STINKO FOR NICO
- mhp

You might have came up with a new slogan

We barely make it over the red line

after det and pit, the list of cup winners includes the bruins, who weren't exactly speed-demons and the kings who played a heavy western conference style game...both those franchises won just before murray took over...and Anaheim put the kibosh on "the new nhl" in 2007...


and, btw, why are you so enamored with what murray and the sabres do or have done?
- Michael Pachla

Because my team has exactly 3 contemporaries. Toronto, Arizona, Buffalo. We are all scorched earth rebuilds. we have the benefit of hindsight now with my team, but the mistakes were glaring, and were still paying for them. I like to think from watching the Oilers and studying other teams past rebuilds that I have a pretty fair idea where teams go wrong in rebuilds, what works, what has NEVER worked, and what seems to be the common denominator with the successful teams.

My criticisms of the Oilers rebuild:

1. Failed to maximize returns for core players not in the long term plans. ( Hemsky, Souray, Horcoff, And Penner yielded a whopping Oscar Klefbom in the end).
2. Failed to add signifgant veterans to assist the young players in their earliest seasons, expecting too much from the young players.
3. Failed to load up on defensive prospects a little further along in their development than the young forwards they drafted. Clearly the Oilers did not have a balanced line up.
4. Questionable draft picks in all rounds.

Luck plays such a huge part in rebuilding as well, good and bad, so I offer no criticism or credit to the following 'happenings'.
1. Ryan Whitney career ending injury. He went from 5th in scoring among D-Men, a legit #1 D man and cornerstone to a useless plug in 1 season. Bad luck.
2. Drafted 1st over in the two weakest draft years since the late 90's. Bad luck.
3. Won the McDavid lottery. Very,very good luck.

So when Ryan Miller was rumoured to be traded I though to myself " this team,looking at its roster, is primed for a much more efficient rebuild than the Oilers, if they dont (frank) it up", and so I've been paying attention. I see some similarities, some differences, and how luck has played a factor, but overall it appears as though GMTM has (frank)ed things up to the point that the team is still 3-4 years away from being a contender and legit SC threat.

Toronto, on the other hand, has most of the core in place, they just need maturing. If they can find that #1 D man similar to how y'all found RoR , all they have left to do is let their core mature.

Seems like we are so good at playing down to the level of the opp team...

Nice pad save by Lehner a couple minutes ago on that open shot

Seems like we are so good at playing down the the level of the opp team...
- gordong

two words:

cody


franson

I like Santa

Parents trying to keep their kids up good sign for a Sabres game

two words:

cody


franson
- Michael Pachla

outshot 14-7 but hey

deslaurers has 4 hits

I like Santa
- homiedclown

I'm more of a Mila fan myself

O'Reilly has made a bunch of plays already

Seriously?? McCabe makes a god awful play and Risto doesn't take the shooter or the pass and you blame Lehner???
- Stripes77

and you expect your goalie to move better laterally and anticipate the play and hope he comes up with a big save early in the game but Ehlers had an open net. I guess hoping for that out of Lehner is impossible. But I digress.

O'Reilly has made a bunch of plays already
- sbroads24

That complimentary (frank)er

Also true.

Gionta, as a veteran leader, should be setting the tone.

I just think it is deflating to have the Sabres get 3 or 4 from tough teams and then get a big negative message about missing out on 1 point.
- Aetherial

Get bent.

23=stink

I think we are going to be good, we scored.

Omg we scored let's see if they can take that into the second period

SAmson sucks!

That complimentary (frank)er
- Sabresfan-365

Legit wondered where he was all period until that play.

23=stink
- Michael Pachla

hmmmmm another point... He better stop that poop!

outshot 14-7 but hey

deslaurers has 4 hits
- homiedclown

He's "tough to play against", maybe we deal McCabe to the Leafs for Matt Martin, that would make us even tougher to play against

Reinhart collecting those points

Omg we scored let's see if they can take that into the second period
- GERBE!!!75PTS

New rule: Goals scored in the first period will carry over into all remaining periods.

Omg we scored let's see if they can take that into the second period
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Omg, there's Two teams playing and you might agree that they are about equal in talent & team strength?

Legit wondered where he was all period until that play.
- sbroads24

Ive noticed plenty of girgs, hasnt resulted in anything. he may not have the speed or strength to be 'noticed' but hes probably one of only 2 guys on this team who can make that pass