GDT: Buffalo at Toronto, 9/29/2016, 7:00pm MSG

[TrueBlueGED]

I really think we're going to be in trouble if Franson gets regular minutes. And I'm really glad that Gorges will likely be in the bottom 4. Hopefully with a Nelson that makes the team.

 

Franson's biggest problem is Risto. Everyone knows that Franson has to be very sheltered at even strength, and he's not adding any value there. But he can add significant value manning the point on the PP (I thought he looked good there tonight)...but with Risto having taken that over, Franson's ability to add value to the team is limited to second unit PP time, so pretty negligible.

[inkman]

Franson's biggest problem is Risto. Everyone knows that Franson has to be very sheltered at even strength, and he's not adding any value there. But he can add significant value manning the point on the PP (I thought he looked good there tonight)...but with Risto having taken that over, Franson's ability to add value to the team is limited to second unit PP time, so pretty negligible.

So you'd rather see Bogo there :flirt:

[TrueBlueGED]

So you'd rather see Bogo there :flirt:

 

Maybe. After all, if he's logging 2nd unit PP time that's fewer minutes I have to watch him at even strength :p

[Sabel79]

My Guhle prediction is dead in the water. He doesn't look like the same player from last training camp. Seems to lack the confidence he exhibited previously. Oh well. 

There was a play towards the end of regulation where Kadri turned him and went around with almost no effort.  Worrying indeed.

[Thorner]

There was a play towards the end of regulation where Kadri turned him and went around with almost no effort.  Worrying indeed.

It is rather distressing. We are just so weak on left side D in the pipeline. At least on the right, we have a sure top pairing guy in Ristolainen, a decent second pair guy in Bogisian, and a guy in Nelson who realistically has a fair chance at being equipped for third pairing work. And they are all young.

 

On the left, I'd be comfortable slotting Kulikov and McCabe in as second and third pairing. After that there's almost nothing. Gotta add someone.

 

Would be tough to acquire a true top pairing LHD, but we'll need to add at least another second pairing level guy on the left to solidify things.

[Claude Balls]

I really think we're going to be in trouble if Franson gets regular minutes. And I'm really glad that Gorges will likely be in the bottom 4. Hopefully with a Nelson that makes the team.

Franson is like Jarius Byrd according to Jon Gruden. A liability out there. He was brutal tonight.

If nothing else, he's helping to validate my "most overrated prospect in the system" sentiment :)

He looked scared out there tonight IMO.

[matter2003]

What a snooze fest...

 

I swear the NHL must be trying to drive fans away with their low scoring, boring style of play...clutching, grabbing, neutral zone traps...they are the only league that actively tries to turn their stars into just another guy by allowing other teams to figure out ridiculous ways to slow down and attempt to "D" up the game. 

 

Every other league realizes its star players scoring and succeeding are what drives fans to the buildings...no more than the NBA which has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years as their stars are increasingly protected from being mucked up by defensive coaches by tilting the rules in their direction. Same with the NFL and their rules tilting in favor of the offenses and not allowing contact after 5 yards, PI being called much more, QBs protected like they are made of glass...

 

The NHL still doesn't get it...its run by people still in the stone age of sports..."REAL fans watch our game, and if the other people don't like it well we don't need them" is what they appear to be saying...

 

Except they don't realize they are even alienating "REAL fans"...I've watched hockey since it used to be on WGRZ with Ted Darling some 35 years ago...some of my earliest memories were watching the Sabres playing and having to go to bed at the end of the 2nd period because it was a school night the next day...I used to love Friday and Saturday night because my parents would let me stay up late to watch the whole game and Hockey Night in Canada was on...I've been a Sabres fan and hockey fan my entire life.  

 

I AM a "Real fan" and I say they have ruined the game.  In the 70's and 80's there was lots of excitement, high scoring games, end to end action, etc...none of that exists these days...half the time I'm literally falling asleep watching teams dump and chase for periods at a time...Do they not realize they are in the Entertainment Business? That fans want to see exciting hockey and a reasonable number of goals?  2-1 games and 3-1 games with an empty net goal are NOT reasonable amounts of goals.  This is the exact type of game I am talking about...like tonight's 1-0 OT Shootout snoozer.  I bet half the people watching that game had fallen asleep and missed Moulson's goal in the shootout.  

 

You want to know a league that understands it's in the entertainment business?  Lacrosse!!  The Bandits...those games are action packed and fun!! I went to a game last year with my family and my girls loved it and I'm sitting there thinking to myself, "Why the hell isn't the NHL more like this???"  Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth...Then I go back home and the next day get to watch a 2-1 snooze fest from the Sabres...

 

NHL, you gotta do something.  You are literally killing the product and making it hard for "Real fans" to watch this nonsense...enough is enough...we have dealt with this BS for years, you need to do something about it.

Edited September 30, 2016 by matter2003

[dudacek]

I could watch Hudson Fasching work the boards all night.

[JJFIVEOH]

Funny thing is if you read comments from leafs fans now its all about how they had only a couple of regulars in the lineup and the sabres had more then 3x as many regulars so the Sabres just beat the Leafs AHL Club

 

Didn't the Marlies have 114 points in 74 games last year? Seems to me, playing their AHL team would be more of a challenge. 

[LGR4GM]

Good post Matter. I remember how good hockey was in 2005. Now, most games are dull. I watched Bogosian the other day turn take two strides directly to the side and push a forward who had dumped the puck past him. It killed the play and was interference, no call. I see that same thing happen 20 times a game. By unless fan viewers at home stop watching nothing will change. The NHL only understands money

[Huckleberry]

Nice play by Larrson and Fasching on the kill.

 

Larsson is awesome, He'll be one of the best 3C in the league.

How did moulson look like , I read that he is looking better than last year.

 

Also went looking for his goal on youtube but found this enjoyable. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8315TgxQwA

[LGR4GM]

lol I forgot about that Connolly goal, ah the good old days when Hockey was fun.

[bunomatic]

What a snooze fest...

 

I swear the NHL must be trying to drive fans away with their low scoring, boring style of play...clutching, grabbing, neutral zone traps...they are the only league that actively tries to turn their stars into just another guy by allowing other teams to figure out ridiculous ways to slow down and attempt to "D" up the game. 

 

Every other league realizes its star players scoring and succeeding are what drives fans to the buildings...no more than the NBA which has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years as their stars are increasingly protected from being mucked up by defensive coaches by tilting the rules in their direction. Same with the NFL and their rules tilting in favor of the offenses and not allowing contact after 5 yards, PI being called much more, QBs protected like they are made of glass...

 

The NHL still doesn't get it...its run by people still in the stone age of sports..."REAL fans watch our game, and if the other people don't like it well we don't need them" is what they appear to be saying...

 

Except they don't realize they are even alienating "REAL fans"...I've watched hockey since it used to be on WGRZ with Ted Darling some 35 years ago...some of my earliest memories were watching the Sabres playing and having to go to bed at the end of the 2nd period because it was a school night the next day...I used to love Friday and Saturday night because my parents would let me stay up late to watch the whole game and Hockey Night in Canada was on...I've been a Sabres fan and hockey fan my entire life.  

 

I AM a "Real fan" and I say they have ruined the game.  In the 70's and 80's there was lots of excitement, high scoring games, end to end action, etc...none of that exists these days...half the time I'm literally falling asleep watching teams dump and chase for periods at a time...Do they not realize they are in the Entertainment Business? That fans want to see exciting hockey and a reasonable number of goals?  2-1 games and 3-1 games with an empty net goal are NOT reasonable amounts of goals.  This is the exact type of game I am talking about...like tonight's 1-0 OT Shootout snoozer.  I bet half the people watching that game had fallen asleep and missed Moulson's goal in the shootout.  

 

You want to know a league that understands it's in the entertainment business?  Lacrosse!!  The Bandits...those games are action packed and fun!! I went to a game last year with my family and my girls loved it and I'm sitting there thinking to myself, "Why the hell isn't the NHL more like this???"  Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth...Then I go back home and the next day get to watch a 2-1 snooze fest from the Sabres...

 

NHL, you gotta do something.  You are literally killing the product and making it hard for "Real fans" to watch this nonsense...enough is enough...we have dealt with this BS for years, you need to do something about it.

I get your point but this is essentially AHL hockey right now. Its preseason and its watered down. That being said I do agree there are steps the league could take but they won't. Once the great one ( Wayne ) becomes commissioner you'll see changes to open it up.

[Sabel79]

I get your point but this is essentially AHL hockey right now. Its preseason and its watered down. That being said I do agree there are steps the league could take but they won't. Once the great one ( Wayne ) becomes commissioner you'll see changes to open it up.

Those steps were indeed taken after the 2004 lockout. Everyone in the game lost their mind and the league abandoned it. To their immense detriment.

[Derrico]

Watched the third.  First time seeing Okposo.  I really liked his game but that number 21 just threw me back to Drew Stafford memories.  Wife even walked in and watched a couple of minutes.  She says I thought they didn't have Stafford anymore.

[Sabel79]

Watched the third.  First time seeing Okposo.  I really liked his game but that number 21 just threw me back to Drew Stafford memories.  Wife even walked in and watched a couple of minutes.  She says I thought they didn't have Stafford anymore.

I had a moment where I was furiously trying to figure out who 21 was... ah, pre-season

[Doohicksie]

I could watch Hudson Fasching work the boards all night.

 

Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

[inkman]

Watched the third. First time seeing Okposo. I really liked his game but that number 21 just threw me back to Drew Stafford memories. Wife even walked in and watched a couple of minutes. She says I thought they didn't have Stafford anymore.

glad it's only been half a decade since he was a Sabre

[Doohicksie]

I only got to see the OT and shootout.  I have yet to actually watch Sabres game action this year.

 

Nillson seems to be doing well so far.  That's encouraging.  If we can get LHD straightened out, we should win some games.