The guy who divided the locker room (which literally everyone here with a source, and multiple media members have eluded to) not being here is a reason we are better.

I’m sorry you refuse to accept it.

Sorry he’s your boy and he’s no longer here. I know the feeling.
- sbroads24

He & Jack denied it
I don’t think they’re liars
Ppl fight on losing teams
Pretty obvious that it got blown outta proportion

Jack even said they started F-ing with the media on purpose once they heard the rumors
No way he just makes up that story

He & Jack denied it
I don’t think they’re liars
Ppl fight on losing teams
Pretty obvious that it got blown outta proportion

Jack even said they started F-ing with the media on purpose once they heard the rumors
No way he just makes up that story
- jdfitz77

Like I said I’m sorry you refuse to accept it.

Even so, I don’t mean O’Reilly being gone is the sole reason we are better.

But even losing him with the “underwhelming return” means he wasn’t worth his money on the first place.

You like the dude, I totally get it

Shouldn’t have made stupid end of year comments and then asked to be moved because he knew the fans didn’t like them.

He didn’t hate Buffalo, he didn’t think he’d ever be captain or be a fan favorite again
- sbroads24

Is this actually FACTUAL though?
I don’t wanna outright dismiss it,
but I’m not just gonna take it as true

How’d u hear this?

Keeping it classy
Great job Hank
- jdfitz77

Funny thing is, you go and prove me correct yet again.

I like Thompson, but you think him and Okposo are top 6 wingers *today*?
- sbroads24

Okposo is with a better center i think
Thompson not yet, but does have some skill

Not ideal wingers for Mitts,
but WAY better than Pouliot & Griffith
Come on now

Is this actually FACTUAL though?
I don’t wanna outright dismiss it,
but I’m not just gonna take it as true

How’d u hear this?
- jdfitz77

You don't make comments like he did an then end up traded 3 weeks after the league's season's end unless it was factual. That's just common sense.

Is this actually FACTUAL though?
I don’t wanna outright dismiss it,
but I’m not just gonna take it as true

How’d u hear this?
- jdfitz77

My buddy who’s pretty reliable. I’ve posted very few things from a “source” but this person works at PSE and the Harbor Center and does personal favors for the Pegula’s on occasion. (Nothing major but whatever)

He said O’Reilly asked to be moved after his comments. He felt he needed a fresh start and that’s part of the reason they rushed before the bonus deadline. They knew they had to.

FWIW my other buddy who I’m not really close with is actually friends with him and has posted FB pictures together. He’s said he’s a really cool and genuine dude.

My opinion is he’s worked too hard to build a phony persona

Both penalty shot calls in this US-Slovakia game were downright atrocious.

Both penalty shot calls in this US-Slovakia game were downright atrocious.
- buffalofan19

Least excited I’ve been for the WJ in 6 years at least

The guy who divided the locker room (which literally everyone here with a source, and multiple media members have eluded to) not being here is a reason we are better.

I’m sorry you refuse to accept it.

Sorry he’s your boy and he’s no longer here. I know the feeling.
- sbroads24

Hamilton talked about it being more like ROR was a man on an island; older than Jack Sam, Risto, but younger than Gio, Gorges and Okposo. I don't believe there was a rift so much as an age gap that never allowed for a very tight closeness between Eichel and he who shall not be named

WOW
You’ve made some bad posts before...
But this is something

Sabres are better this year because of...
-Skinner/Eichel going bananas
-Dahlin steadying the defense, incl Bogo, and Risto
-GOALTENDING

Not bc a really good player is on another team
Bc what we got back for him, has hardly helped at all

What a dumb argument that is
Just brutal dude

And AGAIN...
YOU that brought up ROR, not me
- jdfitz77

You could be right about eichel / skinner / dahlin

But:

Ror could have been a big problem.
The fact that st. Louis is terrible, backs this angle.

I realize you don't buy into the ror/eichel riff, but.......

Eichel is a different player this year.
Comfortable as THE leader

Least excited I’ve been for the WJ in 6 years at least
- sbroads24

Agreed. I get that Hughes is probably the #1 overall pick, but other than that, and I guess Samuelsson because he's Sabres property, there's very little on this team to get really excited about.

Last year's team had Tkachuk, Mittelstadt, Bellows, and even Quinn Hughes on defense. That team was a lot more exciting.

Hamilton talked about it being more like ROR was a man on an island; older than Jack Sam, Risto, but younger than Gio, Gorges and Okposo. I don't believe there was a rift so much as an age gap that never allowed for a very tight closeness between Eichel and he who shall not be named
- jcragcrumple

IMO it was more that O’Reilly was not looked upon as a leader by his teammates. Hence the divide. I think you are probably right

Dude has aspirations as a captain, he’s said it himself. He wants to be a leader and a go-to guy.

I think he goes about it all wrong though. You can tell just in interviews. Eichel is a guy players rally behind. O’Reilly is a guy who people needed to give a boost to

You could be right about eichel / skinner / dahlin

But:

Ror could have been a big problem.
The fact that st. Louis is terrible, backs this angle.

I realize you don't buy into the ror/eichel riff, but.......

Eichel is a different player this year.
Comfortable as THE leader
- Boss34

I don't think it was an actual "rift" so much as it was naturally going to be one guy's team or the other's. And neither guy would be at his best playing second fiddle. The Sabres picked the better player.

Agreed. I get that Hughes is probably the #1 overall pick, but other than that, and I guess Samuelsson because he's Sabres property, there's very little on this team to get really excited about.

Last year's team had Tkachuk, Mittelstadt, Bellows, and even Quinn Hughes on defense. That team was a lot more exciting.
- buffalofan19

We really have very few prospects and the Sabres are relevant.

It was fun when risto scored the gold game winner
Sam was playing well
Eichel
Nylander
Mitts, dahlin and Brady t.

Now it's other teams prospects, not ours

Slovakia not pulling their goaltender at all is just bizarre.

We really have very few prospects and the Sabres are relevant.

It was fun when risto scored the gold game winner
Sam was playing well
Eichel
Nylander
Mitts, dahlin and Brady t.

Now it's other teams prospects, not ours
- Boss34

Yeah, but this US team is not nearly as dangerous of a scoring team overall as the past two years.

That said, Slovakia beat them last year and will probably give them fits.

I'm sure my interest will grow as the tournament goes on, but it doesn't comfort me that they have the Swedes and the Fins still coming up after a game like today.

Also, their uniforms suck.

I don't think it was an actual "rift" so much as it was naturally going to be one guy's team or the other's. And neither guy would be at his best playing second fiddle. The Sabres picked the better player.
- buffalofan19

Good post.

Hard to say what happens to a competitor who loses for 246 games with no chance of winning anything.
(Purposely losing no less)

IMO it was more that O’Reilly was not looked upon as a leader by his teammates. Hence the divide. I think you are probably right

Dude has aspirations as a captain, he’s said it himself. He wants to be a leader and a go-to guy.

I think he goes about it all wrong though. You can tell just in interviews. Eichel is a guy players rally behind. O’Reilly is a guy who people needed to give a boost to
- sbroads24

I can tell you as someone who sat through one of O’Reilly’s dads “symposium” on coaching, that his dad is a looney toon that has pretty much brainwashed his kids.

Ryan was “bred” to be a captain in his dads eyes. While in actuality he’s nothing but a phony wanna be leader.

He would be better on a team like San Jose who has actual leadership and a strong locker room.

He’s a good player but not a franchise player. For the 1000th time, if he was paid $2 million less he would be the perfect 2nd line center but he thinks he’s a big time player who should be captain.

The locker room being this loose, and relaxed and able to legit open up and as the players have said be vulnerable with each other has helped them hold other players accountable. ROR doesn’t know how to do that.

Hamilton talked about it being more like ROR was a man on an island; older than Jack Sam, Risto, but younger than Gio, Gorges and Okposo. I don't believe there was a rift so much as an age gap that never allowed for a very tight closeness between Eichel and he who shall not be named
- jcragcrumple

Imo.. that is stupid. These guys are all like 10 years apart at most from RoR. I have people I work with that are 10 years younger than me in management roles with me and I have had several employees upwards of 25-35 years older than me. We dont have problems and all get along. In fact I would say my best friend from work is 8-9 years younger than me. If an 8 year or less gap is an issue these people are immature.

Slovakia not pulling their goaltender at all is just bizarre.
- buffalofan19

Think goal differential matters.

Good post.

Hard to say what happens to a competitor who loses for 246 games with no chance of winning anything.
(Purposely losing no less)
- Boss34

ROR wasn't brought here to lose. We were supposed to be done losing. The problem was that the GM spent all of his assets to acquire the players he wanted, had no idea how to build a competent, modern D corps, overspent on a bad goalie, didn't bother with the bottom-6, left the pipeline in shambles, and to top it all off, mis-timed his trades by a year or two. ROR was a symptom of the problem, not the cause.

IMHO, of course

ROR wasn't brought here to lose. We were supposed to be done losing. The problem was that the GM spent all of his assets to acquire the players he wanted, had no idea how to build a competent, modern D corps, overspent on a bad goalie, didn't bother with the bottom-6, left the pipeline in shambles, and to top it all off, mis-timed his trades by a year or two. ROR was a symptom of the problem, not the cause wasn't given a fair shake.

IMHO, of course
- jcragcrumple

FTFY.

Think goal differential matters.
- Lunaion

I get that. Still, you owe it to your players as a coach to go for a point, especially in Game 1.

Imo.. that is stupid. These guys are all like 10 years apart at most from RoR. I have people I work with that are 10 years younger than me in management roles with me and I have had several employees upwards of 25-35 years older than me. We dont have problems and all get along. In fact I would say my best friend from work is 8-9 years younger than me. If an 8 year or less gap is an issue these people are immature.
- SabresFaninIndiana

I'd bet the egos involved in pro hockey are different than your corporate structure. Not to mention the party culture