Comments on: SabreCast 2.17 – What Makes This Team So Good? http://www.sabrecast.com/sabrecast/2-17-what-makes-this-team-so-good/ The Unofficial Buffalo Sabres Fan Podcast Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:10:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sean http://www.sabrecast.com/sabrecast/2-17-what-makes-this-team-so-good/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Sean Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:18:17 +0000 http://www.sabrecast.com/?p=609#comment-140 I'm a Sabres fan living deep inside Bruins territory, so this is a refreshing season so far. I think attempting to put a single pin in what has made the Sabres successful so far this season is a mistake a lot of people are making. Yes, Miller is playing quite possibly the best he has in his life, and is perhaps the best goaltender in the world right now. Calling him the best hockey player in the world, as I have read in several articles, may be unfair: comparing goalies and skaters on the same scale is a bit out there. Defense has tightened up compared to recent years, largely due to young Myers eating minutes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while composing himself like a veteran in his prime. Myers also sets the bar higher for the older defensemen if they want to share in that playing time. The re-addition of Mike Grier to the roster brings some needed grit and leadership to assist Rivet in the locker room, as well as on the ice. But to me, one of the biggest changes has been that the Sabres' young (ish) players have finally seemed to realize that this is their team, and it's time to act like it. Pominville, Roy, Vanek, and Gaustad are all guys still in their 20s that have finally outgrown the "I'm young and new, tell me what to do" mentality and taken things upon their own shoulders. Speaking of Gaustad, he and Kaleta are showing teams that third and fourth liners can score too, they're not just bruisers out there to take up space. Conversely, while Vanek, Roy, and Pommer haven't been putting up the numbers they're capable of, I've seen them play much grittier in the corners, and forecheck much harder (and smarter) than in recent years. Having Tim Connolly consistently healthy doesn't hurt either. This may be a result of a bit of a shift: while the Sabres are still a fast and skilled team, it seems they've moved a bit away from the run and gun mentality, and are working things from the goal out now. The beneficiary being Miller who can be more confident that shots are getting blocked and rebounds cleared out. I guess answers aren't always so east....or maybe I'm just over-thinking things. I’m a Sabres fan living deep inside Bruins territory, so this is a refreshing season so far.
I think attempting to put a single pin in what has made the Sabres successful so far this season is a mistake a lot of people are making. Yes, Miller is playing quite possibly the best he has in his life, and is perhaps the best goaltender in the world right now. Calling him the best hockey player in the world, as I have read in several articles, may be unfair: comparing goalies and skaters on the same scale is a bit out there. Defense has tightened up compared to recent years, largely due to young Myers eating minutes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while composing himself like a veteran in his prime. Myers also sets the bar higher for the older defensemen if they want to share in that playing time. The re-addition of Mike Grier to the roster brings some needed grit and leadership to assist Rivet in the locker room, as well as on the ice. But to me, one of the biggest changes has been that the Sabres’ young (ish) players have finally seemed to realize that this is their team, and it’s time to act like it. Pominville, Roy, Vanek, and Gaustad are all guys still in their 20s that have finally outgrown the “I’m young and new, tell me what to do” mentality and taken things upon their own shoulders. Speaking of Gaustad, he and Kaleta are showing teams that third and fourth liners can score too, they’re not just bruisers out there to take up space. Conversely, while Vanek, Roy, and Pommer haven’t been putting up the numbers they’re capable of, I’ve seen them play much grittier in the corners, and forecheck much harder (and smarter) than in recent years. Having Tim Connolly consistently healthy doesn’t hurt either. This may be a result of a bit of a shift: while the Sabres are still a fast and skilled team, it seems they’ve moved a bit away from the run and gun mentality, and are working things from the goal out now. The beneficiary being Miller who can be more confident that shots are getting blocked and rebounds cleared out.

I guess answers aren’t always so east….or maybe I’m just over-thinking things.

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