I thought we went over this, clown.

Player x has grit, jam and sandpaper.

Player y has glue and truculence.

(frank) player z, he has a bad corsi.
- TheSabresTaco

... And 2 of those 3 (pick them) have "silky mitts"!

I agree with you
But engaging them in conversation about it & letting yourself get all riled up doesn't make sense
Just seems dumb to me...
Unless u really just like arguing
- jdfitz77

Oh, I don't argue with them, nor do I get riled up. I just simply state the fact the Eichel is producing more than Auston and then I leave knowing that I got under their skin and left them stewing. It's like when the guys here start talking politics, nobody wins, everyone ends up irritated, so I just don't get involved and I so much happier for that.

Oh, I don't argue with them, nor do I get riled up. I just simply state the fact the Eichel is producing more than Auston and then I leave knowing that I got under their skin and left them stewing. It's like when the guys here start talking politics, nobody wins, everyone ends up irritated, so I just don't get involved and I so much happier for that.
- sskkoo1

Yeah... it's really just pointless

he's also been playing with Kulikov for the most part. Hard to judge either when both have been pretty bad. Could be they don't mesh well. Could be injuries that both have had to deal with. Could just be they both suck.

In any event, it's killing the rest of the team.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yep 110% correct, although BOGO hasn't played exclusively with kulikov. Needless to say, if they would have performed anywhere near expectations this would be a playoff team. Risto has been very good, for the most part, as has McCabe. Franson has been much better than last year. Our coach overplays the veterans, even when they suck. If for the whole year we would have had risto #1, McCabe #2, and guhle, gorges, franson, feduk and faulk our #3-#7 I think we'd have 8-10 more points.

What if we had just never made the McNabb or Pysyk trade?
McCabe-Ristolainen
McNabb-Pysyk
Bogosian/Franson/Gorges

I never understood why Murray never really gave McNabb or Pysyk a shot with the Sabres?
He obviously didn't like part of their games for some reason,
But I just don't get it
- jdfitz77

I don't have as much faith in mcnabb as you do

I assume this is part of the rumblings about the players not understanding/not liking the system. Zone coverage vs. man-to-man. Over thinking things in the defensive zone and guys not knowing if they should press
- jcragcrumple

Yeah, we don't know who the players are supposed to have in certain situations. Sometimes coaches/goalies want you to take away the pass on a 2 on 1, sometimes they want you to take away the shot. Either way they're (frank)ing up, but we just can't be sure exactly why.

- 22sabresQ

gold, jerry, gold...

should be posted in every thread

I don't have as much faith in mcnabb as you do
- Michael Pachla

I'd prefer him as a 3rd pair guy, Pysyk too
They'd be a better 2nd pair than we've had all year though
If we did still have them,
I'd be wanting to get rid of Gorges & Bogo,
and bring in 2 guys that can play in the top4

I'd prefer him as a 3rd pair guy, Pysyk too
They'd be a better 2nd pair than we've had all year though
If we did still have them,
I'd be wanting to get rid of Gorges & Bogo,
and bring in 2 guys that can play in the top4
- jdfitz77

i'm down with that...

what's funny is that the defense looked better last season with
risto gorges
bogo McCabe
mike weber and one of pysyk, colaiacovo, or ruhwedel

what he hell happened?

i'm down with that...

what's funny is that the defense looked better last season with
risto gorges
bogo McCabe
mike weber and one of pysyk, colaiacovo, or ruhwedel

what he hell happened?
- Michael Pachla

Well Kulikov's game centers around being physical, and Bogosian's at his best when he's skating the puck up the ice (and can also play physical)...
I think it was just really hard on them mentally trying to figure out how to be effective when their injuries weren't letting them play "their game"
Pretty easy to see how their lack of confidence led to frustration & mistakes
At least imo

Well Kulikov's game centers around being physical, and Bogosian's at his best when he's skating the puck up the ice (and can also play physical)...
I think it was just really hard on them mentally trying to figure out how to be effective when their injuries weren't letting them play "their game"
Pretty easy to see how their lack of confidence led to frustration & mistakes
At least imo
- jdfitz77

lack of confidence has been a huge issue with this team

lack of confidence has been a huge issue with this team
- Michael Pachla

Too true

Too true
- RhinoFan

and it shouldn't be

lack of confidence has been a huge issue with this team
- Michael Pachla

Agreed
And injuries were a big part of that imo
Bogosian & Kulikov had the worst seasons of their careers this year
Bad timing for us

and it shouldn't be
- Michael Pachla

It will change. We need to start a year off well. Losing Jack moments before the home opener, Kulikov right before that...it's no wonder why we lacked an identity for those first 20+ games and lost a lot of confidence by the time Yeichel was back.

If we go into next year healthy, at least for the most part, with a couple tweeks to the D-core...I think we could have a very solid team. A solid team would help confidence.

Agreed
And injuries were a big part of that imo
Bogosian & Kulikov had the worst seasons of their careers this year
Bad timing for us
- jdfitz77

yup...they played a big part

It will change. We need to start a year off well. Losing Jack moments before the home opener, Kulikov right before that...it's no wonder why we lacked an identity for those first 20+ games and lost a lot of confidence by the time Yeichel was back.

If we go into next year healthy, at least for the most part, with a couple tweeks to the D-core...I think we could have a very solid team. A solid team would help confidence.
- RhinoFan

forward group is looking better...they'll need guhle to come through in a second-pairing role and they need one stabilizing d-man on the bottom-pairing...

granted, a no.2 would be ideal, but i'm not counting on that

Lets just hope rick is with us in 2 years to say "how do you do" after jack scores a goal in the cup finals

Yup....I'm callin it here.

forward group is looking better...they'll need guhle to come through in a second-pairing role and they need one stabilizing d-man on the bottom-pairing...

granted, a no.2 would be ideal, but i'm not counting on that
- Michael Pachla

You aren't suggesting that Derek Grant is part of the Sabres next year are you?.....

You aren't suggesting that Derek Grant is part of the Sabres next year are you?.....

- SabreWest

i see what you did there

Lets just hope rick is with us in 2 years to say "how do you do" after jack scores a goal in the cup finals

Yup....I'm callin it here.
- feetontheair22

Scf in two years eh?

First of all, Bogo has points, he's not at 0 like you're implying.

Secondly, I already explained that my main issue with the trade is the fact that Kulikov is most likely going to walk at the end of the year. So we essentially traded a guy who easily would have been our 3rd best defender this year, that we spend time and money developing, for a guy that missed half the season and will walk at the end of it.

I also already said that I can't fully judge Kulikov due to the fact that he's been dealing with the injury. The 0 practice time is his own fault though, because he could have skipped the World Cup and come to training camp so that he could learn what his new coach expected and create some sort of chemistry with his teammates. So that's on him.

EDIT: Just an FYI, Bogo and Kulikov have missed the same amount of games this year, so why is it ok for Kulikov to suck because of injuries but it's not ok for Bogo?
- HonkFortheGoose

Not to nitpick, but every one of these criticisms arises from something that happened MONTHS AFTER the trade, so none of them should be used to justify why you "hated the trade from the minute it happened".

Scf in two years eh?
- Larsson_fan

Yup. And as good as your team is shaping up to be it could very well be the Oilers on the other bench

I'm cheering for you guys... as I am FLA, PHI, TB and BOS to knock out the Leafs.

Let's go Sabres!
- babcockblows

.....

It will change. We need to start a year off well. Losing Jack moments before the home opener, Kulikov right before that...it's no wonder why we lacked an identity for those first 20+ games and lost a lot of confidence by the time Yeichel was back.

If we go into next year healthy, at least for the most part, with a couple tweeks to the D-core...I think we could have a very solid team. A solid team would help confidence.
- RhinoFan

Agreed! Was a tough start, hopefully kulikov can be 100% and they can resign him resonably?