Come on Darcy lets change your MO this time around and become proactive instead of waiting and waiting till their's hardly any good players left in free agency on July 1st or better yet why not make a trade that will better this team in the long run before the draft or draft day. If their are players out their that your tossing around in that small little brain of yours that can help this team then why not strike a deal. Lets get rid of Connolly, Stafford and possibly one of the little guys Gerbe, Kennedy or Roy. I don't think it's a good idea to have 4 small guys on offense. Losing one and bringing in a guy with some size I believe would balance the lines some. So what do you guys want to see this offseason?

I would check the spelling in your thread title before questioning others intelligence.

I do get the gist of what you're saying, but I suspect that MGMT knows what areas the team needs to address but you can't just go out and grab anybody. Ponikarovsky is a 6'4" 20 goal scorer, but I would take any of the aforementioned smaller wingers over him.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I just don't think it would be a good idea with 4 small forwards on your top three lines. I just don't see 4 small guys surviving a long playoff run.

Maybe he thinks you can't trade before the Draft?

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Ennis is small but was, by far, our best player in the playoffs against a physical Boston team...

I don't get why people continually rag on small players. One of the best teams we've had in a long time was full of them. I would take Briere and Drury over some other big players any day.

I think we need to stop getting crappy players just because they're supposedly 'big.' Torres sucks, Rivet hasn't really been all that great either, and Gaustad hasn't done anything lately. The only big player on our team that's better than the smaller guys is Myers...

But other than that, yeah I agree we need to make changes. Darcy needs to sacrifice some players from his beloved 'core' guys and bring in some fresh blood.

And pick a new captain, already.

It's okay to get a couple of small guys on the team that are small but having 4 of your top 3 lines all being 5'9" or smaller won't get you thru a long playoff run. But I have to agree with you that some of the supposedly bigger players suck. Torres was a waste and Gaustad is one of the worst skaters( I mean skating wise) I seen in awhile the only thing that saves his ass is that he hustles and works his ass off. But I also agree that this team needs a new captain.

After damn near a month of not being able to remember my password, I'm back. Muaha! Anywho...



Every time someone makes one of these threads, I would wager that Darcy waits an extra day to do something, just out of spite. So good going.

Sorry but he usually waits until after all the big name free agents are gone and then picks the left-overs. Kinda like a pickup game all the good guys are picked first and then you are lefted with the garbage. Just wish he would change his ways and makes some serious moves this offseason to help this team instead of trading for garbage(Moore and Torres). I would like to see help shake up the team alittle before the draft and maybe pull off a big move to get help for this squad because this current core of players don't have what it takes for a long playoff run.

I agree, I don't think there's anything bad about diminutive players at all, last i checked Martin St Louis has won the MVP, Conn Smythe, and the Stanley Cup and nobody even bothered to draft him because he was "too small". Ideally, you would want a big tough guy driving the net and skilled guys working out of the corners. You don't want to make it too easy for towering NHL defense men to get the puck back and defuse a forecheck. I guess what I'm trying to say is that NOT EVERYBODY on the scoring lines has to be big and tough and out muscle Pronger and Chara all game. One guy per line is enough, so basically the Sabres need 2 forwards that are preferably BIG, mobile, aggressive, and wioth decent enough hands to bang in 15-25 goals.

Knuble
Malone
Hartnell
Bufuglien
and more....

Buffalo could really use one or two forwards in that mold, and MGMT knows it because they have drafted guys that could fill those roles in the near future. As for next season, it's going to take a trade because I just don't see any UFAs that appeal to me.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Big time UFAs don't come to Buffalo because the nature of free agency is to overpay badly, and the only organizations that can afford to overpay like that are NY, Tor, Mtl, Philly, etc...

As for a new captain, Rivet would have been, and will be very impressive once he doesn't have a double torn labrum. I called it at least a year ago that Rivet's shoulder was injured and causing his timid style of play. Once he heals up he'll be an absolute f-ing monster. Imagine that Islanders game one week into his first season with Buffalo where he threw everyone around like a ragdoll in a fight fest. Imagine that he can actually throw hits around the crease and let loose a good slap shot. He's going to be a much different player next season and show exactly why he is and should be a captain.

Sorry just have to point out that Richards won the Conn Smythe not St.Louis.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh

Oh yeah, thanks.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

That would be awesome, but I'm more concerned about how the 35 year old Rivet will be playing next spring. I don't doubt his toughness and heart, but it's a pretty basic part of the human condition that we start getting more easily banged up the older we get. I'm just hoping that the give him 3rd pairing minutes all season, and that if he does get messed up it's in the middle of the season and not the end of it.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Darcy needs to make phone calls and that doesn't happen or he makes one, then doesn't follow up on it and misses the chance.

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It's sad that as long as Quinn is in charge Regier will be here, and as long as Regier is here Ruff is here. Say hello to more years of mediocrity Buffalo. However it is urged that you don't accept it.

RIP K.E.G. 3-16-2004

I actually saw Darcy today and I overheard him saying how he had this big epiphany when he read this profound thread on a Sabres fan message board. So thanks to you, SabresBillsFan, this might be the best offseason yet. Here's looking at you, kid.

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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

He better check the fax machine from time to time!

Again, I must make the statement that Montreal found a way to do it. Michael Camalerri (5'9''), Brian Gionta (5'7''), Scott Gomez (5'11''), and Tomas Plekanic (5'11'') can all be considered small players playing on the first two lines. If Montreal can make it to the Conference Finals with that, which I would consider deep, then the Sabres can make it with Roy, Ennis, and Gerbe on the top two lines in Buffalo. Another thing you'll notice is that the Canadiens have a big defense with Hal Gill (6'7"), Roman Hamrlik (6'2") etc. It's seemingly the team with the better defense are better off for deep playoff runs. We've started it with Myers, and hopefully Weber can step up. Maybe Lydman and Tallinder can also resign. But if you think it's the size of the top 6, you're dead wrong.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Montreal also just traded the goaltender that got them to the conference finals for 2 stale Powerbars, some Gatorade powder, a 40th anniversary St. Louis Blues puck collection, and 5 rolls of velcro.

I'm not sure I'd consider them the model franchise.

I heard they got some used jocks, too.

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