I'm interested in your opinion

[atomheart]

I am interested in how people are currently viewing the team as the offseason is about to begin. Are the Sabres the team that has missed the playoffs 4 out of the last 6 seasons, or are they the team that made the ECF 2 out of the last 3? I guess I'm ask are the Sabres a half full glass, or a half empty??

[pigpen65]

I am interested in how people are currently viewing the team as the offseason is about to begin. Are the Sabres the team that has missed the playoffs 4 out of the last 6 seasons, or are they the team that made the ECF 2 out of the last 3? I guess I'm ask are the Sabres a half full glass, or a half empty??

Half empty. They need a coach that can get more than 80 pims out of guys like Gaustad and Mair. The team is sackless, and unfortunately i don't think it matters what players are added or subtracted in the offseason. Ruff is still going to have them playing like pussies, and when it comes down to crunch time it's going to bite them in the ass same way it did this year.

[TheAnswer74]

The Sabres are a talented hockey team that needs leadership.

I almost would call them the most talented "young" hockey team in the NHL.

Thats why Stu Barnes is high on my list of free agents.

The glass is half full and IMO about to start filling up.

[bduff54]

they are nowhere near the team that went to 2 ECF, i think they are a bubble team again.

probably a playoff team but in the lower half. they need to add some grit and vet leadership, exact same as last year.

[TheAnswer74]

Half empty. They need a coach that can get more than 80 pims out of guys like Gaustad and Mair. The team is sackless, and unfortunately i don't think it matters what players are added or subtracted in the offseason. Ruff is still going to have them playing like pussies, and when it comes down to crunch time it's going to bite them in the ass same way it did this year.

Ruff believes in the same approach that Scotty Bowman believed in, no after whistle scrums because it slows the game down.

Few fights.

Ruff wants a fast paced game. I hope the sabres don't change that thinking.

[pigpen65]

Ruff wants a fast paced game.

You're exactly correct. The problem is that the league loosened the reigns on interference big time last year and players were back to having to win physical battles for possession. Ruff never adjusted. In the meantime, opposing coaches noticed early on the Sabs lacked the spine to stick up for each other. In my lifetime i've never seen a Sabres goalie get run as often as Miller did last year, 95% of which went with no retaliation. Shit, i've never seen a Sabre get put into a headlock and run into the boards face first without somebody going after the guy that did it. Re: Begin on Sekera.

[3LH]

Shit, i've never seen a Sabre get put into a headlock and run into the boards face first without somebody going after the guy that did it. Re: Begin on Sekera.

Yeah that was ridiculous. Kevin Sylvester interviewed Begin during the intermission and ended by saying "take it easy on Sekera". Sucks when Kevin Sylvester is the only guy sticking up for you.

The other moment that stuck out for me was Nathan Paetsch getting absolutely hammered in back to back games by a-holes Avery and Laraque (both questionable - Laraque's undeniably dirty) and no one so much as took a step in their direction.

I loved it when Ruff turned the dogs loose on the Senators after the Drury hit, but there has to be a more consistent atmosphere of sticking up for teammates game in and game out.

The guys on the current roster can do it, but the philosophy has to be instilled in the entire team.

[atomheart]

Yeah that was ridiculous. Kevin Sylvester interviewed Begin during the intermission and ended by saying "take it easy on Sekera". Sucks when Kevin Sylvester is the only guy sticking up for you.

The other moment that stuck out for me was Nathan Paetsch getting absolutely hammered in back to back games by a-holes Avery and Laraque (both questionable - Laraque's undeniably dirty) and no one so much as took a step in their direction.

I loved it when Ruff turned the dogs loose on the Senators after the Drury hit, but there has to be a more consistent atmosphere of sticking up for teammates game in and game out.

The guys on the current roster can do it, but the philosophy has to be instilled in the entire team.

I don't need guys who can beat the **** out of everyone. I just need guys who will stick up for their teammate even if they're outmatched. Stafford with Neil after that Drury hit comes to mind. That's what brings a team together.

[pigpen65]

The other moment that stuck out for me was Nathan Paetsch getting absolutely hammered in back to back games by a-holes Avery and Laraque (both questionable - Laraque's undeniably dirty) and no one so much as took a step in their direction.

For sure. I forgot about that Laraque elbow. As bad as that was, there's a little leeway there. I think the only guy on the ice that saw it was Miller. Begin on Sekera there's no excuse for. Everybody saw it. Downie ran Miller one of the first games he played after his suspension for hitting McAmmond. Everybody had an eye on him. Bulled right over Miller, Miller got up and took a swing. It turned into Miller and Downie wresting while every single Sabre on the ice was standing around watching. Literally. It's a level of pussy that made my jaw drop.

[Proteus]

We are probably a borderline playoff team as it stands right now. I would put my money on us making it as it stands. We are a top six forward and a top 4 physical dman away from being a solid playoff contender. `We should try to address those needs but I think our main focus should be trying to get extra or better picks in the draft.

This is how I see the roster shaping up:

Vanek Roy Stafford
Hecht ??? Poms
Paille Timmy/Goose Bernier
Mair Goose/Timmy Kaleta

Tallinder
Lydman
Spacek
Weber
Sekera
???

Extras: Mac, Nate, Max, Kotalik

So I think we keep Stafford because people forget he is only 22. I still think he has 35-40 goal potential. Let him play with those two next year and see what he has. I keep Timmy unless you can get a 2nd for him. He is too talented and could be a huge asset if he has a healthy year. Split time between him and Goose on the 3rd and 4th line. That way Goose gets his minutes and Timmy can get rested.

I think we try to get the best available picks for Kotalik and Max. Kotalik we could probably get a second for. Max maybe too. It's a very deep draft year and would like to add to the nice picks we already have. Now that we have this Portland thing figured out and our young guys signed we have an opportunity. We need to stock this organization with talent. Trade these guys get some extra picks and they will be ready to step into Portland when Gerbe and the boys move up. Mac and Nate we keep on the roster for depth and insurance.

So that leaves us with having to sign a dman and a top 6 forward. I think we should take a run at Cory Stillman. Would be a great fit between Poms and Hecht. Two years at 6-7.5 mil is what I would be willing to offer. Short term 2nd liner. If he wants more then try to sign someone else, but don't break the bank for anyone who isn't worth it. I would rather go with Mac then pay someone an outrageous contract.

Then we need to sign another dman. Go after Orpick, but I think he will be too much. If you have to resign Teppo. Also explore trade options. Trading Max, Kotalik or draft picks to say Vancouver for a guy like Edler would be a great move. Building for the future and the present at once.

That is the approach I think we should take. Build for the future. Pittsburgh is going to be a power for awhile. We are not going to consistently be contenders unless we rebuild our once great minor league system.

[Proteus]

Also if Miller isn't sign by mid December you start shopping him.

[3LH]

Nice well thought out post Proteus. I agree with most of it. I think some people are looking for a bigger splash than the offseason moves you have laid out, but I don't see it happening. I think what you have outlined is about what we can expect. Anything more would be gravy.

Also, backup goalie - but that probably goes without saying at this point.

It will be interesting.

[Riley_Mason]

The Sabres are a talented hockey team that needs leadership.

I almost would call them the most talented "young" hockey team in the NHL.

Thats why Stu Barnes is high on my list of free agents.

The glass is half full and IMO about to start filling up.
I would love to see Stu Barnes back here.

[anEinherjer]

Half-full.

[MauvaisSang]

I am interested in how people are currently viewing the team as the offseason is about to begin. Are the Sabres the team that has missed the playoffs 4 out of the last 6 seasons, or are they the team that made the ECF 2 out of the last 3? I guess I'm ask are the Sabres a half full glass, or a half empty??

Neither.


I do think they have plenty of talent to make the playoffs though.

[MauvaisSang]

I would love to see Stu Barnes back here.

Do you think he's better than Adam Mair? Because at this point, he's nothing more than a 4th line center.

[ddpderek]

Barnes is done

I rather a leader who can lead by example and put up some points.

[DropTheGloves]

It'll be interesting to see what Darcy has up his sleeves. All I know is we need to get tougher, more "mature", and someone we can rely on when Miller needs to rest.


Make it happen Darcy

[TheAnswer74]

You're exactly correct. The problem is that the league loosened the reigns on interference big time last year and players were back to having to win physical battles for possession. Ruff never adjusted. In the meantime, opposing coaches noticed early on the Sabs lacked the spine to stick up for each other. In my lifetime i've never seen a Sabres goalie get run as often as Miller did last year, 95% of which went with no retaliation. Shit, i've never seen a Sabre get put into a headlock and run into the boards face first without somebody going after the guy that did it. Re: Begin on Sekera.

IMO, if the Sabres could clear the zone and Vanek could finish in the 1st half of the season the Sabres would have been a top 5 seed. hell, if they did decent in shootouts they would have been a 7th seed.

I never sat there and said if the Sabres were more physical or if the Sabres would start going after players they would be better.

Even with all the clutch and grab you mention, the Sabres finished 4th in goals scored.

I will take a smart player over a physical player. If we can get both in one, great.

The Sabres need to focus on getting the puck out of the zone. They do that, we are good.

[charbs]

Add Liles, Orpik, Malone, and Peca.

Championship!

[Buffalo87]

The problem isn't Ruff pussifying the team, it's the players that play on Ruffs teams pussifying the team. The only players who will stand up for teammates with regularity are Stafford, Bernier, Gaustad, Mair, Kaleta, and Weber...Max and Lydman typically do but not always. That is far, far too few. On the same note, having tough guys doesn't directly lead to wins but it can influence a lot of things that can lead to wins such as discouraging the other team from running our guys and possibly building team chemistry.

[mikgaes]

Half empty. They need a coach that can get more than 80 pims out of guys like Gaustad and Mair. The team is sackless, and unfortunately i don't think it matters what players are added or subtracted in the offseason. Ruff is still going to have them playing like pussies, and when it comes down to crunch time it's going to bite them in the ass same way it did this year.

wtf? Ruff was the coach during some of Ruff's best fights. He coaches to win. Regier keeps putting little European pussies on the team (read Max, Read Kalinin, Read Slava Kozlov, etc), what do you expect? Ruff tries to win with those pussies and can't.

[mikgaes]

The Sabres are a talented hockey team that needs leadership.

I almost would call them the most talented "young" hockey team in the NHL.

Thats why Stu Barnes is high on my list of free agents.

The glass is half full and IMO about to start filling up.

I loved Stu in the day, but Dallas can keep him and his 10 goals a year. You want Schoenfeld to lace them up for us too? Peca would be a better option at 3rd line center than Barnes and I hate that little gutless puke.

[mikgaes]

Add Liles, Orpik, Malone, and Peca.

Championship!

Liles, Orpik and Hossa pehaps.

[mikgaes]

There are a lot of great options to add veteran life to the Sabres. Better choices than Barnes anyway. Langkow? Liles? Streit? Huselius? or my favorite: Rolston?

Here's a list to drool over:
1. Sundin: Mon (e3), Ott (e2), Det (e3)
2. Hossa: Pit (e3), NYR (e3), Mon (e3), Bos (e2)
3. Campbell: Mon (e3), Phl (e2), SJ (e2), Buf (e2), Ott (e2), Edm (e2)
4. Jagr: NYR (e4), NJ (e2), Bos (e1)
5. Redden: Edm (e3), Buf (e2), Bos (e3), Chi (e2)
6. Vrbata: Ana (e3), Pho (e2), Wash (e3)
7. Langkow: Cgy (e4), Van (e2)
8. Straka: Pit (e2) , NYR (e1), Retirement (e2)
9. Demitra: Van (e4), Min (e2), NJ (e2)
10. Roszival: NYR (e2), NJ (e3), Car (e3), Atl (e2)
11. Huselius: Mon (e2)
12. Rolston: Min (e4),
13. Streit: Buf (e3), Mon (e3), Bos (e2), Car (e2)
14. Prospal: Buf (e2), Van (e3)
15. Brunette: NJ (e3), Nsh (e2)
16. Liles: Buf (e4), Ott(e2), Van (e3)
17. Huet: Ott (e3), LA (e3). Tam (e3)
18. Stuart: Det (e3), SJ (e2)
19. Rob Blake: LA (e4), Col (e2)
20. Ellis: Ott (e3), Nsh (e2), LA (e3)
21. Avery: NYI (e3), Min (e3)
22. Nagy: Pit (e2), Edm (e3), Nsh (e2), Bos (e3)
23. Stillman: Ott (e3), Tam (e2)
24. Ryder: Bos (e2), Clb (e2), Buf (e2), Car (e2), Van (e3)
25. Jason Williams: Car (e3), Chi (e2)
26. Hainsey: Phl (e3), SJ (e3)
27. Cooke: Buf (e3), Car (e2)
28. Theodore: Col (e4), Min (e1)
29. Brylin: NJ (e3), Min (e2), Ana (e2)
30. Dupuis: Pitt (e4)
31. Jason Smith: Edm (e2), Phl (e2), Ana (e2), Pho (e1)
32. Fedorov: Wash (e4)
33. Morrison: Buf (e2)
34. Weight: Fla (e3), STL (e3)
35. Peca: Buf (e3)
36. Satan: Wash (e4)
37. Commodore: Ott(e2), Atl (e3), Car (e3)
38. Naslund: Van (e4), Pit (e1)
39. Modry: Dal (e3), Det (e1)
40. Nolan: Cgy (e3), SJ (e2), Fla (e2)

Link. (http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=15638)

[TheAnswer74]

I loved Stu in the day, but Dallas can keep him and his 10 goals a year. You want Schoenfeld to lace them up for us too? Peca would be a better option at 3rd line center than Barnes and I hate that little gutless puke.

Im very open to Peca. I wanted Peca last year as well.

[Riley_Mason]

Do you think he's better than Adam Mair? Because at this point, he's nothing more than a 4th line center.
He's a veteran who likes playing for Ruff, we need that.

[Riley_Mason]

Barnes is done


That's what they said about Teppo a few years back.

[ninecarpileup]

These guys are a top line center and a number one d man away from being a very solid team. Let's not forget this team made two deep runs into the playoffs on back to back years. That takes a toll on you physically and emotionally, let alone the tumultous offseason's both years. I really want to see what this ownership / management group does this summer to get back what they lost before I go writing them off.

[SabresFan220]

The Sabres should be a playoff team next year, but at this point we're between 6-8th seed I think. If we can add a top 4 defenseman and shuffle the forwards to add a top 6 guy we can move up into the 4-5th positions. We also need a reliable backup goalie so Miller won't have to play 70 games. With Kalinin gone Sekera takes his spot with no real loss in talent. Numminen can be brought back for 1 more year as veteran leadership, but we need some muscle back there. If Numminen isn't coming back I'm open to bringing in Liles, who replaces Campbell's abilities but doesn't bring the muscle we're missing.

I've said it since the end of the season, one if not both Kotalik and Max is gone, possibly before training camp. MacArthur is ready to take a spot and both those men have some trade value. I would love to get a physical defenseman for either of them in a trade unless we use them to move up in the draft. We also need a new enforcer because we're all praying that Peters has seen his last NHL game. That can be addressed in free agency or in a trade with those 2 players as well. My dream deal would be sending Afinogenov to Phoenix with 1 of our #1 picks and a later pick for their #8 overall pick and the rights to RFA tough guy Daniel Carcillo. He amassed over 300 penalty mins while still potting 13 goals and 24 pts in under 60 games. He's young too and would be great with Kaleta.

Free agent forward wise, I've always loved Stu Barnes and for less than $1 million 10 goals a year and clutch faceoffs and PK, sign me up. He's not captain material anymore but he brings leadership and experience, and he's been solid in the playoffs even with his age. Peca may be younger but he'll cost more and he won't give you anything more than Barnes does. Stillman would be nice to add to this team but he won't come cheap, I'd say $4 million. I don't see us making any huge free agent moves because we'll be investing most of our money in locking up our own players long term (Paille, Bernier, Miller, Pominville). I think we could see $15 million tied up by those 4 players: $2 mil each for Bernier and Paille, $6 mil for Miller and $5 mil on Pominville. What is left will be used to bring in new blood.

[unklechucky]

Im very open to Peca. I wanted Peca last year as well.

Injury prone and selfish. No way I want him leading by example like his selfish holdout with his last leadership role here

[pi2000]

They need a coach who knows how to lead a group of young players. Ruff isn't that guy. His teams have only been successful when they've had quality veteran leadership in the locker room. That was the downfall of the team last year. Maybe Teppo can fill that void next season, but c'mon, they still don't have a solidified captain. You can't win w/ that recipe no matter how much talent you have.

[MauvaisSang]

He's a veteran who likes playing for Ruff, we need that.

And so is Mair. But Mair is ten years younger. I fail to see what Barnes provides that Mair doesn't.