Been Busy

Well its been busy lately, and I don't have much time to blog, which is sad, because I really like to. I use to blog almost 3 times a day. But now, I'm lucky to log in to the account. There isn't any time nor do I have a lot to say. But today, lucky for me, there is some time, and I do want to say something.

A game like tonight should get me excited, the Sabres usually play up to competition. So the lack of bad teams on the schedule doesn't concern me. But its just I don't really care if they make the playoffs or not. This isn't a great team. They aren't magically gonna pull it together and get the cup. They just aren't you can tell. And this team isn't mentally or physically tough enough. Thats okay, because you can make changes and improve team toughness. But I know I'll be busy and have more important things to do, so it won't bother me to miss playoff games. So should they tank? Doesn't matter won't improve their draft status enough to have a change at Tavares or Hedman. This is an audition. See who wants it, and wants to play here. If not, trade them away, pick up assets. If this were the NFL, I'm sure they would look to pick up draft picks. But now they can pick up young talent.

I'm sure I'll catch a period or so of tonight's game. It's Alex Ovechkin, so he is fun to watch. But its hard to get up for this team. They frustrate you, take stupid penalties, find ways to lose and the most frustrating thing of all is they look like they don't care. I don't know if management needs changing, but the roster does. There is no fear. They were playing well before the deadline, and when it passed, things went back to hunky dory. We're safe, lets relax. If someway they can't have guys fear for jobs every day, you may have a hungrier team.

Leading Scorer, gets a bonus
2nd leading scorer gets a contract extention
3rd leading scorer, gets his ass cut.

And if thats a little too hard core. How about something preaches good defensive play.

For forwards, any player with a minus is gone. You a minus 1, you minus a job. Yes I know this theory would have gotten rid of Chris Drury. Maybe exceptions may apply.

For Defenders, any player with a minus 10, is gone. You can't defend, your done. If a guy is desperate to keep a job, he'll do anything to keep the puck out of the net.

Desperate times call for desperate players.

2 years straight of not reaching your goal, is what we call failure. And with failure comes change.

Maybe.

Slip Sliding Away

David Duprey

Well after another OT/shootout loss. The Sabres are kinda staying in things, but slowly falling away from things. They need wins, and they aren't getting them. Goaltending is iffy at times. Scoring isn't consistent and the defense is downright awful most of the time. Now with Kalinin and Spacek hurt, and Tallinder still out. The Sabres could have. Lydman, Sekera, Paetsch, Pratt, and maybe Weber and maybe call up Gragnani to play a forward/defenseman role. Thats a pretty bad thought when thinking of making a playoff run.

This team hasn't been consistent all year, its been looking for its leader, and it doesn't seem anyone steps up and wants to take it. Maybe it takes a year like this to really see where you are. Even if they make the 8th spot, they probably will lose in the first round. Its extra revenue and more excitement, but its also more disappointment. Especially if they go and get swept. Its almost worse then not making the playoffs.

This team needs a little retooling, a little offseason rework. Sign some guys, trade others and just let others walk out the door. Kalinin, is good as gone this year. He's not gonna get a big deal, but his time is over in Buffalo. That frees up some money to maybe go get a solid blue liner. But this brings up the question about the support after this season.

Where will it be?

It won't be like it was last year, where things were nutty, things are still solid this year, but more toned down. But will go back to after lockout support, where it took till the holidays to really sell out a game? Will season ticket sales plummet? If the Bills are decent next year, will the Sabres go back to #2 in town? Its no coincidence that the local blog explosion coincided with the Sabres resurgence. It may have help drive the excitement. But as the team struggles I can see the interest wane. I would say my interest waned, but it waned last year too. It has nothing to do with the team, it has to do with the season being too long. The NFL is perfect. 16 games, one a week. But 82 games? Way to many.

After a great 2 year run, it might be time to take a step back to move forward. Before the lockout the Sabres finished 9th. Now the game has returned to pre lockout conditions, and the Sabres will probably finish 9th again.