If Kennedy isn't in the top 6, he needs to go to Portland, IMO.

He's not a checking line LW.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

It's not the GMs. It's the owners that don't want to pay guys 7 figures to play in the NHL unless you are a large market club that can spend well past the cap and still turn a profit or you care more about winning than the bottom line.

Golisano obviously cares about the bottom line more than winning.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I disagree. I think it would lessen the pressure on the kid to start on a line that can protect him a little, plus I think it's important to add more scoring on the 3rd line to balance out the team. Besides, Kennedy plays a great two-way game, and has been outstanding on the PK in the preseason.

Let Hecht rot on the fourth or make him a healthy scratch..

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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.

I think playing with a couple of plumbers like Gaustad and Grier would make things worse on a guy like Kennedy that will put pressure on himself to contribute offensively.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I disagree. Playing with Greir/Gaustad would train him to play a solid two-way game with exposure to tough, physical, high energy play rather than instilling a Roy mentality of dipsy-doodle fanciness and diving. MacArthur definitely benefited from his time with Gaustad last year, and I would rather let him work his way up to the scoring lines gradually.

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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.

This.

There was a time when Roy and Vanek played on the third line together.

Weren't we really talented when that was going on?

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Wheelhouse

wtf has mac arthur done to be on the second line ? i don't get it...has he had some great preseason ? or is this one of darcy's "hopefulllys" ?

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

I endorse Kennedy playing on the third line. Goose and Grier are gonna need a guy with pretty good offensive talent when they start creating tons of scoring chances with strong puck play and punishing forecheck. And with Kennedy's great attitude, stellar vision, and good two-way play, he could evolve (quickly) into the player the Sabres hoped they had in Hecht.

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mechaphil

ETC, Hecht is better as a 3rd line LW, as opposed to a scoring line LW...that is what we can all agree on. Don't pretend that I'm a Hecht defender, because you should know how much I wanted him gone this summer.

As for Kennedy, it's pretty uncommon to put a scoring forward on a checking line. Why do that when the scoring forward is also a rookie that doesn't have a complete NHL ready game yet? If either he or Gerbe proove themselves enough they can take MacArthur's spot, or step in when injuries pile up (which probably won't take long anyway). There's no need to force these guys into starting spots right away...why so impatient? You can't think either one of them will be a big upgrade (right now) unless you're being very optimistic. Once they get some time in with spot duty or replacing a sucky player (if/when Mac starts to suck) they should be expected to make a difference. Putting them in on a checking line will put them in a difficult position to match up defensively against top scoring lines. That just isn't fair to their development or to the team when they get lit up.

Puck, when Roy and Vanek were on the 3rd line it wasn't a checking line. It was a very unusual combination of post lock-out open skating and a log jam of offensive talent that justified three scoring lines and a 4th (checking) line. Those days are long gone.

MacArthur is a very accurate scorer, the only guy who has had a higer scoring percentage has been Vanek.

And 17 goals is only 3 less than Stafford had. he also had 31 points, you know that is only 14 less than Stafford?

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Who is this "WE" you keep referring to? I think Hecht is a complete piece of shit who will make the third line worse by aimlessly, lazily gliding about, turning over the puck, missing scoring opportunities, taking shifts off and losing every battle for the puck. Fuck that. No room on the roster for this.

A 3rd line is not a 4th line. MacArthur played 3rd line last year. You need a scoring presence who can play strong two-way hockey on the 3rd line, not just passive patrolling. Kennedy's development will only be hampered if he's returned to the AHL again. He's ready now.

With Hecht on the 3rd line they'll put up at least 20 fewer points than if Kennedy were there. Sorry, but I want no part of Hecht on that line.

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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.

"We" is the people who can grasp that since no team in the NHL will waste a 3.5 mil contract in the minors and that Hecht WILL be on the team (whether "we" like it or not), that he is better off on a non-scoring line as opposed to a top two scoring line. It's simple enough...it's called the lesser of two evils. I've been calling out Hecht since November, but putting a rookie in an unfamiliar role just to try and force ice time on him is not a reasonable alternative.

Hecht can also do less damage staying on the wing as opposed to being forced to play center due to injuries like last season. Ruff is dumbing down Hecht's role in order to give him a chance to fill it better. My biggest fear was having Hecht still on the 2nd line, but Mac, Kennedy, and Gerbe provide all the depth necessary in that spot. There will be plenty of chances for all of them to get ice time in a familiar roster spot, and having that depth is a good thing.

Your hatred for Hecht is blinding your reason, and it seems to be spilling over in my direction.

MacArthur is no 2nd line winger, he never will be. His shooting percentage means absolutely nothing, his consistency is non-existant and his ability to be an impact player has not [u]ever[u] shown itself either. He is dominated physically in every game I have seen him play in and does not have the skill sets to overcome his weaknesses. No, in my most humbled analysis of this guys play, he is very tradable or a 3rd line LWer at best.
ETC is correct, stick Hecht on the 4th line, or better yet, in Portland. Put Mac on line 3 LW.

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

BRILLIANT!

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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.

Mac is not what I want for a scoring line winger either, but he's (barely) the best available after Vanek. Gerbe and Kennedy may be end up better players than Mac, but not right now as green as they are. Slesh says how physically dominated Mac is. I pretty much agree, so why put him on a checking line??? He isn't a defensively responsible player anyway. Last season he played 3rd line (checking line) because Paille has been a serious disappointment and injuries mounted elsewhere. There were several parts missing on the forward lines last season, but right now there is really only Mac that falls below the mark for a legit scoring LW. All the other spots are filled with the right type of player (as long as they play to their capabilities). A rookie isn't the answer at Mac's spot unless it's a no-brainer bona-fide talent. Gerbe is even smaller so the same argument against Mac works against Gerbe more so. Kennedy may end up as the best LW after Vanek, but he hasn't shown enough yet. Allow Kennedy to get spot ice time for injuries or to eventually replace Mac if/when he starts to disappoint (at least 50% chance of that).

With Hecht, he still has the capability (if he has his head on straight) to be a checking forward. That is ultimately what he's best suited for...not scoring or playmaking or banging bodies as a 4th line energy guy. It should be 3rd line LW for him or press box. If Mair weren't hurt and Paille showed anything at all in camp then Ruff would have that option right now. Mair would be 4th C and Ellis could go to 3rd LW, or Paille could go to 3rd LW. Until Mair gets healthy and Paille decides to show up the bottom six will probably look like...

Hecht-Gaustad-Grier
Paetsch/Paille/McCormick-Ellis-Kaleta

Remember that if Myers is going to stay (the one rookie that could actually be a difference maker) Butler will have to stay in Portland or Paetsch will have to move up to forward. Butler deserves to stay and Patesch did a good job filling in at forward last season. That will put a bigger logjam at the bottom two forward lines, but again, that kind of depth is a good thing. It will be a big improvement over last season when injuries mount. Kennedy/Gerbe can fill in on the top two, and Paetsch/Paille/Mair/McCormick can fill in on the bottom two.

Mac has had two years in this league, and has done just fine for the time he's been given.

Mac is going to be a pretty good player, he just hasn't had the amount of time others have had to develop, he's only going to get better since he is either 23 or 24, so still very young.

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What did Lindy name the 1'st line; Fred????

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

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

I hate seeing Roy and Stafford on the 1st line, they are 2nd liners at best.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

i wouldn't mind having the connolly line play against the first line and then try to hide vanek with roy and stafford in the second line as to get him away from the other teams top line. not that i don't think vanek can't handle the top line, just with him being the only one who can consistently be a threat when he is on ice, you want him to maintain that. i just think being on a second line would allow a bit more line matching to occur.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

Roy isn't a second liner, he is a first line center, not a incredible first line guy, but leading our team in points for two straight years helps his case.

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