Kevin Freiheit: Has the "C" changed Steve Ott?

New leadership on top might have something to do with it!

I still think he agitates players, not to the extent he did before but he gets the job done.

Carried over from last blog...

Random but wondering what it would take to pry Toffoli out of LA. D men are at a premium during the stretch run and Buffalo has a bunch.

Hoff and a 2nd ??

Young scoring winger that probably doesn't have any type of NT/NM in his contract. Good building block.

??

Carried over from last blog...

Random but wondering what it would take to pry Toffoli out of LA. D men are at a premium during the stretch run and Buffalo has a bunch.

Hoff and a 2nd ??

Young scoring winger that probably doesn't have any type of NT/NM in his contract. Good building block.

??
- Pairo11

Not sure why they would do that since surprisingly they struggle to score. I also think they are likely close to the cap and hoff doesn't have a horrible contract but why trade a young cheap goal scorer for a middle aged more expensive defender when they have quite a few good defense man to begin with. I think if it where to happen they would have to move Mitchel, Greene or Reghere and those are their 3 best defensive guys.

Off topic here but a simple question..... How many of you jump out of your chair and shout at the top of your lungs when the Sabres score these days? I remember back in the 2005 2006 days I would. I was totally ramped up about every Sabre game and every damn score. Nowadays it is more of a meek little "yea" when they score. Unlike most of you, I am not sold on the build through the draft and only the draft theory. Just because it has worked for 3 or 4 other teams does not guarantee that it will work here. I guess I just don't see this team as much of a contender in 3 or 4 years like you guys seem to think........

Off topic here but a simple question..... How many of you jump out of your chair and shout at the top of your lungs when the Sabres score these days? I remember back in the 2005 2006 days I would. I was totally ramped up about every Sabre game and every damn score. Nowadays it is more of a meek little "yea" when they score. Unlike most of you, I am not sold on the build through the draft and only the draft theory. Just because it has worked for 3 or 4 other teams does not guarantee that it will work here. I guess I just don't see this team as much of a contender in 3 or 4 years like you guys seem to think........
- rapperray

It's not a guarantee, but nothing is. It's even less of a guarantee trying to build a team through FA and trades. Sure we can go throw a bunch of money at Paul Stastny and Patrick Marleau and be an 8th place team again, but the end result will be more or less the same

It's not a guarantee, but nothing is. It's even less of a guarantee trying to build a team through FA and trades. Sure we can go throw a bunch of money at Paul Stastny and Patrick Marleau and be an 8th place team again, but the end result will be more or less the same
- sbroads24

I think a blend of draft and ufa's is the way to go....

I think a blend of draft and ufa's is the way to go....
- rapperray

Yea definitely. I would also make a Phil Kessel/Dion Phanuef/Tyler Seguin type deal in a year or two to get a young stud. It seems one gets moved every year almost. Thing is we have to draft our foundation first, then fill in the missing holes with FA's.

well you guys did good by acquiring Hodgson - steal in my opinion

well you guys did good by acquiring Hodgson - steal in my opinion
- MTL1

Definitely, but a true #1 with even OK defensive abilities would cure many of our ills.

Off topic here but a simple question..... How many of you jump out of your chair and shout at the top of your lungs when the Sabres score these days? I remember back in the 2005 2006 days I would. I was totally ramped up about every Sabre game and every damn score. Nowadays it is more of a meek little "yea" when they score. Unlike most of you, I am not sold on the build through the draft and only the draft theory. Just because it has worked for 3 or 4 other teams does not guarantee that it will work here. I guess I just don't see this team as much of a contender in 3 or 4 years like you guys seem to think........
- rapperray

This is natural. In the '05 '06 days there was a lot more to cheer about: the team was competitive; the team was jockeying for post season position; the team had a chance to win every single game; every goal was leading us closer to year end success. Everything was much more immediate, and emotional investment was higher.

Now, every goal is just an experiment in who is contributing to the long-term overhaul.

Yea definitely. I would also make a Phil Kessel/Dion Phanuef/Tyler Seguin type deal in a year or two to get a young stud. It seems one gets moved every year almost. Thing is we have to draft our foundation first, then fill in the missing holes with FA's.
- sbroads24

I'm not sure there are any good ones available. I know Evander Kane's name keeps coming up every now and then but he's no seguin and I wouldn't break the bank for him.


Maybe Johansen or Couturier?

Kevin Freiheit: Has the "C" changed Steve Ott?
- KevinJames

The "C" has changed Ott, but he continues to agitate as he did before (maybe even more effectively given that he's had to tone it down some), and with Vanek gone, there really isn't any other player on this roster that could serve in the role.

That's been the problem with the team ever since to core took over - there is no identity, no strong willed character, no outright leadership to form around a common way of getting things done.

Not to stir up the pot here but stash you aren't exactly being intelligent from the previous blog. I just happen to get back on now

hahah, just getting back online...I'm done since it stopped....not to mention reading a complete comment after I left work...

In regards to Enroth vs the "giant Miller" Lets use some facts here shall we

Ryan Miller: 6'2 175 pounds
Jonas Enroth 5'10 167 pounds (a generous 5'10 if you ask me ive been on the ice with him and im 5'11 ish and I am more than an inch taller than him)

4 inches. Now back to how many goals were let in by each goalie. ALL and I mean ALL of the Ducks goals when top shelf. Would a taller goalie make that save? Maybe maybe not but he would have a better chance of cutting down the angles being taller. What was Enroths issues last year? 5 hole. Hmm smaller pads make that much more difficult to stop shots 5 hole. Look at Ehrhoffs GWG the other day went 5 hole on a much taller goalie and even the announcers said something about the smaller pads after it was scored. So like I said smaller goalie smaller pads have me worried. If you want to mock my post that's fine but try thinking for a change before you want to mock a post.

Especially coming from a ref.

I'm done

I'm not sure there are any good ones available. I know Evander Kane's name keeps coming up every now and then but he's no seguin and I wouldn't break the bank for him.


Maybe Johansen or Couturier?
- Sabresfan-365

Findi a way to pry Logan Couture away from the Sharks.

Findi a way to pry Logan Couture away from the Sharks.
- Der Kaiser

With Thornton and Marleau nearing retirement, I imagine Couture is close to untouchable for them.

With Thornton and Marleau nearing retirement, I imagine Couture is close to untouchable for them.
- Sabresfan-365

Yeah, and it looks like the just extended him for 5 yrs. I had no idea.

With Thornton and Marleau nearing retirement, I imagine Couture is close to untouchable for them.
- Sabresfan-365

Jeff Skinner
Brandon Saad (if they try to keep Kane and run into serious cap problems)
Jordan Eberle (They need the D)
Charlie Coyle
Couterier

Somone like that.

Jeff Skinner
Brandon Saad (if they try to keep Kane and run into serious cap problems)
Jordan Eberle (They need the D)
Charlie Coyle
Couterier

Somone like that.
- sbroads24

I think Eberle is really the only one I'm interested in and we know Edmonton won't trade him.

He does his job, I just think the fact that the team as a whole is terrible reflects badly on his play.

I think Eberle is really the only one I'm interested in and we know Edmonton won't trade him.
- Sabresfan-365

I wouldn't rule it out. They need some serious change there

In regards to Enroth vs the "giant Miller" Lets use some facts here shall we

Ryan Miller: 6'2 175 pounds
Jonas Enroth 5'10 167 pounds (a generous 5'10 if you ask me ive been on the ice with him and im 5'11 ish and I am more than an inch taller than him)

4 inches. Now back to how many goals were let in by each goalie. ALL and I mean ALL of the Ducks goals when top shelf. Would a taller goalie make that save? Maybe maybe not but he would have a better chance of cutting down the angles being taller. What was Enroths issues last year? 5 hole. Hmm smaller pads make that much more difficult to stop shots 5 hole. Look at Ehrhoffs GWG the other day went 5 hole on a much taller goalie and even the announcers said something about the smaller pads after it was scored. So like I said smaller goalie smaller pads have me worried. If you want to mock my post that's fine but try thinking for a change before you want to mock a post.

Especially coming from a ref.

I'm done
- Stripes77

Not getting into the Miller stuff again, but wanted to reply to you.

The bolded part is something all should do, especially someone jumping to conclusions....I wasn't mocking your post with the comment you quoted and carried over here...

I will mention one thing about Miller vs Enroth and that Miller has had 5+ goals allowed games "regularly", so someone panicking (again, not you) that Enroth is suddenly going to be the worst goalie ever and allow "7-10" goals is ludicrous, IMO.

Jeff Skinner
Brandon Saad (if they try to keep Kane and run into serious cap problems)
Jordan Eberle (They need the D)
Charlie Coyle
Couterier

Somone like that.
- sbroads24

You're right, although Skinner and his concussion issue worries me, but the problem is are any of those guys gamebreakers?
That is what the team sorely needs and as good as all the players are that you mentioned, I believe they are merely high level supporting players, and not players that would transform the franchise. Sadly, the only way the team is going to get one of those is in two years, if they get VERY lucky.

He does his job, I just think the fact that the team as a whole is terrible reflects badly on his play.
- Tsyolin

And that on this roster he's "had to" play on the top line (beginning of the year with Vanek and Hodgson, and I think he's had more since too).