We SUCK because we couldn't beat the Division leading and 10 game win streak team in Hockey..

God do I love you guys...


it is amazing how much of a scapegoat all of you make Evander Kane out to be... my god. He is officially the new Vanek.... but with a much less paycheck and more all around game.
- JVince11

24 out of 40 games
sabres scored 2 or less goals

many long stretches of scoring 4 goals or less in 3 games combined


that is my issue with this team


not the d
not the goalies


the lack of goals scored

It took half a season for a lot of people to really start freaking out. I'd say that's progress
- Zschalberg

That's fair, last year we were done by end of pre-season

24 out of 40 games
sabres scored 2 or less goals

many long stretches of scoring 4 goals or less in 3 games combined


that is my issue with this team


not the d
not the goalies


the lack of goals scored
- homiedclown

The lack of secondary scoring is a huge problem. The team basically isn't scoring if it's not O'Reilly, Eichel, or Risto doing it.

this



when risto is a top 10 point d man
ror is putting up decent numbers on the first line
skunk and eichel are producing
mcginn is almost a .5 ppg player


it really says a lot about the other 13 skaters
- homiedclown

1g 0A -4+/- in the last three weeks.

Just saying

From my seats in Section 307, we outworked the Panthers and out-chanced them in the first period. Jack's great chance early might have been called a penalty, and a couple other good opportunities didn't go in.

The Panthers play a smothering system that clogs up the ice - they stepped into passing lanes ALL night long.

Eventually, after all the chances don't go in, Ullmark lets one in, and the air goes out of the team. The dominance stops, they start to grip their sticks a little tighter, the Panthers keep stepping into lanes, and the ice tilts.

It's like an python with a groundhog, slow gradual suffocation.
- Der Kaiser

The Sabres are not playing with a savvy or veteran type look to them yet. They don't have the confidence that some of these other teams do right now.

it comes with time and chemistry together. They don't know eachother's characteristics well enough yet. It's year one of New Buffalo. Can't build it in 35 some games.

this



when risto is a top 10 point d man
ror is putting up decent numbers on the first line
skunk and eichel are producing
mcginn is almost a .5 ppg player


it really says a lot about the other 13 skaters
- homiedclown

Well look at the bottom 6.

Gionta - Way past his prime. Should be his last season but I could easily see him playing next year
Legwand - UFA after the year. Has had some good games early on but since then I have hardly even seen him.
Foligno - The player that exploded into the league was smoke and mirrors. The hard hitting guy who can win battles comes out once a month when the moon is full.
Schaller - AHL guy who has worked his way up. Hopefully has a place here.
Deslauries - What we wanted Foligno to be with hitting, not so much with scoring
Larsson - Never been my favorite player but can play solid minutes. Not going to set the world on fire with goals.

Of those 6 who is going to score goals? Gionta would be the best bet and that's not great. Then of course you have Moulson who, well that horse is dead and has been beaten like a drum.

Secondary scoring is needed next year. Your top guys are okay and will get better. Need to find that bottom 6 and finish the top 6.

24 out of 40 games
sabres scored 2 or less goals

many long stretches of scoring 4 goals or less in 3 games combined


that is my issue with this team


not the d
not the goalies


the lack of goals scored
- homiedclown

Consistency... We don't have the secondary scoring yet. We need the Ennis/Moulson/Gionta/Larsson's of the world to be able to pot 1 a night between them. Can't depend solely on the Powerplay and 1st line.

1g 0A -4+/- in the last three weeks.

Just saying
- Der Kaiser

Not everything that he has done for this offense falls into those 3 categories I feel like.

Not sure if this was posted yet, but mixed results for Winnipeg as well:
http://www.diebytheblade....now-winnipeg-jets-edition

Well look at the bottom 6.

Gionta - Way past his prime. Should be his last season but I could easily see him playing next year
Legwand - UFA after the year. Has had some good games early on but since then I have hardly even seen him.
Foligno - The player that exploded into the league was smoke and mirrors. The hard hitting guy who can win battles comes out once a month when the moon is full.
Schaller - AHL guy who has worked his way up. Hopefully has a place here.
Deslauries - What we wanted Foligno to be with hitting, not so much with scoring
Larsson - Never been my favorite player but can play solid minutes. Not going to set the world on fire with goals.

Of those 6 who is going to score goals? Gionta would be the best bet and that's not great. Then of course you have Moulson who, well that horse is dead and has been beaten like a drum.

Secondary scoring is needed next year. Your top guys are okay and will get better. Need to find that bottom 6 and finish the top 6.
- Zschalberg

Legwand is so f'n underappreciated on this team it is not even funny... my god.

It is not all about goals and assists with him. He goes into the dirty places and wins.. he makes chances for others. He does well on the dot...

Not everything that he has done for this offense falls into those 3 categories I feel like.
- JVince11

I'm a fan, believe me, and I wouldn't move him from where he is.

But he isn't earning any exemption from the same criticisms being leveled at other players, and he doesn't belong in the Eichel O'Reilly category, yet.

1g 0A -4+/- in the last three weeks.

Just saying
- Der Kaiser

He produces when he's next to O'Reilly. I do want to see him have an extended shot at center. Not sure what we'll see but I'd like to try it.

Kane-O'Reilly-McGinn
Girgensons-Eichel-Gionta (Because Bylsma is going to do it anyways)
Moulson-Reinhart-Larsson
Deslauries-Schaller-Legwand

I'm not saying only give Sam 10 minutes a night since he's on the 3rd line. I'm just saying let's see him try center again now that he's been riding shotgun with O'Reilly for a bit and see what he can do. I'd like there to be better linemates for him than Moulson and Larsson but that's not likely at this point.

Legwand is so f'n underappreciated on this team it is not even funny... my god.

It is not all about goals and assists with him. He goes into the dirty places and wins.. he makes chances for others. He does well on the dot...
- JVince11

I'm not saying he's bad. I'm saying we don't have secondary scoring right now. He's secondary, and he isn't scoring.

Well look at the bottom 6.

Gionta - Way past his prime. Should be his last season but I could easily see him playing next year
Legwand - UFA after the year. Has had some good games early on but since then I have hardly even seen him.
Foligno - The player that exploded into the league was smoke and mirrors. The hard hitting guy who can win battles comes out once a month when the moon is full.
Schaller - AHL guy who has worked his way up. Hopefully has a place here.
Deslauries - What we wanted Foligno to be with hitting, not so much with scoring
Larsson - Never been my favorite player but can play solid minutes. Not going to set the world on fire with goals.

Of those 6 who is going to score goals? Gionta would be the best bet and that's not great. Then of course you have Moulson who, well that horse is dead and has been beaten like a drum.

Secondary scoring is needed next year. Your top guys are okay and will get better. Need to find that bottom 6 and finish the top 6.
- Zschalberg

the 4th line has 7 goals this year, not sure you can expect more then a goal every 5 or 6 games from the best 4th line in the nhl


IMO it falls squarely on the other 5 dressed up front, (gionta, ennis, moulson, kane, larsson, girgens) as well as mccabe and franson

I'm a fan, believe me, and I wouldn't move him from where he is.

But he isn't earning any exemption from the same criticisms being leveled at other players, and he doesn't belong in the Eichel O'Reilly category, yet.
- Der Kaiser

Reinhart is #6 or 7 in rookie scoring this season though.

Eichel is #3 or 4.


(not sure on who scored what last night)

Legwand is so f'n underappreciated on this team it is not even funny... my god.

It is not all about goals and assists with him. He goes into the dirty places and wins.. he makes chances for others. He does well on the dot...
- JVince11

I'd like to see Legwand get bumped up to the third line for 10 games

Not sure if this was posted yet, but mixed results for Winnipeg as well:
http://www.diebytheblade....now-winnipeg-jets-edition
- nfph

I interpret this report to signify that the best player in the trade was Kasdorf, and mostly because nobody has seen enough of him to be disappointed yet.

Reinhart is #6 or 7 in rookie scoring this season though.

Eichel is #3 or 4.


(not sure on who scored what last night)
- JVince11

He has cooled off.

Playing good for a rook, but he's not exempt from observations that he needs to do more.

I interpret this report to signify that the best player in the trade was Kasdorf, and mostly because nobody has seen enough of him to be disappointed yet.
- Der Kaiser

The Hockeybuzz motto:

They all SUCKA$$ until they pot 50 goals, win the Art Ross, and win a Stanley Cup!

the 4th line has 7 goals this year, not sure you can expect more then a goal every 5 or 6 games from the best 4th line in the nhl


IMO it falls squarely on the other 5 dressed up front, (gionta, ennis, moulson, kane, larsson, girgens) as well as mccabe and franson
- homiedclown

I don't look at the defense for scoring. If they do it's nice but I never judge them based on it.

Your point about the 4th line is valid, that 3rd line should be scoring more. I don't think we have the players now but feel we need to run a 3 scoring lines system instead of the top 2 line scoring, a checking line, and a 4th line. With the players we currently have the second option is more viable, but moving forward I hope we try to fill that line with some players who can put the puck in the net while still being responsible. But that's every team's goal, right?

He has cooled off.

Playing good for a rook, but he's not exempt from observations that he needs to do more.
- Der Kaiser

The difference is....

are you just saying

"it comes with time and he is a rookie who needs to learn the ropes"

OR

"He is underachieving.. he is not an elite caliber player.. and he can/should be traded"?

I don't look at the defense for scoring. If they do it's nice but I never judge them based on it.

Your point about the 4th line is valid, that 3rd line should be scoring more. I don't think we have the players now but feel we need to run a 3 scoring lines system instead of the top 2 line scoring, a checking line, and a 4th line. With the players we currently have the second option is more viable, but moving forward I hope we try to fill that line with some players who can put the puck in the net while still being responsible. But that's every team's goal, right?
- Zschalberg

Let's just trade for Drouin..

Let's just trade for Drouin..
- JVince11

drouin-ror-skunk
kane-eichel- player x


then the need shifts to 1 more winger and a top pairing d man

get one at the draft

the 4th line has 7 goals this year, not sure you can expect more then a goal every 5 or 6 games from the best 4th line in the nhl


IMO it falls squarely on the other 5 dressed up front, (gionta, ennis, moulson, kane, larsson, girgens) as well as mccabe and franson
- homiedclown

Actually, that number is misleading. DLo got his while he was on the 1st line with ROR early in the year.

drouin-ror-skunk
kane-eichel- player x


then the need shifts to 1 more winger and a top pairing d man

get one at the draft
- homiedclown

I think the Kane/Eichel experiment needs to just be over. They don't work well together. Period.