Briere turning into a perimiter player looking for a payday in the 2007 playoffs has absolutely nothing to do with it...
Case in point. This is simply not true.
Drury was higher regarded than Briere well prior to the '07 playoffs anyways.
Briere turning into a perimiter player looking for a payday in the 2007 playoffs has absolutely nothing to do with it...
I'm going to echo sba's sentiment and add to it. I do believe that Grigorenko generated so much excitement and fans couldn't wait to see him because he was held in high regard leading up to the draft. The idea of elite skill is an intriguing prospect. But I've heard several people talk about Grigorenko as an underachieving euro since he joined the team - probably because his game isn't Ryan Getzlaf's.
I have an inkling that he's going to be a hated player when he cracks Buffalo's roster full time because he possesses elite skill and has size but doesn't play a physical brand of hockey.
I'm going to echo sba's sentiment and add to it. I do believe that Grigorenko generated so much excitement and fans couldn't wait to see him because he was held in high regard leading up to the draft. The idea of elite skill is an intriguing prospect. But I've heard several people talk about Grigorenko as an underachieving euro since he joined the team - probably because his game isn't Ryan Getzlaf's.
I have an inkling that he's going to be a hated player when he cracks Buffalo's roster full time because he possesses elite skill and has size but doesn't play a physical brand of hockey.
Buffalo has never been short on skill
His three goals in 17 games that postseason beg to differ. Of course, that was the result of him checking out halfway through the season because of Golisano/Quinn/Regier being morons, especially the former two, but he absolutely didn't play to potential those playoffs.Case in point. This is simply not true.
Drury was higher regarded than Briere well prior to the '07 playoffs anyways.
Case in point. This is simply not true.
Drury was higher regarded than Briere well prior to the '07 playoffs anyways.
You do realize you're setting up a built in excuse to whine when Grigs struggles. He IS a floater on the ice and thats been the common report from those that follow him in juniors. Its something he needs to work on. I do love that you didn't use Malkin as your counterpoint instead of Getzlaf. You're really working hard on this aren't you.
What are you talking about? Working hard on what?
Grigorenko doesn't play a physical brand of hockey is all that was meant to imply. And how am I setting up a built-in excuse to whine when Grigorenko struggles? This thread isn't about Grigorenko. YOU brought him up.
You're reading far too much into what I'm saying.
His three goals in 17 games that postseason beg to differ. Of course, that was the result of him checking out halfway through the season because of Golisano/Quinn/Regier being morons, especially the former two, but he absolutely didn't play to potential those playoffs.
Fans loved Briere as well and lets not ****ing pretend Drury was some scrub either. You're trying too hard with this. I'm wondering if the "old friends" were just strawmen you created to start this thread. Their opinions are so complete devoid of any hockey knowledge its incredible.
This team has lacked offensive creativity for years. Watch their power play sometime.
Grigs has been compared to a poor man's Malkin at his high end but you went right to a good old Canadian boy (Getzlaf) to keep pushing the argument.
Yes I brought up Grigs because fans were excited about him coming and it (among many other examples) disproves that fans here dismiss Europeans. If the bias was as pervasive as some other keep arguing then Grigs would be dismissed before he even got here.
Let's ignore the fact that he was just under a point-per-game player in those same playoffs.
Where am I saying Drury is a scrub?
Stop putting words in my mouth. And no, they weren't made up. I made a thread because they were ****ing ridiculous, arrogant arguments. The ideas they expressed have roots that regard blue collar play in Buffalo. This isn't as hard as you're making it seem. Jesus Christ.
Because it's an idea often perpetuated by Buffalo fans. That because he doesn't play this style of hockey, he isn't good enough.
The original post wasn't even heavy on the topic of euro bashing. You're missing the point.
Arrogant arguments? No they are uneducated and ill informed. Your indictment of an entire fan base based on the ignorance of a few of your old friends. Now that is arrogance.
In the context of this thread what is the point of bringing up Drury -vs- Briere? They were our two best players and if someone liked one over the other that is hardly a big deal nor does it signify all the nonsense you put forth from your old friends.
In the context of this thread what is the point of bringing up Drury -vs- Briere? They were our two best players and if someone liked one over the other that is hardly a big deal nor does it signify all the nonsense you put forth from your old friends.
i see the point of it, i don't think it's the best example of a comparison though. It's an "intangibles" argument.
I also don't think that anyone means the fans who post here, 90% of us are knowledgeable about hockey. I think this is driven at the wgr callers, etc - who make up the majority of the fanbase. Keep that in mind.
Meant ignorant. Furthermore, I'm not indicting the entire fan base. I read HFboards. I realize that not everybody shares that view. But there is undeniably a portion of this fan base that thinks that way.
That you don't understand why Drury/Briere were brought up at all just validates my conclusion that you're entirely missing the point.
I see the point of it, I don't think it's the best example of a comparison though. It's an "intangibles" argument.
I also don't think that anyone means the fans who post here, 90% of us are knowledgeable about hockey. I think this is driven at the WGR callers, etc - who make up the majority of the fanbase. Keep that in mind.
Of course there is and there is nothing remotely unique about this fan base in that regard
I'm not missing it at all. You dismiss Drury as being Briere's equal so by extension you feel fans liking him more means that don't appreciate talent and prefer harder working players. When in reality the two of them were equals in value to this team and together were the engine that made the team go. But thats a separate discussion.
I dismiss that too. It wasn't true; Briere was the better hockey player.
WGR callers ARE NOT the majority of the fan base. Why do people think this?
Because lets say I'm friends with 25 different Sabres fans on Facebook.
Assume 5 people talk about the team like I do, having a greater understanding of the big picture, etc.
Assume 5 more are "fringe" fans, maybe watch a game here and there, own a jersey, etc.
The other 15 say the same dumb **** all the "WGR Callers" do.
It's just the way I've always seen things play out here. Same with the Bills. The callers themselves aren't the majority, right, they're as much of a minority as message board posters like us.
But the opinions they share are held by most fans I've ever dealt with.