Spoonman

It matches the "level of compete" Donny keeps referring to after EVERY game.

Pete Webber spoke at RJ memorial earlier this summer. Good man.

Sabres to opposition. You get a goal! You get a goal! And.... You get a goal!

Well they didn't lose today. There's that.

Nothing personal @Shoot da Puck, but if we don't win tonight, we may need you to take a break, and watch thread posting for a while.... (working on all angles, as I hope you understand).

Good Evening Children of the ⚔️ Spooner checking in after extended warm-ups. Now nothing can hurt me.

Awesome - love CSN&Y!

Sabres. Mediocrity. Again. Why? > Very poor roster construction. I get the draft and develop, but GMKA is showing his lack of experience…. Did not bring in veteran leadership that is making a difference on and off ice (OK, I will grove you EJ Sr.) Not enough. One word: Detroit…. (see below) > Early injuries. Every team has injuries. The injuries have exposed Sabre's lack of depth. Exhibit one: 11/7 lineups > Coaching. Something is just not connecting. Too much youth and guys who made roster easily in prior seasons, with a small handful of veterans, but that is the cards dealt. Not enough accountability. Need to sit guys. The majority of the coaching staff is young in years on NHL staffs. Meatballs has a total of 7 yrs. > No winning leadership. (players 29 yrs. up) - less than 80 playoff games of experience on the team (only 2 players to boot) Oakie and Z have not won in the league. Oakie 24 playoff games, Z = ZERO Skinny "Between Two Stalls" is on hiatus, and he is not a leader. Also ZERO playoff experience EJ Sr. adding value on PK early, but not sure what he can do on his own in his first (and only) year w Sabres. 55 NHL games, and a Cup. None is enough to show the young ins what winning NHL hockey takes. Management: GMKA's focus seems to be way too much on culture, and not enough on results, and accountability. Did a good job moving and getting some good value for Jack, Rino, and Risto. Great that he talks with other GMs regularly. So, that got us what? So far seems to love “his guys”. Needs to put on his big boy pants and make the necessary deals to get this roster construction in a better place. Need to move guys, prospects, picks, and use cap space in smart, bold trades to grow this team. This is where it gets hard Kev... Detroit's rebuild included a mix of veterans and younger players. Now have added (will see what happens) Kane mid year. Sabres' latest rebuild: Drafting and developing young players. OK. Veteran leadership (see above). Not acceptable. Did nothing of note in off-season (unless you want to argue: 1/ Oakie's buddy EJ Sr and 2/ Clifton, another US Developmental League guy from Granato's time there). .Weak tea. This form of "rebuild" takes more time than we the fans are able to deal with anymore, after 12 years and talk in the preseason of playoffs (everyone drinking the Kool aid).....as THE DROUGHT, as this team is presently built and coached, looks to continue. Whatcha gonna do GMKA, Donnie, Terry?

@Sabretooth See my new thread "Deja Vo all over again...." for my thoughts.

@DarthEbriate see my new thread on this topic Deja Vu all over again..... @Doohickie You just wanted a pooch on this thread. Admit it. 😜

Sabres. Mediocrity. Again. * Title: Yogi Berra quote Why? > Very poor roster construction. I get the draft and develop, but GMKA is showing his lack of experience…. Did not bring in veteran leadership that is making a difference on and off ice (OK, I will grove you EJ Sr.) Not enough. One word: Detroit…. (see below) > Early injuries. Every team has injuries. The injuries have exposed Sabre's lack of depth. Exhibit one: 11/7 lineups > Coaching. Something is just not connecting. Too much youth and guys who made roster easily in prior seasons, with a small handful of veterans, but that is the cards dealt. Not enough accountability. Need to sit guys. The majority of the coaching staff is young in years on NHL staffs. Meatballs has a total of 7 yrs. > No winning leadership. (players 29 yrs. up) - less than 80 playoff games of experience on the team (only 2 players to boot) Oakie and Z have not won in the league. Oakie 24 playoff games, Z = ZERO Skinny "Between Two Stalls" is on hiatus, and he is not a leader. Also ZERO playoff experience EJ Sr. adding value on PK early, but not sure what he can do on his own in his first (and only) year w Sabres. 55 NHL games, and a Cup. None is enough to show the young ins what winning NHL hockey takes. Management: GMKA's focus seems to be way too much on culture, and not enough on results, and accountability. Did a good job moving and getting some good value for Jack, Rino, and Risto. Great that he talks with other GMs regularly. So, that got us what? So far seems to love “his guys”. Needs to put on his big boy pants and make the necessary deals to get this roster construction in a better place. Need to move guys, prospects, picks, and use cap space in smart, bold trades to grow this team. This is where it gets hard Kev... Detroit's rebuild included a mix of veterans and younger players. Now have added (will see what happens) Kane mid year. Sabres' latest rebuild: Drafting and developing young players. OK. Veteran leadership (see above). Not acceptable. Did nothing of note in off-season (unless you want to argue: 1/ Oakie's buddy EJ Sr and 2/ Clifton, another US Developmental League guy from Granato's time there). .Weak tea. This form of "rebuild" takes more time than we the fans are able to deal with anymore, after 12 years and talk in the preseason of playoffs (everyone drinking the Kool aid).....as THE DROUGHT, as this team is presently built and coached, looks to continue. Whatcha gonna do GMKA, Donnie, Terry?

I have had too few. It matters not.

Good Evening Children of the ⚔️ Excuse me for a moment....my efforts as a fan have failed miserably. I am choosing an honorable end, well.... @Pimlach would you honor me as my kaishakunin (sword guy) & perform kaishaku on me? @Mustache of God Damn it! I can only find a butter knife, DAMN IT! I even fail at failing! @Mustache of God help me. I suffer.... Wait, all of this, I see it now, this must be a message from @Mustache of God!!!! I must live on and continue to embrace the pain and suffering as a Sabres fan. p.s. I was going to ask @Doohickie, but he may actually take me up on it, and keep my dog....

GMKA needs to be aggressive and find something. Need more veterans who can play, GMKA needs to use resources (players, picks, salary cap room) to do some higher level GM stuff (he has done the easier pieces, now time to pull out big boy pants). But @Buffalonill respect your, well respect is a bit strong, I listen to, no that's not it. OK I read your comments and then argue the opposing position (it is reflexive now). You need to post that the Sabres are not going to playoffs this year, every day. Yes, please do that. @Pimlach, no thanks necessary. Happy to oblige your Ken Jeong fix. I am not wrong, right? 😜 @Stads funny I just posted similar reply..... great minds.

So Carolina is wearing their new blue hurricane third jerseys tonight?

I am just ready for Sabres to cut bait. They don't play him, and when they do minor minutes (they don't trust him, with good reason). Use the spot for another F.

.....but what about Bryson? He skates pretty.

Yep we were almost the proud Mugwumps, Buzzing Bees, or Flying Zeppelins, but Seymour Knox chose Sabres (thank you SK!).. “A sabre is renowned as a clean, sharp, decisive and penetrating weapon on offense, as well as a strong parrying weapon on defense.” – via NHL.com, NHL team nicknames explained. Now we dance!

I think Meatballs rolls it back with UPL UPL was not as bad as the score indicates (he had one or two he could have stopped, but no help from the 5 in front). Comrie in between the pipes for matinee tomorrow.

Ok @buffaloboy I live in DFW TX. In my experience starzz fans are the worst. OK to be honest I despise cows and twinkle fans as a conglomerate. Known in 90's as the cocaine and boob job crowd, and definitely fair weather fandom. Example, previous years local Buffalo backers got group seating lower bowl for Sabres games - twinkles did good last year, so now all sold out with season ticket buyers. So we are in upper deck this year (April 9, for those keeping score). Some examples: Please remove your hats for the National Anthem. The crowd all yell "stars" over the national anthem where the word is sung, but are pissed when a player in protest takes a knee during same. They (in general) don't understand the game as well (OK, admittedly, this is old buy memory, as they have been in DAL for - gasp - 30 yrs.). OK, so I give them a sliver of knowledge, but no more. I loved the movie Dances with Wolves, but the Tatonka buffalo scene is played on jumbo tron* is trite (*dating myself again?) Of course the 1999 no goal is played on same (note: I did go to one Stanley cup game in DAL - we lost - ugh.) Comments from cow, starzz (or twinkles) fans over the years: What's the area code in Buffalo - 044 Good goal, despite no review Getting heckled wearing my Bills coat at local grocery store when shopiing back in 90's SB years. Oh, and the Buck Fuffalo crap everywhere.... well Duck Fallas! OK, gotta quit, my anxiety is up, need to go schedule time with my sport psychologist ...

My best sports day. October 29, 1989. Quick context: From Buffalo/Cheektowaga, I moved with parents to TX for dad's job back in 1983, and was challenged with watching Bills and Sabres back in the 80'-90's, until NFL Ticket (had to BUY the DirectTV dish back then) and NHL Centre Ice (nod to my fam north of the border, and better spelling) came online. Prelude: I worked for Delta Airlines as the time, and planned an inexpensive (I was a young fella w limited fundage) trip back to Buffalo. I hung out with my older cousins, who took me to their local establishment, where they introduced me to the denizens there and I ended up with a handful of swizzle sticks while playing darts. Informed that these represented drinks purchased for "my cousin from TX", I only remember being told it would be rude to not accept purchased drinks, dart board getting blurry, and being deposited at my aunt's house and crawling up the stairs to bed. Sunday 10/29/89 - my youngest cousin Bobby (who was not legal yet and not with me the night before) comes to get (way too early), this hungover guy, drive to Rich, and offer me a beer. UM, hair of the dog, no. This is where the day got much better. Part 1: Bickering Bills (remember that?) squished the fish 31-17 behind Frank Reich (6 of 9/TD), Thurman (27 for 148, TD) and Larry fricken Kinnebrew (21 for 121, TD). Reich in as Kelly hurt in week 5 v Indy, blaming Howard Ballard. Thurman and Jimbo were at it back and forth in public that year. https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/miami-dolphins-vs-buffalo-bills-1989102907 Part 2: Bobby, who works at the Aud at the time, says lets go watch the Sabres. We get to the Aud, he gets us in a back door, and we walk up ramps to the Oranges (Free is good!). Who is playing? Sabres hosting the bruuinzzz. So fun. Two scraps in first 5-6 min of the game, Sabres score 4 goals in 2nd, a rookie Rob Ray has (maybe) his first NHL scrap in the 3rd. Sabres beat best Andy Moog and the bullies from bean town winning 4-3 in front of Clint Malarchuk. https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198910290BUF.html I got to go back home to Buffalo, get "stirred up" with swizzles (perhaps Spoonman born that night?) by my cousins, then go to see my Bills and Sabres beat our two bitterest sports enemies!

@Doohickie As you know oh head of the chicken, I was not able to accompany you and our Buf Bro MH to that kick A game, nor the pre-tame festivities. I made the call to NOT abandon my family on Thanksgiving, unlike some others! That said I DID watch the game with my BIL and nephew (cow fans), and brother (a born again Bills fan) and played the Shout Song on my phone multiple times, until I was on the edge of being kicked out of his house! 🤣 This however, while awesome, was not may best sports day. More to come there.....

I would argue that today's PBP guys grew up on TV. They did not learn to "paint the picture" that radio guys did. Unfortunately for simulcast on radio/TV, the former has no idea what is going on on the ice too many times. I think about visually impared people trying to enjoy the play with today's "calls". Now I don't know if there is other technology that these folks have to get the PBP, but it is really a degredation of radio calls (and at the least for me it is same with the TV calls as well). Expectations minus reality equals disappointment.

@Scottysabres did you always play slow pitch and toss these kinds of softballs? Where's the beef? I mean, the potential comments write themselves. Please, sir, don't make me see this type of post again, I see so much potential in you. And to you my friend @JohninMinn. seeing lots of concern with softness . If it is a problem, bluechew.

Actually, this is strangely familiar..... oh, yeah, Sabres last night. SMH BTW @Pimlach looking forward to your assessment of the Boys in Blue. I have been reviewing my thoughts as well. Are you going with logic and cool headed reason, or just going to join some more er, em, emotional and *Everyone can have an opinion.....you know the proverbial "Opinions are like......and they all stink". I will readily admit that most opinions, other than mine stink.