tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post579925220836051142..comments2023-11-03T09:36:40.604-04:00Comments on Top Shelf: The Buffalo Sabres: Only MOSTLY DeadHeather B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-41796910670876575272008-03-31T23:32:00.000-04:002008-03-31T23:32:00.000-04:00Sam, I agree that close games CAN be interesting. ...Sam, I agree that close games CAN be interesting. I just don't think this particular close game qualifies :-DHeather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-33169124780945275682008-03-31T22:17:00.000-04:002008-03-31T22:17:00.000-04:00okay I am obviously in the minority but I liked la...okay I am obviously in the minority but I liked last night's game. (I also enjoy the NJ Devils.) Defensive games can be exciting! There were many chances on both sides, and the goaltending and D was pretty exciting to me. The whole third period had me on my toes (mostly cuz I was worried but still..) it was very close and close games can be very interesting. <BR/><BR/>as for the fixation on former players, it is just weird to me on such a broad level. Sure, everybody has their favorites, and likes to know what's going on with those guys but the whole town? Must be because I've watched too much minor league hockey where you're lucky to get 2 years out of a guy before he moves on or falls off the face of the planet or something. <BR/><BR/>it's just a different view.S.A.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17506479286542011522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-63215451383731907282008-03-31T21:09:00.000-04:002008-03-31T21:09:00.000-04:00I know Spacek would be more helpful but at this po...I know Spacek would be more helpful but at this point I'm willing to give into sentiment over logic. Let it be Teppo!Heather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-75749561701572750792008-03-31T20:38:00.000-04:002008-03-31T20:38:00.000-04:00mark b: I'm a hopeful sucker, too! After all the...mark b: I'm a hopeful sucker, too! After all the talk about Buffalo not having what it takes since Drury and Briere left, I just think it would be hilarious for them to not only make the playoffs, but to walk away with the cup. Not gonna happen, but a girl can dream, right?!?!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-45198514545078278542008-03-31T20:07:00.000-04:002008-03-31T20:07:00.000-04:00I saw that Miller is on the Competition Committee....<I>I saw that Miller is on the Competition Committee. I want to e-mail him to see if he can suggest that the league adopt a larger ice surface. The players have swelled, the equipment has swelled - why shouldn't the playing area? </I><BR/><BR/>The problem with this is that it would create a slower offensive game with <I>more</I> neutral zone trapping. In international competitions with an incredibly high level of skill present a large ice surface can be entertaining. In regular leagues though? It tends to result in even more defensive play than there is in the NHL, combined with less opportunity for hitting and the entertaining kind of physical play. <BR/><BR/>As a sidenote, the trap was first used in Sweden in the 80s. <BR/><BR/>The idea of the larger ice surface is treated like a silver bullet but I really think it would have the opposite effect from the one people hope for--creating a slower and less physical game that allows defensive teams to shut things down even more.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694504731204384103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-10043045720685150902008-03-31T18:54:00.000-04:002008-03-31T18:54:00.000-04:00I understand that Teppo, Tri, and Spock could poss...I understand that Teppo, Tri, and Spock could possibly return before the end of the year.<BR/><BR/>While I haven't been as much of a Tri hater as most of WNY, if they take Sekera and Weber out for him, I will freak. But Lindy does have a propensity to take out the young guys for players he's more comfortable with (IE: the benching of Paille). And as much as I wanted Teppo to see action a few weeks ago, right now is not going to work. It's just too intense.<BR/><BR/>But Spock? The PP needs him badly.<BR/><BR/>The hopeful guy I am, I keep fantasizing about the Sabres winning out and making it in, and the Flyers and Rangers losing out and missing the playoffs, and watching Bucky cry.Mark Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04495690715950782958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-76914987845406825012008-03-31T17:49:00.000-04:002008-03-31T17:49:00.000-04:00Sorry, looks like the link was truncated.The Title...Sorry, looks like the link was truncated.<BR/><BR/>The Title of the article was <BR/>"Sabres' future grim based on Briere ruling" - if you put that into Google, it's one of the first few results.ElmaGolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761226222823133981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-43112157959954192082008-03-31T17:47:00.000-04:002008-03-31T17:47:00.000-04:00"If he had just said, "Max has been terrible this ..."If he had just said, "Max has been terrible this year and it might be time to trade him," I would say, "Heck yeah, I agree 100%." But when he goes off on management for making the wrong decision "<BR/><BR/>EXACTLY - unfortunately, when you try to criticize him for the "hindsight judgment" element of his article, people assume you're discrediting the valid part of the article as well.<BR/><BR/>In case anyone wants to see the "Bucky Article" from 2006, here's the link. I found it on a "Capitals" forum of all places. It's near the bottom of the page (or search on "Gleason").<BR/><BR/>http://boards.washingtoncaps.com/lofiversion/index.php/t38602.html<BR/><BR/>There is NO indication in this article that Bucky thinks it would have beeen a "no-brainer to have signed him to $25 million before it even came to arbitration." <BR/><BR/>Listening to Bucky talk recently about "what could have been" you'd think you'd find SOME reference in his article that the Sabres should build around this guy. No, what you actually hear from Bucky sounds an awful lot like the same thing management gets criticized for:<BR/><BR/>"The Sabres have the lowest ticket prices in the league, but they can't raise them much higher because they'll become too expensive for this market."<BR/><BR/>Wow, this guy 2006 Bucky Gleason sounds like a pretty rational, level-headed guy. Is he any relation to the "2007/8 Bucky"?ElmaGolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761226222823133981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-32686552031619359762008-03-31T17:14:00.000-04:002008-03-31T17:14:00.000-04:00Elma, first of all, feel free to vent. I don't mi...Elma, first of all, feel free to vent. I don't mind at all.<BR/><BR/>Second of all, it's definitely the self-righteous tone in Bucky's writing that drives me crazy more than anything else. If he had just said, "Max has been terrible this year and it might be time to trade him," I would say, "Heck yeah, I agree 100%." But when he goes off on management for making the wrong decision - a decision that made sense at the time - and acts like he knew what was going to happen all along - even though sometimes his past writings say otherwise - well, he can put a sock in it. I'm not interested in reading that from anyone.<BR/><BR/>"Whack-a-doo" really is a great turn of phrase. I picked that up from someone else so I have no problem with you using it :-DHeather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-75688977132805195432008-03-31T16:57:00.000-04:002008-03-31T16:57:00.000-04:00"For the record, this isn't in direct response to ..."For the record, this isn't in direct response to Bucky Gleason. I heard he wrote about Max in today's column but I didn't read it. I'm not going anywhere near TBN for the next year at least. Do I look crazy?)"<BR/><BR/>It was as you'd expect - including the "Gee, maybe the Sabres placed their bets on the wrong guy" quote.<BR/><BR/>I don't have your resolve to stay away, so I used Bucky's own words in 2006 to show what a freakin' myopic, bitter, hind-sight loving hypocrite he is over on the Edge (sorry to use your blog to vent - but like I've written you before, Bucky gives me Tourette's).<BR/><BR/>After the Arbitration hearing, Bucky wrote in July 2006:<BR/><BR/>"Briere was the first player in the league to navigate the arbitration process under the new collective bargaining agreement. Buffalo had seven players remaining after Ales Kotalik signed Sunday. Judging from the opening hearing, the Sabres best get talking with the others. After all, if Briere is worth $5 million, what's the cost of doing business with leading scorer Maxim Afinogenov or Chris Drury when their contracts roll around. A boatload."<BR/><BR/>When Bucky said they "best get talking" with Max, did he mean so they could TRADE HIM?<BR/><BR/>So when Bucky says crap today like "Gee, maybe they placed their bets on the wrong guy" in talking about Max's re-signing, I wonder if he's either:<BR/><BR/>A) Incredibly ignorant of his own opinions<BR/><BR/>B) Delusional and blinded by his pettiness towards management<BR/><BR/>or even worse:<BR/>C) Fully aware of his past comments, and assuming we're too stupid to understand that you make decisions based on information available at the time, not with the benefit of hindsight<BR/><BR/><BR/>That article in 2006 gets even better:<BR/><BR/>Bucky also wrote "No doubt he (Briere) deserved a hefty raise from the $1.9 million he pocketed last season. Doubling his salary seemed fair." <BR/><BR/>Yes, but I'm sure Bucky gladly would have taken $25MM / 5 years prior to the arbitration hearing. I mean, if he thought $3.8MM per year was a "fair price" it's only logical that he would have paid $5MM/year (especially when there were 7 other players heading to arbitration).<BR/><BR/><BR/>WHAT A WHACK-A-DOO!!!!!<BR/><BR/>(sorry, I love that "term" I picked up from you).ElmaGolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761226222823133981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-82066396035863652442008-03-31T16:43:00.000-04:002008-03-31T16:43:00.000-04:00"The rest of the game was eye-gougingly boring. I ..."The rest of the game was eye-gougingly boring. I am glad the NHL has consistently devolved back to the neutral zone/dump no chase game. Ugh. "<BR/><BR/>Hair - Yeah, last night was pretty god-awful. The "devolution" (is that a word?) of the game probably has quite a bit more to do with the Sabres' decline than most of the "Presidents Trophy to Missed Playoffs" trumpeters would acknowledge.<BR/><BR/>I saw that Miller is on the Competition Committee. I want to e-mail him to see if he can suggest that the league adopt a larger ice surface. The players have swelled, the equipment has swelled - why shouldn't the playing area? Since the Refs can't be trusted to enforce the rules, I say "give spatial physics a chance."ElmaGolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761226222823133981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-58824372746437321082008-03-31T16:41:00.000-04:002008-03-31T16:41:00.000-04:00Matt, I didn't even think of TSN having fantasy ga...Matt, I didn't even think of TSN having fantasy games. I'll remember that for next year.<BR/><BR/>You've also hit on one of the things about Buffalo that amuses me the most: Other fans are always way more hopeful about our teams than we are.<BR/><BR/>Sam, sadly, Elma is probably right. But at least I can understand missing JP Dumont.Heather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-38124370727915302192008-03-31T16:32:00.000-04:002008-03-31T16:32:00.000-04:00"and I fully agree with the sentiments on Brian Ca..."and I fully agree with the sentiments on Brian Campbell (he's GONE, can we shut up about him already?)"<BR/><BR/>Sorry, Sam, we still have people obsessing on Dumont. Campbell's going to be on the menu until at least 2010.ElmaGolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11761226222823133981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-40075958812050550282008-03-31T16:05:00.000-04:002008-03-31T16:05:00.000-04:00Just for the record, I fully endorse TSN's fantasy...Just for the record, I fully endorse TSN's fantasy hockey boards. We used them last year for all 5 of my leagues and didn't have a single problem. <BR/><BR/>Oddly enough, at work today no less than 4 Rangers fans told me they were a bit scared of what the Sabres would look like next year. There were a couple Devils fans that did it too. And every one of them pointed out the 93-94 team. Crazy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-85017596606950979142008-03-31T12:10:00.000-04:002008-03-31T12:10:00.000-04:00Vanek's Hair, at one point I said to Mark, "This g...Vanek's Hair, at one point I said to Mark, "This game is so boring it's offending me." Terrible.<BR/><BR/>I thought about the lack of a smack talk board too. Guess you'll just have to do all your ugly talk here. I have to say, I'm not at all impressed with NHL.com's set-up or interface. I should have done some investigating before I signed up there.<BR/><BR/>(When we did our podcast I realized just how much I say "I have to say" or "I will say this.")Heather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-15244296806997948082008-03-31T11:52:00.000-04:002008-03-31T11:52:00.000-04:00Nice to see the kid have a nice moment with the GW...Nice to see the kid have a nice moment with the GWG last night. Fun way to send the home fans away until OCtober. Well fun ending. The rest of the game was eye-gougingly boring. I am glad the NHL has consistently devolved back to the neutral zone/dump no chase game. Ugh. <BR/><BR/>I liked how the MSG postgame showed the possible scenarios. It looked like an exam question: If a train leaves Boston going 50 mph, another leaves Philly going 65 mph, how many bad goals can Miller give up and the Sabres still make the playoffs?<BR/><BR/>I signed up my team for the fantasy league, mostly guys with good hair. But what is up with that league not having a smack talk board? How can I participate in fantasy sports without being able to needle my opponents via the internet?Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770585105343162265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-9794979559691370272008-03-31T11:07:00.000-04:002008-03-31T11:07:00.000-04:00I know I said Kotalik is hot. It's true, he is (a...I know I said Kotalik is hot. It's true, he is (and I am not that easily impressed). Unfortunately for the Sabres, the only good thing about his game is that he can fire off a freaking blazing shot when he WANTS to but mostly Kotalik seems either too lazy or too slow. I've also noticed that he isn't much of a team player. When everyone on the team was laughing and jumping on Sekera like a pile of puppies, Ales was practically the last one to skate over and even then, he just sort of stood on the outside of the group. Really sad. I've been telling my husband for the last few weeks that the team needs to trade him. How disappointing....shellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10903243050245033241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-26554610447941875012008-03-31T10:53:00.000-04:002008-03-31T10:53:00.000-04:00Well, I've picked my line-up, but I've never done ...Well, I've picked my line-up, but I've never done the fantasy hockey thing before, so this will be a learning experience for me. Please don't laugh at my line-up. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-13294373651787537162008-03-31T08:49:00.000-04:002008-03-31T08:49:00.000-04:00I know they really don't deserve it, but I think i...I know they really don't deserve it, but I think it would be so funny if Buffalo not only slid into a playoff spot, but managed to win the cup.<BR/><BR/>I know it's not gonna happen, but I think it would be FUNNY!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-45641285068348510852008-03-31T01:51:00.000-04:002008-03-31T01:51:00.000-04:00I think for the first week of Fantasy Hockey my en...<I>I think for the first week of Fantasy Hockey my entire team is going to be all ex-Sabres.</I><BR/><BR/>Hermano, great idea! I recommend Jay McKee, Rory Fitzpatrick, and Alexander Mogilny. No need to check the stats. Just trust your big sis.<BR/><BR/>Meg, you can set your line-up now but it doesn't have to be done until... uh... April 9th, I believe if you want to wait and see who's in. (It's in the middle of the day on the 9th so you might want to do it by the 8th.)<BR/><BR/>Sharpie, I was going to save my Cup run prediction for opening day :-DHeather B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06796852014625052317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-51918285960781508842008-03-31T01:31:00.000-04:002008-03-31T01:31:00.000-04:00Are we supposed to select our teams now? Or do we ...Are we supposed to select our teams now? Or do we wait for the regular season to be over? <BR/><BR/>I should probably read the instructions, huh? (rhetorical question)Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694504731204384103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-32785202844092129582008-03-31T01:05:00.000-04:002008-03-31T01:05:00.000-04:00I think for the first week of Fantasy Hockey my en...I think for the first week of Fantasy Hockey my entire team is going to be all ex-Sabres. Muahaha!LeeAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09053004353554099326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-47245016266737608252008-03-31T00:42:00.000-04:002008-03-31T00:42:00.000-04:00With Max [ . . . ] he's not good at thinking on hi...<I>With Max [ . . . ] he's not good at thinking on his feet.</I><BR/><BR/>I think this is very true. He just doesn't have that mind for the game that the really good players have. Physically he has all the tools but it just doesn't seem to come naturally to him on a mental level.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694504731204384103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-43138059062221146222008-03-31T00:16:00.000-04:002008-03-31T00:16:00.000-04:00Hey man, they are still in it. Somehow, they are s...Hey man, they are still in it. Somehow, they are still in it. Woooohoooo! <BR/><BR/>I thought they played well tonight. (except that shortie. Dammit Miller, you HAVE to have those!) But he redeemed it by some really stellar play later, and the D was just on tonight. <BR/><BR/>The last part of the game was hardcore intense. I thought I was going to have a heart attack or thow up or both. Yeeeesh. <BR/><BR/>and I fully agree with the sentiments on Brian Campbell (he's GONE, can we shut up about him already?) and Kotalik - WHY oh WHY is he still playing?! <BR/><BR/>With Max, I see some effort (more than AL at least) but I dunno.. the frustrating thing about him is that he seems to have a one-track mind, he's not good at thinking on his feet. When he gets the puck it's GO GO GO GO GO and if something happens and he loses it or someone gets in his way he seems lost. It's weird, but I think that's what is causing this roadblock for him. He's fast, but not exactly crafty with the puck. (which is why he will never be the goal scorer that Pavel Bure was, even though he's the closest I've ever seen to Bure's speed)<BR/><BR/>The Sabres have a team that could be very good down the line. They are learning some hard lessons and with a little tweaking, they could become a serious contender in the future.S.A.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17506479286542011522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6099439052359653516.post-29644778780498634722008-03-30T23:45:00.000-04:002008-03-30T23:45:00.000-04:00Go ahead and say the Sabres will win the cup in '0...Go ahead and say the Sabres will win the cup in '08-'09. I've been saying it since the play-offs.TheSharpiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14797104769757754691noreply@blogger.com