nfreeman

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?

I was a big fan of Lindy's, but I'm not sure about bringing him back. It's kinda hard to square his results in Dallas with "coach who knows how to win in the NHL as the game is currently played and who knows how to get the most out of young potential stars."

That was our best shot and our best team in the post-Bert era. And the summer of 2006, when they let Grier, McKee and Dumont go, was when they started thumbing their noses in the faces of the hockey gods -- and when the fans started paying the price. I'm with TB on 2006 (and the same goes for 1999) -- those were thrilling rides albeit with disappointing endings. I'd be ecstatic if we get seasons like those anytime soon. I don't hate this team though. I just want to see what they can do with a new coach and a couple of new defensemen. Separately: if one is inclined to believe in such things, one could easily conclude that the Sabres have gotten, over the last 10 years, exactly what they deserve for committing 2 abominations: letting Drury and Briere go, and then the tank. The hockey gods are not mocked.

Indeed. There is a very significant likelihood that ROR is a very good player with zero Drury in him, that Eichel is more MacKinnon than McDavid, that Reino is more Derek Roy than Toews and that Risto is more Phaneuf than Doughty. Again: the tank usually doesn't work, even though you do end up with some shiny toys.

Well, Auston Matthews scored his 40th just now into an empty net to clinch a playoff spot for the Leafs (at home vs Pittsburgh, after being down by 1 with 5 min to go in the 3rd). Makes you kinda wish the Sabres had reeled in Babcock, innit?

I don't think there is any urgency to either keep or unload either of them. Neither has demonstrated that he needs to be kept or unloaded. Both are decent depth players. Larson is a better agitator, while Zemgus has a bit more skill. Neither has shown decent production. Both are capable of holding down a bottom six slot as long as they are cheap and until someone better comes along.

He was joking you hoser.

If we have a coach with head not implanted in rectum, yes. This. No. Correct. Both of these. Kaner and KO are the only expensive wingers we need. Good stuff here too.

Well, they got the 1st pick in the 2nd round for Marty, after years of high-end backup service from him. But I think you're right about Mika.

That really sounds to me like "DDB needs to go."

Regarding Ennis: I agree that he's got his legs back and has recently looked better than he has at anytime this season or last season. I also agree that his hands and finish aren't back yet -- but I think a healthy offseason and training camp, plus plenty of ice time with good linemates -- and the Sabres have enough skill in their top 9 for him to have good linemates -- and he could get those back too. If the Sabres can unload both Moulson and Ennis, I'm fine with doing so. But if they can only unload one, it's gotta be Moulson.

That 9-7 record was a mirage. The Bills were 8-7 and played the Patriots in the last game of the season, when the Pats had clinched, had zero to play for and rested Brady for half the game. There is essentially zero possibility that the Bills would've won that game had the Patriots given a poop about it. So that was just another 8-8 season. Similarly, had the Bills played TT in the (meaningless) finale vs the Jets this season, there's a pretty good likelihood that they would've won, which would've brought them to...8-8. I certainly don't argue that hiring Rex was a mistake -- but it was a defensible move. He was the biggest name on the coaching market, and getting him (after years of the Bills not even being able to get interviews with hot candidates) was a coup. As for the Sabres, I said it came down to coaching and injuries -- not just injuries. The Sabres have clearly bailed on DDB. Was hiring him a mistake? Yes indeed -- but again, it was defensible. He was the 2nd-biggest name on the coaching market, and they hired him only after being spurned by the top guy. Do you not think they'd be in the thick of the playoff race under the circumstances I mentioned -- i.e. Babcock plus no injuries?

Correct. I agree with most of this, but I think the NFL would've approved a Bills move in a heartbeat. Beat me to it.

How about this: the Bills are certainly no worse than they were and as demonstrated upthread are actually a bit better. The Sabres are worse, but they are worse because they decided to pursue the strategy that most here wanted them to pursue: the siren's song of the tank. The results of that decision were entirely predictable. Now, are the Pegulas ultimately responsible for the tank, and, before that, for keeping Darcy on -- both of which decisions turned out poorly? Yes, they are. But while I disagreed with both decisions, both were defensible. Neither was the product of foolish/self-indulgent meddling, as the fear-and-loathing-of-the-wealthy corner here would have it. And next year, if they get better coaching and good health, they'll likely make the playoffs. Frankly, they probably would've made it this year with Babcock and with no early Eichel, Kane, Okposo and ROR injuries.

yes.

Flagg-- that was outstanding.

Well, the 140-character twitter limit makes it difficult.

As usual, yse well overstates his case, but there are certainly kernels of troof. I would trade Larsson to Vegas to get them to take Moulson (not Ennis, because I see signs of life in Ennis, while Moulson is done like dinner). I'm not sure what the cap implications are of a Gorges buyout, but it's certainly possible -- and yse is probably right that Franson and Kuli will both walk in FA. I highly doubt that Kane is traded.

Which players does this apply to? And how, exactly do you know this?

Oooooooooooohhhh. You got me.