Max:

[Bay Side]

Time to demote Max until he can perform the way we know he can, Stafford looked good with Roy, and Vanek. Kotalik has played good, put him with Drury, and Zub. 4th: TC, Max, and Mair!!!! And keep Briere, Hecht, and Pominville together!! Just what i would do!!

What do you think?

[pabstman]

Playoff hockey dosn't exactly cater to Max's style, but I'm not sure he deserves demotion. I could see if he wasn't trying, it's actually the opposite and I think he's pressing. He still draws a lot of attention on the ice.

[emo]

max is going to get one more game then I think lindy is going to bench him. Unfortunately for those his sister's nation she will be a memory come next season.

[emo]

I think too that max is the perfect player to trade. I think you can really get a lot for him.

[ricogarion]

Yeah its not like he is a flake that wants to hurt his team, he desperately wants to make a big play and be a key contributor.His frustration is evident without a doubt,I hope that things turn for him if just to see that huge grin of his.He works hard and sometimes it seems that he wants to do too much but this guy does want to contribute.Give him the proverbial pat on the back and encourage him I am sure he will reward us he is so damn good.

[emo]

Yeah its not like he is a flake that wants to hurt his team, he desperately wants to make a big play and be a key contributor.His frustration is evident without a doubt,I hope that things turn for him if just to see that huge grin of his.He works hard and sometimes it seems that he wants to do too much but this guy does want to contribute.Give him the proverbial pat on the back and encourage him I am sure he will reward us he is so damn good.

there is no doubt that he is trying and I give him full marks for that. But at some point you have to look at his salary and his production and they don't even out. he needs to produce commensurate with what he's getting paid. I hope too, that he busts out in a big way tomorrow. i'd love to see him get a few points. 2 goals and one assist, but he reality is this, his production in last year's playoffs was horrid and it appears that he may be going down the same road here.

[bernsy74]

He's still hurt. I don't remember him shooting the puck with any force since returning.

[ninecarpileup]

I think too that max is the perfect player to trade. I think you can really get a lot for him.

Man, you guys are tuff. This guy is coming off missing almost a quarter of the season. He is an integral part of this team, and his contract is great for a player of his caliber. Give him a break, creative players are going to make more mistakes. If he was floating, I would agree. He missed the last part of the season, when the intensity, and desparation of your opponents is turned up nightly. Max has a mean streak, he will "get it" shortly. Have faith in Lindy.

[two4trippn]

With Max under the microscope right now, its Game 3 for him to shine or pine. Stafford is the future and is showing more discipline and control in his game. If Zubrus wasn't playing out of his mind right now, I'd look for him paired with Max in upcoming games but #61 & #23 don't mesh.

[SabreNasty2630]

Man, you guys are tuff. This guy is coming off missing almost a quarter of the season. He is an integral part of this team, and his contract is great for a player of his caliber. Give him a break, creative players are going to make more mistakes. If he was floating, I would agree. He missed the last part of the season, when the intensity, and desparation of your opponents is turned up nightly. Max has a mean streak, he will "get it" shortly. Have faith in Lindy.

He disappeared in the playoffs last year too.

[ninecarpileup]

He disappeared in the playoffs last year too.

Unless you have Tim Connellyesque type of skill, most of these types of players do the same thing. Grinders make their names in the playoffs, look no further than our own Adam Mair. They do this because the backchecking is turned up, the gaps are closed by defenseman, the competition is narrowed to the best in the league. Look at Nylander, he was God's gift to the Rangers during the season, where is he on the score sheet?. For that matter, where is Jagr?, and these guys have the body size and type to play a "playoff" type of game. Max will be fine, it just takes these guys longer to develop into exactly what they will be come playoff time. Alfredson in Ottawa has been in the playoffs for it seems like 18 years in a row. This is the first year that I have actually seen him make a difference at a meaningful time in a playoff game.

[comericatigers]

Max is a good player but he is not getting it done. put him on the fourth line and replace him with stafford

[Bay Side]

http://www.buffalonews.com/214/story/63830.html
Struggling Afinogenov takes a seat

[TommyV26]

I didn't see the 2nd and 3rd periods last night, but if Max isn't performing he deserves to get knocked down. Right not, he is replaceable. Stafford plays great with Roy and Tommy and Kotalik plays well with Zub and Drur. Thats one of the best things about this team. If 1/3 of a line is struggling, you can move it around so he is on the "4th line" and not hurt any of the other 3 lines.

[SabreNasty2630]

Unless you have Tim Connellyesque type of skill, most of these types of players do the same thing. Grinders make their names in the playoffs, look no further than our own Adam Mair. They do this because the backchecking is turned up, the gaps are closed by defenseman, the competition is narrowed to the best in the league. Look at Nylander, he was God's gift to the Rangers during the season, where is he on the score sheet?. For that matter, where is Jagr?, and these guys have the body size and type to play a "playoff" type of game. Max will be fine, it just takes these guys longer to develop into exactly what they will be come playoff time. Alfredson in Ottawa has been in the playoffs for it seems like 18 years in a row. This is the first year that I have actually seen him make a difference at a meaningful time in a playoff game.

Yeah, Players like Jagr are notoriously known for dying out in the playoffs. Max is apparently gods gift to the sabres according to Max Nation and a majority of fans on this board. I'm saying, for a guy making 3 million a year and being able to put up numbers in the regular season, you should do it in the playoffs as well so stop making exscuses for him.

[deconstruction]

I think we need to be patient. Max will have his moment, and it will be a big one.

[buffan100]

I think it less about demoting Max, than returning to the Stafford-Roy-Vanek line that just works so well together.

There is nothing wrong with being on the 4th line with Connelly this year. We are a 4 line team right now and Max might play the exact same minutes there. When we take our licks in free agency this summer he'll probably end up with Drury, so Max will be an important part of this team for a long time.

[Wing Eater]

Like I said earlier, when Gaustad is ready Max is sitting!

[Telecom]

I love Max, but he is lost out there right now. Insert Paille with Mair and Connelly on the 4th line. He will bring speed hitting and smart play. Something Max is not doing right now.

[MJCULE]

benched vanek, now its maxs time, bring up paille to play with drury, keep al with conns and mair and put staff with roy and vanek

[stevesy]

Like I said earlier, when Gaustad is ready Max is sitting!

Hahahahahahahha.

[noocllez]

he will respond to this well.

[Iggy72]

Before we go too crazy, let's remember that Max isn't the only one who underperformed these playoffs.
Item 1: Ales Kotalik was demoted to the 4th line after Game 1 against the Isles.
Item 2: Derek Roy was personally responsible for 2 Isles goals and received an earful from his coach.
Item 3: Thomas Vanek seemed lost in Game 2 vs. the Isles, sparking talk that his conundrums of last year had returned.
Item 4: Dmitri Kalinin has been dumped on by a lot of us pretty much most of the year; you would think he wore #8 instead of #45.
Item 5: Daniel Briere was seen as coasting in both games against the Rangers.
And now, Item 6: Max has a really bad game and is switched with Stafford to the Connolly line.

What do most of these have in common? While they may not have all come back to the levels we expect, they have all contributed to the 6 wins so far, and they still have that team aspect.
Kotalik hit every thing in sight and had a goal in Game 1.
Roy has reduced his selfish play and has improved his backchecking.
Vanek is tied with Drury for the team lead in goals, and let's not forget, 2 of them were GWG.
Kalinin has been solid in the backend, and he hasn't had his chronic giveaways as much as he used too, and let's not forget his physical play.
Briere hasn't had a hilite type goal yet, but he has a point in every game.
Max will be fine; there's no need to put in Paille or MacArthur or rush Gaustad. This is a team, and each player will do what needs to be done to win.
Let me ask you a question: when Roy, then Kotalik, then Vanek, and now Max got demoted, how much whining did we hear from them?
Let me ask you another question: how much of a demotion is it really when your centreman is Tim Connolly?

The boys will win and lose as a team; it's the way it should be.

Pax.
Iggy72

[jlpubarch]

Kalinin RULES

Kotalik RULES

I think that Max might actually propser on the 4th line with Connolly and Mair.

Think about it: when our 4th line is out there, NY is likely to have a bunch of slow checkers out there, so Max can dance around these guys (with the help of Timmy) and make some plays.

It might help him get his confidence back (in which case you put him back on RAV)

[smashingt2312]

If max was healthy all year he would of had around 90-100 points. Can't get ride of that production at his price.

Plus i think this injury is still kinda keeping him back a little.

[buffan100]

Hard to get on Max's $3.5 million salary when Hecht and Kotalik make almost $5 million combined. What do they produce?

[Iggy72]

Hecht's role isn't as a goal scorer, necessarily. He's the quiet guy who sets the table for Poms and Danny while keeping the defensive responsibilities. He does all the little things, sort of like Grier except with positioning instead of physicality. That said, he also managed to pot in 19 goals. He's a bargain.

Pax.
Iggy72

[sabrills70]

I love Max, but he really needs to step it up and play like he did in the regular season.

[ninecarpileup]

Yeah, Players like Jagr are notoriously known for dying out in the playoffs. Max is apparently gods gift to the sabres according to Max Nation and a majority of fans on this board. I'm saying, for a guy making 3 million a year and being able to put up numbers in the regular season, you should do it in the playoffs as well so stop making exscuses for him.

Let me guess, you were probably one of the very same people that wanted Tim Connelly drawn, quartered and ran out of town for the first few years after the Peca trade, right? I'm not making any excuses for anyone. Just takes some time in some cases. Look at TV last year. It just makes me laugh how people one day have someone on a pedestal, and the next want them traded. I guess the next target should be Briere, he is making 5 mil a year and has not scored 10 goals yet and won 4 games by himself. Jeez, whats wrong with him???