What pisses me off the most about all of this is that 1 player isn't going to win the season.. Parise, Nash, Suter, Ryan etc.. and the teams are willing to pay humungous amounts for these players, Remember its the team that wins the cup, not the single all stars. We are wanting the best we can get, But if the rest of the team doesn't perform we got nothing. I'd rather get a bunch of good guys and have the dough to spread around than to get 1 hero that isn't going to do crap if the rest of the team keeps standing on his cape. These guys are not hero's, they are guys that are skilled players. Some succeed more than others. They are not above the rest, they all have their problems, take Cindy Crosby for instance, the Penguins are all about him as is half of Canada, ...He's not the next Gretzky, He's the next LaFontaine. Skilled but weak skull.
There is no telling who will win the cup next year, it's the team that needs to do well, one or two guys isn't going to change that.
- 7xTippet

We just got Steve Ott and rid ourselves of Roy. Youre delirious if you dont think the cup already has our name on it.

Richards and Carter went from leaders in a locker room on the Flyers to peripheral components on the Kings. The situation is apples and oranges.
- Gunner Staal

Gunner, would it be fair to say, "failed leaders"?

Because people get way too into sports and forget these people have lives outside of hockey. Martin partied his a$$ off and everyone loved it about him. Roy does it and everyone tears him apart.

Cue the "If I was a millionaire athlete..." guy
- Rally_Shots

This. I never hated him for partying. Honestly, I'd party my ass off too if I was a millionaire athlete, ONLY when appropriate. I'm 26 and make really decent money and I party my ass off but I don't let it affect how I do my job. If I started effin up, I'd slow down. Even when I was a broke college student I partied my ass off. YOLO!

Richards and Carter went from leaders in a locker room on the Flyers to peripheral components on the Kings. The situation is apples and oranges.
- Gunner Staal

completely irrelevant to my conversation

Gunner, would it be fair to say, "failed leaders"?
- DixonWard

They made the ECF with Richards and Carter leading.

They made the SCF with Richards and Carter leading (enter Pronger to stir the pot).

They flop in the 2nd round with Pronger leading.

completely irrelevant to my conversation
- theblueandgold

The one you've been having with yourself for the past 4 hours?

This. I never hated him for partying. Honestly, I'd party my ass off too if I was a millionaire athlete, ONLY when appropriate. I'm 26 and make really decent money and I party my ass off but I don't let it affect how I do my job. If I started effin up, I'd slow down. Even when I was a broke college student I partied my ass off. YOLO!
- Gmcc24

Honestly in college I found partying with teammates brought our team much closer.

The one you've been having with yourself for the past 4 hours?
- The_Inkwell

Thats the best you can do? Come on now. Get it all out. I'll let you have the last word. The grown ups are actually talking when youre not around.

Gunner, would it be fair to say, "failed leaders"?
- DixonWard

I think that is definitely one way you could put it. I will always think that Richards > Carter though. Carter was more of the failure in a prominent position IMO. When Pronger was added to the Flyers I am certain that did not help out Richards' cause at all in the locker room. Pronger just has the it factor about him and people gravitate towards him, even if Richards had the C, he really wasnt the captain anymore at that point.

Put Richards in a secondary role and he can thrive. I always respected how he played against Pittsburgh. Carter had a ho hum playoffs IMO but he did score some big goals in the SCF.

curious what a leino, ott, flynn 3rd line might look like
- homiedclown

U think Flynn is ready?
I'd be pretty surprised if he made the team

We just got Steve Ott and rid ourselves of Roy. Youre delirious if you dont think the cup already has our name on it.
- theblueandgold

Delirious.. Totally, Couldn't agree more, However, if the team plays like they did last year.. the only cup Buffalo will see is the bottom of the pint glass at the local pub next June. We have talent...lots of it, But are we going to see it in December?
Or is the locker room going to get stale again? The cancer is gone, But there is always one cell that is left behind, un-detected , until its too late and chemo won't help. Roy is gone.. fine, great center, didn't want to be here though. Didn't have enough pride or respect for the team to pump it up. I bet he'll think twice about that after Scott drives his ass into the boards so hard he see's stars.. in Dallas.
All the guys need to have the same passion as the fans, through thick and thin. So we lost a few.. why sit back and let it ride.. go forth.. Sabres SMASH!!

Fighting over the importance of Roy to the team? lol he is gone and that is that. We are not any worse with losing Roy.

I guarantee we make the playoffs this season.

They made the ECF with Richards and Carter leading.

They made the SCF with Richards and Carter leading (enter Pronger to stir the pot).

They flop in the 2nd round with Pronger leading.
- theblueandgold

Pronger is a poor leader...

3 Cup Finals with 3 different teams since lockout (only Hossa can match that). Also took team to Cup Finals in his first year with each new team.

Had a leadership role on another Team Canada Gold Medal winning team.

And the Flyers flopping out in the 2nd round doesnt help your agrument, he was hurt and did not play, if you remember that is probably the only reason your series with the Flyers even went 7 games.

completely irrelevant to my conversation
- theblueandgold

You'll have to forgive Gunner. He missed the briefing whereby you were deemed to be correct all the time.

I'm outta beer

Pronger is a poor leader...

3 Cup Finals with 3 different teams since lockout (only Hossa can match that). Also took team to Cup Finals in his first year with each new team.

Had a leadership role on another Team Canada Gold Medal winning team.

And the Flyers flopping out in the 2nd round doesnt help your agrument, he was hurt and did not play, if you remember that is probably the only reason your series with the Flyers even went 7 games.
- Gunner Staal

Imagine if he wouldve played in this years first round

We just got Steve Ott and rid ourselves of Roy. Youre delirious if you dont think the cup already has our name on it.
- theblueandgold

i know you're being sarcastic.

but dude... seriously?

no one on is saying that. no one. people are glad roys gone and happy we filled a need. you have a differing opinion. pretty much end of discussion there.

to even jokingly insinuate that people are preaching a cup because we got ott is (frank)ing absurd.

Imagine if he wouldve played in this years first round
- Rally_Shots

Ha! Would it have been even possible to add more spice to that series? Asham and Neal probably would have thought twice about some of the things they did.

Can't wait to watch this guy next season

We are a top 5 team in the east if we stay healthy with this current lineup...

Ha! Would it have been even possible to add more spice to that series? Asham and Neal probably would have thought twice about some of the things they did.
- Gunner Staal

Not Asham...maybe Neal

Can't believe none of the bloggers went the

O-O-O-O-Olli and the Jets route.

Sure Roy can produce. Not a terrible player by any means. Playoff time he disappears. Hes had plenty of chances to prove himself in the playoffs. He didnt. Change is good. Get over it already

Fighting over the importance of Roy to the team? lol he is gone and that is that. We are not any worse with losing Roy.

I guarantee we make the playoffs this season.
- Smittyx36

We would've even if Roy was here
All those defensive injuries killed us last year
It wasn't Roy's fault

We would've even if Roy was here
All those defensive injuries killed us last year
It wasn't Roy's fault
- jdfitz77

I agree. I'm not a Roy hater. I'm also not a Roy lover haha.

I like Ott and what he brings to the team. We still should try and bring in Semin or Ryan. Or something else that helps offensively.