jsb

I agree with you and a few others, even in a loss they are much more fun to watch this year. 3-1 and I'm still watching the game, the past 2 years it would have been nap time for me. Not just Speed (of the players) on the ice but speed of play is what is so noticeable to me. I almost forgot what it's like to watch the Sabres attack. Although I think Foligno is the most improved player on the team, he was almost invisible, he only played 9 minutes. He did all the work on that McCabe goal. I must be missing something with him because I was pretty confused by his lack of playing time. Could it be we have too many quality forwards?? Someone mentioned Bylsma's teaching/coaching, kudos to you sir because in 4 games the difference in style of play is almost mind boggling compared to last year. Negatives to that game, 2 stupid penalties to open the game by 2 vets who should know better. What an awful way to start the game and Jagr, he's been playing so long, didn't he cheap shot Maurice Richard one time??? 2 goals to a 43 year old.....UGH. Lost the game in my opinion on what I'll call Special Teams, we were 1 for 6 16% they were 2 for 5 40% on power plays, we need to get better at both.

Well a good start for him, scored a goal in his first game back for Prince Albert last night.

Did they need to waive Donovan before they sent him to Rochester?? The Guhle move seemed like a no brainer but they must see something in the kid to keep him for as long as they did. It will be interesting to watch his development over the next couple of years to see how he progresses.

I agree with you that if he's getting 12 minutes and up he stays here. If he's getting less or sitting in the press box, he needs to go down and PLAY. I don't think the only thing he needs to work on is power and strength. Whatever the coaching staff decides is what he'll be asked to do in Rochester. Every guy is different, you can't make up some scenario because J.Drouin did it. Who cares what he did, the team needs to make a decision on what is best for the development of Sam. If that means he goes down until he's ready to play 15+ minutes a game. That's what they should do. Anybody who's been involved in competitive sports knows that people develop at different rates. Because one guy is physically ready at a certain age doesn't mean everyone should be on that same course. Just because you're at one level of development doesn't mean 3-6 months later you're not at another either up or down for that matter. Just because he's not the best player on the team right now doesn't necessarily mean he won't be 18 months from now (wouldn't that be sweet).

Mark Pysyk won't be going to Rochester anytime soon because he's playing too well and the future is his. Handles the puck better than I thought also.

I think he's going to Rochester. He's not getting minutes, he's not outplaying anybody and it appears to me he's having a confidence issue. He needs the minutes in Rochester, not necessarily all year but when there's a need and there will be, bring him back up. If there's a need to protect him in the AHL, do so but he needs minutes. He's not going to get it here right now. He's not as ready as he will be.

I'm using it off my Roku, couldn't be happier with it. I bought the 1 team option (you can guess who)

Wow, we have a very young team, new coach, most players haven't played together much and after 2 games against the Stanley Cup Finalist and a team that is 25-4-4 in their last 33 regular season games and PANIC is the word. Just WOW. I would think sometime around Thanksgiving we'll be able to give a real analysis as to how we're doing. Early analysis: we won the Kane-Bogo vs. Myer-Staff trade hands down. Kane looks beastly. Foligno is playing better than I would have expected, giving them some muscle down low Mark Pysyk won't be going to Rochester anytime soon They miss Bogosian right now. Tampa Bay with a very fortunate bounce off goal to Stamkos for their 3rd goal. Otherwise they played a decent game. Also I haven't seen noted was their 2nd goal off the power play caused by too many men on the ice. Otherwise that's a 1-1 game in the 3rd. Shots on goal so far this year although not much of a indicator of play but does show they are much more competitive than many are giving them credit for. Saw Zadarov play against the Stars yesterday. Kid looked better than I expected.

I think Kane has the most to prove so I'm going with him. Having said that, the list of potentials is probably 5-6 guys this year which is pretty exciting stuff for a change.

With Tampa Bay twice, Ottawa, Florida and Columbus those are all 90 point teams from last year and better to start the season off. I'm guess Bylsma is looking at experience first to start the year off. The lines to start the year most likely won't be the lines that end the season. Plus with the defense in disarray early, whoever he thinks gives him a better chance to be competitive against those teams will play, especially early. There's no reason to rush anyone along yet. We're not a contender. In fact I hope expectations are at a level of Holy Molie, we're a lot better than the last 2 years and not expecting miracles right off the bat. I'm expecting the talent level to show but not the chemistry in the beginning.

Although it's really difficult to judge the team by the highlights I've seen also, the upgrade in team speed and aggressiveness is so apparent it's going to be hard to keep expectations down. If nothing else the games will be astronomically more exciting to watch this year. Realistically the young guys need to learn the nuances of the NHL but once that kicks in, they are going to be load to play. Thank goodness we're also not in the West, that conference looks stacked.

That is AWESOME, I've already talked to my son in-law, we're going. We'll be first liners though, jerseys #9 and #90, no maybe's for us such as #15.

Thanks for the replies everyone, appreciate it, at least now I know I'm not the only one...... Robins Egg........ I'm in Houston, I get the FoxSports feed on Stars games. Have to check the schedule to see when we play Dallas there, maybe get tickets for that game

Okay, Hockeystreams is not accepting any new members (put my name on the list twice) and haven't heard back from them. NHL Gamecenter Live apparently is still signing up previous members and are not taking any subscriptions yet. Does the NHL wait until the season starts before they accept applications or at the very least let you know what the subscription rate is??? I have to admit to being very disappointed in having to check on a daily basis to see if GC Live is up and running yet. Yes I'm an out of towner who'd like to be able to watch something besides the Dallas Stars. Any useful info you can provide would be AWESOME.

For what it's worth, that's not a completely accurate assessment. Alexander was promised the Edmonton Oilers a few years ago and it turned out to be a hoax to get an ownership group together in Edmonton to keep the team there. That really spoiled Alexander's desire to bring the NHL there after he kind of tweaked Bob McNair who owns the Texans and who owned the Aeros back in the day. Rich people get their feelings hurt too. Having said that, I'm not sure Houston would support an expansion franchise. It would take too long to get a fan base and the easiest way to do that is have an immediate winner.

We traded valued players Myers, Zadorov and assets Not to quibble with you but I did say this. I guess what is so surprising to me was their best NHL assets, Ennis, Girgs, Reinhart, Larrson and Risto they didn't have to give up. Add in Eichel, Kane, Bogo, ROR and Lehner and that is a pretty darn good under 25 team and core. WOW, GO SABRES. How long until October?????

Assets are draft picks, average joes and minor leaguers. We may value them more on a personal basis but they are nothing more than bargaining chips. We traded valued players Myers, Zadorov and assets for Kane, Bogosian, ROR, Lehner and different assets. Plus picked up Eichel. How can this be anything but AWE INSPIRING for Sabre fans. We will be able to watch an NHL team again in Buffalo. I say we slightly overpay in 3 year contracts for Oduya and Martin (older LHD's) and this team is primed to be EXCITING. If I'm not mistaken, Oduya already played with Kane and Bogo plus Martin I believe has ties with Bylsma, so I don't believe either of my requests are not possibilities. This will give Pysyk and McCabe some time to develop before being thrown to the lions and will give some stress relief to Risto until he's fully capable of being on the #1 blue line.

Hard to say but they look real to me

My opinion is they are relying on Abby W. too much and quite frankly she's over the hill. Still a good player but not the dominating force she once was. I'm not sure what the coach was thinking in last nights game because she was gassed and they never took her out. I'm not sure a 35 year old can play as many minutes as she has and still hold up the longer the tournament lasts for the USA. Should have had Morgan and Leroux in the game at the end of the match. Both younger and faster. Besides I love it when I watch Leroux runs, its like watching an old Baywatch episode.

Just a bit of trivia, all 6 times we were in the finals, 4 SBs and 2 SCs we were beaten by NFC East cities, NY, Washington, Dallas 3X and Philadelphia. Pirate time...... Arghhhhhhhhhh

Wait... What????? Is this the Lie about the Poster Above topic???? Actually I hate the Stars since the Finals but I used the avatar for some reason and was too lazy to change it out until now.

Houston, been here awhile after leaving Buffalo during the great migration when Bethlehem, Republic and several other landscapes closed. 290 area.

I seem to remember GMTM saying a month or 2 ago that he'd like to improve, quit the tank but expects the team to get another top pick next year. Bylsma saying recently that he didn't think picking up 1 piece this year to win a couple of more games was worth it and he wanted to give the young guys PT to see what they have. Neither remark sounds like a Nash trade coming together unless the Rangers are just dumping him and that seems unlikely for a 42G scorer. Just saying........ I just don't see them blowing up the rebuild to get 1 guy. Not at this time, maybe in a year or 2 but not now.

Patric Hornqvist maybe??? A RWinger ready to play.

Wow.... Forsberg without all the injuries would be awesome. I don't see him as being as physical though but if that keeps him from being on the IR list every year, I'm good with that.