Welp, Ralph essentially just said Skinner was going to be playing bottom6. I take back all my defenses of the man, he's over his head.
- RhinoFan

No worries.
You were in plenty of not-so-fine-opinion company there.

This season, the pressure is all on Ralphie-boy to figure out how to maximize the potential of each and every player, not find ways to squabble with a 40 goal scorer.
If he wants a way to maximize an asset by decreasing minutes and marginalizing him down the roster, it is spelled Ristolainen.

It’s kind of weird that you always go back to goaltending for the teams failures. If I’m the GM or coach and my 9 million dollar goal scorer is defensively lacking and got out scored by a goalie in the scrimmages I’d be looking in that direction. 9 mil can buy you some serious offence and defence.
- Camel

It can't unless Skinner says so by waiving his full NMC.
Ralphie-boy could be the first expendable in that duo.

I don’t think the Browns can slow down the Chiefs defensively which is why they will ultimately lose.

They have the right formula offensively though to shorten the game and pull off the upset but they cannot afford to make any mistakes.
- Pegullaville

Isn't that true in most PO games.

Someone here tried to compare Ralph Kruger's "philosophies" or "principals" to what Beane and McDermott did with the Bills. It doesn't hold water to me, at all.
- buffalofan19

I think both do a good job making their players feel comfortable playing for them. Krueger got Hall here.

Agreed overall though, there really is no comparing the two. They're all decent humans...nicest thing I can say at this point.

Isn't that true in most PO games.
- IonSabres

I'm told that the team that scores the most points always wins.

If it’s cold windy and snowy. That does not benefit the bills on Saturday.


We know the ravens will ground and pound all day if it’s sunny and 80 of 32 and snowy

The bills can’t do that. Unless josh runs for 100 yards

No worries.
You were in plenty of not-so-fine-opinion company there.

This season, the pressure is all on Ralphie-boy to figure out how to maximize the potential of each and every player, not find ways to squabble with a 40 goal scorer.
If he wants a way to maximize an asset by decreasing minutes and marginalizing him down the roster, it is spelled Ristolainen.
- IonSabres

Won't be the last time I'm wrong. Just had a lot of hope, Skinner was with Staal and Reinhart all camp. I really wish I knew what was going on in his head on this. He's basically doubling down on his worst strategy from last year.

If it’s cold windy and snowy. That does not benefit the bills on Saturday.


We know the ravens will ground and pound all day if it’s sunny and 80 of 32 and snowy

The bills can’t do that. Unless josh runs for 100 yards
- Sabretooth9

Right now, they're calling for a 40% chance of snow with 10-15 MPH winds Saturday Night. Obviously, the forecast can change, but the way it stands now shouldn't worry any Bills fan at this point.

I'm told that the team that scores the most points always wins.
- buffalofan19

Let me check...be right back.

Nope, the team that runs better, and stops the run better wins.
Just check the Bill's Colts game.

Won't be the last time I'm wrong. Just had a lot of hope, Skinner was with Staal and Reinhart all camp. I really wish I knew what was going on in his head on this. He's basically doubling down on his worst strategy from last year.
- RhinoFan

That is it, exactly.

We all are wrong at times.
Hell, I was adamant about not drafting Josh...
Largely because he was a project QB prospect and the Bill's had dedicated 20 years of history drafting poorly and more importantly shown themselves incapable of being able to develop a QB properly.
This regime proved me wrong in both regards

Wonder if they were trying out Dareus parallels?
- Michael Pachla

Dareus was getting into trouble with the law...

Welp, Ralph essentially just said Skinner was going to be playing bottom6. I take back all my defenses of the man, he's over his head.
- RhinoFan

makes perfect sense to bury a 40 goal scorer locked up for 7 years at 9 mil per on the bottom 6 in a cap era

Let me check...be right back.

Nope, the team that runs better, and stops the run better wins.
Just check the Bill's Colts game.
- IonSabres

Jared Goff completed 9 passes on Saturday

Mike Milbury not back with NBC. Can’t think of a bigger douche and hypocrite then that guy. Good riddance, and don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.

makes perfect sense to bury a 40 goal scorer locked up for 7 years at 9 mil per on the bottom 6 in a cap era
- homiedclown

thats how you get the most out of your money

You really brought up the scrimmage?
- Michael Pachla

In a normal year I wouldn’t think a scrimmage could seal anyones fate but this year isn’t normal. The coaching staff really needed to stress this year that the game scrimmages would be used to address how the team would look. I think all the players would have known that and simply put Skinner was outplayed by Tage, Olaf and others. Giving Skinner a free ride into the top six would be a loud message to those who are working harder. If Skinner doesn’t get that himself I don’t see how Ralph can justify anything but bottom six until he gets it.

In a normal year I wouldn’t think a scrimmage could seal anyones fate but this year isn’t normal. The coaching staff really needed to stress this year that the game scrimmages would be used to address how the team would look. I think all the players would have known that and simply put Skinner was outplayed by Tage, Olaf and others. Giving Skinner a free ride into the top six would be a loud message to those who are working harder. If Skinner doesn’t get that himself I don’t see how Ralph can justify anything but bottom six until he gets it.
- Camel

Do we know that Skinner isn't working hard?

Do we know that Skinner isn't working hard?
- buffalofan19

It looks that way. No goals in 2 scrimms. Trade him for a goalie?

Do we know that Skinner isn't working hard?
- buffalofan19

I watched both scrimmages and maybe he was working as hard as he can but it wasn’t enough to be top 6. It’s really not my opinion that counts though. Ralph was watching and appears saw it the same way

I watched both scrimmages and maybe he was working as hard as he can but it wasn’t enough to be top 6. It’s really not my opinion that counts though. Ralph was watching and appears saw it the same way
- Camel

Ralph blows

It's pretty simple

There is a reason he went to Europe to be in charge of a soccer club

Do we know that Skinner isn't working hard?
- buffalofan19

It's one of two things, either Skinner isnt taking practice seriously (that was the speculation last year) or he's not committed to the defensive end of the 5-man-unit philosophy Ralph employs.

Either way, they need to meet in the middle because it's not to anyone's advantage to play Skinner 10 mins a night on the 4th line

"The foundation of that build was chiefly focused on getting the right people on board and moving on from those who wouldn't be able to subscribe to what was soon to be asked of them.

McDermott preached a philosophy rooted in daily self-improvement and asked his players and coaches to trust that it would yield results."

Seems a good way to build winner and similar to what Ralph said yesterday.

Even the sometimes 20+ goals one trick "wonders" have to buy in even if some fans only see his way overpriced 9 million price tag.

It's one of two things, either Skinner isnt taking practice seriously (that was the speculation last year) or he's not committed to the defensive end of the 5-man-unit philosophy Ralph employs.

Either way, they need to meet in the middle because it's not to anyone's advantage to play Skinner 10 mins a night on the 4th line
- jcragcrumple

He's the Allen Iverson of hockey

"The foundation of that build was chiefly focused on getting the right people on board and moving on from those who wouldn't be able to subscribe to what was soon to be asked of them.

McDermott preached a philosophy rooted in daily self-improvement and asked his players and coaches to trust that it would yield results."

Seems a good way to build winner and similar to what Ralph said yesterday.

Even the sometimes 20+ goals one trick "wonders" have to buy in even if some fans only see his way overpriced 9 million price tag.
- GilPerreault11

You're also missing the part where McDermott went against his usual ground and pound run and stop the run theory and let his players do what they do best...

But sure go on

Dareus was getting into trouble with the law...
- Stripes77

Point taken. Perhaps the watkins parallel was a good one?