Done right the trip back into the house is a slow awkward backwards stagger trying not to trip over the other persons legs while you focus on other issues.
- Der Kaiser

Shrinkage?

28th in the standings
26th in goal scoring
15th in goals against.

We aren't that good
- sbroads24

1st in rushing yards
1st in rushing yards per game
1st in rushing yards per attempt
1st in rushes over 10 yards
2nd in rushing touchdowns


Do you think that team is good?

Amerks game was fun last night. Baptiste and Bailey both looked good out there. Baptiste is a fast player. Turned on the jets at one point and left the defender in the dust. Bailey needs to take more wrist shots instead of winding up and missing the net, but other than that really liked both their games.

As for the Sabres, Mike Harrington has apparently been tweeting how the tank wasn't worth it and how he was right. We just played Washington. They're the best team in the league and Holtby is something like 17-0-1 in his last 18. We never got blown out and played okay both games against them. What expectations did he or anyone who is upset have that made them think we'd be anywhere but this?

Further, if you are upset about where we are, what the hell is your solution? I hear "Fire GMTM" all the time but what after that? What moves can the new guy make that TM refuses to? Are we going to purge ourselves of anything tank related so the hockey gods can like us again? I just really would like to know because all I hear is wah but I don't hear any ideas of what to do now instead.

/rant

1st in rushing yards
1st in rushing yards per game
1st in rushing yards per attempt
1st in rushes over 10 yards
2nd in rushing touchdowns


Do you think that team is good?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I saw that on Twitter and laughed. I didn't see the 1st place playoff draught trophy up there

28th in the standings
26th in goal scoring
15th in goals against.

We aren't that good
- sbroads24

Last year we were

30th in GF
30th in GA
30th in SF
30th in SA

Rebuilds take way longer than ours has so far. We're right on course. We're not good, we're improving.

Amerks game was fun last night. Baptiste and Bailey both looked good out there. Baptiste is a fast player. Turned on the jets at one point and left the defender in the dust. Bailey needs to take more wrist shots instead of winding up and missing the net, but other than that really liked both their games.

As for the Sabres, Mike Harrington has apparently been tweeting how the tank wasn't worth it and how he was right. We just played Washington. They're the best team in the league and Holtby is something like 17-0-1 in his last 18. We never got blown out and played okay both games against them. What expectations did he or anyone who is upset have that made them think we'd be anywhere but this?

Further, if you are upset about where we are, what the hell is your solution? I hear "Fire GMTM" all the time but what after that? What moves can the new guy make that TM refuses to? Are we going to purge ourselves of anything tank related so the hockey gods can like us again? I just really would like to know because all I hear is wah but I don't hear any ideas of what to do now instead.

/rant
- Zschalberg

I'm no Harrington fan, but this isn't what he said. He said that the Sabres being in 28th place after what they went throught wasn't acceptable.

Well, we're good, but we're not good enough to beat the best team in hockey.

I liked Girgs w Eichel a lot, but how in Gods name, when that line rounds out with Gionta, is Gionta the one who goes to the crease?

DISCLAIMER: self medicating for sinus infection last night. Slept through large portions of the game.
- Der Kaiser

Between being hungover and sleeping past the early Chicago game and recently having my wisdom teeth taken out and my sleeping schedule being further messed up, I think I've slept through most of our recent games

Last year we were

30th in GF
30th in GA
30th in SF
30th in SA

Rebuilds take way longer than ours has so far. We're right on course. We're not good, we're improving.
- Zschalberg

Despite the stats and the record, it is fun to watch hockey again as a Sabres fan and we proved the last 2 games that we can at least keep up with the best team in the league. Yes we didn't win, but it didnt look like an NHL vs AHL team like it has the past few years. No one can beat the Caps right now and i think we played them very tough twice in a row. The first game we made 2 mistakes and that cost us 2 goals. We had a ton of chances and Holtby was outstanding, last night we looked like the better team for half of the game and then they turned it up and again Holtby was Holtby. I am perfectly happy with the way we are progressing, I think certain players are finally starting to gel with one another and this offseason hopefully we can add a couple more pieces to get us to the middle of the pack next year and the year after that is when i see us being a top team night in/night out. (I hope)

I'm no Harrington fan, but this isn't what he said. He said that the Sabres being in 28th place after what they went throught wasn't acceptable.
- sbroads24

While I get what he's saying, you can't expect that much of a turn around this quick either. You can see flashes of how good this team can be, it's now a matter of them putting it all together consistently night in and night out. With a team this young, it's not going to happen overnight.

I'm no Harrington fan, but this isn't what he said. He said that the Sabres being in 28th place after what they went throught wasn't acceptable.
- sbroads24

I'm blocked by him so it's a 2nd hand source. It really should have been expected. Our secondary scoring isn't there, the defense doesn't have the needed talent top to bottom, and our forwards that are producing are young and we have only a handful that can get goals.

I don't think we finish last but this is right about where I thought we'd be; picking 2nd-6th. Rebuilds take a long time. We signed up for a rebuild and this is the first year we've actually started adding pieces. I've seen definite signs of life and signs that we're not the 30th in every category, Ted Nolan coached, no system having, goalie standing on his head, running around in our zone, "I pity the Sabres", team that we were last year. We'll get there.

Despite the stats and the record, it is fun to watch hockey again as a Sabres fan and we proved the last 2 games that we can at least keep up with the best team in the league. Yes we didn't win, but it didnt look like an NHL vs AHL team like it has the past few years. No one can beat the Caps right now and i think we played them very tough twice in a row. The first game we made 2 mistakes and that cost us 2 goals. We had a ton of chances and Holtby was outstanding, last night we looked like the better team for half of the game and then they turned it up and again Holtby was Holtby. I am perfectly happy with the way we are progressing, I think certain players are finally starting to gel with one another and this offseason hopefully we can add a couple more pieces to get us to the middle of the pack next year and the year after that is when i see us being a top team night in/night out. (I hope)
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I'd give it 2 years of middle of the pack, but not 8th or 9th. Next year I predict a 5th-9th place finish in the conference. The year after that I'd look for a division win as a stretch goal but mainly depending on what the other teams in our division do. After that, assuming we can keep the main pieces intact and they progress like they could, we should be a competitor for everything.

28th in the standings
26th in goal scoring
15th in goals against.

We aren't that good
- sbroads24

the eye tests shows we are a much better team than last year, yet after looking at the stats it clearly shows that the team last year was one of the worst ever

While I get what he's saying, you can't expect that much of a turn around this quick either. You can see flashes of how good this team can be, it's now a matter of them putting it all together consistently night in and night out. With a team this young, it's not going to happen overnight.
- HonkFortheGoose

the big issue with this team is scoring


there is enough talent where that should not be an issue now

the big issue with this team is scoring


there is enough talent where that should not be an issue now
- homiedclown

That's the part that baffles me. Then they come out and get 4 quick goals against Boston. So it's not like they can't do it. Why they're having such a hard time with it is the baffling part.

While I get what he's saying, you can't expect that much of a turn around this quick either. You can see flashes of how good this team can be, it's now a matter of them putting it all together consistently night in and night out. With a team this young, it's not going to happen overnight.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think you can expect better than this. It would be one thing if they stayed the course, used their draft picks and stocked their prospect system. However, they emptied the cupboards to get better now, and the results don't match the intent. I don't expect a Cup contender, but when you acquire the players they did, simply being better than last year, a bar that may not have been more than six inches off the ground, and a couple moral victories against teams like Chicago don't cut it for me. I need more tangible results.

While I get what he's saying, you can't expect that much of a turn around this quick either. You can see flashes of how good this team can be, it's now a matter of them putting it all together consistently night in and night out. With a team this young, it's not going to happen overnight.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree, but what I look at is the pieces that really have no excuses to be underperforming.

It seems to me that we have quite a few pieces that don't fit here.

Ennis seems lost
Kane hasn't found chemistry with anyone
Larsson can't score
Moulson is useless
Bogosian is either playing well, or playing awful

I'm not saying I want to rid us of all of these guys, but it is a little disappointing that they all are pretty experienced and really not contributing much.

That's the part that baffles me. Then they come out and get 4 quick goals against Boston. So it's not like they can't do it. Why they're having such a hard time with it is the baffling part.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think a lot of it is that the young guys like Samson and Jack look to set up when they should shoot sometimes. Jack especially, he is trying to not be selfish but sometimes you have to be. Last night on the PP was a perfect example. Guys just need to shoot the puck when we have the chance and hope for a deflection or rebound. They try the one-timer or shoot from the point to much IMO. It works in NHL 16, in real life you have to get the dirty goals.

I think you can expect better than this. It would be one thing if they stayed the course, used their draft picks and stocked their prospect system. However, they emptied the cupboards to get better now, and the results don't match the intent. I don't expect a Cup contender, but when you acquire the players they did, simply being better than last year, a bar that may not have been more than six inches off the ground, and a couple moral victories against teams like Chicago don't cut it for me. I need more tangible results.
- buffalofan19

This. The moves made make the comparison between this year and last wrong. They are different teams completely. This team is underperforming.

There were some people (not me) predicting playoffs for us. Not just posters, but bloggers/analysts

I think you can expect better than this. It would be one thing if they stayed the course, used their draft picks and stocked their prospect system. However, they emptied the cupboards to get better now, and the results don't match the intent. I don't expect a Cup contender, but when you acquire the players they did, simply being better than last year, a bar that may not have been more than six inches off the ground, and a couple moral victories against teams like Chicago don't cut it for me. I need more tangible results.
- buffalofan19

I get what you're saying, but at the same time, you can't have that much roster turn over, a brand new coach who actually employs a system, and the amount of young players we do and expect that things will come together that quick.

All I know for sure, is that this team is way more entertaining to watch. I feel like we have a chance to win every game this year. The inconsistencies are definitely annoying, but I'm just enjoying being able to watch them play real hockey again.

I agree, but what I look at is the pieces that really have no excuses to be underperforming.

It seems to me that we have quite a few pieces that don't fit here.

Ennis seems lost
Kane hasn't found chemistry with anyone
Larsson can't score
Moulson is useless
Bogosian is either playing well, or playing awful

I'm not saying I want to rid us of all of these guys, but it is a little disappointing that they all are pretty experienced and really not contributing much.
- sbroads24

I'm surprised you didn't have Girgs on your list. I know you've been saying he needs to do more offensively (which I agree with). It was awesome seeing him with Eichel last night. They both looked great together.

I get what you're saying, but at the same time, you can't have that much roster turn over, a brand new coach who actually employs a system, and the amount of young players we do and expect that things will come together that quick.

All I know for sure, is that this team is way more entertaining to watch. I feel like we have a chance to win every game this year. The inconsistencies are definitely annoying, but I'm just enjoying being able to watch them play real hockey again.
- HonkFortheGoose

They are, and that's step one. But the question is are we on a path to being a perennial contender. I'm left with more questions than answers after an offseason of bringing in "proven" NHL talent.

I'm surprised you didn't have Girgs on your list. I know you've been saying he needs to do more offensively (which I agree with). It was awesome seeing him with Eichel last night. They both looked great together.
- HonkFortheGoose

That's the thing though. One game with Eichel and he's all of the sudden producing.

That's what is troubling me about Kane/Ennis/Moulson. They don't seem to fit right now.

They are, and that's step one. But the question is are we on a path to being a perennial contender. I'm left with more questions than answers after an offseason of bringing in "proven" NHL talent.
- sbroads24

I think it is a lot different when you bring in 1 or 2 "proven" players to an already put together team. We literally changed the entire roster. So yes, we did bring in proven players but with the age of this team and the turnover it would be hard to expect them to just get it right away. Obvioulsy ROR has, but the others are still finding their roles and where the fit and what they are supposed to do. I hope that is the case at least. I don't know, i am trying to be positive!

That's the thing though. One game with Eichel and he's all of the sudden producing.

That's what is troubling me about Kane/Ennis/Moulson. They don't seem to fit right now.
- sbroads24

I love Ennis, but he needs a change of scenery. I think Moulson is going to become a regular in the PB. Who do you put on the 2nd line now with Ennis going down again? And with Kane i hope he and Larsson can click together, both of them need to start producing.

That's the thing though. One game with Eichel and he's all of the sudden producing.

That's what is troubling me about Kane/Ennis/Moulson. They don't seem to fit right now.
- sbroads24

The Girgensons thing is a bit of a conundrum for the coaching staff. He prefers to play center, the staff likes him better there, but you can see how much more productive he's been in limited time with Eichel.

Eichel has struggled at times but seems to have some sort of chemistry with Girgs.

So, if you're the coach, what do you do?

Personally, I keep them together for now until something happens that maybe dictates that they need to be separated.