My exact words were i dont personally believe this to be 100% true. I happen to think the forward group is pretty good. Not the part where foligno cant keep up but the rest of it is pretty good. And i would love nothing more than to play north hockey even if it did result in those losses. Play to the teams strength and watch those players grow better because of it like babcock did in toronto.

The original post i responded to was about not being able to get the players motivated or playing hard right away. I dont believe this team has this problem, I just think this is what bylsma is trying to do in an effort to minimize damage. is it right? I dont believe so but i think hes just buying time till he has a full team to work with.


Edit: I had no expectations for this team, bylsma set some pretty lofty ones which explains why hes so damn risk averse right now
- Sabresfan-365

You "don't believe this to be 100% true"? That phrasing is the very essence of damnation by faint praise.

You "don't believe this to be 100% true"? That phrasing is the very essence of damnation by faint praise.
- Der Kaiser

you can choose to interpret it that way but thats not what my intention was.


I understand that this team has glaring puck possession weakness on its blueline. And perhaps that explains why when they're in their own zone bylsma gets them to collapse rather than chase. They're big guys, goal prevention by forcing them to the outside and take shots in high quantity may be better with this current group then having them go 1 on 1 and try to strip the puck from someone.

I understand that but I don't agree with it because a) its boring and b) its not the way the players who are actually part of the future of this team should be learning.


I would much rather they have a losing record but play a run and gun type game. That way when the team is built to actually handle such a style, you don't have to spend tim dealing with a learning curve because the young players have already bought in and learned that system.

you can choose to interpret it that way but thats not what my intention was.


I understand that this team has glaring puck possession weakness on its blueline. And perhaps that explains why when they're in their own zone bylsma gets them to collapse rather than chase. They're big guys, goal prevention by forcing them to the outside and take shots in high quantity may be better with this current group then having them go 1 on 1 and try to strip the puck from someone.

I understand that but I don't agree with it because a) its boring and b) its not the way the players who are actually part of the future of this team should be learning.


I would much rather they have a losing record but play a run and gun type game. That way when the team is built to actually handle such a style, you don't have to spend tim dealing with a learning curve because the young players have already bought in and learned that system.
- Sabresfan-365

OK

OK
- Der Kaiser

Here is the thing you are missing: you're so hung up on how "awful" the defenSe is and how inadequate the goaltending might be that you disregard how strong the offense is.

The teams record since Eichel got healthy (and especially since Ennis got healthy and Derek (frank)ing Grant got sent away) reveals that when the Sabres "open it up" - or play NORTH HOCKEY - they don't lose 6-3 or 7-4. They win 5 -4 or 4-3. And that is certainly better than 2-1 or 3-2 losses.

Either the defense isn't as bad as you think, or the offense is in fact good enough to cover for them.
- Der Kaiser

They won 3 games in OT, games they barely if ever led. They were just as close to losing all 3. What would we be saying then?

They won 3 games in OT, games they barely if ever led. They were just as close to losing all 3. What would we be saying then?
- sbroads24

they never led those 3 games

as brutal as the stars d is, they owned the sabres in stats for the first 39 minutes


good teams jump on the chance to create quality shots vs a crappy d

the sabres and their coaching staff chose to play conservative

They won 3 games in OT, games they barely if ever led. They were just as close to losing all 3. What would we be saying then?
- sbroads24

We would be saying the same thing we have said all year - the team plays close games with just about everybody in the league, but needs to find something that results in a win rather than a loss.

Since Eichel returned from his injury, the team is 13-10-4. Playing conservatively with him in the lineup, the team went 5-5-3. Since he had that outburst after the second Boston game, and they turned more toward North Hockey, they're 7-4-1.

In a conference with as much parity as the Eastern Conference shows, we have to find the little things that result in a win. Maybe one of the little things we could do is to play to our strength instead of our weakness.

In a conference with as much parity as the Eastern Conference shows, we have to find the little things that result in a win. Maybe one of the little things we could do is to play to our strength instead of our weakness.
- Der Kaiser

that's coaching

that's coaching
- homiedclown

100% agreed. Bigly.

Dom rocking the Sabres phone case is pretty cool to see


- chilliard77

And the greatest of all time in the pic. Very cool.

Looking at the top 100 NHL list I'm surprised Dale Hawerchuk didn't make it. And I thought one of Housley, Mogilny or Andreychuk would have made it. I count 5 Sabres- Bert, LaFontaine, Hasek, Fuhr and Horton. Not bad.

And the greatest of all time in the pic. Very cool.
- mhp

you could make the case that the greatest goalie ever is in that picture with the greatest player ever

you could make the case that the greatest goalie ever is in that picture with the greatest player ever
- homiedclown

Absolutely. In my view I give Hasek the nudge over Roy and Brodeur.

edit- what a horrible trade that was by Chicago. On August 7, 1992 the Hawks trade Hasek to Buffalo for Stephane Beauregard and a 1993 4th rd pick (Eric Daze).

Looking at the top 100 NHL list I'm surprised Dale Hawerchuk didn't make it. And I thought one of Housley, Mogilny or Andreychuk would have made it. I count 5 Sabres- Bert, LaFontaine, Hasek, Fuhr and Horton. Not bad.
- mhp

mogilny
hawerchuk
andreychuk
housley

hell clark gillies

they should have been close to that 100 mark

you could make the case that the greatest goalie ever is in that picture with the greatest player ever
- homiedclown

Wait....so they didn't rank them?? They just said "Oh these 100 players are good"???

WTF is the point of that?

EDIT: No poop they are good NHL...did you really need to create all this hype just to tell us that

Absolutely. In my view I give Hasek the nudge over Roy and Brodeur.
- mhp

I am always torn with those 3

Tretiak, Dryden Plante and Sawchuk


I question if I am open minded when taking Hasek as the best

mogilny
hawerchuk
andreychuk
housley

hell clark gillies

they should have been close to that 100 mark
- homiedclown

And don't forget Rico. 701 points in 685 games and 2 50 goal seasons over 11 years. I know they wanted some old guys but I think we got screwed a little. And don't forget the Sabres had some great teams in the 70's and 80's.

I am always torn with those 3

Tretiak, Dryden Plante and Sawchuk


I question if I am open minded when taking Hasek as the best
- homiedclown

You could easily make a case for Dryden. Maybe we're homers a bit on this one but Hasek played the crease like no other. I made an edit to my post about the Hasek trade.

Absolutely. In my view I give Hasek the nudge over Roy and Brodeur.

edit- what a horrible trade that was by Chicago. On August 7, 1992 the Hawks trade Hasek to Buffalo for Stephane Beauregard and a 1993 4th rd pick (Eric Daze).
- mhp

Meehan had to redeem himself for trading Andreychuck and Puppa to the leafs for Fuhr

You could easily make a case for Dryden. Maybe we're homers a bit on this one but Hasek played the crease like no other. I made an edit to my post about the Hasek trade.
- mhp

I remember as a kid hearing how great Tretiak was

all the hype



then I saw Hasek in the 98 olympics, pretty sure similar hype

you could make the case that the greatest goalie ever is in that picture with the greatest player ever
- homiedclown

I agree that Hasek is the best Goalie.
I find it very difficult to put Orr ahead of Gretzky though....
Gretzky
Orr , Mario
Howe, Messier

I'm ignoring most of the pre-70's guys.
If I'm starting a team, I'm starting with Messier...then adding Bossy and Ovechkin.
I know I'm missing out on the other 4 on that list...but I would then take Park to offset the loss of Orr, and I'm not looking back.

Meehan had to redeem himself for trading Andreychuck and Puppa to the leafs for Fuhr
- homiedclown

Agreed.

And I'd have to find a spot for Cam Neely on my team as well...guy had magic hands in front of the net.

Imma going to have to look at the list and compose my favorite team of 23 using 13-8-2 roster.

that's coaching
- homiedclown

And this is on GMTM. But no changes are coming.

I agree that Hasek is the best Goalie.
I find it very difficult to put Orr ahead of Gretzky though....
Gretzky
Orr , Mario
Howe, Messier

I'm ignoring most of the pre-70's guys.
If I'm starting a team, I'm starting with Messier...then adding Bossy and Ovechkin.
I know I'm missing out on the other 4 on that list...but I would then take Park to offset the loss of Orr, and I'm not looking back.
- IonSabres

who is the second best d man

potvin
robinson
bourque
lidstrom
stevens
pronger
neids
harvey
leetch
coffey
chelios
shore