Sabres Catching MSM Grief Already This Year

It’s not as if we don’t recognize our own shortcomings as a franchise.  They’ve let stars walk with exorbitant contracts with other teams after failing to lock them down at a cheaper price.  They’ve stood by while the “New NHL” starts looking like the “Old NHL” again.  We all recognize those issues, but dammit, this is our team, let us dish out the criticism.  Because frankly, half the time you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Oh, an example?  Yeah, let’s chat with Scott Burnside.  Yes, the ESPN NHL Writer, who solely by virtue of his position with ESPN has a readership, spouts off on the Sabres.  Let’s pick him apart shall we?  We shall.

For a little background on the article that you can find here.  Burnside takes a look at a number of teams that required “change” during this offseason.  Fortunately, we were spared any Obama references, unfortunately we weren’t spared cliche and unnecessary musings on the Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres

OK, the Sabres did nominally replace   underappreciated defenseman Jaroslav Spacek with journeyman rearguard Steve Montador. But Spacek, who was wooed to Montreal with a three-year deal, was the Sabres’ top-scoring defenseman last season, and Montador won’t fill that offensive void. So, once again, the Sabres are hoping to close holes from within. That is a reasonable and certainly cost-effective way to manage a team — when it works. But when you miss the playoffs for two straight seasons and have a track record of being unable to keep your talent in-house, patience grows thin for even the hardiest of fans, and the Sabres boast one of the most loyal fan groups in the NHL.

First off, why does he assume that Montador is Spacho’s “replacement?”  They play completely differing games, and Montador fits a need on the Sabres blueline, a stay at home, gritty defensemen.  Spacek had the nickname “Sissy” for a reason.  The inference that this move was a “lose best defensemen and bringing in a cheaper replacement” isn’t right.  It just isn’t.  They are different players, filling different roles, on different teams.  Apparently recognizing this fact was lost on ESPN’s esteemed hockey correspondent.

Wooed to Montreal?  You’re damn right he was.  Gainey was throwing money around to anyone who would take it, that is, as long as they weren’t on his current roster.  I don’t care who you are, at 35 years old, a $3.83 million cap hit is plain ridiculous.   Leading point getter on the Sabres blueline?  Yes, but he was also the PP quarterback and had the highest TOI for the Sabres almost every night.  Those 8 goals aren’t exactly record-breaking.  They can be replaced, so too can those 22 powerplay points (4 g, 18 assists).  When just under half of your points come on the PP (22 of 45 points), well, guess what, you can be replaced .  See Kotalik, Ales.

Ah, and here’s when I just quit reading.  The “record of being unable to keep talent in-house” line.  Here I thought that was so 2006.  After locking up Vanek, Miller, Roy, Gaustad, and Pominville, you know, the core of this hockey team, to long term contracts, one would think this so called “record” would be thrown out the window.  Of course, we all know just how successful those behemoth contracts leveled to Sabres of yonder years have worked out.  Just ask Ranger, Flyer, and Blackhawks fans.  I don’t know why the Scott Burnside’s and Allan Muir’s of the world continue to rehash this point, it’s simply not applicable anymore.

And yes Burnside, we are an intensely loyal fanbase, thanks for noticing.  Loyal enough, in fact, that we don’t appreciate it when people like you spout off acting like they know what they’re talking about.

By the way, that journeyman rearguard, Steve Montador, has played on 2 less teams than Mr. Spacek during his career.  Like I said, learn what you’re talking about.

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, ESPN Fail, Jaroslav Spacek, Montreal Canadiens, Scott Burnside, Steve Montador