Fleury deserves his blame too, but I agree with you, their defense was unacceptable for playoff hockey. Many times Fleury was left out to dry. They really need to improve on their 2nd defense pairing (Martin, Michalek). They have been a let down.
- Gunner Staal

parallels can be drawn between maf/the pittsburgh d and miller/sabres d

the difference between the two teams being the talent the pens have up front...


at least that's the way i look at it

Funny how quick some Penguin fans are to cast off Bylsma, foolish IMO.
- Gunner Staal

Agreed, I also think it's amazing how out of the 8 coaches, 4 of them have been fired since they have won the cup. Yet Lindy Ruff remians the invincible man. I know I keep bringing it up but I cant stop

parallels can be drawn between maf/the pittsburgh d and miller/sabres d

the difference between the two teams being the talent the pens have up front...


at least that's the way i look at it
- b0s0o1

Goalies arent anything if the defense has no ability to keep most shots on the perimeter and clear rebounds.

stable organizations change the coach and/or gm when things grow stale...that's the nature of the beast...

the sabres, on the other hand, have been anything but stable...

--the muckler/nolan/hasek tumult
--knox financial troubles
--the sale to rigas
--rigas indicted
--under nhl control
--the return of larry quinn
--the lockout
--and the sale to pegula
- b0s0o1

It's really every organization, the Coyotes, Panthers, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Thrashers have all fired coaches while their organizations have been in disiree, we are the ONLY ones!!!

parallels can be drawn between maf/the pittsburgh d and miller/sabres d

the difference between the two teams being the talent the pens have up front...


at least that's the way i look at it
- b0s0o1

I do too, If the Sabres had even 1 of Crosby Malkin or Staal we would have made the playoffs even with the below average season Miller or Myers had

Goalies arent anything if the defense has no ability to keep most shots on the perimeter and clear rebounds.
- Gunner Staal

yup...

odd-man rushes hurt too--whether it be from poor decisions in the neutral/opposition zone, turnovers at either blue-line or wide/blocked shots that end up with four of your five players stuck deep in the zone

I do too, If the Sabres had even 1 of Crosby Malkin or Staal we would have made the playoffs even with the below average season Miller or Myers had
- sbroads24

Speaking of Crosby, Malikn and Staal....... go read spector's site and check out what he posted.

Leino isn't good enough to play on our top two scoring lines. He isn't a third line defensive player and will never be happy with fourth line line-mates.

How many more years?

Speaking of Crosby, Malikn and Staal....... go read spector's site and check out what he posted.
- SABRES 89

About Staal?

It's really every organization, the Coyotes, Panthers, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Thrashers have all fired coaches while their organizations have been in disiree, we are the ONLY ones!!!
- sbroads24

disarray has been the only constant other than ruff/regier....

i feel ya, but...dig...

instead of an orgainzation changing coaches/gm's every so often, the sabres ownership has changed during their tenure...again:

from knox to rigas to the nhl to golisano to pegula...

disarray's been the order of the day for the last 16 years

yup...

odd-man rushes hurt too--whether it be from poor decisions in the neutral/opposition zone, turnovers at either blue-line or wide/blocked shots that end up with four of your five players stuck deep in the zone
- b0s0o1

Blue line turnovers are a great way to lose games no matter what level of hockey you play.

Speaking of Crosby, Malikn and Staal....... go read spector's site and check out what he posted.
- SABRES 89

I like what he says about Pavelski-

I like what he says about Pavelski-
- Purple Eagle

what does he say, purp?

what does he say, purp?
- b0s0o1

I cant lie, that is not an easy site to navigate when trying to find a specific item.

I cant lie, that is not an easy site to navigate when trying to find a specific item.
- Gunner Staal

just looking for a general idea

just looking for a general idea
- b0s0o1

Same here, I couldn't find it.

Same here, I couldn't find it.
- Gunner Staal

well, if i was with the sharks, i'd look to build around him clowe and couture up-front...maybe throw in one of the old farts (jumbo joe)

well, if i was with the sharks, i'd look to build around him clowe and couture up-front...maybe throw in one of the old farts (jumbo joe)
- b0s0o1

The item I found discussed blowing up the team starting with Marleau, and keeping Pavelski and Couture around.

The item I found discussed blowing up the team starting with Marleau, and keeping Pavelski and Couture around.
- Gunner Staal

sounds about right to me...


pretty sure someone will come up with a sekera and ellis for pavelski trade

sounds about right to me...


pretty sure someone will come up with a sekera and ellis for pavelski trade
- b0s0o1

Don't forget Weber and the rights to Hecht.

Don't forget Weber and the rights to Hecht.
- Gunner Staal

only if they throw in clowe

what does he say, purp?
- b0s0o1

I saw this:
Jason Botchford believes the Canucks “are not physical enough to wear opponents down. They don’t block enough shots. They don’t hit a lot. They lack grit. They back check when they feel like it”, adding they also lack “the size in their top six to out-battle even the B-grade defensive blueliners like Willie Mitchell.”
I think you could insert The Sabres, Pens, Sharks, and even the Wings into the underlined spot.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Ron Cook and Dave Molinari report Penguins management will have plenty of time to consider possible changes to their roster this summer. Cook dismisses calls for the club to fire head coach Dan Bylsma and trade goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, and doesn’t see them moving Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, but suggested the possibility of moving Jordan Staal, who’ll become a UFA in July 2013. Cook also expressed doubt the Penguins could find takers for expensive, much-maligned defenseman Paul Martin, and believes beefing up the defense is easier said than done, unless Martin can be moved.

Molinari doesn’t believe the Penguins need an overhaul, but their recent playoffs failures suggest more than tweaks and fine-tuning are in order. GM Ray Shero might have to consider moving either Crosby, Malkin or Staal if he concludes he won’t have the cap space to re-sign all three in the near future. He believes Shero could seek a quality backup for Fleury this summer, and must consider revamping his defense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cue the “trade Jordan Staal” rumors this summer, which always seem to pop up every year. If Shero were to consider that option, however, I believe he’ll wait until the new CBA is implemented and make his decisions based upon that. He’s in no hurry to trade Staal this summer. Some will advocate trading Crosby or Malkin, but that seems remote at best. Fleury may have struggled in post-season play of late, but he remains among the game’s better goalies, and perhaps with a more seasoned backup, could elevate his game again. Martin is probably untradeable, and if there’s an amnesty buyout period in the next CBA, he’ll become a prime candidate to be bought out by the Penguins. With over $59.5 million invested in 18 players for next season, Shero won’t have much wiggle room, even if the cap were to remain around $64 million for next season to fill out the remainder of his roster, let alone find the necessary upgrades, especially on defense.

Per Spector...........don't shoot the messenger

what does he say, purp?
- b0s0o1

SPECTOR: I doubt Wilson wants to trade Clowe, but he could be among the few quality players that might be of interest to rival clubs which he could move. One also has to wonder about Joe Pavelski, who lacks a trade clause, as there could be serious interest in him. The problem for Wilson is the players he might wish to move could prove untradeable because of their salaries and/or movement clauses, while those he’d prefer to retain (Pavelski, Couture) are those who would attract the most interest from other clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cue the “trade Jordan Staal” rumors this summer, which always seem to pop up every year. If Shero were to consider that option, however, I believe he’ll wait until the new CBA is implemented and make his decisions based upon that. He’s in no hurry to trade Staal this summer.
- SABRES 89

Its really tough to speculate on anything until that is straightened out and ratified.