Rivet having shoulder surgery, out 4-6 months

[Taro T]

You are hilarious? Did you comment on Connolly's skating prior to the announcement of the injury? Did anyone mention the skating? I don't read every post so if you could please point it out. I would imagine it to be a bigger topic prior to this.

Did I post that it appeared the foot was still bothering him after the 4th game? Yes. (And oddly enough, the 4th game was played nearly a week prior to the announcement of the injury.) Did I specifically post that I thought his foot was broken? No. Why? Because I figured it would lead to a really annoying discussion, much like the way this one appears to be going. Timmy didn't play well enough in the playoffs to help the team, he's not making excuses, I don't and didn't particularily feel like making any for him either.

 

I could run with the "I would imagine ..." comment, but it's late and I'm tired and just don't feel like hitting that lob out of the park. ;)

[tulax]

In his first season the team showed little improvement. This season one of the biggest complaints was the lack of leadership. What did he ever really bring?

Agree with you on the first season, although losing Miller proved critical. Still, that should be an opportunity where a captain comes through and puts the onus on winning hockey games even with the starting goaltender, and true leader of the team, out. As for this season, if Rivet was a forward you'd have a point but he's a stay at home defenseman. The only time I thought they needed "leadership" this year was from the forward position and that when it came down to scoring crucial goals in critical situation. Even looking at the short playoff series, it was Rivet who scored the crucial game winning goal in game 1 to start off the ill fated series.

[Kristian]

Rivet's having shoulder surgery soon. He's out 4-6 months and the start of training camp. He played with it the entire year. That could explain his not-so-hot season.

 

While I admire his determination, I have to wonder how much him playing injured helped his team, if at all.

[FogBat]

While I admire his determination, I have to wonder how much him playing injured helped his team, if at all.

Good point. If he would have fixed his shoulder earlier in the season, he might have performed better in the playoffs.

 

The frustrating part is that IIRC Darcy normally doesn't like to trade in the middle of the season even with an injury riddled/prone squad. He'd rather bring up the kids from Portland who are wet behind the ears and who would salivate at the opportunity to play in our barn.

[BillHoppe]

Bill, thanks for the updates (all season long). :beer:

 

Purely out of curiosity, do you think that had Vanek continued to be able to play or if Hecht had come back, would Lindy have sat Timmy in any of games 3-5? The foot was clearly bothering him in the 1st 5 games, but he seemed to be skating a bit stronger in game 6. (His errors in game 6 were mental rather than physical.) He actually won a couple of battles along the boards, but had the painfully dumb crosscheck to start the 2nd. (It was a weak call, but Timmy can't give the ref the opportunity to make that call, IMHO.)

 

I don't know about games 3-5. However, if the Sabres stayed alive and Connolly kept performing like he had, I think he could've been scratched or zapped for big minutes. Lindy acknowledged after the Game 6 loss he had almost reached the point he couldn't use Connolly. You saw Mair get bigger minutes, too.

[Supersabre]

Hopefully Rivet will come back next season better and stronger!

[wjag]

Rivet did chip in one enormous goal... More than other players can say during the playoffs...

 

 

I think Lindy likes some grizzled vets on the team. I bet he is back next season still wearing the C.

 

Whom on the current squad could rip it off his shoulder?

[Kristian]

Rivet did chip in one enormous goal... More than other players can say during the playoffs...

 

 

I think Lindy likes some grizzled vets on the team. I bet he is back next season still wearing the C.

 

Whom on the current squad could rip it off his shoulder?

 

I can't think of anyone else than maybe Grier, and I'm not sure that's all that great of a choice either.

 

Gaustad should be allowed nowhere near a letter.

 

In fact, most nights he shouldn't be allowed near the rink, and he wouldn't be if the team weren't crowded with centers who can't win faceoffs.

[bills_fan_in_raleigh]

Rivet's having shoulder surgery soon. He's out 4-6 months and the start of training camp. He played with it the entire year. That could explain his not-so-hot season.

I have had a Labrum tear and that provides SOME insight into his poor play however I cant blame shoulder for poor decision making. Its time to take the C away for sure and maybe he is just a number 5 or 6 d man, however if he wont be ready for start of season not clear he comes back

[NNYSABRESMAN]

:thumbsup: I can't fault a guy that would play the entire year with an injury that severe.

Before we advocate ripping the C off this guy's sweater, I'd at least like to say something on Rivet's behalf. I don't think Rivet gets enough credit for coming in here during the first training camp and being anointed captain. After a move across the country and going through the process of getting acclimated to a new city and organization, I don't think any of us would say that it was fair that he was thrust into becoming the leader for the club. I think he has taken it in stride, and with news of this injury that he received in Nov. 2008 (!), has shown the grit and tenacity that so many feel this team is lacking. His play has slipped considerably, however, I respect a guy that still fights and battles for his teammates on a nightly basis when one of his shoulders is in need of surgical repair.

[That Aud Smell]

The guy clearly was having problems pushing off through the 1st 5 games. (And yes, I am being serious.)

Did you comment on Connolly's skating prior to the announcement of the injury? Did anyone mention the skating?

i can't find a link, but i don't see the point in questioning this as a reality. i'd twice heard (from a very knowledgeable fan with whom i watched game 2 at a local tavern and on WGR on the day of game 3) that connolly's ouchie-foot was more than a bad bruise, that it involved broken bones. it's asinine to claim that the injury's now being fabricated to excuse his poor performance.

 

as taro said, just watching the guy play, especially in game 2 for me, you could see that he had a bad wheel. (there was one play specifically in game 2 where he would have taken the puck on the tape between the faceoff circles with rask out of position ... had The Skill been a half-step faster.)

 

taro's other points are also valid: if he was in the lineup, then he needed to contribute as a top forward. if he wasn't able to contribute on that level, then ruff needed to see that and plug someone in who could go full bore (even if it meant going with a lesser talent (or Skill)).

 

one other thing: confirmation of this injury makes ruff's nonsense about connolly's conditioning more than a little annoying. what was the frickin' point of that subterfuge? the guy had just played almost a full season of hockey -- were we to believe that 9 games off put him in off-season shape? a not dissimilar break for vanek made him like he was ready to rule the world once he returned.

[Kristian]

 

taro's other points are also valid: if he was in the lineup, then he needed to contribute as a top forward. if he wasn't able to contribute on that level, then ruff needed to see that and plug someone in who could go full bore (even if it meant going with a lesser talent (or Skill)).

 

one other thing: confirmation of this injury makes ruff's nonsense about connolly's conditioning more than a little annoying. what was the frickin' point of that subterfuge? the guy had just played almost a full season of hockey -- were we to believe that 9 games off put him in off-season shape? a not dissimilar break for vanek made him like he was ready to rule the world once he returned.

 

Another reason I'm getting fed up with Ruff.

 

He spends half his time talking about how Vanek comes back when he's 100% ready to play and not a second early, cause he doesn't want to end up with a short bench in a possible OT, and then all along his pet centerman runs around out there doing jack all, cause his damn foot is broken??!

 

No ###### you didn't want a short bench Lindy, you already had a guy on it who couldn't skate!

 

Which leads to my next question - What makes Lindy believe a hurt Connolly is worth more than a hurt Vanek? Did Timmy finish the season on fire like Vanek did? I'd love to hear his answer to this one.

 

I just don't think Ruff believes in Vanek at all, hence he preferred Tim in the lineup over him.

 

Whipping boys and favorites. Same old, same old.

[wonderbread]

Found Apus over on TSN chat.

 

apuszczalowski

1 hour ago

I always love the 'I don't want to use it as an excuse.....' line. Another in the long line of Darcy Regier moves that isn't working out

[Sabre Dance]

Before we advocate ripping the C off this guy's sweater, I'd at least like to say something on Rivet's behalf. I don't think Rivet gets enough credit for coming in here during the first training camp and being anointed captain. After a move across the country and going through the process of getting acclimated to a new city and organization, I don't think any of us would say that it was fair that he was thrust into becoming the leader for the club. I think he has taken it in stride, and with news of this injury that he received in Nov. 2008 (!), has shown the grit and tenacity that so many feel this team is lacking. His play has slipped considerably, however, I respect a guy that still fights and battles for his teammates on a nightly basis when one of his shoulders is in need of surgical repair.

 

I think it says more about the Sabres team than it does about Rivet - admittedly he was brought here for the veteran presence, leadership and all that but he was voted the "C" even before he played a regular season game for the team... Does that mean there was no other existing Sabre who deserved the captaincy, or no other Sabre who wanted it?

[wjag]

Found Apus over on TSN chat.

 

apuszczalowski

1 hour ago

I always love the 'I don't want to use it as an excuse.....' line. Another in the long line of Darcy Regier moves that isn't working out

Stalker?

[nobody]

I don't know about games 3-5. However, if the Sabres stayed alive and Connolly kept performing like he had, I think he could've been scratched or zapped for big minutes. Lindy acknowledged after the Game 6 loss he had almost reached the point he couldn't use Connolly. You saw Mair get bigger minutes, too.

 

Almost?

 

He's quick to pull off certain players and highly resistant to do it to others. That's poor coaching. He should have sent Connolly to the bench and put Torres or one of the minor leaguers in.

[Kristian]

Almost?

 

He's quick to pull off certain players and highly resistant to do it to others. That's poor coaching. He should have sent Connolly to the bench and put Torres or one of the minor leaguers in.

 

Very poor coaching, and something Lindy's been guilty of time and time again - Playing favorites who don't perform, over his whipping boys who can do no right.

 

Am I the only thinking a dinged up Vanek would've been a damn sight better than the dinged up Tim Connolly?

[biodork]

I think it says more about the Sabres team than it does about Rivet - admittedly he was brought here for the veteran presence, leadership and all that but he was voted the "C" even before he played a regular season game for the team... Does that mean there was no other existing Sabre who deserved the captaincy, or no other Sabre who wanted it?

 

I said something to this effect in an older thread (no idea when or what the original topic was), but I could almost picture everyone else basically saying "not it!" and Rivet ending up as captain by default. I love that Kaleta has been talking about wanting to be a leader on the team, although with his style of play leaving him frequently injured I'm not sure whether it would be a good move to give him the C (but maybe an A?).

[tulax]

I think it says more about the Sabres team than it does about Rivet - admittedly he was brought here for the veteran presence, leadership and all that but he was voted the "C" even before he played a regular season game for the team... Does that mean there was no other existing Sabre who deserved the captaincy, or no other Sabre who wanted it?

I think the team saw Rivet as the complete answer to their leadership issue. It almost seemed that by voting him in as captain, it was more a move to silence the critics rather than a vote of confidence for Rivet's leadership ability. So yes, I agree that this act may say a lot about the psyche of the team at that time. However, I don't think that takes away from Rivet's willingness to take on the task and deal with questions all season that pried at the character and maturity of the group around him during his first season on the club. You walk a fine line when you take on that role.

[FearTheReaper]

That letter better come of this man.

[FanOf52]

Has he failed a job or just failed the unrealistic expectations of another delusional sports fan? Craig Rivet wasn't brought in to put up 50 points and play 30 minutes a game. He was brought in to provide grit and leadership to a team that needed it on its blue line. For me he has done both of those things. Hes definitely lost speed and his stats have slipped. With an injury to a shoulder requiring 4 to 6 months of rehab I would say that most players' stats would drop.

 

I loved this post!! My thoughts exactly!

[Mbossy]

FWIW, Rivet going in for surgery tomorrow.

[BuffalOhio]

What the heck took so long?

[Stoner]

What the heck took so long?

They must found out the rabbit died.

[wonderbread]

Stalker?

 

 

Yes.