would you rather try to continue to build the team around guys like miller, vanek, and stafford for a few more years? or would you rather try to move those guys and try to start the rebuild? ive never minded the sabres, and theyve had some decent players in the past few years, but i worry they could pull a calgary flames type deal and wait too long to realize it.
- stayinthefnnet

They are doing a rebuild.

Great game tonight by the Pens. I liked the effort level and the hitting. Great start and a solid finish..they lost a bit of steam in the second, but they really cut the turnovers down (I can only recall one egregious one made by Tanger).

The only real criticism I have is I still think the F's need to come back more to support the breakouts...I see too many guys sitting stationary at the far blueline and in the neutral zone.

All in all, definitely trending in the right direction.
- Emperor Filonius

Yes good synopsis. Geno played with much more discipline too. Sketchy 2nd period.....and some James Neal stupidity aside, I feel much better after this game. Wasn't feeling all that great after the 1st round.

Kunitz also wont score many pretty goals like this
- sbroads24

totally fine. hes not needed to do that on this team. there is crosby and malkin for that. kunitz is needed to do exactly what he does. trust me, other teams would covet him. why do you think he can work with both malkin and crosby, and is typically the winger switched to their respective lines when one is in need of a jump start?

They are doing a rebuild.
- Gunner Staal

to what scale though? it is extremely tough to pull off the so called "retool" and remain competitive while stockpiling assets for the future. i would think guys like vanek should seriously be considered to be moved

I'm not a welfare office for compliments on mediocre players. Sabres were where they were in the standings because of players like Hodgson and Ennis. Miller propped them up from an even a worse fate.
- Gunner Staal

Better numbers than Jordan Staal who is a "very good player". Mediocre is what Drew Stafford or Steve Ott are.

totally fine. hes not needed to do that on this team. there is crosby and malkin for that. kunitz is needed to do exactly what he does. trust me, other teams would covet him. why do you think he can work with both malkin and crosby, and is typically the winger switched to their respective lines when one is in need of a jump start?
- stayinthefnnet

Agreed. Kunitz is a great role player. Which is what I'm saying

Agreed. Kunitz is a great role player. Which is what I'm saying
- sbroads24

eh i guess im kind of just disagreeing over semantics then. no kuni isnt a superstar, but i think there is a level of player between that and a role player. hes just one of those types of players that teams cannot have enough of, similar to cally in NY. the stats will always be good, but there is always more to them than that.

to what scale though? it is extremely tough to pull off the so called "retool" and remain competitive while stockpiling assets for the future. i would think guys like vanek should seriously be considered to be moved
- stayinthefnnet

Vanek and Miller will probably be moved

Better numbers than Jordan Staal who is a "very good player". Mediocre is what Drew Stafford or Steve Ott are.
- sbroads24

I hope Ennis is a top 6 player for the Sabres for a long time.

eh i guess im kind of just disagreeing over semantics then. no kuni isnt a superstar, but i think there is a level of player between that and a role player. hes just one of those types of players that teams cannot have enough of, similar to cally in NY. the stats will always be good, but there is always more to them than that.
- stayinthefnnet

There is always more than stats I agree, but if Kunitz were in Buffalo would we be raving about his intangibles as were out of the playoffs? Would Ryan Callahan be viewed as a great captain and leader if he were stuck in Columbus? Sabres don't have Malkin or Crosby. They had a very significant downgrade in Ennis and Hodgson. I just don't get the notion that Ennis is mediocre

Kunitz playing mostly on Pittsburgh .69 PPG
Ennis playing in Buffalo .65 PPG

Don't you think it would be different if they were flipped? Ennis was a 1st round pick and has great talent. He isn't some average player

eh i guess im kind of just disagreeing over semantics then. no kuni isnt a superstar, but i think there is a level of player between that and a role player. hes just one of those types of players that teams cannot have enough of, similar to cally in NY. the stats will always be good, but there is always more to them than that.
- stayinthefnnet

Kunitz has scored his share of pretty goals. He has actually been used in the shoot out from time to time. What makes him such a good player is he can score the dirty ones too.

I think Ray Shero uses the phrase.... He's the kind of player you win Stanley Cups with.

I hope Ennis is a top 6 player for the Sabres for a long time.
- Gunner Staal

He will be a top 6 player in the NHL for a long time. He hasn't even played 3 full seasons.

Vanek and Miller will probably be moved
- Gunner Staal

yeah. i wouldnt pretend to be an expert on the franchise, but they seem to have a loyal fanbase, and it would suck to see them hold on to them for too long to the point where the value is drastically reduced. i know they have some young pieces, but the jury remains out on a lot of them for me

He will be a top 6 player in the NHL for a long time. He hasn't even played 3 full seasons.
- sbroads24

see this is where im kind of caught up on what you are saying. kunitz has been a top 6 player for a long time. he would be on the vast majority of teams as well. and yet he is defined as a role player. so for ennis to be as great as you are claiming (and for the record, i think he is decent but not cream of the crop) shouldnt he be held to a higher standard than simply top 6?

yeah. i wouldnt pretend to be an expert on the franchise, but they seem to have a loyal fanbase, and it would suck to see them hold on to them for too long to the point where the value is drastically reduced. i know they have some young pieces, but the jury remains out on a lot of them for me
- stayinthefnnet

I want to keep Miller but he's a goner

see this is where im kind of caught up on what you are saying. kunitz has been a top 6 player for a long time. he would be on the vast majority of teams as well. and yet he is defined as a role player. so for ennis to be as great as you are claiming (and for the record, i think he is decent but not cream of the crop) shouldnt he be held to a higher standard than simply top 6?
- stayinthefnnet

What I'm saying is if Ennis is "mediocre" than so is Kunitz. IMO both are good players that are deserving of top 6 roles. People also forget that when Ennis had decent linemates the last 30 games of last year he was one of the better players in the league when the Sabres when on their dramatic run to 9th. Changing coaches and having no 2nd line wingers do not help the cause.

I want to keep Miller but he's a goner
- sbroads24

i think he gets too much flak and is a quality tender, but i still think youre better off moving him. whats the point of having him tend for this team for another 2 or 3 years? realistically, this team will need at least that to have a good rebuild take place. better off to move him and hopefully land a good piece for it

i think he gets too much flak and is a quality tender, but i still think youre better off moving him. whats the point of having him tend for this team for another 2 or 3 years? realistically, this team will need at least that to have a good rebuild take place. better off to move him and hopefully land a good piece for it
- stayinthefnnet

He's the only reason this team hasn't hit rock bottom sooner. I have trouble finding goalies outside of Hank I would want in a series rather than Miller. He gets blamed for the most ridiculous things I have ever seen by some fans. He is a workhorse that has consistently put up good ES Sv% numbers and had won so many games we didn't belong in.

He's the only reason this team hasn't hit rock bottom sooner. I have trouble finding goalies outside of Hank I would want in a series rather than Miller. He gets blamed for the most ridiculous things I have ever seen by some fans. He is a workhorse that has consistently put up good ES Sv% numbers and had won so many games we didn't belong in.
- sbroads24

i understand that logic, but the point im trying to make is that i dont think this team will be in a position to regularly participate in, much less win, those series, with that core

Sutter doesn't do anything to help Morrow's game. Put Jokinen/Kennedy to play with him. Morrow's best days were with the playmaking of Jokes. Sutter and Cooke should remain together but on anther line.

Kunitz also wont score many pretty goals like this
- sbroads24

Ennis won't do this while putting up 25 goals.

Ennis won't do this while putting up 25 goals.


- Ben37

I love Kunitz. His hitting ability is underated.

Randomness, topless womens reading club.

http://www.nydailynews.co...ne-topless-read-at-a-time

We all know Flower will still get a chance in goal at some point...
- Orpik44

Not if Vokoun keeps around his 1.28 GAA an 96.2% SV% (compared to 3.40 GAA and 89.1%).

PASCAL DUPUIS

"I think what we did wrong in the 1st Round is, we didn't enjoy a win as much as we should of. I think winning is fun. You gotta enjoy that. You gotta want more."

What a guy.

You have to use that line on your next article, John Toperzer