Eleven Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 I'd argue that the last 35 games of the season exposed their weaknesses, and the playoffs were just a continuation of that. So what? They still got closer. In fact, they not only got closer, but won a division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 You said progress is measured by how close you get to the Cup, or how much closer you've gotten, and I agree. By your definition, not making the playoffs and then the next year winning your division is progress. Sorry. You're saying it's NOT progress because you don't like what they've done to get to this point and you see them regressing this year. All that may be true and I may even agree with it, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they made progress this past regular season. It's not the progression you seem to want, and certainly they've done nothing personnel-wise to try to capitalize on whatever gains they made this past year, but there's just no arguing that they made gains--100 points weren't handed to them. The playoff crash exposed their weaknesses, but that should've provided a beautiful opportunity to address those weaknesses while consolidating and complimenting the positives (Miller, Myers, the regular season PK, the regular season 3rd period defense, etc.). The only "gain" was Miller being healthy. They road the leagues best goalie and an incredibly soft early part of the schedule to building up points. Those two points and Myers are the only differences from the season before. They don't have the forwards to compete with the league's better teams and the defense is grossly overrated because Miller saves their @sses every night. This team is just as soft as it has been the previous two seasons. Soft on the ice and in management. There has been no progress in regards to the product on the ice and no progress in changing the core beliefs of Status Quo. Until something on both of the fronts happens you can seriously say any progress is made. I really do laugh when people bring up the 100 points. With the loser points it seems a lot of teams hit that mark. 11 teams hit the century mark which is the highest since the league had 11 in 2006-07. If you take away the loser points, which the NHL should do, then only four teams hit the 100 point mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 You can keep beating that drum about breaking the season into parts. Where do they keep those revised standings in the Hall of Fame showing which teams did better in a certain segment of the season? Right next to the Sabres Stanley Cup Victory exhibit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Right next to the Sabres Stanley Cup Victory exhibit. Also right next to the exhibit celebrating the NJ 2010 Cup with Kovy, and the Capitals' Presidents' "it doesn't matter" Trophy. This team wasn't that freaking bad last year. Rid the team of Stafford, and (hopefully) Connolly, for real players, and it's a serious run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Right next to the Sabres Stanley Cup Victory exhibit. Exactly. Thanks for the fun again but its really getting too easy. I'm going to bed, I have to work in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Also right next to the exhibit celebrating the NJ 2010 Cup with Kovy, and the Capitals' Presidents' "it doesn't matter" Trophy. This team wasn't that freaking bad last year. Rid the team of Stafford, and (hopefully) Connolly, for real players, and it's a serious run. Do you think the Capitals or their fans care if they won the Presidents' Trophy? Do you think the Devils, Canucks or Sharks care about division banners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristian Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Also right next to the exhibit celebrating the NJ 2010 Cup with Kovy, and the Capitals' Presidents' "it doesn't matter" Trophy. This team wasn't that freaking bad last year. Rid the team of Stafford, and (hopefully) Connolly, for real players, and it's a serious run. The team last year, was all Miller, no matter how you slice it. When Miller tailed off, so did the Sabres. Big surprise. I do agree that if you replace the two stiffs with real players, we're talking a different situation, but they were here last year, and the team was that bad last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RazielSabre Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Do you think the Capitals or their fans care if they won the Presidents' Trophy? Do you think the Devils, Canucks or Sharks care about division banners? Err yes, they do. Infact, you and a select few others are probably the only ones who don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregkash Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 can we get a huge lol at blaming anything on the MVP of the Olympics and Vezina winning Goalie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Err yes, they do. Infact, you and a select few others are probably the only ones who don't. Teams that get excited about Division titles are teams that don't win them often. :thumbsup: Just from my own experience I'll tell you that the year Buffalo won their President's Trophy, I didn't really care one bit. All I cared about was Ottawa, because I knew Ottawa was a much stronger team than us all year long and would dominate us in the playoffs -- kind of like how Boston dominated Buffalo all season long and then beat us in the playoffs. Except Ottawa was 100x better. Oh, but then I had to start caring about the Rangers first, because things got real scary there until Chris bailed us out :worthy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted July 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 can we get a huge lol at blaming anything on the MVP of the Olympics and Vezina winning Goalie. How about a big ole rotfl for anyone who thinks anyone is blaming Miller. Facts are being stated, that's all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Err yes, they do. Infact, you and a select few others are probably the only ones who don't. Bull$hit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted July 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 It will be interesting to see how the fans in house treat the banner ceremony in October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 It will be interesting to see how the fans in house treat the banner ceremony in October. I would like to get tickets just to take you and see how you react! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 It will be interesting to see how the fans in house treat the banner ceremony in October. I am interested in seeing how fans react to the team in general. There was a growing amount of dissent with fans last year. Fueled mostly by the inactivity of the front office. Here we are in another off-season of this franchise standing pat. If Miller gets off to a slow start I can imagine that dissent growing at a much quicker pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 I am interested in seeing how fans react to the team in general. There was a growing amount of dissent with fans last year. Fueled mostly by the inactivity of the front office. Here we are in another off-season of this franchise standing pat. If Miller gets off to a slow start I can imagine that dissent growing at a much quicker pace. And what happens if the opposite occurs? Will you and the others keep telling us how it doesn't matter till April? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 The only "gain" was Miller being healthy. They road the leagues best goalie and an incredibly soft early part of the schedule to building up points. Those two points and Myers are the only differences from the season before. They don't have the forwards to compete with the league's better teams and the defense is grossly overrated because Miller saves their @sses every night. This team is just as soft as it has been the previous two seasons. Soft on the ice and in management. There has been no progress in regards to the product on the ice and no progress in changing the core beliefs of Status Quo. Until something on both of the fronts happens you can seriously say any progress is made. I really do laugh when people bring up the 100 points. With the loser points it seems a lot of teams hit that mark. 11 teams hit the century mark which is the highest since the league had 11 in 2006-07. If you take away the loser points, which the NHL should do, then only four teams hit the 100 point mark. Miller and Myers are their 2 best players. There's nothing wrong with that. All teams rely on their top players. I agree that their top 6 haven't progressed much since the prior 2 years. This is the team's biggest problem and biggest disappointment -- although it must be noted that TC finally stayed healthy and had a good season, until of course he got hurt again and was invisible in the playoffs. At this point, their best hopes for improvement from the top 6 are (i) bringing in a good forward from outside the organization, which we all want, (ii) Ennis and (iii) bounceback year for Vanek. I don't think we can count on materially better years from TC, Pommer, Roy or Stafford. I also think you're underestimating their team defense as well as the positive effects that Grier had as well as from Hecht's bounceback year. Do you think the Capitals or their fans care if they won the Presidents' Trophy? Do you think the Devils, Canucks or Sharks care about division banners? I think the Caps fans are deeply disappointed, but I also don't think they are pretending that they haven't made any progress from the (many) years in which they didn't make the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 And what happens if the opposite occurs? Will you and the others keep telling us how it doesn't matter till April? Depends how it "occurs." If Miller plays poorly and the Sabres win because of the play of the forwards and defense that would be a great positive step forward. If it is more of the same where this team is carried by Miller night after night it will simply show nothing has changed and neither will the final results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted July 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 I am interested in seeing how fans react to the team in general. There was a growing amount of dissent with fans last year. Fueled mostly by the inactivity of the front office. Here we are in another off-season of this franchise standing pat. If Miller gets off to a slow start I can imagine that dissent growing at a much quicker pace. I have to admit, I fantasize more of late about a 3-17-4 start that gets Ruff canned than a Stanley Cup-winning overtime goal (by a Sabre, I mean). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 And what happens if the opposite occurs? Will you and the others keep telling us how it doesn't matter till April? You can talk to the hot girl at the bar You can get her to laugh, and light up with intrigue You can get her number, and have her agree to go out with you for dinner and a show You can wow her with a night on the town and propel her into the perfect combination of sarotonin and chardonay You can have her invite you upstairs when it's time to drop her off But once you're at her place.....and the Barry White's playing.....and the moment of glory arrives.......and there's nothing left to chance anymore................................................but your PP doesn't work. EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT NO LONGER MATTERS!!!!!!!! Darcy Pharmaceuticals Inc. sure as ###### doesn't have the patent to Viagra. Enjoy another evening of cuddling, wrapped in your Division Title banner. Hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep, given all the buzzing coming from underneath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristian Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 I have to admit, I fantasize more of late about a 3-17-4 start that gets Ruff canned than a Stanley Cup-winning overtime goal (by a Sabre, I mean). I used to fantasize like that. Until we lost 14 in a row, and he still had a job. Nothing gets Ruff fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
static70 Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 You can talk to the hot girl at the bar You can get her to laugh, and light up with intrigue You can get her number, and have her agree to go out with you for dinner and a show You can wow her with a night on the town and propel her into the perfect combination of sarotonin and chardonay You can have her invite you upstairs when it's time to drop her off But once you're at her place.....and the Barry White's playing.....and the moment of glory arrives.......and there's nothing left to chance anymore................................................but your PP doesn't work. EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT NO LONGER MATTERS!!!!!!!! Darcy Pharmaceuticals Inc. sure as ###### doesn't have the patent to Viagra. Enjoy another evening of cuddling, wrapped in your Division Title banner. Hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep, given all the buzzing coming from underneath. Could not agree more with the analogy here. And there is buzzing coming. The Sabres are most likely going to get thier cans handed to them within the division this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 You can talk to the hot girl at the bar You can get her to laugh, and light up with intrigue You can get her number, and have her agree to go out with you for dinner and a show You can wow her with a night on the town and propel her into the perfect combination of sarotonin and chardonay You can have her invite you upstairs when it's time to drop her off But once you're at her place.....and the Barry White's playing.....and the moment of glory arrives.......and there's nothing left to chance anymore................................................but your PP doesn't work. EVERYTHING UP TO THAT POINT NO LONGER MATTERS!!!!!!!! Darcy Pharmaceuticals Inc. sure as ###### doesn't have the patent to Viagra. Enjoy another evening of cuddling, wrapped in your Division Title banner. Hopefully you'll be able to get some sleep, given all the buzzing coming from underneath. That's a ridiculous analogy. If you go into every season with the only thing mattering is the playoffs, then why bother. I enjoy the games. I enjoy the competition. If all that matters to all of you is what happens from April to June, fine. Go away and come back then. Me? I am going to enjoy another season fully expecting them to contend for another divisional championship and then waiting for the first playoff game with the same anticipation that I felt this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Could not agree more with the analogy here. And there is buzzing coming. The Sabres are most likely going to get thier cans handed to them within the division this season. Based on what? Toronto's imposing top 6? Boston's dysfunction as they try to rid themselves of two contracts they just gave out 2 years ago and causing all sort of good feelings over their handling of Marc Savard? Ottawa replacing Volchenkov with Gonchar and still trying to figure what to do with their cap issues? Montreal ridding themselves of the only thing that won for them in the playoffs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Until we lost 14 in a row, and he still had a job. When was that? Not since the lockout. The worst was 10 in a row (12 of 13) in 2007-08. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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