GAME DISCUSSION THREAD GDT: Washington at Buffalo 12-29-13 at 5:00 PM EST

[TrueBlueGED]

Anybody want to criticize Miller tonight? :rolleyes:

 

He coughed up the lead. A real elite goaltender would have pitched the shutout, but as usual Mr. Softee choked away the regulation win!

 

How'd I do?

[FolignosJock]

He coughed up the lead. A real elite goaltender would have pitched the shutout, but as usual Mr. Softee choked away the regulation win!

 

How'd I do?

 

Perfect Buffalonian!

 

Plus whats the deal with being last off the ice! Get rid of this head case already! He has proven he cant take us to the Stanley Cup! You can tell by the way he holds his stick he just wants to be traded to the west coast to be closer to his B List celebrity wife!

 

How'd I do?

[TrueBlueGED]

Perfect Buffalonian!

 

Plus whats the deal with being last off the ice! Get rid of this head case already! He has proven he cant take us to the Stanley Cup! You can tell by the way he holds his stick he just wants to be traded to the west coast to be closer to his B List celebrity wife!

 

How'd I do?

 

:clapping:

[nfreeman]

The St. Louis Blues would have to be absolutely nuts not to trade at least their first rounder for Miller.

The question is who else would be in the bidding?

 

A team like Anaheim would have to make an offer just to keep him away from St. Louis, wouldn't they?

Would the Penguins be in the mix? The Avalanche? Why not Washington?

 

He's at another level right now.

 

Well, I'm pretty skeptical that STL or Anaheim would go after Miller. STL is #7 in the NHL in GA/Game, while Anaheim is #10. Both are pretty well positioned in goal. And perhaps most importantly, both are also low-budget, build-from-within teams that don't throw around high draft picks for rental players.

 

To me the obvious candidate continues to be Pittsburgh, although I think they don't have much in the way of picks or prospects in light of last year's rental bonanza. Washington also seems like a reasonable possibility, although they might think they aren't close enough to justify paying the price to rent Miller.

 

Separately: another highly entertaining win. My game notes:

 

- Miller kept them in it in the 1st and then I thought the play was pretty even in the 2nd and 3rd. But what a great game from Miller.

 

- Girgensons was a force again

 

- Myers wasn't as good as he has been lately.

 

- I thought Weber played a great game. Very tough and very few mistakes.

 

- Welcome signs of life from the Leino-Foligno-Omark line.

 

- Pretty soon the Sabres are going to start getting their opponents' starting goalies and A games. I thought the Caps brought it pretty well last night.

 

Go Sabres.

[Eleven]

Well, I'm pretty skeptical that STL or Anaheim would go after Miller. STL is #7 in the NHL in GA/Game, while Anaheim is #10. Both are pretty well positioned in goal. And perhaps most importantly, both are also low-budget, build-from-within teams that don't throw around high draft picks for rental players.

 

To me the obvious candidate continues to be Pittsburgh, although I think they don't have much in the way of picks or prospects in light of last year's rental bonanza. Washington also seems like a reasonable possibility, although they might think they aren't close enough to justify paying the price to rent Miller.

 

Separately: another highly entertaining win. My game notes:

 

- Miller kept them in it in the 1st and then I thought the play was pretty even in the 2nd and 3rd. But what a great game from Miller.

 

- Girgensons was a force again

 

- Myers wasn't as good as he has been lately.

 

- I thought Weber played a great game. Very tough and very few mistakes.

 

- Welcome signs of life from the Leino-Foligno-Omark line.

 

- Pretty soon the Sabres are going to start getting their opponents' starting goalies and A games. I thought the Caps brought it pretty well last night.

 

Go Sabres.

 

I have it on good authority that a half-dozen of them got completely plastered at Trattoria Aroma on Saturday night because "it's only the Sabres." That remark actually was made to the bartender.

[nfreeman]

I have it on good authority that a half-dozen of them got completely plastered at Trattoria Aroma on Saturday night because "it's only the Sabres." That remark actually was made to the bartender.

 

I believe it.

 

I also believe that Teddy got the bartender to spike their wine coolers with Mad Dog.

[Huckleberry]

With Dupuis out for the season, i see pittsburgh making a pitch for Ott and most likely moulson more than Miller.

 

However i can see Miller going to washington very easy though, if they want to make a run.

They'll probably package erat into the deal, because he wants out, we can give them Leino or stafford.

 

So what do we want from them for miller ?

 

Miller + stafford/Leino for a 1st + erat + Brooks Laich.

 

We'd be getting two players that need a change of scenery from the capitals but i'd take the gamble for some veteran presence we need next year.

[dudacek]

@ Eleven

 

That can't be lost in this recent run of decent results - there has been a lot of back-up goalies, mediocre teams and the Sabres are clearly an easy team to overlook on the schedule.

 

And even with all that, we are winning on shoot outs and stellar goaltending.

 

@freeman

 

I think the goaltending numbers with the blues are misleading.

They lack an elite sniper, but their forward ranks are deep, rugged, disciplined and balanced.

Their defence corps might be the best in the league.

Hitchcock runs one of the best defensive systems in the league.

Halak is average and their weak link.

[darksabre]

I don't think Miller is leaving. In fact, I think he's having fun being the hero and the number one most important guy on a team that is battling to win every game. I dare say he's enjoying the work load.

 

This isn't the frustrated Ryan of the last few years who hated his team and the "talented" guys for not supporting him and hated the media criticism that came with it. He knows he's the man now on a bad team that is working hard. There's nothing wrong with that from a starting goaltender's perspective.

[Huckleberry]

That is true, he is getting the full support now, not only from Nolan but also from his team.

And he'll become legandary if he stays with buffalo and finishes his career with us <---- even more than Hasek.

[Iron Crotch]

Quitely we're up to 18th in the league in goals against (2.82 per game). Much improved. Still dead last in goals for, of course.

[apuszczalowski]

Well, I'm pretty skeptical that STL or Anaheim would go after Miller. STL is #7 in the NHL in GA/Game, while Anaheim is #10. Both are pretty well positioned in goal. And perhaps most importantly, both are also low-budget, build-from-within teams that don't throw around high draft picks for rental players.

 

To me the obvious candidate continues to be Pittsburgh, although I think they don't have much in the way of picks or prospects in light of last year's rental bonanza. Washington also seems like a reasonable possibility, although they might think they aren't close enough to justify paying the price to rent Miller.

 

Separately: another highly entertaining win. My game notes:

 

- Miller kept them in it in the 1st and then I thought the play was pretty even in the 2nd and 3rd. But what a great game from Miller.

 

- Girgensons was a force again

 

- Myers wasn't as good as he has been lately.

 

- I thought Weber played a great game. Very tough and very few mistakes.

 

- Welcome signs of life from the Leino-Foligno-Omark line.

 

- Pretty soon the Sabres are going to start getting their opponents' starting goalies and A games. I thought the Caps brought it pretty well last night.

 

Go Sabres.

If Pittsburgh were to make the move, the return would more then likely include MA Fleury coming to the Sabres in return, theres no way they can afford to keep him as a backup to Miller and stay under the cap, and theres no need to keep both if they feel they need an upgrade over Fleury

 

Although Fleury is a downgrade from Miller for the Sabres, he is younger and good enough to keep them entertaining and have a chance at still winning some games while they continue to rebuild, or he can be flipped again later

[darksabre]

That is true, he is getting the full support now, not only from Nolan but also from his team.

And he'll become legandary if he stays with buffalo and finishes his career with us <---- even more than Hasek.

 

He's already surpassed Hasek in my opinion. I loved Hasek, but he was never a team guy. He wanted to win for himself. I think Miller is all team.

[Iron Crotch]

With Dupuis out for the season, i see pittsburgh making a pitch for Ott and most likely moulson more than Miller.

 

However i can see Miller going to washington very easy though, if they want to make a run.

They'll probably package erat into the deal, because he wants out, we can give them Leino or stafford.

 

So what do we want from them for miller ?

 

Miller + stafford/Leino for a 1st + erat + Brooks Laich.

 

We'd be getting two players that need a change of scenery from the capitals but i'd take the gamble for some veteran presence we need next year.

 

Why in the world would we want Marty Erat? He has asked out of two teams in two years, is older than any of our other forwards and is putting up Leino-like numbers (zero goals).

[apuszczalowski]

I don't think Miller is leaving. In fact, I think he's having fun being the hero and the number one most important guy on a team that is battling to win every game. I dare say he's enjoying the work load.

 

This isn't the frustrated Ryan of the last few years who hated his team and the "talented" guys for not supporting him and hated the media criticism that came with it. He knows he's the man now on a bad team that is working hard. There's nothing wrong with that from a starting goaltender's perspective.

I don't know wiether that is him enjoying the "Hero" status or just knowing that the end will be near for him soon in Buffalo. Its possible he is just bidding his time knowing he has at the most half a season left before he can cash in where ever he wants as a FA

 

I would like to think that he would want to re-sign here, but I think all of that is going to depend on what the team does to show that they aren't going to take the long drawn out rebuild through youth approach and instead will use their accumulated assets to bring in guys that can speed up the rebuild and win soon. I am about 99% certain he will not re-sign here until the season is over, or atleast the trade deadline passes and he has seen what the plan is with the new GM

[darksabre]

I don't know wiether that is him enjoying the "Hero" status or just knowing that the end will be near for him soon in Buffalo. Its possible he is just bidding his time knowing he has at the most half a season left before he can cash in where ever he wants as a FA

 

I would like to think that he would want to re-sign here, but I think all of that is going to depend on what the team does to show that they aren't going to take the long drawn out rebuild through youth approach and instead will use their accumulated assets to bring in guys that can speed up the rebuild and win soon. I am about 99% certain he will not re-sign here until the season is over, or atleast the trade deadline passes and he has seen what the plan is with the new GM

 

He'll have to sign before the trade deadline. If he doesn't, he's getting traded. He's a valuable asset and there is no way we just let him walk in FA.

 

I think the new GM is going to have a lot to do with what happens with Ryan. I also think Ryan is open minded and a big picture kind of guy. If he thinks the team will be competitive in the next three years, I think he stays. If he wants out in three or four years for a shot at winning a Cup somewhere else before he retires I think his deal with Buffalo will be structured to make that move feasible.

[apuszczalowski]

He'll have to sign before the trade deadline. If he doesn't, he's getting traded. He's a valuable asset and there is no way we just let him walk in FA.

 

I think the new GM is going to have a lot to do with what happens with Ryan. I also think Ryan is open minded and a big picture kind of guy. If he thinks the team will be competitive in the next three years, I think he stays. If he wants out in three or four years for a shot at winning a Cup somewhere else before he retires I think his deal with Buffalo will be structured to make that move feasible.

Strongly disagree, he has already come out and said (all post Regier) that he needs to see that they are building for now and not later, he has heard the talk before but in order for him to want to stay he needs to see it. If they are not going to be a playoff team next year and have not shown they want to win now, he is gone, and its gonna be tough to show him that before the deadline unless they start making moves now.

[Robviously]

He's already surpassed Hasek in my opinion. I loved Hasek, but he was never a team guy. He wanted to win for himself. I think Miller is all team.

Hasek: 6 All-Star Games, 6 Vezina Trophies, 2 Hart Trophies, 1 Stanley Cup Championship, 1 Olympic Gold Medal

 

Miller: 1 All-Star Game, 1 Vezina Trophy, 1 Olympic Silver Medal, 1 Presidents Trophy

 

Miller is one of the all-time Sabres, but this isn't close.

[nfreeman]

Hasek: 6 All-Star Games, 6 Vezina Trophies, 2 Hart Trophies, 1 Stanley Cup Championship, 1 Olympic Gold Medal

 

Miller: 1 All-Star Game, 1 Vezina Trophy, 1 Olympic Silver Medal, 1 Presidents Trophy

 

Miller is one of the all-time Sabres, but this isn't close.

 

Correct.

[Stoner]

Hasek: 6 All-Star Games, 6 Vezina Trophies, 2 Hart Trophies, 1 Stanley Cup Championship, 1 Olympic Gold Medal

 

Miller: 1 All-Star Game, 1 Vezina Trophy, 1 Olympic Silver Medal, 1 Presidents Trophy

 

Miller is one of the all-time Sabres, but this isn't close.

 

I can't imagine d4rk was trying to make the argument you are refuting.

[FolignosJock]

Obviously Hasek over Miller!

[darksabre]

 

 

I can't imagine d4rk was trying to make the argument you are refuting.

 

Yup, entirely missing the mark. I'm not arguing that Miller is a better goalie than Hasek over their full careers. I'm arguing that he's the best Sabres goalie.

 

If winning trophies or Cup finals appearances are the measuring stick then I need someone to tell me Gerry Desjardins is better than Miller.

 

Let's also take into account that Miller's career isn't even close to over. Hasek has some years on him, and some better teams.

[Eleven]

Why in the world would we want Marty Erat? He has asked out of two teams in two years, is older than any of our other forwards and is putting up Leino-like numbers (zero goals).

 

Martin Was.

[Robviously]

Yup, entirely missing the mark. I'm not arguing that Miller is a better goalie than Hasek over their full careers. I'm arguing that he's the best Sabres goalie.

 

If winning trophies or Cup finals appearances are the measuring stick then I need someone to tell me Gerry Desjardins is better than Miller.

 

Let's also take into account that Miller's career isn't even close to over. Hasek has some years on him, and some better teams.

Even if you're only looking at thier Buffalo careers, it's not close. Hasek got his SC in Detroit. Everything else was in Buffalo.

 

At his best, Hasek had 13 shutouts in one season. Miller has 11 shutouts in his best two seasons combined.

 

And Hasek never had anything like the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 teams in front of him. Hasek was pre-salary cap when the Sabres couldn't afford to pay/keep anyone and the plan was to grind out 2-1 wins every night. A four year contract for Mike Peca was too much for Buffalo back then.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Robviously,

 

With all due respect d4rk's point was to only compare the two best goalies in the history of the Sabres on the grounds that Miller bleeds blue and gold, Hasek didn't. Not wins / loses and trophy counts.

 

IMO, there is no counter argument to d4rk's original statement.