From: v057p7nk@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Andrew W Korbut)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: TEAMS TO WATCH (Sabres - better watch quickly)
Date: 14 Aug 92 00:04:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <4725@balrog.ctron.com>, mattb@olympus.ctron.com (Matt Brown) writes...
>(Peter Bruce Harper) writes:

>The real difference will be: How do the new and old players adjust to the 
>Sutter regime?  With the pernicious Winnepeg influence gone (please, no
>Ashton, etc.), the B's have to adjust to their 3rd coach in as many years.
>Sutter is a different animal than even Milbury, and he will either bring some
>intensity to a fairly flat team (reg season al least), or make Psycho Mike
>look like St. Francis.

Agreed.  Sad to say, but I think the B's made a good move in canning Bowness.
I really didn't think they would after the Conference finals showing.  Bowness
was just not a good coach, who inherited a team with solid leadership among
the core players.  That,more than anything, carried them in the playoffs.
Getting Sutter is a coup.

>Montreal is in deep Zamboni slush, IMO. Bruins at least have made some _good_
>moves. (Boy am I gonna enjoy this season!)

This is true.  They have a team of grinders and defensive psychos, while their
more offensive minded prospects have been getting overlooked unless they have
played some really extraordinary hockey (Dionne, Brisebois).  So you have a
team of Mike Keanes and Brent Gilchrists and Eric Desjardins.  Not bad for the
regular season, but not much margin for error against a pumped-up playoff team.
Even if the team is Hartford.

>though it might be laying a little too much weight on Hasek -- you want to
>talk about sustaining flashes of greatness?

I dunno, I've been a believer in Hasek for awhile.  From what little Keenan
would let us see of him in Chicago, I feel he could be a huge steal for the
Sabres - a possible All-Star caliber goalie.  Great expectations, yes, but I
don't think it's a reach.

>Audette, you could apply the Ken Hodge syndrome to (personally, I think
>Donald will do well).

Personally, I have my doubts.  He just might be too small after all.

>The `chuk brothers have always been Bruin-killers, and I don't expect that to
>change.

It'll change if Dave Goofreychuk gets traded.  He still has the rep of being
Cam Neely without guts, and he didn't play as well in the playoffs as expected.
Again.  No surprise here if he goes.

>Reaching here.  Ray may slow down.  Wesley may go back into a pre-playoff
>stupor. Others may not fill the gap.  On the other hand, Ray may have less
>pressure.  Wesley, only 23, may show some leadership and spark.  Others (young
>and old), may stay healthy and imporove.  Crapshoot.

Can the B's win again with a 4-player defense?  Losing Quintal is a huge
blow to a team that's still trying to replace the void that Gord Kluzak left.
Let's face it, when you have to play Bourque, Wesley, Murphy,and Jim Wiemer
as your core, you need to upgrade. (Same can be said of a certain team who
actually plays Grant Ledyard from time to time...)

>But you can depend that Moog will not decline.  With the strike behind and
>some scoring up front, Andy will be just fine, thanks.  His playoff perform-
>ances weren't so bad, given the opposition (Buf, Mon, Pitt).  Backups? Ouch.

Andy is getting old, but it won't hurt him as much as it might hurt a goalie
with reflexes.

Hey, Matt, I have to commend you for being a B's fan who isn't looking at the
hockey world through Black-N-Gold glasses.  Many amusing, and more importantly,
accurate comments (or is that vice versa?).  I salute you, raising a Sam
Adams lager in tribute.  Personally, I think Sutter alone will be enough to
carry the B's to first.  The Sabres are too much of an unknown quantity to
predict anything more than 2nd.

 Dr.D [The Devils Advocate]        "Drinkin' & women & guns don't mix..."
 v057p7nk@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
 awkorbut@acsu.buffalo.edu                      - Mark Arm
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey