All Activity

Based on his history, he'll play about 60 games for us next season. I disagree with your characterization of Kulich, Kozak and even Malenstyn. All 3 are solid defensively; Kozak especially so. The reason Kozak is even getting a shot in the NHL is because he plays 2 way hockey and does the dirty work teams need. Kulich for a rookie in the NHL, has a very developed 2 way game.

Eh. I figured it was assumed that would be with the Sabres and not traded to a much better team after one year. 🤷

It’s ok to admit we were wrong. We’ve now experienced it. We were wrong. I was wrong.

Okay, this is pretty cool. Always wanted to be a fly on the wall in one of those lines...

Did you just Google that?

@Thorny quoted me. He completely missed my point but he did quote me.

Being a leafs fan has been better but it hasn't been that much better You get to cheer a lot more wins during the regular season, but just like being a Sabres fan they really don't mean much as they make the playoffs quite easily. and most of the joy of watching them win in the regular season is negated by their disastrous playoff runs (year after year)

As a Burlingtonian, I fully support this message. No greater pleasure in sports than watching the leafs break their fans hearts year after year they are the most pompous and delusional fan base around. Not to mention the Toronto media. every year it's the same thing. Season ends and lead nation in unison says "we gotta make changes" " regular season doesn't matter" then the team comes back same as always and half way through the season it's "this time it's different" " Leafs are a juggernaut", "let's plan the parade" rinse repeat

I don't agree. I think it is the coaching and style that matter. The culture and the system. I mean really, E-Rod works there. Come on, E-Rod!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me put it this way, we have youthful energy, size and speed. Why on earth do we NOT have an aggressive forecheck like Florida? That's the crux of it for me.

It's not that though because there are lots of players on bad teams that still look good. It's more that the bad teams are bad teams because of the way the team plays. I have questioned the Sabres style and philosophy for years and I still do. I honestly don't know what we are doing or trying to do.

Say what now? They're all over the place and easy to find.

You twist things as usual. Nobody says "always". Often, but not "always". But yes, they do have bolstered rosters. Kulcih is down there right? If we were in the playoffs he wouldn't be, There really is no need to be nit picky like this but I guess you get bored since the off season is always so long.

And yet, the Leafs are where the Sabres were when the decision was made that the only way out of the early playoff exit cycle was to sell everything and tank. Pretty sure you (and others) would not take the leafs last 14 years. It only took 5 years for Sabres fans to punt on the team.

Helllloooo. Matt Irwin anyone?

Norris has played in 3 games so I won't count him as being anything until he actually suits up for us, Kulich/Malenstyn/Krebs/Kozak are hardly great defensively.

So... he's Josh Allen but hockey.

Still remember seeing Mike Myers leaping around at the end of an SNL broadcast as the Gilmour led Loafs won a game 7 against St. Louis to get to the conference final against LA. He didn't seem as ecstatic the next time TO played on a Saturday. 😉

Another important point. Peak Leaf fan obnoxiousness came in the 90s and early 00s in those few years they made the conference finals. It was so unbelievably bad. It's only by the grace of Matthews' and Marner's ineptitude that we don't have to go through that again. All that far pre-dates Pegula's ownership.

If Marner would sign you do that. A 100 point playmaking Selke finalist you don’t turn down. His playmaking would elevate Tage.

It shouldn't be a surprise that when players play with a better cast of players their performances usually improve. Conversely, when players play on a team with a lesser talent base their production numbers decline. Basically, if you improve the team, it will rise the production tide for other players.

I agree but I I don’t think he stinks in the playoffs, any current Sabre would need to elevate their career regular season per game rate significantly upon entering the playoffs to match Marner’s playoff rate

Qualifying to make the playoffs might be a minimal achievement for most teams but as a Sabre fan I would be ecstatic. You can't have high expectations until you prove that you can meet lower expectations. When going up on a ladder you take one step at a time.

Marner is also one the most consistent Leaf underperformers in the playoffs.

Yup. And that Maple Loafs stink can wash off after a few dips in the Niagara. Not big on discussing him though, because really don't see any possibility of him coming here actually happening. And yeah, he stinks in the playoffs. 1st world problems. Worry about THAT when the Sabres don't have to cross a mile long minefield bordered by razor wire with armed drones hovering overhead to even think about it. (How getting to the mid-90s is equivalent to that for them is unfathomable, but yet, here we are staring at the possibility of reaching year 15 with the streak intact.) He'd help navigate the minefield. Still need extra help to get through the barbed wire and evading the drones; but it'd be a start.

I understand the sentiment you are referring to. My response is not so much about being petty as it is a reflection of a mind-set coming from a person who gets teased as if they are an inferior. No one likes being treated in such a demeaning way. But the ugly truth of the matter is that the Sabre franchise is an inferior franchise relative to the rest of the league. We have an owner who has presided over this franchise for a generation of failure. It's a chaotically and amateurishly managed operation competing against organizations that are professionally managed. Neither of us enjoy being ridiculed. However, it shouldn't be surprising that this unserious franchise does get mocked. The scorn that this faltering franchise attracts is well deserved. The best way to respond is to become a serious franchise that is a factor in the league other than being a doormat. My ire is targeted to the owner who has debased the franchise and its fading fan base and not outside targets. Don't get angry with them when the problem is within our own house. That's my basic point on my commentary on this topic.