deluca67
-
Posts
14,503 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by deluca67
-
-
Well, I'm sorry to say I don't quite agree on that, simply because I believe that The Sabres are such a black hole scoring and offense-wise, that even the best and most talented 60 goal scorer would become a 40 goal scorer here.
A 40 goal scorer would become a 20 goal scorer, and so forth.
So when you look at it that way, we already have a ton of 20-40 goal scorers, they're just won't score them here :D
You're so negative <_<
You probably don't even think Toni Lydman is a great hockey player <_< Did you know that the fans in Calgary miss him? :(
By your theory? Drury would be a 5 goal scorer on another team? I mean for the year.
-
That basically goes for any Sabre though, doesn't it?
What's really funny is that if I mention some of the "finishers" available to the Sabres this off season? It's sets off a 100 posts on what's wrong with those players and how great the Sabres scorers are. :lol:
-
Did you ever notice Drury only scores in blow outs or empty nets :lol: That can't be true. Drury doesn't score goals. :lol: Lets pay him $4 million. ;)
-
I'm so utterly crapped off by this team, that I'm seriouslY doubting whether I actually want them to win another game??
They could lose 10 in a row, win one, lose another 10, win another, and that'll be reason enough for Regier to keep Ruff.
If 15 losses in a row is what it takes, bring it on, if it's 25, hell let's get this show on the road, if it's 50 in a row - GREAT!
Just as long as it gets Ruff fired!!!!!!!!
A sad truth.
They are here to stay. Wins and loses are secondary.
-
God I'm so sick of The Sabres, period.
ESPECIALLY Ruff and Biron!!!
Don't worry. Soon Toni Lydman will be back and all will be well. I hear he is missed in Calgary.
-
God! I'm so sick hearing about Drury's face off%. How about his .063 shooting percentage. He gets paid $3 million to score goals not win face offs.
-
Anyone want to aruge that the Sabres don't need a finisher and they are a playoff team?
Down 3-1. On pace to lose 6 of 7?
Does this all sound familiar? Maybe they have a home and home against the Thrashers to get fans excited again.
I'm sure if Toni Lydman was in the lineup they would be leading 3-1 :o
-
here's hoping we can turn things around...
I hope so.
It would be nice to see some fire in the Sabres tonight. Skate, Hit and Finish. Three simple words are the keys to winning. If not. .500 here we come. And a great start will be lost.
Drury has the 'C' and the Contract. It would be nice if he stepped up once in a Sabres uniform. This team needs a leader.
-
I'm afraid you're right. This game was a character test after the Sens game. Like it or not our Swordsmen have the character to show up and play a very good, entertaining 35-40 minutes before relaxing and losing.
It's a sad day when I am the voice of reason :o
Come on guys and ladies. They lost to a solid team on a fluke goal. They were able to skate and hang with Habs. Alot of teams are going to lose to the Habs this year. All they need is one solid defensemen added and they willbe OK. It may take tradeing a player like Kotalik but Darcy needs to get it done.
Also,
Did anyone notice Steve Begin? What did Darcy get for him? Begin was the Player of the Day this week on NHL.com. He was wearing a Sabre uniform.
Begin 9 points and a +6
Drury? 6 points and a -5.
The Sabres only have one plus player on the roster. Kotalik
-
I've never had more of a problem with what you have just said. The Sens were the worst team hockey has ever seen for their first 4 years. (new Sens, not including team from 1930's) They parlayed that into high draft picks which took about 7 or 8 years to develop into the team they are today. Buffalo couldn't get to where Ottawa is because if they lose that badly for that long their will be no team in Buffalo. Therefore, we are only going to be as good as our current players develop into because we aren't going to benefit from having a top two or three pick. Although we should have in the last draft but as usual we got hosed in that to. :unsure:
When was the last season the Sabres finished ahead of the Sen? The Sens are more then just good drafting. Look at the roster and look at the players they traded for. Heatley and Chara. When the Sens lose quality players they get soemthing back for them. They don't just let them walk or get nothing back for them like Regier does.
If Muckler was still the GM the Sabres would be the Beast of the East instead of another pretender.
How do those two games against the Habs look?
-
You guys are funny :lol:
What did you expect.
You sit two goalies for the first month of the season. Give one a token start. And then expect them to shut down the best team in hockey.
Take a good look at the Sen's.
They have had the same problems off the ice as Buffalo has had. They even have to deal with the currencey issue. And yet they are miles and miles ahead of the Sabres.
And by the way. Who is the Sen's GM? Who traded for Heatley?
OK. Come on. Start posting on how Regier is a great GM. Larry Quinn is moron. Getting rid of Muckler and signing the cheapest priced guy they could find. Muckler is building a Cup team in Ottawa just like he did in Buffalo. I doubt they will be as stupid as Quinn was and fire him before he is done. ;)
-
whether we score or not is irrelevant... we need to lay a beating on them if we do nothing else... varada was first now we go after the big line... thats what id do if i was ruff.
"a beating" means nothing.
The Sabres should keep their pride and play their game. This is a measure game. It gives them a point of reference for the next stretch of games. They have beeen playing some bad hockey over the past couple of weeks so maybe this will knock them back in stride.
-
hmm not to throw up to many negetive flags and post but those points are right on.... none of those guys have impressed me either... the sabres are just that... a decent goalie who is learning and becoming invaluable and briere... if he gets hurt... season = done... sorry but its true folks... im enjoying our 6-3 start but lets face facts... it is a 2 man team just like it was with hasek and peca...
They're ONE game ahead of their pace of last season.
I don't see how anyone can watch the others teams in the East and think the Sabres are a top five team. <_<
Tonight's game should tell something. They're facing a good team with a back up goalie. Both teams might play back ups. It's time to go on the road and show something. It's time for Vanek and Drury to step up. It's only the tenth game. But look how fast the first ten went buy. Before you know it it will be 20-30 games.
-
One thing that hasn't been mentioned, but may be a factor in the Sabres favor as the season progresses, is the fact that the Sabres for the most part are interchangeable and they have some NHL level talent in Rochester. Injuries, which may decimate some other teams won't kill the Sabres (injury to Miller being the obvious POSSIBLE exception). The Sabres are a team full of 2nd and 3rd liners (for the most part) and they have guys in Rochester that can also play at that level.
I can't agree with that.
If Briere gets hurt then this team has NO offense.
The Sabres are a good goalie and Briere. What else is there? I can't think of another player the Sabres can't do without. If they had something in the ROC? Why play Campbell on the wing? Why dress Peters. Or Pyatt.
The defense is weak. Teams like Toronto, with a healthy Lindros, will steamroll this defense. They miss Zhitnik real bad. Lydman will hurt you more then help. Teppo is a non factor. What else do they have until Kalinin is 100%? Nothing?
The more I watch other teams? The more I know my early predictions for the Sabres are dead on.
-
DeLuca,
My bad, I was not as clear as I meant to be this morning (no coffee or something). I did not mean to imply that the team is essentially no better off than where they were last time out. I think that they ARE better off than where they were in '03.
I wasn't saying they were essentially the same as last year, I was saying they were similar to last year, but with 1 BIG improvement. They are scoring a LOT more goals than they did last time. They still play a defensive style that limits the opponent's scoring chances, provided they stay out of the penalty box. They give up a lot of shots, but most of those shots are low percentage shots from the perimeter. Keeping the opponents at less than 3 goals against per game will translate into a decent # of victories especially if they keep scoring the way they have been.
For whatever reason, they did not skate from the time that Washington tied it up at 1 until the last 4 minutes of the game. I don't expect that to be a regular occurance. They have skated very well in the games I have watched. There have been people posting that the fact they didn't play well against a bad team causes them concern. I don't know if the problem was overconfidence or if it was due to bad ice and the strange dynamic of playing in Rochester. (NONE of these guys wants to play in Rochester, maybe there was something psychological to it.) We will know a lot more about whether this is SOS (same old Sabres) when they play Carolina in 2 weeks. Carolina is not playing like a bad team this year, but I have to believe the Sabres will have it in their heads that they ARE a bad team. (They're Carolina for crying out loud!) If the Sabres stink that game, then yes, it's SOS; if not, I'll write last night off as an aberration.
I did not have the opportunity to see the Florida game, so I can't comment on that.
As for Drury, I will agree with you, the guy makes more than a checking center should make. I think he signed a 3 year deal, so he will still be getting paid "a lot" through next season. The Sabres aren't going to waive him and it is doubtful someone else would trade for him, and he is good at what he does. So appreciate him for what he is: a good hockey player that brings a lot of intangibles to the team but is not going to give you more than 20-25 goals in a season.
Especially with Drury on the team, the Sabres are an oddity (no, I don't even want to think how you will respond to that partial statement, so please let me continue the thought (sorry smilies aren't working right now for some reason)) in that their 2nd line is a checking line and their 3rd line is their 2nd scoring line. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as now your 2nd line goes against the opponent's top line and your 3rd line gets to play against the opponent's 2nd line.
I like the Sabres make up so far this year. Yes I would like to see the team improved, but from what I have seen so far, I have seen nothing to alter my belief that they can be in the playoffs this year. (I don't expect any changes to the team until near the trade deadline (Darcy is the GM afterall), but on the bright side the trade deadline is a few weeks earlier this year!) They aren't legitimate Cup contenders YET, but they are young and can add pieces to the puzzle. I think they MAY be legitimate contenders in ~2 more years, maybe even next year. (It starts and ends with goaltending.) I plan on enjoying the ride this year, hoping they end up with something they can build on.
That is why I look forward to your posts. It so much better then the "you're negative and you suck" posts.
You come strong with a bunch of great points. One I have to disagree with.
When you say the Sabres are scoring "a Lot" more goals. Is it possible it is an artificial inflation? Is not scoring up around the league because of the new rules? Are not other teams having the same increase in scoring? Have the Sabres gained anything? I am looking around at the rest of the Conference and it worries me. I want the Sabres to make the playoffs more then anything. More then the Bills. I see Drury with a history of pro-longed droughts and Vanek having trouble finding his touch and I worry. This defense is weak. They got knocked of the puck easily against a weak Caps team.
If Miller is not rock solid and Briere doesn't score this team can't seem to win. They need to be more than that. :(
-
Guys, it's ONE bad game. If they repeat it, yeah there may be reason to be concerned. I fully expect them to come out and play much better this weekend. It's not a good thing that they threw away the 2 points last night, but some good may come from it. Hopefully this was a wake up call for them to realize that they weren't winning because they were inherently better than the opposition, they were winning because they were outskating the opposition.
Just for a little perspective, they are now sitting at 6-3, last year they were 5-4 at this point. They gave up 25 goals through the 1st 9 both years. The difference in where that 1 extra win came from is they are sitting w/ 27 goals right now vs 21 last year. The extra goals came from them getting a ton more shots than last year. If they go back to skating like crazy, they will go back to getting a ton of shots. They score on essentially the same %age of their shots as the opposition. Outshoot (read: outwork) the opposition and the W's will come.
Dave,
Telling me the Sabres are basically the same team as a team that couldn't make the playoffs is not a good thing, it's a bad thing.
You can count the Florida game as the first "bad" game. The game against the Sens was as expected. With the Sens at 100% the Sabres are not in their league.
The worst thing the Sabres, or any team, can do is ignore it's own flaws. They play in the best Division in hockey which resides in the best Conference in hockey. Their flaws will be exposed. And having a $3 million face off guy is a flaw. They need goals and points from that $3 million. 9gp 3 assists and a -2 should get you benched. Add that to his previous season in Buffalo and your looking one of the biggest Buffalo Sabre failures in team history. Both Steve Reinprecht and Steve Begin are out producing him.
Your looking at a potential scale larger then Pyatt and Connolly( who is also out producing Drury). I think 85 games is time to start being concerned. :o
-
I see this as another test of character, much like the game against The Pens. It'll be easy for The Sabres to come out expecting an easy game.
If they come out with fire, I'll truly believe they have become the hardest working team in hockey, again.
And they did.
This game looked allot like last season. They didn't play smart or hard. It's only the ninth game. That's a bit early to start taking games off. They were at the end of a 3 in 10 stretch so fatigue was not an issue. They just tanked.
This team needs finishers. You can officially take Drury off that list. You can also see Vanek starting to press a bit. The longer it goes the more pressure he'll feel.
And just becuase :
Satan is sitting with 7 goals after 9 games. Including 4 PP goals. Not replacing his production may be the one biggest reason that this team misses the playoffs.
Also,
As far as the "hardest working team in hockey". Take a look at the Preds or Habs first.
-
Kotalik on the PP point may be the best move this team makes this season. He could be as effective as when Miro played the point. He has good control of his shot and is not afraid to use.
Drury was 16-3 on face offs. I big jump from the 14-14 last time out. I'm not sure that I like him being another Brent Peterson. He needs to bring more then face off wins.
The Sabres are following a tried and true method of success. Win your games at home and split on the road. It's up to the fans now to make the HSBC a unpleasent place to play.
-
ouch, that hurt
Florida is a good team with a great goalie. Luckily for the Sabres they are not in the division. The Sabres have 5 days to get ready for the Bruins. They should spend the whole time working on the PP.
If there is a deal to be made for a PP point man I hope they make it and make it soon. There are too many good teams in the East to waste time. They lost a point last night and points like that will come back to haunt them.
Canes @ Sabres Game Thread
in 2005/2006 Season
Posted
No.