SabresFanInRochester

Thank you for the clarification. I guess it's good he got the minutes. But, I am happy to see him in Rochester. Let him try to come back up next year and prove himself to a new coach, with a clean slate. Enlighten me to who these players are.

I believe I was watching the Ottawa game, and I watched Grigorenko go behind the net and fight for a puck. The Sabres were able to maintain possession for another pass or two based on his effort. It did not gain attention and was not mentioned by the broadcast because nothing resulted out of his play. I think he is capable of that, and just as I am singling out one specific example, maybe the coaches are doing the same. FInding instances when he didn't win battles. However, if I were fighting for a puck, and feeding it to Matt Ellis, who watches it bounce off his stick, or in turn gives the puck away, I don't know how hard I would be fighting for it either. I am a Grigorenko fan. I don't think he is 100% NHL ready, but I don't think you can judge him by the cast of characters he has on his line. I believe playing in the NHL right now gives him a taste for the speed and level of talent he will face, but as a Grigorenko hopeful, I would rather see him in Rochester instead of playing 6 minutes on a checking line, because he has to prove his effort. This is why I am tired of Ted Nolan and his "compete" approach.

I don't believe in curses, but conspiracy theories are another thing. We could finish 30th and lose the lottery and although the odds say 80% chance of losing, I will be convinced that Bettman did something to sabotage the lottery. I hate the lack of transparency and that silly system that they use. If you were to give Buffalo more balls than the 29th team, and the 29th was skewed to have more than the 28th. ,,, then you pick a ball and they pick first. Seems pretty simple. The countdown sucks.

I remember being at a preseason game in Buffalo during Crosby's rookie year. Other than knowing his name from the hype, he didn't do anything that stood out. I don't know if this is my poor judge of talent shining through, or if it took him a little time to adjust to the NHL. For my ego, I choose the latter!

I see what happened, and, for what it's worth, I did calm down. Tank on.

:wallbash: No, no, no! As Rick Jeanneret once said about this team, "Now do you believe?"

I have noticed in the past, that Buffalo teams seem to make other team's below average players look like hall of famers. The Sabres allow back up goalies to play like Brodeur in his prime. It's been that way for years. And over the past 2 years, Buffalo has been dead last, so it is understandable that teams feel they can play their backup against Buffalo. But I don't think the backup should be skating off the ice with a shutout. Yet, it seems to happen more often than not. The Bills have a tendency to make horrible quarterbacks look incredible. I think I have witnessed consecutive completion records from guys not named Manning or Brady. And they can stop the top running backs in the league, but some 3rd stringer can put 100 yards up on them. Maybe this is a phenomena that every city witnesses due to lack of scouting or familiarity with backups. "Do I try to beat him glove-side high, or five hole?" Or maybe it's the psychological impact that since it's a backup I shouldn't have to try so hard. Whatever the reason, you satirical entry is spot on and appreciated.

YES!!! I had just posted on another thread -- what's the point of playing Grigorenko on the 4th line. Initiation by fire, damn it! At least in Rochester, he's the big fish in the small pond. 18 or 19 games from now, Nolan will be dismissed as coach and the roster will begin to take shape.

I agree, but the cynic in me says just like Hodgson, Grigorenko will see 4th line time with no PP or PK.Completely warranted since Varone plays a heavy game and even though his upside is 5 NHL goals/year, he really impresses Nolan with his style. Let Grigorenko see quality linemates and serious ice time in Rochester, if that's what it takes.

I think I found the analogy that describes my disinterest in the team this season, which is strange considering I am a die-hard fan. Years ago, when the NFL had a strike, they replaced the players with scabs. Sure, it was still the Buffalo Bills, but the games were meaningless and the players were not people who you would associate or get behind. That is where I am now. I want to see Risto, Zadarov, Ennis, and Girgensons succeed. But even when they're not injured, you see them for 1/3 of the game due to shifts and so 2/3 of the game is filled with players who likely will not be on the roster next year. My mindset is -- why bother rooting for them to win. A win is meaningless, and better yet, a loss is worthy of a prize. Tank and improve long-term so I have something I can cling to. I think back to the scab games and I recall fans still going to the game. This is our tank vs anti-tank conflict. I just look forward to getting through all this and having one big-arse party in a few years to celebrate a Cup, where both tank and anti-tankers can cheer in harmony.

If Grigorenko is going to be on the 4th line with... who even knows who is on the 4th line these days... keep him in Rochester. I hate seeing skill players put into roles that they are not meant for. (see also -- Cody Hodgson)

With the placement of D'Amigo in tonight's starting lineup, now I think we can call this the rock bottom. I cannot take much more of this. I used to watch Sabres games religiously; now I might see 10 minutes of a game. I used to love watching to see if Miller would get a shut out, or Vanek would score, or John Scott would get into a scrap or photobomb someone. Other than checking the score, I could almost care less about this team and that feeling sucks. I was just thinking that if next year, they refrain from playing their youth: Another year with no Reinhart, McEichel, Baptiste, ... Just playing a horrible lineup to let the kids mature. I don't know if I can take that. I know we are looking to the future, but this really sucks. Give the team an identity other than, someday they'll be good.

It is great to hear a comment like this. I appreciate your objectivity and open-mindedness. Too often, a player becomes the whipping boy, and then the blinders are up. There is nothing that can change the opinion or perception for that player. I agree with you on Weber. Right now, a lot of people are down on Hodgson. I hope if he is given another chance with a retooled roster and new coach, that people renew their evaluation of him. I was wondering the same thing. There is apparently no one left to call up from Rochester. D'Amigo is next in line. I am starting to worry about our depth!

I know the almighty dollar speaks quite loud, but if you were outspoken about a team intentionally tanking, would you go back to that team's management when you became a UFA? I think we have seen the last of Neuvirth.

I will take your word for it. And conclude that the tank should be duly earned by the roster that is in front of us.

I heard that, but I cannot speak to how good. If you were to compare him to Bogosian, I don't know who would be the more sought after D-man. I think our D is our strength and I don't know enough about their depth -- maybe we don't even have that to our credit.

I agree, but the big picture is not what he got, but what he didn't get. And that is stuck with players that would impact the tank in negative manner. He had to get something. I think Stewart was a bad deal, but I think we are placing too much value on the rest of our roster. Neuvirth for a 3rd seems fair. He wasn't elite. He had a decent run for us, but at the end of the day, that was probably right.

They have Doan and Gagner. I think that would be Buffalo's equivalent of Moulson and Ennis. I am not too familiar with their defense, and would have to give us the edge there. But there is no way their goalie situation is as bad as ours. I see history in the making -- Buffalo and Arizona will be the only two teams in the NHL to not have an expansion player selected from their roster by the Las Vegas Bandits. What a horrible ensemble of players.

NICE! The swiss cheese defense, and a sieve for a goaltender. (Notice that I left the offense out -- get it, non-existent.)

As long as your projected win is not scheduled during one of the two games against Arizona, I am okay with that.

Was in disbelief when that roster won a game. Now, I cannot even image what the lineup looks like without Stewart, Flynn, Mitchell, and Neuvirth. I guess we showed Arizona not to mess with our tank!

Most things mentioned require sabotaging the Sabres chance at winning. We could get creative and find ways to ensure Edmonton and Arizona start winning. Sure, the easy way would be to sabotage their opponents, but how could you entice a band a misfits that they should win? Oh yea, ask the misfits on the current Sabres roster.

I second that. Very true. But imagine how many more jerseys you could sell when the name is McDavid versus Mitchell, or Eichel instead of Varone.

Roofies???

I looked at yesterday's lineup and thought -- there's no way this team can pull out a win. And then they did. I drew a parallel to the movie Major League, when the owner wanted the team to tank so she could move them and she did some crazy things to promote losing. She sold their jet and replaced it with a cargo plane. She sold their charter bus and replaced it with a jalopy. And locker room luxuries were sold or left in disrepair. So what would you do as the fantasy owner to ensure a dead last finish? (And come on... if you're anti-tank, are you really hoping for a run to 28th place???) I think the fire alarm would mysteriously wake every player during the middle of the night during hotel stays. For that matter, the team would be required to stay in a hotel for home games. Water bottles would be filled with Mongolia Premium Vodka. The skate sharpener would round over their blade edges instead of sharpen. Remotely controlled exploding pucks would detonate as a Sabres player threatens to score. We would have to pay a Roger Zorn, and to me, none better than the starting goalie. Bonus for each of his "oh-lay" antics. All equipment, including skates, would be wet before the players get dressed. That has to be uncomfortable. What would you do?