I never saw that coming. That toe-drag move worked like 1/10th of the time.

The only path forward that I saw for him was to somehow corral his submachine gun puck-spray style into a semi-consistent rifle shot. He harnessed that along with the unbeatable tall-guy deke move and now here we are.
- Hank Balling

In the first prospect minicamp it was obvious that he was a man amongst boys. He was a physical freak in every sense of the word. You're right - he needed to learn when to use a move and when not to. I think he first relied on the moves, now he realizes the the moves are only brought out to finish. He is still a little too cute with the puck at times but - not unlike Josh - you have to live with a few bad moments to get the great ones.

Maybe the lesson is to never doubt the awkward giraffe. Unless he's Tyler Myers. I honestly feel like evaluating Tage is like the end of Burn After Reading:



Some guys suck until they don't suck? I have no idea
- Hank Balling

The lesson is to be aware of the security of your sh¡t

In the first prospect minicamp it was obvious that he was a man amongst boys. He was a physical freak in every sense of the word. You're right - he needed to learn when to use a move and when not to. I think he first relied on the moves, now he realizes the the moves are only brought out to finish. He is still a little too cute with the puck at times but - not unlike Josh - you have to live with a few bad moments to get the great ones.
- Slump Buster

I used to get so mad watching him try that toe-drag move and now he's here stick-handling in a phone booth like a 5'8" guy before he tucks home a puck using a 20' wingspan pterosaur move.

God I love it

Chara was like Flyers Ristolainen when he played for NYI and he looked like they took an NBA draft reject and put him on skates and pushed him onto the ice.

He was dreadful.
- 3rd GM's the charm

I think it was more the Islanders were dreadful. That 00-01 team is like the Tank for Jesus Sabres teams.

Lifted from Milbury's wiki:

He traded away defensemen Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Bryan Berard, Eric Brewer, Darius Kasparaitis, and Bryan McCabe; goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Tommy Salo; as well as forwards Olli Jokinen, Todd Bertuzzi, Tim Connolly, Jean-Pierre Dumont, and Raffi Torres. Milbury has also come under fire for his poor draft-day decisions such as choosing Rick DiPietro first overall in 2000 over Dany Heatley and Marian Gaborik, as well as his decision to include the 2001 second overall draft pick (Jason Spezza) as part of the Alexei Yashin trade.

Maybe the lesson is to never doubt the awkward giraffe. Unless he's Tyler Myers. I honestly feel like evaluating Tage is like the end of Burn After Reading:



Some guys suck until they don't suck? I have no idea
- Hank Balling

The other redeeming or positive thing tage had going a couple years ago, was that crazy toedrag , super quick release. I wasn't what he's doing now obviously, but it looked fancy then and now.

This may seem crazy too, but indirectly playing and practicing with eichel daily had to help his development at center.
Especially the between the leg puck dangles IMO.

* I realize he wasnt a center for most of his time with eichel. Still, he probably learned some good stuff.

No one gets the reference

https://youtu.be/0f_ut8ui3H4

It’s not a Rick Roll, we all have that link memorized by now.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Still don’t get it. But the YouTube link did get me to a You Could Be Mine drum cover. Not the good one of Matt Sorum in the Guitar Center though. That’s the best one.

I think it was more the Islanders were dreadful. That 00-01 team is like the Tank for Jesus Sabres teams.

Lifted from Milbury's wiki:

He traded away defensemen Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Bryan Berard, Eric Brewer, Darius Kasparaitis, and Bryan McCabe; goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Tommy Salo; as well as forwards Olli Jokinen, Todd Bertuzzi, Tim Connolly, Jean-Pierre Dumont, and Raffi Torres. Milbury has also come under fire for his poor draft-day decisions such as choosing Rick DiPietro first overall in 2000 over Dany Heatley and Marian Gaborik, as well as his decision to include the 2001 second overall draft pick (Jason Spezza) as part of the Alexei Yashin trade.
- Wetbandit1

Mike Milbury makes tim murray look like Darcy regier

The other redeeming or positive thing tage had going a couple years ago, was that crazy toedrag , super quick release. I wasn't what he's doing now obviously, but it looked fancy then and now.

This may seem crazy too, but indirectly playing and practicing with eichel daily had to help his development at center.
Especially the between the leg puck dangles IMO.

* I realize he wasnt a center for most of his time with eichel. Still, he probably learned some good stuff.
- Boss34

I wonder about this effect too, and I'd love to hear someone ask Tage about it. He must have absorbed some positive on-ice tendencies

I wonder about this effect too, and I'd love to hear someone ask Tage about it. He must have absorbed some positive on-ice tendencies
- Hank Balling

Eichel had to be a factor in tage's on ice development and vision. You just absorb things.....

Tage probably learned how to not be a poop stain off the ice from eichel as well.

Eichel had to be a factor in tage's on ice development and vision. You just absorb things.....

Tage probably learned how to not be a poop stain off the ice from eichel as well.
- Boss34

I cannot even imagine how different the response in the community would be for all of the poopty things that have happened in WNY over the past year from a team with Eichel as captain.

I think lon was right here with Tage growing into his body. He already new how to play C, and Granato new that. It was just getting used to it again.

I never saw that coming. That toe-drag move worked like 1/10th of the time.

The only path forward that I saw for him was to somehow corral his submachine gun puck-spray style into a semi-consistent rifle shot. He harnessed that along with the unbeatable tall-guy deke move and now here we are.
- Hank Balling

It wasn't all toe drag, just felt like it sometimes.

Mitts has some skill, but I don't think I've ever seen him beat a defender on a rush.

Jack and Dahlin do it all the time. Just something I value, when I see it.

I cannot even imagine how different the response in the community would be for all of the poopty things that have happened in WNY over the past year from a team with Eichel as captain.
- The_Inkwell

Tuch gets it; plenty of guys on this team get it, and at the same time, it wasn't fair that we all expected Eichel to get it. I always come back to the Star Wars "chosen one" meme with Eichel.



We put ridiculously high expectations on him as the McJesus consolation prize and he wasn't up to it. It just wasn't right and that's not his fault.

I genuinely wish him the best with his fresh start.

None of our prospects truly blew us away.

Kulich had a good tourney nothing amazing.

It all still looks positive though
- Sabretooth9

Kulich has been incredible.

I liked Ostlund and I think with a couple years of development the Sabres really have something there.

Rosen had some wow moments, not consistent enough though for my liking. When he’s on, he’s on though. I’m worried he becomes Olofsson 2.0 though

Kulich has been incredible.

I liked Ostlund and I think with a couple years of development the Sabres really have something there.

Rosen had some wow moments, not consistent enough though for my liking. When he’s on, he’s on though. I’m worried he becomes Olofsson 2.0 though
- Swedish_Jesus

I think he already has more to his game than VO, but it's hard to ignore the similarities.

Tuch gets it; plenty of guys on this team get it, and at the same time, it wasn't fair that we all expected Eichel to get it. I always come back to the Star Wars "chosen one" meme with Eichel.



We put ridiculously high expectations on him as the McJesus consolation prize and he wasn't up to it. It just wasn't right and that's not his fault.

I genuinely wish him the best with his fresh start.
- Hank Balling

Eichel wore the hat for all the losing here which really was no fault of his own.

I wonder what his point totals would have looked like playing in this system with Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson getting him pucks instead of being saddled with Ristolainen for a majority of his 5v5 minutes.

He was top 5 in WAR prior to his injury this year too so he’s still a legitimate franchise Center when he’s healthy.

Eichel wore the hat for all the losing here which really was no fault of his own.

I wonder what his point totals would have looked like playing in this system with Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson getting him pucks instead of being saddled with Ristolainen for a majority of his 5v5 minutes.

He was top 5 in WAR prior to his injury this year too so he’s still a legitimate franchise Center when he’s healthy.
- Swedish_Jesus

He was the only thing worth watching in the darkest hours of this franchise. Everything went wrong when he was here. I wish him the best. It's probably also right to say that he had to go considering, well, everything.

His was a failed era for so many reasons.

I think he already has more to his game than VO, but it's hard to ignore the similarities.
- Lunaion

I definitely agree, I do see a player with a slightly different skill set.

I guess what I meant is that I can envision Rosen disappearing at times at 5v5 at the NHL level like Oloffson does.

The Sabres are definitely drafting a team that will shoot way higher than expected though that’s forsure.

He was the only thing worth watching in the darkest hours of this franchise. Everything went wrong when he was here. I wish him the best. It's probably also right to say that he had to go considering, well, everything.

His was a failed era for so many reasons.
- Hank Balling

Lot of blame to go around those 5yrs

Tuch gets it; plenty of guys on this team get it, and at the same time, it wasn't fair that we all expected Eichel to get it. I always come back to the Star Wars "chosen one" meme with Eichel.



We put ridiculously high expectations on him as the McJesus consolation prize and he wasn't up to it. It just wasn't right and that's not his fault.

I genuinely wish him the best with his fresh start.
- Hank Balling

At first, it was a situation that was innocent but over his tenure the finger pointing leads back to him all lead by his own hand.

Lot of blame to go around those 5yrs
- Buff36

Yep

Kulich

At first, it was a situation that was innocent but over his tenure the finger pointing leads back to him all lead by his own hand.
- joshs

We did that to him, too, though. We anointed him the savior of the franchise and then blamed him when it fell apart. The whole tank era and its aftermath was a colossal cluster(frank)

Czechs fighting back tie it up 2-2, Kulich with his 7th goal of the tournament

I cannot even imagine how different the response in the community would be for all of the poopty things that have happened in WNY over the past year from a team with Eichel as captain.
- The_Inkwell

Eichel would be rooting for the patriots on sunday.