You were right when you said this, after the Sabres lost to the Sens back in December:


[emphasis mine]


I didn't want to believe you -- but damn, you turned out to be spot on.

I figured that, when the Sabres FO spent this past off-season getting rid of the overaged [Numminen], the overpaid [Spacek], the underachieving [Afinogenov], the single-skilled [Kotalik], the non-skilled [Peters] . . . and replaced them with hungry youngsters [Myers, Kennedy, Butler], supposedly solid defensemen [Montador, Sekera], and some grit up front [Grier], that they were serious about this year.

And, judging from the Sabres' 8-1-1 start, I thought the guys on the ice were, too.

But, this is turning out to be a live-action demonstration of the phrase, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

We still can't beat Ottawa.
We still don't have a backup goalie worth a sh#t.
Poms still hits the back wall, the side of the net, the goalie's mask -- ANYTHING but the goal.
Stafford still plays SMALLER than his size.
Roy still thinks he's Ovechkin trying to skate thru three defenders entering the zone with the puck.
Lydman still can't clear the zone to save his life.
Lindy still goes off in practice, and it goes in one ear and out the other.

I know what some people are gonna say -- they'll bounce back and go on a tear after the olympics . . .

But, if the same players on going to be on the roster after the olympics as before -- what makes anyone think they're going to suddenly flip a switch and look like WAS or SJ?

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“This is a good building to play in,” Roy said. “It’s kind of quiet.”

-- forward Derek Roy, following the Sabres' 2-1 OT win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 14, 2010, a game where the home team drew just over 11,000 fans {the ninth time in 22 home games they failed to draw 12,000}

How about you save this thread for the end of the season?

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Well, one thing changed for the better after that post - the Hecht - Connolly - Pominville line started to click. Otherwise I guess I look smart.

I don't think the main issue, as many do, is laziness. I think even though lazy and/or selfish players were dumped for younger and hungrier players, and some character with Montador and Grier, the bigger problem is just pure talent level.

They are missing some toughness still, they are missing some level of mental focus, but above all else they are missing talent. Talent to finish scoring chances and talent on defense. They certainly are better than what they're showing right now, but they just aren't at the talent level that can hang with Washington, Pittsburgh, maybe NJ but certainly not any western favorite in a seven game series.

I think four roster changes could push them into a legit threat to those teams, but they just can't/won't happen before next season. For now we should just be happy with a playoff spot (if they don't TOTALLY collapse).

yepp i agree with sabres1980....we do not have the talent to compete against the top teams....4 more acquisitions would need to be made and that won't happen with darcy....we really do have to wait until next year....
i was starting to make myself believe in this team too....it was fun dreaming...

i suppose we'll keep hearing Lindy talk about "guys playing out of character,etc"....come on now you can't make a donkey win the Kentucky Derby.....

we're not going anywhere this year...but hey, Lets go Big Easy for Calder - at least Tyler gives us a reason to watch...

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games