Taro T

The system CAN be complex. But it needs to become second nature to them. There can't be literally 8 white boards worth of info that the players are supposed to be thinking about when they're on the ice for their 45 or so seconds. If there's 8 boards worth of keys that the players need to be THINKING about, they can't be anywhere close to their best. There's a reason that teams have their farm clubs run the same system that the parent team runs (regardless of whether the personnel are necessarily right for the system being run); it's so that the players that get called up can just hit the ice already knowing what's expected of them and how they're to read plays and more importantly, how their teammates will be reading the plays.

A big part of the problem under Bylsma, besides still having a general lack of talent, was that Goober had about 8 white boards worth of stuff for the players to be thinking about every game. Give them general structures and plans for how to breakout, forecheck, or defend but don't mire them down with details. The game is too fast to have players "thinking" on the ice. Having to think slows reaction and make things seem passive. (Even worse than they might actually be.)

Even with the 2 game losing streak, this team is 4-3-1 in its last 8. If he is actually healthy, expecting Comrie gets tonight's start. Granato likes to let guys get action against teams they have history with.

That's possible. Not sure it's correct but it seems plausible.

They aren't wearing the full on referee/zebra unis. They're using the orange tiger helmets on the rest of the ref/zebra unis.

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be much help as replacements for the 4th line down in Ra-cha-cha. Would be nice to see them bring at least a line's worth each summer so that if there are injuries to that line or guys aren't getting done there's a plan B for them as well. Thing is, those type of guys are a lot easier to find than high end skill is to find. Whether it be via FA or trade, that is something that should be obtainable. No, don't know why they don't already have someone to fill that role. Would seem to have been a fairly easy add. (And, really haven't watched any Amerks this year. Inky, K9, or one of the others here that are watching the Amerks regularly know better whether they do have somebody for that role already that people just haven't been talking about.)

Just started watching the Bungles Crows game and the Bungles are wearing their Zebra unis but with their Tiger helmets. Looks kinda like the old Fantasy Island animal act where the trainer made a tiger ride on the back of a horse. Except this tiger is riding on a zebra. Exotic.

Henry was good. So was Miro's girlfriend. Know you couldn't stand Doug Allen, but Dougie was good and consistent. Wasn't awesome but he didn't drag them out like so many of his replacements have done. His signature tweak to the US anthem wasn't major. He didn't want to be the star.

Those of us that don't go to HF Boards?

Goaltending, for the most part, has been good enough. Would it be great to have obtained say a Saros or even a Varlamov, yes. Would it still be something that Adams should be looking to improve, yes. As he should be looking to bring in about 3 other pieces as well. But guarantee you that, were those other 4 issues fixed with the exact same goaltending they've gotten to date, they'd be above the NHL 0.600 they need to be at. Just fix those top 2 and they're very likely there. And, not saying that goaltending won't become the downfall should the team fail to reach the playoffs. But, 16 games in, the team has had bigger problems than the goaltending.

Would say a complete lack of a competent PP is the team's biggest issue. The team's 2nd biggest issue is the team D is still way too accomodating to cross-ice and back door passes that leave the goalies hung out to dry. The team's 3rd biggest issue is being without an entire line's worth of top 6 F's combined with trying to play a more responsible defensive game is leaving them scoring too few goals on too many occassions. The team's 4th biggest issue is that without both of the really long F's Thompson &/or Tuch disrupting passing lanes on the PK that the PK has been giving up a goal every game for the last 4 or 5. When the PP is clicking at about 10%, the PP needs to be at 90% (IF the calls are going both ways, and so far this year, they aren't; young teams don't get calls and teams the refs still perceive as bad don't get calls either; they have to simply accept there's not much they can do to change either situation until they actually get some more win streaks together; chicken and egg issue) to keep from needing to dominate the scoring at 5v5 which they aren't doing right now. MAYBE with Thompson out of the lineup the PP will be forced to become creative and thus useful. Wouldn't put money on it, but we can hope. The team D IS actually better than last season. But the breakdowns are still major too often. Expecting that will improve as the season goes on. Don't know the answer to the 3rd issue short of getting healthy & getting more than one line clicking on any given night. The 4th is going to be an issue until they get to a point that they trust the goalies to make the big save should they adjust to a more aggressive PK &/or both Thompson and Tuch are back and playing healthy. But even with the issues, this team is still in the mix. Get closer to last year's road team and they can muddle through while figuring out the home ice issues.

Really wish they'd've completed a move for 1 more top 4 D-man. (Among other off-season moves.) Kind of rough that RJ2 is being given the responsibility of being Power's steadying partner. If Johnson is going to be in the top 4, believe they might be better off pairing him with Dahlin and using an actual defensive D-man (namely Samuelsson) as the calming influence on that second pairing. Is Jokiharju working through an injury or is he now 7 on the depth chart? If it's the latter, did not see that coming. Also, mildly surprised, but not disappointed in the least, that Olofsson is on the 3rd line rather than the 2nd line. Thought Granato might bump him up to Mittelstadt's line with him coming off the 2 goal showing.

Don't believe that's accurate. Watched a bit of the Fishies 70 burger beat down on the Donkeys. They were running through them like they were going up against a JV squad. The Donkeys are REALLY bad against the run.

Perhaps he's only played in 6 games because he's out injured just like 7 other Amerks have been out. That's what it says on the Amerks website.

Are YOU trying to say they CAN???? 😛

THAT was well done. Bravo, or whatever passes for praise in your long since past galaxy located oh so far away.

IF the Bills left Buffalo, the NFL would be dead to me. The sport (at least the No Fun League's version) continues to be less and less interesting IMHO. Watch way too much of it, but often it's just background noise if the Bills aren't playing. Watch every (far too often painful) moment of the Bills games though. Can't give up on hockey. But might be way more into college & youth hockey than the top tier. Other than hating whatever the Sabres become, don't know how that would play out.

IF the Sabres move, that team will be dead to me. And they would be even more despised than the Broons or Phlyers. But, honestly, don't see any scenario where that happens in the reasonably near future and even in the distant future a whole lot of things all have to come up snake eyes for it to go that way.

Erik Johnson would like to show you his jewelry while he explains to you the error in that statement. 😉

The 5th goal was due to a 3 body screen (2 B's, 1 Sabre just standing there in the way). That was the only one that was due to traffic. (Clifford setting a partial screen on the 4th goal didn't help but the issue on that goal was the other Sabre D man rather than sending the puck behind the net passed through the slot right to the Bruin standing there alone.) Levi himself commented after the Minnesota win that he is still adapting to how to play screens at this level. He has to "just play goal" rather than worry about maintaining technique. He also needs to learn to expect his D to send clearing passes from the corner to opponents standing alone in the slot. Not sure how much he'll pick up on that in the A. 😉 Are NHLers still on average getting bigger? Thought that we're starting to see teams willing to give smaller highly skilled guys opportunities than in the past. Very few Martin St. Louis' in the league at the turn of the century and not all that many more Kanes 10 years ago. Seems more small guys are getting shots. Could just be perception based on Sabres recent higher draft selections.

IF Granato is let go, Gallant should be at the very top of the list of coaches interviewed. Realizing he'll wear out his welcome (not with the fans or players, but management) within 3 years; but he'll have the team further ahead when he leaves than it was when he arrived. It's what he does.

Not sure about college, expect there have been but there definitely was at least one that went directly from HS to successful starter right out of the gate. He's going into the HHoF sometime about now.

Right NOW Comrie isn't even off IR. He did NOT look good when he came back from his leg injury last year. NONE of these goalies has seized the starter's role. Levi lost his last start. So did UPL. So did Comrie. UPL is 0-2-1 in his last 3 starts. Comrie is 1-1-0 in his 3 starts. Levi is 2-1-0 in his last 3 starts. Would absolutely NOT send Levi down to Ra-cha-cha until one of the other 2 has actually claimed the crease. This team needs wins NOW. Unitl 1 of the goalies actually steps up and gives them a better chance of winning than the other ones do, they need to be looking at how the oppenent plays and put in the goalie that matches up best against that oppenent's style of attack.

Comrie played well last year until injury. And then looked horrible for about 2 months before finally regaining form. Would not rely on Comrie until he's actually demonstrated he's back to where he was prior to the injury. None of the 3 have played like a consistant starting quality goalie. Levi played well against the Loafs and very well against the Wild. He misplayed the initial shot on the 1st goal against last night but (much like the other 2 goalies) got no help from his D who were in position to bail him out. None of the goalies the Sabres currently have would've been expected to stop the 2nd or 3rd goal last night. Have already stated (and was saying it at the game last night) that Granato should've put UPL in to start the 2nd to see if he might be able to shame them into playing well for their Captain's big night.

Levi did not play well yesterday. UPL did not play well in Pittsburgh. Comrie is broken. UPL got a SO against the Avs. Levi was the 1st star against the Wild. Comrie is broken. Yeah, why don't they run with Comrie? 🤪