Mike Weber

[tom webster]

I have to say that I am shocked by all "Mike Weber is great" talk. I too was impressed with his play at the end of last season. However, lets remember that he is only 20 years old. History is full of players that have a meteoric start only to never be heard from again. Does anyone remember Jean Luc Grand-Pierre? How about Cory Sarich? It took him years to rise above the level he showed when he was first called up.

 

Remember, too, he was a +11 in a three game streak that saw the Sabres beat an uninspired Carolina team and a woeful Toronto and Tampa team. He was then a negative in 4 of his last 8 games after that streak including a couple of games against Ottawa and Montreal where he struggled mightily.

 

I, like the rest of us who call ourselves Sabre fans, am hoping that he makes great strides and battles for a roster spot this year. However, I know that it is just as likely that he needs another year of development and that it is just as likely that Chris Butler is the first call up.

[stenbaro]

I have to say that I am shocked by all "Mike Weber is great" talk. I too was impressed with his play at the end of last season. However, lets remember that he is only 20 years old. History is full of players that have a meteoric start only to never be heard from again. Does anyone remember Jean Luc Grand-Pierre? How about Cory Sarich? It took him years to rise above the level he showed when he was first called up.

 

Remember, too, he was a +11 in a three game streak that saw the Sabres beat an uninspired Carolina team and a woeful Toronto and Tampa team. He was then a negative in 4 of his last 8 games after that streak including a couple of games against Ottawa and Montreal where he struggled mightily.

 

I, like the rest of us who call ourselves Sabre fans, am hoping that he makes great strides and battles for a roster spot this year. However, I know that it is just as likely that he needs another year of development and that it is just as likely that Chris Butler is the first call up.

I never saw great displayed next to his name..I did say he was our best defenseman once he was called up..Thats not saying much considering how our defense looked last year..He did earn the right to be in the top 6 IMO...

[carpandean]

I never saw great displayed next to his name..I did say he was our best defenseman once he was called up..Thats not saying much considering how our defense looked last year..He did earn the right to be in the top 6 IMO...

There are few problems with that:

1) He averaged only 16 minutes per game and rarely played on special teams (something like 2 seconds of PPTOI per game and 19 seconds of SHTOI per game.)

2) Tallydman was still playing against better lines most of the time.

3) Neither Teppo nor Rivet was in our lineup last year.

4) Spacek was out with injury during most of that.

5) I thought Sekera looked more NHL-ready, though they are different types of defensemen.

6) Did Tallydman have an off year or will they never return to form? Only way to find out is to play them (for more than just preseason.)

 

Basically, he looked like a high-potential defensive defenseman, who will probably have a bright future. He may have looked good relative to 07-08 Tallydman, but how does he compare to 05-06/06-07 Tallydman? Which will we get? How does he compare to Teppo of the same era? Will we get that Teppo? Is 16 games (not all of which he looked as good in) enough to decide how he will be as a starter? Would he be enough better as the #6 in Buffalo that in the long run it would be worth having him playing 15 minutes per game here vs. getting 25 minutes in Portland?

 

He may, indeed, earn that spot this year (that's partly why you start with 22 players instead of the allowable 23), but there are too many questions right now to say he has earned it already.

[deluca67]

The kid is ready to play. What more do you need? I've never seen fans work so hard at trying to justify why a talented player shouldn't be in the lineup. The kid brings a toughness and physical presence to the lineup which is much more important than adding in another soft defensemen to the top six. Even when Teppo was healthy the complaints were the complete lack of any toughness on the blue-line.

 

I would much rather watch a 20 year kid plastering forwards into the boards and clearing the front of the net than some 40 year old with zero toughness trying to stick check.

[FogBat]

The kid is ready to play. What more do you need? I've never seen fans work so hard at trying to justify why a talented player shouldn't be in the lineup. The kid brings a toughness and physical presence to the lineup which is much more important than adding in another soft defensemen to the top six. Even when Teppo was healthy the complaints were the complete lack of any toughness on the blue-line.

 

I would much rather watch a 20 year kid plastering forwards into the boards and clearing the front of the net than some 40 year old with zero toughness trying to stick check.

I should have seen that curt reply coming a mile away. When considering the source, it doesn't surprise me in the least bit.

 

I'd be willing to guess that you don't even have Teppo as a friend on Facebook...

[Buffalo Fan]

The kid is ready to play. What more do you need? I've never seen fans work so hard at trying to justify why a talented player shouldn't be in the lineup. The kid brings a toughness and physical presence to the lineup which is much more important than adding in another soft defensemen to the top six. Even when Teppo was healthy the complaints were the complete lack of any toughness on the blue-line.

 

I would much rather watch a 20 year kid plastering forwards into the boards and clearing the front of the net than some 40 year old with zero toughness trying to stick check.

 

I agee with Deluca...let the kid play. We'll find out if he is for real pretty quickly. I think he is, but getting him on the ice is the only way to find out.

[deluca67]

I should have seen that curt reply coming a mile away. When considering the source, it doesn't surprise me in the least bit.

 

I'd be willing to guess that you don't even have Teppo as a friend on Facebook...

Curt, but not inaccurate. Teppo represents every complaint fans have had regarding this defense for years now. Weber represents everything fans have been begging for over that time. The Sabres finally have a young defensemen that actually enjoys the physical aspect of the game of hockey. I would hate to see this kid lose out on valuable NHL experience because of some misconception that because he is only 20 he can't be ready for the NHL.

 

At the end of last season the possibility that Sekera and Weber would not be in the Sabres top six never occurred to me. It seems funny that without playing a game the excitement of Sekera and Weber has seemed to waned. I don't know about anyone else but I am still excited and anxious to see Sekera and Weber progress this season in a Sabre uniform. I feel that the kids and the addition of Rivet will take a lot of pressure of the Sabres top pairing and maybe Tallinder and Lydman get back to their top form which will go a long way towards the Sabres return to the playoffs. .

[tom webster]

Curt, but not inaccurate. Teppo represents every complaint fans have had regarding this defense for years now. Weber represents everything fans have been begging for over that time. The Sabres finally have a young defensemen that actually enjoys the physical aspect of the game of hockey. I would hate to see this kid lose out on valuable NHL experience because of some misconception that because he is only 20 he can't be ready for the NHL.

 

At the end of last season the possibility that Sekera and Weber would not be in the Sabres top six never occurred to me. It seems funny that without playing a game the excitement of Sekera and Weber has seemed to waned. I don't know about anyone else but I am still excited and anxious to see Sekera and Weber progress this season in a Sabre uniform. I feel that the kids and the addition of Rivet will take a lot of pressure of the Sabres top pairing and maybe Tallinder and Lydman get back to their top form which will go a long way towards the Sabres return to the playoffs. .

 

No one is disagreeing that it would be great to see Weber improve upon what he started last year. The point the rest of us are making, however, is that the odds are greater that he takes a step back before he progresses into a solid NHL defensemen. History tells us that the odds of him being capable of being a top four defensemen at age twenty are remote. Not impossible, but remote. As someone else pointed out, he was put in almost zero "high pressure" situations and while he played well, he did tale off after that three game stretch.

[Knightrider]

The kid is ready to play. What more do you need? I've never seen fans work so hard at trying to justify why a talented player shouldn't be in the lineup. The kid brings a toughness and physical presence to the lineup which is much more important than adding in another soft defensemen to the top six. Even when Teppo was healthy the complaints were the complete lack of any toughness on the blue-line.

 

I would much rather watch a 20 year kid plastering forwards into the boards and clearing the front of the net than some 40 year old with zero toughness trying to stick check.

 

After just 16 games you say that the kid is ready to play. Now here is post after Paetsch had payed in ~40 games in the 06-07 season:

 

Shouldn't we be looking for a d-man or a winger with some physical presence instead?

I think Paetsch fills both of those roles. I would expect the plan to be dress the 7 d-men for the playoffs with Nathan playing the fourth line and the power play.

 

How about this quote from two years ago after 1 regular and 1 playoff game in the NHL:

 

Is it that far fetched for Paetsch turning out to be our #6? I thought he was an AHL All-Star before he got hurt?

 

I think giving Paetsch a chance to learn from Teppo and Lindy on a daily basis will do more for the Sabres in the long run then signing some one year band-aid.

 

The answers for this teams needs will come from within. They have some excellent prospects coming through the pipeline. In two to three years I think the Sabres roster will be filled with 85% of their own draft picks. While other teams panic looking for quick fixes and a big FA splash to sell tickets. The Sabres will be churning out NHLer's season after season.

 

I'm looking forward to the future threads about Butler, Funk, and Brennan...

 

Weber is 21 and has played only 75 professional games. Maybe his head is on straighter than mine was at 21, but I'd give him another season to mature.

[LabattBlue]

I have to say that I am shocked by all "Mike Weber is great" talk. I too was impressed with his play at the end of last season. However, lets remember that he is only 20 years old. History is full of players that have a meteoric start only to never be heard from again. Does anyone remember Jean Luc Grand-Pierre? How about Cory Sarich? It took him years to rise above the level he showed when he was first called up.

 

Remember, too, he was a +11 in a three game streak that saw the Sabres beat an uninspired Carolina team and a woeful Toronto and Tampa team. He was then a negative in 4 of his last 8 games after that streak including a couple of games against Ottawa and Montreal where he struggled mightily.

 

I, like the rest of us who call ourselves Sabre fans, am hoping that he makes great strides and battles for a roster spot this year. However, I know that it is just as likely that he needs another year of development and that it is just as likely that Chris Butler is the first call up.

Going -1 over the last 8 games as a rookie on a team that missed the playoffs is nothing to be discouraged about. I have never labeled Weber as "great", but I believe he has as much potential(and in most cases more) to become a top 4 blueliner than any of the other Sabres blueline prospects I have read about...

 

Brennan

Butler

Persson

Schiestal

Biega

Card

Funk

Sekera

Myers

etc...

[deluca67]

After just 16 games you say that the kid is ready to play. Now here is post after Paetsch had payed in ~40 games in the 06-07 season:

I think Paetsch fills both of those roles. I would expect the plan to be dress the 7 d-men for the playoffs with Nathan playing the fourth line and the power play.

How about this quote from two years ago after 1 regular and 1 playoff game in the NHL:

I'm looking forward to the future threads about Butler, Funk, and Brennan...

 

Weber is 21 and has played only 75 professional games. Maybe his head is on straighter than mine was at 21, but I'd give him another season to mature.

It looks like pretty much everything I said was came true. Paetsch did fill in as a #7 defenseman and was able to give the Sabres an option to play at on a wing if needed. Paetsch has always been about his versatility more than raw hockey talent. Weber is a more talented defenseman who has surpassed Paetsch on the depth charts.

 

It's too bad for Paetsch that he never really was able to grab a hold of a regular spot. He never found his nitch in the NHL. Weber on the other hand fills a huge void for the Sabres. He is a stay at home type physical defenseman. Weber is one of the Sabres top six defensemen. He should remain there unless he completely falls off or the Sabres go out and acquire a better option that fits their needs of toughness on the blueline.

[nucci]

This also gives us something we have all complained about what is lacking on this team - depth at D.

[tom webster]

Going -1 over the last 8 games as a rookie on a team that missed the playoffs is nothing to be discouraged about. I have never labeled Weber as "great", but I believe he has as much potential(and in most cases more) to become a top 4 blueliner than any of the other Sabres blueline prospects I have read about...

 

Brennan

Butler

Persson

Schiestal

Biega

Card

Funk

Sekera

Myers

etc...

 

I never said that I was discouraged. His poor play against Ottawa and Montreal was to be expected as he progresses. I, too, believe he has a lot potential although from what I have heard and read, Butler is probably ahead of him as far as potential and its too early to tell about Brennan, Schiestal, Biega and Myers..

[spndnchz]

This also gives us something we have all complained about what is lacking on this team - depth at D.

reading this thread I was think the same thing. :thumbsup:

[Stoner]

The kid is ready to play. What more do you need? I've never seen fans work so hard at trying to justify why a talented player shouldn't be in the lineup. The kid brings a toughness and physical presence to the lineup which is much more important than adding in another soft defensemen to the top six. Even when Teppo was healthy the complaints were the complete lack of any toughness on the blue-line.

 

I would much rather watch a 20 year kid plastering forwards into the boards and clearing the front of the net than some 40 year old with zero toughness trying to stick check.

 

What is this "clearing the front of the net" you speak of? Kind of a quaint notion, isn't it?

 

Do you mean cross-checking opponents who don't have the puck? Wiping out pesky forwards who tap at the goalie's pads after the whistle? Legal checking to negate a scoring chance?

 

Can you give us a rough and ready definition of clearing the front of the net?

[stenbaro]

Thats something we forgot how to define seeing how its been so long since we had anyone do that here in BUffalo...To not give him a shot at playing regularly in BUffalo is shocking to me...I thought he played a tad better than Sekera when they came up..He is safe in his zone with the puck he doesnt get flustered and he crushes people in front of the net behind the net and to the sides..If he plays like he did last year then he stays in Buffalo..No question about it..We can argue this point till were blue in the face we will see in September...

[Bmwolf21]

What is this "clearing the front of the net" you speak of? Kind of a quaint notion, isn't it?

 

Do you mean cross-checking opponents who don't have the puck? Wiping out pesky forwards who tap at the goalie's pads after the whistle? Legal checking to negate a scoring chance?

 

Can you give us a rough and ready definition of clearing the front of the net?

I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat. Ooops, wrong thread. Anyway...

 

Weber debate aside, the simple answer: all of the above. The front of the net has should be a foreboding, uncomfortable place to go. Opposing players should know that they are going to pay the price to hang around there and whack away looking for scoring ops. And guys should never be allowed to whack away at our goalie's pads, or crash into him without repercussion.

 

Over the last couple years, as our defense has gotten softer and more "Euro" the Sabres' blueliners have all but laid out the welcome mat for opposing forwards to crash, whack, and set up camp in front of our goalies. That has to stop, and it has to stop ASAP.

[Stoner]

I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat. Ooops, wrong thread. Anyway...

 

Weber debate aside, the simple answer: all of the above. The front of the net has should be a foreboding, uncomfortable place to go. Opposing players should know that they are going to pay the price to hang around there and whack away looking for scoring ops. And guys should never be allowed to whack away at our goalie's pads, or crash into him without repercussion.

 

Over the last couple years, as our defense has gotten softer and more "Euro" the Sabres' blueliners have all but laid out the welcome mat for opposing forwards to crash, whack, and set up camp in front of our goalies. That has to stop, and it has to stop ASAP.

 

OK, just for fun I'd like someone to keep track of the number of times Mike Weber "clears the front of the net" this season.

[SwampD]

It looks like pretty much everything I said was came true. Paetsch did fill in as a #7 defenseman and was able to give the Sabres an option to play at on a wing if needed. Paetsch has always been about his versatility more than raw hockey talent. Weber is a more talented defenseman who has surpassed Paetsch on the depth charts.

 

It's too bad for Paetsch that he never really was able to grab a hold of a regular spot. He never found his nitch in the NHL. Weber on the other hand fills a huge void for the Sabres. He is a stay at home type physical defenseman. Weber is one of the Sabres top six defensemen. He should remain there unless he completely falls off or the Sabres go out and acquire a better option that fits their needs of toughness on the blueline.

IIRC the only reason weber played was because paetsch got hurt.

 

With that said I like them both and think they will both be good this year. Weber is definately talented, but raw and needs some more time in portland.

 

Also, i really don't care if the defense plays euro-soft stick check or smash'm up physical, as long as the other team doesn't score.

[Bmwolf21]

OK, just for fun I'd like someone to keep track of the number of times Mike Weber "clears the front of the net" this season.

Adding another subjective stat to the NHL's list of questionable stats, huh? ;)

 

Just going off memory I believe he would have been among last year's team leaders in that category - and he only played 16 games. :thumbsup:

[X. Benedict]

No one is disagreeing that it would be great to see Weber improve upon what he started last year. The point the rest of us are making, however, is that the odds are greater that he takes a step back before he progresses into a solid NHL defensemen. History tells us that the odds of him being capable of being a top four defensemen at age twenty are remote. Not impossible, but remote. As someone else pointed out, he was put in almost zero "high pressure" situations and while he played well, he did tale off after that three game stretch.

 

I have to pretty much agree with this. Weber was put situations in which he could succeed, and he did. As much as he impressed me - I would be very surprised to see him start the season in Buffalo unless he proves he can regularly kill penalties in the NHL. He showed he can play a composed game and play within himself so there is a lot to like there - but it is usually two steps back once teams have seen your game.

 

Sekera should be ready. Anyone that can turn Ovechkin around one on one has a place in the league.

[carpandean]

Sekera should be ready. Anyone that can turn Ovechkin around one on one has a place in the league.

I remember that game well. He had a couple a great one-on-on coverages of Ovie that I was really impressed with.

[nfreeman]

Thats something we forgot how to define seeing how its been so long since we had anyone do that here in BUffalo...To not give him a shot at playing regularly in BUffalo is shocking to me...I thought he played a tad better than Sekera when they came up..He is safe in his zone with the puck he doesnt get flustered and he crushes people in front of the net behind the net and to the sides..If he plays like he did last year then he stays in Buffalo..No question about it..We can argue this point till were blue in the face we will see in September...

 

at his best, yes, this is what he does. The big question is how often he does this vs. how often does he get caught out of position, make the wrong split-second decision under pressure, with a big winger charging in on him, about where to cycle the puck, etc. If the ratio is right, he'll push himself into the top 6. Nobody here knows the answer yet, but we'll have a much better idea after this coming season.

 

I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat. Ooops, wrong thread. Anyway...

 

Weber debate aside, the simple answer: all of the above. The front of the net has should be a foreboding, uncomfortable place to go. Opposing players should know that they are going to pay the price to hang around there and whack away looking for scoring ops. And guys should never be allowed to whack away at our goalie's pads, or crash into him without repercussion.

 

Over the last couple years, as our defense has gotten softer and more "Euro" the Sabres' blueliners have all but laid out the welcome mat for opposing forwards to crash, whack, and set up camp in front of our goalies. That has to stop, and it has to stop ASAP.

 

excellent post.

 

OK, just for fun I'd like someone to keep track of the number of times Mike Weber "clears the front of the net" this season.

 

mark my words -- this will be an agenda-driven bookkeeping exercise. DeLuca will claim at least 3 of these per game that no one else can remember.

 

IIRC the only reason weber played was because paetsch got hurt.

 

With that said I like them both and think they will both be good this year. Weber is definately talented, but raw and needs some more time in portland.

 

Also, i really don't care if the defense plays euro-soft stick check or smash'm up physical, as long as the other team doesn't score.

 

the voice of reason.

[deluca67]

OK, just for fun I'd like someone to keep track of the number of times Mike Weber "clears the front of the net" this season.

I guarantee he would lead the team.

 

I have a more simple definition of "clearing the front of the net". To me it's confronting forwards with some agression when they are trying to obstruct or interfere with Miller. My only fear is that Weber will do just that and the Sabres will trade him because the Sabres seem to hate having tough hockey players on their roster.

[deluca67]

IIRC the only reason weber played was because paetsch got hurt.

 

With that said I like them both and think they will both be good this year. Weber is definately talented, but raw and needs some more time in portland.

 

Also, i really don't care if the defense plays euro-soft stick check or smash'm up physical, as long as the other team doesn't score.

The only problem with this is the nightly physical pounding Miller takes. He is too small and frail to have 200lb forwards crashing into him and laying on top of him. I disagree with the idea it was the amount of games that wore down Miller. IMO, it was all of the unnecessary contact he has to deal with because this defense and team as a whole refuses to address it.