Man games lost don't always tell the whole story. If you have one guy injured for a whole season, that's the same thing as losing 8 guys for 10 games each. Depending on who that is, the latter could have a bigger effect. At one point, they had 10 or 11 regulars out at the same time. Do I know for sure that wouldn't have enough of an effect to get them into the playoffs? I guess not, but it's not just about the amount of man games lost, it's also about when they occurred and how many occurred at the same time. Buffalo got the short end of the stick in that regard.
- buffalofan19

As far as the injury situation the Sabres story goes way past just raw # of games missed. The players themselves, the roles they play and timing had so much to do with it.

Take Vancouver for example. Man games lost in 11-12, 358. Twenty eight more than Buffalo. However the bulk came from no name players Andrew Ebbett (66), Aaron Volpatti (59), Steve Pinizzotto (84). Take those out you have only 149 man games lost.

The Sabres lost important guys at most inopportune times.

Miller missing 8 games after "the incident". Villie Leino misses 11 games likey had an impact on his ability to gel with the team. Nathan Gerbe missed 20. Tyler Ennis Missed 34 games. We all saw the impact he had when he returned. Tyler Myers missed 23. Our record the last few years without Myers is atrocious. Erhoff Missed 16, and most importantly, when the team was finally back on track making a push for the playoffs we lost Myers and Erhoff at the same time.

Other role players were seriously impacted as well. It seemed as soon as a young guy got in the lineup and got comfortable, he got hurt. It happned to Weber, Brennan, Mcnabb. Even Colin Stuart I dont think lasted more than a game.

Anyhow it is not excuse making. If people watched the season, it was the perfect storm that underminded consistency and progress on this roster. A perfect storm unlikely to repeat itself this year.

As far as the injury situation the Sabres story goes way past just raw # of games missed. The players themselves, the roles they play and timing had so much to do with it.

Take Vancouver for example. Man games lost in 11-12, 358. Twenty eight more than Buffalo. However the bulk came from no name players Andrew Ebbett (66), Aaron Volpatti (59), Steve Pinizzotto (84). Take those out you have only 149 man games lost.

The Sabres lost important guys at most inopportune times.

Miller missing 8 games after "the incident". Villie Leino misses 11 games likey had an impact on his ability to gel with the team. Nathan Gerbe missed 20. Tyler Ennis Missed 34 games. We all saw the impact he had when he returned. Tyler Myers missed 23. Our record the last few years without Myers is atrocious. Erhoff Missed 16, and most importantly, when the team was finally back on track making a push for the playoffs we lost Myers and Erhoff at the same time.

Other role players were seriously impacted as well. It seemed as soon as a young guy got in the lineup and got comfortable, he got hurt. It happned to Weber, Brennan, Mcnabb. Even Colin Stuart I dont think lasted more than a game.

Anyhow it is not excuse making. If people watched the season, it was the perfect storm that underminded consistency and progress on this roster. A perfect storm unlikely to repeat itself this year.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Ding ding.. we have a winner

As far as the injury situation the Sabres story goes way past just raw # of games missed. The players themselves, the roles they play and timing had so much to do with it.

Take Vancouver for example. Man games lost in 11-12, 358. Twenty eight more than Buffalo. However the bulk came from no name players Andrew Ebbett (66), Aaron Volpatti (59), Steve Pinizzotto (84). Take those out you have only 149 man games lost.

The Sabres lost important guys at most inopportune times.

Miller missing 8 games after "the incident". Villie Leino misses 11 games likey had an impact on his ability to gel with the team. Nathan Gerbe missed 20. Tyler Ennis Missed 34 games. We all saw the impact he had when he returned. Tyler Myers missed 23. Our record the last few years without Myers is atrocious. Erhoff Missed 16, and most importantly, when the team was finally back on track making a push for the playoffs we lost Myers and Erhoff at the same time.

Other role players were seriously impacted as well. It seemed as soon as a young guy got in the lineup and got comfortable, he got hurt. It happned to Weber, Brennan, Mcnabb. Even Colin Stuart I dont think lasted more than a game.

Anyhow it is not excuse making. If people watched the season, it was the perfect storm that underminded consistency and progress on this roster. A perfect storm unlikely to repeat itself this year.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Hell, even our coach got injured last year!!!

Joe Thornton is a loser, he is old and hasn't led a team to anything. Even with back up scoring on the Sharks he can't even score at the same rate as regular season. He wouldn't lead Buffalo to the second rd.

this team isnt even close to contending for a playoff spot let alone a cup

this team isnt even close to contending for a playoff spot let alone a cup
- rambo777

playoffs yes cup no

but i did say devils wouldn't contend for cup but they did

this team isnt even close to contending for a playoff spot let alone a cup
- rambo777

The parity in this league says otherwise. The Stanley Cup was a 8 seed topping a 6 seed. The gap is not that wide anymore.

this team isnt even close to contending for a playoff spot let alone a cup
- rambo777

Why because we didn't "win" the offseason?

The parity in this league says otherwise. The Stanley Cup was a 8 seed topping a 6 seed. The gap is not that wide anymore.
- buffalofan19

lets stop comparing the kings who finished 8th to this team, they have legit stars, kopi, brown, carter, doughty, quick, and a lot of good complimentary players, our talent level isnt even remotely close to what they have at all so sure an 8th seed won the cup but once they got a coach who could get them all to click they were dominant, we have a stale coach with a stale system with a lot of mediocre second tier players, i just dont see this lineup making much noise

The parity in this league says otherwise. The Stanley Cup was a 8 seed topping a 6 seed. The gap is not that wide anymore.
- buffalofan19

the Kings underachieved all year. But the parity point is well understood

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

I just threw up in my mouth a little.


- Buffalo--Sabres

I loved his complete doucherry hair do and "bro" status.

I just threw up in my mouth a little.


- Buffalo--Sabres

Should read the addition of two 40 year olds and a malcontent.

Garth dude, you've gotta let go of the Thornton to BUF pipe dream....
The Sharks are Jumbo's team.

Pavelski's value is more than just points. The guy can play center or wing, point man on the power play, is a good penalty killer, top 10 in faceoff %, and can score 30 + goals. He's only 28 and is only going to get better. He's was picked for Team USA in 2010 for a reason. There isn't a team who wouldn't want this guy for only 4 million a year.
- Dre408

That's nice, that post was still stupid.

Should read the addition of two 40 year olds and a malcontent.
- twistedwrister9

Whitney 77 points
closest saber
Pommer 73 points
Jagr 50 points
closest saber
Stafford 50 points

In essence Dallas just added 130 points added a play making center who needed a change of scenery and lost a 3rd line center...

The thing to remember about Ott is he takes on the role of the people around him.. Remember Shawn Avery's affect on him...

Dallas got better, Buffalo stayed the same ala Leafs and Sens... GL making the playoffs

So I'll give my opinion on the whole Pavelski trade talk.

Pavelski is a player who the Sharks would miss a lot if he was to leave. He's one of the top faceoff guys in the league, plays PP, PK and top line minutes against the toughest opponents. Plus at $4 million, he's one of the best priced forwards in the league. This is why I wouldn't consider trading him unless it was for a player that was younger and could play on the wing with Thornton, like either of the Kanes or even Bobby Ryan (though I'd hate to see Pavs in the same division). But in the end I wouldn't want to see him go, especially since I have a Pavs jersey! Haha

If I had to take a package from Buffalo it would look like this
To SJ: Myers and a 1st
To Buff: pavelski
OR
To SJ: Vanek and Foligno
To BFF: Pavs and a 2nd