deluca67

Briere would be a band-aide on a gaping wound. If Briere is the best option at center going into 2014? We are all in for another long season.

"Is?" At this point in his career I don't think Briere "is" 5x better than anyone, including Stafford & Leino. I'd rather the Sabres use the money and the roster spot on a player with a future and some more tread on the tire as they say. This team needs veteran centers? Go out and get some. make some bold moves and take some risks. Briere's talents are better served on a contending team looking for a PP specialist and third/fourth line player. The Sabres need to concentrate on filling the top six forward spots before adding more 3rd/4th lines players. They have enough 3rd/4th line players as it is.

He took a shot behind the net and just shook it off. There are some guys on this team that would have taken the opportunity to just lay there.

He's not being carried by Vanek & Pominville is closer to the truth.

Interesting? 2 points in the last 9 games and it looks likes many have forgotten this thread existed. Is it because old CoHo's disappearance down the stretch this season is a reminder of his disappearance last season? Over time this is going to end up being one my all time favorite threads. :w00t:

I moved the quote to respond in the appropriate thread. These numbers are a reflection of a talented player with with motivational issues. His most productive season came in his contract year. The other seasons pretty much mirror each other. Stafford would show some signs of great talent by going on a decent hot streak to pad his numbers mixed in with stretches of games where he completely disappears. I have thought for a while now that Stafford plays the game of hockey because of his natural talent and not for an love of the game. What we can be seeing right now from Stafford is that he has banked enough cash where the game of hockey is no longer a priority. He is going through the motions.

Sure, let's bring Briere back, maybe trade for Brian Campbell, Bring Chris Drury back as GM, Jay Mckee as head coach and JP Dumont and Mike Grier as assistant coaches? Let's put the band back together? :doh: If Briere was brought back to Buffalo is would be a horribly disturbing sign that team management is without ideas of how to turn this failing franchise around. Bringing back Briere is the equivlent of releasing yet another team jersey. It's only purpose will be to serve as a distraction.

This is more of a cliche than it is a accurate refection of the team we have endured for a while now. This is a team, under Regier and Ruff, that has traditionally had trouble competing on a consistent basis. Not only in the context of an entire season but within games as well. How many Lindy Specials have sat through where this team was simply not ready to compete at the beginning of games? 2 or 3 dozen times over the past few years seems pretty accurate. Of course this team has quit. They quit on Lindy Ruff and they quit on the season. Quitting seems to be a core value of this group of players. Which is why the remaining pieces of the "core" need to be shipped out. Miller, Vanek, Stafford, Myers and Hecht will hopefully all be gone this off-season and replaced with players from outside the organization who will hopefully develop into a new "core."

Normal reactions for when the expectations become reality. Every fan has a bit of hope inside that things aren't as bad as they seem. Games like tonight destroy that last bit of hope.

Is he in the lineup tonight?

Watching the game tonight I have a couple of questions. Are there any attractive women in the arena? If yes, are the camera operators instructed not to show them? I flip to other games and that's all they show. Panning the Sabres crowd and it looks like the Sabres passed out tickets on skid row.

I'll never forget the 2005 rant on South Dakota. I don't think the state ever recovered.

There isn't a single player on this roster that I wouldn't mind seeing moved in some sort of deal. I'm ready for a complete overhaul and don't care if they attempt to salvage anything from the current roster.

To defend Ott a little bit, his previous NHL experience was in Dallas so he is not use to a fan base that understands the game of hockey and has a discerning eye when it comes to the product on the ice. He is use to the type of fan that sits there and cheers when the jumbo-tron tells them to. Here is a little advice for Steve Ott and the "younger players" Ott is so concerned with. If you don't like being booed after being caught in your own zone for over two minutes or booed after a pathetic power play attempt then simply don't get caught in your own zone for over two minutes and put out a better effort on the power play. Steve Ott is going to learn there are no free passes here in Buffalo. The "younger players" better learn it also. Quit blaming the media and the fans. Mike Harrinton's line was great. Since the early days of the Pegula ownership this franchise has tried to blame everyone else for their problems which is truly "ridiculous."

What a heaping pile of apple pie. It's Regier's job to put together a roster of players capable of winning a Stanley Cup. The current roster isn't even capable of making the playoffs. "Great Job" :doh:

100% Agree. There is a huge difference between winning a trade and building a true contender.

I'd bet he kick an ass or two, that's what Teddy Brushi would do.

May the Hockey Gods have mercy on the Buffalo Sabres and allow the Wild to miss the playoffs and have their #1 pick win the Draft Lottery. The Sabres are due for that type of positive divine intervention. :angel:

I don't think that is true at all. The Bills and Sabres have been very similar in that regard. Both have been bad enough to not be contenders, yet not bad enough to get the premium draft positions.

It's nice to see Stafford play a little chippy.

Just because they are here doesn't make them the "core." That is not a group of players I want to build around that you listed.

Every team that misses the playoffs shoudl take a close look at the Sens. The quality of players this team lost to injury would cripple most other teams. Here they are, over .500 and solidly in a playoff position.

Guess who's back in the lineup and scoring goals, OK, a goal.

Vanek's and Miller's value will be at their lowest by next seasons trade deadline. The pressure will be monumental on the Sabres if they go into next season with Miller and Vanek both pending UFAs. Reminders of 7/1/07 will come daily. This may force the Sabres into some bad decisions.

I'm looking at Capgeek and it looks like there will be plenty of teams with enough cap space to fit Vanek this off-season. It only takes a couple of those teams to drive up the price.