GASabresIUFAN
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Posts posted by GASabresIUFAN
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Might not want use them as an example :lol:
Pittsburgh did it with Crosby though
And Chicago with Toews (age 20 years 79 days) - that seems to have worked out OK.
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Girgensons scored it, it was at MSG last year. Forget the date but we were down 3-1 or 2-0 until he had two quick assists, both to Zwmgus, but then the Rangers put us away quickly.
SDS, when I have a second I'm gonna ask you a few questions about that if that's alright
Great memory. I which the attached video focused more on Jack's pass to Big Z on the first goal
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Eichel created a goal last year when with his back to the net he passed the puck with the blade of his skate on the puck back to a linemate in front of the net. I can't remember ever seeing anything like it before or since. Anyone know the play I'm talking about?
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I saw Perreault play. It's hard to compare because the game is so different. Back then there was more interference and the red line required more short passes between zones. I think there was a bigger difference between Perreault and other players with their relative speed. He would pick up the puck in the Sabres zone and go end to end past the other team. He was at his best when going full speed. I think Eichel has a better shot and can create more offense while standing still given his puckhandling skills. And as with most modern players, Eichel is in better shape compared to players like Perreault who would smoke between periods. But Perreault would create the same type of excitement whenever he started a rush down the ice.
I agree with Pastajoe. The world must be coming to an end.
I grew up going to Sabres games at the Aud and watching the French Connection. There has been nothing like it since. That said, the Sabres have never had a player with Jack's skill set. Patty, Gilbert, Turgeon, Mogilny, Hawerchuk were all great players, but there truly is something about Jack. I think it might be the mix of great speed, shot, hands and hockey IQ. He seems to know, almost inherently, what the right play is and he is able to further elevate his game when the team needs it as we saw the last 2 games. Seriously, has he ever scored a non-highlight reel goal?
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Lehner in net for Sabres tomorrow.
Gorges unable to practice, call up maybe needed.
Who is left?
I hear Mike Weber is still looking for a job.
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He's too young, give it to O'Reilly.
That didn't stop Edmonton
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Those are your parameters and definition. GMTM isn't going to tell anyone Evander Kane has to score 30 goals. He's going to say he needs to play his game. Which is skating, hitting and shooting.
Again, what good is a guy who takes a million shots and score of none of them (or very few)? We had a injury prone guy who hit and skated fast and his name was Pat Kaleta and he certainly wasn't worth 5 mill a season. Granted Kane is the better and more talented player, but his play this year is Pat Kaleta-ish. Kane is supposed to be a scorer first and foremost, but he can't hit the net on his shot. Even when he makes a great play (which he did to split the D which ultimately lead to Jack's GWG), Kane missed the net from 5 feet on the breakaway.
Kane lead the Sabres is shots last year with 271 and converted at 7.4%, which was 9th amongst Sabres forwards (Only Moulson, Girgensons, and Gionta were worse of the Sabres regulars). With zero goals on 29 shots in 12 games he is even worse. This season he also has missed the net or had his shot blocked an additional 21. So that is 50 shots attempted in only 12 games and zero goals.
I honestly doesn't see how anyone can defend keeping him at this point. There is still time for him to turn the season around, but at some point doesn't GMTM have to throw his arms up and say enough. I'm past that point. I rather give Carrier the chance. I'd take Luca Sbisa and clear some cap and go from there. Barring that, I'm exposing him in the expansion draft.
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If you would have told me that game 22 saw
McCabe-Ristolainen
Gorges-Franson
Falk-Fedun
in August, I would have probably started crying. But these guys are still playing passable hockey, even though probably every single one of them is at least one or two spots too high. Fedun is a big part of that. I like how he's played. We'll see if it lasts and if he can adjust to tougher situations as he slowly receives more of them.
Who would have ever thought that over a quarter of the way through the season our D would be:
1) A top line of a 22 & 23 yr old (and they truly our our two best D even when the whole group is healthy)
2) A 2nd group of two vets with minimal foot speed
3) A 3rd group of two career AHLers, one of which, Fedun is earning a permanent job in Buffalo.
Who would have also thought that that group would be playing an all around better gam then the lineup that included Kulikov and Bogo?
Now we need a fan to create the "Legion of Fedun"
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Captain Jack ..... Has a nice ring to it. Sounds like a song.
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If a guy is acquired to score 30 goals a year as a winger for Jack or Ryan, that is the definition of a sniper. The speed, forechecking etc.. are added bonuses, but they are not the reason he was acquired.
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Is there any question who is the real leader of this team. Time to give Jack the "C"?
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I was hoping that Kane would get a fresh start here and grow into the player the scouts thought he'd become. However, I think the chances of that are diminishing with each passing game. I wrote in the expansion thread about his diminishing shooting %. This is a terrible sign for a guy who is supposed to be a sniper. His 7.4% last season was below the Sabres 8.2% and well below the leagues 9.0%. With ROR, Okposo, Jack and Sam, he isn't getting 1st line PP time now or ever. To give a comparison Vanek's career % is 15.1 and Ovie's is 12.4. Even Jason, 'shoot it wide', Pominville's career % is 11.5.
At this point, I don't care what his relationship with the kids is, it's time for GMTM to see if someone will take him off our hands and free up cap space to improve the D group.
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Kane's speed is pretty much useless at this point. 1st, to be useful you need to stay on the ice. He was injured when acquired, missed 17 games last year, and 11 games so far this season. 2nd, to be useful you need do what your hired to do. Kane was acquired to be a sniper for us. So far in 76 games he has 20 goals. Not horrible until you look deeper in the stats. His shooting % was 7.4% last season and is ZERO this season. This is a continuing diminishing trend for Kane. In his "good" season he hit on 10.5% of his shots. This % has been decreasing ever since. To give you a reference point, the Sabres last season shooting % was 8.2 for the team which was well below the leagues 9%.
Sorry, but to pay 5+ per season for a sniper who can't score is a waste. Add in his off ice issues and you have a great case for leaving him unprotected in expansion if you can't find a trade partner.
That said, I do agree that the Sabres need more speed. We have speed coming over the next few years as Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander, Carrier and Guhle earn places on the roster. This doesn't solve the issues on this Sabres roster, especially on D where human statues Gorges and Franson reside.
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forwards:
3. Larsson - 2 way center becoming a key piece
4. Carrier - had him an out to start the, but now filling in on the top line
5. Ennis - injured again, but under contract. Will lose if exposed.
6. Girgensons - 1st rd pick still looking for his game, but will lose if exposed
7. Foligno - works well with Larsson
8. Kane - likely to be dealt
9. Moulson - reduced to PP specialist. Big contract makes him untradeable.
10. Deslauriers
11+ UFA's Gionta, COR and Grant
I had a very hard time slotting forwards 4-9. A case can be made for all of them to stay or go. Larsson is almost a will protect at this point, but with 3/4 of the season to go any of these guys can still play their way higher or lower on the list. I have Kane the odd man out because he won't be a Sabre by season's end. GMTM is ready to cut bait with Kane and clear the $5 mill in cap space. With Kane moved, the others will all be protected and Moulson will be the only significant Sabre left unprotected. Frankly, GMTM will be forever grateful if LV takes one of Gorges or Moulson off his hands. I also protected Carrier because he is the only significant prospect we have that has made an impact in Buffalo this season and who isn't otherwise exempt.
What will be interesting is to see how this unfolds the rest of the season. Could Bogo and/or Kulikov make an impact? Will Ennis comeback and if so will he find his game? What will happen at the trade deadline? With Eichel back, will this team become a contender? Will GMTM get a D or 2 at the deadline? Will Kane, Moulson or Girgensons be traded at the deadline? What about Bogo, Kulikov or Franson being traded?
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I love this idea, but if UB had a D1 program would it kill Golden Griffins?
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I always reviewed Kulikov this season as a one year tryout for a long-term deal. I agree that trading him at the deadline makes a great deal of sense regardless of whether or not GMTM is interested in re-signing him. Remember we traded and re-signed both Moulson and McCormick (not that those signings have worked well). I would rather get a decent D prospect because our near ready pipeline is very thin. The only reason not to trade him if the Sabres find themselves in playoff contention somehow.Here's a thought I haven't seen:
The Kulikov trade was made primarily with the idea of auctioning him off as a rental at the deadline.
Instead of losing Pysyk to Vegas for nothing, we get an extra second for him, plus the use of Kulikov for the year, and the chance to sell him on Buffalo in the hopes of re-signing him this summer.
This will certainly get him traded if we are out of contention. Since he is a UFA it is highly doubtful the he gets protection in expansion (frankly his play hasn't warranted protection), he should be traded at the deadline.I was talking about the second half: trading him away if you want to re-sign him as a UFA. Unless under that scenario he's made it clear he either won't re-sign or is testing the market no matter what.
Who is in and who is out at the quarter poll (7-3-1)
Exempt (key players and prospects): Eichel, Reinhart, Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Nelson and Guhle
Must Protect: Okposo (NMC)
Will Protect: ROR, RISTO and MCCABE
forwards:
3. Larsson - 2 way center becoming a key piece
4. Carrier - had him an out to start the, but now filling in on the top line
5. Ennis - injured again, but under contract. Will lose if exposed.
6. Girgensons - 1st rd pick still looking for his game, but will lose if exposed
7. Foligno - works well with Larsson
8. Kane - likely to be dealt
9. Moulson - reduced to PP specialist. Big contract makes him untradeable.
10. Deslauriers
11+ UFA's Gionta, COR and Grant
Defense;
3. Bogosian - because we have no one else to protect
4. Kulikov - UFA who imho hasn't earned a new deal
5. Franson - UFA who imho hasn't earned a new deal
6. Gorges - hopefully LV takes him and his contract
Goalie:
1. Lehner - an RFA, but has been outplayed by Nilsson and injured again.
2. Ullmark - played decently in Roch, could be traded to make room for Peterson, but we need to expose a signed/rfa goalie.
3. Nilsson - A UFA, won't be protected unless re-sign prior to expansion, which is unlikely.
Could a draft pick acquired for Kulikov be used as a sweetener to get LV to take Moulson or Gorges off our hands?
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Is there really anything better the beating Chris Neik, the scumbag cheating punk?
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DD isn't going anywhere and how is it his fault that our crappy team can't convert their 10 scoring + scoring chances every night. How is it his fault that ROR can't beat a backup goalie on a breakaway? Or how Girgensons fans on open nets or Kane can't actually get his shot on net?
This mess is GMTM's fault. We have some good players, but no true elite ones other then maybe Jack. Our two best D are our two youngest D, and the vets GMTM acquired to support them stink. He also traded away the developing D in Pysyk, Zadarov and McNabb, two of which have significant roles on their new teams. He also failed to acquire a puck mover or a decent 7th D as injury insurance. (Regier made the same mistake and it was a major factor in our losing the East in 2005.) Our lack of good scoring forward depth has been exposed as GMTM has failed to acquire or develop any finishers at forward. We have lots of 10-20 guys, but no 30-40 guys. The two guys we thought would be those guys, Moulson and Kane, aren't. Moulson doesn't skate well enough to score consistently 5 on 5 and Kane is a physical and mental disaster who can't get his shot on net.
A coach needs good players to win. Joel Quenneville failed other places before getting to Chicago. Scotty Bowman failed here as well. Hell Bill Belicheck, the great coach in NFL history, couldn't win in Cleveland.
I'm not advocating firing Murray either. He still has a couple of years to right the ship, but to do that he must re-think this teams construction. The first step is cleaning out the high paid, un-productive players. Sadly his plan of acquiring 25-28 yr old players to rush the rebuild is failing.
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Eichel practiced with the team yesterday according to a report on CBS. Reinhart has looked much better at center of late. I love Larsson as the 3rd center and think the team is better with COR anchoring the 4th line then Grant.
Assuming Jack is back relatively soon, what happens then? The obvious thing is to move Sam back to his wing and that is probably what will happen. Are there other options?
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Is it a system problem that our guys can't put home great scoring oppotunities? I've watched us dominate in the OT lately and we still can't score. This tells me more then anything that it's the players. They can't score 3 on 3 or 5 on 5 with point blank chances. That's not DD fault.
You can rightly complain that the system is to defensive oriented. However considering that we have forwards that can't finish and defenders who can't clear the zone consistently, what choice does DD have but to make sure the forwards at least back check to help keep pucks out of the net?
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Meh, he's not as good as Girgensons, who's more versatile and can play center, wing, PK, and PP if needed. Plug Zemgus in at center on that line and they'd do better.
Is this post from 2014???
That about covers it.
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Craig Button did a mock draft for tsn.ca recently. He had LV drafting Larsson. No way Larsson is exposed. He is a ROR light and is developing into a guy I can see as a good piece on a Championship team.
7-3-1 is the way to go.
F: ROR, Okposo, Larsson, Carrier, Foligno, Girgensons and........ who?
Maybes: All have issues. Ennis - injury prone and now production issues. Kane - injuries, and bad contract and attitude. Moulson - age and bad contract.
Nos: Gionta - UFA, Deslauriers - easily replaced, and Grant - easily replaced.
Note: I sided toward youth and lower salaries; I also expect to see Kane traded at the deadline.
D: Risto and McCabe. Who is the third?
Maybes: All have big issues: Bogo - bad contract, injuries and inconsistent play. Kulikov is a UFA. Fedun - UFA, career AHL, but played well recently.
Nos: Franson is a UFA. Gorges - age and bad contract.
G: Lehner, leaving Nilsson and Ullmark exposed.
Frankly, the one player we'd lose won't be much of a loss. Losing one of Ennis, or Kane, or Bogo or Moulson saves us tons of cap space without really hurting our long-term prospects much. I've mentioned this before, but I think Ullmark is LV best option of our available players at this point, but with Peterson coming and Nilsson looking great as the backup, we can afford the loss.
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Heard Mike Harrington on the NHL Radio this morning. He said Jack won't be back until Dec 10 or so. He said that Jack needs to get back to practice first before a true timetable can be made. He also said GMTM doesn't want another Lehner situation that ultimately needed surgery so that he won't allow Jack back until he's 100% healthy and ready.
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McKenzie: The #Sabres are not close to trading Evander Kane, but they do appear to at least be open to the idea if they get the right D.
Now that is going out there on a limb.
Expansion and the Sabres
in The Aud Club
Posted
It's not clouding my judgement at all. GMTM's maybe, but not mine. I have said GMTM brought him into to be a scorer and in that role he has failed and is failing miserably. I never said that I thought he was a legit NHL scorer. In fact the stats I have shown illustrate that he isn't a competent scorer at all. Also to call him an above average NHL winger is really not accurate anymore. The average player (forwards and D) scored on 9% of their shots last season Kane isn't even close. Like I said, he is playing a Pat Kaleta game at this point and deserves the same pay scale and ultimate fate. My expectations are that if your being paid like a top two line player and playing on the top 2 lines, you need to produce at that level. If you don't you should be gone.