Sabers skirmishes in practice are exactly what this team needs

Say what you want about fighting in hockey, let alone fighting in practice. Personally, I’m all for some crowding as long as proper etiquette is followed. Sure, there might be long-term consequences for those who are repeat offenders in a few years, but that’s their decision, so I stand by it. As for the Sabers, they seem to be totally fine right now when it comes to getting physical during practice.

Hey, when you get physically active in training, things like this happen, especially when you need to increase the intensity after a 1-3-0 start. If you’ve read my latest views on the Sabres, you know that I’ve raised the bar this season, even though I don’t expect to make the playoffs.

But with Lindy Ruff back in town and more physical than this team has had in years, competitive hockey is a must. And if the trend isn’t going in the right direction and two players get tangled up, just let them get going, as was the case with Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs.

Scrums in practice should be embraced by Sabers fans this season

I’m all for scrums, and to be honest, they need to be continued so that the intensity reaches a certain point and stays sky high. Note that I’m not saying that we need to see players brawling or dropping gloves in every practice, let alone every game.

But if this team looks flat either at Harborcenter, at KeyBank Center or on a road trip, add that element to the game. Again, if players are comfortable with the risks and the short-term and possible long-term impacts, it is their decision as long as fighting and scrumming remains legal in the game.

How long have we seen enough low-energy hockey from the Blue and Gold? That’s one of many reasons Lindy Ruff is back in town. The Sabers needed a culture and identity change, and Ruff brings that to the forefront. So if I’m Buffalo, I want to keep that going.

But I want to end with this one caveat: you can fight, jostle, and push each other around all you want; Just make sure it doesn’t get into the locker room. They need to be friends off the ice, and if the situation calls for it, enemies on the ice, then they become friends again, which should only strengthen the team chemistry.