Michael Pachla: A look back at the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres season--April

Michael Pachla: A look back at the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres season--April
- Michael Pachla

I will not look back! I will look forward. Into the beyond... Into the beyond, I say!

I said last week that Allen looked as advertised. Had the ability to make big throws, but needs work about everything else. I also said I wouldn't lose sleep if I didn't see him start a game until 2019.

I've done a complete 180. He's looked more than competent for two weeks in a row, which is much more than pretty much any scouting service thought he would amount to. With McCarron hurt, this season is going to be much less interesting unless Allen starts.

Plus, the clown is right: either a player has it or he doesn't. Good players aren't "ruined" by being played too early. It might delay their development, but eventually, they figure it out if they have it. If Josh Allen is ultimately a bust, it won't be because he started Week 1 of his rookie season. It will be because he never had what it took to succeed in this league in the first place.
- buffalofan19

Agreed here. I mean, it’s possible they are, but I think it’s the situation rather than the player itself.

I think the 2012-2015 Buffalo Sabres ruined a few careers, especially with having guys like Rolston and Nolan as coaches.

I don’t think that’s a worry here with the Bills. IMO they have a little more offensive talent than people give credit for.

They have a HOF running back, adequate TE play, and I think Zay Jones is better than his year was last year.

Agreed here. I mean, it’s possible they are, but I think it’s the situation rather than the player itself.

I think the 2012-2015 Buffalo Sabres ruined a few careers, especially with having guys like Rolston and Nolan as coaches.

I don’t think that’s a worry here with the Bills. IMO they have a little more offensive talent than people give credit for.

They have a HOF running back, adequate TE play, and I think Zay Jones is better than his year was last year.
- sbroads24

just curious, which careers did Nolan ruin?

just curious, which careers did Nolan ruin?
- Michael Pachla

Don’t think he ruined anyone in particular, but the constant changes during that time span of 2012-15 really hurt some younger guys that needed things to be stable.

Grigorenko, Hodgson, Myers, Ennis, Ristolainen, Girgensons.

All of them were at key stages of development when the most changes of the franchise happened.

Not absolving them of blame, but I think a few of there careers might have been wildly different in a stable organization

Don’t think he ruined anyone in particular, but the constant changes during that time span of 2012-15 really hurt some younger guys that needed things to be stable.

Grigorenko, Hodgson, Myers, Ennis, Ristolainen, Girgensons.

All of them were at key stages of development when the most changes of the franchise happened.

Not absolving them of blame, but I think a few of there careers might have been wildly different in a stable organization
- sbroads24

won't argue that the constant changes hurt player development, but I don't see any of them being done in by coaching, especially Nolan...

imo,

Grigorenko always had question marks with his work ethic
Hodgson was flaky, but lead the team in scoring under those two, mostly nolan
Myers was on the decline even before those two
Ennis, maybe but he was second on the team in scoring under those two, mostly Nolan
Ristolainen spent half the season in Rochester and came into 2014 camp bigger and leaner
Girgensons had his best season under Nolan

don't want to belabor it, but that's what it looks like to me

dot dot dot

won't argue that the constant changes hurt player development, but I don't see any of them being done in by coaching, especially Nolan...

imo,

Grigorenko always had question marks with his work ethic
Hodgson was flaky, but lead the team in scoring under those two, mostly nolan
Myers was on the decline even before those two
Ennis, maybe but he was second on the team in scoring under those two, mostly Nolan
Ristolainen spent half the season in Rochester and came into 2014 camp bigger and leaner
Girgensons had his best season under Nolan

don't want to belabor it, but that's what it looks like to me
- Michael Pachla

Bolded I don’t 100% agree with.

Grigorenko, under a more stable organization, would have stayed in juniors, or would have been in a more stable NHL locker room, and possibly would have been a different story.

Myers was put in a bad situation after his rookie year, and during the lockout, didn’t take care of himself. A different coach/organization might have prevented that.

Ristolainen was basically given the Myers treatment as soon as Myers left. Too many minutes, bad teammates, then given an undeserved contract.

Again, not saying these guys are Norris winners if Chicago drafts them, but I think it hurt them

just curious, which careers did Nolan ruin?
- Michael Pachla

Hasek

Don’t think he ruined anyone in particular, but the constant changes during that time span of 2012-15 really hurt some younger guys that needed things to be stable.


- sbroads24

just curious, when I posted this for reinhart, nobody agreed with me

just curious, when I posted this for reinhart, nobody agreed with me
- homiedclown

I’m not sure it’s the same. Sure the locker room sucks, but his coach was a Stanley Cup winner for his first 2 years

The thing that hurt Reinhart was going back and forth from center to wing last year.

Other than that he’s riding shotgun with Eichel or ROR and getting PP time.

I didn’t love Bylsma, but one thing that is blatantly obvious now is that firing him fixed nothing.

If people want to complain that we “ran O’Reilly out of town”, then that same applies for Bylsma

Michael Pachla: A look back at the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres season--April
- Michael Pachla

I've been picking scabs again...I've been crawling on my belly, clearing out what could've been...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm38Ojh61lY
Change is coming, now it's my time

I will not look back! I will look forward. Into the beyond... Into the beyond, I say!
- sskkoo1

up, up, and away I say.

you guys suck today

you guys suck today
- homiedclown

Hard to disagree with josh allen looking like the real deal

He looked awesome

That pass does show he still needs work. At this point, I am willing to go with him even knowing those shortcomings.

This team with Nathan Peterman under center will be at best boring and mediocre, and at worst a disaster. This team with Josh Allen under center is at least interesting.
- buffalofan19

Sure
But i want what’s best for his development long term

We don’t have the team around him to shelter him like Pitt did with Big Ben & Seattle did with Wilson

I don’t see anything wrong with bringing him along like the Rams did with Goff

U guys are so damn impatient

Sure
But i want what’s best for his development long term

We don’t have the team around him to shelter him like Pitt did with Big Ben & Seattle did with Wilson

I don’t see anything wrong with bringing him along like the Rams did with Goff

U guys are so damn impatient
- jdfitz77

I think he will learn more by practicing with the number ones the entire season, and playing 16 regular season games then he could ever learn practicing with the number 2's and holding a clip board on sundays


that's my 2 cents

Hard to disagree with josh allen looking like the real deal

He looked awesome
- Boss34

I am amazed he got 3 scoring drives with that o line

I give him a 7/10 for passing
but a solid 9 for overall play

I am amazed he got 3 scoring drives with that o line

I give him a 7/10 for passing
but a solid 9 for overall play
- homiedclown

Chad Kelly has been better (hides)

I didn’t love Bylsma, but one thing that is blatantly obvious now is that firing him fixed nothing.

If people want to complain that we “ran O’Reilly out of town”, then that same applies for Bylsma
- sbroads24

Firing him was about getting rid of Murray. The next GM would want his own coach. There was nothing he did exceptionally anyway.

I think he will learn more by practicing with the number ones the entire season, and playing 16 regular season games then he could ever learn practicing with the number 2's and holding a clip board on sundays


that's my 2 cents
- homiedclown

I totally get that
I agree that at some point you need to learn by doing
I also think you can overwhelm someone with too much too soon

And in this particular case,
I do feel like half a season or so of watching lots of film & practicing against NFLers would be of a significant help to Allen
Moreso than just throwing him in the deep end, so to speak

Not the first or last time we will disagree sir

I just don’t see the harm in taking it slow with him
We can’t afford to screw this up

Firing him was about getting rid of Murray. The next GM would want his own coach. There was nothing he did exceptionally anyway.
- jcragcrumple

I don’t disagree with getting rid of him, but the narrative that he was the main issue was so far off base

I don’t disagree with getting rid of him, but the narrative that he was the main issue was so far off base
- sbroads24

I think the issue was he lost the room, or never had it to begin with.

Chad Kelly has been better (hides)
- Pegullaville

My cousin's friend's former roommate has also been playing better at QB, maybe he should get an NFL start.