Ruff Around The Edges
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Posts posted by Ruff Around The Edges
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I am not here to stick up for the Pegulas in this case.
Let's just be fair: If the Sabres had 10 straight years of making the playoffs, 2 ECF's and 1 SC title, is this even being discussed? Does this article even exist?
All they have to do is win. Winning masks most if not all of this. The Pegulas have earned being an easy target for the lack of winning the Sabres have been doing, so that is the only way this will change.
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1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:
I think we are approaching a sports bubble. It is becoming far too expensive to go to a sporting event in the pro's. The NHL is the most vulnerable because they rely so heavily on gate sales. I don't know if this will happen soon or not but, eventually people won't be able to afford this stuff. I only go to a couple of games a year because tickets are expensive and then there is 12-14 dollars for a beer, 8-10 dollars for any food item if not more, parking, and other stuff. It costs about 300 dollars a game and that is hard to afford with everything else.
In the NFL there are seat licenses now and that costs even more on top of your ticket. Buffalo will be doing that at the new stadium if it gets built. There is just this instilled belief that revenue has to go up every year in sports and it rises faster than wage growth for normal people by far. You might get a 2% raise each year but sometimes leagues jump up 3-5% and they are pricing themselves out of markets like Buffalo. I think at some point we will see teams move. They will move to the growing cities with the money, your Houston and Charlottes of the US.
It is a sad reality but if COVID has taught me anything, I don't need sports. There's lots of other things to do and spend my money on.
Agree completely, especially when it comes to going to the games. It might take me a long while to even consider it and given the economic devastation that has been forced on everyone by this, NHL Players better be ready for their new reality. It won't be as fruitful as before and for a long time.
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Over time a lot of Sabres fans have pointed to specific seasons for the teams that could have been the ones to hoist the elusive Stanley Cup. Rightfully so, a lot of fans (and younger ones) look to 2005 -2006 and 2006-2007, and the much older fans look at years in the 70's (1975 and 1979-1980) as well.
I have always felt one team that had just about everything to win it all but never got out of the 1st round: The 1993-1994 Buffalo Sabres
Lets look deeper:
Goals For: 282 (11th of 26), Goals Against: 218 (1st of 26)
Very good offense and a very underrated defense with superior goaltending with Dominik Hask posting sick numbers; 30-20-6 with a 1.95Gaa and a .930SV%. How the heck did Dom lose 20 with numbers like this?
On offense, you had firepower:
Dale Hawerchuk with 86 points such an underrated great player during his time, the great Alexander Mogilny with 79 points (and he only played 66 games). The big one missing from the top of this list? Pat LaFontaine, 18 points in only 16 games played in 1993-1994, the Sabres were 11th in scoring and all those games missed, would have been Top 10 easy if #16 played a normal amount of games that year.
The series against the Devils was an epic battle defensively, we all know about Dave Hannan, imagine if #16 was there in a series only decided by 1 goal? I remember that year my Dad and I went to 'Tux and Pucks Night' on NYE and watched the Sabres thoroughly outplay the who would be Stanley Cup Champion NY Rangers 4-1.
This team has grit, toughness all over the place: Wayne Presley, Brad May (18G and 171 PIM), Rob Ray and even Matthew Barnaby. Solid players galore like Donald Audette with 29 goals, Yuri Yuri Khmylev with 58 points.
John Muckler at the helm was nothing to sneeze at either
If the Sabres were fortunate enough to advance past NJ, I truly believe they make it to the Wales Conference Finals and give the Rangers everything they can handle and more. This team will always be one of my all time favorite Sabres teams.
Oh what could have been....
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2 hours ago, Kruppstahl said:
Yep. This whole corona virus mess is starting to reveal just how dysfunctional global society is in the year 2020.
Anyway, there's no way there's going to be a 2019/2020 regular season. That's done.
I'm pretty sure the playoffs are done too; the league just doesn't want to admit it.
The Canadian GP, scheduled for mid June got axed, making the 9th race of the season to be "postponed".
Folks in F1 circles are now suggesting there won't be any races this entire summer, and the season itself may not happen.
It's just not going to be feasible to have a hockey game with a crowd this year. Maybe late in the calendar year, but now you are already into the new season.
2019/2020 is going to go down as the NHL season that was cut short by a pandemic, and the year in which there was no Stanley Cup champion.
Agree, just made 1 edit which I think we can all agree on. This exposed everyone.
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The compliance buyout possibility would really create some big time intrigue for the Sabres.
I completely agree with GASabres with the #2 center comment: And given the strong chance that there will be this compliance buyout for every team, I can see a few options developing where the Sabres can get a vet #2 center for a couple of years (Kyle Turris type) to help Skinner and the other forwards and allow more time for Cozens and even Mittlestadt to develop.
Interesting that Vancouver gave up a LOT for Toffoli and they only might have 2 weeks of games to show for it. Wonder if this will motivate Vancouver in doing whatever it takes to retain him.
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So if the Sabres lose this game, I expect a new thread 'Why is John Mucker Coach AND GM?' thread started by lunch tomorrow.
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Just at the car dealership purchasing my sleek new Ford Escort and Ill be working tonight: Would anyone be nice enough to page me updates of the score?
Hoping my beeper blows up with lots of updates!
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I forgot that LaFontaine was out almost that entire year, what could have been
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I see zero chance of the season being played. In fact i am not even sure about October.
Also the economic pain will be felt so severe and so vast, can these teams even survive when they return?
I can see the salary cap being chopped again, everything rolled back. It will be about survival.
Can businesses really afford to buy suites, and expensive tickets considering what is about to happen?
I don't see it.
Sports as we all know it is about to change in a very profound way, among everything else.
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2 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:
Could it be possible if this thing blows up for 2-3 months that there will be no 2020 Cup?
Without a doubt I actually predict that is the case.
No NHL, NBA or NCAA Champion this year
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Would be absolutely shocked if this or any NHL games go on tonight. While some can argue we may look back as an overreaction (let's hope that is the case), I do think the season should stop now for a bit, its the right call. The NHL cannot afford the massive PR hit that would come from the biased media, and must follow what the NBA did and put the season on hold until further notice.
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Linus can be a solid #1 goalie in the NHL for years to come, not elite like say a Tukka Rask, but can develop to an above average goalie, coupled with a good offense, can be very successful and win a lot of games
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1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:
Here is a guy we have not talked enough about. He is the perfect center for a player like Skinner. His puck handling and skating are lovely. His shot needs work but he is just fun to watch. I give you Tim Stutzle. He is currently playing against men in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). His on a good team and has played well. 34 points in 41 games, 27 of them assists. Just another guy to watch.
Agree and would love if the Sabres can get him they may have to get in the Top 3, also I would say Stutzle is the most 'NHL Ready' propsect in the 2020 Draft (Lafrienere aside), given that Tim has played with older players.
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Nice win, seeing Ullmark in net just has me wondering what could have been if he didn't get injured.
Even if this team was able to muster 4-6 points more over his absence we would be right in the playoff chase.
Having said that, I do think Kruger deserves credit for the efforts in Philly and last night, this team hasn't mailed it in and hopefully they build off of this in the effort to change the culture of this franchise going forward.
Kahun is looking like a nice find so far...good job JBot
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1 hour ago, Mustache of God said:
Looking at the remaining 14 games....I'll be shocked if this team can get 4 more wins. I'm also curious how long this losing streak will run through. Can we hit 10 games? Will they lose out? Just how far will they drop in the standings? I think it's impossible it "catch" Detroit, but it's looking like they could finish anywhere 2nd last - 4th last.
If they somehow land the lottery and get the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick, do you take that pick or try to flip it for immediate help at 2C?
Good pst and good questions indeed.
If the Sabres were lucky enough to win #1 overall, it would take an act of the Hockey Gods for me to move off that pick: Lafrenière is THAT good.
If the Sabres won #2 or #3 that is where the debate is: Perhaps a move down to stay in Top 12 AND get a#2 Center would IMHO be a move worth considering.
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2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:
You are absolutely dreaming if you think Marco Rossi is sliding to 9th overall.
Also there is no reason to send Rossi back to junior. At his age, I don't think he gets much out of that. Sadly he probably isn't NHL ready. Maybe a year in Europe would be best for him.
I agree on all counts. can see Rossi going as high as 4 depending on team and fit and need
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1 hour ago, Sabre fan said:
Yep were tanking and we are not even trying! With the other teams around us in the standings playing well and winning we look good for maybe 2nd or 3rd last. Yet another high pick. Maybe that was JBotto's plan all along this year? Maybe what he meant by "meaningful games in March" was it means something to keep losing as we can get another high draft position. hell maybe we'll win the stupid lottery for once and draft first! Nah the NHL will never let that happen. We'll probably get bumped down as usual. OV is slumping so look out! He is due for a big game. Although the Sabres tend to lose the so-called "easy" or "winnable" games and beat the better teams. Thus, we will win 4-2...
Nobody.....and I mean NOBODY circles the tanks like the Buffalo Sabres!
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1 hour ago, dudacek said:
3/4/3 with a 3.15 GAA and an .874 SP.
I think those people from last summer who were ready to pencil him in to the Sabres lineup this fall should probably reconsider.
And should be a signal to whomever is the new Sabres GM (hopefully someone other then JBot) that getting a goaltender is abig off season priority.
But with Braden Holtby as the 'best' possible UFA, the trade route may be the only viable short term option until UPL is ready.
And this UPL regression is why I don't think the Sabres should shy away from Askarov in the 20 Draft if they pick say 10th and he is available.
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How will Sam Reinhart recover from not being able to see the bundle of joy Mike Harrington in the Sabres locker room?
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Is it time to overreact?
Now?
Maybe?
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The Oven Mitt.
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The captain of the sinking ship does not sit down unless he is injured and cannot play at all.
And yes he will hit 90 points.
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I hope the Sabres finish decent, even 9-7 in their last 16. Would give them 84 points, a modest 8 point improvement from last year, but at least it would be an improvement, something of a positive note for the franchise can help. It certainly cant hurt
As for the lottery, the Sabres going to 5th won't give them much better odds. This draft is very deep, if the Sabres can pick 5 or 11 they might get a similar caliber of talent anyway.
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NHL Considering a July Re-start
in The Aud Club
Posted · Edited by Ruff Around The Edges
There is always life outside hockey regardless of a pandemic or not. THIS is the lesson that a lot of people (including myself at times) need to learn from this more then anything else.
As far as those saying 'please don't play July hockey because we all need to be sheltered' I say no. Its time to get moving, of course with some sort of direction, balance, and being efficient and smart with everything we do. We all have a small role to play in beating this pandemic. And we will.
Hockey is a business as we all know. Owners want to make money, players want to earn and play. Fans want to consume, its as simple as that. They should do everything to get back provided the safety check marks are all green, like Bettman has said several times.
If the July hockey bothers you, sports has been and is always a choice. If someone does not like it, don't watch. It's that simple. As far as I stand, if there is a Sabres/Caps game on July 16th in some neutral arena with no fans, you bet Ill be watching and cursing off Botterill in the summer heat.