deluca67

It really has become a witch hunt when it comes to hits. As some point people have to realize that every time a player hits another player, and that plays goes down hard, it's not a suspendable offense. Wilson put a hit on a player that had the puck. He traveled a distance because he was just entering the play. Is Wilson supposed to stop skating at some point. If he does than the Flyers easily clear the zone. I like Schenn, and I definitely don't want to see any player hurt. Sometimes we have to remember that hockey is a dangerous game that is played at a high rate of speed and a high level of intensity. There are more than enough outrageous plays for fans to get upset over. Not all plays with unfortunate results deserve such outrage.

You were absolutely right.

The Sabres don't have a Seguin or Benn, I'd like to see what Girgensson could do on that line.

They could play him at RW, it's not like his production would drop off.

At age 26 you throw the word "potential" out the window. He is what he is, which is an AHL level talent that fills in for you on the fourth line when injuries pile up. Yeah, he's just like Kotalik except 3 inches shorter, 30 lbs lighter and zero amount of Kotalik's goal scoring ability. They are mirror images of each other. :blink:

Cost me 1st place.

The Romo haters are going to have a very good Christmas, 2 INTs in the final 3 minutes.

Consistency is what's preventing Kassian and Hodgson from being the players fans thought they can be.

Not if you're a hockey fan. You don't trade one of the best young scorers in the NHL, who is only 25, for a 33 year old goaltender. Especially when that same team has already won two Stanley Cups with what can be considered lessor goal-tending. If the hawks had interest in anyone off of the Sabres roster it is likely Steve Ott for his physical play or Matt Molson who could add depth to the wing.

I don't have a need to be right, I just have confidence that in the end I will be. If I'm not, like with Derrick Roy, I'll gladly admit it. Right now? Neither player is anywhere near reaching the high end of their potential. If you took Kassian's aggressiveness and the energy he has shown he can bring to the rink with Hodgson's natural ability you would have one hell of a player. Sadly as we sit here watching another dismal offensive display by the Sabres, it's safe to say neither the Sabres or Vancouver is getting the ROI they were hoping for. It is frustrating watching other rookies come right in and have an immediate impact. Could fans accept watching Ryan Miller in a Ottawa Senators jersey?

Are you including picks already made? IMO, if a new GM thinks he can turn around this team quickly, he will have to use some of the young kids like Girgensons and the two big d-men as trade bait.

Anyone else here think that Thomas Vanek doesn't finish the season as a New York Islander?

The way the game is played these days, it's really a five man unit when it comes to things like offensive pressure. Look at teams like the Penguins, an active defense really compliments their glut of talented forwards. What would it cost for a player like Callahan to come to the Sabres and throw away the next 4-5 years of his career? If Callahan hits free agency he's not going to sign with the worst team in the NHL. If he leaves New York it will likely be for a chance at a Stanley Cup. I would expect Colorado to be a player in any Callahan sweepstakes. They have the cap space and appear to be on the right path to becoming a serious contender.

And as in most cases you'll be wrong. Kassian is one of those players that a team will always find a place for. A big aggressive kid with enough hockey talent where he's not going to John Scott your team. His six goals would put him third on the Sabres in goal scoring this season. It's really hard to judge Foligno through all this mess. The way first came in with 13 points in 14 games many thought the kid was going to be monster player. Like we finally had our version of Lucic.

They looked like a team that had checked out early on the season. I look at the last two games and wonder if things would be different if they would have played Atlanta at home. A win last week and I think we see a different team today.

Attempted to fight Kessel and went after Ericksson's head. Those are pretty good examples of "going after."

You guys are hilarious. Scott has, twice this season, gone after star players on teams that have no shortage of tougher players he could have gone after. Pretending that Scott plays by some code or moral barometer is embarrassing and is nothing more than a sad attempt to revise history and to excuse away two of the most embarrassing incidents in recent Sabres history. I really hate to burst the bubble of denial for you guys, what Thornton or any other player does will not excuses away what Scott is and what he has done. We can argue Thornton's place in the NHL, it doesn't mean there is or should be a place in the NHL for John Scott.

The same guy who tries to go after Phil Kessel :blink: There is nothing about going after an unsuspecting player's head that equates to a hockey play. :blink: There must have been some serious Holiday parties last night. :beer:

It's what I expect. I wouldn't mind a longer suspension, this garbage has to stop sometime. The Neal hit on Marchand is a play that could have gotten a lot uglier. I will guess the word "intent" will be used a lot by the league and the Penguins when the play is discussed. I love Neal as a player, I find it hard to believe that a player like Neal who has great skill and vision on the ice didn't know exactly what he was going.

If you consider what Scott did a "hockey play" there is no point continuing the conversation. Anyway, how about that Tyler Sequin?

You mean when the Sabres didn't have the heart to stick up for themselves?

If the ref would have added a 10 min misconduct to Thornton's roughing penalty the play may have been avoided, or least possibly had a different result. They should take a serious look at fining teams who engage in "revenge penalties."

Compared to Scott, Thornton is Gordie Howe. It was an ugly play and Thornton will get suspended, probably somewhere in the 5-10 game range. Neal will likely miss some games for the knee to Marchand and Orpik may even see a game or two for his hit on Eriksson. An intense game between two teams that know they stand in each others way of a Stanley Cup.

As he did in the Kessel trade. It's a concept I always felt was lost on Regier. You don't have to win every trade, you just need to make your team better. I always felt the latter came first for Regier. Trading Kessel and then Seguin were too huge risks by Chiarelli which seem to be paying off for him nicely.

If Regier is an "evil genius" than the Seguin trade makes Jim Nill "Emperor Palpatine." 15-12-27 +9 through 26 games. At 21 years old and locked into a contract for the next five years, you would be hard pressed to find a greater value.