There are so many problems with this team right now I dont even know where to start. Defense has been suspect all season. Cant win games when your D turns the puck over constantly. Weber is terrible this year, Gragnani is a joke when it comes to playing D sure hes ok on the point in the zone or on the powerplay but besides that he does nothing for me. Regehr is so slow out there he gets burned constantly. I said he was past his prime when we first got him oh and hes only got 2 points on the season. I dont care if hes a defensive defensemen you put Jay Mckee on the ice right now he would do better than this guy. Ehrhoff is another guy that is brutal in the defensive zone. Meyers still cant match that rookie season he had, he just plays in flashes but I think he will get it back hes only 21. Two bright spots are McNabb and Brennan I would like to see both of them on the ice more. Leopold hands down is the only guy getting the job done back there.
As for the offense I would say bench Stafford and Roy for a few games put Kassian and Tropp back in the lineup I liked the way both of them play. Pretty sure Lindy benched Stafford last year and then he came back and was putting up hat tricks like noones business. Get rid of Leino and Boyes. Leino is garbage and I thought Boyes was just a playoff pickup whats he still doing here? As for Kaleta I say you need at least 1 or 2 grinders in the line up. And I want Adam back on the line with Pominville and Vanek they started the year on fire!
For the goalies, I like Enroth, I think hes proven himself even with some terrible defensemen in front of him. Miller has been on a slow decline since last season. If he hadnt gotten hurt last year and Enroth won like 8 straight we werent gonna make the playoffs. Since Miller got hurt against the Bruins earlier this year he hasnt been himself but I cant blame him completely he doesnt have much help around him.
I dont think this season is a complete loss we still have a chance to turn things around, we were around 500 at this point last year just need to get that spark back.
I still think our biggest problem is our defensive core. From a goaltending standpoint, I think Miller and Enroth are suitable for the job. If anyone has been on nhl.com within the last week, they had an article highlighting how important the role of the backup goaltender has played in each Cup winning team over the last 5 years. It’s no longer standard to see a starting goalie carry around 70 games a season and then make a Cup run. More teams have been doing roughly 60/20 splits or even more balanced playing time than that, and then riding out their starter in the playoffs. The latest team really making a case for that is the Rangers with Lundqvist and Biron (both of whom have been outstanding this year).
But neither Miller nor Enroth are receiving any help in their own end. We need to have a more balanced defense that has strength and skill when called upon. Our biggest enforcer is Regehr who, I would agree with Jimshorts above, is past his time. Weber sucks too much to compensate for his physicality. Leopold, Myers, Gragnani, Erhoff are all too offensive minded. I’ve liked what I have seen in McNabb and Brennan but they still need more time to develop.
I’ve seen one game since TW blacked us out, and I’m speechless. Was that Lucic hit that devestating to Miller’s psyche? It seems to be the precipice off which this team took a header
I agree with this 100%. Same as football defense wins championships and we might have the worse D in the league. On paper we should be awesome but they just arent playing well this year. Its hard for an offense to get going when your always playing from behind.
I don’t disagree with that sentiment, but I do disagree with the assessment on Regehr. I find it extremely rare that he is out of position, he is (imo) by far our most solid, reliable defenseman.
Yes, he is a solid defensemen. But by comparison he is looking like an All Star out there. I’m glad we have him on the team, but he shouldn’t be our #1 guy right now.
I’m going with its the whole team fucking up. Breaking out of the zone is not always happening, wingers are not making right passes or not catching passes when they hear the foot steps. Defense is having a hard time getting the begging of the break out happening.
Some back checking by offense is not there. Both offense and defense are coughing the puck up to the other team with no good reason. Offense is afraid to go into a corner first and take a hit to make the play and keep the puck in the zone. They are doing a shitty job of moving the puck around in getting the chances of moving the goalie around and getting a chance to score.
goalie is coughing way to many rebound up. Most players capitalize on rebounds and put them in the back of the net, hense why Brier scores on us every single game. Goalie cant stop some of the simple saves but makes some harder ones. Unfortunately its a matter of stopping them all and the simple ones should never get by ever at a professional level. yes he gets screened a lot, yes defense doesnt always clear the net, but do you think Miller is the only one putting up with this in the league? No.
Coaching is not keeping these guys on track, and they are not keeping them motivated enough. Players arent playing the game together like they should be.
Maybe some guys should be benched for not playing well and forget the money they are making for once. Our owner need to open his mouth more and tell these guys who they are playing for and who is paying them to play.
Pominville making comments about the owner not having room to comment on anything and who is he to say anything… He pays your salary, hes the reason you are still on the team. You are his bitch. He has every right to say what he wants when hes the one owning the team. he is your boss.
So I will admit that I don’t follow the team that closely but after going to the game last night, there was little to get excited about.
The pizza money was out playing the oil tycoon for sure.
Dont you guys know anything! FFFUUUUUUU. The Sabres Alumni Raffle is the best. A chance to win about $10,000 or more. Playoffs are around $20,000. $1 gets you a 50/50 ticket. I damn well get excited about that. Just worried my father will pull my winning ticket one time and see what the outcome is. lol
My favorite part of last nights game was everyone watching the Blues player with the puck like a cat watching a laser pointer. 4-5 guys just watching him and no one going after him. I went out the other night and actually felt embarrassed to wear my Sabres sweatshirt.
If nothing gets done with this team in the next 2 weeks then I hope they dont do anything at all until the end of the season so we get a good draft pick
Well since there has been nothing positive to talk about in this thread, I felt like this deserved some attention:
"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.
This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.
Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.
This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"
Tim Thomas, as much as I cannot stand his unorthodox goaltending style at times, I’m really starting to appreciate the kind of guy he is. First with the way he handled himself during their Stanley Cup run last season, and now with his most recent absence from the Bruins’ White House visit.