I've had better friends at one night orgies full of nothing but women.
- BuffaloHardHat

This.

Zadorov has a lot of unknown to him still. He could be just decent, he could be a stud, or he could go to Russia
- sbroads24

People forget how bad Zadorov looked preseason, and that the Sabres had every intention on sending him back to juniors until he and his agent held a gun to the team's head.

People forget how bad Zadorov looked preseason, and that the Sabres had every intention on sending him back to juniors until he and his agent held a gun to the team's head.
- buffalofan19

That wasn't a good situation for anyone, but for a 19 year old, he has stepped to the plate.

That wasn't a good situation for anyone, but for a 19 year old, he has stepped to the plate.
- grand-magus

He absolutely has, and I'm glad he's here, but, from a purely hockey perspective, there are still things in his game that you can see why keeping him up here was far from a no-brainer.

That wasn't a good situation for anyone, but for a 19 year old, he has stepped to the plate.
- grand-magus

For about 10-15 games he did. Other than that he's looked out nf place. I really wish he could go to Rochester. He should be there and Pysyk should be here

For about 10-15 games he did. Other than that he's looked out nf place. I really wish he could go to Rochester. He should be there and Pysyk should be here
- sbroads24

The whole team is a train wreck.

It's easy to focus just on him, but it's not fair. There are 3-4 other players on the ice at any given time who are just as guilty when things don't go right.

He absolutely has, and I'm glad he's here, but, from a purely hockey perspective, there are still things in his game that you can see why keeping him up here was far from a no-brainer.
- buffalofan19

True.

It's also telling of the (no) talent on this team when 5 year veterans are making the same mistakes as he is.

At least next season they can put him in Rochester if he's not ready again.

What do you mean don't write it? It's true, they aren't ready and probably won't be for a few years if at all.

I have more faith in Ristolainen than Zadorov. Zadorov has major holes in his game.
- sbroads24

Who/what else would be better?

Who/what else would be better?
- Studj8

I have to piggy back on this, broads.

Of course the kid has major holes in his game. HE'S NINETEEN!

I've had better friends at one night orgies full of nothing but women.
- BuffaloHardHat

Wow....

The whole team is a train wreck.

It's easy to focus just on him, but it's not fair. There are 3-4 other players on the ice at any given time who are just as guilty when things don't go right.
- grand-magus

Again, not blaming him for making mistakes, just saying he's far from a bona-fide top NHL defensemen. It's premature IMO to say they are our top pair to lead us to a cup. ..

Now if Pysyk/McCabe pan out, we will have a talented top 6

I have to piggy back on this, broads.

Of course the kid has major holes in his game. HE'S NINETEEN!
- grand-magus

Exactly... It's gonna take a full year or two for him to mature into a top 4 defenseman! And who else on this roster do u think should replace the kid if he isn't up tour standards?

How about Toffoli + Richards + 2015 1st
- Maximum Signal

I have to piggy back on this, broads.

Of course the kid has major holes in his game. HE'S NINETEEN!
- grand-magus

Right, and again I will ask, what has he done to cement his spot as a top pairing NHL defensemen?

True.

It's also telling of the (no) talent on this team when 5 year veterans are making the same mistakes as he is.

At least next season they can put him in Rochester if he's not ready again.
- grand-magus

And this is what gets me. While there's nobody anywhere near great on this roster, there are plenty of players that have accomplished some good things at the NHL level. And yet, when somebody dares to suggest coaching may be a problem (not the problem mind you, but a problem), we get the same response: "nobody can do anything with this roster if Ted Nolan can't", which is flawed on so many levels. No matter what you think of the guy as a coach, he hasn't accomplished enough to be the standard for anything, good or bad. The days of "everything can be fixed by a solid honest effort" are long gone, and it's a concept that seems to be foreign to the guy.

Right, and again I will ask, what has he done to cement his spot as a top pairing NHL defensemen?
- sbroads24

Personally, I've never said he has cemented his spot as a top pair D, but there are at least 4 other defensemen on this roster who have played worse this year.

When the TV cameras are on him, we see the glaring mistakes, sure. Just like we see the glaring mistakes Myers makes (when he makes them), however, the coaches see their every move, every play, every decision and the subtle ones NONE OF US SEE, and they keep playing the kid 20 minutes a night. With all the holes, he still must be doing many things right.

Personally, I've never said he has cemented his spot as a top pair D, but there are at least 4 other defensemen on this roster who have played worse this year.

When the TV cameras are on him, we see the glaring mistakes, sure. Just like we see the glaring mistakes Myers makes (when he makes them), however, the coaches see their every move, every play, every decision and the subtle ones NONE OF US SEE, and they keep playing the kid 20 minutes a night. With all the holes, he still must be doing many things right.
- grand-magus

He was just a healthy scratch for 2 games?

- gerbe75pts

He has 2 rings..........

And this is what gets me. While there's nobody anywhere near great on this roster, there are plenty of players that have accomplished some good things at the NHL level. And yet, when somebody dares to suggest coaching may be a problem (not the problem mind you, but a problem), we get the same response: "nobody can do anything with this roster if Ted Nolan can't", which is flawed on so many levels. No matter what you think of the guy as a coach, he hasn't accomplished enough to be the standard for anything, good or bad. The days of "everything can be fixed by a solid honest effort" are long gone, and it's a concept that seems to be foreign to the guy.
- buffalofan19

Yep.

Was it Nolan that said, "hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard"?

Well, Teddy, most teams work hard most nights, and we have almost no talent.

He was just a healthy scratch for 2 games?
- sbroads24

Right. And did they win those two games?

Right. And did they win those two games?
- grand-magus

Not sure what that means. You said they keep playing him 20+ minutes, and the vets are making the same mistakes. Well they sat Zadorov for poor performance.

Risto, Myers, Gorges, the other actual NHL caliber defensemen have yet to be sat

He has 2 rings..........
- dadeadhead

So does Jordan Nolan

He has 2 rings..........
- dadeadhead

so ..

Again, not blaming him for making mistakes, just saying he's far from a bona-fide top NHL defensemen. It's premature IMO to say they are our top pair to lead us to a cup. ..

Now if Pysyk/McCabe pan out, we will have a talented top 6
- sbroads24

Agreed, hard to know what they're really capable of just yet and whether they're more valuable as a trade asset rather than on the team.

so ..
- gerbe75pts

I'd rather have Mike Richards here than Hodgson. If we could somehow pry Toffoli from LA i'd be glad to take Richards contract.