Sabres defense next year...

[carpandean]

I wouldn't bring Teppo back. He is the Tim Connolly of the defense. If I can't rely on him for 80 games I don't need him on the roster. I would keep Paetsch as the #7 and look to go out and make a deal for a #6. The Sabres have those two #1's and like would to see them convert one into a defensemen with size that plays physical.

This debate has been had in two other threads, but with the exception of this season, Teppo has never missed significant time in his career due to injury. He actually played 95 of 98 games in the 2006-07 season, including all of the playoffs. The surgery this year was to repair his valve, which apparently was something that he was going to put off until he retired due to the long recovery time (hence, one game this season), but ended up having to do it this year. If the surgery actually fixed the problem -- and that is something several doctors would have to confirm -- then I wouldn't have a problem with Teppo coming back. I wouldn't necessarily put him in the top four, but he could have a lot of value just being on the team. In addition, I would like to see them use some picks and Lydman to get a top-four veteran, physical defenseman.

[X. Benedict]

You lost me there.

No need to feel lost. All of Campbell hits are recorded for posterity on youtube.

Both of them. :)

[LabattBlue]

I wouldn't bring Teppo back. He is the Tim Connolly of the defense. If I can't rely on him for 80 games I don't need him on the roster. I would keep Paetsch as the #7 and look to go out and make a deal for a #6. The Sabres have those two #1's and like would to see them convert one into a defensemen with size that plays physical.

Maybe I misread your post. I thought you were implying...promote Sekera & Weber to full-time and everything else is status quo on the blueline.

[LabattBlue]

No need to feel lost. All of Campbell hits are recorded for posterity on youtube.

Both of them. :)

Yeah, but those two hits have given him legendary status as a "physical player". :lol:

[bob_sauve28]

Did I say he did?

 

Teppo's health problems will always be an issue. For a small market team with limited revenues and spending ability I would hope the Sabres learned their lesson this year with Connolly and Teppo. They are nice players who happen to be completely unreliable. The Sabres would be foolish to think that suddenly they could both stay healthy for any extended period of time.

How is Teppo completely unreliable? Connolley, ok, I can see that. But Teppo seems fine t me. They fixed his heart and he looks rested and ready to go

[carpandean]

No need to feel lost. All of Campbell hits are recorded for posterity on youtube.

Both of them. :)

Three, if you count when OV hit him after a spin-a-rama, but Brian stayed up and OV fell down (also on YouTube.)

 

Oh wait,

, he actually had four hits!

[Goodfella25]

Tallinder-Lydman

 

Sekera-Weber

 

Spachek--Teppo

 

The problem with this is that Lydman and Tallinder are the top 2! No way they are cut out for that kind of responsibility--they proved it this year. They were the definition of inconsistent, and when you have that coming from your top 2 guys you will not win games.

[carpandean]

The problem with this is that Lydman and Tallinder are the top 2! No way they are cut out for that kind of responsibility--they proved it this year. They were the definition of inconsistent, and when you have that coming from your top 2 guys you will not win games.

As I showed in my first post, if those are the top-six, then the pairings will likely be what we saw against Boston:

Spacek-Sekera

Tallinder-Lydman

Teppo-Weber

Paetsch

 

As much as I liked Sekera-Weber this season, it seemed like Sekera was a little ahead of Weber on the learning curve (no surprise since Mike's younger.) Andrej lead the team in TOI for many games at the end of the season and Spacek was on the top pair when he was healthy. They would very likely be above Tallinder-Lydman, unless those two make a huge rebound.

[deluca67]

How is Teppo completely unreliable? Connolley, ok, I can see that. But Teppo seems fine t me. They fixed his heart and he looks rested and ready to go

You really want the Sabres to spend a couple of million dollars on a 40 year old coming off heart surgery? Even at 100% healthy he just OK. He's not physical, 47 hits in his three seasons with the Sabres, doesn't clear the front of the net and doesn't make opposing forwards pay any type of price to be in the Sabres end. He's better than Paetsch but I wouldn't rank him higher than Tallinder, Spacek or Lydman. If the Sabres want to send Paetsch to the ROC and keep Teppo as the #7 I wouldn't have a problem as long as the price was reduced.

[bob_sauve28]

You really want the Sabres to spend a couple of million dollars on a 40 year old coming off heart surgery? Even at 100% healthy he just OK. He's not physical, 47 hits in his three seasons with the Sabres, doesn't clear the front of the net and doesn't make opposing forwards pay any type of price to be in the Sabres end. He's better than Paetsch but I wouldn't rank him higher than Tallinder, Spacek or Lydman. If the Sabres want to send Paetsch to the ROC and keep Teppo as the #7 I wouldn't have a problem as long as the price was reduced.

Ya I do. He skates real well, makes few mistakes and I think can be a positive back there. He knows what to do with the puck. If he hadn't been ok o play with his heart the docs wouldn't hve cleared him. Cheleos is 45 and playing for the best team in the league, so age doesn't concern me, ability does, and Teppo appears to still have it.

[Bmwolf21]

If his presence in the lineup really does make the other defensemen better, then I have no problem with spending a couple million on him.

[LabattBlue]

Ya I do. He skates real well, makes few mistakes and I think can be a positive back there. He knows what to do with the puck. If he hadn't been ok o play with his heart the docs wouldn't hve cleared him. Cheleos is 45 and playing for the best team in the league, so age doesn't concern me, ability does, and Teppo appears to still have it.

Based on 1 game, you know that Teppo still "has it"? I knew the Chelios comparison would come up sooner or later. Let's face it, Chelios is a freak of nature. You can't justify Teppo's existence in the NHL by saying..."well look at Chelios". How many other 40 year olds are playing defense in the NHL?

 

Born in 1962

Chelios

 

Born in 1968

Teppo

Wesley

 

Born in 1969(1 year younger than Teppo)

Richardson

Blake

Schneider

 

Born in 1970(2 years younger than Teppo)

Hedican

York

Zubov

Carney

Hill

Klemm

Lidstrom

[deluca67]

Ya I do. He skates real well, makes few mistakes and I think can be a positive back there. He knows what to do with the puck. If he hadn't been ok o play with his heart the docs wouldn't hve cleared him. Cheleos is 45 and playing for the best team in the league, so age doesn't concern me, ability does, and Teppo appears to still have it.

I'd take Cheleos. Teppo is nowhere near the quality d-man he is.

[bob_sauve28]

Based on 1 game, you know that Teppo still "has it"? I knew the Chelios comparison would come up sooner or later. Let's face it, Chelios is a freak of nature. You can't justify Teppo's existence in the NHL by saying..."well look at Chelios". How many other 40 year olds are playing defense in the NHL?

 

Born in 1962

Chelios

 

Born in 1968

Teppo

Wesley

 

Born in 1969(1 year younger than Teppo)

Richardson

Blake

Schneider

 

Born in 1970(2 years younger than Teppo)

Hedican

York

Zubov

Carney

Hill

Klemm

Lidstrom

 

We shall see. I hope they re-sign him

[bob_sauve28]

I'd take Cheleos. Teppo is nowhere near the quality d-man he is.

But Cheleos is old!

[carpandean]

He's better than Paetsch but I wouldn't rank him higher than Tallinder, Spacek or Lydman. If the Sabres want to send Paetsch to the ROC and keep Teppo as the #7 I wouldn't have a problem as long as the price was reduced.

I wouldn't have a problem with him in the third pair and they could probably give him an incentive-based contract with a lower base salary.

[X. Benedict]

Curious. Anyone hear Teppo last night on channel 2. He said Buffalo is his home, he wants to play next year and Buffalo is his first choice. He is hoping that the club will extend an offer and he'll wait and see.

[deluca67]

I wouldn't have a problem with him in the third pair and they could probably give him an incentive-based contract with a lower base salary.

As a fall back plan that is a decent idea. Teppo, he's not going to win you the Cup nor will he cost you the Cup. He's OK. I am hoping the Sabres would be looking to take larger strides toward being a Cup contender. I would rather they add to the blueline at maybe the #2 or #3 instead of the 6th or 7th spot. Add a d-man that can play on the top pair then you slide Lydman to your 6th spot on the depth chart. On paper that would look like a pretty solid d-corp.

[carpandean]

Add a d-man that can play on the top pair then you slide Lydman to your 6th spot on the depth chart.

Or trade him ...

[frisky]

I'm also in the sign Teppo camp. If he does come back, he'll be in the top 4. I can't see him down in 5-8.

[bob_sauve28]

Curious. Anyone hear Teppo last night on channel 2. He said Buffalo is his home, he wants to play next year and Buffalo is his first choice. He is hoping that the club will extend an offer and he'll wait and see.

Good! That game in Boston ws probably a try out for him, to see if he could handle the game with the bullets flying. True, Boston didn't exactly put up a great fight, but Teppo still looked good.

[Doohicksie]

I wouldn't mind Lydman and Tallinder staying as a pair.

I would. I think they both got so complacent with each other that they fell into ruts. I thought the defensive pairings in the final game were so much better with Tallinder playing with Teppo and Lydman playing with Weber. Those pairings along with Spacek-Sekera seemed very balanced to me, like somehow Lindy suddenly had 3 pairs of "top-4" defensemen.

[bob_sauve28]

Alright! Almost up to 25% for the "happy vote!"

[nfreeman]

I'd like to see Teppo back, plus a new top 4 defenseman via FA or trade, with Paetsch as the #7 and Weber getting more seasoning in Rochester. I thought Teppo looked pretty good against Boston. More generally, I think our team is dying for veteran leadership, and not having Teppo this year really hurt. I was glad to see that he wants to come back to Buffalo.

 

Pairings might be:

 

Spacek/new guy

Tallinder/Lydman

Teppo/Sekera

 

#7: Paetsch

 

That means Pratt is gone, which I don't see as much of a loss. Kalinin is also probably gone, which is too bad, because he seems like a pretty good guy, with talent, who just never was able to put it together. Weber is probably better than Paetsch at this point, but Paetsch can't go down to Rochester without clearing waivers, while Weber can. We aren't going to just cut Paetsch loose -- I think the team is predisposed to give players, especially defensemen, plenty of chances to prove themselves.

 

I think the combination of a new top 4 defenseman with the return of Teppo could take a lot of pressure off of Hank and Toni, hopefully resulting in fewer brain locks and better play from them.

[bob_sauve28]

I'd like to see Teppo back, plus a new top 4 defenseman via FA or trade, with Paetsch as the #7 and Weber getting more seasoning in Rochester. I thought Teppo looked pretty good against Boston. More generally, I think our team is dying for veteran leadership, and not having Teppo this year really hurt. I was glad to see that he wants to come back to Buffalo.

 

Pairings might be:

 

Spacek/new guy

Tallinder/Lydman

Teppo/Sekera

 

#7: Paetsch

 

That means Pratt is gone, which I don't see as much of a loss. Kalinin is also probably gone, which is too bad, because he seems like a pretty good guy, with talent, who just never was able to put it together. Weber is probably better than Paetsch at this point, but Paetsch can't go down to Rochester without clearing waivers, while Weber can. We aren't going to just cut Paetsch loose -- I think the team is predisposed to give players, especially defensemen, plenty of chances to prove themselves.

 

I think the combination of a new top 4 defenseman with the return of Teppo could take a lot of pressure off of Hank and Toni, hopefully resulting in fewer brain locks and better play from them.

Good post. I hope Kalinin finds anew home and plays some good hockey. He just never turned the corner here. New surroundings might do that for him