We had that guy for a moment...

Sure could use him again...
- mattsox

Patty La

So firmly locked in last place that they finished a whole 2 points ahead of the Coyotes for last, and the last game against them in Buffalo determined who would finish last, but yes, they were locked in to last place.
- kingcong39

Unless you have a crystal ball and can see alternate realities, you have no evidence as to where the Sabres would have landed that season. For all you know if the Kane trade never took place, they could have ended up with less than 54 pts. Addition by subtraction.

Do you think Murray trades for Kane in season if he healthy?

No chance, IMO.

If Kane was healthy, that trade happens after the season.
- kingcong39

Murray was rumored to try and get Kane at the deadline the year before. Jeremy White who was in the "war room" on deadline day in '14 referenced a "Big time LW'er" that Murray tried to get, and basically said it was Kane later on.

He pounced when he could

100% disagree

My point here:
Why didn't Bylsma pull Lehner after 5 goal when everyone thought he would (should).
You loose a team with coaching like that, he lost this team before the holidays. Lockeroom is divided and a mess.
- Irish 14

Now you're talking about something completely different.

Your original point was that Bylsma called out Eichel instead of players that everyone already knows are terrible.

Unless you have a crystal ball and can see alternate realities, you have no evidence as to where the Sabres would have landed that season. For all you know if the Kane trade never took place, they could have ended up with less than 54 pts. Addition by subtraction.
- sskkoo1

I think it is at least fair to wonder if it helped and had an affect.

The same way it's fair to wonder if the team was horrible again last year that they would have won the lottery for the one of the top 2 picks and landed either Laine or Matthews.

ROR - on pace for his best statistical season ever
Eichel - Nothing short of dominant
Kane - Best year of his career
Foligno - Best year of his career
Gionta - Best year in 5 years
Reinhart - Improving on a solid year last year. On pace for 50+ points
Risto - Best year of his career
McCabe - Improving on a good year last year
Okposo - On pace for 55 point over 82 games


How is this team so dam bad. It has to be coaching?
- ImThatGuy

Goal tending . Regardless of the good stats . It's the W-L columns that really count .

Murray was rumored to try and get Kane at the deadline the year before. Jeremy White who was in the "war room" on deadline day in '14 referenced a "Big time LW'er" that Murray tried to get, and basically said it was Kane later on.

He pounced when he could
- sbroads24

Right, which due to him being injured and out for the season meant he could get him in season as opposed to waiting until the season was completed.

Goal tending . Regardless of the good stats . It's the W-L columns that really count .
- cabin

The goaltending is entirely due to the horrible defense, which is why the next deal for Lehner should be a bridge deal and not anything resembling long term.

Patty La
- Irish 14

Yeah. We need some guy above GMTM and below the owner who knows hockey. Who's had success and can take an objective look at this point in the rebuild and steer it to where we all want to go.

Right, which due to him being injured and out for the season meant he could get him in season as opposed to waiting until the season was completed.
- kingcong39

Come on..... You are trying to hard to give him credit. He was available because of the track suit incident and the locker room turning on him. He was traded shortly after

The goaltending is entirely due to the horrible defense, which is why the next deal for Lehner should be a bridge deal and not anything resembling long term.
- kingcong39

Some what agree. Defense should limit the shots and attempts. Goalie is the last resort to keep the puck out of the net. 60 minutes for the offense to keep the goals in our favor. Contribution from the D in that is gravy.
We have meat and potatoes , but no gravy.

His play 5v5 has been really very selfish. I get it, and I forgive it, and it works better than a lot of other things we've tried, but that can't be good for his teammates, especially if it's contrary to the game plan.
- Der Kaiser

He's got no line mates of his caliber, I hope the plan isn't to wait for Nylander, because he's not exactly lighting up the AHL.
GMTM is going to have to be creative this off season, the problem being the whole league knows how desperate we are.

I think it is at least fair to wonder if it helped and had an affect.

The same way it's fair to wonder if the team was horrible again last year that they would have won the lottery for the one of the top 2 picks and landed either Laine or Matthews.
- kingcong39

Sure, of course it's fair to wonder what would have happened, but the reality is we just don't know how thing would have worked out.

Lehner 3rd in saves AND shots against
14th in save percentage.
22nd in wins

http://www.hockey-referen...ues/NHL_2017_goalies.html

ROR - on pace for his best statistical season ever
Eichel - Nothing short of dominant
Kane - Best year of his career
Foligno - Best year of his career
Gionta - Best year in 5 years
Reinhart - Improving on a solid year last year. On pace for 50+ points
Risto - Best year of his career
McCabe - Improving on a good year last year
Okposo - On pace for 55 point over 82 games


How is this team so dam bad. It has to be coaching?
- ImThatGuy

Bogosian-Nuff said
Gorges-Nuff said
franson-i hear hes still mid skate trying to get that icing
Kulikov-double lol

See the common theme here? you're allowed to have underachievers but for Ra's sake dont have them all be at one position, let alone the freaking defence.

Also...0 for 8. Thats roflmaololcats (gerbe will translate)

Lehner 3rd in saves AND shots against
14th in save percentage.
22nd in wins

http://www.hockey-referen...ues/NHL_2017_goalies.html
- cabin

*inserts fancy stats post saying the opposite*


I dunno cabin. The guy looks pretty average overall to me just eye test based. And the 0 for 8 is some AHL poop right there.

*inserts fancy stats post saying the opposite*


I dunno cabin. The guy looks pretty average overall to me just eye test based. And the 0 for 8 is some AHL poop right there.
- Sabresfan-365

Is the 0-for-8 "just" shootout attempts, or games? If attempts, then it's "only" 4 points, compared to what the rest of the team/defense has forsaken this season.

Is the 0-for-8 "just" shootout attempts, or games? If attempts, then it's "only" 4 points, compared to what the rest of the team/defense has forsaken this season.
- stashu

the shootout attempts, its still simply absurd. Like not even one. I know nothing compared to the defense but sheesh.

New spot to crap in . Front page .

the shootout attempts, its still simply absurd. Like not even one. I know nothing compared to the defense but sheesh.
- Sabresfan-365

Wouldn't have mattered if we scored on every shootout attempt

https://buffalonews.com/2...offer-help-bills-kickers/

(frank) you, Whaley.

the shootout attempts, its still simply absurd. Like not even one. I know nothing compared to the defense but sheesh.
- Sabresfan-365

Not excusing it, but I'm sure there are a lot more lost points elsewhere on this team, and I know he's not great 1-on-1 with a forward either (was surprised on the stop he made last night at one point).

I just think the complaining about the goaltender is crazy when the defense is constantly being called out as being so horrendous.

Not excusing it, but I'm sure there are a lot more lost points elsewhere on this team, and I know he's not great 1-on-1 with a forward either (was surprised on the stop he made last night at one point).

I just think the complaining about the goaltender is crazy when the defense is constantly being called out as being so horrendous.
- stashu

Both the D and Goalie can be both at blame at this point.

Both the D and Goalie can be both at blame at this point.
- cabin

He needs to be better, I remember calling him out in chat last night about the team having 2 "Big" goalies, yet they're both on the ground and getting sniped high all the time. Seems to defeat the purpose of being tall to me. Sure, it makes you taller than the average goalie...but it's not enough.

He needs to be better, I remember calling him out in chat last night about the team having 2 "Big" goalies, yet they're both on the ground and getting sniped high all the time. Seems to defeat the purpose of being tall to me. Sure, it makes you taller than the average goalie...but it's not enough.
- stashu

My response was we need fatter goalies