You see, I’m not panicking. I still think the Sabres are going to make the playoffs. Really, I do. I think they are going to be exactly what I thought they were going to be; a 6th-8th seed. Lets be honest, the Sabres have played some really tough teams, and honestly, the Sabres aren’t in the same class. They are not in Chicago’s league. Sorry, Lindy, but they are NOT a Stanley Cup contending team. Again, my expectations going into this season were realistic. I didn’t buy the stupid preseason. I didn’t buy Lindy trying to motivate his team by saying they were going to score 20 more goals this year. It’s really not that hard to figure out the Sabres. They have an outstanding goalie on an average team. If that doesn’t spell it for you, then look at what the Sabres did against playoff and non-playoff teams last year.
I’m not as mad, actually scratch that because I am mad. I’m not as disappointed as some fans, who thought this team was going to contend for the division or the top seed. The Sabres needed a major shake-up going into this season. Whether it was changing the top six fowards or the direction in management, something had to get fixed. However, the team and some of the apologists decided to put their heads in the sand and point to winning the division in a weak ass Eastern Conference as evidence that this team was on the rise. Sorry, but the Sabres overachieved last year and now, they have come back down to earth. These guys just aren’t good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup and I assure you, I didn’t need a slow start to the season to know that. The team doesn’t have enough fire power to go at it with the NHL’s elite, and unless Portland has stars in the making, which some of us would like to believe, then nothing is going to change.
Now some other Sabres thoughts:
-I don’t want to hear anyone put the blame on Patrick Lalime for losing Saturday’s game. Sorry, but aren’t back-up goaltenders suppose to go up against crappy teams? Anyways, Lalime played ok, but for whatever reason, the guy can’t stop breakaways to save his life. Hell, Patty must have been a soccer keeper in shootouts in a previous life, because he sucks against anyone who has open ice to skate in on net. However, he is the back-up and that’s all you can ask for him-
-As Heather B told me on twitter, where are these people who said that Craig Rivet was going to be better this year because he had shoulder surgery? Sorry, but unless he’s been playing with one arm over the last two years, there’s no excuse for him. He stunk tonight and he’s stunk since 2008. He’s just not fast enough anymore and can easily be beat around the corner. As for stripping the “C” from him, which always seems to be a endless debate, who the hell cares?! What? Is Derek Roy or Tim Connolly going to take over? Please. The captaincy thing is the most overrated thing in hockey. You can’t bequest leadership on to anyone and I seriously doubt anyone in that locker room really cares who has the magical “C”. There is only one legit leader, who can back-up his mouth with his talent and that’s Ryan Miller. And I don’t think he needs the “C” to do that-
-About four days ago, I said that Tyler Myers was just going through a sophomore slump. I still stand by it, but I’m seeing some awfully stupid plays by the 2nd year man. He’s turning the puck over way too much and is making even the simpler plays, like going to the backhand while handling the puck. Just stupid things. Again, I said earlier this week that I didn’t think his early season struggles were a BIG part of Hank leaving, but I did leave room for saying that it was effecting him. Now, after seeing how Jordan Leopold takes stupid penalties, I’m starting to think the Sabres should have just paid Hank and not break up a good thing. Want to hear the strangest part? If this was last year, when TM had that 10-game trial with the Sabres, something tells me he would have been sent back to Juniors-
-What the hell is wrong with Thomas Vanek? I swear, if I got 100 bucks for every time I said that over the last three years, I could have bought out Tim Kennedy. I know that Vanek is a mental case, at least that’s what everyone in the media keeps telling me. But my goodness, you’re playing hockey, not defusing bombs or getting rejected on “The Bachelor”. I get that confidence has a lot to do with a pro athlete doing his thing, but enough of that excuse. You got a 3 on 1 and you elect to pass the puck? Shoot the damn thing you fool. You have a nice shot and you’re paid to be the star on this team. Get some balls!-
-Do I even waste my time on Tim Connolly? Yeah, he had a better game against the Blackhawks, but for the centermen who is suppose to be a top 20 guy at his position (so says Darcy Regier), he still doesn’t get it. I don’t care what the apologists say about the guy. The other day, I heard someone in the media mention that Connolly’s injuries have really taken a toll on his mental state in preparing. Really? I’m sorry, but that dude has been soft since entering the NHL, and he is just a byproduct of the Sabres trying to tell the public that he’s the guy that will lead the team to the promise land. The Connolly fans can go on about his playoff series against the Flyers, or that he’s a point a game guy when healthy. But, that’s a bunch of crap. The dude can’t handle the pressure of being a legit top center and is overrated because he actually has some skill. Frankly, I’m so tired of talking about the guy, that I’ve decided from this moment forward, I’m not mentioning him by name ever again! Why? Because I’ve run out of things to write about him. How long can one blogger go on about a guy that completely stinks?
-Okay, I know I’ve given Cody McCormick lots of crap on my site and twitter page, well, he’s been playing pretty well this season and seems to find ways of getting in front of the net and doing the dirty work that you would want a physical player to do. Want another compliment? Even though the Sabres have lost five games this season, four of those losses have been by only one goal. So, at least they are almost there. Oh, God, I’m starting to sound like them in looking at the glass half-full or sugar coating everything. Sorry, won’t happen again.-
-Has Rob Niedermayer done anything? I know he’s suppose to be this great military leader, like a John Connor. However, I’m not seeing much-
-So, let me get this straight: The Sabres played their two best games this season on the road against Chicago and Ottawa, yet, they suck complete a$$ at home. Weird-
Again, I’m not in panic mode because I realized what my expectations were for this team. I thought they would be a 6th or 7th seed team and unless they made a significant trade (Not holding my breathe on that one), they would be home by late April. Now, if you had thought the Sabres were going to win the division title and Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford were going to score 25-30 goals, then you are probably on the floor, trying to call 911 because you had a bunch of panic attacks. The Sabres are who they are: an average team that can’t play with the big boys. But no worries, the Sabres will be playing the bottom feeders of the South East Division soon enough….and how about their jerseys!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
