Game Discussion Thread

[NowDoYouBelieve]

Maybe he finally gets it but I'd like a larger sample size before jumping to any conclusions.

 

I don't think I'm jumping to any conclusions. I think that all of Gerbe's hockey career suggests that he's a natural born hockey player, regardless of his size.

 

I'm not saying that Nate's an absolute lock to be a consistent contributor to this team, but a lot of people on this board insinuated that he had no chance at all because of his size. I personally think that's bull honky. And I bet Martin St. Louis and Brian Gionta heard a lot of the same.

[bunomatic]

I don't think I'm jumping to any conclusions. I think that all of Gerbe's hockey career suggests that he's a natural born hockey player, regardless of his size.

 

I'm not saying that Nate's an absolute lock to be a consistent contributor to this team, but a lot of people on this board insinuated that he had no chance at all because of his size. I personally think that's bull honky. And I bet Martin St. Louis and Brian Gionta heard a lot of the same.

all these guys you've mentioned, even Briere and Ennis hear it all their lives and fight through it at every level and people still don't give them a chance at making it. I still think our line-ups perhaps a little heavy with this type of player but its great to see Ennis and Gerbe contributing.

[Weave]

I don't think I'm jumping to any conclusions. I think that all of Gerbe's hockey career suggests that he's a natural born hockey player, regardless of his size.

 

I'm not saying that Nate's an absolute lock to be a consistent contributor to this team, but a lot of people on this board insinuated that he had no chance at all because of his size. I personally think that's bull honky. And I bet Martin St. Louis and Brian Gionta heard a lot of the same.

 

In all fairness, Gionta and St. Louis are both listed as bigger (or at least taller) than Gerbe. Gerbe's stature is really pushing the envelope for how small a player can be and still be an effective NHL player.

 

He's had a very recent stretch where he's been able to be effective. Until he shows that he can sustain effective play, you are jumping to conclusions. Until recently his good efforts haven't had much effect.

 

I've said before that I hope the kid makes it. I've also said that I don't think he'll end his NHL career with much of a meaningful contribution. I still believe that he's an AHL player being thrown into a an NHL role and won't be anything more than just that.

 

IMO, just like Tim Kennedy, at some point Buffalo will upgrade his spot on the roster and he'll be down in the AHL doing well but not garnering much interest from teams looking for NHL scoring wingers.

[PromoTheRobot]

Things getting VERY interesting in the standings

3 pts behind CAR. 7 pts behind ATL with 3 games in hand. Who's giving up with 34 games to go?

 

PTR

[OverPowerYou]

3 pts behind CAR. 7 pts behind ATL with 3 games in hand. Who's giving up with 34 games to go?

 

PTR

 

Isn't this the closest we've been to catching up to #8 since people started giving up? They'll be back on the board once they make the playoffs.

[bob_sauve28]

In all fairness, Gionta and St. Louis are both listed as bigger (or at least taller) than Gerbe. Gerbe's stature is really pushing the envelope for how small a player can be and still be an effective NHL player.

 

He's had a very recent stretch where he's been able to be effective. Until he shows that he can sustain effective play, you are jumping to conclusions. Until recently his good efforts haven't had much effect.

 

I've said before that I hope the kid makes it. I've also said that I don't think he'll end his NHL career with much of a meaningful contribution. I still believe that he's an AHL player being thrown into a an NHL role and won't be anything more than just that.

 

IMO, just like Tim Kennedy, at some point Buffalo will upgrade his spot on the roster and he'll be down in the AHL doing well but not garnering much interest from teams looking for NHL scoring wingers.

Because of how tall he is? Really? What does that have to do with skating, battling along the boards, stick handling, etc? I don't buy this argument at all

[Two or less]

3 pts behind CAR. 7 pts behind ATL with 3 games in hand. Who's giving up with 34 games to go?

 

PTR

 

6 points back, not 7.

 

Also, Buffalo hosts Atlanta twice still...

[nucci]

3 pts behind CAR. 7 pts behind ATL with 3 games in hand. Who's giving up with 34 games to go?

 

PTR

Many here gave up back in November.

[Rip Titwide]

Thanks. It was pretty fun, although I always prefer a packed house and a loud crowd to the half-empty and fairly dead arena I saw today. Still, I was happy with the win, especially in light of the roster, and happy to see them coming out and playing better against this opponent.

 

My game notes:

 

1. Today's lineup included Gragnani (again dressing over Rivet and Butler), Ellis, Byron and Gerbe. Hello Portland.

 

2. Byron looked decent to me -- he didn't do much but showed pretty good skills and didn't make any blunders that stood out. I think he got some PK time as well, which surprised me.

 

3. Vanek had 13 minutes and I think got all of his even-strength shifts with Byron and Ellis. Eeeeeesh. I suspect he's planted in Lindy's doghouse right now.

 

4. Myers looked better to me and got 20 minutes.

 

5. As I mentioned above, I was 4 rows behind the Sabres' bench thanks to Stubhub and favorable supply/demand conditions. Anyway, among the people I was sitting with was my friend and his 8-month-pregnant wife. When the Sabres returned from the 1st intermission, she observed that as a group they were pretty ripe. Moral of the story: pregnant women are like bloodhounds.

 

6. I continue to be not very impressed with the Leopold/Montador pair. I thought they didn't do particularly well on either of the 1st 2 Islanders goals.

 

7. Grier was also out to lunch on the 2nd Islanders goal. He has to make that play on the backcheck -- that kind of play is the whole purpose of having him on the team.

 

8. Ennis and Gerbe are both really coming on.

 

9. If they can squeeze out another win on Tuesday with this lineup and then get some guys healthy over the break, February could get pretty interesting -- and that doesn't even include the ownership situation.

 

Go Sabres.

Wow. I hit Stubhub yesterday morning and scored Row F in 115 behind the bench. I think my girl spilled her beer on you.

 

Byron looks like a Tim Kennedy doppelganger in person..

Grier was horrendous

[Kevbeau]

In all fairness, Gionta and St. Louis are both listed as bigger (or at least taller) than Gerbe. Gerbe's stature is really pushing the envelope for how small a player can be and still be an effective NHL player.

 

 

I've met St. Louis and I don't believe he's 5'9". Having walked by Gerbe a couple times though, I will say without hesitation that he's taller then Gerbe. One other thing about St. Louis is the guy is jacked and may have some of the biggest legs I've ever seen on a hockey player.

[Patty16]

Because of how tall he is? Really? What does that have to do with skating, battling along the boards, stick handling, etc? I don't buy this argument at all

 

Youre actually wondering what being 5'5 has to do with battling along the boards? how about leverage and strength! there is no way he weighs 180lbs after seeing him in street clothes.

 

If being 5'5 had nothing to do with skating, battling along the boards, stick handling, etc ..............then why are there virtually no other players his size? (yes, i know about st louis)

[Stoner]

After the game and only 13 minutes of icetime Ruff confirmed that Vanek has been feeling the effects of an undisclosed injury. So I guess in Lindys bizarro world cutting back on Vaneks icetime makes pretty good sense. Goes to show that as fans we really don't know f$%@ all about what goes on behind the scenes and some still find it pretty easy to criticize the coach for his methods. Who Knew?

 

Vaenk's been hurt for six years now. Talk about nagging injuries.

[JujuFish]

6 points back, not 7.

 

Also, Buffalo hosts Atlanta twice still...

Yeah. Strange to say it but from here on out, Buffalo controls their own destiny. 2 games against Atlanta and Florida, 3 against Carolina, 6 back with 3 games in hand.

[sabres1970]

so why is Gerbe good now? I thought he was small and bad?

[BuffalOhio]

nice backcheck grier

 

He hustles all the way back, then he lets up when he sees Miller make the save. Lets Moulson go and he scores. Grier should be nailed to the bench. If you ain't scorin', you better be hustlin'. Dammit!

[Iron Crotch]

Thanks. It was pretty fun, although I always prefer a packed house and a loud crowd to the half-empty and fairly dead arena I saw today. Still, I was happy with the win, especially in light of the roster, and happy to see them coming out and playing better against this opponent.

 

My game notes:

 

1. Today's lineup included Gragnani (again dressing over Rivet and Butler), Ellis, Byron and Gerbe. Hello Portland.

 

2. Byron looked decent to me -- he didn't do much but showed pretty good skills and didn't make any blunders that stood out. I think he got some PK time as well, which surprised me.

 

3. Vanek had 13 minutes and I think got all of his even-strength shifts with Byron and Ellis. Eeeeeesh. I suspect he's planted in Lindy's doghouse right now.

 

4. Myers looked better to me and got 20 minutes.

 

5. As I mentioned above, I was 4 rows behind the Sabres' bench thanks to Stubhub and favorable supply/demand conditions. Anyway, among the people I was sitting with was my friend and his 8-month-pregnant wife. When the Sabres returned from the 1st intermission, she observed that as a group they were pretty ripe. Moral of the story: pregnant women are like bloodhounds.

 

6. I continue to be not very impressed with the Leopold/Montador pair. I thought they didn't do particularly well on either of the 1st 2 Islanders goals.

 

7. Grier was also out to lunch on the 2nd Islanders goal. He has to make that play on the backcheck -- that kind of play is the whole purpose of having him on the team.

 

8. Ennis and Gerbe are both really coming on.

 

9. If they can squeeze out another win on Tuesday with this lineup and then get some guys healthy over the break, February could get pretty interesting -- and that doesn't even include the ownership situation.

 

Go Sabres.

 

I agree with #6. Leopold and Montador are great when we have the puck, but neither seem particularly good when the other team is bringing the puck in with speed. One of those Isles goals was painful to watch. Monty gave so much room to the opposing forward he nearly backed into Miller.

[Weave]

Youre actually wondering what being 5'5 has to do with battling along the boards? how about leverage and strength! there is no way he weighs 180lbs after seeing him in street clothes.

 

If being 5'5 had nothing to do with skating, battling along the boards, stick handling, etc ..............then why are there virtually no other players his size? (yes, i know about st louis)

 

I wasn't even going to bother responding to that post. If you can't see where lacking size, weight, and strength is a disadvantage among otherwise equal individuals then I'm not going to waste my effort trying to explain it. But if you want to do it, by all means be my guest. :P

[Robviously]

I wasn't even going to bother responding to that post. If you can't see where lacking size, weight, and strength is a disadvantage among otherwise equal individuals then I'm not going to waste my effort trying to explain it. But if you want to do it, by all means be my guest. :P

There's a lot to be said for superior size and strength.

 

There is something to Gerbe being so small though. The Isles announcers pointed this out and I think I've heard it from other broadcast teams as well, but his complete lack of size makes him tougher to hit. He's fast and tiny and it's tough to land a direct hit with a body check on someone like that. I think I might prefer someone 5'5" to someone 5'11" -- neither guy is going to intimidate anyone but one guy is tough to hit.

 

You put Gerbe on a team with a bunch of big guys who can go in the corners, and he should fit in nicely. Unfortunately, the Sabres are mostly small guys.

[nfreeman]

There's a lot to be said for superior size and strength.

 

There is something to Gerbe being so small though. The Isles announcers pointed this out and I think I've heard it from other broadcast teams as well, but his complete lack of size makes him tougher to hit. He's fast and tiny and it's tough to land a direct hit with a body check on someone like that. I think I might prefer someone 5'5" to someone 5'11" -- neither guy is going to intimidate anyone but one guy is tough to hit.

 

You put Gerbe on a team with a bunch of big guys who can go in the corners, and he should fit in nicely. Unfortunately, the Sabres are mostly small guys.

Good post. I was liking Gerbe with Gaustad and Kaleta before Kaleta got hurt.

[Stoner]

I wasn't even going to bother responding to that post. If you can't see where lacking size, weight, and strength is a disadvantage among otherwise equal individuals then I'm not going to waste my effort trying to explain it. But if you want to do it, by all means be my guest. :P

 

There's another side of the coin -- look at the behemoths on the Bills offensive line. They can't move a body to save their lives.

[LabattBlue]

3 pts behind CAR. 7 pts behind ATL with 3 games in hand. Who's giving up with 34 games to go?

 

PTR

Me. This team is done. Being able to beat the Islanders(who are one of the two worst teams in hockey along with the Oilers), only one out of three times is about all I need to see. You think Lindy has run Miller into the ground, just wait until they return after the all-star break. Lalime might as well not even get dressed.

 

Missing the playoffs will be a good thing, because I don't want to see Pegula even give one second of thought to keeping Ruff & Regier because of their amazing run to 8th place and a "one and done".

[Robviously]

Me. This team is done. Being able to beat the Islanders(who are one of the two worst teams in hockey along with the Oilers), only one out of three times is about all I need to see. You think Lindy has run Miller into the ground, just wait until they return after the all-star break. Lalime might as well not even get dressed.

 

Missing the playoffs will be a good thing, because I don't want to see Pegula even give one second of thought to keeping Ruff & Regier because of their amazing run to 8th place and a "one and done".

I don't even think we're going to make that 8th spot. The most likely scenario is that the Sabres end up just good enough to miss the playoffs while not managing to get a top 5 draft pick. Woooo. <_<

 

And it's always worth pointing out how many times other teams see the Sabres on the schedule and decide it's time to let their back-up goalie get a start. We're a sad team that other teams don't take seriously. How sad? Our supposed no.1 center missed the game yesterday and we put Paul Byron in in his place and there was no difference.

 

I hope Pegula buys the team and gives us a fresh start.

[Patty16]

I wasn't even going to bother responding to that post. If you can't see where lacking size, weight, and strength is a disadvantage among otherwise equal individuals then I'm not going to waste my effort trying to explain it. But if you want to do it, by all means be my guest. :P

 

It was too egregious.

 

There's another side of the coin -- look at the behemoths on the Bills offensive line. They can't move a body to save their lives.

 

Name one player who had success in the NHL at 5'5.

 

Size and skill are different of course. The Bills Oline argument is another strawman argument. I could say Aaron Maybin is small and he sucks so therefore Gerbe must be the same. I dont think theres much of a translation from the NFL to the NHL is terms of size. Hockey is much different.

 

Gerbe is small, he has been bad for most of the year but has been playing very well recently. Cody Mccormick was on fire earlier in the year too, but has since gone back to his normal self.

 

The difference between good and average is consistency. We cant make an assessment on Gerbe until he plays more games, and has a body of work. He has had success at every level he has played up to the NHL, and is showing he can at least do it in spurts here.

 

There is a reason so few players of his dimensions have had any success at this level. Its too hard to overcome physics and few can do it. Even St Louis is much bigger.

[Weave]

There's a lot to be said for superior size and strength.

 

There is something to Gerbe being so small though. The Isles announcers pointed this out and I think I've heard it from other broadcast teams as well, but his complete lack of size makes him tougher to hit. He's fast and tiny and it's tough to land a direct hit with a body check on someone like that. I think I might prefer someone 5'5" to someone 5'11" -- neither guy is going to intimidate anyone but one guy is tough to hit.

 

You put Gerbe on a team with a bunch of big guys who can go in the corners, and he should fit in nicely. Unfortunately, the Sabres are mostly small guys.

 

If there were any advantage to being 5'5" instead of 5'11" there would have been many more 5'5" players around. Other than Gerbe, the ONLY NHL'er I can think of that was that small is Theo Fleury and he had elite talent level and drive that allowed him to overcome it. All of the other small players I can think of; Gionta, St Louis, Briere, Audette, etc were BIGGER than Gerbe. A simple look at rosters is enough to convince that 5'5" is not an advantage over 5'11".

[Weave]

I don't even think we're going to make that 8th spot. The most likely scenario is that the Sabres end up just good enough to miss the playoffs while not managing to get a top 5 draft pick. Woooo. <_<

 

This is what I see as most likely to occur as well.

 

The fanbase routinely laments the lack of elite level talent on this team. There is almost none to be had in trade, the FA market this summer has noone of truly elite status, and now the team is screwing us out of a draft position most likely to be in the running for an elite talent player.

 

The quest for mediocrity goes on....