nfreeman

The water is shut off in my office today. Things are getting dicey.

I really hope DDB gets canned, but I know that I'm glad to have Liger back.

Pretty good season premiere, although a bit slow IMHO. I'm curious to see what usage Chuck has in mind for the tape.

Settle down young man. You're not going anywhere.

Oh, you're referring to the "conference semifinals?" That is Gen-X weak-willed construct if there ever was one.

Since I'm throwing these around today, there is NFW that Whaley didn't want to get rid of Rex.

Very nice.

I think there is NFW that GMTM wanted to fire DDB but was overruled by TP.

They lost in the 2nd round last year. Well, in 4 years there, he made the playoffs twice and won one round. So, since 2007, he's won one playoff round. The Stars also dropped a staggering 30 points in the standings this year relative to last year. That means something is seriously wrong there. If my choices are DDB or Lindy, I'm taking Lindy in a heartbeat, but facts is facts.

So who are we going to get at #6 or #7? JFC I hope it's a good defenseman.

So now it's shoes, then socks? How's that working for ya?

Ugh.

I hate to say it, but it still seems unlikely that they'd put him out there for a presser and then can him.

I think they had quite a bit of skill on O, as evidenced by the PP, they had pretty solid goaltending and they had a number of respectable defensemen. I think a better coach would've made it work the same way Babcock did in Toronto.

Me too. CT beat me to it. I think better coaching would've made more of a difference to the Sabres this year than better health. That post-bye week meltdown was unforgivable.

Well, if you believe in the collective wisdom of the crowd, this one is waaaaaayyy too close for comfort.

Do you think this roster should be competitive for a playoff spot? I do.

Well, as an NHL winger, he's OK, but probably not top-line material, and maybe not top-6 (not on a top-5 offense, anyway). He was an elite center as a junior. Why not see if he can be a difference-maker at that position in the NHL? It's not like he was lighting it up as a winger, and the team has a lot invested in him.

I'm emphatically on board. yse -- This is not a 5th-last-in-the-NHL roster. Not even close.

Then he's gotta be shown the door on Tuesday.

BTW -- on the PP that led to the TB SHG, ROR had a truly terrible turnover in the Sabres' zone. It didn't result in the shortie, but it was the kind of lazy, sloppy, mediocre, undisciplined play that has defined the team this season.

It's a good idea, but IMHO it won't (and shouldn't) happen unless and until GMTM is canned -- which, IMHO, won't (and shouldn't) happen for at least one more year. Watching this embarrassing performance in TB -- I have to believe that GMTM is going to fire DDB. If that's true, then I think GMTM gets to hire a new coach, and if there is improvement next year, GMTM and the new coach will get at least another year thereafter. If GMTM hires a new coach and there is no improvement, then they're both gone after next year, and it will be time to bring in a president of hockey operations to hire the new GM and, unlike PLF, stick around to oversee matters. Same outcome if GMTM brings back DDB and the team is terrible at Xmas -- both are gone and a president is brought in to hire the new GM and oversee matters thereafter. If DDB isn't fired by Wednesday at the latest, we have a major freaking problem.

Detroit is ahead in NJ -- 2-0 in the 2nd period. If they win and the Sabres lose -- the Sabres end up 5th from the bottom. That is freaking terrible.

I think the 10 years since Black Sunday have been the bleakest period in franchise history.

Possibly. They were 2nd-last in GA/game and 11th in fewest shots against per game, which supports your theory. OTOH, they were only tied for 16th in scoring (but 12th in shots per game). Do you guys want him back?