If I say that he isn't the second best person on this team, or that he's not one of the the top D in the league, I am not by default "blasting" him. He's an okay defensemen. Improving yes, but still nothing to write home about. He's a middle of the pack D-man in a Sabres group of middle of the pack D-men.

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I wasn't necessarily responding to any particular post in this thread as much as I was to posts I've read about Sekera in general this year. I guess I should have some specific examples, but I think it's fair to say he's taken a lot of flack on these boards this year. Is that fair?

Oh yeah, by far. Until this season I have hated him. In my mind his play was typified by slow feet, turnovers galore, no hitting, and I was filled with a general feeling of wanting to light him on fire. This year however he's played well. I mean he's still a turn over machine at times and just can't resist the urge to pass directly in front of his own goalie....but he's gotten a lot better. A thing that made him even more of a target for frustrated fans is that he seemed to turn the puck over, lose an edge or lose a battle at the absolute worst time possible. If we were down by one with five minutes left and were pouring on pressure, looking like we were about to score you could almost bank on Reggie tripping over the blue line or passing to the other team for a juicy break away and terrible nail in the coffin goal. I used to think of him and Butler as retard twins but now Butler sits alone in his safety helmet and Depends.

So the short of it is that yes, he is doing better and I hope he continues but he is nowhere close to being noteworthy in the larger picture of the NHL yet.

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I don't know if there's one single Buffalo defenseman that can resist passing right in front of their own net.

Well played sir.

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Sekera is a puck moving defensemen. He moves the puck into the zone SUCCESSFULLY and generates chances. He's also a very crafty guy, and can get around many people in his own zone.

He also, from what I've seen, doesn't make many defensive mistakes. Sure, he doesn't hammer people, but he's decent defensively and gifted offensively. A great puck mover.

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

He hasn't done as much lately but for the last couple seasons the guy has been a turn over machine. Constant mistakes got him singled out every week by a lot of us here in the GDT's. Is there a place that has stats like giveaways and blatant fuck ups for public viewing? Also, wasn't he the one who just the other night tripped while back peddlinging into his own zone giving up an odd man rush? I mean he seems to make these kind of mistakes often but that's one that comes to mind as recent, though his inability to clear the puck effectively and reliably on the PK is frustrating to say the least.

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Other than the exceptional skating ability, Sekera hasn't really brought another level to his game this season. What good are wheels if you're not going to make a good play with the puck? The free skating clinic is nice (believe me, I would love to know how to skate like he does) but there's a hockey game going on, so do something better with the puck maybe?

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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 haven't seen him turn it over at all. In the past maybe 10 games. Don't get what game you guys are watching. I actually see him get AWAY with the puck.

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

I don't know about them but I'm talking about the n and o zones especially.

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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

4th in giveaways this year behind montador, leopold, and myers.

adjusting for the fact that he only played 49 games last year into an 82 game performance, he would be 5th behind montador, tallinder, lydman, and myers

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Of the 15 to 18 games I've been able to watch and handful I've been able to listen to, I've seen and heard bad plays made by Sekera, but I've seen and heard much more good. Although a limited sample, I've gotten to the point where I'm looking for the good play from him and not the screw up.

I don't need every D-man to crash someone through the boards, I need them to play defense and transition the puck up the ice...Sekera does that. He also stays out of the box having only 14 PIMs thus far.

We lauded Teppo for making the smart defensive play...I'm not going to slag Sekera for doing the same.

I can see him getting better and I can also see him being added to the growing list of Sabres past and present who have gotten paid and stopped getting better and regressing. IMO, until he gets his next bigger check...the best I can be is cautiously optimistic.

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

Sekera is turning into a good player, but last night for him was pathetic. It was the second game in about a week he sucked badly. He needs to work on puck control in his own end.

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Let's go Buffalo!