!

Heavy emphasis on THE DEFENCE. I'm not totally with throwing the goaltending under the bus watching highlights of the goals against. They (Anderson and Comrie) have stopped numerous odd man rushes and 2 on 1's etc. in almost each and every game and that is just deplorable D. Sure thay may give up the odd suspect goal but this defence is absolutely garbage right now (and has been for the past few seasons) Leaving numerous opposing snipers unmarked in the slot is not on the goaltending. Given that amount of time and coverage, snipers are gonna snipe. Again totally on the defence. Absolute rubbish!

I would beg to differ just slightly. The amount of odd man rushes, 2 on 1's and just flat out breakaways given up by this current edition of Sabres defence is criminal. You can have the greatest goaltender in the World but expecting him to continuously stop and cover up these miscues is dreaming. By the way, Comrie and Anderson have done a decent job of doing that so far. The defence on this club is absolutely horrendous. Ridiculously so. Stop blaming the goaltender and needing them to steal games for this club to win. The rest of this squad bears scrutiny and needs to be held responsible.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe there is a nice bunch of talent on this team and in Rochester. I like Donny G in general but now I have my doubts about the coach yet again. I cannot figure out why this team continues to crap the bed in November. I believe in October, Sabres opponents aren’t sure what style of play they’re facing. Come November, opponents have plenty of Sabre game film to look at and make adjustments on countering the current style of play. What the hell else can it be?

Sorry Thorny, but my honest opinion is that this team is spinning it’s wheels. Do they look better than the disasters of the past decade? Perhaps. But what does it matter? Other teams in the division have also improved and we’re seeing another instant replay of seasons past. Done by US Thanksgiving again. I really thought it would take until about late February at the earliest for this season. Nope. I wish I shared your optimism. They have beaten it out of me now.