Punch

The roster kind of handcuffs them from doing much, but I'd like to see a little creativity. I prefer Hecht on the 4th line for sure, but I'm interested in sticking with a forward lineup like this for a game or two: Vanek - Hodgson - Pominville Foligno - Grigorenko - Ennis Ott -Hecht - Stafford Scott - McCormick - Kaleta Taking into account Stafford's sudden defensive responsibility this season, it would give the Sabres more of a checking line then they've put out this season, plus I'd like to see Grigorenko with a pair of bona fide wingers that can provide offense. As much as I've been done with Staff for awhile, I've also been of a mind that he is impressionable. Skating him with Ott could certainly benefit him, IMHO.

They haven't quit. That's interesting.

How often does Ehrhoff shoot per game?

Turning point of the season.

He's also built like a veal calf. He gets pushed off the puck like Aaron Maybin getting blocked by a HB. He'll build some muscle if he wants to survive in this league, and I think that he does. Those hands are surgical. I hope he lasts at least as long as M*A*S*H.

Darcy's nightly solemn prayer.

In an alternate timeline, Lindy is the only coach that can get through to Ovechkin and they can't stop winning Stanley Cups. Many worlds, many Cups.

Admittedly, I'm operating under the assumption that you've had zero successful starts in NHL games across that period. Hence the joke.

You've had as many successful starts in the past 15 months as Enroth.

Often when he has a good game, as well...

Lalime-esque: John Vogl @BuffNewsVogl Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth is 0-10-3 in last 15 months: "I still think I can play in this league. I still think I can play very well."

I'm afraid he'll right the ship and buy more time. Yes, I'm actually anxious that the Sabres will turn the season around. I'm absolutely not rooting for losses but I'm tired of excuses leading to 2nd chances with this franchise. We'll have the best record in the NHL over the final 25 games and either miss or make the postseason by a game or two. That'll be enough to stave execution.

I love Lindy. I will always love him--- both as a player and as a coach. Fire him.

"The heroic run to 8th ain't goin' nowhere."

I understand where you're coming from and I am 100% on board with your preferred vision of what this franchise's identity should be, but this assessment of Kassian is still very much in the "Concept of Kassian" and not so much the reality. In the Vancouver games I've watched this season, he is very much a perimeter skill player, mainly using his size in puck possession and not actually laying people out left and right. His confidence has grown playing with the Sedins and being given more ice time, which has helped his brain make the connection between puck possession and play making--- something he lacked during his time here (which is not at all surprising for a rookie). Hodgson regularly drives hard to the net and spends an awful lot of time in the "dirty areas" when called for. A case can be made that Kassian plays a "soft" game and it is Hodgson that plays "hard". I realize that will sound crazy to some, but to my mind, it is very much a matter of perception rather than what is being realized on the ice. I wish Kassian were still here and the player we had Conceptualized, but for now anyway, he is a more talented and fully idealized version of Drew Stafford, not a young Todd Bertuzzi and certainly no Cam Neely.

This. The center position was not addressed until the past 16 or so months: the Leino experiment, Ennis being moved back to his "natural" position, the Hodgson trade and the Grigorenko/Gigensens draft picks (arguably also Ott, to a lesser extent). The Kassian-Hodgson trade was arguably forced because of that egregious oversight, which only began July 1, 2007.

I absolutely agree with this post, I'm on the same page. I'm not suggesting they shouldn't have attempted a rebuild in acquiring a player as green as Hodgson 2 seasons ago, but only acknowledging that they would not have made such a move as they specifically stated they were not in rebuild mode.

Then there's this--- I agreed with weave when he posited that this trade was largely a consequence of Black Sunday. Roster mismanagement in past seasons tends to be terminal. It would take a deft GM hand to stem the bleeding. Then again, acquiring Hodgson the year prior would have had more of an eye on rebuild as he was still too green. The fact remains that Stafford could have been moved for a center which would have made Roy expendable.

This is exactly what happened. These moves weren't made in a vacuum. They were looking to move Roy out, needed a center and found one that has thus far proven to be a perfect match for Vanek. Aside from a few defensive lapses, I cannot complain about Hodgson. His instincts are razor sharp and his hockey intelligence is out of this world. With his work ethic, I don't doubt he'll continue to improve. But I get Drane's point, in general. Kassian and Foligno on this team together were the answer to my wettest dreams. Unfortunately, in order to plug one hole, another one inevitably opens up. The Sabres would likely be worse without that trade, though, and that's very difficult to wrap one's head around considering how bad they've been.

Exactly, it's the worst argument for not firing a coach. Lindy Ruff wasn't an obvious head coaching candidate in 1997, he was an assistant. Sylvester continues to be a gigantic tool.

Well yes, he's doing a great job at what he does and it's important for the strength of the franchise. But he's not a "hockey guy" nor does he claim to be. What do you mean by "hockey guy"?

It's about time... :beer:

Roy would be a great choice, but I'm under the impression he's not yet open to coming to the NHL. I'd expect him to wait to see multiple options.

Yea, I definitely agree. It's time. Well past time, and experienced coach availability isn't going to stop me from wanting to see a change.

Bucky Gleason is always banging that drum. I'm down with the Boogie Man. Wasn't he coaching in Rochester last year? I thought he was fired, but that could have been Niagara.