Michael Pachla: Life w/o Jack Eichel can be pretty ugly but the prospect pool is filling up

Great read ! I thought UPL deserved the MVP of the entire tournament this year. But I can’t say I watched much of Poehling so that could be a Sabre-biased opinion. Laaksonen is like another Pilut. I’m excited to see what else we add to the pipeline over the next two seasons and beyond. As long as we clear out the middle 6 and replace them with guys who actually earn their pay checks this team can be scary good as soon as next year.

Lamar Jackson sucks... How anyone can say he even remotely close to Allen must be blind.

Great read ! I thought UPL deserved the MVP of the entire tournament this year. But I can’t say I watched much of Poehling so that could be a Sabre-biased opinion. Laaksonen is like another Pilut. I’m excited to see what else we add to the pipeline over the next two seasons and beyond. As long as we clear out the middle 6 and replace them with guys who actually earn their pay checks this team can be scary good as soon as next year.
- Pegullaville

2019 wjc could be huge for buffalo

How long before the Ravens put Flacco in? Lol

Nice blog Pach.

Yes, I agree Sabres fans need to show some patience and I'm sure many thought we weren't gonna be in a playoff position on Jan 6. I know I didn't. I'm confident we'll see some quality Sabres hockey in the second half.

The pipeline is full and looking good. I can see the future Sabres D as Risto, Samuelsson (who plays a great two way game), Pilut, Dahlin, McCabe and Laaksonen. Throw in Borgen and that's a fast puck moving D.

I would also mention 2 other kids that I like, Jacob Bryson (4th, 99 in '17) and Linus Weissbach (7th, 192 in '17). Bryson is one of the best dmen in Hockey East and Weissbach had a good freshman year at Wisconsin and made big ten all freshmen team and is doing well in his sophomore year, despite a hand injury. I hope to see them in Rochester next year.

Nice blog Pach.

Yes, I agree Sabres fans need to show some patience and I'm sure many thought we weren't gonna be in a playoff position on Jan 6. I know I didn't. I'm confident we'll see some quality Sabres hockey in the second half.

The pipeline is full and looking good. I can see the future Sabres D as Risto, Samuelsson (who plays a great two way game), Pilut, Dahlin, McCabe and Laaksonen. Throw in Borgen and that's a fast puck moving D.

I would also mention 2 other kids that I like, Jacob Bryson (4th, 99 in '17) and Linus Weissbach (7th, 192 in '17). Bryson is one of the best dmen in Hockey East and Weissbach had a good freshman year at Wisconsin and made big ten all freshmen team and is doing well in his sophomore year, despite a hand injury. I hope to see them in Rochester next year.
- mhp

Nice add ons. They don't get the attention they deserve

How long before the Ravens put Flacco in? Lol
- Powerslave

Should have never benched him IMO

"They were flat-footed and slow to the, showed no energy..."

to the Nacho Bar?

"They were flat-footed and slow to the, showed no energy..."

to the Nacho Bar?
- seedy

The nacho bar has been tipped over for almost a year now

No one dares set it back up

Wow, what a play to end the Chargers game

Wow, what a play to end the Chargers game
- BeadyEyedDouche

LAC almost blew that....

No Samson at the skills competition.

Any word?

Eichel was on the bench.......

Nice write up Mike. I definitely have more patience than most of my friends but it wears thin at times. I think Botts is on the right track. Not always sure Housley is the right coach but thats not always an easy thing to evaluate and I realize he doesn't have the most competent players to work with. He gets at least one more year anyway.
From a business standpoint T-Pegs better hope one of his teams turns it around quick. Can only cheer on mediocrity for so long (I gave up on the Bills about 5 years ago. Sabres arent far behind).

Risto with 107.5 in the hardest snapshot.... I think he needs to start shooting more.

Not a lot of guys are willing to step in front of that...

Certain players getting kid glove treatment on here from various sorts, time to take the gloves off and slap players acrosst the face (tip of hat to Rob Ray)

ERod - making $600k absolves him of producing, even though he has played up and down the lineup, mostly split between lines 3 and 4. 2 Goals. I don't care if he is playing for free FFS. It is a production league. Step-up YOU are infact PART of the problem, period. Until you ride the bench for 65 games, you aren't the 13th forward. Moreover, you production has slid off from last year, You are Part of the Problem

Pommer - let's take a 35 year old player who is in the last yeR of a contract signed by another team to task. Nah, we knew he was dead from last year. He can play in spurts only. That said, you are part of the scoring drought problem, need to step up ... $5m is a valuable $5m. Maybe JBotts trades you at the TDL for ...for...for a 3rd /4th ... it is a business afterall. Resign him to a 1 day contract next year to retire a Sabre ... that is what a friend does, not hold him out of "respect" to the detrement of the team. Sorry to say at your age, but You are part of the Problem.

Okposo - (frank). We all want you to succeed, we fully recognize the effort you're giving. It's gone dude, face it, it left after your injury and it has been neary 2 years, it ain't coming back. Negotiate a decent retirement from Pegula ... like work at the Academy for 2 years for $3m per. Sorry to say Kyle cause I like you, but You are a major part of the Problem

Sheary - Jesus Christ, WTF! You are fast as can be no doubt...but you're on your knees more that a $20 hooker on Allen St. Put some friggin skates there too if you need to. $3m for what exactly? Need more out of you, like 25 G's is a good target...your on pace for 14...solid 4th line production right there...not good enough. Primary TDL asset, let's try to get the 3rd, or maybe an overpayment of a 2nd back. You are part of the Problem.

Casey - Not good enough. You need to find a way to actually contribute on the board. Ya, 1st year, young, not built yet for NHL...blah, blah, blah. You are better than what you are showing...time to double down on the effort. This is where a ROR practice lead by the leadership should come into play ... the kid is struggling mightly...who's stepping up to help this kid develop faster?...Skinner, Jack, Sam, Pommer...where are you guys?
That said, and this is harsh but fair..YOU are part of the Problem.

Sobotka - I mean $3.5M for what exactly? 6 pts, really? 12 pts in a season? THAT is 13th forward production right there at a good 3rd line pay....(frank)ing ERod is out-producing you. YOU are part of the Problem
- IonSabres

2 goals, 11 points, 9th place on the team, more points than 4 everyday forwards. Yet he's top of your list. Yep, that makes sense. Players expectations are directly tied to salary(other than ELCs) for a guy that makes the league min the fact he's on the team at all shows his worth.

How is Thompson not on your list? As you say "it is a production league" ERod has 3 more points, and taking away ERod's good year last year he STILL has a higher points per game(what's the opposite of cherry picking? Cherry throwing?), for a UDFA. 40 extra games shouldn't mean anything of significance between a late 1st and undrafted player. The fact they're even close either means ERod is way better than he should be, or Thompson really, really needs to get his poop together.

ERod is outplaying guys making 5-9 times more than he does, those are the guys that should be at the top of your list.

Pominville has 1 lousy point away from Jack, ERod has 9. Hell, Okposo has 13 or 14(Dobber has him with 1 point with "no linemates") away from Jack.

Is ERod good? Of course not, that's why he makes $650K. Anyone who thinks "he's part of the problem" needs to put the crack pipe down. Last year was almost certainly an anomaly, basing any kind of expectations off of that is going to lead to nothing good. The knots some people tie themselves into to bash/prop up guys is astonishing.

Expectations bandit.

Pommer has done pretty much zero on the ice the last few months. (As expected)

Erod had higher expectations . A 4 goal pace is below standard for a 2-3-4 line guy. 25 years old and in his prime , regardless of cost.
- Boss34

Bullpoop, you were on your knees blowing him during his 10 game designated hot streak. You even anointed him "Living Legend". What are you talking about? should have no expectations? What?

How does a guy that's a 4th liner have more expectations? He's on pace to be an upper end 4th line guy. What more can you possibly expect from him? The cheapest player on the team. How you can just write off the salary makes no sense. People are constantly female dogging about a guy's salary and how they're not living up to it. Here we have a guy EXCEEDING his pay and people are female dogging about it. Un(frank)ingreal.

2 goals, 11 points, 9th place on the team, more points than 4 everyday forwards. Yet he's top of your list. Yep, that makes sense. Players expectations are directly tied to salary(other than ELCs) for a guy that makes the league min the fact he's on the team at all shows his worth.

How is Thompson not on your list? As you say "it is a production league" ERod has 3 more points, and taking away ERod's good year last year he STILL has a higher points per game(what's the opposite of cherry picking? Cherry throwing?), for a UDFA. 40 extra games shouldn't mean anything of significance between a late 1st and undrafted player. The fact they're even close either means ERod is way better than he should be, or Thompson really, really needs to get his poop together.

ERod is outplaying guys making 5-9 times more than he does, those are the guys that should be at the top of your list.

Pominville has 1 lousy point away from Jack, ERod has 9. Hell, Okposo has 13 or 14(Dobber has him with 1 point with "no linemates") away from Jack.

Is ERod good? Of course not, that's why he makes $650K. Anyone who thinks "he's part of the problem" needs to put the crack pipe down. Last year was almost certainly an anomaly, basing any kind of expectations off of that is going to lead to nothing good. The knots some people tie themselves into to bash/prop up guys is astonishing.
- Wetbandit1

Erod being "part of the problem " is different from being " the only problem "


2 goals more then half way thru the season = part of the problem. Regardless of his pay.

Pommers 1 lousy point is "part if the problem" too.

Bullpoop, you were on your knees blowing him during his 10 game designated hot streak. You even anointed him "Living Legend". What are you talking about? should have no expectations? What?

How does a guy that's a 4th liner have more expectations? He's on pace to be an upper end 4th line guy. What more can you possibly expect from him? The cheapest player on the team. How you can just write off the salary makes no sense. People are constantly female dogging about a guy's salary and how they're not living up to it. Here we have a guy EXCEEDING his pay and people are female dogging about it. Un(frank)ingreal.
- Wetbandit1

Dude he’s been terrible this year. He isn’t exceeding anything.

It’s debatable whether he’s worth a roster spot with how he’s played

You can make stupid decisions and turn the puck over when you score. He isn’t scoring

Rodrigues is averaging 15:18 of ice time per game.

That’s high end 3rd line minutes.

On pace for 4 goals and 20 points. With power play time and top 6 line mates at times.

That production is brutal

Rodrigues is averaging 15:18 of ice time per game.

That’s high end 3rd line minutes.

On pace for 4 goals and 20 points. With power play time and top 6 line mates at times.

That production is brutal
- sbroads24

But he only makes $600K

*eyeroll*

He’s producing at a 4th liner at best level.

But he only makes $600K

*eyeroll*

He’s producing at a 4th liner at best level.
- Stripes77

Girgensons-Larsson-Erod should be our fourth line. It’s up to Botts’ moves and Mittelstadts and Thompson’s development to fix the real problem which is the middle 6.

You and I agree on very little and can always cou t on yoh for a retort every time, lol.
That's ok, I still give your arguments consideration.

The list was in no real particular order, other than ERod being the latest whipping boy...so, that is where I started. Was in no particular order and focused on the middle six

You chastize Pommer who is 35 and played very solidily for say 12 of his 15 years..or whatever it is (too lazy to look it up)...christ, vast majority of players historically are done producing around 32...we recognize he's dead, not sure why your comparing a guy 10 years younger to him other than to prove my point they both friggin suck.
ERod is perfectly fine for 13th forward ... but he isnt there, yet. Keeps going the way he is, that might even be lucky for him. Comparing solely to his salary, sure I get the let's not beat him up mentality. Compared to last yera he friggin blows, and I'll surely call him out.

TNT, I have been about the only poster getting on Tage, but I have to admit his last e -4 games have been pretty good. I do agree with you on him though, just forgot to add him in. He needs to produce more, similar to Mitts. That said, I do like where his game is going, hope it continyes onward and upward.

You and I agree on very little and can always cou t on yoh for a retort every time, lol.
That's ok, I still give your arguments consideration.

The list was in no real particular order, other than ERod being the latest whipping boy...so, that is where I started. Was in no particular order and focused on the middle six

You chastize Pommer who is 35 and played very solidily for say 12 of his 15 years..or whatever it is (too lazy to look it up)...christ, vast majority of players historically are done producing around 32...we recognize he's dead, not sure why your comparing a guy 10 years younger to him other than to prove my point they both friggin suck.
ERod is perfectly fine for 13th forward ... but he isnt there, yet. Keeps going the way he is, that might even be lucky for him. Comparing solely to his salary, sure I get the let's not beat him up mentality. Compared to last yera he friggin blows, and I'll surely call him out.

TNT, I have been about the only poster getting on Tage, but I have to admit his last e -4 games have been pretty good. I do agree with you on him though, just forgot to add him in. He needs to produce more, similar to Mitts. That said, I do like where his game is going, hope it continyes onward and upward.

Edit, oh and I can't believe anyone would chosse to defend ERod as the hill they are willing to die on, to borrow yor phrase, astonishing

You and I agree on very little and can always cou t on yoh for a retort every time, lol.
That's ok, I still give your arguments consideration.

The list was in no real particular order, other than ERod being the latest whipping boy...so, that is where I started. Was in no particular order and focused on the middle six

You chastize Pommer who is 35 and played very solidily for say 12 of his 15 years..or whatever it is (too lazy to look it up)...christ, vast majority of players historically are done producing around 32...we recognize he's dead, not sure why your comparing a guy 10 years younger to him other than to prove my point they both friggin suck.
ERod is perfectly fine for 13th forward ... but he isnt there, yet. Keeps going the way he is, that might even be lucky for him. Comparing solely to his salary, sure I get the let's not beat him up mentality. Compared to last yera he friggin blows, and I'll surely call him out.

TNT, I have been about the only poster getting on Tage, but I have to admit his last e -4 games have been pretty good. I do agree with you on him though, just forgot to add him in. He needs to produce more, similar to Mitts. That said, I do like where his game is going, hope it continyes onward and upward.

Edit, oh and I can't believe anyone would chosse to defend ERod as the hill they are willing to die on, to borrow yor phrase, astonishing
- IonSabres

I published this twice because it is so good, SOME should read it twice, lol