To give you an idea how weak the Buffalo Sabres’ image problem was in 2011-12, the NHL.com shop still sells a “Soft As A Grape Buffalo Sabres Women’s Plus Size V-Neck T-Shirt.” Seriously. They’re $24.99.

When Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic memorably ran the team’s star netminder, Ryan Miller, last November, and the rest of the club failed to come to the aid of one of its best players, several analysts and fans called the team out for failing to “answer the bell” and stand up to Lucic, as the unwritten (but so frequently written about) hockey code dictates.

Even iconic Sabres enforcer Rob Ray expressed disappointment in his former team’s lack of retribution.

“I can do more. I’m embarrassed that we didn’t respond the way we should have. It falls on myself. I look at myself first, and I wasn’t good enough,” centre Paul Gaustad, who was on the ice at the time, told BuffaloNews.com. “We didn’t push back. There’s no reason to be scared. We had to go after it, and we didn’t.”

As of July 1, the Buffalo Sabres have been going after it.

On the first day of free agency, the Sabres inked “Big” John Scott to a one-year deal.

Undrafted out of Michigan Tech, Scott comes by his nickname honestly. He’s 6’8” and 270 pounds, most of that knuckle weight. According to hockeyfights.com, he’s never lost a scrap. In 146 NHL games played — with the Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers — Scott has one goal, four assists, 23 undefeated fights and 236 penalty minutes. He hates the instigator rule; hunch is, because he’s an instigator. If the word “truculence” comes to mind, it’s probably because he punched it into your head.

“John’s size and toughness make him a difficult player to battle against,” Buffalo GM Darcy Regier said after Sunday’s signing. “His physical play will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Which is a polite way of saying that the Sabres will be doormats no more.

New Sabre John Scott on Miller-Lucic: “Hopefully, with me next year, that doesn’t happen. If it does happen, there’s a different outcome.”

— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) July 2, 2012

John Scott vs. Derek Dorsett, Feb. 18

Enforcing the team’s commitment to enforcing, on Tuesday the Sabres swapped centre Derek Roy, whose point production has been in decline since 2007-08, to the Dallas Stars for 6’1”, 184-pound Steve Ott.

Ott, lost only one of his six fights last season, according to hockeyfights.com. Though not quite as giant-redwood-esque as Scott, Ott is the type of player who will stick up for himself and his goalie.

Plus, the onetime 20-goal scorer is skilled with his gloves on. Ott, a centre, scored 11 goals and 28 assists in 74 games with the Stars last season.

The Sabres, the final team to miss out on the 2012 postseason, began the summer with two major goals: upgrade the personnel enough to become a playoff team again, and get tougher.

Consider the latter already accomplished.

Now to my new Team Buffalo, I can’t wait to Rock the East.

— Steve Ott (@otter2nine) July 2, 2012