We gave up a lot of zone time and our D was pretty bad at transitioning defence into meaningful offence (or even just getting the puck out of the zone) which contributed to low goal scoring. I think Lehner can keep the goals against down, the rest is on the defence and they're not good at it.
- Sabresfan-365

Right, but how are they going to be worse than last year is my question. What happened between the last game of the season last year and today that makes people think we are going to go from 16th in GA to closer to 30th? Is losing Johnson that big of a deal? Was Pysyk secretly holding that defense together? What?

If you want to say "The defense will be as bad as it was last year" then sure, I'm on board. But I need clarification on how exactly they got worse. Risto is a year older, Kulikov takes Gorges' spot. Bogo and McCabe played well last year. McCabe isn't a rookie anymore. These all seem like good things to me.

I'm not saying the defense is 16th best in the league. I'm not even saying they're not terrible. I'm saying the defense didn't get worse and it wasn't the reason we lost games last year. The reason we lost games was because 24/82 games we scored 1 or less goals. Like you said, that's not just on the offense as it is a 200 foot game, but it is indicitive as to how bad the bottom 3/4 of our offense played last year. Other than ROR, Eichel, Sam, and Gionta there were few players who played up to their potential. Even Kane who scored 20 goals should have played better.

It's somewhere around $1MM in cap space that's saved. It was originall $900k but I think it's gone up slightly over time.
- HonkFortheGoose

Less the amount his replacement takes up so its not really all that much. Plus I thought the idea was to get rid of him so they dont have to pay his salary. Sending him down may save them some cap space but they'd still have to pay him.

Reports say Karlos Williams visiting with the Bills. Reports
are that he will re-sign with Bills
- cabin

Are they signing him to play on the O-Line?

Right, but how are they going to be worse than last year is my question. What happened between the last game of the season last year and today that makes people think we are going to go from 16th in GA to closer to 30th? Is losing Johnson that big of a deal? Was Pysyk secretly holding that defense together? What?

If you want to say "The defense will be as bad as it was last year" then sure, I'm on board. But I need clarification on how exactly they got worse. Risto is a year older, Kulikov takes Gorges' spot. Bogo and McCabe played well last year. McCabe isn't a rookie anymore. These all seem like good things to me.

I'm not saying the defense is 16th best in the league. I'm not even saying they're not terrible. I'm saying the defense didn't get worse and it wasn't the reason we lost games last year. The reason we lost games was because 24/82 games we scored 1 or less goals. Like you said, that's not just on the offense as it is a 200 foot game, but it is indicitive as to how bad the bottom 3/4 of our offense played last year. Other than ROR, Eichel, Sam, and Gionta there were few players who played up to their potential. Even Kane who scored 20 goals should have played better.
- Zschalberg

I agree with this post.

Are they signing him to play on the O-Line?
- Zschalberg

I dunno. Was a notification from GR550 . Was all it said .

I dunno. Was a notification from GR550 . Was all it said .
- cabin

Was supposed to be a joke about his weight. I'll be here all week

Right, but how are they going to be worse than last year is my question. What happened between the last game of the season last year and today that makes people think we are going to go from 16th in GA to closer to 30th? Is losing Johnson that big of a deal? Was Pysyk secretly holding that defense together? What?

If you want to say "The defense will be as bad as it was last year" then sure, I'm on board. But I need clarification on how exactly they got worse. Risto is a year older, Kulikov takes Gorges' spot. Bogo and McCabe played well last year. McCabe isn't a rookie anymore. These all seem like good things to me.

I'm not saying the defense is 16th best in the league. I'm not even saying they're not terrible. I'm saying the defense didn't get worse and it wasn't the reason we lost games last year. The reason we lost games was because 24/82 games we scored 1 or less goals. Like you said, that's not just on the offense as it is a 200 foot game, but it is indicitive as to how bad the bottom 3/4 of our offense played last year. Other than ROR, Eichel, Sam, and Gionta there were few players who played up to their potential. Even Kane who scored 20 goals should have played better.
- Zschalberg

I agree saying they are worse is a stretch but they're banking on some serious growth from McCabe and Ristolainen if they want to be better because I doubt you see anything more from the other 4 guys. I will say its the reason we lost a lot of those games though. When the good offensive players got zone time they were able to create a decent amount of chances. The problem was as soon as that puck went back into our end it stayed there.

Adding Okposo and a healthy Ennis only helps if you can get him the puck in the offensive zone, if the problem with the team is that once its back in our own end it rarely gets out then there isn't much that Okposo can do for you.

As for the goals against being worse. The scenario in which this team gives up the amount of goals that would rank them closer to 30th than 16th is one where Bylsma really opens it up offensively. More goals for but as a result more goals against.

Death toll from Hurricane Matthew 140

Was supposed to be a joke about his weight. I'll be here all week
- Zschalberg

Hopefully the 11 o'clock show is different than the 1 o'clock show......

I agree saying they are worse is a stretch but they're banking on some serious growth from McCabe and Ristolainen if they want to be better because I doubt you see anything more from the other 4 guys. I will say its the reason we lost a lot of those games though. When the good offensive players got zone time they were able to create a decent amount of chances. The problem was as soon as that puck went back into our end it stayed there.

Adding Okposo and a healthy Ennis only helps if you can get him the puck in the offensive zone, if the problem with the team is that once its back in our own end it rarely gets out then there isn't much that Okposo can do for you.

As for the goals against being worse. The scenario in which this team gives up the amount of goals that would rank them closer to 30th than 16th is one where Bylsma really opens it up offensively. More goals for but as a result more goals against.
- Sabresfan-365

More goals should equal more wins based on last year.

I dunno. Was a notification from GR550 . Was all it said .
- cabin

Cutting Bush, i wonder who else they will cut for room for Karlos and Dareus. Then another cut week 7 for Lawson.

Less the amount his replacement takes up so its not really all that much. Plus I thought the idea was to get rid of him so they dont have to pay his salary. Sending him down may save them some cap space but they'd still have to pay him.
- Sabresfan-365

Oh, I know. I was just clarifying a bit what the amount is that they would "save" on his cap his by sending him down. That takes into account 0 other factors.

I agree saying they are worse is a stretch but they're banking on some serious growth from McCabe and Ristolainen if they want to be better because I doubt you see anything more from the other 4 guys. I will say its the reason we lost a lot of those games though. When the good offensive players got zone time they were able to create a decent amount of chances. The problem was as soon as that puck went back into our end it stayed there.

Adding Okposo and a healthy Ennis only helps if you can get him the puck in the offensive zone, if the problem with the team is that once its back in our own end it rarely gets out then there isn't much that Okposo can do for you.

As for the goals against being worse. The scenario in which this team gives up the amount of goals that would rank them closer to 30th than 16th is one where Bylsma really opens it up offensively. More goals for but as a result more goals against.
- Sabresfan-365

Agreed. I also think not playing Risto until he dies could help too. To do that, though, means you have to play that 3rd pairing more so we'll see how that goes. It could very well be our crux this year. I feel like we're in a wait and see pattern right now since it's hard right now to get that guy that we need. Don't want to give up a guy like Reinhart and don't have the blue-chip defenseman in the works.

For this season the offense should be better regardless if the defense improves or not. That should at least help us with our paltry goal scoring, but we will need to break up plays and get the puck out faster to really move ahead. At this point I think it's on Dan to make lemonade out of the lemons he has.

Cutting Bush, i wonder who else they will cut for room for Karlos and Dareus. Then another cut week 7 for Lawson.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Just saying, if the Bills can win the games they're supposed to win and go 5-2 it'll be a lot of buildup when the Pats come into Orchard Park looking to smack us around.

Cutting Bush, i wonder who else they will cut for room for Karlos and Dareus. Then another cut week 7 for Lawson.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Reggie Bush is my age. And he's washed the (frank) up. That is so sad.

I agree saying they are worse is a stretch but they're banking on some serious growth from McCabe and Ristolainen if they want to be better because I doubt you see anything more from the other 4 guys. I will say its the reason we lost a lot of those games though. When the good offensive players got zone time they were able to create a decent amount of chances. The problem was as soon as that puck went back into our end it stayed there.

Adding Okposo and a healthy Ennis only helps if you can get him the puck in the offensive zone, if the problem with the team is that once its back in our own end it rarely gets out then there isn't much that Okposo can do for you.

As for the goals against being worse. The scenario in which this team gives up the amount of goals that would rank them closer to 30th than 16th is one where Bylsma really opens it up offensively. More goals for but as a result more goals against.
- Sabresfan-365

they also finished with a shooting percentage of 8.2%, good for 27th in the league...only the nucks, canes and leafs had a worse percentage

Just saying, if the Bills can win the games they're supposed to win and go 5-2 it'll be a lot of buildup when the Pats come into Orchard Park looking to smack us around.
- Zschalberg

This week is gonna be a defensive battle. Could go either way. SF and MIA should be games we win.

Death toll from Hurricane Matthew 140
- cabin

I'm 20 miles from ocean and boarded my windows and glass door


nobody else in my neighborhood did it

I'm 20 miles from ocean and boarded my windows and glass door


nobody else in my neighborhood did it
- homiedclown

Good luck partner, stay safe.

Good luck partner, stay safe.
- RhinoFan

thanks

Hopefully the 11 o'clock show is different than the 1 o'clock show......
- dadeadhead

Bills apparently not signing Williams anymore, as per his wife on Twitter. She says the Bills cancelled the visit, it was only going to be a workout, and there was never talk of him being resigned yet.

Okay then.

Hopefully he learned a valuable lesson.
- dadeadhead

He must not have if he's going back to play with the Bills...

Bills apparently not signing Williams anymore, as per his wife on Twitter. She says the Bills cancelled the visit, it was only going to be a workout, and there was never talk of him being resigned yet.

Okay then.
- Zschalberg

Guess they didn't have to cancel their reservations at country buffet then.

I'm 20 miles from ocean and boarded my windows and glass door


nobody else in my neighborhood did it
- homiedclown

Wassup ditch diggers