On the blue line? 110% We're not just far behind skill wise there, we're so outdated. Ristolainen, Scandella, Bogosian..maybe even McCabe. These guys are built like the d-men of the previous era. Everything about their style and strengths is archaic.
- Sabresfan-365

I don't think our blue line is that bad at all.. Risto is the worst at -6, I agree, I think he is overrated but not horrible, the rest of the D is not bad at all, Sandella -3, Bowl-U +2, nelson -1, Bogo -1, Dahlin -1.

This team needs to be coached better IMO. We have the pieces there to be successful..

- RhinoFan

Exactly

On the blue line? 110% We're not just far behind skill wise there, we're so outdated. Ristolainen, Scandella, Bogosian..maybe even McCabe. These guys are built like the d-men of the previous era. Everything about their style and strengths is archaic.
- Sabresfan-365

So we need more of the smaller, puck moving guys in your estimation to correct this?

We are not... In fact with the talent on this team I say we should be able to play with any team on any given not. We should not look clueless out there....
- hehateme

I agree that we shouldn't look clueless, but also think on the defensive side there is a big difference between us and the top teams. Our offense isn't good enough to make up for it like the Leafs and we lack a true #1 shut down defender that a lot of other teams have and lean on.

I don't think it may be as bad as 365 does, but I think it's worse than you do. I will make my home between you two, we can be neighbors. It sounds nice.

Exactly
- feetontheair22

Good gravy man. Inconsistently this team looks so much better than last year's consistently horrible.

It's all part of the growth curve. You go from horrible every night to horrible some nights to decent some nights to decent most nights.

We're in step 2 here.

This team last year got three wins the entire month of October. Let's see how this plays out.

End of October they were 3-7-2.

This year, though not playoff worthy, is better so far.

phil housley is a beta male

I agree that we shouldn't look clueless, but also think on the defensive side there is a big difference between us and the top teams. Our offense isn't good enough to make up for it like the Leafs and we lack a true #1 shut down defender that a lot of other teams have and lean on.

I don't think it may be as bad as 365 does, but I think it's worse than you do. I will make my home between you two, we can be neighbors. It sounds nice.
- RhinoFan

Perfectly said.... Our D looks =that much worse because of our Offense or lack there of. Would you rather Toronto's D or Sabres D?

Time to look at Housley, and getting rid of him. He isnt putting players in a position to succeed. And his handling of special teams is atrocious. Heck when the Sabres went to Vegas the other night, I believe they had not yet scored a goal on the PP. We come along and cure that right away.

What does it say about the Sabres that their best player is 18-years old and has played a grand total of 7 NHL games?

Good gravy man. Inconsistently this team looks so much better than last year's consistently horrible.

It's all part of the growth curve. You go from horrible every night to horrible some nights to decent some nights to decent most nights.

We're in step 2 here.

This team last year got three wins the entire month of October. Let's see how this plays out.

End of October they were 3-7-2.

This year, though not playoff worthy, is better so far.
- gcomella34

This is the exact line of thinking that Buffalo sports fan's have come accustom too. Trust the Process, learning curve blah, blah, blah..

We should not look like this.

Just back reading yesterday's comments and wish I had that time back. Just wanted to clear a few things up.

We (at least should’ve) had the leverage in that trade, but what happened?
-we got a “b” prospect, not 1 of their top guys
-had to take back Berglund & Sobatka
-and even had to pay the 10mil bonus

I get there’s supposed reasons for all that,
but there’s absolutely no way that anyone can say Botts did a good job on that trade
- jdfitz77

https://thehockeywriters....an-oreilly-trade-who-won/

The Blues will pay O’Reilly’s $7.5 million bonus that was due at midnight, dictating the timing of the trade. Otherwise the terms and structure of the deal might have looked quite different.

From everything I've read, St Louis paying ROR's bonus played a significant role into our return. I think Bott's was asking for one of the higher rated prospects, but the Blues weren't willing to part with them, so they agreed to pay the bonus. Either way, some people need to keep dwelling on the past and start living in the now and looking to the future.

Now about the current team, who is in charge of the power play? This is getting ridiculous. I am so sick of the damn drop pass. You have 3 guys basically standing at the blue line with one guy skating at good speed only to make a GD drop pass and then have to slow down and wait for the puck. The other team is lined up waiting for the entry. I would rather have a dump pass with the puck carrier and trailer heading into the zone full speed.

Anyone see the Caps game the other night? OV has scored about 500 goals from the same spot and had two more in that game. Teams know it's coming and still can't stop it. I've seen highlights of Olofsson making that same shot. Jack's done it a few times too. Hopefully these guys can get this figured out soon, because doing the same thing over and over again is not solving anything.

Perfectly said.... Our D looks =that much worse because of our Offense or lack there of. Would you rather Toronto's D or Sabres D?
- hehateme

If it weren't for Dahlin I would say T.O. Reilly is the best of both teams and Gardiner is better than Scandy. Dahlin could change it all, so that's the trump card. I think that could be argued either way.

phil housley is a beta male
- Sabre_Tooth

Like you buy in the cups at Petsmart?

What does it say about the Sabres that their best player is 18-years old and has played a grand total of 7 NHL games?
- SabreWest

We're a young team that will get better?

Pretty sure everyone on this board wants to see okposo replaced by dahlin on the pp.

The problem with former players as head coaches is:

They treat the veterans too good. Too many non earned ice time.

Okposo is prime example
They give him the 'A' and pp #1 time.

He has not earned either

"Jack Eichel can create a lot of space and handle the puck extremely well but in last night's contest he was double-teamed constantly and didn't receive much help from the rest of his unit."

I think teams know that as long as they keep Eichel in check that there's no one else that's really a threat.
- Frizzlefry

I thought sheary looked good. Couple good opportunities. It's the other linemate, not helping. Not taking the heat away from captain turnover.

If it weren't for Dahlin I would say T.O. Reilly is the best of both teams and Gardiner is better than Scandy. Dahlin could change it all, so that's the trump card. I think that could be argued either way.
- RhinoFan

I knew You would bring up his name, I just think our D gets a bad warp becauise like you said our offense is so bad.. Is Reilly that much better then Risto?

TOR 73 2 25 27 -13 12 13
2014-2015 TOR 81 8 21 29 -16
2015-2016 TOR 82 9 27 36 -17
2016-2017 TOR 76 6 21 27 -20- Matthews came a long
2017-2018 TOR 76 6 46 52 -4
2018-2019 TOR 8 3 10 13 5

Risto,

BUF 34 2 2 4 -15
2014-2015 BUF 78 8 12
2015-2016 BUF 82 9 32 41 -21
2016-2017 BUF 79 6 39 45 -9
2017-2018 BUF 73 6 35 41 -25
2018-2019 BUF 7 0 3 3 -6

I don't think our blue line is that bad at all.. Risto is the worst at -6, I agree, I think he is overrated but not horrible, the rest of the D is not bad at all, Sandella -3, Bowl-U +2, nelson -1, Bogo -1, Dahlin -1.

This team needs to be coached better IMO. We have the pieces there to be successful..
- hehateme

To each their own i guess. I think plus/minus is a bad way to evaluate players in general, twice as much for defenders. These guys are awful in their own end and rarely turn defence into offence.

I thought sheary looked good. Couple good opportunities. It's the other linemate, not helping. Not taking the heat away from captain turnover.
- Boss34

Trade him, he's a bust.

I knew You would bring up his name, I just think our D gets a bad warp becauise like you said our offense is so bad.. Is Reilly that much better then Risto?
- hehateme

I think he is substantially better, yes.

I think he is substantially better, yes.
- RhinoFan

yeah Rielly may be useless defensively but he generates offense at all game states really well.

Risto's offense is/was the power play.

I agree that we shouldn't look clueless, but also think on the defensive side there is a big difference between us and the top teams. Our offense isn't good enough to make up for it like the Leafs and we lack a true #1 shut down defender that a lot of other teams have and lean on.

I don't think it may be as bad as 365 does, but I think it's worse than you do. I will make my home between you two, we can be neighbors. It sounds nice.
- RhinoFan

The other big problem with the defense is clearing the puck out of our zone. The chip pass up the boards isnt working.

McCabe
Bogo
Bowl u

Need to clear the puck without icing it.
If they cant pass it tape to tape, keep it simple

Trade him, he's a bust.
- RhinoFan

Seriously who wants sam?
7 games played:

0 goals
3 assists
3 points
-5
3 hits
10 shots
2 pim
0 heart
0 effort
0 emotion
0 hustle
0 net front presence
0 living up to #2 overall pick

#1 pp time and eichels line mate.

Guys produce these stats in 1 game
Marchant had 4 assists in game 1

F- sam

CALM DOWN.

Now about the current team, who is in charge of the power play? This is getting ridiculous. I am so sick of the damn drop pass. You have 3 guys basically standing at the blue line with one guy skating at good speed only to make a GD drop pass and then have to slow down and wait for the puck. The other team is lined up waiting for the entry. I would rather have a dump pass with the puck carrier and trailer heading into the zone full speed.

Anyone see the Caps game the other night? OV has scored about 500 goals from the same spot and had two more in that game. Teams know it's coming and still can't stop it. I've seen highlights of Olofsson making that same shot. Jack's done it a few times too. Hopefully these guys can get this figured out soon, because doing the same thing over and over again is not solving anything.
- adambuffalo

The difference is that the Caps have elite talent on the other side of the ice to set up that play up. They have Backstrom as their main puck handler, Carlson at the point, and Kuznetsov as a dangerous threat. We have Jack responsible for zone entries, Jack as the main puck handler, Jack as the only dangerous threat, all while trying to open up Jack for a one-timer.