Late hit
Shoulder to the head
It was dirty
Doesn’t matter if it involved a Sabre or not
It... was... dirty...
- jdfitz77

it was a legal hit at the time


and he had every right to finish his check


we will disagree on this one




did you think the lucic "hit" was dirty

or 2 players going after a loose puck?


asking for a friend

This is 100% correct. People think the reason the Sabres lost to Carolina in the 06' conference finals was because of bad luck; having 4 of our top 6 dmen injured, and oh btw Tim Connolly -- who was playing the best hockey of any player in those playoffs. All suffered injures...

That team, like every team since was soft. There there was a reason for all the injuries (besides McKee's staph infection.) It was because Carolina was extremely physical with is. They brought the physicality to the Sabres. And when you're constantly the team being roughed up, injuries are bound to happen. So in a sense, the injuries weren't based on bad luck; rather a circumstance of an extremely talented team being soft.

So why bring that up 12 years later? Well, because the current Sabres team, while they are loading up on talent, lack organizational toughness (they lack mental toughness, too, but that's a different issue.)

Eichel, Mitts, and Dahlin will be targets because of the lack of toughness. Obviously, there are no longer goons running around like it was in the 70s-90's. But there are Tom Wilson's, and if they aren't challenged (and I don't mean fighting) our star players will get taken advantage. Now this won't happen every game, and most fans won't have even notice. But it makes a difference when elite players can be on the ice knowing there is a player(s) that will partol the ice.

Also, being the aggressor gives players/teams a mental advantage, and a boost in confidence. Now I don't mean have a team full of Tom Wilson's. Not even close. But you do need players some that will initiate toughness.
- Dukey3030

Where is the tough guy on Toronto’s roster ? Pittsburgh ? Winnipeg ?. Dahlin will take care of himself. Ask Petar. Bogosian if he can stay healthy. McCabe can lay the lumber (ask Laine he nearly franking killed him). Sobotka is a tough customer. Tell Bailey, Baptiste, and Thompson they only have a roster spot if they can provide grit and toughness. Scandella has dropped the mitts more then a few times. Okposo will drop the mitts if he has too.

Still waiting to hear what Wilson-like player we can get, since he’s not being traded

And just how much our team goal scoring is gonna improve, since u think we are ok in that area
- jdfitz77

I think we should expect at least 30 more goals this year, as a team


IF


they play the uptempo game they are suppose to play

Where is the tough guy on Toronto’s roster ? Pittsburgh ? Winnipeg ?. Dahlin will take care of himself. Ask Petar. Bogosian if he can stay healthy. McCabe can lay the lumber (ask Laine he nearly franking killed him). Sobotka is a tough customer. Tell Bailey, Baptiste, and Thompson they only have a roster spot if they can provide grit and toughness. Scandella has dropped the mitts more then a few times. Okposo will drop the mitts if he has too.
- Pegullaville

This happens all the time.

Teams ends up winning = The “tough” guy who made a great hit or scored a key goal gets way too much credit

This is 100% correct. People think the reason the Sabres lost to Carolina in the 06' conference finals was because of bad luck; having 4 of our top 6 dmen injured, and oh btw Tim Connolly -- who was playing the best hockey of any player in those playoffs. All suffered injures...

That team, like every team since was soft. There there was a reason for all the injuries (besides McKee's staph infection.) It was because Carolina was extremely physical with is. They brought the physicality to the Sabres. And when you're constantly the team being roughed up, injuries are bound to happen. So in a sense, the injuries weren't based on bad luck; rather a circumstance of an extremely talented team being soft.

So why bring that up 12 years later? Well, because the current Sabres team, while they are loading up on talent, lack organizational toughness (they lack mental toughness, too, but that's a different issue.)

Eichel, Mitts, and Dahlin will be targets because of the lack of toughness. Obviously, there are no longer goons running around like it was in the 70s-90's. But there are Tom Wilson's, and if they aren't challenged (and I don't mean fighting) our star players will get taken advantage. Now this won't happen every game, and most fans won't have even notice. But it makes a difference when elite players can be on the ice knowing there is a player(s) that will partol the ice.

Also, being the aggressor gives players/teams a mental advantage, and a boost in confidence. Now I don't mean have a team full of Tom Wilson's. Not even close. But you do need some players that will initiate, and bring toughness. It's as much as a mentality as it is physically.
- Dukey3030

Maybe all this is true

For the sake or argument, let’s just say it is

Who are we getting that fits the atom Wilson mold that can play in the top6 forwards or top4 defensemen?

Bc if all we are talking about is a 4th liner who will play 6min a night...
then this is all pointless

There’s no more room for a goon who can’t actually play hockey anymore

So again...
what players are we potentially gonna be able to get?

it was a legal hit at the time


and he had every right to finish his check


we will disagree on this one




did you think the lucic "hit" was dirty

or 2 players going after a loose puck?


asking for a friend
- homiedclown

Late hit to the head
Neither of those points are debatable

And what Lucic hit?

Where is the tough guy on Toronto’s roster ? Pittsburgh ? Winnipeg ?. Dahlin will take care of himself. Ask Petar. Bogosian if he can stay healthy. McCabe can lay the lumber (ask Laine he nearly franking killed him). Sobotka is a tough customer. Tell Bailey, Baptiste, and Thompson they only have a roster spot if they can provide grit and toughness. Scandella has dropped the mitts more then a few times. Okposo will drop the mitts if he has too.
- Pegullaville

Why was Toronto bounced in the 1st round again. I don't like the way that team is set up. Talented, but playoff hockey is different than the regular season. Okposo and Bogo aren't tough. They don't hit. Ever. Pekar is 4 years away, if ever. Scandella is decent, but not nearly enough.

it was a legal hit at the time


and he had every right to finish his check


we will disagree on this one




did you think the lucic "hit" was dirty

or 2 players going after a loose puck?


asking for a friend
- homiedclown

You have to be a Drury hater..

that hit was dirty AF he could have easily held up on the hit but he went Full force even when the Puck was gone

Why was Toronto bounced in the 1st round again. I don't like the way that team is set up. Talented, but playoff hockey is different than the regular season. Okposo and Bogo aren't tough. They don't hit. Ever. Pekar is 4 years away, if ever. Scandella is decent, but not nearly enough.
- Dukey3030

Toronto was bounced because Andersen couldn’t stop a beach ball and the best line in the NHL totally owned Toronto defensively and offensively. Total 200 foot effort. What happened when Boston played Tampa ? Whose Tampa’s enforcer ? Washington beat Tampa becuase Trotz defensive play stifled their offense in games 6 and 7. Not because they were scared of the physicality of one player.

I think Tom Wilson is the kind of tough guy you will see on teams, one that can contribute. He had the perfect playoffs at the perfect time in his career.

So he did get paid, but I think it was a perfect storm that got him paid too much. If the Caps don't win the Cup or go deep in the playoffs, this isn't what he gets paid.

He was a key piece this post season, but I want scorers first, then get a Tom Wilson type player.
- gcomella34

7th, he was 7th on the team in scoring in the playoffs oh, AND got a suspension. That's not so much a key piece to me. The only reason you hear his name is because he's a dirty (frank).

And, yeah, if he was on our team I'd probably like him. I liked Kaleta, but if he got paid $3M(his biggest contract was $1.25M per) I'd have lost my (frank)ing mind.

Tom Wilson is a slightly more talented Marcus Foligno, and only just. Just look at the numbers, and Marcus put up those numbers without the benefit of 59% O-Zone starts. And Marcus isn't dirty. If Marcus got that contract, holy poop, I shudder to think...

Maybe all this is true

For the sake or argument, let’s just say it is

Who are we getting that fits the atom Wilson mold that can play in the top6 forwards or top4 defensemen?

Bc if all we are talking about is a 4th liner who will play 6min a night...
then this is all pointless

There’s no more room for a goon who can’t actually play hockey anymore

So again...
what players are we potentially gonna be able to get?
- jdfitz77

Tom Wilson's are almost impossible to come across. I don't want goons. Read what I wrote again. Sbotka may help. Maybe Okposo has a fire lit under him this season.

I'm talking about a player like Pekar if he was ready. I wasn't implying these players grow on trees, and I definitely don't mean fighting. Just a team that sets the tone, instead of getting beat physically all the time. It's a good way to get your stars injured. It had nothing to do with dropping the gloves. But everything to do with being the more aggressive team.

How do we get these players? Great question. If I knew I would probably be making more money lol.

I think we should expect at least 30 more goals this year, as a team


IF


they play the uptempo game they are suppose to play
- homiedclown

That seems reasonable
Still only puts us at 229
Which last year, would’ve had us tied for 22nd in goals scored

That’s not close to good enough imo
We need (at least) 1 or 2 more forwards that can score 20+

7th, he was 7th on the team in scoring in the playoffs oh, AND got a suspension. That's not so much a key piece to me. The only reason you hear his name is because he's a dirty (frank).

And, yeah, if he was on our team I'd probably like him. I liked Kaleta, but if he got paid $3M(his biggest contract was $1.25M per) I'd have lost my (frank)ing mind.

Tom Wilson is a slightly more talented Marcus Foligno, and only just. Just look at the numbers, and Marcus put up those numbers without the benefit of 59% O-Zone starts. And Marcus isn't dirty. If Marcus got that contract, holy poop, I shudder to think...
- Wetbandit1

But Foligno was on a bad team so this comparison (which is a good one) will be dismissed

Why was Toronto bounced in the 1st round again. I don't like the way that team is set up. Talented, but playoff hockey is different than the regular season. Okposo and Bogo aren't tough. They don't hit. Ever. Pekar is 4 years away, if ever. Scandella is decent, but not nearly enough.
- Dukey3030

Because their defense & goaltending weren’t good

How did Pitt win back to back Cups without a tough guy?

You have to be a Drury hater..

that hit was dirty AF he could have easily held up on the hit but he went Full force even when the Puck was gone
- gerbe75pts

I never said it wasn't dirty


it was legal though

That seems reasonable
Still only puts us at 229
Which last year, would’ve had us tied for 22nd in goals scored

That’s not close to good enough imo
We need (at least) 1 or 2 more forwards that can score 20+
- jdfitz77

I bet we have 6 20 goal scorers up front


the d is the wild card

And what Lucic hit?
- jdfitz77

Miller vs Lucic

Late hit to the head
Neither of those points are debatable

And what Lucic hit?
- jdfitz77

People are going to be asking for fat Nick ritchie

Tom Wilson's are almost impossible to come across. I don't want goons. Read what I wrote again. Sbotka may help. Maybe Okposo has a fire lit under him this season.

I'm talking about a player like Pekar if he was ready. I wasn't implying these players grow on trees, and I definitely don't mean fighting. Just a team that sets the tone, instead of getting beat physically all the time. It's a good way to get your stars injured. It had nothing to do with dropping the gloves. But everything to do with being the more aggressive team.

How do we get these players? Great question. If I knew I would probably be making more money lol.
- Dukey3030

Well if we can’t bring in “toughness” that can actually “play hockey” as well...
then this whol discussion about us needing to bring that type of player in here is a pointless waste of time

4th liners who are tough don’t help us

I’ve wanted to trade for Wilson for YEARS
Way the hell before Boss ever mentioned him
I agree that he would be an asset
But that’s not an option

So unless we have a realistic option...
then who really cares?

Look at the Lucic deal two years after in Edmonton. Caps will be begging someone to take Wilson off their hands in 2 years guaranteed. He’s a nice complimentary player who realistically should be in the $3M-$3.5M range not at $5M+
- Pegullaville

Unless there's a new GM I don't think so; they'll just talk themselves into saying they're paying for "intangibles".

I bet we have 6 20 goal scorers up front


the d is the wild card
- homiedclown

This year ?

I bet we have 6 20 goal scorers up front


the d is the wild card
- homiedclown

Well since only 1 of them (Eichel) could be a 30 goal scorer...
that’s not enough

And who’s the 6th? Berglund?

What do u mean by the defense is the wildcard?
The defense is gonna help get the puck up the ice, which will help the forwards
But we don’t have a defenseman (incl Dahlin) who can score 20 goals
Idk how much of a goal scoring impact they (themselves) will make?

People are going to be asking for fat Nick ritchie
- gerbe75pts

No thanks

I think you & i were the only ppl that draft who said he was overrated

Maybe we can bring back Kassian?
Hahaha

6 -20 goal scores

Talk about being a homer and Drinking the strawberry unicorn Kool-Aid

The Washington Capitals had (3)-20+

The Tampa Bay Lightning had (6)- 20+

Miller vs Lucic
- homiedclown

Are u freaking kidding me?
ANOTHER DIRTY HIT
The puck was over by the boards when he hit Miller

Lucic was going for the hit,
NOT the puck

Good god man
I know you’re older...
but this BS goon it up hockey of the 70s is long, long past

Has no place now