Posted by Patrick!:
The Sabres are eerily similar to the Phoenix Suns, I was thinking about this today.
Both teams took advantage of a new era in their sport to put up obscene offensive numbers, somewhat at the expense of defense. They were led by players who were good but not great in other markets, but were able to flourish in an offensive scheme(Nash-Danny B). The scheme worked great in the regular season, but were denied of a title because of fluky things like officiating/injuries. Then they got cheap and dumped their glue guys (McKee, Grier/Joe Johnson). This didn't affect them in the regular season, where they both went to unparalled success, but pretty much everyone knew they weren't gonna win the whole thing. Then they both completely gutted their teams of some of their stars(Druere, Campbell/Marion, Diaw) and returned to mediocrity.
Both are notable because free agents from these teams have gotten huge contracts, then proven that the system does the work, not them. I was looking at a list of 10 worst contracts in each sport, and 4 of the NBA ones played under Mike D'Antoni at some point, coupled with Drury, Briere, McKee, and Campbell all being on the NHL list.
I just thought the situations were really similar, and decided to share these thoughts with y'all.
Continue the discussion here:
http://talkbuffalosports.com - "Random thoughts about the Sabres and Parallels..."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Rumor: Souray requests trade...
Posted by: Carl J. Ironsides:
I absolutely love Souray. He's mean, great offensively and is a leader; sure, he's not that good defensively, but I think he'd be a huge asset to this team. Reunite the Souray-Rivet pairing
.
He's on a three-year, $14.5 million contract, which is solid.
http://www.oilersnation.com/2009/04/tuned-out/
Continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "Rumor: Souray requests trade..."
I absolutely love Souray. He's mean, great offensively and is a leader; sure, he's not that good defensively, but I think he'd be a huge asset to this team. Reunite the Souray-Rivet pairing
.He's on a three-year, $14.5 million contract, which is solid.
http://www.oilersnation.com/2009/04/tuned-out/
Quote:
Rumours Souray has asked to be dealt began several weeks ago and they’ve persisted since. To this point, neither Souray or anybody in the Oilers front office has gone on the record to put the talk to rest. Until thatContinue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "Rumor: Souray requests trade..."
Friday, March 27, 2009
The day I decided that Ruff was neutered...
Posted by Thumper:
3.20.2009
Lalime was Gomez'd by Carcillo....Considering what happend to Miller, you'd think that this situation would be like a ticking time bomb that just finally went off. But on the contrary, not one player on the ice did anything. Not one player that saw it happen from the bench did anything. Lindy Ruff didn't instruct any of his players to do anything, much like he didn't instruct any of his players to do anything to Gomez. He may have even instructed his player to not do anything in retailiation.
Thomas Vanek, this teams proverbial star player, comes to the defense of Tim Connolly in front of the Flyers net. Thomas Vanek, fresh off of a broken jaw injury, while still wearing his protective cage gets put into a fucking head lock for coming to the defense of Connolly. Tell me, fellow fans...You tell me what collection of players on any NHL team would watch their superstar get put into a head lock (even without a recent broken jaw injury) and not even react to it in the slightest. I didn't even know that was possible in hockey. I don't care how good or bad any team is...When your star player gets harrassed, someone always goes ape shit, as they should. But not on this team.
There was a time when Ruff and his team would stick up for their star players and stick up for their goalies. It doesn't matter if there aren't enough players with the balls to do the dirty work. There are still players that would, if their coach told them too. Kaleta and Gaustad weren't on the ice when any of these situations happend. Perhaps if they were, retailition may have taken place. But considering they weren't on the ice, no one can tell me that if Ruff had told Kaleta or Gaustad to take a run at Lundqvist or Biron, or to put Carter into a head lock, or to challenge Carcillo, that the players wouldn't have done it. They would have done it because it's in their characture to, if their coach instructed them to do it. Its very possible that he instructed the opposite. Whether he did or not, the fact that it didn't happen at all, to me, I look at the head coach and blame him for that.
This roster is made up of mostly soft players. But there are a couple of players that have in their chemical make up to respond. When they don't respond, there's a reason.
Posted by budman90:
I agree fully with thumper on this topic. And it wasn't just that philly game that showed me that the sabres are a bunch of pussies. During the Ranger game Avery grabbed Vanek by his cage and jerked his head down after the play. And what happened after that? Absolutely nothing. Vanek didn't even push Avery off of himself. What a bunch of fucking pussies.
Posted by MauvaisSang:
There are countless examples of this throughout the season. Ruff shouldn't have to tell his players, it should be a damned reflex to stand up for your teammates (the way Stafford did for Drury.) I've seen that from this group very rarely this year - Rivet is about the only person I can think of who has immediately come to the aid of a teammate more than 3 or 4 times.
Posted by The Common Man:
Ruff shouldn't have to tell them. Buf if they're not doing it on their own, he needs to encourage it.
But Ruff is on the record as saying NOT to retaliate when Miller got ran...isn't he?
Something about playing 5 on 5?
Lotta good that did.
Posted by LALALALALALAFONTAINE:
He also said don't retaliate against Philly after Campbell's destruction of Umberger.
The problem is that people don't think Briere and Drury and even Campbell weren't tough. They were. Being tough doesn't mean being big (like Gratton), but having the toughness to go in front of the net, in the corners and so on. And when you have a small guy like Briere, he can call anyone out. Paille was one guy who AVOIDED contact. How can you get someone who's afraid of getting checked to be tough? Simple. Replace the pussies with guys like Briere and Drury who are tough. It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, yada yada yada...
Posted by Thumper:
Briere and Drury had a level of grit that very few players on this team have. Grit in a way that they'd do whatever it takes to score goals from being in or very close to the blue paint of the goal crease.
Vanek has the intangible. Stafford did for a little while when Vanek was out....But Vanek is probably the only one that is consistantly willing to stand in there and take the beating.
Read up and continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "The day I decided that Ruff was neutered"
3.20.2009
Lalime was Gomez'd by Carcillo....Considering what happend to Miller, you'd think that this situation would be like a ticking time bomb that just finally went off. But on the contrary, not one player on the ice did anything. Not one player that saw it happen from the bench did anything. Lindy Ruff didn't instruct any of his players to do anything, much like he didn't instruct any of his players to do anything to Gomez. He may have even instructed his player to not do anything in retailiation.
Thomas Vanek, this teams proverbial star player, comes to the defense of Tim Connolly in front of the Flyers net. Thomas Vanek, fresh off of a broken jaw injury, while still wearing his protective cage gets put into a fucking head lock for coming to the defense of Connolly. Tell me, fellow fans...You tell me what collection of players on any NHL team would watch their superstar get put into a head lock (even without a recent broken jaw injury) and not even react to it in the slightest. I didn't even know that was possible in hockey. I don't care how good or bad any team is...When your star player gets harrassed, someone always goes ape shit, as they should. But not on this team.
There was a time when Ruff and his team would stick up for their star players and stick up for their goalies. It doesn't matter if there aren't enough players with the balls to do the dirty work. There are still players that would, if their coach told them too. Kaleta and Gaustad weren't on the ice when any of these situations happend. Perhaps if they were, retailition may have taken place. But considering they weren't on the ice, no one can tell me that if Ruff had told Kaleta or Gaustad to take a run at Lundqvist or Biron, or to put Carter into a head lock, or to challenge Carcillo, that the players wouldn't have done it. They would have done it because it's in their characture to, if their coach instructed them to do it. Its very possible that he instructed the opposite. Whether he did or not, the fact that it didn't happen at all, to me, I look at the head coach and blame him for that.
This roster is made up of mostly soft players. But there are a couple of players that have in their chemical make up to respond. When they don't respond, there's a reason.
Posted by budman90:
I agree fully with thumper on this topic. And it wasn't just that philly game that showed me that the sabres are a bunch of pussies. During the Ranger game Avery grabbed Vanek by his cage and jerked his head down after the play. And what happened after that? Absolutely nothing. Vanek didn't even push Avery off of himself. What a bunch of fucking pussies.
Posted by MauvaisSang:
There are countless examples of this throughout the season. Ruff shouldn't have to tell his players, it should be a damned reflex to stand up for your teammates (the way Stafford did for Drury.) I've seen that from this group very rarely this year - Rivet is about the only person I can think of who has immediately come to the aid of a teammate more than 3 or 4 times.
Posted by The Common Man:
Ruff shouldn't have to tell them. Buf if they're not doing it on their own, he needs to encourage it.
But Ruff is on the record as saying NOT to retaliate when Miller got ran...isn't he?
Something about playing 5 on 5?
Lotta good that did.
Posted by LALALALALALAFONTAINE:
He also said don't retaliate against Philly after Campbell's destruction of Umberger.
The problem is that people don't think Briere and Drury and even Campbell weren't tough. They were. Being tough doesn't mean being big (like Gratton), but having the toughness to go in front of the net, in the corners and so on. And when you have a small guy like Briere, he can call anyone out. Paille was one guy who AVOIDED contact. How can you get someone who's afraid of getting checked to be tough? Simple. Replace the pussies with guys like Briere and Drury who are tough. It ain't the size of the dog in the fight, yada yada yada...
Posted by Thumper:
Briere and Drury had a level of grit that very few players on this team have. Grit in a way that they'd do whatever it takes to score goals from being in or very close to the blue paint of the goal crease.
Vanek has the intangible. Stafford did for a little while when Vanek was out....But Vanek is probably the only one that is consistantly willing to stand in there and take the beating.
Read up and continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "The day I decided that Ruff was neutered"
Monday, March 23, 2009
Why the [Sabres] aren't in the playoffs '09...
Posted by:DJNIK
(DJNIK is a Sabres fan from Belgium)
Look at the Canes ans the Pens, they were on a play off push and they moved their asses! You see where they are now..
Here's what i think about some gheybres players now:
- VANEK: incredible misses since his return, less explosivity than at the start of the season where he was all over the ice.
- STAFFORD: since the VANEK CONNOLY STAFFORD line has been broken, he's a ghost.
-CONNOLLY: play where and when he wants...
- POMMINVILLE: what can we say anymore?
- HECHT: look at pomminville comment..
- MAC: 10 GOALS at the first half, how many in the second...
- OUR D: too soft, too many lose pucks, no Goltending protection...
- OUR STAFF: deadline moves were awfull, and they will be the same next summer. You will see regier resign the majority of the team like last year and there will be no changes to this unexplosive team.
My only satisfactions in this team:
- ROY: after a bad season beginnning, he's first in points and regular.
- BUTLER: good young D.
- KALETA: if all the sabres were skating like him, we will get a dynamic team.
I think now we will end behind toronto and ottawa...
Continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "Why the Geybres are'nt in play offs 09..."
(DJNIK is a Sabres fan from Belgium)
Look at the Canes ans the Pens, they were on a play off push and they moved their asses! You see where they are now..
Here's what i think about some gheybres players now:
- VANEK: incredible misses since his return, less explosivity than at the start of the season where he was all over the ice.
- STAFFORD: since the VANEK CONNOLY STAFFORD line has been broken, he's a ghost.
-CONNOLLY: play where and when he wants...
- POMMINVILLE: what can we say anymore?
- HECHT: look at pomminville comment..
- MAC: 10 GOALS at the first half, how many in the second...
- OUR D: too soft, too many lose pucks, no Goltending protection...
- OUR STAFF: deadline moves were awfull, and they will be the same next summer. You will see regier resign the majority of the team like last year and there will be no changes to this unexplosive team.
My only satisfactions in this team:
- ROY: after a bad season beginnning, he's first in points and regular.
- BUTLER: good young D.
- KALETA: if all the sabres were skating like him, we will get a dynamic team.
I think now we will end behind toronto and ottawa...
Continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - "Why the Geybres are'nt in play offs 09..."
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Denver in a Corner...
Posted by Hayden Fox:
Post #1:
OK, the Broncos are going to have to trade Cutler eventually. And it's assumed they'd want a decent quarterback in return. Is Edwards the best they could possibly get? Think about it...
Jets: Without question, Kellen Clemens is not as good as Edwards.
Browns: Brady Quinn might prove to be better than Edwards, so I could see him to Denver as a realistic possibility.
49ers: Shaun Hill came on late last year, but who the hell wants to replace Cutler with him? He's 29 years old and has proven next to nothing.
Rams: Crickets.
Lions: Drew Stanton? :puke2:
Bears: Kyle Orton?
Panthers: Crickets.
Buccaneers: Crickets.
If the Bills want to do this -- maybe they do, but maybe not -- I think they'd have a great chance to land Cutler. Denver has to move him, it seems, and I think the Bills and Browns could make the best case for him IF Denver wants a good QB prospect in return. The Broncos could always sign a guy like Garcia and draft a QB in the first round, but I've read that they want a QB in return for Cutler. Plus, why replace Cutler with another first-rounder? I'd rather have Edwards or Quinn, who have shown flashes, and a couple of picks than a completely unproven commodity such as Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman and a couple of picks.
Post #4:
I'm down with Trent, but Cutler here is an exciting prospect. The beef with Trent with me is twofold: 1. Durability. He has gotten consistently hurt for significant stretches year in and year out since college. And as I've said about 400 times, the idea of Rory Fitzpatrick (fuck calling him Ryan) throwing the ball to Terrell Owens is enough to make me...
.
Cutler, on the other hand, hasn't missed a start in his two full years. 2. The arm. I think Edwards' arm is better than his detractors say; with that being said, though, Cutler has an elite arm. No matter the conditions, whether it's wind, rain, snow or a combo of all three, he can get the ball to his WRs for big plays. He has an exceptional arm.
If the Cutler trade doesn't go down, OK. As I said, I support Trent 100 percent. But Cutler on this team would be incredible, not to mention it would keep him away from the Jets (which is just as big a victory as acquiring him).
Come read more and continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Denver in a corner
Post #1:
OK, the Broncos are going to have to trade Cutler eventually. And it's assumed they'd want a decent quarterback in return. Is Edwards the best they could possibly get? Think about it...
Jets: Without question, Kellen Clemens is not as good as Edwards.
Browns: Brady Quinn might prove to be better than Edwards, so I could see him to Denver as a realistic possibility.
49ers: Shaun Hill came on late last year, but who the hell wants to replace Cutler with him? He's 29 years old and has proven next to nothing.
Rams: Crickets.
Lions: Drew Stanton? :puke2:
Bears: Kyle Orton?
Panthers: Crickets.
Buccaneers: Crickets.
If the Bills want to do this -- maybe they do, but maybe not -- I think they'd have a great chance to land Cutler. Denver has to move him, it seems, and I think the Bills and Browns could make the best case for him IF Denver wants a good QB prospect in return. The Broncos could always sign a guy like Garcia and draft a QB in the first round, but I've read that they want a QB in return for Cutler. Plus, why replace Cutler with another first-rounder? I'd rather have Edwards or Quinn, who have shown flashes, and a couple of picks than a completely unproven commodity such as Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman and a couple of picks.
Post #4:
I'm down with Trent, but Cutler here is an exciting prospect. The beef with Trent with me is twofold: 1. Durability. He has gotten consistently hurt for significant stretches year in and year out since college. And as I've said about 400 times, the idea of Rory Fitzpatrick (fuck calling him Ryan) throwing the ball to Terrell Owens is enough to make me...
.Cutler, on the other hand, hasn't missed a start in his two full years. 2. The arm. I think Edwards' arm is better than his detractors say; with that being said, though, Cutler has an elite arm. No matter the conditions, whether it's wind, rain, snow or a combo of all three, he can get the ball to his WRs for big plays. He has an exceptional arm.
If the Cutler trade doesn't go down, OK. As I said, I support Trent 100 percent. But Cutler on this team would be incredible, not to mention it would keep him away from the Jets (which is just as big a victory as acquiring him).
Come read more and continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Denver in a corner
Monday, March 16, 2009
Lindy Ruff - "Doing more with Less..."
Posted by LALALALALALAFONTAINE:
Sabres Playoff History Under Ruff
1998
Sabres (89) beat Flyers (95) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (89) sweep Habs (87) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (89) lose* to Caps (92) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
1999
Sabres (91) sweep Sens (103) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) beat Bruins (91) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) beat Queefs (97) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) lose* to St*rs (114) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2000
Sabres (85) lose to Flyers (105) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2001
Sabres (98) beat Flyers (100) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (98) lose to Pens (96) LOST TO WORSE TEAM
2006
Sabres (110) beat Flyers (101) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (110) beat Sens (113) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (110) lose to Canes (112) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2007
Sabres (113) beat Isles (92) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (113) beat Rangers (94) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (113) lose to Sens (105) LOST TO WORSE TEAM.
So in Ruff's coaching history, we've
Beaten a better team: 4
Beaten a worse team: 6
Lost to a better team: 4
Lost to a worse team: 2
So, overall, we've won much, much more than we were supposed to in the playoffs, beating teams with better records.
But look at the losses.
4 times we lost to a better team. 1 of those was due to the Brett Hull skate in the crease. 1 was due to other NHL reffing fuckups that they actually did apologize for (Caps).
And if you look at the teams we were supposed to beat, the 2001 Pens and 2007 Caps.
2001 Pens. The Pens trailed us by 2 points in the standings, so we were the better team, officially. However, Lemieux only played 43 games during the season, scoring 76 points in those games. If he plays a full season, like he played a full series against us in the playoffs, the Pens would have wound up higher in the standings.
2007 Sens. We had the Sens by 8 points, 113-105. However, there are no ties or SOL in the playoffs, which explains this difference. We were 10-4 in SO, Ottawa was 2-6, which is more than that difference. We really didn't lose to a worse team.
So Ruff has consistently beaten teams that he's supposed to beat in the playoffs and teams that he's not supposed to beat, but hasn't really lost to anyone except those we're supposed to lose to - and we still beat them more than they beat us.
That's a telltale sign of a good coach.
The other is special teams (especially PK), where the Sabres always have ranked high under Ruff.
Read more and join the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Doing More with Less...
Sabres Playoff History Under Ruff
1998
Sabres (89) beat Flyers (95) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (89) sweep Habs (87) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (89) lose* to Caps (92) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
1999
Sabres (91) sweep Sens (103) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) beat Bruins (91) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) beat Queefs (97) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (91) lose* to St*rs (114) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2000
Sabres (85) lose to Flyers (105) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2001
Sabres (98) beat Flyers (100) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (98) lose to Pens (96) LOST TO WORSE TEAM
2006
Sabres (110) beat Flyers (101) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (110) beat Sens (113) BEAT BETTER TEAM
Sabres (110) lose to Canes (112) LOST TO BETTER TEAM
2007
Sabres (113) beat Isles (92) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (113) beat Rangers (94) BEAT WORSE TEAM
Sabres (113) lose to Sens (105) LOST TO WORSE TEAM.
So in Ruff's coaching history, we've
Beaten a better team: 4
Beaten a worse team: 6
Lost to a better team: 4
Lost to a worse team: 2
So, overall, we've won much, much more than we were supposed to in the playoffs, beating teams with better records.
But look at the losses.
4 times we lost to a better team. 1 of those was due to the Brett Hull skate in the crease. 1 was due to other NHL reffing fuckups that they actually did apologize for (Caps).
And if you look at the teams we were supposed to beat, the 2001 Pens and 2007 Caps.
2001 Pens. The Pens trailed us by 2 points in the standings, so we were the better team, officially. However, Lemieux only played 43 games during the season, scoring 76 points in those games. If he plays a full season, like he played a full series against us in the playoffs, the Pens would have wound up higher in the standings.
2007 Sens. We had the Sens by 8 points, 113-105. However, there are no ties or SOL in the playoffs, which explains this difference. We were 10-4 in SO, Ottawa was 2-6, which is more than that difference. We really didn't lose to a worse team.
So Ruff has consistently beaten teams that he's supposed to beat in the playoffs and teams that he's not supposed to beat, but hasn't really lost to anyone except those we're supposed to lose to - and we still beat them more than they beat us.
That's a telltale sign of a good coach.
The other is special teams (especially PK), where the Sabres always have ranked high under Ruff.
Read more and join the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Doing More with Less...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Spacek/Lalime/Lydman...
Posted by Thumper:
Those 3 were the biggest reason the Sabres won the most important game of the season last night.
Spacek: Just huge on the penalty kill. Tremendous shot blocking. Scored his 8th of the season. Seriously, can we find a way to sign him?
Lalime: When he's on, he's really on. The top end of his play may not last for much more than a week at a time before he comes back down to reality, but I really believe that when he's on his game, he slams the door shut just as well as Miller. Miller is just capable of doing it for much longer stretches.
Lydman: He played very physical, blocked shots as well, and was very intelligent with the puck in the Sabres zone.
Without the excellent play of those 3, the Sabres lose last night.
Honorable mention to Dan Paille for scoring in the biggest game of the season.
Side note: Harry Neale sucks at his job. If I want stats during every break in the play, I'd use my lap top and find the stats myself. Break down the play on the ice. Break down the periods of hockey we're all watching. Break down a certain player from either team and explain how certain things happend. You have to be capable considering you were a fucking head coach some how. Realize that Thomas Vanek has already scored since coming back from his broken jaw injury. He scored versus the Sens. So even the extra information you attempt to give is wrong half the time. Pull your freaking head out of your ass and understand that the fans listening to you could probably read stats just as well as you and be wrong just as often as you. Change that.
Continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Spacek/Lalime/Lydman
Those 3 were the biggest reason the Sabres won the most important game of the season last night.
Spacek: Just huge on the penalty kill. Tremendous shot blocking. Scored his 8th of the season. Seriously, can we find a way to sign him?
Lalime: When he's on, he's really on. The top end of his play may not last for much more than a week at a time before he comes back down to reality, but I really believe that when he's on his game, he slams the door shut just as well as Miller. Miller is just capable of doing it for much longer stretches.
Lydman: He played very physical, blocked shots as well, and was very intelligent with the puck in the Sabres zone.
Without the excellent play of those 3, the Sabres lose last night.
Honorable mention to Dan Paille for scoring in the biggest game of the season.
Side note: Harry Neale sucks at his job. If I want stats during every break in the play, I'd use my lap top and find the stats myself. Break down the play on the ice. Break down the periods of hockey we're all watching. Break down a certain player from either team and explain how certain things happend. You have to be capable considering you were a fucking head coach some how. Realize that Thomas Vanek has already scored since coming back from his broken jaw injury. He scored versus the Sens. So even the extra information you attempt to give is wrong half the time. Pull your freaking head out of your ass and understand that the fans listening to you could probably read stats just as well as you and be wrong just as often as you. Change that.
Continue the discussion here:
talkbuffalosports.com - Spacek/Lalime/Lydman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
