I think they are just breaking the young guys in slowly.

Super slowly.

Maybe ice time is an earned, veteran's first philosophy.
Phil goes by the code
- Boss34

I guess...
but that’s a bad philosophy imo

Nj would be worse this year if they hadn’t played their young guys
What about the Leafs lastly year?
Were they hindered by all the youth they put in their lineup without them “earning it”?

I think that’s just coachspeak Bullsh!t

We are completely outta the playoffs
so play our youth,
and see what they’ve got

Like I said, if it brings us even ONE championship, IDGAF how or why or if it's right or wrong.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Nope

I guess but that’s a bad philosophy imo

Nj would be worse this year if they hadn’t played their young guys
What about the Leafs lastly year?
Were they hindered by all the youth they put in their lineup without them “earning it”?

I think that’s just coachspeak Bullsh!t

We are completely outta the playoffs
so play our youth,
and see what they’ve got
- jdfitz77

Eichel should not come back at all this year, regardless.

https://www.nhl.com/player/benoit-pouliot-8471678


Jochen Hecht 2.0

Love it.

Keep him around.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I’d rather play Bailey or Baptiste next year

Eichel should not come back at all this year, regardless.
- SABRES 89

Totally agree

I actually said it that night

He's Dion Phaneuf 2.0

I just think he had a low ceiling but high potential to reach it and peaked early.

Trade him now for scoring, worry about defense later.

Worked for the Pens about 3 times.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Worry about defense later?!
That sounds like a horrible idea

I’d rather play Bailey or Baptiste next year
- jdfitz77

I think they are just breaking the young guys in slowly.

Super slowly.

Maybe ice time is an earned, veteran's first philosophy.
Phil goes by the code
- Boss34

He is struggling defensively, and they are playing a great offensive team.

Phil's just trying to win a game.

- BeadyEyedDouche

Right...
I’m saying to give them a chance to

Playing guys who have ZERO part of our future makes zero sense

No, I don't.
- SABRES 89

I'll take their 3 cups with that core, is what I meant.

Like I said, if it brings us even ONE championship, IDGAF how or why or if it's right or wrong.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Agreed. Even one cup, no matter what, I'll take it.

Agreed. Even one cup, no matter what, I'll take it.
- Powerslave

It is literally all that matters.

Right...
I’m saying to give them a chance to

Playing guys who have ZERO part of our future makes zero sense
- jdfitz77

oh man... you are not good at getting jokes and this one was pretty blatant

I have repeatedly said it's ridiculous they get called up, score a goal and then swiftly buried on the 4th line playing 5 minutes a night.

After a night out with some awesome steaks, seafood and sipping some great whiskeys, the yamazaki single malt 18, the hakushu single malt 18, and the macallan 21 fine oak I came home expecting to watch a massacre on the dvr..... What i got was some surprisingly good hockey. I am as pro-tank as they come, but that was a nice win tonight. That tampa team is really good and they are fun to watch but the sabres handled their business tonight against them.
Still a bit baffled why baptiste didnt see more ice time though? That early goal was all on him. I just dont get it. Kid has speed and some finish and cant seem to buy a real shot on a good line here. Wtf

Still a bit baffled why baptiste didnt see more ice time though? That early goal was all on him. I just dont get it. Kid has speed and some finish and cant seem to buy a real shot on a good line here. Wtf
- TheHank

It's simple. They don't trust him defensively.

After a night out with some awesome steaks, seafood and sipping some great whiskeys, the yamazaki single malt 18, the hakushu single malt 18, and the macallan 21 fine oak I came home expecting to watch a massacre on the dvr..... What i got was some surprisingly good hockey. I am as pro-tank as they come, but that was a nice win tonight. That tampa team is really good and they are fun to watch but the sabres handled their business tonight against them.
Still a bit baffled why baptiste didnt see more ice time though? That early goal was all on him. I just dont get it. Kid has speed and some finish and cant seem to buy a real shot on a good line here. Wtf
- TheHank

I've never had Japanese whiskey, I've heard good things though.

As far as Baptiste, it's as puzzling as it's expected.

It's simple. They don't trust him defensively.
- Lunaion

It's not like he's a center.

The whole "everyone has to be good at defense" is stupid, and more importantly, boring to watch.

These systems today utterly stifle offensive creativity, and God forbid a defenseman pinches and misses!

- BeadyEyedDouche

1) i like their skill set

2) while Pouliot is ok, he’s clearly not part of the future, so i don’t see the point in keeping him around

3) if Bailey & Baptiste don’t work, then play Smith & Fasching, Nylander & Asplund, Pu & Olofsson, and so on

For some of those guys (the first 4 or 5 i just listed),
I feel like it’s time to move their development to the NHL level
They might not be “proven”
But I’m ok with letting them “prove themselves” on the fly
Or at least ok with them making their mistakes
Our season is over anyways
Give the kids the icetime

oh man... you are not good at getting jokes and this one was pretty blatant

I have repeatedly said it's ridiculous they get called up, score a goal and then swiftly buried on the 4th line playing 5 minutes a night.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Oops...
it’s hard to keep track of everyone’s opinions on here
My bad

It's not like he's a center.

The whole "everyone has to be good at defense" is stupid, and more importantly, boring to watch.

These systems today utterly stifle offensive creativity, and God forbid a defenseman pinches and misses!
- Wetbandit1

You really feel like Housley has stiffled offensive creativity?

It's simple. They don't trust him defensively.
- Lunaion

Is Baptiste that horrible defensively?
I don’t see it

But if so... why even have him in the lineup?

Also...
our season is over
Let the kids make some mistakes & learn on the job

You really feel like Housley has stiffled offensive creativity?
- Lunaion

Maybe not specifically
But the coaches today seem like they tailor their systems in a defensive manner
Like their trying more to slow the other team down & clog things up than they are trying to push offense up th ice & score

Speaking in general here

You really feel like Housley has stiffled offensive creativity?
- Lunaion

The entire NHL is all about defense all the time.

I'm speaking generally of course, but even "high scoring" teams aren't very high scoring historically speaking.

Why do you think goals are so scarce?

We'll see if the goals being up this year are just an anomaly, or the beginning of a trend, but in general the last 7 years have rivaled the dead puck era for scoring futility.

The entire NHL is all about defense all the time.

I'm speaking generally of course, but even "high scoring" teams aren't very high scoring historically speaking.

Why do you think goals are so scarce?

We'll see if the goals being up this year are just an anomaly, or the beginning of a trend, but in general the last 7 years have rivaled the dead puck era for scoring futility.
- Wetbandit1

Won't argue any of that. Not sure how relevant it is to whether you put Baptiste on the ice up 1 late in the third. I'm not going to jump on the train and bash Phil. It was a good win.

It's simple. They don't trust him defensively.
- Lunaion

STOP. This is a complete load of crap.