Buffalo the New grit in the East!

by thenewhockeytown on Aug 12, 2009 11:18 AM EDT

With the recent signing of Mike Grier, Cody McCormick, Steve Montador and Drafted players like Kassian and Foligno, Buffalo is shaping out tobe a pretty grity team for the 09-10 season. To add to that, resigning Ellis and Cmac to deals was a good deal. With the likes of Goose, Kaleta and Mair the Buffalo Sabres should be one of the hardest hitting teams in the eastern conferance along side the Bruins. Also in the system are the likes of Tyler Myers a big 6'7 deman who destroyed the junior league with the Kewlona Rockets and team Canada for the Gold Medal. My main point here is that if you go in the corner this year agianst the Buffalo Sabres theyre in all likely hood coming out with it. Something that we lacked hard body last year and in the playoffs. I like managments approach to the grit this year but it will be a defining year for those big contract players to step up and win some home games this year. Buffalo was way under 500 at home last season. Will Hecht have a break out year? (prolly not) A trade will be in works i believe some time this season, perhaps a couple of them.

Poll

Rating on Buffalo Grit

Like it its awesome

56 votes

To much grit no enough talent

32 votes

Or as long as i dont get hit by Grier, McCormick, Goose, Kaleta, Mair or Montador cause u will die

12 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

This is a fanpost written by a member of the community, it doesn't necessarily express the views or opinions of Die by the Blade

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Comments

They are definitely a tougher team than they were last season. I am not willing to call them the toughest team in the east but they have made some good moves this off-season. I think they have made some real good moves for the future. We might see a tougher team this season but a couple of seasons from now they might be the toughest team in the east.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Aug 12, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

I think that becoming tougher was a necessity for the Sabres with the moves that were made by other teams in the division, especially Toronto.

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by Zachary Zielonka on Aug 12, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think becoming tougher was a result of moves made by other teams. I think it’s a result of the NHL and it’s abject refusal to call obstruction. After the lockout, the league called for a game that showcased speed and skill for two years. Then, out of nowhere is you ask me, it reverted back to clutch and grab.

The NHL is sitting on a fence. They want rough and tumble play down low. They want speed through the middle of the ice. Why can’t they come up with a set of rules that are consistent to what they want?

by krytime on Aug 12, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

You know it has to help that our brothers to the north are starting to throw the word “truculence” around alot.

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by Zachary Zielonka on Aug 13, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah we did a few good moves now just to sign Stafford, i think Darcy did a good job by not going crazy like Montreal and Toronto the biggest problem with erasing teams and rebuilding them with all new players is no chemistry which can be equally a teams downfall as not enough heart

by mitch400214 on Aug 12, 2009 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

Calling them the grit of the east seems like pushing it a bit with teams like Boston and Philly in this conference. As soon as one of the Sabres mauls Chara or Pronger or all of Boston’s and Philly’s team in a bench brawl then they can be called the east’s toughest team……that would be two great games…assuming the Sabres win in OT of course

by sween on Aug 14, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

its been to long since a bench clearing brawl we need more of those lol like there should of been after miller was hit

by mitch400214 on Aug 14, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

thats exactly what i thought gomez shouldve left that game on a stretcher but nobody stepped up…at least i dont remember any fights and that shouldve topped the sens game…maybe the new additions realize when somebody injures your goalie you injure them

by sween on Aug 15, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

i really thought Rivet or Gaustad wouldve stepped up but its been awhile where either on the ice?

by mitch400214 on Aug 15, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Contradiction

Everyone around here seems to love the grit, and I’m completely on board with it. Exactly what we needed, this team was too soft last season. At the same time however, it seems everyone here is in love with the play of Drew Stafford. He’s the softest guy on this team! And to make matters worse, he’s 6’2" 200lbs and he plays that soft. Gimme a break, we need skilled forwards that want to work for their goals. Stafford’s numbers don’t look as good when he had 3 and 2 goals respectively in blowouts against soft defensive efforts from Edmonton and Toronto last season. Sure he looked great on top plays when he schooled Toronto last year but I’d rather see him blast somebody in the corner and come out with the puck just once on a forecheck, or perhaps score a goal in front of the net. With his size and hands he should make a killing there, like Vanek does

"Potential just means you haven’t done sh## yet"

by willgarr15 on Aug 15, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Balance

If everyone on your team is a Rivet, Montador, Gaustad, Kaleta, Mair, Grier, etc. then you only score about 5 goals a season as a team. The key is getting grit and talent on the ice at the same time. If someone runs Vanek, there should be an immediate price to pay. If someone runs Miller, the other teams goalie should be run. The problem is, the grit usually is all on the ice at the same time and the “skill” players who play a little soft have noone on the ice to stick up for them. If you have the top two lines consisting of Roy, Connolly, Stafford, Vanek, Pominville and MacArthur, then you are going to have a soft team.
Unfortunately, there aren’t a whole lot of Malkins and Ovechkins out there who will score a goal and then try to take your head off.

by bluecollarbuffalo on Aug 15, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

You don’t need those people on the same line, and in fact it doesn’t make sense to have them on the same line – to do so would be to ask players to play out of position. There’s a reason why top two lines are “scoring” lines while bottom two are “energy” or “checking” lines.

If someone runs Vanek (like Neil did to Drury) Ruff will put out his 4th line, full of guys you don’t want to anger in a bar, and let them get some retribution. But putting Vanek on a line with McCormick will result in fewer opportunities for Vanek and an out of place McCormick.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree bcb

But there’s a reason that Malkin and Ovechkin are the class of the league right now. They play physical. We need some power forwards who can find the back of the net.
Some of the best production we had last year was when Ellis was on fire in January and he played with Pommer on the second line. They were playing with passion and physicality and scoring goals in droves. I think Staff has a ton of talent but if you’re just a 6’2" bubble with fancy stickhandling you aren’t gonna last in this league

"Potential just means you haven’t done sh## yet"

by willgarr15 on Aug 16, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

True

But who was it that went after Neil on the Drury cheap shot? If he’s willing to do that, then I’m OK w/ him, even if he won’t hit/take a hit.

by bluecollarbuffalo on Aug 17, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions

its all very timely mannered if you can get away with putting a gritty guy with your talent and it works then plus to you but most teams cant get away with that. One of the good things about signing Grier he isnt extremely skilled but he has some talent and grit.

by mitch400214 on Aug 16, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

even if the Sabres dont do well or miss the playoffs, teams are going to start respecting Buffalo this year. No more cheap shots (drury, miller….etc)

by kmf418 on Aug 27, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Having followed McCormick for the last couple of seasons in Colorado, and with the addition of Grier, I think it will be interesting to watch Buffalo play this year.

by avsnucksfan11 on Sep 1, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions