not sure if anybody pointed this out, but an nhl rink is 200x85, an olympic rink is 200x100. seems a lot bigger, no?
- rover16

Nope, Ray "the great one" Ferraro said it isnt, so it must be true.

My favourite part was where he said this team was close to competing post vanek trade, only a few players away.. "the right players".
- Sabresfan-365

Jack Eichel is 19, Ullmark is 22, Reinhart is 20, Girgensons is 21, Risto is 21. So when these guys are in the playoffs and competing for a cup will he be complaining then? Can one really be that shortsighted?

clearly im as bad as bucky

I would respect what he had to say if he had stuck by it all this time. But he literally wrote the exact opposite article a few years ago.

You can question the decisions made during the rebuild, but questioning the team going through rebuilding itself is incredibly short-sighted.
- Sabresfan-365

you're right, even if he tried to qualify it a bit

Jack Eichel is 19, Ullmark is 22, Reinhart is 20, Girgensons is 21, Risto is 21. So when these guys are in the playoffs and competing for a cup will he be complaining then? Can one really be that shortsighted?
- Buffalo--Sabres

Pysyk 23...McCabe, 22...O'reilly and kane, both 24...bogo, 25

that's the new core...looks pretty good to me despite them being woefully underachieving, according to bucky, which is something I also got from that article

edit: lehner's only 24 as well...

Jack Eichel is 19, Ullmark is 22, Reinhart is 20, Girgensons is 21, Risto is 21. So when these guys are in the playoffs and competing for a cup will he be complaining then? Can one really be that shortsighted?
- Buffalo--Sabres

The short answer is, yes, he will complain about something.
Bucky is useless to Buffalo sports fans. At some point, he was "transitioned" away from writing hockey columns and i bet that wasnt his decision. He literally just kept complaining column after column. It got redundant. He should be the lead writer for the gardening section and complain about having to rake leaves every day. it would suit his style more.

not sure if anybody pointed this out, but an nhl rink is 200x85, an olympic rink is 200x100. seems a lot bigger, no?
- rover16

Well, 15 extra feet in width is quite a bit, close to 20%.

Combine an extra 5 to say 7 feet more in width AND enforcement of the rules (not to mention the change in when the whistle blows for icing calls) and the league could, if they desired open the game up while controlling the potential increase in injuries...IMO.
Perhaps the reduced revenue, lost from eliminating say 2 rows of seats to accommodate the larger ice surface, could be recaptured through an increase in viewership overtime and the resulting increase in TV revenues. Maybe it is Pollyanna thinking here, but Indo think their is an element of truth there.

The short answer is, yes, he will complain about something.
Bucky is useless to Buffalo sports fans. At some point, he was "transitioned" away from writing hockey columns and i bet that wasnt his decision. He literally just kept complaining column after column. It got redundant. He should be the lead writer for the gardening section and complain about having to rake leaves every day. it would suit his style more.
- seedy

1. It's not going to happen. As was pointed out before, most league execs believe that the "Leave Room for the Holy Spirit" standard set in 2006 left too many defenders vulnerable to headshots from forecheckers.

2. This also isn't going to happen. It would mean arenas would have to take out seats, and reconfigure the ones they already have in the lower bowl. Plus, a bigger ice surface won't do that much. Ray Ferraro addressed this one by saying, while the ice is bigger, the game is played and won between the hashmarks, which are no wider apart than on NHL sized ice. If you defend it right, the extra ice outside the hashmarks is useless ice. The 2010 Olympics showed that great hockey can still be played on NHL sized ice.

3 The goaltender equipment might be possible, but you would have to convince the Players Union goaltenders' safety won't be jeopardized. It sounds laughable, but you can't make any equipment change without the Union signing off on it, and I have a feeling goaltenders will fight this pretty heavily.

The game will never go back to 70s style. For one, there were fewer teams. That meant fewer roster spots available. In the 70s, you had a lot of great players on one team, which made it as exciting as it was. Now, you have 30 teams and a salary cap. I don't want to say the talent is diluted, because there are a lot of very good players in the league. However, there aren't that many great ones, and they're spread out all over the place. The only way you would get 70s style hockey again is if you got NBA style "Super Teams" (see the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets of 2010-2014), and the current financial structure of the league simply does not allow that.
- buffalofan19

They are flat out wrong regarding their stance on number 1. It's too bad they don't realize it, but it is expected as they are buffoons and the real reason they don't mind the way penalties are not being called is because it allows far more teams to be in the mix then should be based on each teams respective talents.

Calling all penalties is the only way the game can be close to the way it was back in the day. That and shrinking the size of the goalie pads.

Pysyk 23...McCabe, 22...O'reilly and kane, both 24...bogo, 25

that's the new core...looks pretty good to me despite them being woefully underachieving, according to bucky, which is something I also got from that article

edit: lehner's only 24 as well...


- Michael Pachla

I also feel like once the writing was on the wall, Pegula moved to correct the situation pretty quickly. He probably had a talk with Regier, who probably suggested firing the coach. What did Ralston get? Not even 40 games? At that point, Pegula decided to clean house. Its easy for a turd like Sucky to tell Pegula what he shoulda done in hindsight. But then again, Sucky isnt worth 4 billion dollars. So may be he should just shut up. Pegula may be learning the hard way, but i think he's learning.

I also feel like once the writing was on the wall, Pegula moved to correct the situation pretty quickly. He probably had a talk with Regier, who probably suggested firing the coach. What did Ralston get? Not even 40 games? At that point, Pegula decided to clean house. Its easy for a turd like Sucky to tell Pegula what he shoulda done in hindsight. But then again, Sucky isnt worth 4 billion dollars. So may be he should just shut up. Pegula may be learning the hard way, but i think he's learning.
- seedy

I have a friend that tells me all the time that Pegula is the problem and that everything he touches turns to poop. I keep telling him that even if he had cleaned house when he first took the Sabres over, they would still have ended up at the point they're at now. It may have happened 1 year sooner. Not really all that different IMO.

The Bills on the other hand, well, who knows. I wasn't a fan of the Rex Ryan hiring. I didn't like him with the Jets and didn't think he was that good of a coach. I was in the minority though, as everyone seemed to think I was crazy when I said it over the summer.

The short answer is, yes, he will complain about something.
Bucky is useless to Buffalo sports fans. At some point, he was "transitioned" away from writing hockey columns and i bet that wasnt his decision. He literally just kept complaining column after column. It got redundant. He should be the lead writer for the gardening section and complain about having to rake leaves every day. it would suit his style more.
- seedy

I think he sort of "arrived" as a columnist during driere-gate - where he actually did a good job of reflecting the outrage the community was feeling. He never found another horse after that, is the problem.

Caps called up a goon for tonights game. Should be interesting.

Nope, Ray "the great one" Ferraro said it isnt, so it must be true.
- seedy

So,while I agree that GOALS are scored in the vast majority of cases between the hash marks...the issues is that today a significant portion of the game is played in the neutral zone....winding the ice to create more skating room for O-zone entries is what is the basis for the change. It will have an impact in the O-zone as well by creating more and wider shot lanes leading to more scoring opportunities as well.
It truly "opens" the game.
Strictly enforcing boarding, and hits to the head will control the potential impact on additional injuries.

Funny, I don't see a lot of head hits during 3 on 3 when the game is opened up by giving each player more room. The argument is an excuse, and an excuse only.

I think he sort of "arrived" as a columnist during driere-gate - where he actually did a good job of reflecting the outrage the community was feeling. He never found another horse after that, is the problem.
- nfph

Got yours and Stashu's message, had that since the end of HBSL last year, took you guys long enough

I have a friend that tells me all the time that Pegula is the problem and that everything he touches turns to poop. I keep telling him that even if he had cleaned house when he first took the Sabres over, they would still have ended up at the point they're at now. It may have happened 1 year sooner. Not really all that different IMO.

The Bills on the other hand, well, who knows. I wasn't a fan of the Rex Ryan hiring. I didn't like him with the Jets and didn't think he was that good of a coach. I was in the minority though, as everyone seemed to think I was crazy when I said it over the summer.
- HonkFortheGoose

I dont know much about whats going on with the bills besides what i read here. But basically, i look at the sabres regime under his ownership as a guy who trusted the management in place and Regiers excuse was easy to buy...."i was financially constrained." He had a history of foresight post lockout and came close to the cup a few times. It desnt make Pegula stupid to want to believe Darcy could turn it around.
It comes down to a negative or positive view of the history, and Bucky just straight up has a negative view.

I have a friend that tells me all the time that Pegula is the problem and that everything he touches turns to poop. I keep telling him that even if he had cleaned house when he first took the Sabres over, they would still have ended up at the point they're at now. It may have happened 1 year sooner. Not really all that different IMO.

The Bills on the other hand, well, who knows. I wasn't a fan of the Rex Ryan hiring. I didn't like him with the Jets and didn't think he was that good of a coach. I was in the minority though, as everyone seemed to think I was crazy when I said it over the summer.
- HonkFortheGoose[/quote

The Jets sucked after the initial 2 years because their GM could not find a decent QB...Sanchez and Gina are and were horrible. I think we saw another case of the disaster that could have been during the Jax game with another year of EJ ... Which is similar in nature to having Sanchez and Gino as a QB.
That issues rests squarely on the GM, period.
I believe that is why Rex demanded to report directly to Pegula's and not to Whaley...he learned his lesson.

I'm not sold on Rex because he is insistent on forcing his D scheme on a team that isn't built for it...hence we say the rather dramatic decline in a top 5 D unit from the year before ... And that was the biggest impact in losing games this year (well except for Whaley's hero EJ in the Jax game)

Caps called up a goon for tonights game. Should be interesting.
- sippyd

noticed that too, if he's in tonight i expect some fireworks

So,while I agree that GOALS are scored in the vast majority of cases between the hash marks...the issues is that today a significant portion of the game is played in the neutral zone....winding the ice to create more skating room for O-zone entries is what is the basis for the change. It will have an impact in the O-zone as well by creating more and wider shot lanes leading to more scoring opportunities as well.
It truly "opens" the game.
Strictly enforcing boarding, and hits to the head will control the potential impact on additional injuries.

Funny, I don't see a lot of head hits during 3 on 3 when the game is opened up by giving each player more room. The argument is an excuse, and an excuse only.
- IonSabres

I just like to make fun of that Ray Ferraro arguement every time i hear it because i think its stupid.
We would see more scoring on the rush if defenders had 7 1/2 feet more ice to cover.
15 more feet would make the trap more difficult.
Kids born the year Ferraro retired are for the most part, vastly better skaters than hockey players in his era.
There's a lot of factors. But, we'll never know, because the NHL cant change the game in order to "keep its integrity" even though they change it every year.
Someone mentioned it earlier, but its about parity. The NHL doesnt want teams way out of the playoffs halfway through the season with no chance to make them because that doesnt sell tickets and merchandise.

Jack Eichel is 19, Ullmark is 22, Reinhart is 20, Girgensons is 21, Risto is 21. So when these guys are in the playoffs and competing for a cup will he be complaining then? Can one really be that shortsighted?
- Buffalo--Sabres

Oh im counting on it

Got yours and Stashu's message, had that since the end of HBSL last year, took you guys long enough
- Herzeleid

I just like to make fun of that Ray Ferraro arguement every time i hear it because i think its stupid.
We would see more scoring on the rush if defenders had 7 1/2 feet more ice to cover.
15 more feet would make the trap more difficult.
Kids born the year Ferraro retired are for the most part, vastly better skaters than hockey players in his era.
There's a lot of factors. But, we'll never know, because the NHL cant change the game in order to "keep its integrity" even though they change it every year.
Someone mentioned it earlier, but its about parity. The NHL doesnt want teams way out of the playoffs halfway through the season with no chance to make them because that doesnt sell tickets and merchandise.
- seedy

Recent trends would suggest that it's heading that way anyways. The parity is starting to push fans in stronger markets away. Even those with optimistic views are staying home because unless you're team is really good it's hard to get excited about "boring" hockey.

Amerks hooked me up with Ropeline tickets for tonight. Woo!

Pysyk 23...McCabe, 22...O'reilly and kane, both 24...bogo, 25

that's the new core...looks pretty good to me despite them being woefully underachieving, according to bucky, which is something I also got from that article

edit: lehner's only 24 as well...


- Michael Pachla

who is this person you speak of?

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/65984763-video

video on my sister's bars closing

reporter has a nice rack

Recent trends would suggest that it's heading that way anyways. The parity is starting to push fans in stronger markets away. Even those with optimistic views are staying home because unless you're team is really good it's hard to get excited about "boring" hockey.
- Sabresfan-365

I often wonder if the NHL is going to collapse in on itself some day.
Sure, Bettman filled the lower bowl with high priced tickets and built more luxury boxes. But if those dont get filled, the owners arent going to be happy. And they're not going to get filled when the game is boring.