The Official Buffalo Sabres Thread

[thebonabus]

I am still a little surprised ESPN hasn't tried to buy into the NHL a little more since it has come back. Seriously, they could throw $100 per game at the NHL and the publicity itself would be worth more to it than OLN. So, I was on ESPN.com today and saw Linda Cohn had her own column on NHL. I was a skeptic and there was good reason. She writes about the top 5 most intriguing players to watch in 2006-07. And they are

1. Hasek
2. Shanahan
3. Pronger
4. Ted Nolan
5. Scott Walker.

Excuse me, but is this 2006 or 1996?

sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=cohn_linda&id=2598979

[rimrocka44]

So the strike is over?

[vinnypunditsheros]

Six days, nine hours til opening faceoff.

[mikenice]

So the strike is over?

I guess so. who knew?

[southhampton]

Not that many of you need more reasons to hate my sports affiliations, but i just wanted to throw it out there before the start of the season that i am huge Sens fan. And since this Sunday night game sucks and i know you are really excited to hear about their prospects, ill give you a little preview.

Front Line
The Sens first line is the best line in hockey. The CaSH line has it has been known is was responsible for 296 points last season including Senators record 103 point seasons for both Heatley and Alfredsson. The loss of Martin Havlat hurts the depth of the offense. Havlat was a huge scoring threat on the second line and the explosiveness he brought will be sorely missed. Outside of Mike Fisher the rest of the front liners are solid, mostly unknown, two way players who are steady but not spectacular.
Keep an eye out for Patrick Eaves this season, hes a youngster who could have a break-out year.

Defense
The loss of Zdeno Chara is a big one (get it, cause he was 6' 7") but the play of rookie Andrej Meszaros in 05-06 gives the indication that he can fill the starting role. 39 points and a NHL's 3rd best +34 are good indicators that this 21 year old is starting to fill his enormous potential. The best returning defense man is two time all-star Wade Redden. He is one of the best offensive blue-liners in football and set career highs last year in both points(50) and assists(40).

Goal-tending
After being thrown into the fire last year after Hasek's yearly breakdown, Ray Emery had an up-down year. He had good numbers during the season .902 and 2.82 but for every excellent game he had a terrible one. He is a very good reactive goalie but needs to work more on his technique and cutting down on angles. The Sens signed Martin Gerber for insurance, he was de-throned last year in Carolina by Conn Smythe award winner Cam Ward.

Overall prediction - The season hinges on Emery and Meszaros. I think this will be a season of around 42-46 wins and around 99 points.

[mrsmiff]

He is one of the best offensive blue-liners in football and set career highs last year in both points(50) and assists(40).

Wow he plays football too? He must never get a break playing for both the NHL and NFL.

JAAAASONNN POMMINVIIILLEE!

[southhampton]

wow, that must have been because i was sweating out that very close fantasy football game we had yesterday. Nice win Hunter.

[vinnypunditsheros]

The Hockey News is from Stupid Canada, right? That would explain why they picked the Sabres to finish behind Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. It proves that everyone from Stupid Canada is a retarded overpatriotic Filthy Canuck.
The fact that they picked the Sabres to finish behind Philly further proves that Filthy Canucks are retarded.

Without looking, I'm guessing they picked Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnepeg in the West.

[southhampton]

I'm not arguing predictions here, but in general the hockey news covers the NHL much better than ESPN, SI, Yahoo, and Fox Sports combined. The only sports outlet in the states that does a decent job of covering hockey is the sporting news. Bitch about the prediction that your precious sabres might not be the best team hockey has ever seen all you want, but dont think that the hockey news doesnt do a fabulous job of covering the NHL.

[southhampton]

www.thn.com/en/columnist/detail.asp?columnist=177

That was the only preview i could find on the site so im gonna go with that as the one to basis my opinion on.

I do not think the rangers are better than the sabres. They have sens, canes, devils, rangers, sabres, thrashers.

I think that the sens, canes, devils, and sabres are all within the same tier with the rangers being a step down. I think any one of these four could win the east and the presidents cup.

As for the finishing below Toronto and Montreal, i didnt see that. There is probably another ranking by someone else on there that says it but im too stupid to find it. As far as the link on here, i cant find much to argue with though.

[vinnypunditsheros]

Man Southhampton, I was beginning to think you were from Canada or worked for The Hockey News. I also had no problem with ranking the Sabres sixth, it was the fact that they were ranked below all the teams from Up North.
I didn't see the rankings, but found it hard to believe they could rank Toronto, who missed the playoffs, over annual contender New Jersey and (paper champion) Carolina. Toronto's offseason couldn't have been THAT good, and I thought Boston had a better one than they did.
I'm really pumped for Wednesday night.

[bonabum06]

i think the rangers are gonna be tough this year. . if they stay healthy. I can see the sabs around #4 behind ottawa, carolina, rangers, . . . , devils 5th

[bonabum06]

carolina was suppose to be philly
mah bad

[mrsmiff]

I'm goin to the home opener on Friday. Anyone else gonna be there? We should get drunk at one of the bars before the game.

[vinnypunditsheros]

My first thought: They ARE retarded! Three teams from the same division can't be in the top four!

Then I realized this isn't playoff seeding.