GAME DISCUSSION THREAD GDT: Columbus at Buffalo 10-10-13 at 7:00 PM

[dudacek]

And I thought Kaleta wasn't being Kaleta enough...

 

Without even seeing the hit, he's going to be gone awhile. Past record.

[LGR4GM]

...um okay? we really are a cursed snakebit team from hell

 

 

 

In other news I thought that Tyler Myers and Mike Weber played like crap last night. Risto was a bright spot. The rest of the team sucked badly. The thing I have noticed the most when it comes to us versus every single other NHL team I have watched this season... We NEVER EVER carry the puck ANYWHERE. We get it, pass it, get it pass it, get it pass it. The only time we do carry is on pp when we carry it slowly up to the blue line right into a defender. It is unbelievable how little confidence or talent I guess exists when it comes to puck handling.

[Claude_Verret]

Why couldn't we get this type of play last year in March and April when we needed it most? One of the top 4 or 5 should have been ours dammit.

[bcsaberks]

...um okay? we really are a cursed snakebit team from hell

 

 

 

In other news I thought that Tyler Myers and Mike Weber played like crap last night. Risto was a bright spot. The rest of the team sucked badly. The thing I have noticed the most when it comes to us versus every single other NHL team I have watched this season... We NEVER EVER carry the puck ANYWHERE. We get it, pass it, get it pass it, get it pass it. The only time we do carry is on pp when we carry it slowly up to the blue line right into a defender. It is unbelievable how little confidence or talent I guess exists when it comes to puck handling.

 

That's where I am. Myers remains the big problem, just like last year. Weber was a huge liability last night too. We celebrated the 7 minute penalty.

 

Ott - bury a freakin' chance already, he's missed a ton.

 

Kaleta - nice job with the attempted flying elbow to head. WTF. Stupid.

 

Rolston - benched Ott and Myers for their first shifts in the 3rd I think, if so, good job.

 

It's not the rookies, 3, 55 and 28 look good.

[Sabre Dance]

Sabres have nine players with less than 100 games experience, four guys under 20, and five guys with less than 25 game experience. They probably have a larger group of teenagers than most teams have seen in years. I love how this group has all these guys figured out after five games, with that kind of talent how can y'all not have full time NHL jobs? That's simply incredible talent. Most NHL'ers don't find their way until early to mid 20's. Most of this team isn't even close to that yet. Aside from Myers, I really haven't seen what Darcy has done to make this team worse. He's been rebuilding for close to two years now. I don't know what the hell else you guys expected from this group at this point.

 

We all knew going into the season that this was an inexperienced team. I expected rookie mistakes. I expected the younger players to have a rough night here and there. I didn't expect this lack of effort, nearly team wide. My expectations for the team this year were miniscule; this team isn't even that good.

 

Yes I did expect something along the lines of this. This is an entirely different ineup with a bunch of guys that have barely played together with a coach that just had his first training camp with a new team. My god, I know Americans have forgotten what patience is all about (desire for instant gratification brings about even more failure) but this is ridiculous. Based on percentages, I don't think I have ever seen such a large group of malcontents. I hate to see how people deal with reality when they take a damn sports team so personally. And no, Darcy didn't come out and tell people to suffer. As usual it was a comment taken completely out of context, but it sure sounds catchy. When you've got an arena full of fans booing a bunch of kids off the ice, when you've got Hamilton basically asking each player 'Why do you suck so much and has anybody noticed I'm trying to emulate Harrington?' and every other caller/forum poster trying to run this team out of town.................. I'd probably just go through the motions and collect my check too. Why should I sacrifice my health for a bunch of ingrates?

 

Instant gratification? Where were you in 1970 when this team was founded? I was here, watching them, being thrilled that Buffalo had a team in the N.H.L.! Patience? I have been following the team with high hopes for 43 seasons now. Please don't lecture me on being patient.

 

Oh, and why should the players put forth any great effort if all of the fans and media are against them? They are supposed to be professionals and are being highly paid to be professionals. All they need to do to get the fans or the media back on their side is to start playing like they mean it. I can give the team a pass this season if they lose 80% of their games, but not if they keep going out and giving a 80% effort.

[LGR4GM]

Amateurs practice until they can get it right. Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

[Two or less]

I'm not sure what for either.

 

@kevinoDandC

The NHL says #Sabres RW Patrick Kaleta faces hearing for 1st-period hit on Columbus D Jack Johnson (contact to head). No penalty was called.

 

http://www.nhl.com/i...id=nhl:topheads

Here's the hit (26 second mark)

 

[bcsaberks]

We all knew going into the season that this was an inexperienced team. I expected rookie mistakes. I expected the younger players to have a rough night here and there. I didn't expect this lack of effort, nearly team wide. My expectations for the team this year were miniscule; this team isn't even that good.

 

 

 

Instant gratification? Where were you in 1970 when this team was founded? I was here, watching them, being thrilled that Buffalo had a team in the N.H.L.! Patience? I have been following the team with high hopes for 43 seasons now. Please don't lecture me on being patient.

 

Oh, and why should the players put forth any great effort if all of the fans and media are against them? They are supposed to be professionals and are being highly paid to be professionals. All they need to do to get the fans or the media back on their side is to start playing like they mean it. I can give the team a pass this season if they lose 80% of their games, but not if they keep going out and giving a 80% effort.

 

 

I'm not seeing lack of effort. I see Myers chasing it. I see Stafford over-thinking (anyone else see that play where instead of challenging the puck carrier within sticks reach, he skated by him to setup to play the trap in the neutral zone? WTF!). The game was balanced until the 2nd goal CBJ goal when Myers got beat again. Then he got caught bad with on a stupid pinch and now it's 3-1. CBJ dumps it the rest of the night. The story-line of "they didn't have possession" etc does not apply to last night (or the Ott or TB games). They are trying. If Myers gets fixed, and Stafford or Ennis or even Ott contribute with GOALS, they have a couple wins by now.

[bunomatic]

If Kaleta gets called onto the carpet Alex Edler needs at least a phone call for his headshot on Hertle last night.

[Kristian]

Some are criticizing him for his last goal of the 4 goal game against the Rangers... Yet I don't see a lot of teams especially the Sabres decking the guy who goes to the net. Especially the Sabres even when Columbus was running right at Miller. Rolston is taking the nastiness right out of the Defense. I don't like it. He is much worse than Ruff.

 

Well, at least you can count on him not being around for 16 seasons - If things don't turn around dramatically, I give him till Christmas.

 

I doubt Darcy's feeling any particular attachment, and if his job comes under pressure, rest assured Rolston will be history in a heartbeat.

 

Stop crying... You all wanted a rebuild. Live with it for the next eight or so years...lol The irony of it is most of you think a couple of top picks will fix it fast.. lol...amazing...

 

Yes, but most of all, I wanted Regier gone, so I see plenty of reason for crying :flirt:

[bunomatic]

Thats right. The rebuild goes on regardless. It would be super duper swell if DR was shown the door and someone capable of building a winner took over. Thats what I asked for Christmas last year and if I'm really really good I just might get it this year.

[Eleven]

Stop crying... You all wanted a rebuild. Live with your dream for the next eight or so years...lol The irony of it is most of you think a couple of top picks will fix it fast. . lol...amazing...

 

Lets see what happens after a couple of years with 20 wins in the stands, Then it will be panic mode. We will see how many ground up rebuild drums are beating then.

 

Hold up there. Some of us did NOT want the "long" rebuild.

[nfreeman]

0 and 5? So the season's effectively over on October 10? Are you kidding me?

 

This team has gotten worse every year for 3 years in a row despite having the backing of the deepest pockets in the NHL. The stench of losing has pervaded the team. Decent players get long-term contracts and don't improve (and often get worse). There is no urgency and no accountability -- everyone is happy to show up, punch the clock and take home a fat paycheck.

 

They can't score and they don't hit. They are about to lose their 2 best players.

 

They are pretty close to unwatchable.

 

I can't freaking believe DR hasn't been canned yet.

[waldo]

0 and 5? So the season's effectively over on October 10? Are you kidding me?

 

This team has gotten worse every year for 3 years in a row despite having the backing of the deepest pockets in the NHL. The stench of losing has pervaded the team. Decent players get long-term contracts and don't improve (and often get worse). There is no urgency and no accountability -- everyone is happy to show up, punch the clock and take home a fat paycheck.

 

They can't score and they don't hit. They are about to lose their 2 best players.

 

They are pretty close to unwatchable.

 

I can't freaking believe DR hasn't been canned yet.

 

they will get better have faith..lol re-read all those positive posts supporting a complete "blow up" the need for a "ground up rebuild" the merits of "finishing last".to build " the need to get rid of the old core and build "a new core".The posts about ground up in "three years" "five years" lol.... etc.. you will feel better. Wait for the trade deadline...that is the next quantum leap forward for this team... lol

 

things will get better..the sun will come up tommorow.. r.. (actually they will get better because they can not be worse) the problem will be the revenue stream hits down the road ... then it gets real interesting

[nfreeman]

they will get better have faith..lol reread all those positive posts supporting a complete "blow up" the need for a "ground up rebuild" the merits of "finishing last".to build "a new core"..... etc.. you will feel better.

 

things will get better..the sun will come up tommrow.. the team will get better.. r

 

Can't tell whether you're being sarcastic.

 

If you're not -- well, I've been pretty optimistic for a while now but this is the worst I've seen the Sabres look since the year Dominik left. And yes, the team did eventually rise from those ashes (like a phoenix rising from Arizona!), but it took 4 long years. I don't want to wait that long. We as fans shouldn't have to.

[TrueBlueGED]

Why couldn't we get this type of play last year in March and April when we needed it most? One of the top 4 or 5 should have been ours dammit.

 

I thought last year was the year, I really did. :cry:

[LTS]

:cry:

@BrianWGR

Patrick Roy is 4-0-0 to start his career in Colorado. Yeah, not interviewing him was the correct decision. #Sabres

 

Patrick Roy has Landeskog, MacKinnon, Stastny, O'Reilly, Duchesne, Parenteau and more.. the Sabres don't have that.

 

Coaching has nothing to do with this team's state. It's a roster made up of:

 

Pluggers: Kaleta, McCormick, Scott, Tropp, Ott

AHLers: Flynn, Porter,

Floaters: Stafford, Hodgson, Grigorenko

Rookies: Girgensons, Larsson, Armia, Risto,

Guys who are lost: Ennis, Myers, Weber

Good players: Pysyk, Vanek, Foligno

 

Haven't figured out mcbain yet

 

The coach something to do with it. I'm not dismissing that the talent level is either not there or not matured. However, hockey players know how to make passes. They know how to play as a team and they are not. Rolston, whatever the hell it is he is preaching, is failing. His system is extremely similar to Ruff's and it seems like a lot of passes are going to covered wingers. There is no movement to open up the ice. Regardless of talent level they can all skate well enough to play in an NHL game.

 

Talent level comes in somewhere else but what I am seeing seems to indicate a team that still isn't together. If it's a locker room thing then it needs to be straightened out. The entire team looks like they are auditioning to be elsewhere including the rookies.

[26CornerBlitz]

Patrick Roy has Landeskog, MacKinnon, Stastny, O'Reilly, Duchesne, Parenteau and more.. the Sabres don't have that.

 

Sacco had most of those guys too. <_<

[darksabre]

Watching the replay this morning. I don't think they looked too awful in the first period. A couple of missed opportunities. Ristolainen with a good defensive play to prevent a goal. The first Columbus goal was a good shot through traffic. Not sure why Kaleta is getting a hearing for that hit. Columbus doing a good job late of holding onto the puck in our end. Every shot Stafford takes might as well be off the stick of Adam Mair. No creativity, no extra effort. Nothing dangerous about him. Hodgson with a couple nice plays. Goal number two was all Hodgson. If he goes to the boards and actually hits the Columbus player, the pass never gets made. Very Pomminstein-esque.

 

I don't know what the heck Weber was doing on the third goal. He needed to be more to his left.

[waldo]

Sacco had most of those guys too. <_<

 

last seven years..two playoff appearences out in the 1 round? this year ..i doubt they go by the 1st round.. not sure they can handle the physical end of the game in the playoffs yet ..think it would be fair to say their rebuild has been seven years in the making (could say ten). and it may or may not mature this year...no? what i am sure of is it was not ground up..fyi they have 2 cups in the last 17 seasons

 

Can't tell whether you're being sarcastic.

 

If you're not -- well, I've been pretty optimistic for a while now but this is the worst I've seen the Sabres look since the year Dominik left. And yes, the team did eventually rise from those ashes (like a phoenix rising from Arizona!), but it took 4 long years. I don't want to wait that long. We as fans shouldn't have to.

 

sarcastic

[Iron Crotch]

Idk if its been mentioned, but brad Boyes has 2 goals already.... That's a sad affair when he has as many as Vanek and more than everyone else on the team.

 

Gerbe has 3 goals. The entire Sabres team has 5. :(

[TrueBlueGED]

Hold up there. Some of us did NOT want the "long" rebuild.

 

In fairness, didn't you also think the team was only a few players away from being good? Unless those few players are in the Crosby/Kopitar/Bergeron/etc. class, we need way more than a couple of guys (and that's true even if Pommer were still here).

[Eleven]

In fairness, didn't you also think the team was only a few players away from being good? Unless those few players are in the Crosby/Kopitar/Bergeron/etc. class, we need way more than a couple of guys (and that's true even if Pommer were still here).

 

There was a point where they could have made some Montreal-like moves and been competitive in one year rather than three.

[BuffaloBorn]

I wish sabs drafted Tomas Hertl

[Taro T]

Coaching has nothing to do with this team's state. It's a roster made up of:

 

Pluggers: Kaleta, McCormick, Scott, Tropp, Ott

AHLers: Flynn, Porter,

Floaters: Stafford, Hodgson, Grigorenko

Rookies: Girgensons, Larsson, Armia, Risto,

Guys who are lost: Ennis, Myers, Weber

Good players: Pysyk, Vanek, Foligno

 

Haven't figured out mcbain yet

RR kept the same 2 guys that looked lost on the OT goal together for 4 last night before separating them. The pairing should have been split when it was 2-1. That pairing is on the coach.