Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY Joined: 10.24.2006
Dec 28 @ 7:45 AM ET
Rex told them if your gonna fire me at the end of the season , might as well do it now . No use in holding it off. - cabin
He must have really, really, really not wanted to face the NY media. I don't blame him. He had the sad puppy dogs in front of our media this week - they would have eaten him alive.
Location: We need a You're an Ass button, NY Joined: 09.07.2006
Dec 28 @ 7:48 AM ET
He must have really, really, really not wanted to face the NY media. I don't blame him. He had the sad puppy dogs in front of our media this week - they would have eaten him alive. - Slump Buster
I did see him and his bro commercial last night during the game .
Party with the extended family last night, but just caught replay of the Eichel goal on the Red Wings feed. This is the analysts call, verbatim, stepping all over the play-by-play guy:
Location: "___________ stinks."-Sabres89, NY Joined: 07.26.2008
Dec 28 @ 8:36 AM ET
I'm sure Disco Dunce lectured him about being out of position if the shot had failed...way behind the transition play, lol. - IonSabres
God I hope not. I get that they need to play responsibly defensively most of the time, but you have to let your high skill guys use that skill otherwise it's a waste.
Can't tell you how many times I've seen Pat Kane make a play exactly like that one. Highly doubt Coach Q is telling him not to do that.
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY Joined: 10.24.2006
Dec 28 @ 8:59 AM ET
I don't know if this was talked about last night but I was really impressed by Mantha. I know that he was originally linked to us in return for Myers - it should be interesting to see how that plays out over the years.
Location: Tampa doesn't suck, FL Joined: 02.01.2011
Dec 28 @ 8:59 AM ET
God I hope not. I get that they need to play responsibly defensively most of the time, but you have to let your high skill guys use that skill otherwise it's a waste.
Can't tell you how many times I've seen Pat Kane make a play exactly like that one. Highly doubt Coach Q is telling him not to do that. - HonkFortheGoose
Im have a feeling girgs gets yelled at on a daily basis for playing the way that got him to the NHL
Location: "___________ stinks."-Sabres89, NY Joined: 07.26.2008
Dec 28 @ 9:08 AM ET
Im have a feeling girgs gets yelled at on a daily basis for playing the way that got him to the NHL - feetontheair22
I don't have a feeling. I know he got yelled at a lot for it last year. He's broken right now. It's a damn shame too because he was fun to watch.
Having a system in place in important, but there's more than 1 out there and whatever one Bylsma runs doesn't seem to really be working all that well, IMO. Yes, some players have picked up their game, but I don't know that the system has anything to do with it. I think it's more that they just finally figured out how to put it all together on a nightly basis (Foligno and Larsson are the two that come to mind).
Location: "___________ stinks."-Sabres89, NY Joined: 07.26.2008
Dec 28 @ 9:12 AM ET
Hardest working player on most nights yet people want him gone. Doesn't make sense! - soljor09
My issue with him is that a lot of the time he just doesn't use his head. He's always been a hard working player, but he doesn't always do it in the right way. He's not the smartest guy, that's for sure.
During that losing streak before Christmas he kept taking stupid penalties. Which is an issue when 1. You're one of the guys usually out there on the PK and 2. the PK is struggling BIG TIME.
But trading him isn't really the best option right now either. We can't afford to lose any speed from the team, as we aren't exactly the swiftest of foot right now to begin with. Though they do have Baptiste and Bailey in Rochester that both can fly as well.
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Dec 28 @ 9:16 AM ET
My issue with him is that a lot of the time he just doesn't use his head. He's always been a hard working player, but he doesn't always do it in the right way. He's not the smartest guy, that's for sure.
During that losing streak before Christmas he kept taking stupid penalties. Which is an issue when 1. You're one of the guys usually out there on the PK and 2. the PK is struggling BIG TIME.
But trading him isn't really the best option right now either. We can't afford to lose any speed from the team, as we aren't exactly the swiftest of foot right now to begin with. Though they do have Baptiste and Bailey in Rochester that both can fly as well. - HonkFortheGoose
He seems to have found his place. He plays much better when he's not on the top 6, and the top 6 plays much better when he's not on it. It's like Derek Roy 2.0, only he seems to have embraced the role...for now, at least. The problem in the future will be the fact that the $5.25 million price tag will be quite steep for a 3rd liner. If he keeps playing like this, he's going to demand even more. Trading him next season might be an inevitability.
Location: "___________ stinks."-Sabres89, NY Joined: 07.26.2008
Dec 28 @ 9:20 AM ET
He seems to have found his place. He plays much better when he's not on the top 6, and the top 6 plays much better when he's not on it. It's like Derek Roy 2.0, only he seems to have embraced the role...for now, at least. The problem in the future will be the fact that the $5.25 million price tag will be quite steep for a 3rd liner. If he keeps playing like this, he's going to demand even more. Trading him next season might be an inevitability. - buffalofan19
I guess it's not that bad if you think of it in different terms. It's just spreading the talent out through the lineup. I was not a fan of them trying to get him and Jack to work well together. It just doesn't seem to be a good thing for either player.
Wasn't Phil Kessel on the Pens 3rd line last year technically?
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Dec 28 @ 9:23 AM ET
I guess it's not that bad if you think of it in different terms. It's just spreading the talent out through the lineup. I was not a fan of them trying to get him and Jack to work well together. It just doesn't seem to be a good thing for either player.
Wasn't Phil Kessel on the Pens 3rd line last year technically? - HonkFortheGoose
He was, and it got them a cup. I still think they will end up moving him or buying him out well before his contract is done (he's signed for five more seasons after this one), but when he helped you get a championship, it's a much easier pill to swallow. The Sabres don't have that luxury.
Location: "___________ stinks."-Sabres89, NY Joined: 07.26.2008
Dec 28 @ 9:27 AM ET
He was, and it got them a cup. I still think they will end up moving him or buying him out well before his contract is done (he's signed for five more seasons after this one), but when he helped you get a championship, it's a much easier pill to swallow. The Sabres don't have that luxury. - buffalofan19
But you're looking at it backwards. Everything is crystal clear in hindsight. My point is that you can make it work. I think the idea of having your most expensive guys exclusively in your top six is a bit archaic. Times have changed. In a lot of cases, those guys that are in the top 6 have started being taken over by the young kids (like Eichel, McDavid, Matthews, etc). That forces teams to move a "more expensive" player into a different spot on a lesser line. Doesn't mean they can't be as effective there. Just spreads the talent out throughout the lineup more.
He was, and it got them a cup. I still think they will end up moving him or buying him out well before his contract is done (he's signed for five more seasons after this one), but when he helped you get a championship, it's a much easier pill to swallow. The Sabres don't have that luxury. - buffalofan19
