our wingers blow. who is there beyond vanek/pom.

stafford doesnt score. foligno isn't here to put up 60 points. the third and fourth lines can't be counted on for points.

we have one good winger and another decent one. after that its trash and 20 year olds.
- Putzfrau

The Truth

That would put him 2nd on the Sabres at center behind Cody McCormick who has taken almost 200 less faceoffs.
- Pierceme69

third


Ott: 53.623 faceoff win % in 17 games played.

i have no idea what you are referring to by mentioning those teams.
- Putzfrau

you say the Yankees are whats wrong with Baseball correct? I'm sure you mean spending well all those teams i mentioned plus more are spending like crazy. It's not easy to buy a world series now is it. you can't place all the blame on the Yankees. Other teams I mentioned are giving out bigger contracts then the Yankees did.

sorry, i'm not buying into this conspiracy theory you're pushing. ruffs "behavior" is plainly apparent in the way the team plays. there's no scapegoating that. people have been blaming him for years. i doubt the organization removed roy because of ruff. they probably just saw an obnoxious party boy that wasn't doing anyone any help in the locker room, so they moved him.

i doubt at any point it was this calculated plan to pull the wool over our eyes.
- Putzfrau

It's not a conspiracy if what I said were facts. Roy was labeled in the media as a "locker room cancer". Ruff publicly called out Roy, Roy fired back at Ruff, they traded Roy for more "leadership" in Ott. Are we better? Do we play more inspired without Roy? It's already happening with Pominville, people in the media questioning whether he should be the captian, how long before he gets traded for another "leader"? All while the one thing that should have been replaced stays put

Hodgson is at 45%. Not much of a difference than Roy.
- HonkFortheGoose

Ennis is the issue, not Hodgson. Although 44.4% for your #1 center is kind of sorry. Ennis is not a center. Taking wingers and putting them in the middle is not a winning formula. Our two wings that play center have won 42% of their draws.

third


Ott: 53.623 faceoff win % in 17 games played.
- RynoBull

Ott is not a center. Reading comprehension is your friend.

Roy is mediocre on faceoffs this year too. Given all his other problems, it's not even the equivalent of putting a band-aid on an open gunshot wound.

Steve Ott brings a certain type of game that the Sabres needed. Yes its a lower scoring game than Roy, but its much phyically in your face game he brings. He's already becoming one of the faces of the franchise in the locker room. Its the other members of the team that are failing in scoring, Hecht, Stafford, Foligno, Gerbe. You can't have lines 3 and 2 with almost no scoring and expect results.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Players like Ott don't bring much too a team in 27th place in the league. He'd be perfect on the third line of a contending team in the post season.

It's not a conspiracy if what I said were facts. Roy was labeled in the media as a "locker room cancer". Ruff publicly called out Roy, Roy fired back at Ruff, they traded Roy for more "leadership" in Ott. Are we better? Do we play more inspired without Roy? It's already happening with Pominville, people in the media questioning whether he should be the captian, how long before he gets traded for another "leader"? All while the one thing that should have been replaced stays put
- sbroads24

All the recent Sabres Captains get traded away

Players like Ott don't bring much too a team in 27th place in the league. He'd be perfect on the third line of a contending team in the post season.
- sambarugh

(frank) yeah. Thats my point. But I think he embraces being a Sabre. He takes it seriously. I think he is a building block going foward.

All the recent Sabres Captains get traded away
- RynoBull

All the while one thing has stayed the same...........

Ott is not a center. Reading comprehension is your friend.
- Pierceme69

Ott is listed as a C

you say the Yankees are whats wrong with Baseball correct? I'm sure you mean spending well all those teams i mentioned plus more are spending like crazy. It's not easy to buy a world series now is it. you can't place all the blame on the Yankees. Other teams I mentioned are giving out bigger contracts then the Yankees did.
- SABRES 89

meh, thats half of it, the other half is trashing a cherished accessible stadium for a two tier piece of poop that's only for the suits.

also, the yankees certainly started the trend of spending more. yes, more teams do it now, but in that case they are whats wrong with baseball too. it doesnt detract from the fact that the yankees did it first and have done it the best.

not trying to piss you off, so i'll just drop it before it goes further. the yankees power and organizational strength is second to none, but they have embraced and represented whats worst about baseball for some time now.

Ott is listed as a C
- RynoBull

correct

http://sabres.nhl.com/clu...e=2&season=20122013&srt=g

Ennis is the issue, not Hodgson. Although 44.4% for your #1 center is kind of sorry. Ennis is not a center. Taking wingers and putting them in the middle is not a winning formula. Our two wings that play center have won 42% of their draws.
- Pierceme69

In general, Ennis is better off at center than he is wing. It gives him more space to work. But, he needs to get better at faceoffs in order to really be the best player he can at that position.

I did a comparison yesterday between him and Briere, because I feel like they're very similar players. At the same age Ennis is now, Briere was just starting to break into the league. He spent about half the year in the AHL. To me, Ennis isn't the problem and neither his Hodgson or the rest of the 1st line. It's the fact that guys like Stafford have been ghosts this year and our Defense is a mess.

(frank) yeah. Thats my point. But I think he embraces being a Sabre. He takes it seriously. I think he is a building block going foward.
- Buffalo--Sabres

That is only signed through next year and is 30 already. Not a great building block IMO. Again not bashing Ott because I like him and he's great at what he does, but yea you are right, he would be better on a contender. Which is why this organization is ass backwards

Ott is listed as a C
- RynoBull

He's not a center. It's been stated a zillion times by everyone everywhere.

meh, thats half of it, the other half is trashing a cherished accessible stadium for a two tier piece of poop that's only for the suits.

also, the yankees certainly started the trend of spending more. yes, more teams do it now, but in that case they are whats wrong with baseball too. it doesnt detract from the fact that the yankees did it first and have done it the best.
- Putzfrau

If the NHL dropped the salary cap, the Sabres would be a top five team and cup contender every year like Detroit or Vancouver. Wouldn't you want to be that?

He's not a center. It's been stated a zillion times by everyone everywhere.
- Pierceme69

Still listed as a C.

In general, Ennis is better off at center than he is wing. It gives him more space to work. But, he needs to get better at faceoffs in order to really be the best player he can at that position.

I did a comparison yesterday between him and Briere, because I feel like they're very similar players. At the same age Ennis is now, Briere was just starting to break into the league. He spent about half the year in the AHL. To me, Ennis isn't the problem and neither his Hodgson or the rest of the 1st line. It's the fact that guys like Stafford have been ghosts this year and our Defense is a mess.
- HonkFortheGoose

If you are going to put Stafford on the 4th line you might as well put him in the pressbox and plays Grigs.

If the NHL dropped the salary cap, the Sabres would be a top five team and cup contender every year like Detroit or Vancouver. Wouldn't you want to be that?
- Buffalo--Sabres

no, i hate the idea of no salary cap in any sport. you should build good teams by drafting well and acquiring key and specific pieces through trades. not by throwing money at whatever "1A" talent hits the market.

i'm not really sure if you were being sarcastic or not, but yeah. thats pretty much how i feel.

If you are going to put Stafford on the 4th line you might as well put him in the pressbox and plays Grigs.
- Pierceme69

I agree. He's not going to be able to get out of his funk playing with John Scott and Cody McCormick. Though at times tonight that was the only line that was getting offensive zone pressure.

That is only signed through next year and is 30 already. Not a great building block IMO. Again not bashing Ott because I like him and he's great at what he does, but yea you are right, he would be better on a contender. Which is why this organization is ass backwards
- sbroads24

But his toughness is needed to boost morale. If we were going to lose on the scoreboard then we better not get our asses kicked out there either. Which we don't anymore. We weren't a cup team the last 5 years with Roy. How bad can it be?

If you are going to put Stafford on the 4th line you might as well put him in the pressbox and plays Grigs.
- Pierceme69

Don't we have a 2nd round pick we can trade for a 4th liner like Brad Boyes?

But his toughness is needed to boost morale. If we were going to lose on the scoreboard then we better not get our asses kicked out there either. Which we don't anymore. We weren't a cup team the last 5 years with Roy. How bad can it be?
- Buffalo--Sabres

yeah, i'd rather move forward with ott.