That's a stupidly small sample size
Even Crosby has slumps!

So yeah...
expecting that O'Reilly won't have them is unrealistic
- jdfitz77

Those 18 games count for us in the standings.

At what point does it actually matter what players do or do not do for this team?

As a whole, O'Reilly is really good, but when he has big goal slumps people are going to notice. That's what comes with expectations. Especially when you are a high priced player.

Those 18 games count for us in the standings.

At what point does it actually matter what players do or do not do for this team?

As a whole, O'Reilly is really good, but when he has big goal slumps people are going to notice. That's what comes with expectations. Especially when you are a high priced player.
- sbroads24

Everything u just said is true
But if the best player in the league has slumps,
You can't expect that O'Reilly won't as well

All the good players slump at times
The earlier list I provided shows that even more

A more appropriate line of discussion from you should be...
When ROR or Jack or Sam do slump,
Do we have enough from other players that we can still win games?

Since Jack came back...
We are top10 in scoring
And that includes O'Reilly's 2 goals in 18, correct?

Offense is not our problem imo
And ROR and Reinhart are certainly not part of the problem

What really upsets me is seeing teams that are in the top-8 in their conference fire their coach because it's just not good enough.

Then seeing a team in last place fire their coach and go on a tear and sit 3 points out of 8th place only a week (well with the all-star break, two) later.

And I'm a Buffalo Sabres fan who's only consolation is my other team, Columbus, is actually great this year, which isn't normal for them.
- BeadyEyedDouche

It seems like Murray is a man who doesn't like to admit to mistakes. He needs to by this summer or this rebuild will be kaput.

It seems like Murray is a man who doesn't like to admit to mistakes. He needs to by this summer or this rebuild will be kaput.
- sskkoo1

He needed to admit to it before 2017 happened, I highly doubt this summer will be any different.

Buffalo Oilers.

Those 18 games count for us in the standings.

At what point does it actually matter what players do or do not do for this team?

As a whole, O'Reilly is really good, but when he has big goal slumps people are going to notice. That's what comes with expectations. Especially when you are a high priced player.
- sbroads24

Anyone who says 18 games isn't a good sample size needs to realize ROR scored like 4 goals in the last 30 games of the season last year. It's not just an 18 game sample size.

Everything u just said is true
But if the best player in the league has slumps,
You can't expect that O'Reilly won't as well

All the good players slump at times
The earlier list I provided shows that even more

A more appropriate line of discussion from you should be...
When ROR or Jack or Sam do slump,
Do we have enough from other players that we can still win games?

Since Jack came back...
We are top10 in scoring
And that includes O'Reilly's 2 goals in 18, correct?

Offense is not our problem imo
And ROR and Reinhart are certainly not part of the problem
- jdfitz77

I don't expect he won't. But his goal slumps are bigger than most. He went 24 with 0 last year.

It's worth noting, that's all. I don't dislike him, and I think he's really good

Everything u just said is true
But if the best player in the league has slumps,
You can't expect that O'Reilly won't as well

All the good players slump at times
The earlier list I provided shows that even more

A more appropriate line of discussion from you should be...
When ROR or Jack or Sam do slump,
Do we have enough from other players that we can still win games?

Since Jack came back...
We are top10 in scoring
And that includes O'Reilly's 2 goals in 18, correct?

Offense is not our problem imo
And ROR and Reinhart are certainly not part of the problem
- jdfitz77

I slightly disagree here. This team could use a bit of everything.
Obviously defense first, but we still need one more high power top 6 forward. Hopefully we get a high draft pick aka 1 or 2.

Anyone who says 18 games isn't a good sample size needs to realize ROR scored like 4 goals in the last 30 games of the season last year. It's not just an 18 game sample size.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I did the math a few weeks ago, he had like 10 in his last 60 or something, and it's about 13 in his last 70 something now

I did the math a few weeks ago, he had like 10 in his last 60 or something, and it's about 13 in his last 70 something now
- sbroads24

He so far has been a gigantic disappointment, IMO. And 90% of that is that albatross contract.

He so far has been a gigantic disappointment, IMO. And 90% of that is that albatross contract.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I disagree completely on this.
He has scored at the same rate as Toews the last three years.
Yea he can be better but gigantic disappointment is way off, IMO.

I disagree completely on this.
He has scored at the same rate as Toews the last three years.
Yea he can be better but gigantic disappointment is way off, IMO.
- ImThatGuy

You can disagree all you want, that's the wonderful thing about opinions.

7.5 for good faceoff win % is pretty much it.

I disagree completely on this.
He has scored at the same rate as Toews the last three years.
Yea he can be better but gigantic disappointment is way off, IMO.
- ImThatGuy

Regardless. The guy did nothing to deserve 7.5 a year. GMTM just backed the truck right up.

Then so did ROR.

I did the math a few weeks ago, he had like 10 in his last 60 or something, and it's about 13 in his last 70 something now
- sbroads24

He's on a 60 point pace this year.

He had 60 points last year.

His best season prior to that? 64 points.

Basically he's exactly the same guy he's always been.

He's on a 60 point pace this year.

He had 60 points last year.

His best season prior to that? 64 points.

Basically he's exactly the same guy he's always been.
- BINGO!

add in reely gud at faceoffs

is that worth 7.5 million a year?

Regardless. The guy did nothing to deserve 7.5 a year. GMTM just backed the truck right up.

Then so did ROR.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Strongly disagree on that.

He was getting $7M per on a long term deal and from more than one team if the opportunity was there for teams.

What you are saying is an overreaction.

add in reely gud at faceoffs

is that worth 7.5 million a year?
- BeadyEyedDouche

It might be a million high.... Maybe.

I would almost prefer to read you nerds debate stupid comic book movies.

Almost.

What I would really prefer is brown and liquid, and says "Hello Old Friend."

Strongly disagree on that.

He was getting $7M per on a long term deal and from more than one team if the opportunity was there for teams.

What you are saying is an overreaction.
- kingcong39

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

He's on a 60 point pace this year.

He had 60 points last year.

His best season prior to that? 64 points.

Basically he's exactly the same guy he's always been.
- BINGO!

He also was playing the minutes of a number 1 defensemen some nights.

When Eichel got into his groove after 25-30 games or so, O'Reilly's production dipped.

He is what he is, I agree. Which is a solid player

add in reely gud at faceoffs

is that worth 7.5 million a year?
- BeadyEyedDouche

So would u rather trade him now then?

Or do u wish we had Grigorenko, Compher & Zadorov back instead of him?

Ristolainen seems to enjoy putting up 1/3 of his points during one week every season.

14 points during a 10 game stretch. 14 points over the other 39 games.
- CaptainRivet

All but the best hockey players, who score all the time, are streaky. Very rarely will you see a guy that scores 20 goals score every fourth game. They'll have a good week and score 5, then nothing for 8 games and they'll put 2 in that week and then another 2 weeks with nothing and then put another 4 in, and then they'll alternate games with goals for another 2 weeks for 4 more goals. It's just kind of how it is for most of the players in the league.

add in reely gud at faceoffs

is that worth 7.5 million a year?
- BeadyEyedDouche

Yes, not the faceoff thing, but that is really nice. He's worth it for his play, he might not be potting goals at the moment, but he was streaky last year too, he's a bunch goal scorer. He has a healthy number of assists, 20, and he's a very good defensive player-something we can all agree is sorely lacking on this team- and he's one of only 4 plus players on the team. Bago is -13.

All but the best hockey players, who score all the time, are streaky. Very rarely will you see a guy that scores 20 goals score every fourth game. They'll have a good week and score 5, then nothing for 8 games and they'll put 2 in that week and then another 2 weeks with nothing and then put another 4 in, and then they'll alternate games with goals for another 2 weeks for 4 more goals. It's just kind of how it is for most of the players in the league.
- Wetbandit1

Eh, I think he's just not very good 5 on 5, and Eichel has been vulturing some of his PP shot attempts, so his numbers have fallen off a cliff.

I'm more concerned about him developing defensively. He needs to be better at not allowing easy zone entries and getting the puck out when he's in his zone.

Eh, I think he's just not very good 5 on 5, and Eichel has been vulturing some of his PP shot attempts, so his numbers have fallen off a cliff.

I'm more concerned about him developing defensively. He needs to be better at not allowing easy zone entries and getting the puck out when he's in his zone.
- sbroads24

I'm not "concerned" I see a lot of growth from last year. He still has a way to go, but he's definitely better with his positioning on defending the rush. His gap control is miles ahead of where it was last year. It's progress. A lot of young defensemen have trouble with, you know, defense. And I know this is his 4th year, but he's still really young. When you talk about the best defensemen they're all in their late 20's and older.

Well, I'm off to scrape the tint off my windows.