erickompositör72

Maybe he can't shed the Bylsma system?

I have this bad feeling that Phil is just in panic mode, and that in this panic, he can't even correctly assess which lines are working and which are not. It seems like line combinations are changed even after we win a game, or at least have an extremely competitive game. It seems like things start working, but it doesn't sink in to Phil that it's working. Is there any truth to this, or am I mis-remembering?

I think this is exactly it. Reinhart will be what Moulson was. He'll put up 30 goal seasons on a line with Eichel, but he's not fast, not good down-low and not too strong on the puck. But he can put the puck in the net, knows the spots to be in, and has good hands. I think it's a shame it was in this current setting that he got his "chance" at center. And I'm getting a little worried about Housley's "system." I think Sam may even deserve another chance when the team gets better (or if they get another coach); maybe he will if he's traded.

Buffalo sports angst led me to the point where I was actually celebrating when we signed Moulson. I share this confidence in Botterill, though (and McDermott as well, tbh). Hopefully we're not kidding ourselves

I feel like the "nothing to play for" argument never holds water, and every time I watch a game billed as such, the "nothing to play for" team ends up winning.

witty.

They're trying. No idea how much interest there is, though

I was hoping he would. No need for drama like that

Any way you slice it, we pretty much need a miracle to get in the playoffs, right? Ravens and Chargers have super easy schedules ahead of today... Edit: maybe not super easy, but easier than the Patriots...

Anybody who wants Marcus back fundamentally does not understand Housley's system, or how slow Marcus is. If Gorges is an "anchor," (a characterization I don't actually agree with), then Foligno is a ###### iceberg. You could see defensemen letting up every time he was leading a rush, because they knew they could just sit back and play their angles by the book- no threat there!

Eichel will be a bust if he doesn't develop the ability to sense when the moments are to make a move and cut to the net/dangle/etc. His first 2 years, people seemed to not fully realize what he had. Now they do, so he has to be able to sense when he has a step. This season, he's always tried to make moves when he really didn't have an angle/opening, and has been stuffed by d-men. I hope he figures it out soon.

He does some things at a very high level. And sometimes he doesn't get exposed, and keeps us in games. However, he has some glaring weaknesses, and when he's exposed, he looks amateurish. And the best players know how to expose him. We need someone better, and we could have had one (Neuvirth).

I'd love them to send him down to Rochester, but noooo way he clears waivers.

It's true, and I think it's squarely on Housley. I'm guessing he doesn't drill the fundamentals.

Behind Beaulieu, Antipin, and Georges. Falk better not be playing unless 2 of those 3 are not healthy tonight.

Falk will always find the wrong thing to do with the puck when he has possession of it in our zone. I mean, clear-cut possession. Just watch. If it's on his stick in our zone, count on it not leaving our zone and the other team regaining possession. Without fail. Edit: if we're lucky, the other team will only regain possession in the neutral zone.

The day can't come soon enough that I never see Falk play again

I strongly believe he will become a reliable top 6 forward who plays through his prime on lines 1 & 2. I don't know on what team that will be, though. Either we're patient with him, or GMBot finds a trade partner who sees this in him and is willing to pay.

In a video game, Eichel can check Tarasenko and take him out of the play. In real-life NHL, that's Kane's job to use his angle to force him outside, and let the other players cover the middle of the ice Honestly, I worry Housely isn't focusing enough on these fundamentals. Maybe the anti-McDermott?

This actually outlines the best way to defend Tarasenko going through the neutral zone, because... ...Jack didn't have the best angle. Kane did. It was like an "all-in" call. He made a desperation play, rather than staying calm and collected. If he wants to poke check a guy cutting across the crease, he should watch videos of how Dom did it

I was initially of that mind, and then I realized- they're paying him more than 2x what any NHL team thinks he's worth. He's not earning his money as a hockey player, so they shouldn't feel bad about shipping him anywhere for the money they're paying him. You only control your own destiny when you produce what's expected of you, and I'm sure Matt gets that and accepts that.

I'm now convinced this won't happen, mostly to inflate trade value as much as possible

If he takes the signing bonus, then retires, he'll have made roughly 37mil in his NHL career. Unless he's blown through everything and has a complete moron handling his money, I say relocating to another continent is not something a person in his situation considers.

why not

clairvoyant musings- In an upcoming year, the Sabres will give us something new: royal blue goathead. And it will mark the first run we make in the playoffs.