Anaheim is in a very interesting spot with the upcoming expansion draft
They must protect Bieksa
Apparently, they now want to keep Fowler
One would assume that they want to keep Lindholm and Vatanen

So when it comes to the Girgensons chatter from last offseason...
he's getting a chance now to show what he can do
If he plays well,
does that make them reconsider moving one of their young guys with him as the main piece going back to them?

Maybe Theodore?
I actually like Manson A LOT
Tough Defensive defenseman
We really need a guy like that to pair with Risto or Bogo IMO

Now that's Fowler has taken the next step for them,
Do they consider moving a guy they wouldn't have before?
Especially since protecting 4 Dmen means they can only protect 4 forwards

Who could a package of Girgensons + Fasching get?
Fasching seems like their type of forward



From Dreger's 30 Thoughts column last week...

23. The poster boy for defencemen who have come a long way is Anaheim’s Cam Fowler. He’s gone from Captain Trade Rumour to an indispensable piece of the Duck machine. The only way he’s getting dealt now is if they think they can’t sign him before he hits free agency (after next season). Word is Fowler’s improvement is best seen at both blue lines. On the offensive end, he used to gain the zone and stop.


From the week before

7. Let’s do some game-related stuff. Ice time for Zemgus Girgensons' last seven games: 10:07, 9:08, 8:07, 8:39, 9:40, 7:23, 9:07. Buffalo is getting calls, but general manager Tim Murray is telling people the decreased usage doesn’t mean the Sabres will just give him away. I think Anaheim had some dialogue here last summer, but the asking price was one of the Ducks’ talented young defencemen — a cost they were unwilling to pay without some kind of sweetener.
- jdfitz77

Good. Not world beaters.

Lets go Boys!

Good. Not world beaters.

Lets go Boys!
- Der Kaiser

Tonight will be a good night for hockey

I had a thought after re-watching Jack's interview where he was all pissed off. His statement says it all: "Offense is sometimes the best defense." This is about the system..not the players.

Jack's ELC runs out end of next year? (i think)...

How long do we let Bylsma's poop show of a system go on before we run the risk of pissing Jack off so much he starts considering his other options??

Everybody is so quick to blame the D for the troubles of this team...but lets be realistic about this:

Risto - Elite, Top 5 D-man in the league (at 22 yrs old)
McCabe - Up and Coming...Top 4 D-man
Bogo - Not always the easiest to watch....but he's a Top 6 D-man
Georges - See Bogo
Franson - He's actually played fairly solid this year...Top 6 D-man

Falk and Fedun have also showed they can be serviceable Bottom Pairing/7th D; Guhle (top 4) will be here next year

SO is this an elite group? No. Are they so god awful we can blame them for the team struggling? Absolutely not.

ROR, Jack, Rhino, Okposo, Kane, Girgs..they should all be producing at a higher rate.

The problem with this team is that Bylsma's system is not right for the type of talent we have and he refuses to adapt.

I had a thought after re-watching Jack's interview where he was all pissed off. His statement says it all: "Offense is sometimes the best defense." This is about the system..not the players.

Jack's ELC runs out end of next year? (i think)...

How long do we let Bylsma's poop show of a system go on before we run the risk of pissing Jack off so much he starts considering his other options??

Everybody is so quick to blame the D for the troubles of this team...but lets be realistic about this:

Risto - Elite, Top 5 D-man in the league (at 22 yrs old)
McCabe - Up and Coming...Top 4 D-man
Bogo - Not always the easiest to watch....but he's a Top 6 D-man
Georges - See Bogo
Franson - He's actually played fairly solid this year...Top 6 D-man

Falk and Fedun have also showed they can be serviceable Bottom Pairing/7th D; Guhle (top 4) will be here next year

SO is this an elite group? No. Are they so god awful we can blame them for the team struggling? Absolutely not.

ROR, Jack, Rhino, Okposo, Kane, Girgs..they should all be producing at a higher rate.

The problem with this team is that Bylsma's system is not right for the type of talent we have and he refuses to adapt.
- feetontheair22

"Offense is the best defense." I have said that many times on here. Response was always. "team isn't built for the run and gun." We have enough offense that for good stretches in any game they can turn it up to 11 and take a lead . Seems Dan has them playing at 4-6 all game .

I had a thought after re-watching Jack's interview where he was all pissed off. His statement says it all: "Offense is sometimes the best defense." This is about the system..not the players.

Jack's ELC runs out end of next year? (i think)...

How long do we let Bylsma's poop show of a system go on before we run the risk of pissing Jack off so much he starts considering his other options??

Everybody is so quick to blame the D for the troubles of this team...but lets be realistic about this:

Risto - Elite, Top 5 D-man in the league (at 22 yrs old)
McCabe - Up and Coming...Top 4 D-man
Bogo - Not always the easiest to watch....but he's a Top 6 D-man
Georges - See Bogo
Franson - He's actually played fairly solid this year...Top 6 D-man

Falk and Fedun have also showed they can be serviceable Bottom Pairing/7th D; Guhle (top 4) will be here next year

SO is this an elite group? No. Are they so god awful we can blame them for the team struggling? Absolutely not.

ROR, Jack, Rhino, Okposo, Kane, Girgs..they should all be producing at a higher rate.

The problem with this team is that Bylsma's system is not right for the type of talent we have and he refuses to adapt.
- feetontheair22

Eichel isn't going anywhere. If it ever gets down to a "him or me" scenario with Eichel, Bylsma will be shown the door.

Ristolainen is not a top 5 defenseman in this league. He's very good, and will get better, but saying he's top 5 is blatant homerism.

I want to see them play more run and gun style, but this won't all of a sudden make them a playoff team. When/if this happens, this defense will be exposed. The Rangers game will not be the norm. They laid down severely, and it was a common theme among the players, coaches, and even management after that game. One only needed to listen to the interview leading up to their game last night before they dismantled Philadelphia to see that.

Bylsma's "system" is in place in large part to protect this defense corps. I, like many, say "who cares" at this point, and want them to just let it ride. It won't make them much better in the standings. It will just make them much less boring. That's the problem with Bylsma's system. It's not that he's holding the team back. He's just making the team a chore to watch on most nights.

Eichel isn't going anywhere. If it ever gets down to a "him or me" scenario with Eichel, Bylsma will be shown the door.

Ristolainen is not a top 5 defenseman in this league. He's very good, and will get better, but saying he's top 5 is blatant homerism.

I want to see them play more run and gun style, but this won't all of a sudden make them a playoff team. When/if this happens, this defense will be exposed. The Rangers game will not be the norm. They laid down severely, and it was a common theme among the players, coaches, and even management after that game. One only needed to listen to the interview leading up to their game last night before they dismantled Philadelphia to see that.

Bylsma's "system" is in place in large part to protect this defense corps. I, like many, say "who cares" at this point, and want them to just let it ride. It won't make them much better in the standings. It will just make them much less boring. That's the problem with Bylsma's system. It's not that he's holding the team back. He's just making the team a chore to watch on most nights.
- buffalofan19

Bylsma is holding him back from being #1

Eichel isn't going anywhere. If it ever gets down to a "him or me" scenario with Eichel, Bylsma will be shown the door.

Ristolainen is not a top 5 defenseman in this league. He's very good, and will get better, but saying he's top 5 is blatant homerism.

I want to see them play more run and gun style, but this won't all of a sudden make them a playoff team. When/if this happens, this defense will be exposed. The Rangers game will not be the norm. They laid down severely, and it was a common theme among the players, coaches, and even management after that game. One only needed to listen to the interview leading up to their game last night before they dismantled Philadelphia to see that.

Bylsma's "system" is in place in large part to protect this defense corps. I, like many, say "who cares" at this point, and want them to just let it ride. It won't make them much better in the standings. It will just make them much less boring. That's the problem with Bylsma's system. It's not that he's holding the team back. He's just making the team a chore to watch on most nights.
- buffalofan19

Shows in our position in the standings too.

Bylsma is holding him back from being #1
- sbroads24

He's also preventing me from watching the Sabres game tonight...by causing me to watch the World Juniors instead.

He's also preventing me from watching the Sabres game tonight...by causing me to watch the World Juniors instead.
- buffalofan19

If the Sabres were great, I'd still watch WJ tonight

If the Sabres were great, I'd still watch WJ tonight
- sbroads24

I don't know about this game. Canada looked superb last night, especially after they changed goaltenders. Plus, it's really hard to beat a team twice in a tournament like this. They did just beat Russia again (barely), though.

Bylsma logic:

"Zemgus had his best game of the year?..."

"Better send him down to the 4th Line "

EDIT: Hahaha its Girgs' birthday today...his present...play on the 4th line!

Bylsma logic:

"Zemgus had his best game of the year?..."

"Better send him down to the 3rd Line "
- feetontheair22

Girgensons is a third line player. He's not a top 6 forward and never will be.

Girgensons is a third line player. He's not a top 6 forward and never will be.
- buffalofan19

Lol I agree...he should be our 3rd line Center going forward.

I don't know about this game. Canada looked superb last night, especially after they changed goaltenders. Plus, it's really hard to beat a team twice in a tournament like this. They did just beat Russia again (barely), though.
- buffalofan19

I think Canada probably wins.

They are slightly better at forward, and have a little more depth.

The US team is pretty decent though.

For all the "Canada could have McDavid" talk, the US could have Matthews, Werenski, and Tkachuk all playing

piss off

piss off
- homiedclown

Lehner says hi.

piss off
- homiedclown

Bylsma has 300 wins

so when ror comes back, does the skunk anchor the 3rd line, or move back to wing

if a winger, who is his center



I need answers

Lehner says hi.
- cabin

Lehner>Miller

Mike Harrington Verified account 
‏@ByMHarrington
But they're gonna justify the Lehner trade all season. As for goal support, LEHNER has more (2.20 per 60 mins). Nilsson at 2.10/60 (2/3)

Bylsma has 300 wins
- SABRES 89

On April 4, 2014, Dan Bylsma became the fastest NHL coach to reach 250 wins

of course he was probably the 3rd slowest to get to 300

Mike Harrington Verified account 
‏@ByMHarrington
But they're gonna justify the Lehner trade all season. As for goal support, LEHNER has more (2.20 per 60 mins). Nilsson at 2.10/60 (2/3)
- sbroads24

someone needs to tell harrington that for goalies that played 20 or more games this year, lehner is 7th in save %

I think Canada probably wins.

They are slightly better at forward, and have a little more depth.

The US team is pretty decent though.

For all the "Canada could have McDavid" talk, the US could have Matthews, Werenski, and Tkachuk all playing
- sbroads24

I thought I read somewhere that Hanifin was still eligible as well.