Absolutely not. They're 0-2-1 and look uninspired for the last two. Apart from Kane, I don't think there is anyone who should feel anything less than "gut check" time.
- gcomella34

I’ve barely been able to watch, but has any of the D men looked good at all?

Absolutely not. They're 0-2-1 and look uninspired for the last two. Apart from Kane, I don't think there is anyone who should feel anything less than "gut check" time.
- gcomella34

I wasn't super paying attention to the game yesterday (had it on, but was cooking myself meals for the week so I don't have to cook every day) but it seemed like Kane was the one person that was still going out and giving it his all.

For all his faults (shooting at inopportune times, some character flaws, etc), you can always count on him to go out and give his all every game. And it's not like he's some scrub that has to do that in order to keep his place in the lineup, because he's plenty talented as well.

I wasn't super paying attention to the game yesterday (had it on, but was cooking myself meals for the week so I don't have to cook every day) but it seemed like Kane was the one person that was still going out and giving it his all.

For all his faults (shooting at inopportune times, some character flaws, etc), you can always count on him to go out and give his all every game. And it's not like he's some scrub that has to do that in order to keep his place in the lineup, because he's plenty talented as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't think he'll have any trouble topping 30 goals this year, regardless of the team around him.

I’ve barely been able to watch, but has any of the D men looked good at all?
- sbroads24

Risto sometimes. And only sometimes. The rest of them look lost. Scandella had a good game 1. That was it.

I’ve barely been able to watch, but has any of the D men looked good at all?
- sbroads24

I'm tempted to see what Gorges has left in the tank....

Risto sometimes. And only sometimes. The rest of them look lost. Scandella had a good game 1. That was it.
- RhinoFan

I didn't get to really "watch" the last two (I was doing other things while I had them on at home). But it seems to me that there's just a lot of confusion as to who's supposed to be where and doing what. I'm guessing the defense looks bad because the forwards aren't sure how to help fill in or whatever when the D jumps into the play.

So I'm going to say that the forwards not knowing what to do is making the defense look extra terrible.

Nico made Scandella his biotch.

I'd like to see more from him than we have, if that's what you're saying. He's probably been one of the better players overall, but it's not good enough right now either IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Exactly what I am saying. He is going to have to step up big time.

I didn't get to really "watch" the last two (I was doing other things while I had them on at home). But it seems to me that there's just a lot of confusion as to who's supposed to be where and doing what. I'm guessing the defense looks bad because the forwards aren't sure how to help fill in or whatever when the D jumps into the play.

So I'm going to say that the forwards not knowing what to do is making the defense look extra terrible.
- HonkFortheGoose

They aren't back checking or covering for the pinching defender, so yeah that's part of it. I think it's more than confusion though. The defenders look tentative at best. No crisp passes, refuse to take the body.

It gets worse though: I actually look forward to getting Bogo back, he was more defensively sound that Tennyson or Antipin.

Is it too early to say I've had enough "suffering"?

And for the folk:

They aren't back checking or covering for the pinching defender, so yeah that's part of it. I think it's more than confusion though. The defenders look tentative at best. No crisp passes, refuse to take the body.

It gets worse though: I actually look forward to getting Bogo back, he was more defensively sound that Tennyson or Antipin.
- RhinoFan

i think there's probably just a lot of communication issues. The fact that there's a lot of new faces on the back end probably is adding to the confusion. I think they'll figure it out, but it's been pretty brutal.

Antipin gets a pass from me for the moment because he's still adjusting to the NHL as well. I thought he looked pretty good in game 1, so I think he'll get there. Might be good to get him a game in the box here or there so he can just watch and use that to make adjustments.

I'm tempted to see what Gorges has left in the tank....
- feetontheair22

Did somebody say tank???

I think it might be officially time to close the books on the Reinhart at center experiment
- feetontheair22

I think it's about time to close the book on Reinhart as a decent NHL player. He does not have the physical tools to be effective and it will only get worse. He is pretty much Cody Hodgson now, and I doubt he will ever improve. Oh and he is not liked by many staff members (graduate interns, cleaners, kitchen workers etc.).

i think there's probably just a lot of communication issues. The fact that there's a lot of new faces on the back end probably is adding to the confusion. I think they'll figure it out, but it's been pretty brutal.

Antipin gets a pass from me for the moment because he's still adjusting to the NHL as well. I thought he looked pretty good in game 1, so I think he'll get there. Might be good to get him a game in the box here or there so he can just watch and use that to make adjustments.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah I'm probably too quick to jump on Antipin, he just had a pretty poor showing last night. Seems to have a tough time keeping forwards out of the middle. The talent is there though.

We've been brutal and I know they'll get better as they develop chemistry together, but still, this just shows how far off we are. The only positives I've seen so far this year are Rochacha being 2-0 and Mittelstadt beasting in college.

I think it's about time to close the book on Reinhart as a decent NHL player. He does not have the physical tools to be effective and it will only get worse. He is pretty much Cody Hodgson now, and I doubt he will ever improve. Oh and he is not liked by many staff members (graduate interns, cleaners, kitchen workers etc.).
- hawk33

How many 21 year olds can say they've scored more than 40 points, twice?

I agree Samson isn't playing as well as he should be and that for a 2nd overall pick he's been underwhelming at best...but saying he can't be "a decent NHL player" is not a fair assessment.

time to move ror to the wing

his line just flat out does not score enough 5 on 5 no matter who his wingers are


ror-eichel-skunk
kane-girgens-okposo
pouliot-larsson-pommer
stinks, stank, anyone but moulson

Yeah I'm probably too quick to jump on Antipin, he just had a pretty poor showing last night. Seems to have a tough time keeping forwards out of the middle. The talent is there though.

We've been brutal and I know they'll get better as they develop chemistry together, but still, this just shows how far off we are. The only positives I've seen so far this year are Rochacha being 2-0 and Mittelstadt beasting in college.
- RhinoFan

There's for sure going to be bumps in the road. And JBotts is all about building from the bottom up. While I think at the end of the year the defense does look a lot better, with the style Housley wants them to play and with the amount of new faces, the current results can't be totally surprising. Let's just hope he can right the ship pretty quickly so the games are at least entertaining for Sabres fans and not just the opponents fans.

time to move ror to the wing

his line just flat out does not score enough 5 on 5 no matter who his wingers are


ror-eichel-skunk
kane-girgens-okposo
pouliot-larsson-pommer
stinks, stank, anyone but moulson
- homiedclown

Interesting....movin Girgs back to center.

Don't know how i feel about breaking Eichel and Kaner up...but it might almost be necessary to spread out some scoring (at least initially).

They all stink.

"Additional generic comment about hockey"
- jochfr

YOU'RE WRONG AND STUPID AND HERE'S THE PROOF

YOU'RE WRONG AND STUPID AND HERE'S THE PROOF
- chilliard77

Show me the anal attics!

1. Columbus never discovered America
2. The world already believed, other than Sammy Watkins, the world was round
3. He enslaved and mutilated native people
- homiedclown

Happy Columbus day belated!