They wanted Dahlin. We stealth tanked for Dahlin. You can't put a guy like Baptiste with Eichel because if chemistry erupts, how do you break them up and justify it? we didn't need to be winning meaningless games late in the year and wind up picking 5-9.

can't remember if it was me or not but regardless, that's unacceptable...

maybe we can add that to the list of rookie coach transgressions that started with reinhart at center?
- Michael Pachla

Yeah probably. I hope those transgressions are all out of the system. We need to put it back together next season and that will start with Phil and his deployment.

They wanted Dahlin. We stealth tanked for Dahlin. You can't put a guy like Baptiste with Eichel because if chemistry erupts, how do you break them up and justify it? we didn't need to be winning meaningless games late in the year and wind up picking 5-9.
- sskkoo1

baptiste, like many prospects over the years, started out strong, then faltered before being sent back to Rochester...he was at his best in the bottom-six with erod...top-six didn't work out very well for him last season

Yeah probably. I hope those transgressions are all out of the system. We need to put it back together next season and that will start with Phil and his deployment.
- RhinoFan

me too

He spent most of the year with guys who might not even be in the league next year. How can you possibly evaluate his season?
- jcragcrumple

If he’s good enough he should overcome those things and move himself up

You mean to tell me he cant outwork every one including the 4th or 3rd liners he’s playing against ?

They wanted Dahlin. We stealth tanked for Dahlin. You can't put a guy like Baptiste with Eichel because if chemistry erupts, how do you break them up and justify it? we didn't need to be winning meaningless games late in the year and wind up picking 5-9.
- sskkoo1

Or he’s not good enough and the Sabres see it

They wanted Dahlin. We stealth tanked for Dahlin. You can't put a guy like Baptiste with Eichel because if chemistry erupts, how do you break them up and justify it? we didn't need to be winning meaningless games late in the year and wind up picking 5-9.
- sskkoo1

They had last locked up for 3 games, though. Idk, hopefully housley utilizes him better next year

https://youtu.be/zVsP9QrgbLM

He looked pretty slick with Eichel at :40. (from 2016-2017)

I don't think Girgensons is pulling that move.

If he’s good enough he should overcome those things and move himself up

You mean to tell me he cant outwork every one including the 4th or 3rd liners he’s playing against ?
- gerbe75pts

Nolan
Jofeson
Larsson
Pouliot
Griffith
Girgensons

An inexperienced guy is supposed to elevate that cast of characters? When he played with Erod he was good - hence Pach's clip

I still think Baptiste/Erod/X would be an interesting 4th/energy line, if we kept ROR and Mitts can hold down 3C. but then we still have quite a winger problem.

Nolan
Jofeson
Larsson
Pouliot
Griffith
Girgensons

An inexperienced guy is supposed to elevate that cast of characters? When he played with Erod he was good - hence Pach's clip
- jcragcrumple

his turn at the blueline and his speed through the neutral zone to get a breakaway was a wow moment as he blew by the leafs...and he finished with ease

I still think Baptiste/Erod/X would be an interesting 4th/energy line, if we kept ROR and Mitts can hold down 3C. but then we still have quite a winger problem.
- seedy

I think erod would move to wing

He spent most of the year with guys who might not even be in the league next year. How can you possibly evaluate his season?
- jcragcrumple

I don’t think either were horrible, or given an ample opportunity, but both have clearly taken a step back from where we were projecting them one year ago.

Niether have stood out as guys you need to play in the top 6 or 9.

They’ve had moments though

I think erod would move to wing
- Michael Pachla

I feel like thats probably the direction we're gonna go in, but then we're going to have a turd sandwich on the 4th line for another year.
I know the game has changed, but I loved the days when we could roll 4 lines and the 4th line could at least keep the puck in the O zone and not get scored on.

I just traded ror, a 2019 2nd and a mid-level prospect to be named to Brandon Simille and the montreal canadiens for Johnathan Drouin, Patches and the habs 2018 2nd rounder

I don’t think either were horrible, or given an ample opportunity, but both have clearly taken a step back from where we were projecting them one year ago.

Niether have stood out as guys you need to play in the top 6 or 9.

They’ve had moments though
- sbroads24

Disco looked like he would have played Baptiste in the top-6 (judging by his line combos in the last month of his tenure), but then a new regime comes in, and they decided to let those guys stay in ro cha cha. He was back to square one, and when given an NHL chance he played mostly with scrubs. He's looked good with Eichel before.

Like seedy said, if your 4th line is bailey-Erod-Baptiste, that's not bad. He still won't score a lot because they won't play a lot, but playing him with Nolan, Josefson and Larsson is a waste of everyone's time

Nolan
Jofeson
Larsson
Pouliot
Griffith
Girgensons

An inexperienced guy is supposed to elevate that cast of characters? When he played with Erod he was good - hence Pach's clip
- jcragcrumple

I’ve seen tons of players get demoted in the National Hockey League and guess what they work their way back up you mean to tell me he can’t (frank)ing do it himself ?

He is what he is a 3rd line Energy player

I just traded ror, a 2019 2nd and a mid-level prospect to be named to Brandon Simille and the montreal canadiens for Johnathan Drouin, Patches and the habs 2018 2nd rounder
- Michael Pachla

That seems like a massive ass rape by us

I just traded ror, a 2019 2nd and a mid-level prospect to be named to Brandon Simille and the montreal canadiens for Johnathan Drouin, Patches and the habs 2018 2nd rounder
- Michael Pachla

Where do we sign?

I’ve seen tons of players get demoted in the National Hockey League and guess what they work their way back up you mean to tell me he can’t (frank)ing do it himself ?

He is what he is a 3rd line Energy player
- gerbe75pts

No, he can't carry Larsson and Nolan with him and be effective. Eichel could barely raise Girgensons's play. Do you think Eichel would be effective with Larsson and Nolan, or do "you mean to tell me he can't (frank)ing do it himself'?

I'd really like to see Olofsson surprise us and make the team next fall.
Dahlin saying he has the best shot he has ever seen makes me think he just would need to get open and capitalize off of Mitts or Eichel.

No, he can't carry Larsson and Nolan with him and be effective. Eichel could barely raise Girgensons's play. Do you think Eichel would be effective with Larsson and Nolan, or do "you mean to tell me he can't (frank)ing do it himself'?
- jcragcrumple

Jack would do everything himself like he always does .

Hes just a third line energy player

I'd really like to see Olofsson surprise us and make the team next fall.
Dahlin saying he has the best shot he has ever seen makes me think he just would need to get open and capitalize off of Mitts or Eichel.
- seedy

I agree with Olofsson making the team his competition is laughable and he has the best shot on the team

I would like to know who Athanasiou played with so I can see if he worked his way up

They wanted Dahlin. We stealth tanked for Dahlin. You can't put a guy like Baptiste with Eichel because if chemistry erupts, how do you break them up and justify it? we didn't need to be winning meaningless games late in the year and wind up picking 5-9.
- sskkoo1

This is the post of the month.

Spot on sskkoo

They had last locked up for 3 games, though. Idk, hopefully housley utilizes him better next year

https://youtu.be/zVsP9QrgbLM

He looked pretty slick with Eichel at :40. (from 2016-2017)

I don't think Girgensons is pulling that move.
- jcragcrumple

Give us 1 good reason that the coaching staff hasn't played baptiste with eichel, unless they didnt want to succeed.