7+6=13

Murray has had 3 drafts and we all know the numbers on draft picks making it in the NHL. Round 3 and beyond is a miracle to even play a game - so we're talking about 1st and 2nd rounders primarily having a chance. Sam is playing, Karabacek and Cornel are 20 and Lemieux was traded from the 2014 draft. Eichel is playing and Guhle is coming from 2015. You mentioned Nylander and Asplund and the apparent 6th round gift of Estephan. Carrier a 2nd rounder from the 2013 draft also has a chance to be a good NHL player. Murray obviously added very good offensive talent in free agency and the draft. He has not accomplished that defensively but we have this years draft and will have to lean on building it through free agency. We're in good shape and shouldn't be so down trodden. When Sam and Jack are 24 and 23 respectively we're going to be a force and some of the bad contracts we have now will be far in the rear view mirror. To me this season and next are just about getting our young stars on the ice and developing their game - they are doing that.

^^^ What would be the point of giving the team one second of your time then?

I don't like Lehner's style personally. He's a net clogger and I prefer quick and agile - but this defense is fantastically terrible.

I'd agree except Risto. The guy just does so many things to contribute.

Yes. A normal person would have needed two good ankles.

Amazing how even playing one of the worst teams in the NHL - time off from playing is hard to overcome. Actually makes it all the more amazing how Eichel came back like he was shot out of a cannon. Good reminder for us fans that underestimate how injured players not named Eichel need time to build back up.

I follow them game to game but it's not always a likeable thing. The main reason it's not likeable is that I am constantly changing my mind on what I think about many things. For a while I was blaming myself but I've come to shift that blame anywhere but me. Heck I was close to not only conceding but being ok with not making the playoffs and seeing the value in another top 10 pick. Now I'm all about just squeaking into the playoffs because I just want to be in the post season. Well darnit, that's not my fault.

No man, just kidding around. Then amazingly they do that. Good lord this team is tough to understand.

Bylsma just tweeted live during the game that the players need to trust the game plan.

I certainly agree with the grind portion of your post but I'd argue that there's much better shots available in the NCAA because the defense is much much less intense. Therefore specifically for goaltenders I think it's a different kind of evaluation. The closeness the offense gets to the goal and the passing around the goal is much harder to work for in the NHL. But as you say, the speed of how things happen in the NHL is a major consideration. So are the opportunities that come much more rarely in the NHL vs the speed of the NHL is what makes it difficult to know how a goaltenders game will translate.

I'm not saying you're wrong or that I totally disagree with you. However I think it's possible Lehner with a better defense and puck possession could see his save percentage get worse - solely because of the type of goals he lets in. I think because of how many shots he takes, his numbers are somewhat better than on ice performance.

I still wish Ruff was here. He'd have this team playing and he deserved to have that in Buffalo.

That's right. We do it because of the lack of speed/skill. Huge difference. The strange thing is we have lines/players with plenty enough speed to not dump in as much as we do - Bylsma, it appears, refuses to abandon his scheme regardless of which line is out there. I see absolutely nothing wrong with allowing 2 top lines to play different than 2 puck control lines.

Auston Matthews is the real deal. 22 goals is just simply amazing. We just don't have that kind of luck.

Carrier is a young player to get excited about. He's huge, crazy quick and a fast skater. If he continues to work on puck handling he's going to be very nice. IMO he was sorely missed in the Chicago game. He's one of our players that can hang with their skill. Needed him badly in that game.

This has to be right and is evidenced by the reporting of Rob Ray after the 1st period. The assistant coach said Bylsma went off on the team because they weren't sticking to the game plan. I think it's an indication that this team isn't rebelling - because I think there's too much character - but rather they're struggling to play Bylsma's way. I think it's possible that the team is teetering on believing in it.

Exactly right. We're 2-9 after regulation. It's not good enough to get 1 point that many times - I believe that's where Jack is coming from.

Thanks for the compliment but I don't think my point came across like I'd hoped. I also agree that's it's always a good thing to be angry with losing. I just think Bylsma is missing the self awareness part. I do not see a team that isn't giving effort - of course that's my opinion. I just see a system not working. Let's take your analogy of football and we're a young team. When you're 2-5 and you average 12 points per football game - it may not be a time to say this team needs to start playing desperate and angry. It's time to reflect as a coach on what is broken. You're best player is pissed. Probably watching certain players on the Oilers and Maple Leafs raising their arms - and none too happy. I'm not sure he's completely understanding what's brewing and it isn't, ok great my best player is pissed hope everyone else gets that way.

I don't know if it's good to let the young players "off the hook" - but I'd ask, is it better for our young team to feel/play like this after the 37th game? "I think everyone of us should be [as emotional as Eichel]. We know the situation we're in and we know how desperate we are at this point in the season to win games. We should all find that desperation, that urgency, and that anger." I don't want my young team feeling angry, urgent and desperate at the 45% point of the season for ANY REASON. This is another total blunder on Bylsma's part. I wouldn't worry about letting players off the hook as much I would about them playing angry and desperate - which to me is much much much more damaging. In addition I think he read the situation wrong, again. I would prefer he said - Jack is an emotional player and it's what we love about him. We hope his fire continues to be an influence on any player that needs it. However as a coach I want to use his fire to focus this team and continue to come together. I'm not seeing a lack of effort, so I don't believe it's that. We will all work tirelessly to stack more wins together or go 4 out of 6, things like that. But that pressure should be on me, not the players. He better find out who/what Jack's frustrated about/at.

I don't think anyone could disagree with you on your point. However with the puck already headed towards the offensive zone we don't use many options besides dumping the puck in and we're especially bad once we have possession in the offensive zone.

You're saying it though. He's done a nice job assembling forwards yet we don't score. That's coaching IMO. It seems to me the skilled players are trying to figure out how to use their talent while adhering to Bylsma's system. Then you see Gionta being a good soldier and dumping the puck in at nauseum like he should be. To me there needs to be a clear distinction on how separate lines should be playing instead of one system for the entire roster. I'll give GMTM criticism for Lehner but hey he was his first choice after the tank. It's not working out but he surely had to give him this year after an injury ridden 1st year to show what he can do. It's not like he's made several bad goalie decisions.

While I hate he hurt his hand the best moment of the night for me was Carrier fighting. This kid is playing himself into the future of the Sabres plans. He's also one of the reasons I believe we can play a Boston style offense with our next coach.

I love the way Boston plays offense. We have the personnel to play the same style on our top lines so it's difficult to watch. You can just see it's a system too not improv. Puck at the mid point in the offensive zone and there's a presumption a player will be at a spot - then they are. They shoot down lanes at different left to right lines. Then they have a separate circling offense but with the same philosophy of eventually a player going down a lane. It really is impressive because there's so many legitimate shots being taken (they missed the net a lot tonight too). Even though we lost I also get the sense we're getting better at Bylsma's game plan. The problem is that style doesn't suite our best player and on nights like tonight make him irrelevant IMO for far too many shifts. This style is fit more for a lot of the other players(Okposo, O'reilly, Foligno and maybe even Kane. Bylsma is giving Jack the freedom to play his game but his system fits a group of players well - but the system is not for Jack's ability and his passing game. Jack several times a game puts a hard pass to a line-mate and they're not ready for it because it's so separate from the system (unexpected even because it's on the fly) - where the Boston players are playing that style all game long and the player is expecting that pass as he's expected to be there. I don't dislike Bylsma and I'm torn on if I want something more tailored for Jack and less for the majority even though some lines can't execute. Difficult situation IMO.

Eichel has been extremely irresponsible with the puck the last several games. It's like he doesn't take the possession seriously enough or something. Haphazardly gives the puck away trying to be too complicated with his stick moves.

I'd argue ROR has been our most consistent and reliable player.