Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 
Forums :: Blog World :: Hank Balling: Sabres Lose a Snoozer to the Ducks
Author Message
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Dec 9 @ 12:45 PM ET
All the games were either junior hockey or above that I was traveling too. I didn't really travel for junior games, but those guys working the program travel a lot. It's good to see different teams, different coaches and different rinks. Not only for experience but also mentally where you're not doing the same daily grind us 9-5ers are on.
- Stripes77


Makes perfect sense, I'm kind of surprised it's not a requirement to be apart of something like that for a quite a while before ever seeing a pro game. Out of curiosity, sorry for the 72 questions, but what's the quickest you've seen an official go from juniors to the pros, either AHL or NHL?
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Dec 9 @ 12:46 PM ET
Gotta sit near a live broadcast mic

- DirtyDan


Or yell louder
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Dec 9 @ 12:46 PM ET
No one. It just seems disingenuous to talk about the value of leadership when the off-season leaders they brought in were Pysyk and Hinostroza.
- Hank Balling


This insinuation is false though. They're not here as leaders. Those two have been with the team for years. They're vets, sure, but they're not the intended leaders.
Stripes77
Referee
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Where ever Matt Ellis allows me to be, NY
Joined: 07.30.2012

Dec 9 @ 12:49 PM ET
Makes perfect sense, I'm kind of surprised it's not a requirement to be apart of something like that for a quite a while before ever seeing a pro game. Out of curiosity, sorry for the 72 questions, but what's the quickest you've seen an official go from juniors to the pros, either AHL or NHL?
- RhinoFan


Juniors to the NHL was 1 year in junior of a classically trained official

Or just two games from someone who just retired from playing to being an official
RhinoFan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Visionville
Joined: 10.12.2015

Dec 9 @ 12:51 PM ET
Juniors to the NHL was 1 year in junior of a classically trained official

Or just two games from someone who just retired from playing to being an official

- Stripes77




Wow. Good to know, may help temper expectations. TY.
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Dec 9 @ 12:51 PM ET
This insinuation is false though. They're not here as leaders. Those two have been with the team for years. They're vets, sure, but they're not the intended leaders.
- TheSabresTaco



Who was brought in to lead Dahlin or what is their plan there?

TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Dec 9 @ 12:53 PM ET
It’s disingenuous to talk about any of it when the intention is to lose hockey games
- sbroads24


I hear you, but also, it isn't the intention to lose. It's just not winning over development. These were the cards that were dealt to us and the best way to play them is to get the most out of a bunch of under developed prospects and players.
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Dec 9 @ 12:53 PM ET
Who was brought in to lead Dahlin or what is their plan there?
- washedup20


They need a plan and they need a better defenseman coach. But most of all they need to diagnose his issues and work past them.
gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Dec 9 @ 12:55 PM ET

- DirtyDan


Dont ever Doubt michkov
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Dec 9 @ 12:55 PM ET
They need a plan and they need a better defenseman coach.
- TheSabresTaco



They need a bigger drawing board
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Dec 9 @ 12:57 PM ET
I hear you, but also, it isn't the intention to lose. It's just not winning over development. These were the cards that were dealt to us and the best way to play them is to get the most out of a bunch of under developed prospects and players.
- TheSabresTaco

I think that’s hogwash tbh. Unless I’m misunderstanding you, which is possible

Sam Reinhart didn’t force a trade, he had a year left.

Jack Eichel personally said he’d come back and play to prove he’s healthy

They could’ve been semi competitive this year while re-tooling the roster and pipeline

They chose to go this route because they are frankly incapable of fixing the roster without basically being handed a superstar via the draft, or so they think.



ImThatGuy
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I AM MY OWN DAMN SOURCE!, NY
Joined: 11.04.2010

Dec 9 @ 12:59 PM ET
I think that’s hogwash tbh. Unless I’m misunderstanding you, which is possible

Sam Reinhart didn’t force a trade, he had a year left.

Jack Eichel personally said he’d come back and play to prove he’s healthy

They could’ve been semi competitive this year while re-tooling the roster and pipeline

They chose to go this route because they are frankly incapable of fixing the roster without basically being handed a superstar via the draft, or so they think.

- sbroads24

What happens in they draft 5th or later?
New Plan?
Just tank again the year after?
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Dec 9 @ 1:01 PM ET
What happens in they draft 5th or later?
New Plan?
Just tank again the year after?

- ImThatGuy

Oh I’m sure

Do people think Krebs, JJ, Quinn and Power aren’t going to have serious growing pains as all rookies do?

We’re gonna suck again next season

ImThatGuy
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I AM MY OWN DAMN SOURCE!, NY
Joined: 11.04.2010

Dec 9 @ 1:04 PM ET
Oh I’m sure

Do people think Krebs, JJ, Quinn and Power aren’t going to have serious growing pains as all rookies do?

We’re gonna suck again next season

- sbroads24

These guys are all different than {Insert prospects} that were supposed to be great seasons past.

The are going to all come in at the same time and dominate.
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Dec 9 @ 1:04 PM ET
What happens in they draft 5th or later?
New Plan?
Just tank again the year after?

- ImThatGuy



[url]
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Dec 9 @ 1:05 PM ET
It's magical. Can't argue at $40 100 level seats either...
- RhinoFan


The fan's, all 8,500 are really involved in the game.

Funny, few leave early. The die hards are left...
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Dec 9 @ 1:06 PM ET
These guys are all different than {Insert prospects} that were supposed to be great seasons past.

The are going to all come in at the same time and dominate.

- ImThatGuy

Yeah, it’s so bizarre how optimistic people are this go round

we won’t be drafting anyone that’s anywhere remotely close to as good as Eichel too
Powerslave
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Joined: 02.10.2011

Dec 9 @ 1:08 PM ET
These guys are all different than {Insert prospects} that were supposed to be great seasons past.

The are going to all come in at the same time and dominate.

- ImThatGuy



Serious question.

(and I don't recall anyone on here ever saying they were going to dominate next year)

Who would you rather watch next year:

Quinn, JJP, Tuch, Krebs, Power, Samuelsson, maybe Weissbach, etc

Or

Eakin, Bjork, Caggiula, Vinnie, Hagg, etc?
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Dec 9 @ 1:10 PM ET
I think that’s hogwash tbh. Unless I’m misunderstanding you, which is possible

Sam Reinhart didn’t force a trade, he had a year left.

Jack Eichel personally said he’d come back and play to prove he’s healthy

They could’ve been semi competitive this year while re-tooling the roster and pipeline

They chose to go this route because they are frankly incapable of fixing the roster without basically being handed a superstar via the draft, or so they think.

- sbroads24


They dug their own grave. That is a fact. Risto, Sam and Jack wanted nothing to do with this team anymore. Because of how they managed and performed under Terry, Murray, Botterill, Adams and their coaches. Jack was willing to come back and play, yes, to show the rest of the league he could do it to make a trade easier. He was done as (frank) with them, though.

Perhaps there were creative ways to trade 6-7 guys, play free agency and make yourselves competitive. Last year's massive swing and miss almost necessitated what they're doing now. The goalie thing, they could have at least made an effort. But the rest of it, the development of the young guys.. you either develop them or trade them. So sure, I guess you could have traded Mitts and Thompson and Dahlin and Quinn and not gotten Krebs for Jack, kept Reinhart for a year, gave Jack his surgery and let him play out the season, lose Sam for nothing and probably gimp your way to the playoffs if they perform at their best.

Personally, the Adams path makes a lot of sense. I know you disagree, which is fine, but outside of the goalie poopshow, it makes sense.
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Dec 9 @ 1:13 PM ET
Oh I’m sure

Do people think Krebs, JJ, Quinn and Power aren’t going to have serious growing pains as all rookies do?

We’re gonna suck again next season

- sbroads24


If they don't do anything stupid (GMTM-style), just the internal improvement will make them significantly better. UPL + the next Hutton should be better than today.

As bad as KA's first year was (among the worst ever), I like his plan now (or what I feel his plan is).
Hank Balling
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 05.18.2021

Dec 9 @ 1:13 PM ET
This insinuation is false though. They're not here as leaders. Those two have been with the team for years. They're vets, sure, but they're not the intended leaders.
- TheSabresTaco


That whole article sounds great and all but I don't see Ray Whitney, Rod Brind'Amour, Glen Wesley or Corey Stillman on this team to guide the young core
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Dec 9 @ 1:15 PM ET
They dug their own grave. That is a fact. Risto, Sam and Jack wanted nothing to do with this team anymore. Because of how they managed and performed under Terry, Murray, Botterill, Adams and their coaches. Jack was willing to come back and play, yes, to show the rest of the league he could do it to make a trade easier. He was done as (frank) with them, though.

Perhaps there were creative ways to trade 6-7 guys, play free agency and make yourselves competitive. Last year's massive swing and miss almost necessitated what they're doing now. The goalie thing, they could have at least made an effort. But the rest of it, the development of the young guys.. you either develop them or trade them. So sure, I guess you could have traded Mitts and Thompson and Dahlin and Quinn and not gotten Krebs for Jack, kept Reinhart for a year, gave Jack his surgery and let him play out the season, lose Sam for nothing and probably gimp your way to the playoffs if they perform at their best.

Personally, the Adams path makes a lot of sense. I know you disagree, which is fine, but outside of the goalie poopshow, it makes sense.

- TheSabresTaco


It makes sense if you trust he has any idea what he’s doing and will be able to not just ice talent, but an actual team that has some sort of an identity and plays a style that can win in the NHL

That I have doubts on



TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Dec 9 @ 1:16 PM ET
That whole article sounds great and all but I don't see Ray Whitney, Rod Brind'Amour, Glen Wesley or Corey Stillman on this team to guide the young core
- Hank Balling


That is true. But Kyle, Alex and Zemgus are good leaders in their own rights. What truly matters is getting every guys running in the same direction, and that takes all your guys, not just your leaders. It appears Adams is doing that. Just the way I see it.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Dec 9 @ 1:18 PM ET
If they don't do anything stupid (GMTM-style), just the internal improvement will make them significantly better. UPL + the next Hutton should be better than today.

As bad as KA's first year was (among the worst ever), I like his plan now (or what I feel his plan is).

- Lunaion

Sure, here’s my issue with the “plan”

People get impatient, then the owners, who have always meddled, will then meddle and demand that immediate improvements happen or demand playoffs and Adams will operate to save his job rather than see the “plan” through

People can say/pretend it’s different this time or that they won’t deviate but it’s already starting to wear on the few fans showing up

It went from them getting a lot of support from the 8k going to getting boo’ed off the ice in two months.

They will force them to make immediate improvements next year
kingcong39
Buffalo Sabres
Location: albany, NY
Joined: 02.21.2007

Dec 9 @ 1:19 PM ET
Serious question.

(and I don't recall anyone on here ever saying they were going to dominate next year)

Who would you rather watch next year:

Quinn, JJP, Tuch, Krebs, Power, Samuelsson, maybe Weissbach, etc

Or

Eakin, Bjork, Caggiula, Vinnie, Hagg, etc?

- Powerslave


There's no option C in there that would combine A with actually bringing in players that don't suck or at best are mediocre?
Page: Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19  Next