PerreaultForever

Mantha's out, Backstrom's out, Hathaway's out, Wilson's out. A few more I think. Injuries and covid. I mean come on, they had Irwin in the line up.

Ummm, well, I guess I watch different games. Now I was entertained with a close even game, but that was a very depleted Caps line up and we played about the same as a lot of other games this year where better (or less depleted) teams beat us. I really didn't see a whole lot of difference. The Cozens line, as is becoming the case every night, was once again our best line. Cozens is our best player right now bar none, and I think he's just going to keep getting better. The line works, but it could be even better if Murray would play a little less passive and more assertive. I'm hoping the coaches get him to eventually do that. UPL is showing the promise we hoped he would but I'd still prefer him in Rochester this year. This season is a wright off, let the kid develop. Send him back down as soon as we can. Signs of promise, usual issues, but again, this one was entertaining.

Cannot remember the last time we beat a physical team and Washington is definitely a physical team. I think Wilson's out so that's something at least.

League's just trying to help us get Wright. No problem. better we lose all the close ones at this point.

Was Adams the decisive factor in signing Hall? idk in either case how much Terry or Kim meddled in either, only they know. Skinner's agent played Botterill though and it appears that Botterill felt he had to sign him at any cost rather than risk the ire he'd receive for letting him walk (which would have occurred among fans in general without the hindsight). I would think Botterill felt trapped and feared he'd lose his job if Skinner walked. Irregardless, he was the GM at the time, so it's on him.

No, nothing stupid. On any normal team other guys would have pushed and shoved back a little and if it got a little rougher you'd get a guy off from each side and play the final minutes 5 on 4 instead of 6 on 5 with the goalie out. Nobody on this team even gave a damn. That's not what TEAMS do.

He did make that threat. Don't remember how it played out and too lazy to look it up. He has said though he would like to win a gold medal at the Olympics to go with his cup before his career is over, and he seems to be playing inspired this year so I assume it's to be ready for those Olympics.

No argument there, he definitely quit on the Sabres, but what I'm saying is on the Bruins, he hasn't "quit", he simply has flaws in his game and is a vastly overrated hockey player. He's simply NOT THAT GOOD.

I don't really want to defend Hall, but I've seen quite a few Bruins games and this is blatantly untrue (at least this season). The effort is there, and he back checks well, and he drives the net and plays that power forward game well, BUT, and it's a big one, he simply has no finish to that game at all. No idea why that is, but the Edmonton announcers were talking about that and he had problems similar to that in Edmonton too, so the Bruins made a mistake signing him and should have worked harder at replacing Krejci instead.

I guess you're right, it's a "folk" term, but I was sure I'd seen it used as more of a soft cuddly teddy bear type reference but no matter, just a bunch of big hairy gay men anyway.

Maybe, but it's too early to tell on Adams. It's easier to tear down than build. He has the prospects, he has the picks, what he needs to do now is find some decent veterans to play with these kids and more importantly some big strong men to protect them next year cause a number of them are talented but not ready to take NHL punishment. As for Granato, he doesn't have much to work with and I don't fault him. Can't see how you could put this line up together in any better way.

I don't remember anyone saying Dahlin was "generational" but he was a consensus #1 pick for most people. Lidstrom, Karlson, Hedman comparisons. I personally blame Housley and JBot. Housley for throwing him into big minutes too fast, too soon. Letting him run and gun without learning to play NHL D first. baby steps were needed and lots of coaching. and JBot for letting Housley do it, and not finding a solid mentor to pair him with. We broke him.

If this is true, I think there will be a number of older players none too happy. Especially some of the Europeans like Ovi and Rask. The older ones who want a shot at that gold.

Yes, they definitely were. I can see the Housley hire though. He had developed a hotshot rep as a D coach, the theme was the new style NHL, new style coaches, fast, puck moving D, it sort of made sense if that's your plan. He failed of course, but it was a reasonable hire at the time. Ralph? Well I have no idea what the thought process was there. Out of the box, rolling the dice, silver tongue talker in his interview, it was weird from the get go and the results were horrible. The question really though is why did we stick with the new unproven types (Granato) over the Gallants or Boudreaus etc.

JBot will forever be tied to the Skinner deal, one of the worst in hockey history, but I do remember quite a few people on this site saying he should be paid 7 or even 8 million a year on a multi year deal and that would have been only marginally better. Sheary imo was a fine pick up. He's still playing in Washington, a very good team, so one has to think it's us, not him. Miller was not worth the trade, but the D was so thin when JBot got here he just rolled the dice on anybody he could get. Ended up with a big pile of jags but again, Montour's playing regular minutes in Florida. Go figure. Even E-Rod is playing well for Pittsburgh. After a while you really have to start to wonder...........

Is no one else pissed off that when Cozens was shoved down after the whistle (not the slew foot, the previous whistle)not a single Sabre did a thing? Not a shove, not a rough, not even a stern word. Nothing. Just let the kid get hit. Absolutely disgusting for team building. Small wonder Cozens gets pissed at the slew foot and slashes back. Only guy on this team with heart. Dylan Cozens deserves to be on a better team!

My question is, although these guys are tearing it up at the AHL level, are they still kids or are any of them ready to step up to the men's league? Will they be able to play their game with the speed and physicality of the NHL or will it take a lot more time?

Remember when a whole lot of us were hoping they'd hire Gallant as our coach? (sigh) Their back up goaltending situation is not great so we have a chance, but otherwise not even close.

Well that's the real point isn't it. The rest is details. Took a bit of time for his meddling and new direction to have an impact. Bottom line, Terry and Kim have ruined this team, because "they know better."

I don't remember that version but keep in mind a "bruin" is a BABY bear. I'm kind of surprised that aspect hasn't been used more as a taunt. Guess the "big bad" rep trumped it. But what do I know, I loved the red black and white Sabres jerseys and I know not many people are with me on that one.

Ullmark actually looked good tonight, for the first time I think as a Bruin. It's funny, but he actually does seem to need a lot of shots on him to play his best. Goalies are weird.

Yup, and the second half of the season is always tougher than the first, and this time after the Olympic break it will be extremely difficult as teams will want those points and we will be playing for nothing.

They bought the team in Feb. 2011. 2010/11 we had 43 wins good for 7th place in the the conference and 15th league wide. The following year we dropped to 19th. then 23rd, and then the two bottom tank years and so on. https://records.nhl.com/franchises/buffalo-sabres/year-by-year-record

To think, when the Pegulas bought this team we were 15th overall, and we've never gotten that high since, and usually not even close to that level. It takes a special kind of skill to be this incompetent for this long.

So I think maybe you're saying it doesn't matter who the coach is? Or at least all the ones they hire. Bylsma was just under .500 🙂