Anyone think he should be put in for game 2? The guys physical presence could make a pretty big difference...

_________________
"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

Yeah, I thought he should have been out there last night. I dont think we'd miss grier or neids TOO much by putting him in.

I disagree. I liked what Grier brought, and you can't take Neids, one of our few true centers, out of the lineup.

Keep it as is.

_________________
Wheelhouse

No.

Mancari is a half step behind the play in regular season hockey. He'll be two steps behind in the playoffs.

Leave him in the press box.

yeah, mancari tries hard, but he's so slow to anticipate and react that he looks like kotalik.

The thing I like about Mancari is he's a heads up player. Yeah he might be a step behind but makes up for it in smarts about moving the puck. Plus it's nice to have a guy that might be able to bury the puck in the net rather than miss the net half of the time like Grier does. Not saying take Grier out of the lineup but would rather see Mancari given a shot in the playoffs to see what he brings.

I disagree completely. I feel like the past 82 games where we've all kind of been like "wtf? where are these guys and wtf are they doing?" was wiped out. They played like veterans last night, IMO. They played the style of game that only years of playoff hockey can teach.

_________________

Nieds especially made me happy with his play. He's got playoff acumen and it showed. Grier, though, looked VERY lost at times and VERY old-school Grier at others.

_________________
mechaphil

Grier had some great hits, IMO, and that's something the rest of this team could really use a lesson in. He picks them well. I really wasn't upset with any single Sabres player at all last night (except maybe Montador, which is surprising...I've been pretty high on him through the season).

_________________

I should have been more specific, had I been it would have resembled this statement. Nieds was great last night, I thought grier was the same grier we've seen all year, old and used up. I'd still prefer Mancari over Grier.

Right? Steves been great this year, but he was absolute shit last night. Lazy irresponsible passes, bad positioning, he just looked totally lost out there.

Nope. Not sure what you watched but the physical presence of our 2 checking lines was outstanding, and the scoring lines weren't timid either.

_________________
"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 think Grier has very little to offer offensively anymore, but I'd rather have him now and healthy, with his defensive awareness, over Mancari. Mancari is equally slow and I just wouldn't trust him the way I can trust Grier. Grier did make a horrible cross ice pass on a rush just inside the blue line that went the other way. Still, I'd rather go with Grier and give Mancari his spot next season (barring a better option).

There is only one Grier, and He is the only option.

_________________

Grier will be better tonight. And he wasn't even bad for what he brings on Thursday. He was tied for the team lead with 5 hits, and some of them were bone crushing.

_________________
Wheelhouse

Mancari got a couple points in an 8 goal game, and made a good play running time off the clock. That's ALL he's done in his entire time here.

Why there is so many people on his jock is beyond me. He's not that good.

Even though he wasn't scoring, he played 3-4 games where he looked really good out there.

Then it dropped off again.

_________________
Wheelhouse

Nobody is on his jock. With Grier and Kaleta out for some time, and Boyes having to play C, Mancari had a turn coming for extended time. He wasn't horrible, but he's clearly nothing more than a 3/4 line winger at best. I'd prefer him as a 14th forward if anything next season. Hopefully we'll be set at RW with Stafford, Pominville, Boyes, and Kaleta...with Grier a potential option and Mancari far to the outside looking in.

Certainly wouldnt consider myself 'on his jock', but relative to how neids and grier have played for most of the year, i'd rather have the young guy who is a bit more of an X factor, than these tired worn out veterans. That being said, the vets did play a bit better on thursday, especially neids.

On the other hand, it's not really possible for us to quantify the effect these older fellas are having in the locker room, so perhaps that in itself makes up for some deficiency on the ice.

I'm just saying in general, every time Mancari comes up, there seems to be a lot of people who think he's better than he really is. He's really shown nothing in his time here. Certainly not enough to warrant playing over Grier or Special Nieds.

Frankly, I thought those two played their best games all year on Thursday,