Hey Everyone!!

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 2:09 PM EST

Greetings to everyone!! My name is Stevie, I'm a college student, and I'm a recently turned Buffalo Sabres fan and just got accepted to be a part of this great blog community! I'm really excited about this but I know I need to brush up on my knowledge of the Sabres as well as any slang or lingo you use here on DBTB. A final point before I move forward that I must admit is this: my favorite hockey team is the San Jose Sharks. While our teams aren't great rivals, I just figured I'd be very out front about that. However, with that being said, over the past few years, I've been very interested in what the Sabres have been doing primarily because Ryan Miller is an absolute beast and is probably my favorite hockey player not named Joe Pavelski.

First, I would like to ask for just like a basic background on the Sabres. I've been watching hockey frequently on my laptop here at school courtesy of NHL Gamecenter; so I know who a lot of the guys are that have been around in the league for a while (former Shark Christian Ehrhoff, Robyn Regehr, Brad Boyes) and also a lot of guys that have come through the Sabres system (Miller, Stafford, Vanek, Ennis, Gerbe, Connolly, Meyers, Pominville, Kaleta). I know a lot about those guys and I was wondering if there was anything important about the guys I've missed. Also, if there's any big prospects coming through the system that are exciting? I know for the Sharks we had Charlie Coyle before we dealt him in the Burns trade so if you have any high noteriety/really good prospects, please help me out because, in case you can't tell: when I like a team, I want to know as much as I can about them.

Just really quick, I have to talk about this: I go to school in western PA and I CANNOT STAND PENS AND FLYERS FANS!!! SO cocky that it's unbelievable. Also, as a Sharks fan, the only 2 teams I really hate are the Ducks and Wings and, being from the NY/PA/NJ border, I HATE HATE HATE HATE the Rangers!!!!! So, I'm a very polarizing figure, I guess. Haha.

I'd like to conclude with something that I'd like to let you all know: Sabres fans, from what I've seen, are the classiest in the NHL. I'm not sucking up as I have yet to run into a Sabres fan that is hostile towards another hockey fan or not know their team. Basically, even though they're not my favorite team, I would love to be considered a Sabres fan :) I hope to get a chance to talk to you guys and enjoy watching some Sabres hockey. Go Sharks and Go Sabres!

-Stevie

Poll

What do you think of me liking 2 different NHL teams?

Kinda strange

5 votes

It's cool: I like a Western Conference team, too!

13 votes

How is it possible to follow 2 teams?

3 votes

Getouttahere!!

6 votes

I'm cool with you. We're both rooting for the same team (except for once or twice a year)

19 votes

46 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

connollys’ not on the team anymore, went to toronto, our biggest rival

Don't worry this will only take a minute.

by mikeyg on Nov 7, 2011 2:47 PM EST reply actions

my bad

guess i need to catch up a little more

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

What is it about hockey that attracts more 2 (or more) favorite team fans

than any other sport?

Limited time, today only! Use code "FITZMAGIC" to save 15%.

All your tshirt needs.
Follow @twoeightnine

by twoeightnine on Nov 7, 2011 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Good Question

I have two favorite football teams, San Diego and Buffalo. I have a pecking order tho of who I would rather have win when they play each other and who I would rather have win the super bowl first. But i truly am a fan of both teams with the Bills being my true number one. When it comes to hockey tho, I will only be a sabres fan. My ex girlfriend tried to get me to be a kings fan, but that didn’t work. I couldn’t invest in the kings like I invest the sabres. I’m kind of just ranting here with no real point, but I know how to like two football teams but only like one hockey team.

The fans are going to be so loud they are going to hear us in the next Dimension - abayarde

by BillsFanSanDiego619 on Nov 7, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

I can kinda see it if you're a fan of one team and then move to another city.

You’re a Bills fan but you don’t mind if the Chargers win. (Please note, I used to hope that the Eagles would catch syphilis every Sunday (by stepping foot in South Philadelphia.)) But randomly picking another team? No way. I enjoy watching the Sedins play, Stamkos play, but fuck no I’m not rooting for them to win every game not involving the Sabres.

Limited time, today only! Use code "FITZMAGIC" to save 15%.

All your tshirt needs.
Follow @twoeightnine

by twoeightnine on Nov 7, 2011 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

that's fine man

you dont have to. i just find myself watching a lot of hockey over the past few years and, being that the Sabres play a good 3 hours before the Sharks, i find myself being able to watch them play before my other guys.

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Sometimes it happens passively

I find myself checking on the Blackhawks but that’s mostly because of Kane. I try to watch a good amount of the upstate NY players when I can. Can’t really cheer for most of them though because a lot are on Eastern teams.

by VFN FTW on Nov 7, 2011 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

Kinda Funny

but I was actually born and raised in San Diego. Both my parents are from Buffalo and my dad, I don’t know how he did it, turned me on to Buffalo sports before I could even talk. I then grew into being a Chargers fan and was even flip flopping who my favorite was back in the 00’s. But now I know who my true number one is, it just took me some time to figure it out.

The fans are going to be so loud they are going to hear us in the next Dimension - abayarde

by BillsFanSanDiego619 on Nov 8, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

i honestly think because the teams in the east don’t play the teams in the west very often. think about it: it’s often times once maybe twice a year an eastern conference team will play a western conference team (until you get to the Cup Finals)

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

The way it happened to me was that I am a goalie myself

so I find that I follow goalies and it’s kind of hard to root for a goalie but not care if they win the game. That’s how I came to have rooting interests in the Rangers and Penguins and originally, the Sabres (Lundqvist and Fleury and in ‘97, Hasek). With the Sabres though, the interest stuck no matter who was in net (not that my teenage fanhood didn’t suffer a bit in the post-Hasek days, it dd, but I was still very much interested).

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Nov 8, 2011 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Before we can accept you as a true fan of the Sabres, you must admit to hating the Dallas Stars (shouldn’t be hard since they’re in the Sharks division) and swear on your life that Brett Hull is a cheater and that was a NO GOAL!!!

Note to Zach and Andy – this should be the screening process to allow people to join the site!

"Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup" - Terry Pegula

by willgarr15 on Nov 7, 2011 4:12 PM EST reply actions

oh, the famous no goal

don’t worry, there’s not one person on the Stars i like. brandon morrow’s a prick and steve ott should just give up. he’s the expensive man’s version of sean avery. and, i have many reasons for hating brett hulle besides the “goal” (remember he played for the wings too, another big rival of SJ)

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

But Razor is such an awesome color commentator they are really fun to watch as a second team, or as they say on the puck podcast, as your girlfriend team. And by Razor I mean Daryl Reaugh. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll pick the Sabres over the Stars any day of the week, but if you watch a west coast team sort of casually, Dallas has good announcers and that helps a lot.

by clownfat on Nov 9, 2011 2:07 AM EST up reply actions

You wanna talk about good announcers?

The Sharks got 2 great ones on tv in Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda. Both know a lot about the game and really provide a good insight into all the little nuances going on during the games. They don’t say “GOAAAAAL!” for nearly as long or with as much enthusiasm as Rick Jeanneret does but they’re still of good quality

by StevieV17 on Nov 9, 2011 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

I love Hahn and Remenda. They are probably my favorite broadcast crew outside of Rick.

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

by David Oleksy on Nov 9, 2011 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

Sabres fans the classiest in the NHL?

You should post that on Canes Country and sit back and watch the heads explode.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Nov 7, 2011 4:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

here's what i meant by that:

there is yet to be a Sabres fan that i’ve met that isn’t at least respectful towards me or the Sharks; which is saying a lot considering that when i go anywhere around here, i’d be ostracized even though the Sharks are in the other conference.

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

To answer your prospects question, Kassian and Foligno stand out currently, but our best prospects have already made the team (Myers, Weber, Gragnani, Ennis, Gerbe, Adam)

by lassathrax on Nov 7, 2011 4:51 PM EST reply actions

Gragnani

is a guy who’s impressed me. he reminds me a lot of Dan Boyle (but, obviously, a lot younger). i’ve also noticed that he can be caught up ice a lot; which can put the d in a precarious position. sometimes, a little too overaggressive

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

To add the that list:

Brayden McNabb, Joel Armia, Mark Pysyk, and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Nov 8, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

Quick question: I know the Sens, Leafs and Habs are big rivals.....

but who else? what other teams do you despise?

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 5:51 PM EST reply actions

I hate Boston too

But that’s just their sports fans in general. Whiniest bunch of pricks ever unless their team is winning the championship. Which all their teams have recently ::vomit::
Most Sabres fans despise Philly as well, just because they’re the team the Sabres have played most in the playoffs, as well as the ‘75 Stanley Cup. That and it’s Philly.
People hate the Canes too because of ‘05-06, but not nearly as much as the Canes hate us. We’re public enemy #1 there.

by Philaster on Nov 7, 2011 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

The other teams in the NE have rivalries that wax and wane. The Toronto rivalry is mostly based on proximity, and neither side I think takes it all that seriously. Montreal hasn’t been as big a rivalry lately either. Ottawa always is because there have been a lot of playoff series between the two teams, but they consider Toronto and Montreal bigger rivals.

by Philaster on Nov 7, 2011 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

alright

well, as far as hating Boston and Philly, i have no issue there. I’ve been a Yankees fan since I was born so I’ve naturally hated Boston. and Philly is just Philly: can’t like ‘em unless you’re unfortunate enough to be a Philly fan. And, really? the Canes? that’s somewhat suprising to me. I know about the playoffs in ‘06 but I would’ve never guessed that….guess I gotta start hating Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner now. hahaha

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

Honestly

A big part of it is the hate coming from the other side. You will get no more pure vitriol on an SBNation site than to go Canes Country and declare yourself a Sabres fan.
A bunch of us especially started to learn to hate Staal, Cole and Brind’Amour during that run. Kevyn Adams is obviously okay….Peter Laviolette is pretty despised around here as well, which works out since he’s coaching Philly.

by Philaster on Nov 7, 2011 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

Wow

sounds like the Canes should chill out a bit. only won one Cup and it was half a decade ago. alright. well, now I know what to gear up for

by StevieV17 on Nov 7, 2011 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Welcome aboard!

by kitaman27 on Nov 8, 2011 9:26 AM EST reply actions

any team without 2 swords on their jerseys is my enemy

by buzzin on Nov 8, 2011 10:20 AM EST reply actions

The slug and goat-head eras must have been very lonely for you ;)

by lassathrax on Nov 8, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

On second thought, I suppose the shoulder patches had one sword each, for to swords total. I suppose you’re in the clear.

by lassathrax on Nov 8, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Goat-head! When I was 14, I had to remove my Miroslav Satan jersey I wore to school (near Columbus, OH) because one teacher thought it was in honor of the dark lord rather than a affinity for the speedy Slovak. She sited the “red-eyed beast” on the front.

Nobody and I mean Nobody circles the Wagon Blasters like our Buffalo Bills. The Wagon is coming to collect your soul. - abayarde

by DCRumbler on Nov 9, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

HAHAHA, that is priceless. Thanks for sharing!

by lassathrax on Nov 9, 2011 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

That's awesome

"Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup" - Terry Pegula

by willgarr15 on Nov 11, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

touche friend, touche

by buzzin on Nov 9, 2011 9:41 AM EST reply actions

I lived on the Central Coast for two years while I was stationed at the Presidio of Monterey and adopted the Sharks when they came back into the league after splitting back away from the North Stars. It is actually quite easy to support two teams at once, particularly if they are on opposite coasts. I listen to the Sharks broadcasts whenever I can and they are my most frequent night game when I’m home sitting on the computer.

I would love to see the Sharks and the Sabres in the Cup finals together. The Sabres would have to win, though.

So, yes, I still bleed blue and gold but I feel the teal as well.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Nov 10, 2011 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Alright!! :)

So, I’m not totally alone! Except, the order for our teams is reversed but that’s ok. Honestly, if the Sharks make it to the Cup, I certainly and obviously would hope to win it but, being that we’ve never been to the finals in our 21 years of existence, I think I’d be pretty happy to just get there. hahaha. I know it sounds terrible but it’s the truth.

by StevieV17 on Nov 11, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Hey! You're not the only one!

I know how you feel—I’m a Buffalo native also in Western PA for college. Although I don’t have quite the animosity you do for the Pens, although I agree about the Flyers. Also good to know that I’m not the only Sabres fan in Pennsylvania, or at least in Erie. Have fun on the boards!

by steveRbu on Nov 15, 2011 9:11 AM EST reply actions

sweet

I only feel that way about the Pens due to my distance from Pittsburgh. It seems like the closer you are to hubs like that, the more fanatical and anti-every other team they become. Flyer fans, outside of Rangers and Bruins fans, might be the scum of the earth. haha

by StevieV17 on Nov 15, 2011 1:41 PM EST up reply actions