Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Watching Briere play last night made me realize that what this team lacks is any personality, mostly because it has no real leaders on the ice. Briere and Drury were like fire and ice--good complements--and it gave the team a great personality. Even the Bills have a personality now, Fitz with his beard and Harvard degree, good ole' boys Chan and Buddy, and a less than talented but hard trying supporting cast. They are not very good, but I like them and care if they get better not only for the fans' sake, but the players as well. I just don't like this Sabres team because it is a big nothing personality wise. Combined with its below average play on the ice, it becomes just boring. And other than the fact that they wear the Blue and Gold, this team is not interesting enough to care about whether they win or lose. Put differently, this team is not likeable. The only hint of personality this team has had the past 4 seasons is from Miller, but now that he is mainstream and corporate his quirky loveable weirdness is even gone along with his A game. At least he still likes Caddyshack--but it's not enough. I think the team has some good parts, but it needs to make a major move to find a personality--a couple of guys with leadership and dynamic personalities- players with fire that care as much about winning as the people on this Board. Then maybe I could like them again, like back in the two years after the lockout. DD
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 First Jack, now Dryden. The Titanic has now hit bottom. This team does have personality.....the personality of the front office and coaches. I might be going out on a limb here, but if you are invited to a bachelor party organized by Darcy and James Patrick...you probably want to develop "the flu" that morning.
korab rules Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 First Jack, now Dryden. The Titanic has now hit bottom. This team does have personality.....the personality of the front office and coaches. I might be going out on a limb here, but if you are invited to a bachelor party organized by Darcy and James Patrick...you probably want to develop "the flu" that morning. Morris?
kishoph Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 It's said that teams take on their personalities of their coaches, just take a look at LINDY behind the bench, blah, uninterested and lifeless, that's the SABRES.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Morris? Sure, he could lose a few punds these days......but he's still chugging.
korab rules Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Sure, he could lose a few punds these days......but he's still chugging. Not for long - dude smokes like a chimney.
Oakstream Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 I disagree. It takes balls to let in 5 straight goals on home ice when you are 8 points out of a playoff spot. Now thats personality!
Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 First Jack, now Dryden. The Titanic has now hit bottom. This team does have personality.....the personality of the front office and coaches. I might be going out on a limb here, but if you are invited to a bachelor party organized by Darcy and James Patrick...you probably want to develop "the flu" that morning. I guess I should have been clear that I meant a likeable, winning personality. Speaking of winning, Little Ice Patch had a very good year...won three times and went over $100K lifetime. She's having fun with R&R at the farm until March.
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 I guess I should have been clear that I meant a likeable, winning personality. Speaking of winning, Little Ice Patch had a very good year...won three times and went over $100K lifetime. She's having fun with R&R at the farm until March. Awesome. I don't often play the midatlantic tracks so I missed her. Should have paid attention! I got me a tax writeoff this year.
Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 Awesome. I don't often play the midatlantic tracks so I missed her. Should have paid attention! I got me a tax writeoff this year. What?
Robviously Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Now THAT's personality! That's a spectacular picture.
Robviously Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 It's said that teams take on their personalities of their coaches, just take a look at LINDY behind the bench, blah, uninterested and lifeless, that's the SABRES. Errrr, Lindy had the same personality when we got to the 1998 ECF, the 1999 SCF, and the 2006 and 2007 ECF. It's the players. Lindy deserves blame because he had a hand in assembling this roster. But it's definitely not like we have a team of dynamos whose determination is being snuffed out by their coach. The personality thing is a good point because we're definitely going to have a different personality next season with Kassian and Foligno on the team. Not to mention signing McNabb and maybe Riley Boychuk out of juniors. Weber was probably the first step in bringing up guys who are awful to play against because they're jerks. I want that process to continue.
wjag Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 I disagree. It takes balls to let in 5 straight goals on home ice when you are 8 points out of a playoff spot. Now thats personality! :worthy: :clapping:
X. Benedict Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Errrr, Lindy had the same personality when we got to the 1998 ECF, the 1999 SCF, and the 2006 and 2007 ECF. It's the players. Lindy deserves blame because he had a hand in assembling this roster. But it's definitely not like we have a team of dynamos whose determination is being snuffed out by their coach. The personality thing is a good point because we're definitely going to have a different personality next season with Kassian and Foligno on the team. Not to mention signing McNabb and maybe Riley Boychuk out of juniors. Weber was probably the first step in bringing up guys who are awful to play against because they're jerks. I want that process to continue. Jarko Ruutu and Dan Carcillo are a free agents next year. If we go assholey we should go whole hog. :lol:
SDS Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Watching Briere play last night made me realize that what this team lacks is any personality, mostly because it has no real leaders on the ice. Briere and Drury were like fire and ice--good complements--and it gave the team a great personality. Even the Bills have a personality now, Fitz with his beard and Harvard degree, good ole' boys Chan and Buddy, and a less than talented but hard trying supporting cast. They are not very good, but I like them and care if they get better not only for the fans' sake, but the players as well. This is "fan speak". If I had more time to post my actual thoughts instead of just thinking them - "fan speak" would be my #1 crusade. 99/100 (or it it 100/100?) whenever a fan complains about the lack of leadership - what they are really complaining about is the lack of top performing talent. You interpret Drury's lack of personality as a "good thing" because he performed well (for the most part). When Mr. Ice's performance went down in NY, his personality and leadership weren't so highly regarded. See how that works? High performer = projection of desirable attributes on you. Poor performer = hatred for just the look on your face. Put some top performing talent on this team and you'll magically discover their wonderful personalities and Messiah quality leadership skills.
darksabre Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 Jarko Ruutu and Dan Carcillo are a free agents next year. If we go assholey we should go whole hog. :lol: It would be kinda fun wouldn't it? :pirate:
X. Benedict Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 This is "fan speak". If I had more time to post my actual thoughts instead of just thinking them - "fan speak" would be my #1 crusade. 99/100 (or it it 100/100?) whenever a fan complains about the lack of leadership - what they are really complaining about is the lack of top performing talent. You interpret Drury's lack of personality as a "good thing" because he performed well (for the most part). When Mr. Ice's performance went down in NY, his personality and leadership weren't so highly regarded. See how that works? High performer = projection of desirable attributes on you. Poor performer = hatred for just the look on your face. Put some top performing talent on this team and you'll magically discover their wonderful personalities and Messiah quality leadership skills. I think Briere gave an interview a few weeks ago where he said he is now back in the situation which he had in Buffalo. (Paraphrasing) - "I'm Getting second and third line minutes at center because of depth, but first line production because we overwhelm the defensive zone." Seriously, Buffalo has one legit center (Connolley) at the moment and a face-off specialist (Gaustad) that should really be at wing most of the time. Even if they make the playoffs, it ain't going to look pretty as they can't control the center of the ice. If personality = centerless team. They are a centerless team. The Flyers can skate Richards-Carter-Giroux-Briere-Van Reimsdyk-and Bettes at center - so I guess it looks like they have plenty of personality. :D
bob_sauve28 Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 I think there is a lack of leadership. Watching Sekera and Myers try and skate through everyone should have sent red flags off all over the place. Having players try and do it all themselves is a recipe for disaster
X. Benedict Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 I think there is a lack of leadership. Watching Sekera and Myers try and skate through everyone should have sent red flags off all over the place. Having players try and do it all themselves is a recipe for disaster Actually, I'm all for that defensive rush if nobody commits a body to them. More disappointing is Ennis-Stafford-Vanek stickworking up-ice along the sideboards because there is nobody in the middle to work with.
Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 This is "fan speak". If I had more time to post my actual thoughts instead of just thinking them - "fan speak" would be my #1 crusade. 99/100 (or it it 100/100?) whenever a fan complains about the lack of leadership - what they are really complaining about is the lack of top performing talent. You interpret Drury's lack of personality as a "good thing" because he performed well (for the most part). When Mr. Ice's performance went down in NY, his personality and leadership weren't so highly regarded. See how that works? High performer = projection of desirable attributes on you. Poor performer = hatred for just the look on your face. Put some top performing talent on this team and you'll magically discover their wonderful personalities and Messiah quality leadership skills. While a fair point, it is too simplistic. I think it is hard to be a leader on a sports team if you are not playing at a very high level. The Sabres have tried getting leaderhsip from guys like Grier, Gaustad, Rivet, Niedermeyer, etc.--and while they may have the personalities to lead they don't have the skills to lead by example. That is why this team is a fail--its best players are not leaders. On the other hand, you can play at a high level and not be a leader-- you can even be a locker room problem. For example, I think Vanek is a very good player, but he is not a leader, nor does he have the personality to be a leader. TO was a great footbal player, but not a leader. Check out Kovalchuk. You get my point--you can have temendous skill but not be the kind of player I am talking about. At bottom I think we agree, you need highly skilled performers to be your leaders, but they also have to lift up their teammates for the team to acquire a positive personality and succeed. A Peca was like that, so is a Zach Parise. Briere and Drury when they were here. Not the very best talent-wise--like a Crosby or Ovechkin--but very good players with a drive to win and a refusal to accept anything less from the others around them. That is leadership, and in my mind gives the team the kind of personality you want. DD
SDS Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 While a fair point, it is too simplistic. I think it is hard to be a leader on a sports team if you are not playing at a very high level. The Sabres have tried getting leaderhsip from guys like Grier, Gaustad, Rivet, Niedermeyer, etc.--and while they may have the personalities to lead they don't have the skills to lead by example. That is why this team is a fail--its best players are not leaders. On the other hand, you can play at a high level and not be a leader-- you can even be a locker room problem. For example, I think Vanek is a very good player, but he is not a leader, nor does he have the personality to be a leader. TO was a great footbal player, but not a leader. Check out Kovalchuk. You get my point--you can have temendous skill but not be the kind of player I am talking about. At bottom I think we agree, you need highly skilled performers to be your leaders, but they also have to lift up their teammates for the team to acquire a positive personality and succeed. A Peca was like that, so is a Zach Parise. Briere and Drury when they were here. Not the very best talent-wise--like a Crosby or Ovechkin--but very good players with a drive to win and a refusal to accept anything less from the others around them. That is leadership, and in my mind gives the team the kind of personality you want. DD I'll reiterate that you really want top performing talent (which is far more inclusive than SC or AO). Obviously, no one wants such a player that also has baggage too. But I'll take my TO and you can have your little engine that could and I'll beat the snot out of you 9/10 times. You can say you want a guy that makes the average players around him better, but aren't really just asking for better players?
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted January 12, 2011 Report Posted January 12, 2011 What? Congratulations....I didn't see her race because I don't often wager on the midatlantic tracks. Tax writeoff= I paid more bills than had winnings= No good.
Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 Congratulations....I didn't see her race because I don't often wager on the midatlantic tracks. Tax writeoff= I paid more bills than had winnings= No good. Understood-- been there often.
Dave Dryden Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Posted January 12, 2011 I'll reiterate that you really want top performing talent (which is far more inclusive than SC or AO). Obviously, no one wants such a player that also has baggage too. But I'll take my TO and you can have your little engine that could and I'll beat the snot out of you 9/10 times. You can say you want a guy that makes the average players around him better, but aren't really just asking for better players? I don't think so. Take a baseball team that really does not have a quality closer. You go out and get say Mariano Rivera for your team. Suddenly your ex-closer only needs to be a set-up guy, and he thrives with less pressure. Your former set-up guy becomes your 6th and 7th inning guy, and you improve there too. You have a better pitcher every inning by adding one leader. In hockey, if you get better players at the top--for your first line--guys like Vanek, Roy, Stafford, Pominville, Ennis--get much better because they become second and third line players--where they are very very good. That was the model from 2005-07. When you let the followers be followers and not try and make them something they are not--leaders--they will give you more production. The Sabres are trying to make guys be more than they are, and that not only means we lack leaders, but we get even less production out of the followers. So I stand by my original point--we need guys to lead, give this team a better personality, and it will elevate the rest of the team around them.
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