The most important move the Sabres need to make.

[deluca67]

I was thinking about this and then Schoop and Bulldog talked about it a little yesterday.

 

The most important move the Sabres can make in this off-season is signing Chris Neil. I don't care how much it costs, who needs to be released to make room under the cap or if any of the current Nancy Boys that make up the roster dislike the idea. He would give the Sabres a physical presence in the forward ranks they haven't had since Brad May left. He can fight, loves to hit and can play a regular shift. And unlike a Paul Gaustad, Neil brings his physical game every night.

 

I don't want to hear about signings of a 6' 8" Phil Housley or another 5' 9" forward, back up goalies or who the Sabres draft. Unless this team takes a serious step towards changing the physical nature of this franchise the season is over before it begins.

[nfreeman]

Hear hear. Whether it's Neil or someone else, there is no question that the Sabres are dying for a tough veteran forward who will hit every night and wipe someone out in response to Miller getting hit.

[spndnchz]

Would have liked Backes or Burrows but I doubt their teams would let them go. I think Backes has a year left on his contract and Burrows just re-signed.

 

edit, make that two years for Backes.

[Stoner]

No argument here. IMHO Neil is the main thing that has separated the Sabres from the Sens for a long time.

 

Gotta love the dig on Gaustad. DeLuca tells it like it is. Yet the legend of the Goose persists.

[tom webster]

Hear hear. Whether it's Neil or someone else, there is no question that the Sabres are dying for a tough veteran forward who will hit every night and wipe someone out in response to Miller getting hit.

 

Funny thing, though, Neil was roundly criticized for forgetting what he is and trying to become more of an all around player.

 

From my perspective, this team needs more of a veteran "top 6" forward. I think the grit factor is over-rated. Its the leadership factor that this team sorely misses up front. Scoring the big goal after a mistake changes the momentum. Keeping everyone into the game when they think the games over. Those are the things this team has sorely lacked the last couple of years.

[tom webster]

I was thinking about this and then Schoop and Bulldog talked about it a little yesterday.

 

The most important move the Sabres can make in this off-season is signing Chris Neil. I don't care how much it costs, who needs to be released to make room under the cap or if any of the current Nancy Boys that make up the roster dislike the idea. He would give the Sabres a physical presence in the forward ranks they haven't had since Brad May left. He can fight, loves to hit and can play a regular shift. And unlike a Paul Gaustad, Neil brings his physical game every night.

 

I don't want to hear about signings of a 6' 8" Phil Housley or another 5' 9" forward, back up goalies or who the Sabres draft. Unless this team takes a serious step towards changing the physical nature of this franchise the season is over before it begins.

 

I hate the stat, but just for you,

 

Chris Neil 163 hits in 60 games

Paul Gaustad 141 hits in 62 games

 

This to me is one of those situations where you see a guy play 8 games against your team, a team that happens to be one of his bitter rivals, and you think he plays that way all the time.

Guaranteed if he comes here, by mid season people will be posting that Lindy changed his game.

[nfreeman]

Funny thing, though, Neil was roundly criticized for forgetting what he is and trying to become more of an all around player.

 

From my perspective, this team needs more of a veteran "top 6" forward. I think the grit factor is over-rated. Its the leadership factor that this team sorely misses up front. Scoring the big goal after a mistake changes the momentum. Keeping everyone into the game when they think the games over. Those are the things this team has sorely lacked the last couple of years.

Good post. I still think a bit more hitting/physicality is needed among the top 6, however.

[Stoner]

I hate the stat, but just for you,

 

Chris Neil 163 hits in 60 games

Paul Gaustad 141 hits in 62 games

 

This to me is one of those situations where you see a guy play 8 games against your team, a team that happens to be one of his bitter rivals, and you think he plays that way all the time.

Guaranteed if he comes here, by mid season people will be posting that Lindy changed his game.

 

Be not the slave of numbers. Hits are not counted the same across all buildings. And some hits are bigger than others. I'd credit Neil with 100 hits for taking out Drury, staking the Sens' claim on the Eastern Conference and forcing Tommy Toaster-Crumb Saver to write a whiny letter to the league.

[inkman]

I'd credit Neil with 100 hits for taking out Drury...

Twenty-Three of which were categorized as dirty. :thumbsup:

[SwampD]

I always thought it was Spezza, Heatley and Alfie that killed us.

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry,... Chris Neil is not the answer.

[jad1]

I always thought it was Spezza, Heatley and Alfie that killed us.

I'm sorry,... Chris Neil is not the answer.

 

Don't stop him, he's on a roll. <_<

 

Don't tell him that the Sabres won that game where Neil headhunted Drury, either, and that the team actually responded in kind to Neil's hit.

 

All that said, I wouldn't mind Neil on Sabres all that much, as long as he's accompanied by a guy like Cole or Doan.

[LabattBlue]

Gotta love the dig on Gaustad. DeLuca tells it like it is. Yet the legend of the Goose persists.

I've been questioning Gaustad's consistency for some time now. The problem is that on a team that has so little physical presence, you don't even consider getting rid of a guy(Gaustad) even if he only brings it every 3rd or 4th game.

[Stoner]

Don't stop him, he's on a roll. <_<

 

Don't tell him that the Sabres won that game where Neil headhunted Drury, either, and that the team actually responded in kind to Neil's hit.

 

All that said, I wouldn't mind Neil on Sabres all that much, as long as he's accompanied by a guy like Cole or Doan.

 

It was a pretty clean hit, dude. Headhunting it was not. Drury shouldn't have been admiring his play.

 

Responded is the operative word in your post. Case closed.

[wonderbread]

I've been questioning Gaustad's consistency for some time now. The problem is that on a team that has so little physical presence, you don't even consider getting rid of a guy(Gaustad) even if he only brings it every 3rd or 4th game.

 

 

 

shhhhhh!!! The Goose is Gritty fans will burn you at the stake for your heresy. :ph34r:

[jad1]

It was a pretty clean hit, dude. Headhunting it was not. Drury shouldn't have been admiring his play.

 

Responded is the operative word in your post. Case closed.

 

Sabres responded in a physical fashion and won the game. Neil was hardly the difference maker in that game, or in that season's series between the teams, as you claim.

 

But keep up the contrarian act. As uniformed as it is, it's still amusing.

[deluca67]

Funny thing, though, Neil was roundly criticized for forgetting what he is and trying to become more of an all around player.

 

From my perspective, this team needs more of a veteran "top 6" forward. I think the grit factor is over-rated. Its the leadership factor that this team sorely misses up front. Scoring the big goal after a mistake changes the momentum. Keeping everyone into the game when they think the games over. Those are the things this team has sorely lacked the last couple of years.

With the cap lowering and Connolly's contract I don't think the Sabres will be willing to pay "top 6" money unless they are able to dump salaries.

[deluca67]

I hate the stat, but just for you,

 

Chris Neil 163 hits in 60 games

Paul Gaustad 141 hits in 62 games

 

This to me is one of those situations where you see a guy play 8 games against your team, a team that happens to be one of his bitter rivals, and you think he plays that way all the time.

Guaranteed if he comes here, by mid season people will be posting that Lindy changed his game.

I think Sabre fans have had the opporntunity to see Ottawa more than 8 times a year. I've seen more than enough of Chris Neil and I know I want, make that need, that type of player on this team. Who wouldn't feel more comfortable with this lineup with Neil, Rivet, Kaleta and Gaustad wearing the blue and gold every night.

 

To your Ruff point. If Neil became a Sabre and started to be assimilated to the Sabres purse wearing Borg? At that point, I would be joining those who have been calling for Ruff's departure from the team.

[deluca67]

Sabres responded in a physical fashion and won the game. Neil was hardly the difference maker in that game, or in that season's series between the teams, as you claim.

 

But keep up the contrarian act. As uniformed as it is, it's still amusing.

You are missing a vital point to the discussion. The entire Drury incident is so vivid in the minds of Sabre fans because it rarely happens. Every ten years or so if that. Neil gets involved in a lot of physical confrontations. I doubt Neil ever thinks about the Drury hit when he play the Sabres. I would go as far to say he probably doesn't even remember it that well.

[SwampD]

I think Sabre fans have had the opporntunity to see Ottawa more than 8 times a year. I've seen more than enough of Chris Neil and I know I want, make that need, that type of player on this team. Who wouldn't feel more comfortable with this lineup with Neil, Rivet, Kaleta and Gaustad wearing the blue and gold every night.

 

To your Ruff point. If Neil became a Sabre and started to be assimilated to the Sabres purse wearing Borg? At that point, I would be joining those who have been calling for Ruff's departure from the team.

Neil 3-7-10

Goose 12-17-29

Kaleta 4-5-9

 

for a combined 19-29-48 last year.

 

If we get Neil, I sure hope Miller has the season of his life cuz we're gonna need it.

[silvermike]

How much would we really need to pay to get Neil away from the Sens? He made $1.2M last year. I don't think he's in line for a huge raise - it's a move we could actually pull off.

[X. Benedict]

Neil 3-7-10

Goose 12-17-29

Kaleta 4-5-9

 

for a combined 19-29-48 last year.

 

If we get Neil, I sure hope Miller has the season of his life cuz we're gonna need it.

 

3rd and 4th line players....

[Stoner]

Sabres responded in a physical fashion and won the game. Neil was hardly the difference maker in that game, or in that season's series between the teams, as you claim.

 

But keep up the contrarian act. As uniformed as it is, it's still amusing.

 

It's not uniform. It varies. Anyone can tell you that.

 

Seriously... Again, the point is that the Sabres had to react to a big hit. They didn't have the appetite, hunger or desire to get their own hands dirty and lay a hit like that on their opponent. That mindset showed up in the playoffs, when they were lucky they drew the Islanders. A similar performance against a stronger 8 seed would have meant one and done for Buffalo. Without Drury's miracle in Game 5, they're out in the next round. Ottawa finally exposed the fraud as I predicted all season (my mantra was "Sens in five"), and IMHO a critical moment along the way that allowed the Sens a psychological advantage was that hit. Sure, the Sabres responded, but it was all fairly routine. Didn't Peters fail to land a serious blow on a goaltender? And the Sabres ended up looking even weaker in the wake of the event when Daddy had to write a letter to the head of the squirt league to complain about how mean the other boys were being.

 

Go play with your wii.

[SwampD]

3rd and 4th line players....

That's kind of my point. The thread IS titled "The most important move the Sabres need to make" after all. ;)

[deluca67]

Neil 3-7-10

Goose 12-17-29

Kaleta 4-5-9

 

for a combined 19-29-48 last year.

 

If we get Neil, I sure hope Miller has the season of his life cuz we're gonna need it.

In one post you have proven you have little understanding where this team is and what this team needs to improve. The Sabres most glaring need is a severe shift in the mentality of the roster and the front office. Small and soft just doesn't get it done. A fourth line of Neil, Gaustad and Kaleta does more for this team chances to make the playoffs than any second line forward the Sabres could pick up. Keep in mind, the Sabres are stuck. They have very little money to make any moves. A top six forward is not in the Sabres future. A move for Neil fits the Sabres in every way. He fills the Sabres need to get more physical and he would be cost friendly. If you anyone thinks the Sabres are going to pay $3 -$4 million on a free agent forward, all I can say is enjoy the Kool-Aid.

[nfreeman]

In one post you have proven you have little understanding where this team is and what this team needs to improve. The Sabres most glaring need is a severe shift in the mentality of the roster and the front office. Small and soft just doesn't get it done. A fourth line of Neil, Gaustad and Kaleta does more for this team chances to make the playoffs than any second line forward the Sabres could pick up. Keep in mind, the Sabres are stuck. They have very little money to make any moves. A top six forward is not in the Sabres future. A move for Neil fits the Sabres in every way. He fills the Sabres need to get more physical and he would be cost friendly. If you anyone thinks the Sabres are going to pay $3 -$4 million on a free agent forward, all I can say is enjoy the Kool-Aid.

Well, this might be a stretch. There are plenty of tough forwards who are skilled enough to be top-6 and have enough leadership to help the Sabres more than Neil would. But it doesn't need to be (and shouldn't be) one or the other. The Sabres should dump Hecht, Tallinder and Paille -- that's $7.5MM right there, plenty enough to pay for Neil plus a top-6 forward.

 

Also, I think Gaustad is definitely the 3rd-line center this year, and if we were to add Neil, I would guess that either Neil or Kaleta would be on Gaustad's line.