PromoTheRobot Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 We are all busy following the Tuch saga and pitching hypothetical trades, but I don't think we have reflected on the past season, and more importantly, what players made the Sabres division winners with 109 points? Was it all Tage and Ras? Muel and Zucker? Where does the magic of the winning Buffalo Sabres come from, and what losses could ruin that magic? What players have to remain to keep winning? 2 Quote
Popular Post Doohickie Posted June 9 Popular Post Report Posted June 9 A Raging Doaner has joined the chat. 11 Quote
Flashsabre Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 The top 4 D, Tage, Doan, Benson, Östlund, Helenuis would be my core moving forward. 1 1 2 2 Quote
inkman Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 25 minutes ago, Flashsabre said: The top 4 D, Tage, Doan, Benson, Östlund, Helenuis would be my core moving forward. Love the guys you mentioned. I just don't want to get away from sprinkling in vets who play the right way and have immeasurable value aka Zucker, McCleod, Timmins. The vets we sprinkle in don't have to be those guys but they have been a part of what the Sabres have been building. I think it would be short sighted to toss them to the wind. 4 2 2 Quote
SHAAAUGHT!!! Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Will the real Sammy please stand up? Muel and Zucker were a huge part of this season. Was that the ceiling for Sammy or does he have more to his game. Lyon and Metsa get an honorable mention for stepping up. Can they keep the same pace next season? There are so many storylines to follow and this is so much more fun that looking and ranking draft possibilities. 1 Quote
LETSTUCHINGO Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 (edited) 2 hours ago, inkman said: Love the guys you mentioned. I just don't want to get away from sprinkling in vets who play the right way and have immeasurable value aka Zucker, McCleod, Timmins. The vets we sprinkle in don't have to be those guys but they have been a part of what the Sabres have been building. I think it would be short sighted to toss them to the wind. Agree with everything except McCloud this year. He was off all season and almost got benched. He was often times a defensive liability, unlike how he was last year. If he's not traded, hopefully he can return to form Edited June 9 by LETSTUCHINGO 1 Quote
inkman Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Just now, LETSTUCHINGO said: Agree with everything except McCloud this year. He was off all season and almost got benched. He was often times a defensive liability, unlike how he was last year. If he's not trade, hopefully he can return to form Like I said, it doesn’t need to be those guys Quote
LETSTUCHINGO Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 4 minutes ago, inkman said: Like I said, it doesn’t need to be those guys I'm aware. Thought this thread was about the guys who are making it go. Like I said, McCloud wasn't one of them this year bc of his uncharacteristic lack of defense. Quote
Pimlach Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said: We are all busy following the Tuch saga and pitching hypothetical trades, but I don't think we have reflected on the past season, and more importantly, what players made the Sabres division winners with 109 points? Was it all Tage and Ras? Muel and Zucker? Where does the magic of the winning Buffalo Sabres come from, and what losses could ruin that magic? What players have to remain to keep winning? Maturity is why they finally started winning. They had to figure out how to win close games and protect leads. This is where the right vets can help a lot. Tuch, Zucker, Malenstyn, Lyon, and McLeod were all good veteran acquisitions. Now Dahlin and Tage are vets. Byram and Muel are vets. Quinn and Krebs are vets. Guys like Doan and Metsa are not vets but they played like vets. In the past they took too many shortcuts, especially defensively, they know better now. 1 1 Quote
dudacek Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Dahlin is the engine Tuch Thompson the go-to forwards who are trending to be underrated after the Montreal series. Mule Power Byram Benson Doan set the tone But the depth and zest of the rest of the roster - so many useful pieces - is the identity of the team. It is a team, and that is why the season was special. Its a delicate line Jarmo walks this summer. 6 Quote
Doohickie Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 15 minutes ago, dudacek said: Mule Power Byram Benson Doan set the tone Interesting that that's the first comment in the post that mentions Power by name (although there was a "top 4 D" mention). Quote
JP51 Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 3 hours ago, Doohickie said: A Raging Doaner has joined the chat. I remember I posted a thread before the season last year... who was the player that was going to be the guy that inspired the change needed in the team to get to the playoffs this year.... I picked Doan... I stand by that 100% I will also say a more mature Benson and a revitalized Mule were also huge.... 2 Quote
dudacek Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 11 minutes ago, Doohickie said: Interesting that that's the first comment in the post that mentions Power by name (although there was a "top 4 D" mention). In terms of his play, he’s there. In terms of “more to come” he should still be included with Östlund Kulich Benson Helenius Mrtka and Doan. He’s maturing into a very good player and it’s nice to see some people are starting to notice what he brings rather than what he doesn’t. I am particularly happy to see that when the stakes were highest in the playoffs, he played some of his best hockey. 6 Quote
Nacho Libre Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson Benson, Tuch, Malenstyn 1 1 Quote
PerreaultForever Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 It wasn't a player, or any players. It was the team finally realizing they needed to play with structure and they learned their responsibilities in a defensive system. For years they had talented guys but only played well in open ice games as they were a free wheeling run around and chase people mess. Can't remember how many times you saw 3 or 4 guys chasing one puck and leaving half the ice uncovered and that included Dahlin and all the other big names. We were a mess and although it took him a year and a half, Ruff finally got them to play like a proper team. and thus, as a team, just about everybody looked better. 3 Quote
PickaPecaPickles Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 7 hours ago, Flashsabre said: The top 4 D, Tage, Doan, Benson, Östlund, Helenuis would be my core moving forward. Good list. Mine would include Quinn. I was really impressed by his overall game in the playoffs. I think he's going to have a breakout year. 2 Quote
Pimlach Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 4 hours ago, dudacek said: Dahlin is the engine Tuch Thompson the go-to forwards who are trending to be underrated after the Montreal series. Mule Power Byram Benson Doan set the tone But the depth and zest of the rest of the roster - so many useful pieces - is the identity of the team. It is a team, and that is why the season was special. Its a delicate line Jarmo walks this summer. 3 hours ago, dudacek said: In terms of his play, he’s there. In terms of “more to come” he should still be included with Östlund Kulich Benson Helenius Mrtka and Doan. He’s maturing into a very good player and it’s nice to see some people are starting to notice what he brings rather than what he doesn’t. I am particularly happy to see that when the stakes were highest in the playoffs, he played some of his best hockey. Yeah, well Power was good in the playoffs, but "set the tone" has a different meeting to me - it implies playing with dominance. I saw him buying into playoff hockey and doing things better than he did in the regular season with way fewer mistakes. I saw his high hockey IQ in action. I saw him not shy away from physical play. "Setting the tone" to me has more impact than he had, but he is certainly coming on. Someday he might realize he can actually dominate the play more, once he does that he will set the tone in the way that Dahlin can. 1 Quote
dudacek Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 2 minutes ago, PickaPecaPickles said: Good list. Mine would include Quinn. I was really impressed by his overall game in the playoffs. I think he's going to have a breakout year. I think stuff like this is exactly the minefield Jarmo has to walk this summer. Quinn or Kulich? Helenius or Östlund? McLeod or Norris? Byram or Tuch? Lukkonen or Levi? Danforth or Malenstyn? Krebs or Kesselring? It’s not necessarily these particular choices, it’s just that choices have to be made: there is not enough roster or cap space to keep them all. Who has peaked? Who has more to give? Which ones do you keep, which do you move? Who can be replaced internally? Who needs to be brought in from the outside? So many variables. 1 Quote
Eleven Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Not every post in here makes good sense, but I'll share that the team needs Beck Malenstyn. 4 2 Quote
dudacek Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 19 minutes ago, Pimlach said: Yeah, well Power was good in the playoffs, but "set the tone" has a different meeting to me - it implies playing with dominance. I saw him buying into playoff hockey and doing things better than he did in the regular season with way fewer mistakes. I saw his high hockey IQ in action. I saw him not shy away from physical play. "Setting the tone" to me has more impact than he had, but he is certainly coming on. Someday he might realize he can actually dominate the play more, once he does that he will set the tone in the way that Dahlin can. Snuffing attacks and flipping the ice with precision and concision is central to the Sabres game. Power is nearing elite status at that crucial and under appreciated aspect of hockey. 1 Quote
Scottysabres Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 Kosta Helenius, Zach Benson, Josh Doan These are my forwards who run the hamster wheel. Rasmus Dahlin, Bo Byram, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson. These are the overall players that make it go. Without hesitation I say now, the Sabres top 4 are the true architects of power behind all that they have become, are now and will be in to the future. ”Long Live The Defensive Core 4” Quote
Nacho Libre Posted June 9 Report Posted June 9 People listing guys who didn’t play the majority of the 109 point season as the engine behind what made the 109 point season go shouldn’t ever change 1 3 Quote
PromoTheRobot Posted June 10 Author Report Posted June 10 5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said: It wasn't a player, or any players. It was the team finally realizing they needed to play with structure and they learned their responsibilities in a defensive system. For years they had talented guys but only played well in open ice games as they were a free wheeling run around and chase people mess. Can't remember how many times you saw 3 or 4 guys chasing one puck and leaving half the ice uncovered and that included Dahlin and all the other big names. We were a mess and although it took him a year and a half, Ruff finally got them to play like a proper team. and thus, as a team, just about everybody looked better. Okay. But if you lost a key play would that go away, or will anyone coming to Buffalo just get it right off? Quote
PASabreFan Posted June 10 Report Posted June 10 5 hours ago, Nacho Libre said: People listing guys who didn’t play the majority of the 109 point season as the engine behind what made the 109 point season go shouldn’t ever change No goalie played the majority of the season. The OP's query is pretty wide open, up to and including what players have to remain? 1 Quote
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