mjd1001
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Posts posted by mjd1001
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I really don't care about anything that has happened in this franchise up until tonight.
IF the Sabres lose tonight, I'm 100% happy with the franchise..in just about every way possible.
Should they win tonight and find a way to blow 30th tomorrow also....I won't have what I want to look forward to...so I will hold this...and most other things mentioned here...against them as a bitter fan...for a long while at least.
But right now...them losing in regulation tonight is all that matters.
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Maybe we SHOULD be saying...who does he fit with...and NOT what # rank of center should/could he be.
If he is a good fit between Moulson and Ennis.....long term (we have seen many line combos work short term, but not always long term), then keep him there. If they play off of each other well, don't force someone else between Moulson and Ennis just because they "should" be better.
Whether that if your fisrt, second, or third line doesn't really matter. Next year, the lines that play the best will get the most ice time. I think the era of a dedicated first, second, and third line in the NHL doesn't have to still exist.
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Goalies are such random chance to me. I don't know if I'd invest much in any of them....take the approach the Sabres have now...get a bunch of them and see who is good.
From the 5th best goalie in the league to the 25th, there really isn't much of a difference it seems. If you have a good team in front of you, in many cases you can really throw anyone with some talent back there and get similar results. In recent history, you have goalies who couldn't even stick as a backup in one place, then they find the right situation and they are a good starter.
I really think overall talent in todays NHL isn't a big thing for goalies. You need someone with talent...yes..but there are a lot of goalies with talent. What is just as (if not more) important is the team/system in front of the goalie and the mental/emotional mindset of the guy...NOT if he is .001% better in talent than someone else.
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On the other hand, it could turn amp up the Buffalo-Toronto rivalry to epic status. As long as we beat them in the playoffs, I'd be okay with them getting McDavid. Remember it takes more than a single player to make a team good; Buffalo's just completing the process but the tire fire in Toronto is still burning strong. They'd probably waste 2-4 seasons of McDavid's career getting their act together.
I agree with you on that. No one can predict what would happen down the road, 7-10 years from now....but with Eichel on the team the Sabres are putting together over the next 1-2 years...and McDavid on what the Leafs have....I'd give the Sabres a pretty big edge in that match-up going forward.
McDavid might be better than Eichel, but I think the rest of the team, top to bottom will favor the Sabres by a LOT in the next few years.
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Ok, I was just a little kid at the time, but if the Sabres end up with Eichel and Reinhart playing for them next year, it is going to feel a lot like the early days of the Sabres drafting Turgeon and then shortly after the news of Mogilny defecting from Russia.
It may not turn out the same way, but the FEELING i'll get (the feeling of optimism and excitement) seems like it is going to be similar.
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There are only 2 things regarding the Sabres I am nervous about at all right now:
-Actually finishing 30th. I don't think they are going to run off 3 games without a regulation loss, but it has happened this season, along with Arizona easily being able to lose the rest of their games.
-Finishing 30th, drafting 2nd, and then Murray wanting #1 and doing something silly/stupid to get there (like trading #2, Reinhart, Pysyk, and a future #1).
Would I rather have McDavid? I guess. But if you get 2nd in the lottery, I would much rather keep 2nd than really trade anything that might be of value on this team to move up to #1. I'll be 100% content with 2nd.
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All I know is if the Sabres clinch 30th BEFORE the Pittsburgh game, then the atmosphere in the building should be great for "fan appreciation night". You'll finally get to see Sabre fans cheering the team, maybe in a way we haven't seen in a couple of years. Not only will everyone want them to win, but its going to truly feel like the End of this whole process, and, in a way, the beginning of the new chapter EVERYONE has been looking for. That is what that Pittsburgh game might feel like.
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Let us go on the assumption that the Sabres finish 30th, and are guaranteed 1st or 2nd overall selection.
When the lottery comes around, I am interested but not nervous at all. To me, the Sabres would be expected to get Eichel, McDavid would be a bonus that I truly do not expect. However, I still hear a lot of people being "nervous" or "anxious" about the lottery when it occurs.
So my question, what is it that makes you nervous or anxious about the Lottery? That the Sabres will NOT get Mcdavid at #1 overall? Or that you are fine without McDavid, but you are Nervous about who MIGHT get him (a Rival like Toronto or Ottawa, or maybe a good team already like L.A. where he will make them tough to beat?)
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I know this may not be a popular opinion, but I would think, if Reinhart still is a bit undersized and not dominant in camp....that he spend some time in Rochester. You can go with Larson centering a line (at least for a half to a full season) on your top 3 lines.
Besides that, I wouldn't be looking at any big free agent signings or big trades this offseason. With a maturing D (adding a one year older Psysk to it), Evander Kane, a top pick this year, a much better Larson than last year, maybe Reinhart.....I'm going to be perfectly happy seeing where this team goes with just that. I really don't need, or don't WANT any other big ticket players (yet).
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I'd say the blame would mostly be on: Luck (Not Andrew). And to some extent, the Yotes.
I agree. As of now, the Coyotes are 4 and 23 in their last 27. That is some major league tanking.
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It seems has if he has been producing a lot of points lately, for a team that doesn't really score too many goals, so for fun I looked into his stats/game log this year.
Now, I am NOT by any means saying we can expect this kind of production out of him based on projecting his stats, as we all know how a few years ago Foligno has a short run where we projected him to be a regular 20-30 goal scorer. But, I wanted to project his stats to see what kind of production the Sabres have been getting out of him lately.
He has been with the team, for the most part, since a call-up on Feb 15 vs the Flyers. After that call-up, in his next 10 games, he had 0 goals and 1 assist. He averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time per game.
Since game 11 of this most recent stretch until now (a March 7 game against Washington until now), he has played 13 games, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points.In this stretch, he is averaging over 20 minutes a game, putting him near the very top of ice time per game among forwards. Also of note, for the entire year, he is a positive player (+1 through 35 games...on a team this is a -107 in goal differential.)
I'm just wondering where he fits on this team long term. He obviously isn't just a little better when playing with good teammates and getting more ice time, he is a LOT better when getting more ice time. Yet, if you slot him into a 4th line role going forward, how valuable will he be?
Gasp to think about this..but if the Sabres do NOT finish 30th, do they do something like Draft Hanifan, go with the Nashville model (D-men of Risto, Zadarov, Bogosian, Pysyk, Hanifan) where they can really REALLY shut down most teams, and you have forward lines centered by Reinhart, Girgensons, Larson.....with some talent on the wing to go with them?
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Grigorenko and a late 1st yes, or McCabe and a late 1st.
to be honest i don't know if i want RoR when you already got Zemgus.
I agree with you. For some reason I was never as big of a fan of ORielly as others are on here. Is he a very good player? Yes...but to me you don't trade for him and give up a lot of assets AND give him an very high salary unless he is the KIND of player you are missing.
Don't trade for him just because you think he is good..make sure he fills a hole you have. I'd rather wait and see who develops or see if a more 'top flight' scorer is available....rather than trade for him.
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Not much. Is he the best coach in the NHL? Maybe, but I don't see anything special that he does that other coaches can't do. Personally, I'd rather go the route of a younger coach who is thought of pretty highly.
Would I take his as coach? Sure, but not at the expense of giving him ANY more power than you would any other coach. If he asks for a lot of control over the roster, or an outrageous salary, I'll pass.
I want a GOOD coach with Great players. This is hockey, I don't need to stretch myself out too far with a coach.
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I read Nolan said that Ennis won't play this weekend, but MIGHT play Monday.
We don't know what this latest injury is, but at this point, wouldn't it make sense, if not to sit him down for the rest of the year, for at least a full week? I know it all depends on the injury, if it is just a bad bruise, once it heals, it heals.
But, it just seems like he is turning into, or already is, one of your top 3 players...but the guy gets hurt a lot. To be gained by keeping him in the lineup: Nothing. To be gained by keeping him out: Let him rest up ANY and ALL of the injuries he has or is prone to get....ensure you get to where you want to be soon (guarantee 30th)....force your coach to give ice time to other player he might nornally not give it to (Hodgson, Grigorenko, etc)
BTW, anyone know, or have any strong guesses, to what his injury is this time?
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Looks like another loss tonight.
Since the start of 2015:
-31 losses, only 5 wins
-shut out 6 times (7 if they don't score soon tonight)
-another 14 games where they only scored 1 goal
-making that 21 out of 31 games with 1 goal or a shutout
-15 out of a possible 62 points, which would be a pace for about 39.5 points for a whole season
-an 11 game losing streak, and a 7 game (and counting) losing streak.
-From Janualy 12 to Feb 6, they played 11 games and scored a total of 11 goals.
I think you almost have to look at the Sabres game next week vs the leafs as a likely win..and 2 points for the Sabres.
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I'm not sure where they'll get the money to pay the players.
I'm guessing the Salaries are going to very VERY reasonable. Maybe a couple hundred dollars a game to close to $1000 for the best players? Figure more of a salary structure like the Indoor Lacrosse league (Bandits) started out with.....less like the WNBA. It won't be a full time career for the girls, but just something where they can see where it goes in the future. $15,000 per player, split up amont how many games? 20? It'll be interesting.
4 teams is a bit low.....but you dont want too many or have them spread apart too much. Maybe, Maybe if it works out....a second 4 team division.....Detroit....Minneapolis....Chicago...St. Louis??
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Ryan Miller
Last year with Sabres, .923 save percentage
With Blues: .903
This year with Canucks: .913
Jonas Enroth
Last year with Sabres: .911
This year with Sabres: .903
This year with Stars: .873
Neuvirth
This year with Sabres: .918
With Isles: .882
Anders Lindback
With Sabres this year: .926
With Stars: .875
Why is it with just about everyone they try, the goalies are playing better for the Sabres than anywhere else? And the difference in numbers is pretty dramatic in most cases, not just a case of simply 'seeing more shots'?
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Interesting to read everyones thoughts. I forgot totally about Toews.
As I said on the original topic, I might lean toward Crosby, but I think that is because I have been 'conditioned' to think he is because that is what all the 'experts' say. Some of those 'experts' are starting to say that Toews might actually be overtaking Crosby though.
With my eyes from what I see as a casual fan, I would fear Ovechkin and Stamkos more...and Ovechkin probably tops that list. It just seems to me that this year, you can be playing the Caps and outplaying them, then out of no-where Ovechkin goes and scores a couple and you lose.
Malkin is interesting. His points/production aren't too far off from Crosby on the same team...but I hear just about EVERY year that the Pens have a better record when Malkin plays and Crosby is hurt than the other way around, so that is certainly something that goes for Malkin and against Crosby.
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It seems when you watch the NHL on national shows, and certainly when you watch or listen to anything out of Canada (Hockey night in canada, 590 the Fan on the radio), most people still say Sydney Crosby is the best player overall in the league by a lot. Now, I'm not saying that is or isn't true, but I want to present some arguments why he might not be compared to a few other players, and hear some thoughts form other people. Do you still think Crosby is the best? Or as of right now, would you pick someone else?
The case against Crosby (just making it not because I think he isn't the best, but I have to make the case against what seems conventional wisdom)
-He only has 1 100+ point season and No 40+ goal seasons in the last 5 years. Some of that may be due to injury/games missed, but if you can't play because you are injured, that still makes you less valuable.
-In the NHL, he has one cup win, now in his 10th season. He has played with other great players (Malkin is a league MVP) and several high draft picks (many in the top 5 overall). In that one cup win, they had to beat Ovechkins Capitals in 7 games, and several games (2 or 3 of the 4 wins) had Pittsburgh scoring the winning goals on shot deflections. They won, but it was not decisive at all.
-He is a player that over the last 4 years has averaged 32 goals per 82 games. For his career, it is 39. He has a ton of assists, but, once again, when you play on the PP with Malkin and with several other high draft picks, you will pick up some extra assists each year.
The Case for Stamkos:
-Except for his rookie year he is a consistent guy who is at (or on pace) for 90-110 points, year after year almost without fail.
-He scores goals. Asssts are great, but there is only 1 goal for every 2 assist, making goals more valuable. He scores 53 per 82 games over the past 4 seasons.
-He has played with some very good players, but not always with several top picks in their prime, like Crosby has.
-I honestly don't know how good his overall D-game is, but I have listed to SEVERAL experts say he puts the effort into backchecking that is very noticable and he always works hard, without taking any shifts off.
The Case for Ovechkin:
-We know about his D-game that has been criticized, but most people who watch him say he is much better this year with more effort. Even with his lapses, he brings a physical presence and a 'pest' presence that few other top players bring. +/-, which he as been criticized for...he is a + player for 7 years of his career, and + overall for his career.
-Goals. Hardest thing to do in the NHL. Scoring almost 52 per 82 games for his career. 5 50+ goal seasons and likely a 6th this year. Adjusted stats (for era) one of the top goal scorers in NHL history)
-He is a clutch player scoring. He does not disappear in the playoffs. In 58 games he has 31 goals and 30 assists. That is a 82 game pace of 44 goals and 43 assists, against playoff teams.
-He might be the only player in the NHL that at times is unstoppable,when he wants to be. Crosby can be taken off his game (see how frustrated he gets when shadowed by a really good checker, like against Columbus.) Ovechkin, however, still has the ability to score 1 on 2, and even though you know that one-timer is coming on the Power play, few teams, if any, can stop it.
You can throw John Tavares or one of a couple other forwards into the mix also.
But here is my question....Crosby...Stamkos...Ovechkin...Tavares......if you were a coach of an NHL team, which of those players...right now at this point of their career...would scare you the most to face? Who do you want to avoid in a playoff series? If you were to face a team like Detroit of Boston in the Playoffs (a team without a top 5 player at forward now) which of the above players would you LEAST like to see on a team like that...that you have to face?
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Is Nolan a good coach? I don't think we have to over complicate this. In some situations he is, some he isn't. Period.
The question then becomes when is he good? He would seem to be a great coach for a team where every player has a similar skill set, with no bad players and no superstars. He seems to want to try to treat everyone equally, no matter what the situation. I think he would be a fine coach for a team like Calgary, or LA, or maybe even Montreal. But, as Buffalo looks to add (and/or integrate) high end talent, I'm not so sure he is a good fit with this team going forward.
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I think Neuvirth will be back for sure, probably with makarov as his back up.
I hope so, I'd much rather have Neuvirth than Niemi.
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I know that Mike Weber isn't viewed by many people on this board as being important at all, but I had the opportunity to see the Sabres/Caps game from the DC area and listened to the local announcers. The color guy for the Caps said that Mike Weber is a cheap player and disliked around the league by a lot of other players.
I just never really took Weber that way, as a cheap player more than anyone else. Does he really have that rep? or is it just the Caps color guy making up something to have something to say?
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I probably wouldn't pursue any major free agents this summer. You have some young guys who are ready to step in next year, and others who should be getting better.
Without a big splash in free agency, will the team be a top 10 or even 15 team? Probably not. But, I'd rather let the current team grow together with the additions you are likely to have coming (Reinhart, Kane, Pysyk, MAYBE Grigorenko) and some other young guys being a 'year better' (Zadarov, Risto, Girgensons). Let the team get better and grow, I'm looking at this coming year to be an exciting year, but not a great year. I think the following year is where I'll start to have expectations.
I wouldn't mind seeing Stewart come back on a decent contract (play top 2 line winger the next year or two, then maybe slot into a 3rd line spot after that), but don't forget you have a LOT of prospects coming to Rochester next year that you hope some will turn out to be good players in 2-3 years. I also kinda liked Neuvirth, I would favor bringing him back as your #1 guy for the next couple years over just about anyone else available...but that is really it.
You sign that big Free agent to the 6 year deal and eventually he'll be taking up a spot for the next young guy to come up into.
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I don't think its going to happen at all, but I would be more than happy with Lindy back as coach. I think hes a pretty good coach at least, and I like the guy.
Seeing how I don't think its a real possibility, I'm in the same place with the Sabres that I have been with the Bills, give me a younger guy, not a retread. Someone with at least the appearance of a lot of energy (if anything, it will make me feel good to see that), someone who at the very least accepts analytics and will make some use of it.
some notes about how they are actually playing
in The Aud Club
Posted · Edited by mjd1001
Its not just because of the goal, but I think Grigorenko actually plays pretty well with Gionta on his line...better than with anyone else I have seen.
Ruhwedel, I still think, could have a spot on this team. He seems really really good at getting the puck out of the D-zone. You need to have a 3rd pair, if you are going to have Weber as a stay-at-home type of guy on this roster, I think Ruhwedel and him can give you a low-budget, decent 3rd pair.
This also seems to have the feel of a game were #44 gets a goal.