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!
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

And I wonder if doing a lot of it in one offseason was the right call.

Murray intentionally or not put a lot of pressure on himself. If we end up bottom 3, IMO he is on the hot seat, then you might see him become impatient and make moves to save his job. That's the last thing I want

ummm.....

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

Girgensons is still very young. I think his point is that the guys that have been in this league for quite a while now are some of the team's worst players.

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.
- HonkFortheGoose

Before the season started I wanted a line of Kane/Eichel/Girgensons. I would keep 15/28 together for a while

Seems to be some other place that just started up..


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...1886&forum_id=1&page=last

And I wonder if doing a lot of it in one offseason was the right call.

Murray intentionally or not put a lot of pressure on himself. If we end up bottom 3, IMO he is on the hot seat, then you might see him become impatient and make moves to save his job. That's the last thing I want
- sbroads24

I dont think so, i think by the end of this year we will have the lines together and they will start looking good whethere they are winning or not. Then this offseason you try and get a scroing winger and some defenders and hope everything clicks next year. I don't see Pegula having TM on the hot seat at all at the end of this season no matter the outcome. End of next season? Then i would agree.

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

This nut's got guts!

They are where about I thought they would be. Solutions are to let them continue to play and gain experience. Along the way this season see what you can get by trading;
Ennis (looks lost and expected so much more out of him. He is a turnover machine this year),
Foligno (just never takes that next step)
Gorges (best value is right now while playing good)
Of Moulson, Gionta, Franson, Legwand, Weber get whatever they will offer just to open spots and rid the contracts even for a bag of pucks.
Set the top 2 lines like this;
Kane - O'Reilly - Reinhart
Girgensons - Eichel - Baptiste
3rd & 4th depends on trades but:
Carrier - Ennis - Mcginn (assumes value for Ennis will be low)
? Varone/Kaletta - Larson - Delauriers
Defense I want Fowler on top Pair with Risto, McCabe with Bogo, Pysyk with Rhuwedal
while waiting for Fiorentino/Guhle/Martin/Austin to step forward
All easy to say I know. just stop wasting time on Moulson/Gionta/Legwand/Franson/Weber.

How about a crap for crap trade of Moulson & Weber for Callahan (at least he has heart), money about even and opens a spot. Put Callahan on line with Ennis and McGinn, Then Carrier on 4th.

I know Kaletta will be bashed, but how much worse can he be than Foligno. at least he will show up every night until he gets hurt.

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

That's a good rushing team. But you left out passing stats, defensive stats, special teams, penalties, scoring, redzone... pretty much all the stats that wouldn't support your argument.