mellaman101 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Great turn around this team is having! And yes, I am a fan who cries with the poor playing this season but who dont when this season had so much excitement attached! But isnt it great that the Sabres are now only 2 points out of a playoff spot! Go Sabres and I hope it keeps up!
NowDoYouBelieve Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 The Sabres were 19-29 at the All Star break. Nobody should feel guilty about jeering back then.
Buffalo Wings Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Shhhh....don't wake up the "fans" who want them to lose in order to get rid of Lindy & Darcy.
NowDoYouBelieve Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Shhhh....don't wake up the "fans" who want them to lose in order to get rid of Lindy & Darcy. Isn't it funny how during times of success, you barely hear those two names?
North Buffalo Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 I wouldn't mind them losing to insure Roy and Stapphyl get replaced. The Sabres top line is in bad need of a number 1 center. That being said, I am also glad to see the Hogdson trade is working well and Miller and the D are playing better. I just hope the Sabres stay healthy and keep it going. Without a number 1 center I don't think they will go very far even if they do make the playoffs, but the latest run is nice.
Sabres Fan in NS Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Shhhh....don't wake up the "fans" who want them to lose in order to get rid of Lindy & Darcy. I think my alarm clock just went off again! ... :P . And, pardon me, but who is that in your avatar photo? I am preparing to be embarrassed ... :blush: .
TheChimp Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Awesome, another thread turned into one bent on complaining about other posters. How novel.
carpandean Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 I'm back into hoping that they'll win. However, it's not because I believe that they are better off fighting for eighth than they would have been dropping off a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, any chance of a change up top is gone now. They'll win enough to say "see, it was the injuries," and Darcy did pretty well at the deadline, so there's no way Terry drops him and/or Lindy. Plus, we aren't getting down in the top 3 for picks. It will be interesting to see what Darcy does with those four picks this summer and how he addresses toughness in FA, where it is easier than skill to address (his words not mine.) My long-run plans were shot, so in the short run, it's back to simply wanting the Sabres to win because I'm a fan. Last night was the first game since early in the season that I was holding my breath at the end.
TheChimp Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Look, we all need to simple preface everything we say here with, "My opinion right at this moment is...". But that will only hold up if EVERYBODY does it. A-la, forget it. The positive pollies will never go for that. (IMO) :ph34r:
LGR4GM Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Great turn around this team is having! And yes, I am a fan who cries with the poor playing this season but who dont when this season had so much excitement attached! But isnt it great that the Sabres are now only 2 points out of a playoff spot! Go Sabres and I hope it keeps up! Honestly if they had not traded for a top center prospect I would still being say no to this. I would still be in the "tank for a higher pick" boat. However their better play of late (largely due to Ryan Miller) has been refreshing and I hope it continues.
Weave Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 I'm back into hoping that they'll win. However, it's not because I believe that they are better off fighting for eighth than they would have been dropping off a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, any chance of a change up top is gone now. They'll win enough to say "see, it was the injuries," and Darcy did pretty well at the deadline, so there's no way Terry drops him and/or Lindy. Plus, we aren't getting down in the top 3 for picks. It will be interesting to see what Darcy does with those four picks this summer and how he addresses toughness in FA, where it is easier than skill to address (his words not mine.) My long-run plans were shot, so in the short run, it's back to simply wanting the Sabres to win because I'm a fan. Last night was the first game since early in the season that I was holding my breath at the end. This is about where I am at.
waldo Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 IMO...this team will never win it all with Ruff... BUT .... it has been fun watching them try over the past twelve or so years .. There is some irony in the fact that the closest he has come to winning it all was with a team, the vast majority of which, he inherited. (1999). Just another in a long line of GMs and coaches that could not deliver here.Give Lindy the French Connection Line of the 70s for mondays game and he would be playing Perreault on the fouth line, Martin on the second and Robert would be benched. We have much in common with the fans of other sports franchises that have never won it all. Knowing this does not change the fact that i look forward to watching Sabres games. Lets go Sabres.
PromoTheRobot Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Shhhh....don't wake up the "fans" who want them to lose in order to get rid of Lindy & Darcy. Like Bucky Gleason, who boldly wrote Pegula should fire Darcy Regier for gross incompetence...just a day before Regier robbed Nashville blind for a rent-a-player and got the center we needed from Vancouver. Meanwhile Brian Burke, who Bucky loves to quote as a knowledgeable source, fired his coach in an act of desperation while he did jack squat at the deadline and his Leafs are circling the drain. I think Bucky decided now is a good time for a vacation. PTR
Sabel79 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Meanwhile Brian Burke, who Bucky loves to quote as a knowledgeable source, fired his coach in an act of desperation while he did jack squat at the deadline and his Leafs are circling the drain. I think Bucky decided now is a good time for a vacation. PTR Not to mention that Burke cited the fans as a large reason for the firing. There are many shining examples of actual blinkered incompetence around the league (Hello Scott Howson!). While not agreeing with everything he's done, I find it hard to argue that DR and the Sabres orginization as a whole are not head and shoulders above a large percentage of the teams in this league in terms of the way the club is run. Of course, thre are equally obvious examples of clubs run better...but I think this team is not a million miles away from actually honestly contending, which, if you'll recall, it was already doing a few years ago before prior ownership submarined the project on 7/1/07 (in my opinion anyway).
waldo Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Honestly if they had not traded for a top center prospect I would still being say no to this. I would still be in the "tank for a higher pick" boat. However their better play of late (largely due to Ryan Miller) has been refreshing and I hope it continues. Largely due to 1. RYAN MILLER BEING HOT, 2. RYAN MILLER BEING HOT, 3.,RYAN MILLER BEING HOT, some sporadic secondary scoring, and a TON OF LUCK, of which they had none of in the first 2/3 rds of the season. i.e What are the odds of Luongo melting in the first five minutes of that game?
PromoTheRobot Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Not to mention that Burke cited the fans as a large reason for the firing. There are many shining examples of actual blinkered incompetence around the league (Hello Scott Howson!). While not agreeing with everything he's done, I find it hard to argue that DR and the Sabres orginization as a whole are not head and shoulders above a large percentage of the teams in this league in terms of the way the club is run. Of course, thre are equally obvious examples of clubs run better...but I think this team is not a million miles away from actually honestly contending, which, if you'll recall, it was already doing a few years ago before prior ownership submarined the project on 7/1/07 (in my opinion anyway). Agreed. PTR
Robviously Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Like Bucky Gleason, who boldly wrote Pegula should fire Darcy Regier for gross incompetence...just a day before Regier robbed Nashville blind for a rent-a-player and got the center we needed from Vancouver. Regier benefitted big time from the best deadline seller's market in recent memory. Don't forget that Tampa Bay set the prices pretty high the week before and also robbed some teams of high draft picks. We also have to wait and see if Hodgson really becomes the "center we needed." I'm hopeful, but if Kassian turns out to be the better player, we could look back and say this was a terrible trade deadline for Regier. All I want as a fan is to feel like this team has a plan for winning a championship. I got some of that from trading Kassian for Hodgson, while counting on Foligno and McNabb (i.e. moving players to address needs with an eye on the future). But Regier is still the guy who invested a ton of money on Stafford and Ville Leino less than 12 months ago, moves that were shortsighted at best and counterproductive at worst. I'm happy the team is suddenly playing really well, but I'm not thrilled that they're closing in on the no.8 seed. Securing the 8th spot in the playoffs doesn't do much for me. No.8 seeds don't win the Stanley Cup. When I think about the Sabres, I still mainly think about what they could do this summer to build themselves into contenders in the future.
NowDoYouBelieve Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Regier benefitted big time from the best deadline seller's market in recent memory. Don't forget that Tampa Bay set the prices pretty high the week before and also robbed some teams of high draft picks. We also have to wait and see if Hodgson really becomes the "center we needed." I'm hopeful, but if Kassian turns out to be the better player, we could look back and say this was a terrible trade deadline for Regier. All I want as a fan is to feel like this team has a plan for winning a championship. I got some of that from trading Kassian for Hodgson, while counting on Foligno and McNabb (i.e. moving players to address needs with an eye on the future). But Regier is still the guy who invested a ton of money on Stafford and Ville Leino less than 12 months ago, moves that were shortsighted at best and counterproductive at worst. I'm happy the team is suddenly playing really well, but I'm not thrilled that they're closing in on the no.8 seed. Securing the 8th spot in the playoffs doesn't do much for me. No.8 seeds don't win the Stanley Cup. When I think about the Sabres, I still mainly think about what they could do this summer to build themselves into contenders in the future. It hasn't happened, but there's a first time for everything. The 8th seed Oilers would've had a great shot against Carolina in the '06 Finals had Roloson been healthy.
TrueBlueGED Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Regier benefitted big time from the best deadline seller's market in recent memory. Don't forget that Tampa Bay set the prices pretty high the week before and also robbed some teams of high draft picks. We also have to wait and see if Hodgson really becomes the "center we needed." I'm hopeful, but if Kassian turns out to be the better player, we could look back and say this was a terrible trade deadline for Regier. All I want as a fan is to feel like this team has a plan for winning a championship. I got some of that from trading Kassian for Hodgson, while counting on Foligno and McNabb (i.e. moving players to address needs with an eye on the future). But Regier is still the guy who invested a ton of money on Stafford and Ville Leino less than 12 months ago, moves that were shortsighted at best and counterproductive at worst. I'm happy the team is suddenly playing really well, but I'm not thrilled that they're closing in on the no.8 seed. Securing the 8th spot in the playoffs doesn't do much for me. No.8 seeds don't win the Stanley Cup. When I think about the Sabres, I still mainly think about what they could do this summer to build themselves into contenders in the future. I'm not going to disagree with that. But one thing I'll ask is: how many teams go from missing the playoffs to being a legitimate contender in 1 season? There is something to be said for winning, what it does for morale, team confidence, and the team's attractiveness to free agents. Even if we lost in 6 or 7, that's still more appealing to a prospective UFA than finishing 26th in the league.
PromoTheRobot Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Regier benefitted big time from the best deadline seller's market in recent memory. Don't forget that Tampa Bay set the prices pretty high the week before and also robbed some teams of high draft picks. Sometimes it takes skill to recognize when the market is in your favor. When everyone around you is in panic mode it takes a cool customer to hold out to the bitter end to get your price. PTR
Robviously Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Sometimes it takes skill to recognize when the market is in your favor. When everyone around you is in panic mode it takes a cool customer to hold out to the bitter end to get your price. PTR I think just about everyone on this message board had that skill though. Did anyone NOT think the market was in the Sabres' favor leading up to the deadline? I'm not criticizing Darcy here. He did the right thing. I'm just not blown away that he made one of the more obvious trades in recent memory. A 1st round pick for Gaustad is impressive but the writing was on the wall for that when TB was robbing people the week before. By deadline day, a 1st for Gaustad didn't seem as outlandish anymore. It hasn't happened, but there's a first time for everything. The 8th seed Oilers would've had a great shot against Carolina in the '06 Finals had Roloson been healthy. True, but I don't want to pin my hopes for the Cup on the team doing something that has never been done before in the history of hockey. The lowest seed to ever win the Cup was a 5th seed (1995 Devils). I don't want the Sabres fighting for the 8th seed to be their annual thing. I'm not going to disagree with that. But one thing I'll ask is: how many teams go from missing the playoffs to being a legitimate contender in 1 season? There is something to be said for winning, what it does for morale, team confidence, and the team's attractiveness to free agents. Even if we lost in 6 or 7, that's still more appealing to a prospective UFA than finishing 26th in the league. I don't think the difference in finishing 8th is that much different than finishing 9th, to be honest. Talent and team chemistry are going to win the day more than momentum between seasons. I'm not even sure momentum lasts from one season to the next. The Sabres were the hottest team in the NHL the second half of last season and that hasn't helped at all this year.
Weave Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 True, but I don't want to pin my hopes for the Cup on the team doing something that has never been done before in the history of hockey. The lowest seed to ever win the Cup was a 5th seed (1995 Devils). I don't want the Sabres fighting for the 8th seed to be their annual thing. Yeah, you pretty much need to be a division winner to have a reasonable expectation of hoisting the cup. 2010-11 Boston 3 seed 2009-10 Chicago 2 seed 2008-09 Pittsburgh 4 seed 2007-08 Detroit 1 seed 2006-07 Anaheim 2 seed 2005-06 Carolina 2 seed 2003-04 Tampa Bay 2 seed 2002-03 New Jersey 2 seed 2001-02 Detroit 1 seed 2000-01 Colorado 1 seed 1999-2000 New Jersey 4 seed 1998-99 Dallas 1 seed 1997-98 Detroit 3 seed 1996-97 Detroit 3 seed 1995-96 Colorado 2 seed 1994-95 New Jersey 5 seed 1993-94 Rangers 1 seed 1992-93 Montreal 3 seed 1991-92 Pittsburgh 3 seed 1990-91 Pittsburgh 1 seed
TrueBlueGED Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 I don't think the difference in finishing 8th is that much different than finishing 9th, to be honest. Talent and team chemistry are going to win the day more than momentum between seasons. I'm not even sure momentum lasts from one season to the next. The Sabres were the hottest team in the NHL the second half of last season and that hasn't helped at all this year. Not much difference between 8th and 9th...but if you're going to get close, why not get in? Get some more experience, and hey, maybe lightning strikes and you win a round. I can at least see an argument for tanking, but if the team is going to finish 9th or 10th, I couldn't possibly care less about draft positioning--at that point, make the damn playoffs.
TheChimp Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Like Bucky Gleason, who boldly wrote Pegula should fire Darcy Regier for gross incompetence...just a day before Regier robbed Nashville blind for a rent-a-player and got the center we needed from Vancouver. Meanwhile Brian Burke, who Bucky loves to quote as a knowledgeable source, fired his coach in an act of desperation while he did jack squat at the deadline and his Leafs are circling the drain. I think Bucky decided now is a good time for a vacation. PTR Why? Because Miller's gone on a tear and saved us from losing 3-2 and 2-1 in Anaheim and San Jose? Hodgson has zero goals and zero assists and Kassian's doing better, so technically, Bucky doesn't have to hide from his statements based on that trade. And Gaustad would still be here, Darcy having done nothing whatsoever except demand a 1st rounder, had Nashville decided not to act in a bold move to win the Cup this year. And if all this does turn out that Darcy made the smart move and Hodgson doesn't flounder eventually under Lindy like so many before him, do you really think that Bucky won't happily eat crow as he gets to pose with the team, holding the Cup?
Robviously Posted March 4, 2012 Report Posted March 4, 2012 Not much difference between 8th and 9th...but if you're going to get close, why not get in? Get some more experience, and hey, maybe lightning strikes and you win a round. I can at least see an argument for tanking, but if the team is going to finish 9th or 10th, I couldn't possibly care less about draft positioning--at that point, make the damn playoffs. Winning the division in 2009-2010 didn't help us last year. We had the worst record in hockey by Christmas 2010. Then finishing last year's regular season as the hottest team in the NHL didn't help us this year. We've sucked most of this season and are fighting just to sneak into the playoffs. I'm sort of indifferent on experience. And at some point losing in the first round every year probably hurts your team since the players are going to be more stressed out in that first round the next time they make it (i.e. if you're famous for first-round exits, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy). All that said, I'd rather finish 8th than 9th. I've been saying for a while now that a 9th place finish is the absolute worst case scenario for this team.
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