All the Garbage About Injuries

[Stormin Norman]

Anyone else see the connection between the Sabres and Bills? Both lack the kind of physical presence necessary over the long haul, so injuries begin to take their toll. Instead of dishing out the punishment, we're on the receiving end with players on both Buffalo teams dropping like flies.

 

It's been this way for years, it seems. Yes, every team goes through injuries. But is it a coincidence that the Buffalo squads are both licking wounds that their lack of talent and depth can't overcome?

 

Then, they become reasons for falling short. See the pattern?

[Dave Dryden]

Anyone else see the connection between the Sabres and Bills? Both lack the kind of physical presence necessary over the long haul, so injuries begin to take their toll. Instead of dishing out the punishment, we're on the receiving end with players on both Buffalo teams dropping like flies.

 

It's been this way for years, it seems. Yes, every team goes through injuries. But is it a coincidence that the Buffalo squads are both licking wounds that their lack of talent and depth can't overcome?

 

Then, they become reasons for falling short. See the pattern?

Sorry, but this is what makes being a Buffalo fan in part so difficult--fans like you. We love to blame people for every problem, it somehow makes us feel better--why I don't know. I know is sucks to be us, but come on.

 

The Bills, there is perhaps a bit of truth to what you say--although I'd need you to give me some empirical evidence. Nix/Gailey said in the Summer we were too small, they needed to get bigger. They are trying to do that. But Rome is not built in a day. And even though you want to blame size exclusively, there is much luck in getting injuries, or not getting them. Broken bones(Jackson) rolled on knees during an interception return(Woods) turned ankles (Jones) are not due to physicality, it is bad luck. Show me the injuries due to weeniness.

 

As to the Sabres, explain how the injuries are due to what you say. Give me an example. Myers broken wrist? Miller getting hit by Lucic? Boyes getting his ankle/knee rolled on? How is that based on lack of physical play?

 

Whatever... it's all somebody's fault. We just get what we deserve due to bad management. If we just fire the right people and get all Sumo wrestlers on both teams, we will eliminate most of our injuries. Until they get injured. Gotta go.

[nbash]

I don't think this is a negative post. Makes a valid point -- that Dolphin game was humiliating, but the worst part was how they beat the crap out of us and rendered us a MASH unit. The Sabres have played, with the exception of the Bruin rematch, super soft, and when you fail to be aggressive you tend to get injured.

[SwampD]

Sorry, but this is what makes being a Buffalo fan in part so difficult--fans like you. We love to blame people for every problem, it somehow makes us feel better--why I don't know. I know is sucks to be us, but come on.

 

The Bills, there is perhaps a bit of truth to what you say--although I'd need you to give me some empirical evidence. Nix/Gailey said in the Summer we were too small, they needed to get bigger. They are trying to do that. But Rome is not built in a day. And even though you want to blame size exclusively, there is much luck in getting injuries, or not getting them. Broken bones(Jackson) rolled on knees during an interception return(Woods) turned ankles (Jones) are not due to physicality, it is bad luck. Show me the injuries due to weeniness.

 

As to the Sabres, explain how the injuries are due to what you say. Give me an example. Myers broken wrist? Miller getting hit by Lucic? Boyes getting his ankle/knee rolled on? How is that based on lack of physical play?

 

Whatever... it's all somebody's fault. We just get what we deserve due to bad management. If we just fire the right people and get all Sumo wrestlers on both teams, we will eliminate most of our injuries. Until they get injured. Gotta go.

You make your own luck.

[Rox11]

Sorry, but this is what makes being a Buffalo fan in part so difficult--fans like you. We love to blame people for every problem, it somehow makes us feel better--why I don't know. I know is sucks to be us, but come on.

 

The Bills, there is perhaps a bit of truth to what you say--although I'd need you to give me some empirical evidence. Nix/Gailey said in the Summer we were too small, they needed to get bigger. They are trying to do that. But Rome is not built in a day. And even though you want to blame size exclusively, there is much luck in getting injuries, or not getting them. Broken bones(Jackson) rolled on knees during an interception return(Woods) turned ankles (Jones) are not due to physicality, it is bad luck. Show me the injuries due to weeniness.

 

As to the Sabres, explain how the injuries are due to what you say. Give me an example. Myers broken wrist? Miller getting hit by Lucic? Boyes getting his ankle/knee rolled on? How is that based on lack of physical play?

 

Whatever... it's all somebody's fault. We just get what we deserve due to bad management. If we just fire the right people and get all Sumo wrestlers on both teams, we will eliminate most of our injuries. Until they get injured. Gotta go.

Cracks me up ... when Myers went down, it was posted that Myers was too fragile, 'like glass'. Makes me think that that same poster would say the same about Weber, Regher, Boyes, ... the list goes on. I'm sure the poster would say that she thinks the Sabres are even softer than most thought.

[nostyle126]

I will only give my opinion on the Sabres, and leave the Bills out of this. I agree that our system sets our players up to be injured.

[kooshari]

You make your own luck.

 

BS.

 

Fans don't want to accept it, but luck plays a big role.

[Meathead]

its because ralph is cheap

[ko12010]

I think both teams are drafting to correct this issue. Big fast strong guys who like to be the ones to dish out the punishment and not take it. Based on watching Kassian and Tropp tonight I like what I see from a physical hitting standpoint. The NFL it has to take longer for this to take effect when you try to correct a regime that looked for smaller quicker players.

[wjag]

Nine regulars out of the lineup is impressive...

[Guest Who Else!]

On the Regehr injury. If Buffalo plays tough, maybe Columbus does not take runs and try to chase them out of the building.

How many times this year have you seen a line like the one for Columbus where everyone is hitting. They took out our best toughest defensemen.

How many D-men have the Sabres shaken or "roughed" out of a game. Wouldn't chasing someone like Phanuef in the next game make some of the next five againt Totonto easier?

[deluca67]

BS.

 

Fans don't want to accept it, but luck plays a big role.

Luck in sports is often confused with taking advantage of opportunities. The more talent you have and the harder you work directly effects the number of opportunities you find yourself with.

[Andrew Amerk]

Luck in sports is often confused with taking advantage of opportunities. The more talent you have and the harder you work directly effects the number of opportunities you find yourself with.

 

I mostly agree with this, except that you can work hard and not have as much talent, and still succeed.

 

I think working hard creates more opportunities than sheer talent alone does.

[Eleven]

Looks to me that depth wasn't a problem downtown last night, even with nine players out. That's over one-third of the team.

 

It will be a problem in New Jersey later today, because the Bills don't have depth at key positions. The Sabres do, but whether it's enough depth to cover such a staggering number of injuries over a long period of time, is in question. No team should have to plan for that many injuries at one time, though.

 

I can't imagine what "toughness" has to do with concussions and broken bones, as others have said.

[wjag]

Looks to me that depth wasn't a problem downtown last night, even with nine players out. That's over one-third of the team.

 

It will be a problem in New Jersey later today, because the Bills don't have depth at key positions. The Sabres do, but whether it's enough depth to cover such a staggering number of injuries over a long period of time, is in question. No team should have to plan for that many injuries at one time, though.

 

I can't imagine what "toughness" has to do with concussions and broken bones, as others have said.

 

I've been musing on the Bills and Sabres injuries for several years. I never thought of it as an issue of toughness, but rather conditioning. I'm in pure specualtion mode here, but I wonder if the strength and conditioning programs the Buffalo teams employ are on par with other programs?

[deluca67]

Looks to me that depth wasn't a problem downtown last night, even with nine players out. That's over one-third of the team.

 

It will be a problem in New Jersey later today, because the Bills don't have depth at key positions. The Sabres do, but whether it's enough depth to cover such a staggering number of injuries over a long period of time, is in question. No team should have to plan for that many injuries at one time, though.

 

I can't imagine what "toughness" has to do with concussions and broken bones, as others have said.

Of the nine players that were out last night how many were actually playing well?

[Stormin Norman]

Sorry, but this is what makes being a Buffalo fan in part so difficult--fans like you. We love to blame people for every problem, it somehow makes us feel better--why I don't know. I know is sucks to be us, but come on.

 

Reign it back in, Dave. And don't you ever presume to know what kind of fan I am.

 

The Bills and Sabres have fielded teams over many years that relied on speed and finesse. In general, we have been undersized for a long time, in my opinion, which is just as good as yours. Another poster mentioned last week's Miami game as an illustration, and it's a good one.

 

There are freak injuries, indeed. The Tyler Myers injury is an example. Pomminstein having a skate cut the back of his leg is another. But to think that the physical makeup of the team has not impacted its ability to get through a playoff grind is turning a blind eye. If we need to match another team in that aspect, I don't see us prevailing.

 

It's a childish comment on your part to suggest I am blaming anything or anyone. It was purely an observation.

 

Lastly, you sucked in net compared to your brother.

[Eleven]

I've been musing on the Bills and Sabres injuries for several years. I never thought of it as an issue of toughness, but rather conditioning. I'm in pure specualtion mode here, but I wonder if the strength and conditioning programs the Buffalo teams employ are on par with other programs?

 

I'm sure that the Sabres' program is on par with others, and I'd guess that the Bills' isn't. Maybe it's something in the water or the lack of vitamin D.

 

 

Of the nine players that were out last night how many were actually playing well?

 

I'd say six. All nine were playing at an NHL level, even if not up to their full potential. But that's not the point; the point is that a team shouldn't be expected to plan to cover that many injuries at one time. I can want Stafford gone as much as I want, but that doesn't mean that the team should be expected to have seven or eight NHL-ready right wings in the system. People can complain that Myers had a weak start, but same thing: how many NHL-ready defensemen can a team be expected to have in the system at one time?

[carpandean]

Luck in sports is often confused with taking advantage of opportunities. The more talent you have and the harder you work directly effects the number of opportunities you find yourself with.

Right, a game's outcome is a function of talent, effort, and luck. Luck is basically everything else that you can't account for. Examples include: microscopic variations in the ice surface, split-second decisions made by the refs, sticks breaking, density variations in the puck due to construction and temperature, etc, etc, ... Effort can make up for some talent deficiencies, just as talent can overcome some effort deficiencies. However, if the same two roster (lock in talent) play the same game with the same effort level 20 times, one team will almost surely not win 20-0. Luck will be enough of a factor that the team with the slight edge in total effect of talent/luck will still lose some games. However, increasing talent and/or effort will likely increase the proportion of games won by a given team.

 

I do agree that often poor play leading to a bad outcome is incorrectly blamed on bad luck. I would also argue that a talented team putting forth a strong effort can lose due to bad luck. After a loss, regardless of whether the team worked hard or not, you will see both sides of the argument. That is why one should look at long-run performance rather than a single game's score sheet.

[deluca67]

I'm sure that the Sabres' program is on par with others, and I'd guess that the Bills' isn't. Maybe it's something in the water or the lack of vitamin D.

 

 

 

 

I'd say six. All nine were playing at an NHL level, even if not up to their full potential. But that's not the point; the point is that a team shouldn't be expected to plan to cover that many injuries at one time. I can want Stafford gone as much as I want, but that doesn't mean that the team should be expected to have seven or eight NHL-ready right wings in the system. People can complain that Myers had a weak start, but same thing: how many NHL-ready defensemen can a team be expected to have in the system at one time?

What a team should or shouldn't be able to do has nothing to do with the Sabres and where they stand right now. Look at the nine players out right now.

 

Regehr - no doubt a big loss. By far the most consistent blueliner in play and physicality.

Myers - Has not been playing well up until the last couple of games. If it is to be assumed he was going to continue to improve he is a tough loss.

Miller - Miller was coming off of a benching and has been playing some of the worst hockey of his career. Not a huge loss. The drop-off to Enroth is not that great considering the level of Miller's play.

Stafford & Boyes - I will lump these to two together as complete no-shows on the season. Overpaid and under-producing players are never missed.

Ennis - 7 games played and zero points. If he had not been injured he would have been benched.

Weber - 3 games played and a -5. I like Weber and I love what he brings to the team in the toughness department. He needs to improve defensively and I think we have seen that there are players ready to take his spot in McNabb and Brennan.

Kaleta and McCormick - not to discount what they bring physically but they are what they are. They are fourth line punching bags. Looking at Kassian hitting and producing offensively shows you how expendable they are.

 

It is a long list. It's not like the list contains Vanek, Pominville and Adam. What the Sabres are missing are pretty replaceable forwards, two solid defensemen and a goalie with the potential to play better than Enroth despite not showing it recently.

 

This rash of injuries is probably the best thing that could have happened to the Sabres. It gives a chance for some of the kids to get their first taste of NHL action. It is a chance for the Sabres to showcase this young talent for future reference in possible trade discussions. It also sends a clear message to the so-called NHL roster of the Sabres that in many cases there is a player ready to take their spot.

 

Except for Regehr and Myers I am not interested in seeing any of the injured guys return.

[Eleven]

What a team should or shouldn't be able to do has nothing to do with the Sabres and where they stand right now.

 

 

Still not my point.

[beerme1]

I will only give my opinion on the Sabres, and leave the Bills out of this. I agree that our system sets our players up to be injured.

 

 

Hello and welcome to the board!

 

WTF is this? The system is causing injuries? WTF?

 

Again though, welcome to the board. Now WTF? splain jourself.

[Taro T]

...

 

This rash of injuries is probably the best thing that could have happened to the Sabres. It gives a chance for some of the kids to get their first taste of NHL action. It is a chance for the Sabres to showcase this young talent for future reference in possible trade discussions. It also sends a clear message to the so-called NHL roster of the Sabres that in many cases there is a player ready to take their spot.

 

Except for Regehr and Myers I am not interested in seeing any of the injured guys return.

The team was definitely going to go through a stretch or 2 with several guys out, but there's no way anyone could see 8 players going out in 8 games.

 

The timing of the injuries is about as good as you can hope for if you have to have a slew of them.

 

And in some ways, having so many guys out, if it is only for a couple of games that they've got 6+ AHLer's in the lineup, can force that sense of urgency and adrenalin rush that can get them through a couple of games. Unfortunately, adrenalin rushes can't be sustained for much beyond that. If guys start coming back quickly, that message that there are people ready to step up to fill your skates gets sent. If it lingers, that message goes away. (Unless these kids are a LOT more ready than they've appeared in Ra-cha-cha to date, which I doubt.)