Not to defend Kane, because I'm getting tired of his playoff disappearance act ( 3 years running now)
- PuckkmeNOpuckU

his shot "disappeared" under Leighton in game 6....

From the last blog:



To be honest, I think they have the combination of players or core (hides) that work together very well. I think this is a major instance of "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". I think if you spread many of these guys out to different teams, save a select few like Krecji, Bergeron, Chara, Marchand (though I think his act will eventually wear thin) Lucic, and eventually Seguin, most would underwhelm. Daniel Paille was a disaster here when Buffalo traded him. He was put in the right position to succeed in Boston. That position didn't exist here in Buffalo, and doesn't really exist on too many teams in this league at all (maybe LA, that's about it). Peverly was average in Atlanta. Seidenberg was alright in Carolina, but wasn't going to be a difference maker. Horton wasn't able to do anything with Florida either. None of those guys are difference makers.
- buffalofan19

Dennis Seidenberg is an excellent player. We need a guy like him.

how about trying to blog for your own team once in awhile Garth?
- FLYERSROCK!

So if Paille is still here, and used only on a 4th line role (i.e. correctly), is this team that much better? I tend to think not. You need difference makers in place first. The rest settles around it.
- buffalofan19

no because he gets run out of town by media and fans for being on the fourth line and not scoring 30 goals.

He was scratched most nights before being traded. He wasn't contributing anything. He was incredibly underwhelming to say the least.
- buffalofan19

Another guy Lindy didn't favor. He is a good 3rd 4th line winger. People thought he was going to be Peca here

So if Paille is still here, and used only on a 4th line role (i.e. correctly), is this team that much better? I tend to think not. You need difference makers in place first. The rest settles around it.
- buffalofan19

no they are not any better, I agree. I was just making a comment on his usage in buffalo.. I always thought it was not right.

He was scratched most nights before being traded. He wasn't contributing anything. He was incredibly underwhelming to say the least.
- buffalofan19

He had 19G, 35P in 77GP averaging 13MIN TOI in 07-08
He had 12G, 27P in 73GP averaging 12MIN TOI in 08-09

Yeah, he was being scratched in the beginning of 09-10 before being like 2 weeks into the season in October, but far from "not contributing" or "underwhelming" for a bottom 6 player.

He was a better player than Tim Kennedy

- ikeane

I want to hear about the phenom that is Grigorenko again.

All day, every day.

Another guy Lindy didn't favor. He is a good 3rd 4th line winger. People thought he was going to be Peca here
- sbroads24

I seem to remember Garth saying that exact thing

He had 19G, 35P in 77GP averaging 13MIN TOI in 07-08
He had 12G, 27P in 73GP averaging 12MIN TOI in 08-09

Yeah, he was being scratched in the beginning of 09-10 before being like 2 weeks into the season in October, but far from "not contributing" or "underwhelming" for a bottom 6 player.

He was a better player than Tim Kennedy
- theblueandgold

That's not saying much.

He had 19G, 35P in 77GP averaging 13MIN TOI in 07-08
He had 12G, 27P in 73GP averaging 12MIN TOI in 08-09

Yeah, he was being scratched in the beginning of 09-10 before being like 2 weeks into the season in October, but far from "not contributing" or "underwhelming" for a bottom 6 player.

He was a better player than Tim Kennedy
- theblueandgold

I think the league has proven that.. I bet Timmy would do things differently if he had the chance to go back in time

I seem to remember Garth saying that exact thing
- SabresFaninIndiana

It's who he was compared to when drafted. So that's what Buffalo expected
Just like Myers is 6'8 and compared to Chara so now that's who he needs to become in order to please some people

That's not saying much.
- buffalofan19

Well, thats who Buffalo decided to go with over Paille, and we know what Kennedy did in the 2010 playoffs.

on paille- 1st round pick- shouldnt there be expectations???

we didnt have the luxury of a stacked lineup to slot him into the 4th line checking role.

we needed him to be a difference maker, and he wasnt.

I like how this is ALMOST a Sabres blog.

I like how this is ALMOST a Sabres blog.
- jmatchett383

i liked how the flyers ALMOST made the playoffs this year.

So if Paille is still here, and used only on a 4th line role (i.e. correctly), is this team that much better? I tend to think not. You need difference makers in place first. The rest settles around it.
- buffalofan19

Hes a better bottom 6 player than guys like Scott, McCormick, Ellis, Kaleta, Gerbe...

Our bottom 6 is what hurt us this year. We were forced to play our best offensive players in defensive situations because we had a non-existent NHL 4th line and a partial NHL 3rd line.

From the last blog:



To be honest, I think they have the combination of players or core (hides) that work together very well. I think this is a major instance of "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". I think if you spread many of these guys out to different teams, save a select few like Krecji, Bergeron, Chara, Marchand (though I think his act will eventually wear thin) Lucic, and eventually Seguin, most would underwhelm. Daniel Paille was a disaster here when Buffalo traded him. He was put in the right position to succeed in Boston. That position didn't exist here in Buffalo, and doesn't really exist on too many teams in this league at all (maybe LA, that's about it). Peverly was average in Atlanta. Seidenberg was alright in Carolina, but wasn't going to be a difference maker. Horton wasn't able to do anything with Florida either. None of those guys are difference makers.
- buffalofan19

first of all Paille was drafted in the 1st round. i can understand your disappointment on that but he's a 4th line energy guy on the B's and our top penalty killer. you couldn't use that? draft status aside? and yes Peverley was average but i guess only in terms of statistics. he's perfect on the third line. plays hard and grinds every shift and has the ability to score 15-20 goals. difference maker? no but what 3rd liner is? as for Seidenberg and Horton we'll just give you a mulligan on that. He's our number two defenseman and an absolute beast. 2nd on the Bruins in ice time behind Chara and getting him back was part of this run we've gone on. difference maker? yes. Horton is 2nd in the NHL in playoff scoring and was key to our 2011 Cup run. He's been huge for us. the Bruins have way more skill than you give them credit for. that and they all to a man buy into the idea of protecting the D zone first.

on paille- 1st round pick- shouldnt there be expectations???

we didnt have the luxury of a stacked lineup to slot him into the 4th line checking role.

we needed him to be a difference maker, and he wasnt.
- battelmt

you should have expectations, but you have to have reality..

Well, thats who Buffalo decided to go with over Paille, and we know what Kennedy did in the 2010 playoffs.
- theblueandgold

Mark Recchi turned him into his personal b!tch.

Dennis Seidenberg is an excellent player. We need a guy like him.
- sbroads24

he's a machine.

i liked how the flyers ALMOST made the playoffs this year.
- battelmt

I like how Buffalo ALMOST got a top 3 pick but blew it late in the season

Hes a better bottom 6 player than guys like Scott, McCormick, Ellis, Kaleta, Gerbe...

Our bottom 6 is what hurt us this year. We were forced to play our best offensive players in defensive situations because we had a non-existent NHL 4th line and a partial NHL 3rd line.
- theblueandgold

agreed... you can add Hecht to that as well

Mark Recchi turned him into his personal b!tch.
- Pairo11

cause mark recchi is the greatest player ever, I love the guy all time fav player well top 3 atleast

Hes a better bottom 6 player than guys like Scott, McCormick, Ellis, Kaleta, Gerbe...

Our bottom 6 is what hurt us this year. We were forced to play our best offensive players in defensive situations because we had a non-existent NHL 4th line and a partial NHL 3rd line.
- theblueandgold

and he's a great penalty killer.