dudacek
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Posts posted by dudacek
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I want to see Reinhart in Buffalo this year, but I am coming around to the start-him-in-Rochester position.
The reason is I think we need to see what we have in Grigorenko first and there is not room for both of them right now.
I think Grigo is in a very fragile spot at the moment and if we jerk him around we could lose him. I like how he looked with Foligno and Gionta and I would like to see him in a similar role next year, with some PP time added in to get him feeling things offensively.
I'm fine with him being the bait in a big trade, but don't give him away.
And if he is here, he needs to be put into a position to succeed.
The organization handled him well last year. Let's not throw that all away.
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Player number nine in our player discussion series
#25 Mikhail Grigorenko C (20-year-old RFA)
Rochester 43/14/22/36/-5/27
Buffalo 25/3/3/6/-10/2
You all know the back story: big, talented centre slides to Buffalo in the draft, is sold as the second coming, gets handed a roster spot he doesn't deserve at 18, flops in two opportunities and bounces between multiple teams and leagues.
What is easy to miss in all the hype and disappointment is that he had what would be a pretty promising season for most 20-year-old mid-first round picks. He scored at close to a 70-point pace as an AHL rookie and got a few looks with the big team, settling in on a decent-looking line with Foligno and Gionta down the stretch. In the NHL his offensive skills were only visible in spurts, perhaps because of the deliberate attention he was giving to his defensive responsibilities, perhaps because of uncertain chemistry with most of his linemates, perhaps because he lacked speed and power.
No Sabre enters the season with more question marks. He probably could use another half-season in Rochester, but would have to clear waivers in order to do that. He might be ready for sheltered minutes as a top-nine centre, but is competing against the more highly touted Reinhart and Eichel for that role. Is it worth seeing if he can he play wing, or would that just be the latest example of his continued mishandling?
Despite a reputation as a less-than hard worker, Grigorenko's issues last year seemed more to do with confidence than effort. He continues to rank highly on various prospect lists and clearly there is talent there. He is the biggest wild card in the Sabres' stable. Will the card be played here, leveraged in a trade or become a squandered opportunity?
Links to the rest of the series:
Anders Linback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/
Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/
Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/
Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/
Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23351-roster-review-varone-dalpe-damigo/
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Last week was marginally better than the first couple, but last night was the first good episode of the season.
Can't believe how far away they've gone from the book.
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I'm thinking that is the most realistic version of our depth chart as it stands today, assuming Reinhart doesn't leap past Grigorenko and Hodgson is this year's Hodgson.
Best-case scenario:
* 50 goals combined from Kane and Eichel
* Noticeable improvement from Larsson, Grigorenko and Girgensons
* What we got in the last month or two from the other four in the top nine.
* Good health
Assuming the defence is improved and we acquire a decent goalie 70-75 points?
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What would you guys think of Murray failed to make any significant trade or free agent additions up front and we ended up with a forward lineup next year that simply added a new first line:
Kane Eichel Girgensons
Moulson Larsson Ennis
Foligno Girgorenko Gionta
Deslauriers McCormick Kaleta
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I'm curious how many teams are going to wait for Babcock to get off the fence if he can't sign until July.
There are some other good options out there right now.
Bird in the hand?
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I'm not to worried about the price, I just know he is a rare weapon, even injured with Marrone as his coach and Orton as his QB.
Unless injuries spoil him, he will be remembered as the best offensive player on this team since Thurman and maybe since OJ.
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Interested in what a few people see in Varone.
He's about as effective as Hodgson without the upside.
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On point 1.....if Babcock's wife really has a say.....do you think she will be all, "You have to get me out of this sh!thole Mike. I can't take Detroit any longer. How about Buffalo?!!!!"
On mcKenzie, yes. I mentioned in the Myers thread at the time that Myers would not be on the team much longer after McKenzie wrote an article about O'Riely. It wasn't actually about O'Riely but a cover to pump Myers and let the league know he was going to be traded. I made a bet with freeman over it.
Same thing on Babcock. McKenzie saying that the Sabres are interested and going to make a push....but yadayada..... No need to say that so early in the game. It leads to to believe it was more Transparent Poker from Black/Pegula. Either they know that can't land him, or that someone else is their goal. Just putting it out there for the very reason you are seeing...get the fans all giddy that they want him. It was also a hedge if Detroit went on in the playoffs and his extension was a given. That's the only hope for those who want him in Buffalo.
Mckenzie is to Black what Wawrow was to Quinn.
So you are saying McKenzie is pumping Babcock to Buffalo as a smokescreen to deflect attention from the Sabres true guy? Or to pump the Sabres tires to suggest to the league Buffalo is an in-demand destination?
Possible, I guess, but sometimes the more obvious conclusion is the most likely. And why assume the rumouris being planted by Buffalo? McKenzie gets info from a helluvalot more people than Ted Black.
As for the wife stuff, my read was the opposite: that his wife might be perfectly comfortable in Detroit and not want to move anywhere.
Unless you know the people involved and what makes them tick, there is no way of knowing what their priorities are.
I will say there have a lot of references to Kim Pegula's focus on families, and her success in making them feel welcome.
And not just by Aud.
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My reading between the lines of multiple Babcock quotes:
- He started the year with a plan to become a UFA.
- He wants to be a coach with input into team makeup — which he already is.
- He has no interest into becoming a GM.
- He wants to coach a roster that has studs on defence and at centre, who are in, or entering, their prime.
- Detroit doesn't fit that description any more.
- He thinks he is in a great organization with good people
- He is wondering if he would be an idiot to leave.
- He wants to win cup(s)
- His wife's preference is likely to be the tipping point in his decision.
McKenzie was out early talking about Babcock and the Sabres. That tells me the Sabres either have someone else in mind, or expect not to land him. The same reason I was willing to bet Tyler Myers was going to be traded, I say Babcock won't be in Buffalo.
I'm missing something here: you knew Myers was going to be traded because McKenzie was talking about it; you think Babcock isn't coming here because McKenzie was talking about it?
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I'm convinced there is too much smoke for Babcock not to be seriously considering Buffalo.
It' all up to Terry and Kim.
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Fake Gorby is Ted Black. Marketing strikes again!
The are both from Pennsylvania and I've never seen them in the samarium at the same time.
And Black is English for chernyy....
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Has there been a player more anticipated here since Alexander Mogilny?
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Surprised this hasn't got more attention.
Another one of Darcy's boys is shown the door.
Murray continues to rebuild the organization.
I'd love see the difference in the org charts (on- and off-ice) this September compared to September 2013.
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Like A Rented Mule
waitaminnit, that's Penguin-style
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"Perreault went around Craig Laffy, who's still looking for his jock strap." Pretty racy for circa 1982! (Googled Craig Laffy and got nothing.)
And anytime he says, "The game is over!" Note the exclamation point.
Craig Laughlin? Craig Ludwig?
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Yeah.
I didn't vote because all of the above is not an option.
The multiple choice button is on.
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You know Jack
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I hope all three of these guys are re-signed and become part of the veteran core of the Amerks.
They set the bar for the next wave of kids: "Compher, if you can't beat out D'Amigo, you are never going to play in the NHL."
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Next up in our player discussion series, a three-for-one special:
#84 Phil Varone C (24-year-old RFA)
Rochester 55/15/29/44/-7/22
Buffalo 28/3/2/5/-14/10
#20 Zac Dalpe RW (25-year-old RFA)
Rochester 44/16/12/28/-7/0
Buffalo 21/1/2/3/-11/4
#49 Jerry D'Amigo RW (24-year-old RFA)
Springfield 28/3/4/7/-4/26
Rochester 31/6/13/19/0/21
Buffalo 9/0/0/0/-4/2
Three players who failed to catch on with the teams that originally drafted them. Three players who were given another chance with the Sabres. Three players who have proven to be effective in the minor leagues, but have failed to grab regular NHL spots after at least four years pro.
Dalpe can fly, Varone has good offensive instincts and D’Amigo plays hard all the time. So far, none of them have been able to capitalize on those gifts enough to overcome holes in other parts of their games.
Has the window closed completely on their NHL opportunities? Will they be offered contracts. If so, will it be to play for the Amerks?
Links to the rest of the series:
Anders Linback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/
Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/
Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/
Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/
Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23343-roster-review-41-andrej-meszaros/
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I think Meszaros may have salvaged his NHL career with his second half.
GMs have long memories and may blame last season on Buffalo.
I never want to see him again in blue and gold.
Too many painful memories.
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Interesting thought, but this roster isnt close to finished, and Mike Babcock has never been a scout.
IF Babcock leaves Detroit it will not be because he wants Hollands job it will be because of how Holland has done his job.
Detroit needs to rebuild its blueline and geriatric core or the best outlook is to be stuck with a perennially middling roster.
If Babcock comes to Buffalo it will be to work with Murray, not to surplant him.
Absolutely. But if Babcock comes to Buffalo it will not be because of Murray, it will because of Pegula.
It is Pegula who ordered the tank, creating the current situation here.
It is Pegula who will set the hierarchy between Murray and his coach.
And it is Pegula who will be defining the work environment, selling the organization, and making Babcock the offer he can't refuse.
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Sabres finish 2nd in East with 110 points - 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Round 1 opponent: Carolina Hurricants
Game 1 Sabres 6 Canes 0
Andrej Sekera scores all 6 goals for the Sabres, Eichel assists 4 of them. Deslauriers records 34 hits in the first period. My siblings and I all do a drunken dance around her Canes fan boyfriend. JJ blasts the Canes goalie for sucking way worse than Tim Thomas did in the playoffs at age 38.
Game 2 Sabres 7 Canes 0
Evander Kane notches a hatty and gets a major penalty for celebratorily riding his stick into their GT, injuring him. No suspension is given. PA writes a short story about a handsome young super hero vanquishing a cockeye-browed boogyman.
Game 3 Canes 3 Sabres 2
The Sabres were visibly drunk (progressively so following each intermission), especially Ullmark who played more than half of the game facing the wrong way. Tyler Ennis knocked out Jeff Skinner and then accidentally started fighting Reinhart. Reinhart injures his hand punching Ennis's cup. Reinhart will not be fine for the rest of the series. Liger is in tears.
Game 4 Canes 1 Sabres 6
Babdick runs a bag skate instead of pre-game warm ups. Ryan O'Reilly puked his guts out 5 minutes before the opening faceoff but was still out there to shut down Eric Staal. A tired Sabres squad leaned on Nikita Zadorov for 4 goals, intimidating the Canes forwards away from the defensive zone all night (even from the bench), and 3 broken glass panes from bone shattering checks. d4rk's new avatar is a custom gif of all 3 hits superimposed with the Nikita-truck.
Game 5 Sabres 11 Canes 7
The Sabres decide to play only 4 skaters and no goaltender. Captain Zemgus Girgensons returns from the injury he sustained during the regular season (he fought every single member of the Boston Bruins 4th line after scoring the 3rd goal of a natural hat trick- his hand bones got screwed up from knocking out teeth) and marks his post season debut with 5 goals and 16 takeaways in his opening shift. Ullmark notches a goal and 2 assists skating at the rover position. In a drunken stupor of delight, Aud bumps into Kim Pegula on his way out of the game. She's sniffling a little bit, and in a moment of excitement for the series win and weakness from the long months of putting on the brave show reveals that her and Terry's marriage might be on the rocks. It's a strange sensation, but she feels like she can confide in this kindly stranger.
Me and my siblings throw rocks at my sister's boyfriend's car.
2nd round opponent, Boston Bruins...
:lol: Please tell me you're not stopping there.
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Notable exceptions: Gorges, Moulson, & Desaulariers
That is interesting.
There's the Ryan O'Reilly package right there. :ph34r:
Rochester Americans 2014-2015
in The Aud Club
Posted
I think Murray actually put together a decent AHL roster to start the season.
It fell apart between injuries and Sabre suckage.
Dalpe Varone Larsson
Armia Girgorenko D'Amigo
Ellis Schaller Irwin
Samuels-Thomas Catennacci, Carrier
Strachan Pysyk
Petrecki McCabe
Bagnall Ruhwedel
Lieuwen
Makarov
I'm sure I forgot someone, but that's a competitive AHL team.