WOW, "Vanek is lazy", while Pommer is a two way player that continually turns over the puck in the defensive zone, and waves his stick around to not get dirty. Just because you are in the defensive zone does not mean you are a two way player.

This team plays like its Captain, weak and soft. Even the defenseman are opting to stick check instead of hitting someone.

Move the C, and see what happens as a result.
- GoinFiveHole

I agree.... to say Vanek is lazy is just plain dumb. The guy is hurt and has been playing hurt the past 2 - 3 weeks. If Crosby was on our team, there would guys on this blog that would complain about him

how many games did the kings lose 1-0, 2-1 last season?

if you cant see how he played in the playoffs either you just have something against him or you have blinders on, he has already done more for the kings in a few years than miller has done in his career

remember he had offseason back surgery and his D has been injured pretty much from game 1
- dmarsden2988

I'm well aware of the fact pattern. The bolded part is a problem. While most teams fall in love with teams that win championships, we fall in love with guys that simply try really hard. I'm sick of losing. I want championships. I want stars capable of bringing a cup to Buffalo. If you don't win, you fail. That should be the standard. That's how it is in cities that are accustomed to championships. That's how it is with any franchise that knows how to win championships, from the front office to the fanbase. I'm sick of the loser mentality in this city. The only way Buffalo can get to the "big time" is by acting "big time", and you don't do that by falling in love with teams such as those in the Nolan years.
- buffalofan19

I agree with this but you can't fault the fans. It's all we had at the time. Now we have the big time owner. It's time to think big. I just think Darcy is from the "Moral victory" era of buffalo Sabres hockey where 8th place is success. I'll never forget in 2010 I was at. A game late in the season and they put "see you in the playoffs" on the jumbotron and everyone went nuts. I knew for one we weren't poised to win a 7 game series against anyone. And two Darcy, Quinn and the others were thinking "look see, we did it. We are good at our jobs."

I agree.... to say Vanek is lazy is just plain dumb. The guy is hurt and has been playing hurt the past 2 - 3 weeks. If Crosby was on our team, there would guys on this blog that would complain about him
- JoeSabre

I am so f'n sick of hearing that he is hurt.... SO SICK OF IT....

if he was hurt.. then he should sit out... get treatment.. and come back healthy like everyone else...

it isn't like "we need him because he is our chance of mkaing the playoffs"

if he was hurt then we should get him treatment so that he can play healthy later this year or next year... we are only hurting his trade value and his career by making him play hurt.. IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

otherwise.... excuses are like tits on a bull...

I am so f'n sick of hearing that he is hurt.... SO SICK OF IT....

if he was hurt.. then he should sit out... get treatment.. and come back healthy like everyone else...

it isn't like "we need him because he is our chance of mkaing the playoffs"

if he was hurt then we should get him treatment so that he can play healthy later this year or next year... we are only hurting his trade value and his career by making him play hurt.. IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

otherwise.... excuses are like tits on a bull...
- JVince11

Yeah it seems like we make this excuse for Vanek every year.

how many games did the kings lose 1-0, 2-1 last season?

if you cant see how he played in the playoffs either you just have something against him or you have blinders on, he has already done more for the kings in a few years than miller has done in his career

remember he had offseason back surgery and his D has been injured pretty much from game 1
- dmarsden2988

Game 1
Shots by NJ -- 17 including OT
Game 2
Shots by NJ- 33
Game 3
Shots by NJ- 22
Game 4
Shots by NJ- 24
Game 5
Shots by NJ- 19
Game 6
Shots by NJ- 18

Averaged 22 shots against in the cup finals with 3 games under 20. That is a cake walk.

Game 1
Shots by NJ -- 17 including OT
Game 2
Shots by NJ- 33
Game 3
Shots by NJ- 22
Game 4
Shots by NJ- 24
Game 5
Shots by NJ- 19
Game 6
Shots by NJ- 18

Averaged 22 shots against in the cup finals with 3 games under 20. That is a cake walk.
- sbroads24

all of this stemmed from you saying bernier is better/just as good as quick

bernier faces 23 shots/game

Yeah it seems like we make this excuse for Vanek every year.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Vanek is always "hurt" and he gets hurt at the most important time of the year...

Boston in the playoffs.... Philly in the playoffs...

oh and EVERY SEASON!!!

I guess winning games and having great GAA means little to you.

Heck, forget winning games, he won the Cup and the Conn Smythe....but he's not every good accoarding to you.

His save % last year was .929 and .946 in the Playoffs....that's great. Not good, Great. Doesnt matter hiow many shots he faces, he stops them.
- Homer

Like Miller in 2010, those kind of stats in one season doesn't mean your a great goaltender. It could very well mean you're a good goaltender that had a great year.

Yeah it seems like we make this excuse for Vanek every year.
- Buffalo--Sabres

yeah tough making excuses for a 30 - 40 goal scorer that takes a beating in front of the net on a consistent basis. If we had some serious depth on this team maybe they could get him healthy and at least make sure he doesn't take a beating in front of the net every night. He is the only natural goal scorer we have and you guys female dog about him and call him lazy.. get a grip

Vanek is always "hurt" and he gets hurt at the most important time of the year...

Boston in the playoffs.... Philly in the playoffs...

oh and EVERY SEASON!!!
- JVince11

His durability is an issue, which to me, makes me want to explore trade options.

Game 1
Shots by NJ -- 17 including OT
Game 2
Shots by NJ- 33
Game 3
Shots by NJ- 22
Game 4
Shots by NJ- 24
Game 5
Shots by NJ- 19
Game 6
Shots by NJ- 18

Averaged 22 shots against in the cup finals with 3 games under 20. That is a cake walk.
- sbroads24

I'm not sure if any NHL gaolie would call a Stanley Cup finals game a cakewalk. The number of shots doens't mean as much as the number of saves.

His durability is an issue, which to me, makes me want to explore trade options.
- buffalofan19

his durability is getting close to Connolly's...

Why in blue hell do people want to keep him out of the big 3 is beyond me...

he makes the most... is least durable.. even if he "plays" a lot of games doesn't mean that he is reliable in those games... "my groin... my back... my labia"

yeah tough making excuses for a 30 - 40 goal scorer that takes a beating in front of the net on a consistent basis. If we had some serious depth on this team maybe they could get him healthy and at least make sure he doesn't take a beating in front of the net every night. He is the only natural goal scorer we have and you guys female dog about him and call him lazy.. get a grip
- JoeSabre

Also if we had some guys with balls that would get in the dirty areas like Vanek does. Instead we can watch Stafford and Gerbe fire shots from the top of the cirlce.

sergei bobrovsky and viktor fatsh both have way better stats than millers vezina season

random old guy from europe and a kid who was run out of philly, lets give up valuable assets for bernier though!!

I think I can tell whether the Sabres are playing well or badly just by looking at the number of comments on each blog.

Nolan is not a good coach, my god i can't believe people are still believing this. If he was so good way has he failed at the last two jobs he had and why is he not coaching now.... Nolan was good because he had HASAK......
- JoeSabre

Nobody said Nolan was a good coach. That had nothing at all to do with the conversation

Thanks for playing though

sergei bobrovsky and viktor fatsh both have way better stats than millers vezina season

random old guy from europe and a kid who was run out of philly, lets give up valuable assets for bernier though!!
- robz228

We keep going around and around on this, but I've still yet to see your plan to get these star players you need to be a Champion.
- Homer

It starts with the draft. At this point, they need to get a top 3 pick. If they don't land there because of the lottery, they won't be too far out. Make a trade, and get a guy that they feel is worth building a franchise around. I personally think that's Drouin, but there's definitely an argument for MacKinnon. It's obviously time for a rebuild.

I also trade Vanek. He probably gets you the most decent return (probably another 1st rounder in there as well) with some younger talent.

Building a team from something like this has been done before multiple times. You seem to indicate that they can't do it. It's not going to happen with most of the guys on this team.

I'm not sure if any NHL gaolie would call a Stanley Cup finals game a cakewalk. The number of shots doens't mean as much as the number of saves.
- Dwight K. Schrute

Bruins/Canucks
Tim Thomas
Game 1 -- 33 saves
Game 2-- 30 saves
Game 3-- 40 saves
Game 4-- 38 saves
Game 5-- 24 saves
game 6- 36 saves
game 7 - 37 saves

That's being under pressure.

- JVince11

This one makes me laugh.

yeah tough making excuses for a 30 - 40 goal scorer that takes a beating in front of the net on a consistent basis. If we had some serious depth on this team maybe they could get him healthy and at least make sure he doesn't take a beating in front of the net every night. He is the only natural goal scorer we have and you guys female dog about him and call him lazy.. get a grip
- JoeSabre

Whoa I never female doged or called him lazy. Everything else you are right about. We've had 5 years to get him more support and havent dont it.

Bruins/Canucks
Tim Thomas
Game 1 -- 33 saves
Game 2-- 30 saves
Game 3-- 40 saves
Game 4-- 38 saves
Game 5-- 24 saves
game 6- 36 saves
game 7 - 37 saves

That's being under pressure.
- sbroads24

quality of shot matters more than quantity of shot

I'm not saying I know if Quick faced more difficult shots or not. I just know that # of shots means nothing. I've seen the Sabres put 37 shots on net and still think the opposing goalie had an easy night

quality of shot matters more than quantity of shot

I'm not saying I know if Quick faced more difficult shots or not. I just know that # of shots means nothing. I've seen the Sabres put 37 shots on net and still think the opposing goalie had an easy night
- RayHatesDomi

Regardless, Quick averaged a shot against every 3 minutes of play. There were times in that series where he faced as little as 3 shots in a period. He also rarely faced any breakaways or odd man rushes. He made some great saves yes, and they were all close games so they were key saves, but he wasn't putting on a spectacular performance either.

Quick has a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe.



Your arguments are invalid.