They managed to give Boston their only 2 regulation losses and they played a really close game against Pittsburgh. Then they come out and look like a Pee Wee team playing against the Jets.

They have the talent. I'm not sure why they can't seem to play like it against the "lesser" teams of the conference.
- HonkFortheGoose

i always thought so too, but its hard to keep believing in that when they seem hell bent on proving otherwise.

even if they are talented but inconsistent the end result is still the same.

we do play boston well, and the pens game was close and exciting, but /shrug. it doesnt seem to be the way they play most often.

but hey, maybe i'm wrong. maybe they just need a little direction and things will start clicking. i certainly hope that is the case c ause that would certainly be an easier problem to fix.

Vanek has more than a point per game. He leads the NHL in scoring. So no, at this point, it doesn't matter.

And I bet even with Roy here, they still resign Jochen. They just had an excuse to sign him. He still would have ended up here either way. He's Lindy's boy.
- HonkFortheGoose

Okay, here's my "insider" thing on this. Jochen Hecht was not originally in the Sabres plans until Tropp got hurt. I know the person who is an international moving salesman and did a survey for him. He was set to sell his house in Clarence, and move back to Germany in December. He cancelled at the last minute when he re-signed with the Sabres. My "source" was pissed. He was about to make a pretty nice commission on the move too.

He also has 8 assists. 9 points in 11 games.
- Pierceme69

Just to play devils advocate (because honestly, I wouldn't care either way if Roy was here), you said that Hecht was here because Roy was traded for a winger.

Well, Roy has 9 points.

Ott and Hecht have a combined 12 points.

So, the two players we have because Roy is not here have more points.

Okay, here's my "insider" thing on this. Jochen Hecht was not originally in the Sabres plans until Tropp got hurt. I know the person who is an international moving salesman and did a survey for him. He was set to sell his house in Clarence, and move back to Germany in December. He cancelled at the last minute when he re-signed with the Sabres. My "source" was pissed. He was about to make a pretty nice commission on the move too.
- buffalofan19

That definitely played a part, but Tropp isn't a center and Hecht has been playing almost exclusively at center. Especially with Grigs in the pressbox.

Okay, here's my "insider" thing on this. Jochen Hecht was not originally in the Sabres plans until Tropp got hurt. I know the person who is an international moving salesman and did a survey for him. He was set to sell his house in Clarence, and move back to Germany in December. He cancelled at the last minute when he re-signed with the Sabres. My "source" was pissed. He was about to make a pretty nice commission on the move too.
- buffalofan19

Dam. Its a (frank)ing curse on all of us. At least he's making Lindy look bad.

who do you like?
- mhp

CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!

You BASTARD !!!
- Pairo11

OK..thank you

That definitely played a part, but Tropp isn't a center and Hecht has been playing almost exclusively at center. Especially with Grigs in the pressbox.
- Pierceme69

With the way things are going right now, there's no reason to have Grigs in the pressbox. Let him get the experience and get comfortable with the speed of the game. It's a joke that they kept him here and he's now had to sit the last 2 games.

Just to play devils advocate (because honestly, I wouldn't care either way if Roy was here), you said that Hecht was here because Roy was traded for a winger.

Well, Roy has 9 points.

Ott and Hecht have a combined 12 points.

So, the two players we have because Roy is not here have more points.
- HonkFortheGoose

They have 12 points in 34 games played. Roy has 9 in 11. We can keep going back and forth but it's pointless. We're not better without Roy like everyone thought we would be. The team isn't any more cohesive. I'd argue they are less so. Not because Roy left or anything, but never the less.

Because, being in last place will be enough for Pegula to do something. He will fire someone, he knows it's unacceptable. It's the magical run to 9th that will keep both R and R here.
- sbroads24

Pegulla won't do anything

Ever since this trainwreck was drawn up, we have been terrible

if things stay the same i dont know how anyone could realistically see lindy keeping his job.

it would be organizational suicide for pegula.

i know everyone wants to point fingers and say he's a fan and runs the team like one, but you dont become a BILLIONAIRE without knowing a thing about business.

not making DRASTIC changes after a season as bad as this one looks to be is unthinkable from a business standpoint.

They have 12 points in 34 games played. Roy has 9 in 11. We can keep going back and forth but it's pointless. We're not better without Roy like everyone thought we would be. The team isn't any more cohesive. I'd argue they are less so. Not because Roy left or anything, but never the less.
- Pierceme69

no one thought we would be better without roy. just no one thought we'd be worse either.

They have 12 points in 34 games played. Roy has 9 in 11. We can keep going back and forth but it's pointless. We're not better without Roy like everyone thought we would be. The team isn't any more cohesive. I'd argue they are less so. Not because Roy left or anything, but never the less.
- Pierceme69

but maybe for different reasons. Undoing one bad layer at a time.

Is it weird to say that part of me misses him ?


- Pairo11

yes.

That definitely played a part, but Tropp isn't a center and Hecht has been playing almost exclusively at center. Especially with Grigs in the pressbox.
- Pierceme69

I'm actually only speculating on the Tropp part, but the thing about the move is true, and the timing of it lends the theory some credence. The fact is, as of December, Jochen Hecht was not expecting the Sabres to re-sign him.

They have 12 points in 34 games played. Roy has 9 in 11. We can keep going back and forth but it's pointless. We're not better without Roy like everyone thought we would be. The team isn't any more cohesive. I'd argue they are less so. Not because Roy left or anything, but never the less.
- Pierceme69

But you'd still have less production because you'd be eliminating both of them.

Like I said, I could care less either way. I love that we got Ott because of the other things he brings to the table, but I wouldn't have cared if they sent someone else the other way for him. It didn't have to be Roy.

I don't think the team would look much different with him than they do without him. I'd argue that maybe Vanek would look different because he seems to be playing better without him, but for the most part, this team is just a mess and one player here or one player there isn't what's making the difference at this point.

With the way things are going right now, there's no reason to have Grigs in the pressbox. Let him get the experience and get comfortable with the speed of the game. It's a joke that they kept him here and he's now had to sit the last 2 games.
- HonkFortheGoose

They should have sent him back to the Q if this was what they were going to do with him.

Just to play devils advocate (because honestly, I wouldn't care either way if Roy was here), you said that Hecht was here because Roy was traded for a winger.

Well, Roy has 9 points.

Ott and Hecht have a combined 12 points.

So, the two players we have because Roy is not here have more points.
- HonkFortheGoose

9 pts in 11 games for 1 player
12 pts in 16 games for 2 players.

either way, was Roy really the "cancer" he was made out to be? Or was it just a way to cover up Ruff's flaws and sell us on another season of him

CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!!!!!!
- SABRES 89

With the way things are going right now, there's no reason to have Grigs in the pressbox. Let him get the experience and get comfortable with the speed of the game. It's a joke that they kept him here and he's now had to sit the last 2 games.
- HonkFortheGoose

Theres still a boatload of games left. I think the team is letting certain players run their course, so when they finally bench them there's no excuse. Remember too, whats most evident, the team isn't practicing. With the mandatory days off and ramrod schedule theres no time to work him in.

They have 12 points in 34 games played. Roy has 9 in 11. We can keep going back and forth but it's pointless. We're not better without Roy like everyone thought we would be. The team isn't any more cohesive. I'd argue they are less so. Not because Roy left or anything, but never the less.
- Pierceme69

I made the Roy point earlier and its totally valid. Would be curious to see Roys faceoff stats too.

9 pts in 11 games for 1 player
12 pts in 16 games for 2 players.

either way, was Roy really the "cancer" he was made out to be? Or was it just a way to cover up Ruff's flaws and sell us on another season of him
- sbroads24

were the fans pushing the "roy is a cancer" thing? i dont remember hearing it a lot from the organization.

the fans were obviously just being optimistic. i really dont think theres some type of conspiracy at play.

- mhp

I gotta laugh now because the Yankees will make me cry very soon.

9 pts in 11 games for 1 player
12 pts in 16 games for 2 players.

either way, was Roy really the "cancer" he was made out to be? Or was it just a way to cover up Ruff's flaws and sell us on another season of him
- sbroads24

you are talking about Grabass McDiver right?