BS

Yes, Buffalo has a bad rep amongst visiting players because of the ugly view they get on the bus to the team hotel.

But, most players who have played here really like it. Just look at all the ex-NHLers that make their homes in WNY after they are done playing.

The Sabres could get creative to recruit guys.

And as far as trades go, Regier is the problem and not Buffalo.

Regier vastly overrates his own guys and it can tick off some GMs that like to hold grudges.

If you put Dale Tallon, Rick Dudley, or Brian Burke in Regier's seat, things would happen.

Personally, I want a GM like those three (Tallon, Dudley, & Burke) as opposed to overly aggressive morons like Sather, Sutter, or Milbury.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Yes, Regier gets married to his own players. No argument there.

Yes, players like it here after they were forced to play here via trade.

However, that Hockey News poll of current NHL players cannot be summarily ignored. Players generally don't want to come here. They said it themselves.

I wouldn't mind a change to a more aggressive GM, and I totally agree with you on Tallon, Dudley, or Burke. All would be great choices.

Don't read much, do you? When the Hockey News puts out the results of a poll where the sample size are NHLers themselves that say Buffalo is the second-to-the-last city they want to play in, what's that tell you. Take your Regier-hating glasses off, it's unbecoming.

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mechaphil

I'm fine with losing Miller, bringing in a guy like Biron, who's CAPABLE, and then an all star. An all star goalie can't win you a cup, but sure as shit, a guy like Crosby can be clutch. Sure, we can make the argument that Miller's clutch and has stolen games, but when the team doesn't show up in front of him, he can't exactly take it on his shoulders to go score a goal. As I grow as a hockey fan, I feel as though I'm learning to appreciate the greatness of elite goalies but also, as I take off the homer glasses, realize that a great goalie isn't going to win you a championship. He's a great plan B. A fucking spectacular plan B. But he's still plan B.

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The smart one.


Uhh, what makes you think a goalie like Biron is capable of winning a Cup? And what makes you think that losing Miller would mean that we would get an all star player that would get us a Cup? A great goalie isn't going to win you a championship? Where is the proof in that? Is a great goalie going to hurt your chances at a championship? Getting rid of Miller is a stupid idea.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

For the love of fuck...

Ok, seriously folks; I myself would LOVE to get my hands on the checkbook for this fucking team. Mind you, we'd have to blow it up at seasons end (Cup or no cup) but in all honesty... Where or when has our opinion(s) factored in what Darcy does/doesn't do in terms of signing UFA's or tossing out offer sheets like blankets at the Salvation Army?!

Although I was miffed to hear yesterday (Phil can vouch for this via txt) that Loods was gone, I understand the money system of the game to a pretty good extent. For that reason, I'm not going to call for Darcy's head just yet. He's made 3 solid signings thus far post-playoffs (Grier, McCormick & Leopold) so that allows me to have faith in what he has planned. Pattymouth will more than likely get what he's looking for to stay, there are possible trades and other UFA's still available that would work pretty swell with this team. I've put the safety back on the loaded gun pointed at Darcy's head for now and see what happens.

Once he's done tinkering with the team for the upcoming season and IF it's still not enough then go for it; Burn him alive if you must. But all of the BS and bashing is getting a little old at this point of the offseason. Its day FUCKING 2 of free-agency!!!

Yes, we're all welcome to our opinions and I'm not calling out anyone for not thinking the same as me but as I said above, we have no control over what the man does and doesn't do. If you don't like what he puts on the ice, then don't go to the games and don’t buy the gear. It's as simple as that!!!

Halleluiah...

Holy shit!!

Where's the Tylenol.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

I also don't think it's an either/or situation. Granted, I would have been happy to see a Volchenkov or a Foster sign with Buffalo, but as was said earlier, this free agent crop was not the greatest. I seriously doubt that a championship could have been bought yesterday, so there's no panic in my heart. That said, I see losing Tallinder and Lydman and bringing in Leopold as a net loss, so I'm a little unhappy with the way things have gone thus far.

Do players want to come to Buffalo? I guaran-fucking-tee you that if they were paid more here than elsewhere they would. But then if you overpay where does that leave you? I guess in thinking about it I have to agree that patience is needed in the salary cap era.

Now can trades be made to improve the team? Damned if I know. But it does seem that there are very few assets this team has that others would desire. Miller and Myers, sure, but I would not be happy with any trade that sends either of them out. Vanek and Pommenville have contracts that other teams simply wouldn't want. Stafford? What are other teams really going to be willing to give up for him? Not much except picks I would imagine, which doesn't do anything to help those in the "win now" camp.

What does that leave? Derek Roy. You could trade him and get something in return IMO. BUT I really don't think you could get a center (what the team needs most) that would make this team any better in return.

So I guess this all is just a long-winded way of saying I see no easy fix for Buffalo, no magic potion to cure all their ills. Bitch and moan all you want folks, but I don't think there's much that Darcy can do realistically that instantly improves this team.

It's funny, because the last three years Darcy hasn't made a team changing trade. Okay, players don't want to come to this god forsaken town, you have to make good trades...

We haven't won a stanley cup in 40 years, it's about time we do shit to change that.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Give me a trade that could happen that makes Buffalo a better team.

The crying on the inside type I guess.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Minnesota wants a top six forward and is willing to trade a d-man (Nick Schultz). They know that Schultz isn't good enough for his cap hit, so Brent Burns may be traded instead. Stafford plus whatever the hell they want for Burns would be great, imo.

Any trade that gets us a good player...? There are a bunch. The last three years, you tell me we couldn't make a damn trade? That gets us a player that can make a damn difference?

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

So why would Buffalo want him if his cap hit isn't worth it, given that Buffalo already has Vanek, Pommenville, and Hecht at inflated cap hits?

I want an example, and I'm not talking about three years ago, or even one year ago. I mean right now.

I misunderstood your post the first time.

But that still doesn't make much sense. Why would they want to keep the overpaid guy?

Minnesota primarliy needs a top six forward, and they also want to shed cap dollars off their d-corps. If they can't deal Schultz, they may be willing to deal Burns if they have to, if it gets a forward they can use and dumps salary off the blueline.

You can't win a cup with just a hot goaltender.

But you can't win a cup without a hot goaltender.

Teams with lesser goalies risk missing out because they've got a question mark in net.

The Sabres have a security blanket year after year after year until they can get the team in front of him built the right way.

And when they do, we'll have the goaltender we need between the pipes. It won't be a question mark.

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Wheelhouse

The edit I made is what frustrates me.

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kind of off topic, but any chance we could get a count down clock to sabres training camp at the top of the boards? i think it would be fun.

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