Congratulations on your recent purchase of the Buffalo Sabres. Like you, I have an affinity for the physicality, and pugilistic intensity of the game of hockey. Don't get me wrong. I like skill. However, I like my skill guys to have room to operate in. I like my finishers to sleep well at night. I don't like it when my guns are intimidated and pushed around. I'm told by a mutual acquaintance that you have a similar thought process.We both learned a lot about the game of hockey by watching Fred Shero's Flyers grind the Sabres in the '75 Finals. The strong suit on that Flyers team was its pugnacity and grit. Back then, Flyer opponents were routinely punched in the face and called 'Mama's Boy" for breathing the same oxygen as Clarkie, Barber, Macleish, and "The Hammer".
I like the idea of you beefing up your squad in order to win football games on ice. You are inheriting a team that is light on truculence and "punch in the face"-- save Goose, Kaleta, Weber and McCormick-- and is rich with skill in Vanek, Roy, Pommer, Connolly, Stafford, Myers, Gerbe, and Ennis. You have Adam, Byron, and Mancari progressing in the Portland incubator.
The promising thing is that you have two battleships with skill in Kassian and Foligno. They are a year or two away from Buffalo, however, they are worth the wait. You saw how Zack and Marcus crushed and set up plays on Canada's top line in the recent WJC's in Buffalo.
My advice to you:
Once you take ownership of the keys and you get your parking space established, call in darcy and Lindy, and tell them that you want to acquire some tough guys with skill before the 2011 trade deadline on 2/28.
Take a look at how the hated Bruins disrespected Dallas last night. The B's hammered the Stars from the drop of the puck.
Claude Julien and his coaches did not approach this game like it was a meaningless game on a Thursady night in February. he played it perfectly, as if he would be meeting Marc Crawford's Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals in June. Send a message now, you never know when you'll meet again. Let all of the other teams scouting the game put in their notes that your team is focced and ferocious at all times.
The B's have made the successful transition from skilled, European team to one of balance and grit. Sure, they have skill in Bergeron, Savard, Seguin, Krejci, however, they are team tough with the likes of Lucic, Horton, Thornton, Recchi, Paille, Campbell to say nothing of Chara and Boychuk. The B's can light the lamp withb regularity. They play chest to chest, stick on puck D, and they get stellar goaltending.
The high octane river hockey days of 06/07 are long gone. They were fun while they lasted, however, the hug-n-tug, human water skiing nuances of 04/05 have crept back in to the game. Buffalo thrived when it was allowed to skate and make plays in all three zones. Today's game is all about the chip, chase, and bang. Its about winning wall battles, closing the middle of the ice, and creating offense off of the other team's turnovers.
Study the Boston model very closely. You need only to off load the likes of Connolly, Hecht, Niedermayer and replace them skille guys with size and strength. Kassian and Foligno will act as kryptonite to Lucic and Horton in the near future, however, in order to make this year's playoffs, go out and get some jam and sandpaper to create big ice for your skill guys to operate in. You need a Max Talbot and a Scott Hartnell to augment Luke Adam and Paul BByron.
The way I see it, you have the goaltending. You need a quality backup, not Lalime. Your D is competent and mobile. All you need to due is upgrade your top six forwards.
Speaking of Dan Paille, he has been suspended four gmes by Mike Muprhy and the NHL for his violation of Rule 48. Paille cranked youngblood Sawada of the Stars in Boston on Thursday night. The Welland native tracked sawanda, and finsihed him with a high shot that Sawada did not see coming. Blindside.
Paille's teammate, Andrew Ferrence, threw Paille under the zamboni for the hit. After the game, Ferrence told NESN that he was in favour of Paille being suspended for the hit. I saw Ferrence make the comments and I think he should shut his pie hole. Ferrence should leave that crap in the room or on the bench, not on TV. Jackass!
Paille is not a head hunter. He plays clean, hard hockey. tyler seguin took his job in Boston this season and Paille has been parked in the press box on most nights. Paille skated hard and initiated contact, he crossed the line. He's not punk.
Don't worry Bruins fans, Danny will be gone soon. I hear that he will be reunited with Crarig Ramsay in Atlanta.
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