Trettioåtta

http://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/nero.htm :P I expect something to change in the next 48 hours. But it almost certainly won't. Not even a trade :/

True - my memory tells me Miller got us through one round and Drury the other. Okay, so clearly it has been a chronic failing of the team. The only people on that team who are still on this team, are Miller, Vanek, Pommers, Kaleta, Stafford and Hecht. Miller has been damn good for us over the last 40-50 games. Vanek has been an offensive force this season and plays in front of the net (ask Babcock how useful that is). Pommers has been his reliable self who quietly puts up the points. Those three are clearly not the problem - all of them show effort and lead by example. Kaleta always hustles he is always moving his feet and blocking shots and is good on the PK - again, he is good at his job. Hecht, whilst some people might not want him here, he does his job - yes he throws weak shots on goal but you know what? how often do we even gain the zone without a dump and chase and get a shot on goal; I also think he is decent on the lower lines as a role player. I like him, but I think Lindy over uses him, at the very least he is not our primary issue - he gets the puck out of our zone and into theirs - something few sabres seem to be able to do Stafford has been bad this season. I thought it started so well, he looked very good defensively and he fought in the opener. But he has just been a black-hole offensively - he is becoming the new Hecht. Only 4 times more expensive. Stafford should be a 50 point winger, easily - probably even 60. He has 7 points on the season, but even that is deceptive, he has missed so many easy chances. I think the problem has to be LR. I just can't work it out - our team should be better. Ennis, Coho, Stafford, Pommers and Vanek should be a good top 5. Likewise Sekera, Ehrhoff, Myers and Regehr should be a decent top 4 and Weber is a decent 5/6. On paper our top 5 and entire defence looks really quite good. Our team shows a lack of hustle on the ice, a failure to bury chances (Foligno is our worst offender, Grigo is second) and struggle to clear the zone. Hustle on the ice and burying chances is on the players, I don't think a coach is responsible for that - the only way it could be a coach is if the team has quit on him. Clearing the zone is all on the coach, clearly the positioning of players needs to change. I think our problem is a combination of the forwards (bottom 6/stafford mainly) and coach.

Yeah but we won the president's trophy 2 months later and almost made it to tht finals

I just don't get how Datsyuk seems to be able to do things that other players just can't - he is so fun to watch http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=203446&lang=en

The whole team is a defensive liability. Fans of other teams probably have a hard time working out which of the 5 players' mistakes was the one that directly lead to the goal and which were harmless turnovers

I really hope Burke isn't involved in the Sabres in anyway. He just cares about making a goony team and awful hockey trades. The thing is, you can't really poach coaches or gms from teams at this stage - no one will give you permission to talk to them. This season is screwed regardless of change for the sake of change. However, I really liked the look of that Nashville assistent coach someone posted a week ago - and I like the Nashville coaching team in general. There are also a coupe other coaches (e.g. Dave Tippet) I really like. I am not too sure about GMs, and a bad one can really ###### the team up. I don't think DR gets canned, not after just signing a new extension - it is just a bad PR move. It would be like trading Ehrhoff over summer or buying Leino out this summer. It is too cutthroat; and whilst we need change, we don't want to damage an organisation with a bad rep (thanks to everyone thinking Buffalo is a ###### hole apparently) The point I was making was no-one know where it comes from, most likely it was just randomly said by some nobody and people liked it and started attributing it to smart people. It happens a lot with quotes

Does WGR record these post-game shows?

We have no goaltending prospects and Miller has proven this season he is not the problem. So if we trade the other two for prospects and picks, that leaves one giant gaping hole in the top line. And gives out average age of our forwards down to about 24, with a top 6 of about 22. We need experience. Just as Roy was good at taking the top line heat, so are Vanek and Pommers. If we get rid of them who takes the heat? Foligno? The guy might have heart, but he can barely hack second line talent. I don't want to blow up the team for the sake of it. I want the team to have an identity. I think that comes from a decent bottom 6. I want a third line that is physical and sound, that can go out and play a well rounded game, they can score, scrap and check. I want a 4th line that has a purpose. When our 4th line is out all I can think is hurry up and get the next line out. They mostly play a finesse game it seems. I want a 4th line that punishes people. Any post-game comments from the tea yet?

You need some vets on the team. Pommers - Coho - Vanek Ennis - Grigo - ???? Foligno - ??? - Ott ??? - ??? - Kaleta Scott I want a bottom 6 with identity, I don't want to have Ellis or Ellis+fighting (number 8) on this team. I want a third line center like Darren Helm. Myers - ???? (ideally Scuderi) Sekera - Weber Ehrhoff - Regehr McNabb Our defence has been bad, but I think it is actually more the offence's fault - there are no lanes to get the puck out through. Miller Not Enroth So I'd remove Brennan, Enroth, Gerbe, Hecht, Mccormick, Stafford, Pardy, Sulzer and I think Regehr leaves. I don't think we need to trade our good players (a.k.a. top line vets/Miller) I think we need to get rid of mediocre bagage

Did they get booed off the ice?

In no way is that a captains job. That is a coaches job. Urgh disappointing - early goal cost us again. Good teams find a way to win close games. Anymore news on Leino? The guy has missed over 1/3 of the season for a training camp injury...

How long left?

Urgh...why has GCL cut out? I sat through two awful periods and don't get to see the mediocre one! This is not fair

I only caught half of that but I loved it. I'm really struggling to work out what the sabres problem is(coaching, talent, heart, confidence etc.) - i just don't get why we an't play like other teams

On the plus side, 2 minutes with Harry is coming up. Get ready for your evening's highlight

Yeah, that's what's wrong with that advert :P Nice play by Pommers and Coho on that goal - very much needed Yeah, but that was a awful decision by the Caps

Myers and Regehr are both looking nice

Yes because him and his contract are the real problem with this team...

I'm glad they're booing. Make the booing louder

That was all on Gerbe. He tried to force a pass to Pommers and it got picked off

Wow honest interview by Regehr. I like it. I wonder if what s lacking on this team is not talent or coaching, but chemistry

They've had 3 breakaways - Miller has bailed the entire team out this period

It is not exactly a minor point - it has been quoted and talked about repeatedly. And explains why the conversation everyone was having was about NHL vs CHL, not NHL vs AHL. I think it is almost as ignorant as not knowing there is a difference between RFA and UFAs

Me also. But they also prove monsters who play big don't always guarantee cups

I disagree, Myers looked fine last couple of games