JohnC
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Posts posted by JohnC
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1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:
Leafs got the goal but the Sabres carried the play.
Are you at the game? If so, what percentage are Toronto fans?
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21 minutes ago, Believer said:
Thought WGR 550 was broadcasting the game… I’m hearing some CBS Sports Talk show?
I'm listening to WGR. Try another browser. Try this link.
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1 hour ago, Thorny said:
Yes, Adams put them in this position for the last 4 years, I agree
“Seek therapeutic care” and it gets 5 likes
good f*cking grief this place sucks. Do better. If you think you have the authority and wisdom and knowledge to assess someone’s mental psyche on a message board to the extent of passing judgment and suggesting professional treatment you are delusional
John, I mean this sincerely: get over yourself
If you are going to seriously call into question someone’s mental state and suggest they need treatment, *as if you know them* because of a venting post on a message board, you are crossing a line. Saying that to someone on a hockey message board is ridiculously misplaced. People should be free to be upset in the way they want without such ridiculous gaslighting. “If you feel this way you need help”. Despicable
You see how hypocritical this is, right? You are passing judgment on someone because of their reaction to a hockey game *based on your reaction to a post on a hockey message board*.
When it gets to the point that people are so angered over something that they choose to get involved with, then it's time to pause and step away for a spell. It's like going to a fish restaurant and then complain that you hate fish.
It's not the singular venting that's problematic. It's the spleen splitting vitriol that repeats itself over and over, regardless of what the topic is. The Sabres won in a come from behind game. Yet for a significant segment of the population the game responses are full of intense negativity over a positive result. When it gets to that point it's time to step away and compose and refresh oneself. We're talking sports here. We're not dealing with serious life issues. It's supposed to be a distraction. Give me a freaking break!
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2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:
Well, someone told the press they stopped cuz ppl wanted Granato fired and he's still not doing it so... petty and spiteful.
Literally keep saying why I don't like it and how the salute isn't the point but you in particular seem to fail over and over and over again to grasp that fact.
It's 100% a worthy issue because the specifically stopped to hurt their fans in retaliation. Goes to character and team mentality.
Assuming that the players in question didn't raise their sticks after a game because they believed their coach was unfairly criticized, my response again is what's the big deal? Are they not allowed to have their own thoughts and express them? You don't think that players sometimes get peeved with media and fan responses? You may reasonably disagree with their stance but why are they not entitled to not participate in a meaningless postgame gesture (due to over-use).
You may think that this is a worthy issue but I don't. It's a trivial and distracting issue that has absolutely nothing to do with play. In this game, Tuch was one of our best performers. And in general, he consistently plays hard. And Greenwood's season-long play has been solid. That's where my focus in on. This has been a disappointing season. My attention is on the play and not some half-hearted stick salute that most of the player do after a game.
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53 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:
Let’s not take away his agency.
Inky has left, for now.
Understandable, albeit regrettable.
@inkman has never left. Just stay out of his way because he is on a rampage. You don't want to get trampled! 😀
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7 minutes ago, inkman said:
Me and the Sabres
What happens in the barn stays in the barn! Just can't quit them!
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5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
I've I said repeatedly and you've ignored repeatedly, it isn't about the gesture. It's the reason they aren't doing it which is petty and spiteful, like a child.
Gotta get that spin going.
How do you know that the two players you mentioned who didn't participate in that meaningless stick salute were being petty and spiteful (your words)? I don't give a dam whether player "salutes" or not or even why player chooses to salute or not. What I care about is how the players played. And especially for Tuch who played well in this game. That's all I ask. My main problem with this "stick-salute" is that it is overused and has become meaningless. There are plenty of valid things about this team and players to criticize. At least for me, this isn't a worthy issue to be bothered about.
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On 3/28/2024 at 4:20 AM, oddoublee said:
They are not paying less taxes than 'ordinary' people. They are paying a lower rate. But they are paying more actual taxes (money).
Regarding Tavares - he has every right to be upset. He signed a contract based on current tax law - and the government not only changed the law (which they can do) - but then went retroactive. Dangerous precedent.
Getting top tier players was already difficult for Canadian teams - this will make it even tougher...which I didn't think was possible.
That said, the allure of playing for Toronto will never go away....
I can't speak about Canadian laws but in the US you can't make a law and retroactively apply it. That's illegal.
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11 hours ago, inkman said:
This team blows at every level. Every scout, player, coach, executive, trainer, anyone who has farted in the general direction of the Sabres needs to go. I’m done with these soft ass losers.
Why do you even watch the games or use your time to comment on them any longer? If you are so apoplectic about the Sabres before they even play a game, then why bother watching them? What's the point? Are you a masochist?
The Sabres won a come from behind game in which Tage scored 4 goals, one of which was an empty net goal. Our young goalie was superb. There was a large crowd that was very engaged. It was an entertaining game. We won. And the result is that you have become even more enraged. I say this with no malice: Seek therapeutic care. Most insurance companies cover the cost.
This self-induced insanity and anger by many over a sport is weird and not normal.
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8 hours ago, Pimlach said:
So 15-20 overall is not a 1C?
I agree with you that Tage is unquestionably a #1C. What I would like to see more from him is a little more jam both on offense and defense. He does it intermittently but not enough for me. Tuch is a big and fast guy who seems more willing to play a more muscular game. An interesting issue is who is best suited to play the other wing on that line? Is Skinner definitely out of the mix? I'm not sure. Is Benson a good option? That would be interesting.
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10 hours ago, shrader said:
SDS said that earlier. I’m asking how they actually stopped the cars in such a tight time window. You’re definitely not getting cops out there to block it off, so thank god they had whatever they did have there.
I live in Maryland. It is not unusual for construction companies involved in projects that have an effect on traffic to hire off-duty police who use their marked cars and are in uniform to be at the site for traffic control. Churches with large Sunday congregations and funerals similarly hire police for this type of traffic control. I suspect that the same type of presence was at the bridge when the boat communicated that it lost control.
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40 minutes ago, SDS said:
That’s a really good question and I’m not sure of the details. My presumption is that at least one side would have various construction vehicles. Maybe that also included the other side. I really don’t know. I’m pretty sure it’s a toll bridge, so I don’t know if they were able to notify them. If I find out the actual answer, I’ll report back.
The boat communicated that it lost control. So there was some time to stop cars from getting on the bridge before the crash.
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3 hours ago, tom webster said:
I’m not sure that’s true but that is old school thinking so you might be right. I think the difference between Benson and Kulich and Rosen is that Bensin’s game is mature enough for the NHL and then putting on weight and years, things he’ll do without playing in the AHL, there is nothing he could have learned from the AHL experience.
I'm an unabashed Benson fan. For a young player who is far from being physically developed, he has a tough and gritty style of play. In a couple of years when he's more physically mature, he's going to be a top two-line player for us. (My opinion.) However, I disagree that there was nothing he could have learned in the AHL. He would have gotten a lot more playing time with a lot more roles than he has now.
As it turned out, it worked out well for him and for the team. There's no question that this has been a disappointing season. And there's no question that he has been a pleasant surprise. Ultimately, he got an opportunity, and he seized it. Good for him!
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2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:
Some good stuff here.
Referring to the bolded sentence. How do you arrive at this? Looking beyond scoring, I see Benson getting ice time in critical situations and playing a much more solid two way game than Quinn and Peterka did last year. He is smaller and much younger, and yet he mixes it up more too.
Benson currently lacks the shot that Quinn and Peterka have, but they are 3 years older and got to sharpen their game in the AHL.
Benson is going to be a hard guy to play against.
He's that already.
At no point in the season have I felt that he is a liability on the ice. On the contrary, a lot of players can learn from his play on how to position themselves in front of the opposing team's net. He and Greenway are our best players in that aspect of the game. Benson already is one of our better back checkers. It's exciting to consider how good he is going to be when he gets more physically developed. This was a terrific draft pick.
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8 minutes ago, tom webster said:
Good teams, which usually get undo credit for player development, leave players in the minors three years because they have no room for them in their lineup.
I’m of the camp that doesn’t believe Benson should be in minors. NFL teams have realized that rookie QB’s can start immediately. In the NHL it’s a little different because of age but if they can handle the physical part of the game, slowly teams will realize that nothing is gained by playing in the AHL.
Under the current system which doesn't allow him to start off in Rochester I agree with you that he should be on the big club roster. Playing in the juniors would not have served much value for him from a developmental standpoint. This is just my opinion but I believe that if the Sabres had their preference they would have started him off in Rochester if that option was available to him.
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Attached is a WGR link from the Sabres Live Show with Kris Baker talking about the prospects in the system. This is a 19 minute segment.
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9 hours ago, tom webster said:
As I’ve stated before, there is no real way to prove the point unless you were able to create an alternate universe. Would player A turn out any different if he was drafted by another team? How can you ever know?
The issue with Benson that separates him from other prospects is the quirky age and junior rule that wouldn't allow him to play in the AHL this year. I believe most people would agree that if that AHL option was available to the organization, that is where he would have started off this season. I'm in the camp who believes that this youngster is going to be a good player for us for a long time.
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9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:
Oh I think he could be very good for sure. I'd say he's our top prospect right now, but I also think he has in fact faded quite a bit, and they've asked too much from him at this point. Look at how many dumbass stick penalties he takes as an example. We need to be putting him in and out of the line up accordingly and teaching good habits not letting him develop bad ones.
I cannot stand the way the Sabres consistently just throw players out there and say learn by playing. It's a terrible development plan and there isn't another team in the league that does that.
On this player we mostly agree. However, I don't see him fading as much as you do. From an offensive production standpoint, he hasn't been much of a factor. But his tenacity and responsible two-way play has been good. What no one can fairly say about him is that he is a liability on the ice.
It is more likely than not that from a developmental standpoint playing in Rochester would have been better for him. But because of the quirk in the rules that wasn't possible. You may disagree but playing in the NHL is better for him than being relegated to the juniors and dazzling down there. As it turned out, he earned his roster spot in camp.
As you note, he has taken a number of foolish stick penalties. But it should also be acknowledged that many of them are marginal calls that don't get called against veteran players. This guy is going to be a good player for us for a long time. I'm confident that in hindsight playing this season in Buffalo will have benefited him and the team in the long run.
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37 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:
Sure he has, but that's not what I was saying. Rookies have irregular development paths and when you rush them in they often have fall backs before putting it all together. Again, look at Mitts path as an example of a first rounder drafted roughly around the same level. Up, down, looked like a bust, got it together, came into his prime. It took years.
Benson might have a quicker and more direct path but he could also easily take huge steps backwards first. It's just the way it is, and we rush our prospects as a "plan" and it's not a good "plan".
Young players do have uneven rates of improvement. But what has been impressive about Benson is that for a player so young and not fully physically developed, he hasn't faded as the season grinded on. If the rules would have allowed it, he would have played in Rochester this year. Although he wasn't very productive offensively, for a young guy he played a very responsible two-way game. And what has been so impressive about him is his willingness to hover around the opposition's net and take the physical abuse that comes doing so. A lot of the bigger and more physically imposing players on our team can learn from watching him play. It's going to take more time---but he's going to be really good for us.
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1 hour ago, FrenchConnection44 said:
Some very good points and positive. Thanks.
That said, I have some doubts about the improvement of the young players, given how other young players have not improved. We need a better off-season program and higher expectations from the GM and staff of young players going into their off-season. Power virtually regressed. He needs to be stronger, bigger, and faster. At 6'5-6'6, he should easily carry 225-230 and be a beast to play against. But he runs 215-218 and is not an exceptional skater with very much speed.
The front office should lay out their expectations for these guys going into the off-season. I want a new coach but it doesn't appear that will happen. So, Granato should let them know that if they don't come into camp in a certain expected physical condition (weight, speed, strength, etc.) they are going to be in for hell. Something has to light a fire under these guys. Power, for example, could be SO much better a player. And Benson should not be 170 next year but about 180, and a lot faster due to expanded leg work.
(Someone - I can't recall who - criticized my criticism of Power's numbers being so low on top-tier skating speed - arguing you don't want a defender floundering around trying to skate fast. However, Cale Makar, in the same category, is perennially at the top of the NHL in defensive speed metrics - I think it's around 24 MPH, as I recall. So either Maker is one of those floundering defensemen, or it does make a difference 😉 ).
But these guys all need to hit the weight room hard. Legs and upper body. Maybe they should all train with UPL, whose extra focus on leg work in the off-season made a massive difference in his game. Get a good skating trainer as well.
The one player I want to add is a quality two-way forward Twho is tough, physical, and an agitator. One who is not afraid to step up and get physical with the opponents. This team needs a physical, tough leader in the worst way.
I appreciate your response. One aspect of your response where I don't agree with your view is that our young players have not improved. That's a perplexing comment. Are you suggesting that Tage hasn't improved since he first came to the Sabres in the ROR trade? How about Mitts? Maybe it wasn't on the accelerated timetable that many people wanted, but clearly over time he did improve. How about JJ? Compare last year to this year? Even Joki, a target of criticism, has steadily improved. UPL has made a quantum leap this year. A gigantic leap beyond what I expected. And let's not forget how many people wanted to deal him off for a retread veteran goalie. It's a shame that Quinn got hurt before the season began and then during it. But it was evident in his rookie year that he was going to be a good player for us i.e. a top two line forward. Do you doubt that the 18 yr. old Benson with an offseason will be better equipped to play against men? I'm aware that because of the recent history of this bedraggled franchise that there is a degree of frustration and impatience with this franchise and its players. But young players usually aren't instantly good. There's a developmental process that is an uneven process.
A case can certainly be made that too many of our young players get rushed to their detriment. Tage and Mitts fall in that category. But they are also both good examples that when given time they will get better with the right support system around them.
I am an unabashed Power supporter. It's not unusual that extremely tall and lanky prospects take more time to physically mature and get adjusted to the NHL. There was a reason why he was the first pick in the draft. Go back and review the draft analysts' opinion of him as a prospect. He wasn't a unanimous first pick by analysts but he certainly was a consensus first pick by the scouts who were involved in that draft year. I'm simply more impressed by his play at this early stage in his career than many are here. In this case I recommend more patience.
With respect to your last paragraph, I wholeheartedly agree and have repeatedly said so. This team has open roster spots to fill. And it has assets to deal to bring in at least a few more good players to improve and better balance the roster. When I argue for generally staying the course I'm not arguing to foolhardily not take actions to improve the roster from outside the system.
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I only watched the first period so I'm not going to comment on the full game. What I saw was that the Sabres played a hard and simple game. For the most part, the players shot the puck when the opportunity presented itself instead of making the extra pass for the cute play. What was also noticeably was that our defense was positionally sound and allowed UPL to mostly to obstructively see the oncoming shot. (Was noted on the broadcast.)
There is no question that this has been a disappointing season, especially with the reasonable expectations entering into it. But if you put things in perspective, the difference between having a playoff qualifying season and not having it is small. If only we would have won a few more games against the lesser teams and have a little better record at home or salvaged a few more loser points in this season. I'm not making excuses because your record is your record.
There are many who out of frustration from how this season has transpired and the accumulated failed seasons strenuously argue to blow things up or to a large extent significantly change the rosters. That would be a mistake made out of frustration instead of a fair-minded assessment. It wasn't that long ago that some frustrated members were zealously arguing to trade UPL for a retread veteran goalie. That would have been a stupendous mistake. And there were many members who argued that Mitts was another failed draft. That was glaringly wrong. He improved with more experience and became one of our better players. Ultimately, because his value increased, he was traded in a good hockey for a young top pair blueliner. There has also been calls to move on from Power. That makes no sense to me. He's solid now and going to be a stud defenseman for a long time.
Even when acknowledging the failed results there are still some major takeaways from this season. The obvious one is that UPL appears to be a good #1 goalie. And Levi is ready or close to being ready to make a quality tandem at that position. That's a dramatic change considering the caliber of netminding that we have been subjected to. In addition, our blueline has not only been upgraded but it has talent in reserve. Maybe next year, Ryan Johnson will be moved up. Our blueline used to be an area of weakness, now it has the potential to be one of the best units in the league.
Next year, Samuelsson and Quinn will hopefully be restored to full health and make this team better. Young players such as Power, Benson, JJ etc. should be better. Make no mistake, I'm not arguing to keep the status quo. I'm not advocating or desiring a blockbuster deal that will strip our team of some of our promising young players. This team will have cap space, an abundance of prospects in the system and players on the roster that can be parlayed for good players who better balance out this roster. What I'm saying is that for the most part I'm advocating that we should stay the course.
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My father was an immigrant from Italy. He once told me and my two brothers: the both of you three come here.
He also once told me to chop the ice before it freezes.
I'm saying this with fondness and not mockingly for a kind and wonderful father.
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1 hour ago, ska-T Chitown said:
To be fair - I don't really think Gus has looked that outta place on "Line 1" either ... At least he finally gave that line some of that magical 'net front presence' they needed.
The HC has juggled the lines and the combos seem to work. I agree with you that he adds more physicality to that line and much needed net presence. He made a nifty back pass to Thompson ?? for a score. But that's more of a temporary assignment that is currently working. And it should be noted that Skinner got a hat trick with Krebs at center and JJ on his wing. To his credit, Granato has tried different things that seem to work.
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2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:
Disagree. Byram filled a big need on the backend. It set up our D corps. Joker partnered with Power has helped Power a lot since the deal was made. The entire pace of play has changed since Bryan has come into the lineup which was desperately needed.
Finding a 2-3 C is easier to replace than a young top pairing D.
After watching BB play for us in this short stint, I like this deal for us. The advantage that having a player like Mitts is that although it is fair to categorize him as a 2-3 C, he still had the talent to move up to the first line and keep that line playing as a productive line. Mitts can also play as a wing on a variety of lines. As you and others have stated, this is simply a good hockey trade that makes sense for all parties involved. It will be interesting to see how Krebs handles his elevated roll as a 3C. So far, I would say reasonably well. However, not sure if that will be his long-term slot.
GDT / Maple Leafs @ Buffalo Sabres Saturday March 30th, 7pm / MSG ESPN+ & WGR Radio
in The Aud Club
Posted
LGR said 70%. WGR estimated 70% plus.