eman

and teaches some structure. The D is a complete mess right now. There is talent here (again- once they leave and do well elsewhere, we all post why they couldn't do that when they were here)

Don't you wonder why a guy like Tage (with his size) isn't asked to park in front of the opposing goalie? I mean, that's not even rocket science, it's coaching 101, yet we never see him do that. i seriously believe that is on Phil DeSmith literally had no one in his face the entire night and they haven't done this for the past few games. It is incredibly noticeable. I'm not sure why Okposo has lost his ability to put the puck in the net (I believe he still can as can Pominville- slow or not) Something is seriously amiss in Phil's coaching.

No, St. Louis has some challenges, but they sucked for a good 3 months of the season and once New Year's came and went, they are playing good hockey when it matters now. Tonight they got robbed by Nilsson (again- ex-Sabre doing well) a 35 save shutout and some brilliant stops included if you saw the highlights. (one of them on ROR) They play an entertaining game and you can notice the effort is definitely there. Night and day between them and this Sabre club.

Listen, if this GM manages to fire Phil and get a coach like Quenneville or even Guy Boucher and the club doesn't improve under them, I'll concede that maybe we are talent poor. But I am convinced our problems the past few seasons have been entirely coaching related. I know I am beating this to death but to me, it just seems obvious. Garbage effort results in no one benched with any seniority in this league, screening opposing goalies doesn't seem to be part of the game plan (unless Samson does it- some times) I believe the club is a reflection of its coach (or coaches in our case) Another ex-Sabre stoned ROR and the Blues tonight just as an FYI. His name? Anders Nilsson- stood on his head for Ottawa in a 2-0 shutout win.

I don't want to deal Risto, Bogo et al. I honestly believe under Quenneville he can tighten up the D and implement a system that will help Hutton and Ullmark (I actually like our goaltending also- honest) with a few decent assistants I also honestly believe the offense can get much better. There was a time when Pominville and Okposo could put the puck in the net. Tage has a great shot and size but is never instructed to get his ass in front of the opposing goaltender. Time for some serious coaching to take place here. We have some decent pieces. Tage reminds me of Andreychuk- no one screened DeSmith tonight and haven't for the past few games and I just don't get that. All the other teams do this.

I actually beg to differ. Under this coach, this team isn't good. I do believe there is more talent here than some give credit for. The only time we'll see that is once they leave and do well somewhere else. (and we're seeing it already with ex-Sabres who posters wanted run out of town) This coach stinks, and his assistants. That is the major problem.

Nope, Richard is right . O'Reilly wanted out. I am sure either he or his agent requested to be moved. You could see on his face in the post games he was biding his time and kind of talking around the issue. There is something going on here.

I believe you are correct and whatever it was, he ain't telling. Things have worked out nicely for him though (and Kane, and Lehner and even ###damn Paul Byron in Montreal- he plays a regular shift for the Habs and is a serviceable player- its pissing me off)

and if you lie with dogs, you're gonna get fleas. ROR actually looks really good in the Blues lineup for those that have a chance to watch him. They might make some playoff noise this year.

just give them their money "My God they can taste it!" -Christian Slater in Very Bad Things

Not that I'm a Phil sympathizer, but you have to wonder what he's feeling right now? He's got to know he has lost the room and that any chance he has at another head coaching job will be light years away (if he ever gets another shot) He'll get an assistant position somewhere but he's got to know the clock is ticking and his coaching efforts just seem embarrassing with this squad.

Phil's making him look like one of the Sabres all time coaching greats!

Especially with Phil as the head coach. It really isn't inconceivable that the management group of this team has hired really lousy coaches the past few years. I mean Ron Rolston???? If you went on the Pittsburgh fan site they were warning Sabres fans what to expect with Dan Bylsma (and they were right) Now Phil. Hopefully, JBots can find someone decent with experience who actually wants a shot at this crew and to work for this organization. Might be harder than we think.

kiss a 0.500 season good bye also. They will have a losing record at the end of this debacle.

and Quenneville and Guy Boucher sit idle. I bet both get picked up by other clubs and we lose out once again. Phil just wasn't ready to be a head coach.

and the booing has reigned down from the crowd. Needs to be done. #### poor product.

That's what I mean with "the bar being set so low" around here now. The bar used to be "we don't want to be one of those teams that finishes 7th or 8th only to go out in the first round"- now we are satisfied (or some are anyhow) with "at least we're better than last season"- even though it means we are completely out of the playoffs by a long shot again. So sad what has happened to this franchise.

Neither can I- especially since we heard this before. Again, a decent coach could significantly speed up the process.

In total agreement again Zamboni. This team is free falling under Phil so I believe his coaching won't work here. JBots should get one more season to see if he can entice a couple pieces here (although it may take a miracle- I use Schoop & the Bulldogs assessment of the Bills when Antonio Brown refused to come "Well, quite frankly, Buffalo deserves this because they have not made the environment enticing for free agents to want to come here") This rings true for the Sabres as well. But, one more shot he should have, at least of getting this team competitive for an entire season. Phil can go. I believe even if JBots gets the right coach this time, this club will improve greatly. In a short time, we will know.

In total agreement. I do think there is more talent in this lineup than we give credit for and I honestly believe it is the coaching and the system.

I'll believe it when I see it. This D looks extremely soft to me and I don't think any club covets our defense right now. Do they have skills? Yes, I believe they do, but under Phil's tutelage, their value is plummeting. I do agree, perhaps under Quenneville (maybe even Guy Boucher) they would be harder group to play against but as I see them right now, incredibly soft. They do not take the body whatsoever and opposing entry into Buffalo's zone looks very easy right now. You will not win anything with a defense that plays the way this group is currently playing.

Bingo! Nailed it!

Same boat here. Born in 65' and this is why I am now hard on this coach and management. I have seen enough over the years. 2 great Cup runs and some unbelievable players and goaltenders come through Buffalo. The past 8 years have been an all time low for me. Some posters on this site have set the bar so low that anything even remotely better than the season before means "headed in the right direction" or "they're still young", or "Coach Phil doesn't have the right group of guys to play his system" - whatever the hell it is, (I'm guessing soft & speedy- hardly a recipe for playoff success) Patience has run out. Time for the organization to just show me results as in wins and losses. I couldn't give a #### about possession time and whatever other stats you wish to look at. Bottom line: Wins & Losses and man have there ever been a ton of the latter these past 8 years. This club will not finish above 0.500. Too many times have we seen an effort like this one tonight over the years and that is on the coach. (or several coaches over that period of time)

Season's not over yet. Not sure many more wins are in the cards for this season for this club. Very sad. They actually might be the first club to buck the TSN trend of being solidly in a playoff spot by US Thanksgiving, and than actually not making the playoffs!

I beg to differ. You should be shouted down shortly by other posters here for sharing those thoughts. (although I agree wholeheartedly- it's a disgraceful excuse for a pro hockey club)