Friday Thoughts

-Thank goodness that the Sabres don't have to worry about being in shootouts during the playoffs. Their recent shootout predicament reminds me of two years ago, when the team couldn't get the two points to save their lives in the extra, extra session. Luckily, they've been really good in regulation this season. On the shooters front, they always seem to deek out the goaltender rather easily, but for whatever reason they seem to panic when it comes to lifting the puck up to score. Then of course, there's the headcase, Thomas Vanek, who can deek the crap out of a goalie and has a shot that could take out an airplane. But for some reason when Vanek starts in on goal, he starts to flash back to a troubled childhood or being rejected by his first crush (That's a joke). As for Ryan Miller, we all know he's big on having a Feng Shui approach when it comes to goaltending, but something just doesn't click with him during a shootout (Or maybe he just can't defend the backhand). Maybe he needs to go sit on the bench alone for five minutes before shootouts like he does before a game-

-I wrote a lengthy article about wanting the Sabres to make a deal at the deadline. While I would love to get a playmaking center, I think we can come to an agreement that it's probably not going to happen. Especially considering that this organization has to save money by stealing the TV feed from the home team on the current road trip. But if there's one thing that wouldn't cost the Sabres a lot of money or players, it would be to find someone with Stanley Cup winning experience. I still think there are times when the Sabres lack focus and come out of the gates rather slowly. I know that Mike Grier and Craig Rivet have been the guys to supply the leadership, but I still think that someone coming in and showing off their rings would be something that the players could learn from. Of course, I'd still take that playmaking center, but I can compromise-

-OK, I'm sounding a little negative towards the Sabres. I just always want them to thrive for perfection, call me Lindy Ruff if you will. But I'll say this, there isn't that much to bitch about the team. Everyone is playing above their standards (Besides Roy and Vanek). Drew Stafford and Clarke MacArthur are playing exceptional. You have to think that Stafford's effective play has something to do with Ruff benching him three weeks ago. If that's the case, I'm looking forward to seeing what Tim Kennedy does when he gets back on the ice-

-I know everyone is touting Henrik Tallinder as the most improved player on the Sabres, but there still remains the question of how much does his play have to do with teaming up with Tyler Myers. Which is the reason why I'm going give the award to Jochen Hecht. Hecht has been outstanding this year. He's done all the little intangibles that has made a lot of Sabres fans enjoy his play-

-Sorry, but I don't share the festive approach of "Well it's so much fun to hear the other announcers call the Sabres game." UH, NO!? It's completely bootleg that the Sabres have to do this in order to save money. There are fans out there who listen to the Sabres games just so they can hear RJ's voice or see the Robistrator. This isn't the 70's or the AHL, it's a team from one of the four major sports. It's just a slap in the face to fans that we have to watch announcers who give the insight of "Tyler Myers being really tall" to play-by-play announcers talking to their color man during a power play. Lets not forget the intermission reports, where the interviewer is stuttering all over himself. Enough! Give me back my Cellino and Barnes commercials?!-

-Dan Reeves coming to the Bills? Are the Bills trying to run a southern retirement community? The interesting thing about Reeves is that every place he's been at, he's always had a great start with the team, only to have things completely fall apart at end of his regime. I wouldn't mind him coming in as a consultant. However, we are talking about the Bills. They don't pay jack for coaches and I'm sure the feeling on hiring consultants is the same. Plus, it hasn't been reported if Ralph Wilson knows Dan Reeves (Sigh).

-Enough about fans wanting the Bills to change to a 3-4 defense. Fans are acting as if the 3-4 represents switching over to an HD television. Teams have won the Super Bowl while playing a 4-3. Heck, three of the four teams remaining in the playoffs play in a 4-3 (The Jets run both). All I'm saying is that it doesn't matter if you're in a 3-4, 4-3, 3-10 or 46 defense, you need to have good players. Trust me, if Keith Ellison and Bryan Scott are your starting linebackers next year, it's not going to matter if you're playing with 15 guys on the field, the defense will still stink-

-It wouldn't shock me if the Bills decided to just not hire anyone to replace John Guy. Remember, this is the same franchise who decided to neuter the position of GM by having Russ Brandon run the whole show as VP and GM. While we are at it, did anyone replace Buddy Nix as the southeast region college scout? Knowing the Bills, they will probably follow the Russ Brandon tradition of promoting the food and beverage manager to the job-

-BTW, I'm sure Ralph Wilson already terms the Gailey hiring as a success. Heck, he's already saved money on Gailey deciding to call the plays and not hire an established offensive coordinator -