Sabres42

"Buffalo Sabres Blog"

Buffalo, NY • United States • 23 Years Old • Male

Random Thoughts on A Early Season

Ten games into the young 2011-12 season the Sabres are still trying to figure out who they are. The same can almost be said for the Sabres guest tonight the Flyers. Both teams started well and looked like elite teams, but both have fallen off. Philly is coming off a 9-8 loss to the Jets, where Bryzgalov went off after the game killing his own confidence. Tonight Philly will be without Briere, Pronger, and Matt Read. Buffalo comes in blowing home lead after home lead after home lead. Something has to give tonight both teams need this win for confidence. Marc Andre Gragnani will be out of the lineup tonight and Mike Weber will get his first start of the year. Leino will also get a chance to play with red hot Thomas Vanek and Captain Pominville. This game could be the getty up Leino needs.

Outside of tonights game some other thoughts are running through fans heads. The Sabres could use another center with Leino not being thrilled at center and Adam now being moved to the wing. A few possible early options are Kyle Turris from the Yotes and Sam Gagner from the Oilers. Turris to me seems unlikely but Gagner on the other makes sense for both Buffalo and Edmonton. The Oil are off to a great start with the excellent young talent upfront, but still need that puck moving D man. Enter the Sabres, with the likes of Gragnani, Sekera, Persson, Pysk, and McNabb in the farm system the Sabres have D-men to give. If the Oilers are to part with Gagner I think it's going to cost you either Gragnani or Sekera which I would be willing to do. Gagner isn't getting the ice time I think he needs to progress. His creativity could be perfect any of the Sabres finishers (Vanek, Pommer, and Stafford). With anything now possible in Hockey Heaven a move could be coming soon if this team can't find their way.

Last thing I want to quickly touch on is the Ovi situation in DC. I was watching the Caps, Ducks game last night and I was looking for the Great 8 in the final minute but never found him. Boudreau took a gamble last night but it worked. I am a huge fan of Ovi but even I have to admit he hasn't been the same. It might be Boudreau's new system in DC but this can't go on much longer. There's going to be a winner of the Ovi and Boudreau someone is going to have to go, my money is on Ovi winning. Boudreau is in a do or die season this year for his job in DC. The Caps have to at least win 2 rounds in the playoffs for him to have a chance to stay. This could be something to watch as the year gets into the dog days.