Michael Pachla: Jack's back? A very good possiblilty at Ottawa tonight

Firstsies! Time to reed.

Good reed.

Jack is back, everything is as it should be. Think I might break out the Sinatra Select tonight.

Yaay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good reed.

Jack is back, everything is as it should be. Think I might break out the Sinatra Select tonight.
- RhinoFan

I feel a bit better

I feel a bit better
- Michael Pachla

There are still issues facing the club, however, and a lot of it stems from the back end.

This is true for me, too.

There are still issues facing the club, however, and a lot of it stems from the back end.

This is true for me, too.
- Der Kaiser

SB and I pointed this out all summer and got hit with the "16th best GA" thing. There's just not enough talent there even when healthy.

There are still issues facing the club, however, and a lot of it stems from the back end.

This is true for me, too.
- Der Kaiser

SB and I pointed this out all summer and got hit with the "16th best GA" thing. There's just not enough talent there even when healthy.
- Sabresfan-365

- Michael Pachla

Thank you. I feel a bit better, too.

Maybe Zemgus just doesn't have the talent at the NHL level. A player with talent but in a slump would still be noticeable in their efforts to produce points. Zemgus is like the guy a team accepts because they're short bodies for a full roster. You know, he the guy that you tell hey, just go out there and stand there so the rest of us don't have to forfeit.

Maybe Zemgus just doesn't have the talent at the NHL level. A player with talent but in a slump would still be noticeable in their efforts to produce points. Zemgus is like the guy a team accepts because they're short bodies for a full roster. You know, he the guy that you tell hey, just go out there and stand there so the rest of us don't have to forfeit.
- sskkoo1

He doesn't even do this very well. He falls a hell of a lot.

- Der Kaiser

I thought it might be but i didnt want to risk sounding like an ass in case it wasn't

SB and I pointed this out all summer and got hit with the "16th best GA" thing. There's just not enough talent there even when healthy.
- Sabresfan-365

not enough talent for what?

not enough talent for what?
- Michael Pachla

Blueline

Maybe Zemgus just doesn't have the talent at the NHL level. A player with talent but in a slump would still be noticeable in their efforts to produce points. Zemgus is like the guy a team accepts because they're short bodies for a full roster. You know, he the guy that you tell hey, just go out there and stand there so the rest of us don't have to forfeit.
- sskkoo1

that's cold...he did manage 15 goals in an injury-shortened season including three shorties

Blueline
- Sabresfan-365

kinda figured that, but for what offense or defense?

kinda figured that, but for what offense or defense?
- Michael Pachla

my bad


Honestly both. They dont have the offensive talent to "move the needle" as they say and they dont have the shut down ability from certain players to really allow for any offensive risk taking. But if i had to pick one i guess id take a faulk type.

my bad


Honestly both. They dont have the offensive talent to "move the needle" as they say and they dont have the shut down ability from certain players to really allow for any offensive risk taking. But if i had to pick one i guess id take a faulk type.
- Sabresfan-365

I get it...they're not the greatest but here's how I look at it...as of right now they have risto, four top-four in Kulikov, bogo, gorges and McCabe plus a bottom-pairing in Franson...and they can all move the puck well save for probably gorges

kinda figured that, but for what offense or defense?
- Michael Pachla

We're 8th in GA/GP this year.

Yes, it's the focus of the style of play, and yes we have sacrificed scoring, but I don't think anyone can fairly blame the defensive aspect of the blueline for where the team stands right now.

Where the blame properly lays is the offensive aspect of the blue-line. We can't clear the d-zone crisply. Kane needs to do a better job carrying the puck out, as he has in the past, and somebody besides Risto needs to find a way to hit the forwards on the tape as we exit the zone.

that's cold...he did manage 15 goals in an injury-shortened season including three shorties
- Michael Pachla

Maybe I'm being harsh, but I don't by it's Bylsma's system. I'm no fan of this coach, but he's been here for 1 and 1/4 seasons, and Girgs can't find any success ever? How much longer does he need to find his way? I hope he finds success with someone else because it's obvious it won't be with us. I just don't know how much longer this failed experiment will go on for and that's getting annoying.

I get it...they're not the greatest but here's how I look at it...as of right now they have risto, four top-four in Kulikov, bogo, gorges and McCabe plus a bottom-pairing in Franson...and they can all move the puck well save for probably gorges
- Michael Pachla

Except they aren't right now.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but I don't by it's Bylsma's system. I'm no fan of this coach, but he's been here for 1 and 1/4 seasons, and Girgs can't find any success ever? How much longer does he need to find his way? I hope he finds success with someone else because it's obvious it won't be with us. I just don't know how much longer this failed experiment will go on for and that's getting annoying.
- sskkoo1

under Bylsma:

Larsson--13 goals, 11 assists
gus--eight goals, 14 assists

We're 8th in GA/GP this year.

Yes, it's the focus of the style of play, and yes we have sacrificed scoring, but I don't think anyone can fairly blame the defensive aspect of the blueline for where the team stands right now.

Where the blame properly lays is the offensive aspect of the blue-line. We can't clear the d-zone crisply. Kane needs to do a better job carrying the puck out, as he has in the past, and somebody besides Risto needs to find a way to hit the forwards on the tape as we exit the zone.
- Der Kaiser

am of the opinion that the ice will be opened up just a bit more with a full compliment of forwards which includes Eichel, o'reilly, and kane...that will help a lot

under Bylsma:

Larsson--13 goals, 11 assists
gus--eight goals, 14 assists
- Michael Pachla

Larsson is noticeable and a contributing player on every shift. Girgensons is not.