I view the Sabres model as building from the winger position first, vanilla players who want others to carry the load and and who think less expectations means more fun despite the fact that they're losing, that is more of the problem. Well, that and the 6.25M man grossly under performing.
- Gunner Staal

goat-mez and happiness, buzzard pals
- b0s0o1

KILLER MILLER!!!

I agree. I would hope he can get past it before tomorrow and just let it go. It doesn't do the Leafs any good for Lupul to take a stupid penalty or get kicked out of the game/suspended.
- Jeffmt

That's part of why Gerbe is effective though. He manages to get under the skin of the other team and then they get to chasing him around. He did it during the Philly series last year too. I honestly think he was the Sabres best player in that series.

I view the Sabres model as building from the winger position first, that is more of the problem. Well, that and the 6.25M man grossly under performing.
- Gunner Staal

Well, that's where the salary is (but bear in mind that there are many wingers, one goaltender).

They play this offense-defense system with the expectation that Miller will bail them out, their personnel (puck-movers almost exclusively) reflects that expectation as well.

So I see your point, but don't really agree.

Agree.......The Sabres just need a shot in the arm period..........
- rapperray

Yep they are a good team much better than their record,Getzlaf plus somemore grit in the bottom 6 could make them even better.They have pretty good skill on all 4 lines but they need to give up some skill there and add some thump

hey there b0s
- rapperray

big howdy, ray...


meh (crunch, crunch, crunch)...what's all the hub-bub, bub?

Well put......
- rapperray

thanks Ray

Well, that's where the salary is (but bear in mind that there are many wingers, one goaltender).

They play this offense-defense system with the expectation that Miller will bail them out, their personnel (puck-movers almost exclusively) reflects that expectation as well.

So I see your point, but don't really agree.
- nfph

dude...you need a purple heart or some equivalent (purple keyboard?) for wading through this crap

Today is not a skilled game....its a defense first, no room to work, score dirty goals to win game. I have no idea what you're watching. Sure, there are players with plenty of skill, but they way teh game is played they aren't allowed to show it nearly often enough.
- Homer

That's just the natural progression of technology entering into the game. In this day and age of video, scouting, etc., you are going to have teams focusing on a players' weaknesses in order to try to minimize their effectiveness. It's like that in any sport. The state of the game may not be what it was coming right out of the lockout, but it's definitely been worse, much worse. One only needs to look right past the lockout.

Guys like Gretzky and Esposito were men among boys when it came to talent. That's why the skill level seemed so high. He played in a league where his peers weren't as talented. And, yes, the ability to play defense well is a talent. It's not so much that the players of old were better than the players of now. It's just that the gap between them and "the next best guy" wasn't as high. Put them in their primes in this league today, you wouldn't see a huge noticeable difference between them and a healthy Sidney Crosby.

big howdy, ray...


meh (crunch, crunch, crunch)...what's all the hub-bub, bub?



- b0s0o1

I am a trouble maker...........

Well, that's where the salary is (but bear in mind that there are many wingers, one goaltender).

They play this offense-defense system with the expectation that Miller will bail them out, their personnel (puck-movers almost exclusively) reflects that expectation as well.

So I see your point, but don't really agree.
- nfph

I said this at the beginning of the year...I truly believe that they feel it's a necessary evil. Lindy Ruff has never had a defense corps of this makeup before. I truly believe that after they gave up on Richards, and had to settle for Leino, they knew they had a weak forward group. They planned on their defense to provide much more offense than it has. The problem is, when you don't have to fear a team's forwards, all you have to do is take away the shot lanes at the point and you are rendered almost useless.

That's just the natural progression of technology entering into the game. In this day and age of video, scouting, etc., you are going to have teams focusing on a players' weaknesses in order to try to minimize their effectiveness.
- buffalofan19

edited to apply to myers specifically...he has needed to adjust as teams familiarize themselves with what makes him tick...

it's how he adjusts, he did it last season and he seems to be doing in again this year

I said this at the beginning of the year...I truly believe that they feel it's a necessary evil. Lindy Ruff has never had a defense corps of this makeup before. I truly believe that after they gave up on Richards, and had to settle for Leino, they knew they had a weak forward group. They planned on their defense to provide much more offense than it has. The problem is, when you don't have to fear a team's forwards, all you have to do is take away the shot lanes at the point and you are rendered almost useless.
- buffalofan19

Why do you have to make it sound so easy????????????

I am a trouble maker...........
- rapperray

you and 89 are necessary ingredients to keep things in perspective

you and 89 are necessary ingredients to keep things in perspective



- b0s0o1

It is nice to know we have a purpose for being.................

I said this at the beginning of the year...I truly believe that they feel it's a necessary evil. Lindy Ruff has never had a defense corps of this makeup before. I truly believe that after they gave up on Richards, and had to settle for Leino, they knew they had a weak forward group. They planned on their defense to provide much more offense than it has. The problem is, when you don't have to fear a team's forwards, all you have to do is take away the shot lanes at the point and you are rendered almost useless.
- buffalofan19

we have a bingo, b-19

It is nice to know we have a purpose for being.................
- rapperray

you are loved

Getzlaf is the exact type the sabres need to spurn their attack forward,speed size and skill.plus he is tough to boot
- top shelf 15

Getzlaf is exactly what the team needs period. The sabres need to drop alot of its dead over payed non emotional non goal scoring weight to other teams period.

Why do you have to make it sound so easy????????????
- rapperray

The easy part is identifying the problem...the hard part is fixing it. Puck possession eliminates more than half this team's defensive (and goaltending, for that matter) problems. Unfortunately, when your fowards can't possess the puck for very long, it bites you in the ass.

Getzlaf is exactly what the team needs period. The sabres need to drop alot of its dead over payed non emotional non goal scoring weight to other teams period.
- Brockv

what, and have me miss out on all the fun?

The easy part is identifying the problem...the hard part is fixing it. Puck possession eliminates more than half this team's defensive (and goaltending, for that matter) problems. Unfortunately, when your fowards can't possess the puck for very long, it bites you in the ass.
- buffalofan19

some players might like that

Getzlaf is exactly what the team needs period. The sabres need to drop alot of its dead over payed non emotional non goal scoring weight to other teams period.
- Brockv

Getzlaf isn't on the block. There's no way Anaheim's dumb enough to let go a #1 center, especially mid-season, unless it's for someone's first-born child.

some players might like that
- b0s0o1

Getzlaf isn't on the block. There's no way Anaheim's dumb enough to let go a #1 center, especially mid-season, unless it's for someone's first-born child.
- buffalofan19

Is Miller the oldest?

Nice article, I agree with the grades 90%:

http://sabrenoise.com/201...-sabres-midseason-grades/