DHawerchuk10
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Posts posted by DHawerchuk10
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Awesome.
Gare scored 50 goals playing on the 'checking line'. Imagine that.
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The French Connection, of course.
Who did Ducky play with on his wings, especially after the arrival of LaFontaine? Ducky was a true centre ... an assist machine.
I seem to remember Randy Wood (who's dandy good), and Donald Audette playing with Hawerchuk quite a bit during the 92-93 season.
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How about this: the Bills are certainly no worse than they were and as demonstrated upthread are actually a bit better.
The Sabres are worse, but they are worse because they decided to pursue the strategy that most here wanted them to pursue: the siren's song of the tank. The results of that decision were entirely predictable.
Now, are the Pegulas ultimately responsible for the tank, and, before that, for keeping Darcy on -- both of which decisions turned out poorly? Yes, they are. But while I disagreed with both decisions, both were defensible. Neither was the product of foolish/self-indulgent meddling, as the fear-and-loathing-of-the-wealthy corner here would have it.
And next year, if they get better coaching and good health, they'll likely make the playoffs. Frankly, they probably would've made it this year with Babcock and with no early Eichel, Kane, Okposo and ROR injuries.
I concur with your assessment. With respect to the Sabres, I am not sure if I would have made different decisions quite frankly. I was not fully onboard with the tank either, but as you said, it was easily defensible. For folks so willing to draw and quarter Pegula, what decisions would you have made differently since the tank, and what decisions would you want him to make going forward to improve the team? I keep hearing that he is too meddlesome, care to offer some recent examples? It appears he learned from his earlier mistakes, and set out to hire qualified hockey folks. Perhaps those hockey folks aren't as qualified as many of us thought, but were you honestly against these hirings upon announcement?
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On the bolded, I completely disagree.
That little rule has sped up the pace of the game and added more offense during the clutch and grab era than any other rule in place or proposed, in my mind.
On Nolan vs. Bylsma, I agree that Nolan would have more wins. But I do think Dan is laying the foundation for fundamental NHL hockey for the future that Ted is not capable of doing.
My "unpopular" opinion stems from the fact that when the this happens, 90% of the time (or at least this is my perception), the play was more flukey than anything else (puck flipped up at the last second, etc.) I understand your counter argument is that the defensive player has to be more careful, and thus this carefulness leads to more offense (which is rational), but I personally think the rule is just chinsy. The one time I really wanted this called was when Darius Kaspiritis grabbed the puck with this glove and threw it into the crowd during Game 7 of '01 playoffs, and of course it wasn't.
Shades of Adams '86. Buffalo finished 5th & out of the playoffs w/ 80 points (a LEGIT 0.500).
Why can't we go back to those division names by the way? These division names based on region are nonsense. I am probably the only one who is pedantic enough to care, but when someone knows who was in the Smythe division, this grants them instant credibility in my book.
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-The automatic "delay of game" penalty for a puck shot over the glass in the defensive zone should be abolished.
-The "jumping into the glass" celebration is stupid and unoriginal.
-Thomas Vanek isn't lazy.
-In retrospect, John Gurtler doesn't seem so bad.
-Visiting Sabre fans are 2nd only to Visiting Leaf fans in obnoxiousness
-The Sabre team that had the best chance to win the Cup who didn't make it to the Finals was the '01 team, and not the '06 team
-Tim Murray didn't get enough back in trades for our high draft picks/prospects
-Ted Nolan is a better coach for this team than Dan Bylsma
-I would still hate Patrick Kane even if he played for the Sabres
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I vote for Ramsey and Housley as your top D pair. Hasek at goalie. Perreault at center. Andreychuk at LW. Mogilny at RW. Ruff at head coach.
Kind of strange to think 2/3rds of those guys actually were on the same team together for a little over half a season. In any event, for my money, there weren't too many that were better than Ramsey back in the 80's. He perfected the open ice hip check, and used to block a ton of shots before that became "a thing". And what a moustache!
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It was the best sporting event I have ever watched on TV. So much fun. I was hanging with a great group of guys. We were living and dying with that thing.
... Man.
Also. If there is one face in the world that I could punch, it would be Smolinski's after he scores that 6th Ott'wa goal.
Yeah, what a jerk!
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I've never been so tired after a game due to the emotional toll it took to make it through to the end.
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Colton Orr gave it to him pretty good! This is a heavyweight fight.
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/100534
Same thing with Shawn Thornton.
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/109389
God I miss real hockey.............................. :(
Sean mcmorrow broke Neil's leg in 2002.
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Lonely Boy was great because it was so sardonic. "Oh, you scored a goal? That's great. Let me know when we don't suck anymore."
The indifference represented by the quote is quite humorous.
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Why not do a Sabre specific song ala "Jump, Shout" or "Rock 'em Sabres"? Its the lameness that makes it good. Look at the Bills Shout song. That is a freaking marketing jingle from like 1988, but who amongst us doesn't get fired up when hearing it?
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Let me preface my comments by saying that I like TM. I am happy that he is our GM.
Nevertheless, I agree with the overall thesis of the OP.
Tim has paid (in my opinion) premium pricing in his trades. We certainly accumulated assets to use to improve the team, but I think that we had a lot more leverage in both the Lehner and ROR trades.
Lehner may end up being good, but his track record in the NHL does not justify the 21st pick in the draft. The goalie market this year and in recent years does not support the 21st pick in the draft. We also did Uncle Brian a huge favor by taking on salary.
ROR is a good two way player, but appears (I hope not) to have a cap on his offensive production. We also are taking on the risk (whatever that percentage may be) of not being able to extend him beyond this year. Also, if we do extend him, it will have a ripple effect on the rest of the roster and cap in a few years. McGinn also has one year left on his deal and a history of back problems. In fact, his back issues limited him to 19 games this past year. I wish we could have used the 21st pick (instead of Zadorov) in the ROR deal. I also do not like having to "throw in" Compher on top of Zadorov.
As some have said, if we win the Stanley Cup in the next few years, not many will care what we gave up. Forgetting about what his salary will be and what we gave up for him for the moment, the Sabres are clearly stronger down the middle with ROR than without. Lehner is a question mark. We can hope that he will reach the potential that Tim sees in him by giving him the minutes he needs and providing him the goalie whisperer (Irbe - presuming he continues to be the goalie coach). Mcginn's back and contract also are question marks. Let's hope his back issues are cleared up.
We now have fewer assets than before. Tim is going to have to be more circumspect in his trades. At the same time, he probably has a bit of a reputation in the league for willing to pay a premium for players he is fixated on. He is going to have to show that those days are over.
Side note: it will be interesting to see if and when Tim acquires any other Russian players. I have a feeling that he falls within that camp of NHL executives who are not fans of Russians. What is that adage that some use - none but certainly not more than one?
Another side note: I have this impression (my opinion) that teams negotiate with Tim by insisting on "throw ins" at the last moment (e.g., Compher and Lemieux). That is a negotiating tactic that some attempt to use in the business world to take advantage of the other side's anxiousness to close the deal after thinking the parties already have agreed to terms. I hope that stops. Tim may have to call people's bluffs in future negotiations.
Just my two cents.
Excellent articulation of the concerns. I also agree with many things north buffalo has said. Just to add to this, I am not sure where all this trust in Tim Murray comes from. The blind Tim Murray fanboys are really starting to irk me. By all means, shower him with praises if we make major improvements next year, but the praise isn't warranted yet.
My fear is that Murray is committing the same mistakes Darcy did, but from the opposite side of the spectrum. As some have said, the real skill of a gm is team building and not winning trades. However, it has to be questioned if he put all of our eggs in one basket. If Kane busts or oreilly doesn't sign, this will be a huge catastrophe in my opinion. Time will certainly tell, and I hope the risks, while present don't play out.
Although not a huge o'reilly fan, I definitely like the idea of using him to shelter eichel and Reinhart.
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1. Should Buffalo be the hub for USA hockey? (Team USA, Juniors, Women, Sled, etc). (yes/no)
2. What should be forum shorthand for Dan Bylsma, just DB or DDB for Disco Dan Bylsma)?
3. How many years will Dan Bylsma last in Buffalo?
4. As a percentage, the chance a Dan Bylsma led Buffalo Sabres make the playoffs in 2015-16?
5. Finish the sentence. Hey Dan, welcome to town, just beware of ____________________ .
1. Yes
2. Bylsma. I'm sick of shorthand.
3. 4 years
4. 20%
5. Canada
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they also do a mock draft and they draft one of my top 3 guys;
With the 21st pick the Buffalo Sabres select from Charlottetown of the QMJHL, RW DanielSprong.DRAFT NEEDS: They need a true puck rushing defender, depth on the backendand scoring on the wings.NOTES: The Sabres add the top potential goal scoring winger in the draft, butone who comes with a buyer beware warning tag attached.note they have Zboril going 20th to the Wild.
I keep reading Sprong has some baggage. But in all the write-ups, they never say what the baggage is. Anybody know? Is he a prima donna or did he kill a man?
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Out of curiosity....
For anybody who put in for draft tickets next month, has anybody heard back from the Panthers yet? I put in for them in January by filling out that online form and haven't heard a thing yet.
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What? That's only a problem like once every million years.
touché.
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The frequent and sometimes inappropriate us of the word "hyperbole".
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I remember this being a topic of conversation a few years back (the year right after the Easter loss to the Flyers), and there is definitely some things that can be done to improve the arena atmosphere. For one, more organic noise through the organ rather than blasting pop music. It is tough for fans to be heard through the speaker music and I see a lot of fans just give up.
My other observation is that Sabres fans are very knowledgeable, which can be a gift and a curse during play when a lot of fans are watching so intently and analyzing play that they don't have time for cheering. There's total focus stares at the play on the ice. Sabres fans don't go to the games to get belligerent, they go to watch hockey.
Going to away games has jaded my view. No longer can I view fellow Sabre fans as generally "very knowledgable" without having a lengthy conversation with them. Perhaps I have had just bad luck over the years, but the fans I run into at away games are some of the most obnoxious, unknowledgeable hockey fans I have ever met judging from their behavior towards other fans. Its as if these fans have taken their queue from visiting Leaf fans from years gone by. Unfortunately, I have seen this same attitude bleed into home games. As has been mentioned before, it could be the luck of the draw in terms of where I am seated, but I feel this has happened far too regularly than to be chalked up as bad luck.
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I was watching the Jets last night and a couple of times during the broadcast, it was mentioned how loud their fans were. I also noticed they did a white-out, where all the Jets fans wear a white t-shirt that is likely provided at the door.
I know we haven't had a team to celebrate in years, but regardless, I don't think we have that environment. I recall during Sabres playoff games, when they would give out shirts, you certainly did not have a critical mass wear them. That's just lame, but some fans would rather wear their jersey. And as far as noise, my observation is that people watching the game inside the FN Arena would rather sit quietly than cheer or yell.
Once we had the Tank position locked up, posters on SS were saying the Arena will be rocking now that we can all get behind our team. I was there for the Pittsburgh game. It didn't happen. Part of me is jealous because I like what Winnipeg has for a game atmosphere. And the other part of me is a little upset at our fan base. At the last game, when the organ started the "Let's Go Buffalo" chant, a fan behind me murmured a little too loud -- "Shut up." I was appalled. To each their own -- that a-hole paid for admission and can do as he wishes. I just really wish we could fill the arena with fans that felt more like me.
I am comparing us to Winnipeg. A team that has just recently started to improve and make the playoffs. Yet every time Buffalo plays there -- meaning not a playoff game, Rob Ray comments about how loud the arena gets. I don't think you can argue that they are a larger market or better team so it's easier to support them. I think Buffalo fans being identified as great fans is overblown. Yes, fans will watch more hockey on television than any other market, but too many of them are stiffs when it comes to attending the game.
Am I a dying breed. Gone are the days of a Buffalo crowd cheering loud? In a perfect world, what atmosphere do you want at a game?
Although this probably the minority view, I agree with pretty much everything you said. The arena atmosphere has been deteriorating for many years now. It got better during 05-06, but then fell to pieces at times the following year in my view (although it returned briefly for the '07 playoffs). So although performance certainly has an impact, its not the only factor.
Something like this is very hard to articulate, because it is a matter of perception. In my opinion, the arena atmosphere is plagued by a large contingent of fans who haven't necessarily followed the team since they were kids. Again, this is perception as I haven't done a double blind study researching this. I merely have to go back to my high school days for evidence. I was one of the few who would wear their Sabre Jersey to school (heck, I was known as the "Sabres guy" for most of my time there as if wearing a jersey regularly and talking about the team was a novelty). Flash forward a few years, and everybody I went to school with now identifies themselves as a hardcore fan. This is almost an affront to me. Its like the people who espouse science on everything, but they failed every science class they ever took.
There is a certain entitlement attitude associated with many Buffalo fans, as if being from Buffalo makes you instantly knowledgeable and better than other teams fans, because "hey, you are from Buffalo, and that is what Buffalo is all about". Unfortunately this knowledge/dedication takes decades to develop no matter where you are from. The passion required to make the arena atmosphere like Winnipeg extends out of these many years of dedication. Call me an elitist, but it appears a large contingent of Sabre fans want to short circuit the process, call themselves hardcore after a couple years, and don't realize what many of us have really invested, and therefore their passion is limited.
I have babbled on long enough. But this is an interesting topic of discussion, as during the past year this "feeling" became even more palpable.
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I think this excerpt from an article yesterday pretty much explains it: "Sure, Murray was disappointed Saturday night after losing the No. 1 pick in the lottery -- that's the competitor in him. He doesn't want to lose at anything." To extrapolate that into he doesn't want Jack Eichel is taking it a bit far. I don't think even Eichel sees it the way you do.
I've been critical of Murray, but people are taking his "disappointment" way out of context. It is right and appropriate to say you are disappointed in not drafting first. That is just common sense. Not sure why people equate that to disappointment in Eichel. I didn't hear that at all. I'm sure if Murray had another chance, he would have just given the sterile, canned GM answer.
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This is what George didn't get about the prequels. Making adults feel like kids. He just decided he didn't care about that. He wanted to create new fans and totally missed the boat.
It is interesting how kids of the original Star Wars (now adults) view the prequel, versus kids of the prequel generation. My nephew loves the prequels a lot more than the originals, which is blasphemy to me. Although, I have to admit, I viewed the prequels favorably for a view years before I couldn't live with lying to myself anymore. The only one really worth watching is Episode 3.
I am pretty elitist when it comes to Star Wars, and view it as "my movie". So there is a strong desire to have Abrams placate folks of my generation. I could care less if my kids like it or not. Its all about me this time! There are few things in this world I generally like...Star Wars and Sabres are the big two.
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I can't even begin to explain how excited I am for this movie.
Yeah, totally freakin amazing. Chills were running right down the spine. I felt like I was a kid again.
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Yes, I get it St Ted is loved here...not sure why but he is......and it is because Murray couldn't care less....he is already past this and looking at the draft and next coach. Nolan won't take a dump on the Sabres because they are the only organization willing to hire him. He's made a lot of money coaching here and most likely won't get another HC job in this league.
Were you around in the 90's or lived in Buffalo for a long period of time? If not, that is your explanation for why you "don't get it". People love him because they can identify with his principles, and they'd like to think those principles represent Buffalo. You may not care about that sort of thing, but respect the fact other people do.
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That's the point. I don't understand why people hate Tim Murray and claim to not want to be a Sabres fan until he's fired. And a lot of the arguments do contradict each other.
I agree with every point you made. :)
I think that is the extreme, but I certainly am skeptical of Murray, and moves like this certainly don't endear him to me even if it was inevitable (as I liked Ted Nolan). With that put aside, a rational opinion of Murray hinges on how you think we made out on the Kane trade, and how "pro Tank" you were. If you liked that deal and were pro-Tank, it is natural why you don't understand the dislike for Murray. If not, what has Murray done that has any value to date? I personally don't care for the Kane trade, and was "Switzerland" with the whole tanking thing (I'd be lying if I said I didn't want a top pick, but I have serious misgivings about the toll it took on the "culture" both from a fan and team perspective. I am downright starting to loathe a certain portion of the fanbase...but that is a whole different topic). Adding the Nolan firing, is just another thing I am not crazy about.
I don't think its terribly fair to judge Murray thus far (although I thought the same about Nolan as well), but my skepticism/distrust will only grow if there isn't some appreciable growth on this team next year.
I am aware my view is in the extreme minority, but its important to know the reasons why everyone isn't in on the Tim Murray love fest...even if you don't agree with those reasons.
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Good work! This is great!
GDT Rangers at Buffalo at Rangers, 1/1/18, 1pm, NBC / WGR
in The Aud Club
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Is that sarcasm about the camera angles? Impossible to follow the play with that flying camera.