...

Larry and Girgs go there, for sure. That's what makes them effective.

Good points. I don't disagree that some can learn it - as in they figure out that the only way to get things done is to play the game a certain way. But I think the capability is always there. Some, or a lot, don't seem capable...ever. Risto, as an example, always struck me as a kid who would develop a physical game. Dahlin is following in his footsteps and he will be a beast, bank on that. Samson will never develop the physical game he needs to be a proper net-front presence - I don't "see" that in his psychology, he doesn't have an angry or mean streak. He needs it to be more effective on the boards. Eichel, has the tools and the angry, mean streak. He has a psychological barrier to break down, still. There are flashes of it, though. I'm not going to go through all of them, but let's look at someone like ERod. He's the king of the stretch-out-your-arm-and-stick-as-far-as-possible poke check, defensive style. Dude never takes the body. If he developed a proper physical game he could become indispensable. I think Elie plays a decent physical game, Bogo, McCabe and Risto play a great physical game. On the whole, I don't see our top 3 lines really playing much of a physical game at all and it's the reason teams walk all over us. The only time they don't is when the level of physical game is matched, like in the NJ game.

I'd do Mitts. Well, I mean, I'd include Mitts. Wait, that's not right, either. If I were GM, I would trade Mitts for Couturier.

What are you talking about? He did make adjustments during the game.

Many on the roster simply do not wish to play a heavy game. It's clearly not something that is easy to teach or learn. When we draft or acquire players, they need to naturally play a heavy game - hit, want to battle one-on-one for the puck, not afraid to get dirty on the boards and by the goalie. This is key, in my mind. We have too many players that simply shirk the physical side of the game, seemingly too afraid or not confident enough to engage the enemy player in a physical manner. They're too focused on their skill, thinking that is the only way they're going to succeed. This is no doubt the result of the changing culture in hockey, and JBots needs to avoid players who might have high skill, but are unable or unwilling to play a, or play in a, physical game. And, no, before some of you blow the concept out of proportion, I'm not talking about checking players through the glass on a routine basis or fights every period. I'm just talking about a game that features more physical engagement relative to the situation on the ice.

This is close to a thought I had the other day and decided to backspace out the entire post. When is it, historically, they start their "Heroic Runs™"? If you consider that they allowed themselves to drop just below a wildcard spot, and then pick it up like they seem to do after the All Star break, there is still a very good chance they claim a wildcard slot.

This guys has it correct with the idea of hiring Quenneville. A lot of you think it's as easy as ordering a new coach from Amazon.

And more for the fans to bitch about. Especially if he's a bust in the NHL like Rolston. Then we have the summer to find a guy. Nice roller coaster you got there!

Maybe Mother Earth is a sadist, loved having her depths penetrated, and is upset that Pegula left her so quickly. Now she's a psycho stalker, causing the laws of physics to mutate during Sabres games to invoke pain. Until Terry comes back. Maybe Fate has pointed the finger at us to write the book on how the concepts of world peace through understanding, highly advanced societies without using natural resources, and truly enlightened, spiritually free individuals forming one worldwide mind can all come together through Sabres hockey, but Fate is angry none of us have started writing that book, let alone recognized the mandate (until now).

If coach Q were worth keeping for the rebuild, don't you think they would have done so? Or was the Chicago organization throwing meat to the fans because the roster can't play at a competitive level anymore? This is ridiculous. You all want Quenneville, but he was fired from a team that was under-performing. Is it that he looks more angry on TV? That, sometimes, the camera will catch him grabbing his own package as a sign of enmity towards the refs? Oh, I know, the canned response is "he has three Cups." He does indeed, but he also had a roster that was perfectly tuned to play the game he wanted them to play - until his core could no longer play it. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind seeing Quenneville behind our bench, and I like the idea of a spry coach. However, his own team dumped him when they clearly need to rebuild. Does that say something about Q? Does that say something about the organization? What about the fans who wanted to fire the coach who brought them three Cups and could be in on the rebuild of the next generation Blackhawks? Something is especially stupid here.

Do we always have the wrong players leading the team? Do we always have the wrong coaches? I think it all starts with the GM.

What we've seen tonight precedes Jack, precedes Phil, precedes JBot. We've seen this kind of garbage for 10 years.

I give Mitts credit for manning-up and doing an interview after this game.

Eichel is a pretty honest interview, but he obviously puts on a good face. I would LOVE to hear his thoughts uncensored.

Eichel - "I've lost the love for the game..right now, Hamilton, as you keep talking to me, I lose my love for the game more and more..."

None of the these points make sense - these are all reasons you've come up with to justify a boogeyman. Each player has a contract and, ideally, some semblance of pride. They should motivate themselves. I don't disagree a good coach should be able to pump up his team at times, but, those speeches really only happen in the movies. The PP has been an on-going problem. And I'm sure they've been totally ignoring it. And the players don't matter. Are you serious? Ullmark got lit up, too. You leave in a goalie as long as you can to try and allow the goalie - and team - to recover, individually, and as a team. I think, clearly, there WAS NOT enough talent out there to beat the Oilers tonight. They sucked. They had no life and no urgency. We've all been down this road, now, too many times to be fooled by the boogeyman approach to coach firings. How about some real reasoning, some real evidence that supports the torches and pitchforks.

He didn't do that. The team did that. I'd like to know what Phil could have done differently. This has been pretty routine since Lindy. It's what got Lindy canned.

What did he do?

You're right.

"This is not what the Sabres had drawn up this morning..." ~ Rob Ray

Holy smokes, when Kassian and Lucic both have two on you in the same game, it's time for some peyote and serious soul-searching.

Blasphemy!