Michael Pachla: Sabres benchboss Phil Housley has some problems on his hands

Nuke it

Start a new core with mittelstadt ,jack Dahlin or Svechnikov , Tkachuk

Nuke it

Start a new core with mittelstadt ,jack Dahlin or Svechnikov , Tkachuk
- GERBE!!!75PTS

again?...

too early, imo

Housley is learning on the job about coaching in the NHL. He does deserve the benefit of the doubt. However I would think there are at least two things he needs to change. One is stop trying to protect players and stop trying to play politically correct. You are the coach act like one. It is said when in command ...be a commander. One thing Housley should have learned from Scotty Bowman was to push buttons of players not performing up to task and motivate them. The other thing I am tired of is he is to slow at changing the Kane Eichel line up. When things are going bad he should either double shift Eichel with perhaps Reinhart or ROR.

Also it's getting to be about that time when a shakeup of players needs to be done. The Sabres players are past the point of using the excuse of a new coach and new scheme. Horse hockey. I would suggest now is the time to trade Evander Kane and get a stud defensemen. Anyone with eyes can clearly see our defense, sans Risto, is slow and not sharp. Sometimes the defense and the rest of the team look like they are skating in sand. Something needs to be done soon or Housley may lose the entire teams confidence.

Lehner needs a therapist

Housleys entire game plan was built around Bogosian...don't worry everybody as long as Bogo isnt injured we'll be fine.

Housley is learning on the job about coaching in the NHL. He does deserve the benefit of the doubt. However I would think there are at least two things he needs to change. One is stop trying to protect players and stop trying to play politically correct. You are the coach act like one. It is said when in command ...be a commander. One thing Housley should have learned from Scotty Bowman was to push buttons of players not performing up to task and motivate them. The other thing I am tired of is he is to slow at changing the Kane Eichel line up. When things are going bad he should either double shift Eichel with perhaps Reinhart or ROR.

Also it's getting to be about that time when a shakeup of players needs to be done. The Sabres players are past the point of using the excuse of a new coach and new scheme. Horse hockey. I would suggest now is the time to trade Evander Kane and get a stud defensemen. Anyone with eyes can clearly see our defense, sans Risto, is slow and not sharp. Sometimes the defense and the rest of the team look like they are skating in sand. Something needs to be done soon or Housley may lose the entire teams confidence.
- Goalieguy43

pretty sure Housley was coddled by bowman and going by their underachieving record under him, it seems as if a lot of those Sabres were also coddled at the time

Lehner needs a therapist

Housleys entire game plan was built around Bogosian...don't worry everybody as long as Bogo isnt injured we'll be fine.
- washedup20

I don't get the last part

I think we have seen enough of Lehner to know he is too clumsy and careless to ever be a number 1 in this league.

Bylsma's system limited high danger chances which in turn gave Lehner a much better overall save percentage than he deserved.

Now in Housely's system Lehner has been thoroughly exposed.

I think we have seen enough of Lehner to know he is too clumsy and careless to ever be a number 1 in this league.

Bylsma's system limited high danger chances which in turn gave Lehner a much better overall save percentage than he deserved.

Now in Housely's system Lehner has been thoroughly exposed.
- Losman

it wasn't the system that caused those first two goals...they were both on him

I think we have seen enough of Lehner to know he is too clumsy and careless to ever be a number 1 in this league.

Bylsma's system limited high danger chances which in turn gave Lehner a much better overall save percentage than he deserved.

Now in Housely's system Lehner has been thoroughly exposed.
- Losman

Some of us said that his save % would dip. Bylsma sheltered his goalies and defense because of the lack of talent for both.

Now both have been exposed, even worse than I imagined

Both Buffalo sports teams just destroy careers. This is totally unfair to him.

This blog is new today.

Thats true but it's not just value its the role they've been assigned. Scandella's a fine player, but they're deploying him like the canucks use tanev. Only of one of these gusy is capable of that role. I think the bigger issue is that of the top 5 guys only 3 of them are guys who should be part of your teams top 5. One more would make me believe they can contend for a playoff spot, two would make me believe they could contend.
- Sabresfan-365

Sure, but when the options are Scandella, Tennyson, Falk and Fedun who do you think is going to get the ice time? Risto leads the league in ice time now. 2 straight years we've said his ice time needs to decrease and 2 straight years it's not only not decreased, but gone up. Even with a healthy Beaulieu and Bogo, hell even Gorges to an extent will limit everyone's ice time. Those guys aren't prizes but I'll take everyone of them over Tennyson, and Bogo over all of them.

Sure, but when the options are Scandella, Tennyson, Falk and Fedun who do you think is going to get the ice time? Risto leads the league in ice time now. 2 straight years we've said his ice time needs to decrease and 2 straight years it's not only not decreased, but gone up. Even with a healthy Beaulieu and Bogo, hell even Gorges to an extent will limit everyone's ice time. Those guys aren't prizes but I'll take everyone of them over Tennyson, and Bogo over all of them.
- Wetbandit1

Right but thats what the issue with the team is. Even if this D core is healthy from day 1, you're still overplaying guys in roles they shouldn't be in. It's not the coach, system, coddling, chemistry or any of that. Kulikov was an upgrade over gorges the same way scandella is an upgrade over him. But if any of those 3 is your top defensive guy, you're in trouble.

again?...

too early, imo
- Michael Pachla

He's half right. They dont need to blow it up but the draft is probably their best shot at adding another core guy.

He's half right. They dont need to blow it up but the draft is probably their best shot at adding another core guy.
- Sabresfan-365

Well it looks like they will have a high draft pick again this year since they suck...

Well it looks like they will have a high draft pick again this year since they suck...
- jochfr

yes

They should call up Ullmark and Guhle and send down Lehner and Tennyson.

Right but thats what the issue with the team is. Even if this D core is healthy from day 1, you're still overplaying guys in roles they shouldn't be in. It's not the coach, system, coddling, chemistry or any of that. Kulikov was an upgrade over gorges the same way scandella is an upgrade over him. But if any of those 3 is your top defensive guy, you're in trouble.
- Sabresfan-365

Were on year 3 of “When Bogo is healthy....”

Right but thats what the issue with the team is. Even if this D core is healthy from day 1, you're still overplaying guys in roles they shouldn't be in. It's not the coach, system, coddling, chemistry or any of that. Kulikov was an upgrade over gorges the same way scandella is an upgrade over him. But if any of those 3 is your top defensive guy, you're in trouble.
- Sabresfan-365

how is vegas 9-4 with this defense?:

mcnabb-egelland
sbisa-schmidt
miller-Theodore

and how did they beat Ottawa on the road with that defense and maxim lagace in net?

all while using an expansion lineup that places them fifth in the league in goals-for at 3.62 g/gm and top-20 in goals-against?

Well it looks like they will have a high draft pick again this year since they suck...
- jochfr

Stealth tank

I say we either trade Reinhart to Phoenix or somehow get Domi and Duclair here to complete that line. Worked for the world juniors a few years back.

Wasn’t Duclair on waivers a while back or in trouble with the coach. Then kane could be his role model.

On another note, sometimes a player is only good in a certain situation. Moulson and Okposo were big names until we got them. Likely, they were benefiting from playing with JT.

And I bet dollars to doughnuts that we have those scrubs on this team to entice JT here.

3 goals on 7 shots will get any goaltender a quick hook, especially when those goals happen in the span of six minutes.

how is vegas 9-4 with this defense?:

mcnabb-egelland
sbisa-schmidt
miller-Theodore

and how did they beat Ottawa on the road with that defense and maxim lagace in net?

all while using an expansion lineup that places them fifth in the league in goals-for at 3.62 g/gm and top-20 in goals-against?
- Michael Pachla

a) thats not a good bar to set, ottawa is turrible

b) you're underselling miller, theodore and schmidt here.

c) and most importantly neither one of these runs is going to last. Vegas probably isn't going to have twice as many wins as losses by game 30 just as we're probably not going to be horror awful and 30th.

Were on year 3 of “When Bogo is healthy....”
- sbroads24

which is odd since even healthy his value is that it would remove tennyson from the lineup.