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I know that. You're stating the obvious. My point being, Phil is here post tank and we are seeing similar hockey being played. I hope I cleared that up for you.

2nd mistake, thinking anyone of us posting here are level headed reasonable talking heads. All we are doing is sharing opinions and in reality, Sabre management will do what it will do, fire Phil, keep Phil, keep Jbot etc. All I know is that by December of this year if this club hasn't shown more improvement (if you want to say this season was) I would bet Phil is definitely gone then. (unless the club was debilitated by injuries) If Phil makes it to the draft as Sabres head coach. Believe it or not, I actually was happy when the Sabres gave him the shot, but like Zamboni, you know how I feel about that now.

So if those stats are correct (and I totally believe you) with 10 games remaining- lets say the Sabres get 20-25 more goals in those games. We will be 26 golas more than last season. Not bad, but not a huge improvement (and that's if I'm not being too generous) Lets say our PK and PP percentages stay roughly the same. Again, the PP has not improved but the PK has. Looks like maybe goaltending may have been our biggest improvement perhaps? I look at it as : He has not had a record over 0.500 in 2 seasons as coach so thereby LOSING SEASONS. I don't expect Buffalo to get over 0.500 by the end of this one. Look at Babcock. Even on TSN they are acknowledging that if he cannot get them at least into the 2nd round of the playoffs this year, he will be ion the hot seat and he has had winning (greater than 0.500) seasons the past couple of years. I do when the tank is definitely over and we see similar hockey. Tank seasons were losing on purpose.

No one said "they" would fire Phil. We're just saying "we" would fire Phil (especially with Quenneville and Guy Boucher out there) But that's just me and others who think similarly. We will see what the off season brings and maybe Phil stays and gets to show that this club will improve even more than many feel they have this season. Or maybe we get what we've been seeing since New Year's and he's toast. Not a really long wait to find out. Lets see if JBots can at least make this off season interesting.

Inevitably as far as coaching careers go, that's all we all need to know. Once you start losing, you're in the hot seat.

Lets see which Sabre team shows up against the Leafs. Hopefully, the St. Louis version.

Again, see JJ's post- so what happened come December until now if Phil can readjust as well as other coaches? I'm with JJ on this. It can start against the Leafs though!

See JJ's post.

I'm looking at the overall record and if our 3rd periods have been great, the results don't show it. Or maybe the Sabres are so far behind at that point that the opposition just takes its feet off the pedal and does the minimum to get the 2 points. Again, we will see how long Phil remains at the helm. Dahlin, Montour and Erod are some of our better players. Combined with Jack, Sam and Skinner- and I will not give up on Risto just yet either, we have the makings of some decent talent here for sure.

Plus we'll see how they handle arch-enemy Maple Leafs next. Is it that same Phil system that worked so well with St. Louis? I hope so because I hate being the Leafs ##### for the next couple of seasons.

The consistant epic second period collapses of this club almost the entire season. The Sabres may start a game decently and have a decent first period but you can see the other team figures it out during the intermission and resolves it. Also, if players are not listening to Phil if he has directed them to screen the goaltender, then don't you feel those players shouldn't see the ice again for a while and maybe sit out a game or 2? (like other coaches in this league are apt to do) Again, to me, that's on the coach.

I absolutely have way more patience with JBot- I know his job was not an easy one and I am sure he will be here at least 2 more seasons to get this roster where we may actually see noticeable improvements. But when you consistently see hockey fundamentals (like setting up a screen in front of the opposing goaltender- not readjusting the teams approach in a game after the opposition has adjusted to your game- hence epic second period collapses that we have seen the entire season) I put that on coaching. Trying to entice free agents here will not be easy for JBot. His first job will be getting Skinner to resign. If he can manage that, than maybe, just maybe others may follow but I feel it will be like the Bills with Antonio Brown, they will seek elsewhere. I do like what's happening in Rochester so maybe that is basically the only way we can go for the time being but agaim. it will take 2 to 3 more seasons of pain before these guys are ready for NHL level competition. We will see if this Sabre club gets throttled by the Leafs on Wednesday or if they show some gusto like they did against St. Lou. If they get hammered and the effort looks dismal,I'm sure you know what to expect regarding the post game posts here. To be honest, despite a few softies given up by both Hutton and Ullmark, for some reason, I actually do like our goaltenders. With a little more defensive help I feel they will be fine. I don't want them to rush the Finnish kid as he looks like a gem. Again, I also believe we have some decent talent already on this team. I would like to see how they perform under someone else's direction. We'll know more before December of 2019.

My point being, you just don't forget how to put the puck in the net. These guys know how to and aren't doing it here in Buffalo. Minnesota was a low offense system so that is why Pommers numbers dropped off. (although early on in his career there he potted 30) Under Boudreau they were defense first. We badly need offense from other contributors and it would be nice if it came from KO and Pominville. Again, I believe it is Phil's "system" that stifles it. It's not that they can't or no longer have the skills to do so, it is whatever Phil's role for them is and so far, Phil's system has been a failure. You're right, I hate Phil's system, why wouldn't I? I think there is decent talent currently on this club and my bet is, a different, experienced coach would get way more out of these guys then Phil is. Again, time will tell us and unfortunately, we will have to wait one more season because I think that will be all Phil will get, to either get this club over 0.500 or he'll be shown the door and we'll get to see if another coach can do more. The wait won;t be all that long. We've waited 8 seasons already! This is one of the few teams to be in a solid playoff spot by US Thanksgiving and then fails to qualify barring injuries. To me, everything points to coaching. (again)

The one that is obvious to me is not putting bodies in front of the opposing goaltender. Only Samson does this at times and when you have guys the size of Girgensons and Tage I know what I would ask of them if I were the coach. Get your ass at the top of the crease! I know Girgensons is on the checking 4th line but on the PP, put him out there at tinmes right in the goalies face, interchange with Tage as well. This club is hardly screening opposing goaltenders when its done league wide. that's one I just don't get and I think it's part of the reason we make many backups look like Vezina winners. Look at DeSmith the other night? No one, absolutely no one, screening him all game.

With all due respect, I just went back and did the research, my memory is still decent as I was correct in my assessment. Okposo and Pominville could put the puck in the net with some regularity a few seasons ago. Pominville had a few 30+ goal seasons with the Sabres (before Minnesota and 1 with them) Okposo as an Islander had a few decent goal seasons there as well. Why you're using Sabre totals of the past 4 seasons is puzzling. The offense sucked. (and still does under Phil) Girgensons got 15 in his 2nd season as a Sabre. So please, allow me to spout off a little more!

Are the Sabres fun to watch under Phil? Not in my view and it looks like the view of many posting here. However, that being said, Phil may or may not be the head coach to start next season and you will have your chance to prove me wrong again. Results are results and Phil's as head coach are horse ####!

Are you serious? You're using last seasons Sabres totals as career accomplishments? Really, last seasons Sabres? You're using the past 4 seasons Sabres totals for Girgensons? You do realize where this has been the past 8 seasons don't you? How's our offensive totals in that time span? Wow! I'm talking NYI Okposo. Pominville when he was the Sabres Captain (and could score quite a bit) Did Girgensons not get 15 when he was first a Sabre? Phil's no longer in Nashville but you;re right, they are a fun team to watch.

Well, if Phil is telling Tage to go and screen the opposing goaltender and Tage isn't doing it (and as far as I've seen, he's not) and Phil keeps playing him, then Phil is a lousy coach and doesn't deserve to be here.

Well, now that you mention it, let's see if Skinner stays? If not, we then need to ask, why not? Also, let's see if Jack stays until the end of his contract and if he does, will he re-up with Buffalo? If he also, does not, we need to know why? Same for Samson. If things don;t turn around by next season or one more after that, career years or not, you can bet they will all bolt. Nothing satisfies more than being part of a winning team. Phil will finish out this season. If by US Thanksgiving of this year the Sabres are still sucking, I don't think we will have Phil around for debate anymore. Just my thoughts but time will tell. .

I expect the Blues to forecheck the Sabres into oblivion. I watched them play the Leafs earlier this season (and the Leafs play a strong forechecking game also) and the Leafs were on their heels. This Blues club (who is fighting for a playoff spot) will come out hard tonight. I expect this to get ugly to be honest and perhaps the final decision maker in terms of how long this club wishes to continue with Phil- who I do believe at least finishes this season. I would like the Sabres to prove me wrong in all of this but somewhere post game, ROR will be smiling. Tarasenko and ROR will score tonight.

Then I would totally concede that maybe, most of this on ice mess wasn't on Phil. But from what I am watching, I honestly believe Phil's system sucks huge. I cannot understand how guys like Pominville and Okposo (and maybe even Girgensons) all of a sudden, don't know how to put the puck in the net like they used to. I think whatever system Phil is trying to install stifles that ability. The defense does not take the body aside from maybe Bogo. (and perhaps McCabe) but the rest- weak. Why is Tage Thompson not told to go in front of the opposing goalie and screen him? That has to come from the coach. Only Samson does this sporadically and he doesn't have Thompson's size. Hockey 101. Have you noticed in the past 10 Sabres games now that screening the goalie isn't in the game plan? I've been watching this closely and I cannot believe it. DeSmith had a relatively easy night. It's mind boggling. Some may argue we have players who don't want to go there, but then its up to the coach to instruct them to go there and do it, or you sit. I am willing to gamble that even under Guy Boucher (who I feel, got the Gallant treatment in Ottawa- but Melnyk is an ownership disaster also) this team would be at least 10 points or more better. What have we got to lose at this point? I have seen nothing out of a Phil Housley coached club that gives me even remote hope for next season.

I seriously cannot see anyone on this site defending Phil at this point. I do not believe any other organization would stand by their coach with the product this club is putting on the ice. For the sake of this entire organization, and PH himself, please end this by seasons finish. Time to try again at a decent head coach.

I also stand by the fact that Phil is definitely not the answer behind the Sabres bench. But we'll know one way or the other by November of this year.

Hitch got them back into the playoff picture. They are still in contention, the Sabres are not. Edmonton might fall short but they were out of it completely when they fired their previous coach. Agreed that Trotz might just be greater than Hitch though. A shame that 2 marquee players like McDavid and Eichel have yet to be really showcased come playoff time. Edmonton's D is suspect as well and Talbot wasn't very good this season while he was an Oiler.

I'll stick to "It's a coaching problem"- Look at the Isles under Trotz. They lost their franchise player and got better, lead the league in GAA with ex-Sabre Lehner in goal and Tomas Greiss for God's sake. Nope, it's definitely the coaching. The team is a reflection of its coach.