211 replies to this topic

[drnkirishone]

dudacek, on 11 July 2012 - 09:45 PM, said:

Geez JJ do have a bet with someone about how long you can keep this going?

thats what she said

[dudacek]

drnkirishone, on 11 July 2012 - 10:40 PM, said:

thats what she said

Edited by dudacek, 11 July 2012 - 11:58 PM.

[inkman]

JJFIVEOH, on 08 July 2012 - 10:58 PM, said:

Doesn't seem to have any real impact on GIonta and St Luois

Except even they tower over Gerbe.  Plenty of 5'8" & 5'9" guys have made it in the NHL.  How many 5'4" guys have made it?

[RazielSabre]

DHawerchuk10, on 11 July 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

New to the forum here....

Certainly an interesting debate.  I have to say I agree with some of what JJFIVEOH has to say in terms of Miller's "elite" ability.  I am not intimate with the Sabres locker room, so I wouldn't go as far as saying Miller is a cancer as I have no reference.  However, to say Miller is an elite goalie is a real stretch of the definition of "elite".  By what measure is he "elite"?  Is it based on his slightly above average career statistics?  Or is it his inability to come through in the clutch? I concede Miller has his moments, and I don't see better options out there....but he is no sacred cow in my opinion.  I will admit my Hasek bias though.  As he is the gold standard in which I judge elite ability.

Welcome.

Agree with the Hasek, as mentioned a million times by me I'm a massive Hasek fan but he was one of the top 5 goaltenders of all time, even elite doesn't seem to cut it for goalies like him, Roy or Broduer. I'd say Miller is as good as Ward, Kipper, Fleury (outside of 2012 playoffs). I'd also say your not being entirely fair about how critical Miller has been in the playoffs, when our entire team has disappeared apart from Pom/Van and Miller. Nice post though.

[JJFIVEOH]

inkman, on 12 July 2012 - 12:31 AM, said:

Except even they tower over Gerbe.  Plenty of 5'8" & 5'9" guys have made it in the NHL.  How many 5'4" guys have made it?

And Gerbe could crush both of those guys without even blinking an eye. So I'm not sure what the height thing has to do with anything. I don't see how it's a hindrance on his performance.

dudacek, on 11 July 2012 - 09:45 PM, said:

Geez JJ do have a bet with someone about how long you can keep this going?

I don't seem to be the one to keep pushing this to the top.

[DHawerchuk10]

RazielSabre, on 12 July 2012 - 04:17 AM, said:

Welcome.

Agree with the Hasek, as mentioned a million times by me I'm a massive Hasek fan but he was one of the top 5 goaltenders of all time, even elite doesn't seem to cut it for goalies like him, Roy or Broduer. I'd say Miller is as good as Ward, Kipper, Fleury (outside of 2012 playoffs). I'd also say your not being entirely fair about how critical Miller has been in the playoffs, when our entire team has disappeared apart from Pom/Van and Miller. Nice post though.

Thanks for the welcome.  I can't and won't argue that Hasek is in a different stratosphere, that is simply a fact.  The 90's were my formative years in attending games, and when Hasek was "ON", that was it, game over ('99 Ottawa series comes to mind amongst many others...you just had that feeling he was going to slam the door and Ottawa stood no chance).   Whether fair or unfair, I perceive that a certain fan contigent views Miller in the same light as Hasek, and I have never gotten that same vibe with Miller as I had with Hasek.  Outside of obvious clutch shortcomings (Olympics and Winter Classic...both of which, ironically, he played stellar in for the most part), I am always waiting for Miller to "blow it" somehow. And I don't mean "blow it"  in the sense of assigning blame directly to him, but more in the sense of knowing a truly elite goalie (in my mind) would have made the proverbial key save.  So you are probably right that I am being unfair in my reference point for eliteness, but when you have seen true eliteness in a guy like Hasek, for some reason you get  ticked when you perceive others are viewing Miller in that light.

Your comparisons for Miller are spot on as well, just wish Miller could get one of those rings Ward and Fleury are sporting.

JJFIVEOH, on 11 July 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

It's not so much worrying about two years from now, it's about worrying about Enroth and if he decides to sign because his coach has no plans to even give him a chance to start. If Enroth wants out and then later on so does Miller, then you're really screwed. Which would be really poor timing because it seems most fans thinks DR is planning on being a contender in a couple of years and not being an immediate goaltender. It would be a shame to have all these young guys kicking ass and stepping into the league and all of a sudden you have no goaltenders.


I can't answer that. I don't know what they were thinking. Just seems to me like they've gotten more post-season success out of Leighton than any other..... and where is he now?


Fluery has never impressed me much. He's had his moments but again it goes back to my last post. Any goaltender in today's NHL can slump just as easily as streak because of the types of goals that are scored on them. I really think Pitts will find themsleves in a situation where they will be looking for cap space and keeping Fleury might hurt them.


It also got FL a lower goals against than BFLO. And they made the playoffs and won the division which is more than BFLO could say. AND they did it with 14 different players on the roster. Making the playoffs and winning the division with a team where more than 75% of your roster didn't even play together the previous year is pretty impressive, goaltending played a big role. They were very consistent which makes it easier to win games. It's much easier to be successful with consistent goaltending than elite (yet inconsistent) goaltending.

Oh, it also got FL one game 7 OT goal away from eliminating the eventual Stanley Cup runner ups.

Oh, and before the injuries are mentioned, at one point about the same time BFLO had their injuries, FL had 9 guys called up to fill in for theirs.



Welcome!!

That's all I ask is for the team to stop pretending he is the Golden Boy. If he was treated like an average goaltender, sat for a few games when he gets into a funk, and stop pretending like the world revolves around him then I would be much more accepting.

Yes, I feel the same.  Sometimes I don't even know why I feel that, but I as I explained above, I tend to get bent out of shape, when Miller gets obsolved from all blame and called elite when the team still loses.  Again, thats my perception based on those fans I talk to and argue with, and my limited exposure to some of these forums.

[gohansrage]

This isn't the first time I have heard fans say Miller "throws his teammates under the bus."  I see why people say that, but from listening to him it seems he is one of the few athletes who, when asked "What happened?,"  gives an accurate desription of what happened. Sometimes "what happened" is that he let in a softie and sometimes it's a blown assigment by his teammate.

[d4rksabre]

JJFIVEOH, on 12 July 2012 - 07:57 AM, said:

And Gerbe could crush both of those guys without even blinking an eye. So I'm not sure what the height thing has to do with anything. I don't see how it's a hindrance on his performance.

You can't be serious.

[RazielSabre]

gohansrage, on 16 July 2012 - 03:38 PM, said:

This isn't the first time I have heard fans say Miller "throws his teammates under the bus."  I see why people say that, but from listening to him it seems he is one of the few athletes who, when asked "What happened?,"  gives an accurate desription of what happened. Sometimes "what happened" is that he let in a softie and sometimes it's a blown assigment by his teammate.

Agreed, that is the way I see his 'media persona'.

Edited by RazielSabre, 17 July 2012 - 06:06 AM.

[Spndnchz]

[Peppy22]

spndnchz, on 17 July 2012 - 06:29 AM, said:

I remember that one. yelling at my tv "OMG!!!!!"

[BuffaloGruffalo]

Hey Guys and Gals

Quick answer MAG is off the team now. Millers save % and Ga will improve dramatically this year.
Also the D has had more time to Gel this year. Will make a BIG difference !!
Dont trade away your star goalie , just  back him up a bit more.