GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Eleven]

Who would the top 5 be that would knock Roy down to 6 or lower?

 

Miller, Vanek, Myers, ??? & ???

 

I think he meant the FAs that the Sabres will sign this summer. It would be awesome if it turns out that way.

[bunomatic]

One great effort does not make a NHL career. I still think Mancari is too slow to play at the NHL level on a long term basis. People hated a similar player to Mancari, Ales Kotalik, and he was a much better skater.

 

I'm in the minority, but come playoff time, if everyone is healthy, I would take Grier, Kaleta and even Ellis over Mancari.

Everyones gets a freebie when it comes to being wrong. Thats probably why you're(we're)not running an n.h.l. franchise. Mancaris been playing good hockey since he was brought up. I believe he finally gets it. And there's no way he's slower than that plodder Mike Grier. Kaleta serves a purpose here but you'll have to replace him most of the time for injury anyways. And I like Ellis but him and Mancari could be interchangable at this point,he brings energy but little else.

[nucci]

If Miller doesn't play Friday or Saturday, does he play Game 1 if healthy? It would be his 1st game action in over 2 weeks? I'm sure he does but just asking for thoughts. We have a hot goaltender right now.

[thesportsbuff]

6. Timmy is playing like he wants to stay. +3 last night.

7. Folks jumped Timmy for the Vinny goal, but my recollection is Myers really committed the gaff by not getting the puck out and putting it in Timmy's skates. Video replay could prove me wrong.

 

Had to comment on this part because I completely agree. I referenced it earlier in the thread, too. Just another example of people wanting Connolly to fail. Myers coughed up the puck and Connolly never had clean control of it before "turning it over" himself. Then it was right back to the old song and dance about how bad TC is. lol.

 

One great effort does not make a NHL career. I still think Mancari is too slow to play at the NHL level on a long term basis. People hated a similar player to Mancari, Ales Kotalik, and he was a much better skater.

 

I'm in the minority, but come playoff time, if everyone is healthy, I would take Grier, Kaleta and even Ellis over Mancari.

 

I, too, would take all of them over Mancari. I'll give him credit, that was awesome the way he killed the clock towards the end of the period, but let's be honest it's the best thing he's done since he's been up here. Ellis was a BEAST in the playoffs last year.

[LET"S GO BUFFALO]

I, too, would take all of them over Mancari. I'll give him credit, that was awesome the way he killed the clock towards the end of the period, but let's be honest it's the best thing he's done since he's been up here. Ellis was a BEAST in the playoffs last year.

 

Until he got put on his a$$ and then he was non existent...personally Ellis can go...

[nucci]

We've all criticized Connolly over the years but even the worst critic has to see that he has been playing very well and one of the better players over the last month. PP and PK plus regular shift on the top line. He's getting lots of ice time.

[That Aud Smell]

Mancari plays more determinedly than Kotalik did. When I watch Mancari I see a guy who cherishes every shift he gets in the NHL.

 

Having said that, I'd take Grier and Kaleta over Mancari in the lineup, but not Ellis or Niedermayer.

I, too, would take all of them over Mancari. I'll give him credit, that was awesome the way he killed the clock towards the end of the period, but let's be honest it's the best thing he's done since he's been up here. Ellis was a BEAST in the playoffs last year.

mancari > kotalik, fo shizzle (so long as we're not talking about shootouts).

 

i was as proud of mancari as i was with the home crowd when he got that roar for staying on the ice to kill time when he found himself sort of stranded at the end of a shift and was clearly running on fumes -- we gots intelligent hockey fans in our barn. i felt like you could see mancari feeding off of that energy for a few extra seconds.

 

 

Interesting observation about Boysie. I can see him being in poorer condition than the rest of the team, since he hasn't been practicing with them all year.

 

I too would really like to get Jochen back for the playoffs. He's a grownup, does a lot for them and they missed him last year.

it really did look like a conditioning issue -- like his legs were going noodly on him.

[Marvelo]

I think Enroth has pulled a Tom Brady.

[carpandean]

Had to comment on this part because I completely agree. I referenced it earlier in the thread, too. Just another example of people wanting Connolly to fail. Myers coughed up the puck and Connolly never had clean control of it before "turning it over" himself. Then it was right back to the old song and dance about how bad TC is. lol.

The replay is on NHL.com; I suggest watching it again. Timmy took a pass from Butler and had clean control of the puck ten feet from the blue line. He fired it right at St. Louis, who was just inside the blue line. The puck went to Myers near the boards, who then had St. Louis right in front of him. He quickly put it off the boards around St. Loius to get it out, but Lacavalier stopped it right at the blue line, then did a give-and-go with St. Louis. Myers was under much more pressure than Connolly; Timmy blew the pass when he had plenty of time.

 

The funny thing was that I thought about how well Timmy had played at the end of the second, then fast-forwarded (DVR) to the third and saw that in the first 17 seconds.

[shrader]

Mancari plays more determinedly than Kotalik did. When I watch Mancari I see a guy who cherishes every shift he gets in the NHL.

 

Kotalik delivered back in the 2006 playoffs. I don't see this time in the season being all that different from the playoffs at this point. That was Ales' first taste of playoff hockey and he showed up. Now Mancari's getting his first taste. I'm not so sure we can read anything into this while talking about a full 82 game season.

[bunomatic]

We've all criticized Connolly over the years but even the worst critic has to see that he has been playing very well and one of the better players over the last month. PP and PK plus regular shift on the top line. He's getting lots of ice time.

Connolly has played inspired hockey for quite some time now and his play has cancelled out his brain farts on most occasions. I still wouldn't re-sign him. At least not at the stupid money Regier threw his way last time. It would have to be at a huge discount and T.C. ain't gonna do that. He's gone.

[nfreeman]

Jeez, why would Lindy have a bum like that on the ice in the final minute?

 

I'll be waiting for Bucky's column on Connolly's turnaround.

So you're saying that Lindy was right to have him on the ice at the end of the game? And maybe even that the team looks...well-coached?

 

Shiver me timbers!

 

Are you ready for the playoffs?

 

Are you ready?

 

I'm ready.

[LGR4GM]

Is it true that since feb 22 no one in the nhl has gotten more points than us? And does anyone have those numbers off the top of their head?

[thesportsbuff]

The replay is on NHL.com; I suggest watching it again. Timmy took a pass from Butler and had clean control of the puck ten feet from the blue line. He fired it right at St. Louis, who was just inside the blue line. The puck went to Myers near the boards, who then had St. Louis right in front of him. He quickly put it off the boards around St. Loius to get it out, but Lacavalier stopped it right at the blue line, then did a give-and-go with St. Louis. Myers was under much more pressure than Connolly; Timmy blew the pass when he had plenty of time.

 

The funny thing was that I thought about how well Timmy had played at the end of the second, then fast-forwarded (DVR) to the third and saw that in the first 17 seconds.

 

I'd have to watch it again, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Watching live I thought I saw it differently.

[LabattBlue]

Everyones gets a freebie when it comes to being wrong. Thats probably why you're(we're)not running an n.h.l. franchise. Mancaris been playing good hockey since he was brought up. I believe he finally gets it. And there's no way he's slower than that plodder Mike Grier. Kaleta serves a purpose here but you'll have to replace him most of the time for injury anyways. And I like Ellis but him and Mancari could be interchangable at this point,he brings energy but little else.

Maybe it's because of his height and the perception that he is slow, but I would guess that Mancari would come in dead last(not including goalies) if the Sabres had a timed skating test.

[LGR4GM]

i was at the game. beyond that bit of buzzing they did early in the 1st, that line never looked dangerous to me. and, fwiw, boyes at times looked uncomfortable and at other times gassed at center -- there were several shifts where he called for gaustad well before stafford or ennis were looking for a change. hecht can't mend soon enough (what is his injury thought to be -- a concussion?). and i'm now done with paying lip-service to the idea that the team might somehow be better off without roy.i didn't notice that, to be honest -- good feedback for me to consider.

 

 

Interesting observation about Boysie. I can see him being in poorer condition than the rest of the team, since he hasn't been practicing with them all year.I too would really like to get Jochen back for the playoffs. He's a grownup, does a lot for them and they missed him last year.

I hate to bag on boyes because I really do like him but he needs to put in some conditioning time at the gym. He is not out of shape like Torres was but he is not in shape the way the sabres are. I think ruff has done a good job conditioning this team. Boyes shows flashes of brilliance, he isnt costing us goals, and he def allows for stafford and ennis to be more aggressive. IMO I think he is still adjusting to the speed at which this team plays. I wonder if Boyes will step it up in the playoffs. Hes got the potential to help this team a lot so I can wait another week to see him improve.

[Claude_Verret]

So you're saying that Lindy was right to have him on the ice at the end of the game? And maybe even that the team looks...well-coached?

Shiver me timbers!

 

Are you ready for the playoffs?

 

Are you ready?

 

I'm ready.

 

Let's not get crazy now.

[LabattBlue]

mancari > kotalik, fo shizzle (so long as we're not talking about shootouts).

Come talk with me when Mancari has several 20+ goal seasons under his belt. Actually, never mind, Kotalik is gone and IMO Mancari won't be with the Sabres organization next season.

[LabattBlue]

Depending on how they do in the playoffs (and what happens in the offseason), I could see ranking Stafford, an offseason pickup, Ennis, Pommer or even Sekera or Weber above Roy. (I freely admit that I have an axe to grind with Roy.)

We all have our whipping boys and I can respect that Roy is on your list, but IMO guys who can put up 25+ goals and 70+ points shouldn't be so easily dismissed(especially when there is little to no center depth on the team and in the organization)...unless there is something going on behind the scenes that causes LR & DR to want him off the team.

[That Aud Smell]

Come talk with me when Mancari has several 20+ goal seasons under his belt. Actually, never mind, Kotalik is gone and IMO Mancari won't be with the Sabres organization next season.

this is fair -- it was a bit much for me to say that. i guess what i meant is that mancari > the version of kotalik that the team decided to part ways with. at his best, kotalik could play in the top 6 and bring a valuable presence to the power-play. that's not mancari, and will never be.

[nfreeman]

We all have our whipping boys and I can respect that Roy is on your list, but IMO guys who can put up 25+ goals and 70+ points shouldn't be so easily dismissed(especially when there is little to no center depth on the team and in the organization)...unless there is something going on behind the scenes that causes LR & DR to want him off the team.

I'm not saying they should dump him -- just that his numbers (which are admittedly consistently good) don't, IMHO, translate into him being the best or even a critical player on this team. As with Pommer, I can't forgive the disappearing act in the playoffs last year -- although, as with Stafford, I'm open to the possibility of him maturing and turning into a better leader and crunch-time performer.

 

I would trade him in a package for a true #1 center or a true #1 defenseman in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't just unload him for the sake of getting rid of him.

[carpandean]

Is it true that since feb 22 no one in the nhl has gotten more points than us? And does anyone have those numbers off the top of their head?

I don't track it by date, but rather by games played. I can, however, say that no team in the East has more points in their last 55 games than the Sabres. They had 21 points through 25GP (42% of points) and have gotten 71 points in the 55 since (64.5% of points.)

[Derrico]

I'm not saying they should dump him -- just that his numbers (which are admittedly consistently good) don't, IMHO, translate into him being the best or even a critical player on this team. As with Pommer, I can't forgive the disappearing act in the playoffs last year -- although, as with Stafford, I'm open to the possibility of him maturing and turning into a better leader and crunch-time performer.

 

I would trade him in a package for a true #1 center or a true #1 defenseman in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't just unload him for the sake of getting rid of him.

 

Like him or not, his production and ice time prove that he is a very critical player on this team. Like I said, if you've got beef with him than it's a negative that he's a critical player but he is none-the-less.

[LGR4GM]

I'm not saying they should dump him -- just that his numbers (which are admittedly consistently good) don't, IMHO, translate into him being the best or even a critical player on this team. As with Pommer, I can't forgive the disappearing act in the playoffs last year -- although, as with Stafford, I'm open to the possibility of him maturing and turning into a better leader and crunch-time performer.I would trade him in a package for a true #1 center or a true #1 defenseman in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't just unload him for the sake of getting rid of him.

I was thinking about this in particular. Depending slightly on what teams do this offseason (prior to july1) there may be a couple true top def out there as UFA. I think in regards to roy its completely unfair for us to say we need to dump him, the guy had 35pts in 35gp. Pommers is a 60-70pt guy and I am willing to give him a playoffs bye because lets face it no one showed up last year. Stafford I would trade but not for a def. I would trade him for a center and thats it. His stock is really high and it will be interesting to see if they move a rw this summer. (note they dont need to move anyone)

 

I don't track it by date, but rather by games played. I can, however, say that no team in the East has more points in their last 55 games than the Sabres. They had 21 points through 25GP (42% of points) and have gotten 71 points in the 55 since (64.5% of points.)

Ok, thanks. I read somewhere they went 27-11-6 since roy went down and wondered how far back you could go before a team had better record from that point to now. Thats really impressive considering our defense is on average what? 24 yrs old?

[nucci]

I was thinking about this in particular. Depending slightly on what teams do this offseason (prior to july1) there may be a couple true top def out there as UFA. I think in regards to roy its completely unfair for us to say we need to dump him, the guy had 35pts in 35gp. Pommers is a 60-70pt guy and I am willing to give him a playoffs bye because lets face it no one showed up last year. Stafford I would trade but not for a def. I would trade him for a center and thats it. His stock is really high and it will be interesting to see if they move a rw this summer. (note they dont need to move anyone)

 

 

Ok, thanks. I read somewhere they went 27-11-6 since roy went down and wondered how far back you could go before a team had better record from that point to now. Thats really impressive considering our defense is on average what? 24 yrs old?

To take it one step further, since the 3-9-2 start they are 38-20-8.