Varada was always on a checking line with Peca. And when Tsyplakov was here, they weren't very good.
- buffalofan19

varada was the grinder on pecas line, yes they were more of a checking line but they were a skilled line too and they regulated some nights.

tsyplakov was here in 2000 and 2001. if we still had peca in 2000, imo, we wouldn't beat pittsburgh and potentially won a cup that year.

You mean like trading Kassian for Hodgson?
- kingcong39

I still can't believe they traded Hodgson to us
I know there were extenuating circumstances,
But this kid is at minimum a #2 center
I'm not surprised at all that line is blowing up

Lindy Ruff blows E7

varada was the grinder on pecas line, yes they were more of a checking line but they were a skilled line too and they regulated some nights.

tsyplakov was here in 2000 and 2001. if we still had peca in 2000, imo, we wouldn't beat pittsburgh and potentially won a cup that year.
- FIREonICE

Tsyplakov played on the top line in 2000 when they needed to get into 8th on the last day of the regular season. He was demoted when the Sabres acquired the likes of Audette, Heinze, and even Gilmour and Gratton the year before. When players like Tsyplakov are on your top line, you're not a very good team, which is why they went out and got those other forwards.

Peca's line was a checking line first and foremost. They could pot the occasional goal, but that wasn't their main role.

the coach is in charge of player to player chemistry now? i always thought that was on the players since they're the ones playing...
- FIREonICE

I thought the GM put together the bodies that would compliment each other's abilities and talent. In chemistry class if you put crap with piss, you're going to end up with crap and piss. and even the best chemist isn't going to turn that into a beautiful smelling rose without water and the right seed. But, keep hating away at the guy you see behind the bench and ignore the twit up in the press box. Out of sight out of mind I guess.

89, i get it, i really do, but assuming we're (frank)ed 24/7 has got to, on some level, being extremely unhealthy, i mean LA wasn't that great the season before they won the cup, they had huge question marks on the way to the cup and they went nuts in the playoffs and the final stretch. pittsburgh fired their coach before they won a cup. point being, things DO turn around and times when things look the darkest. maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong. maybe i'm right, maybe i'm wrong, but damnit we're all sabres fans, we have to at least believe hope is possible and they will turn it around potentially.
- FIREonICE

I'm sorry but with Lindy and Darcy still here I see nothing changing.

I thought the GM put together the bodies that would compliment each other's abilities and talent. In chemistry class if you put crap with piss, you're going to end up with crap and piss. and even the best chemist isn't going to turn that into a beautiful smelling rose without water and the right seed. But, keep hating away at the guy you see behind the bench and ignore the twit up in the press box. Out of sight out of mind I guess.
- GilPerreault11

They both suck and have not won anything in 15 years, you happy?

Brassard would be a great fit here which is why Darcy most likely isn't interested.
- sabresfandan

Brassard is interesting but do they need another guy who is a lifetime .6ppg player?
I know he does other things, but he better do a lot of other things.

Now if you tell me the third line would be Ott-Brassard-Grigorenko, then my interest is suddenly much greater.

Brassard would be a great fit here which is why Darcy most likely isn't interested.
- sabresfandan

They need guys that can greatly improve their top 6, not the bottom 6. Brassard coming here won't do a thing.

yeah imo, stafford playing like poop and leino not being there to balance out line 3 are the reasons why our lines aren't balanced. forwards not playing team defense is weird but i'm going to assume it's lack of talent not playing to potential and having lesser talented folks than necessary in bigger roles.

hecht playing so much i don't entirely understand other than lindy is afraid the team defense is so bad and overplaying ol reliable to compensate, which is not entirely working, but at the same time, if hecht was playing less, i sometimes wonder how much worse we'd be.

i know it's easy to compare hecht and other players ice time but having one of your better defensive forwards doing the only thing they can do anymore isn't terrible, if the rest of the team did what they were supposed to, then maybe they'd play better and no one would care what the grumpy old german was up to.
- FIREonICE

Hecht is grumpy? Lol. He should be lucky he has a job.

But Ruff needs to call a spade a spade: we suck. Who cares if Grigo makes a couple of boo boos? He needs to play to learn. Not have his spirit crushed.

Although, from what ice see. So far, he avoids contact like the plague and floats a lot. His skating style appears to be effortless, meaning looks like he isn't putting an effort in! Play the kid. If he is the supposed savior, get him a real winger or two.

I wouldn't mind a trade just for a trade. A new face is better then a stafford, gerbe, hecht, miller "hides", enroth, myers, leo.. actually the whole team besides Vanek, Pominville, Foligno, Hodgson.

They need guys that can greatly improve their top 6, not the bottom 6. Brassard coming here won't do a thing.
- buffalofan19

I like Brassard and Weiss as centers that could be had but my big move would be Miller,Ennis for Hiller,Ryan

Did anyone write anything intelligent today?

They need guys that can greatly improve their top 6, not the bottom 6. Brassard coming here won't do a thing.
- buffalofan19

vanek - hodgson - pominville
foligno-ennis-brassard
ott-grigorenko-gerbe/leino
kaleta-hecht-scott

dream:
vanek - hodgson - pominville
foligno-ennis-Perry
ott-grigorenko-Leino
kaleta-hecht-scott

There's gotta be someone out there we can take a flyer on, like Sens did last year with Turris. Anything to get these bums going.

Did anyone write anything intelligent today?
- jochfr

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

vanek - hodgson - pominville
foligno-ennis-brassard
ott-grigorenko-gerbe/leino
kaleta-hecht-scott

dream:
vanek - hodgson - pominville
foligno-ennis-Perry
ott-grigorenko-Leino
kaleta-hecht-scott
- FIREonICE

Brassard on the top 6 doesn't make this team any better. In fact, it just might make it worse.

Did anyone write anything intelligent today?
- jochfr

Hookers

There's gotta be someone out there we can take a flyer on, like Sens did last year with Turris. Anything to get these bums going.
- Da_Cashman

Ryan O'Reilly is interesting, two sides still far apart.

Hookers
- SABRES 89

And blow

Ryan O'Reilly is interesting, two sides still far apart.
- sabresfandan

Fitz, I know you have mentioned Dubinsky numerous times.

I wouldn't trade a bag of pucks for that guy.
He is the definition of mediocre and I don't think he will ever the seasons he did in 09-10 and 10-11.

I know it seems odd for a player of his age (27), but I think he is trending downward already.
- kingcong39

I hear ya,
I think he can still be decent
Going to CBus can make guys look worse than they are
But if not him specifically, someone like him...
Solid in their own end, WINS FACEOFFS, can help with scoring...

I like Brassard and Weiss as centers that could be had but my big move would be Miller,Ennis for Hiller,Ryan
- sabresfandan

Hiller blows. He's losing his starting job, I don't think we would even need to include Ennis. Miller Staff for Hiller Ryan

I know trade rumors are for fun and all but don't you guys get depressed when you realize that we will never trad anyone that's gonna net us a big return?

Brassard on the top 6 doesn't make this team any better. In fact, it just might make it worse.
- buffalofan19

FIXED; next year

vanek - hodgson - pominville
foligno-ennis-armia
ott-grigorenko-brassard/leino
kaleta-hecht-scott