Ain't that the truth. This certainly isn't the guy who came in here balls on fire. Although I'm not about to call him Craig Bledsoe yet either. Maybe he's keeping some in the tank for now? This next stretch will tell us a lot about his play AND his leadership.

Pssst! Don't let PSP see what we're writing about Clarkey!!

Come on PSP; we're not singling any one player out, there's enough off a recent lack of effort to indict several players!

We're not saying it was you PSP, but several people were touting how awesome MacArthur had become early this season. We merely pointed out that careers are not based on a ten game stretch, and he would drop off in production.

I think ETC's stats on plus/minus are very telling at this point.

_________________
"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Actually, Howie, I also felt very good that MacArthur was breaking out this season, and despite his terrible (+/-) numbers I do think he'll produce the 25 goals he's pacing for at year's end.

What I like about Clarke this year is his willingness to bang on the forecheck and put up some decent goal scoring numbers. What I don't like is his tendency to get careless with his passing, and not being attentive enough in his own zone.

_________________
Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

You see more in him than I do; but I hope your right, and I'm wrong on him.

I also hope the boys get off the schnide so conversations like this are rendered moot......

_________________
"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Woah now! I'm not some kind of Clark fanatic, and I get where you're coming from.

I'm just saying, to expect Clark to maintain a point per game pace was ludicrous.

His play away from the puck has certainly been less than stellar.

Mostly, my posts were just saying I was impressed by his performance early on.

I'm just saying, I feel some of his struggles recently on offense have stemmed from the puck not being thrown at the net by the centers he's played with.

_________________
Wheelhouse

I'd be much better with his poor defensive play if he was hitting guys and dropping the gloves. He's been disappointing in those categories, too.

Who'd have thought it'd be Rivet we're complaining about over Tallinder?

_________________
Wheelhouse

Simple solution, make our third Line our first line and make our first line the second line and the 2nd like our third line. see how that turns things out

_________________

LETS GO BUFFALO!

Can we distribute the payroll this way as well?
Goose can make 7.5 million and Kaleta can get the 5.5 million and so on.............

_________________
Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Ha ha, I know, right?

Well we are just not a good defensive team, and we haven't been since 05-06.

Of course I know we don't give up a ton of goals, but that is for a couple reasons. Number 1, Miller. Without a doubt he is a huge factor and keeps us in games. Number 2, the grinders. The grinders on this team do their jobs, and they do it well.

These are the guys winning us games. Grier, Kaleta, Ellis, Gaustad...etc...simply do not allow the other team to score. And if they add ANY offensive production, huge bonus.

Sorry but Vanek, Pominville, Hecht, etc...are terrible defensive players. They don't do very well offense wise 5 on 5 either. Mostly powerplay only type players.

We have problems with puck possession. Those guys can't win battles in the corner, which means it's going to be a ping pong game. Ping pong game = goals against.

but their offense helps the sabres win games. therefore, assets to a good hockey team.

_________________

True dat!

_________________
"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

That is a cop out. You could say "Peters is a decent fighter, he is a great asset to a team!" or "Kotalik is a great shootout player, he is a great asset to a team!"

Everybody has some sort of skillset, that is why they are in the NHL.

Someone is going to score the goals. That is almost a promise. We may only score 2-3 every game, but goal scoring isn't the only problem.

What is the problem is our goal scorers don't have secondary skills. They aren't big, they can't grind.

They can put the puck into empty nets off of rebounds...but that is about it.

Losing a player like Grier really hurts. That's a guy that truly helps WIN.

You don't have to score 5 a game to win, especially with Miller in net. They is a huge difference, in my opinion, of players that score, and players that help win.

Too many people look at stats. If a player scores 82 a year, but can't backcheck well and do his job, well he's giving up more than he is adding.

You have to look at the negative stats, while looking at the positive.

Most of our "goal scorers" have done more negative things than positive things lately. Hence the losing.

just stop already. your expectations are painfully and absurdly high. guys like grier help win games, yes. so do the goalscorers. 18 griers is not going to get you 50 wins.

and, its funny you villify one dimensional goalscorers while applaud one dimensional checkers.

and no matter how well one of the sabres players play, you still fabricate reasons someone played bad.

_________________

guys ESPECIALLY MARKUS, slow down. SABRES will win the Stanley Cup 2010. Hands away from the keyboard and enjoy the Buffalo Sabres Show

PS: i start loving ur avatar.

_________________
HOCKEY IS BACK!

I think you are the one who has stretched this. Obviously the scorers aren't doing their jobs. I don't see guys like Gaustad sucking it up every night.

The goal scorers (basically the top 2 lines) have not played well lately, while the bottom 2 lines have done just fine.

One dimensional checkers?

Let me put it to you this way. MIKE GRIER is a grinder, who does many things. He doesn't JUST hit, he does many other things.


Grier has just as many goals 5 on 5 as Vanek does. DISTURBING stat for Vanek?

Read the papers, listen to the media. No one is thanking the top 2 lines for the "job well done" lately this season. I think you stretched a little bit with your statement just to make an argument.

So I guess my question is...why are we paying the goal scorers more money than the grinders, when the grinders are scoring just as much? Not to mention they bring a whole other element to the game and induce fear in the face of the opponent.

And they play defense.

I guess my point is, you CAN be a goal scorer and also be all around. Why are our scorers so one dimensional?