PerreaultForever

They use their speed effectively, but so far they haven't had to go up against a big physical line. Jury's not out yet on that or how they will deal with the defensive side of the game in a close checking affair.

I'm not sure it's all that complicated. He's opened it up and they are playing loose. Going to be interesting to see what they do up against the tough checking teams. Washington and Boston games will tell us more. I have to think this team quit on Ralph. They didn't like the style he wanted and/or couldn't play it but whatever the case, the effort level is much higher now. There is emotion and we seem to have lost that dead in the eyes quit we had before. Some of that is because we're playing the kids and letting them play but again, they are just playing loose and energetic. What's left of the core (at the moment) still not looking great though. Skinner is still a bust, and while Reinhart hasn't been bad or anything, he's mot the guy leading this either.

Imagine that, we scored an empty net goal instead of having one scored on us! Not sure, but that might be a first for this season. Our Thompson was a little better than their Thompson. Our goalie was better than theirs, and we actually out hit them............. We did not miss Hall at all. In fact we might have been better.

I just want him gone so bad!!!!!!! It's smart to sit him even if it's all week. He brings so little to us anyway.

That's why I put a ? for him. I'm not sure what he will get offered to him after the injury. There might be little interest outside Buffalo.

Demko got 5 years $5 million per. Ullmark should come in a little below that I would think.

No argument, but so does Bryson as was mentioned above. That could be good, but it's more likely Dahlin-Risto and that also leaves McCabe as a ? David Savard would be a good choice assuming we trade Risto.

Dahlin Borgen might work, but I like the idea of a Bryson - Borgen pairing for next season so I'd experiment with it now.

look it up. He's well below 50%. Tell me that when they ice the puck and he has to go up against Bergeron with the game on the line.

Isn't the problem really switching systems/philosophies without switching the players to go with that? You say for example pair Skinner with an offensive minded coach. That's probably going to be good for Skinner I agree. Housley did that. But did we win? No. The minute you start to cater to players you have to cater to all the players and it never works out well. Look at Pittsburgh this year under Sullivan. They have a number of great offensive players but they weren't getting to the next level. This year he has them tougher, more defensive, more structured and they are winning tough games. Point being, it's always about having a philosophy, having the players buy in fully, and sticking with that system. We tried open run and gun with Housley and it failed so we went balanced D (allegedly) with Kreuger but the players never adjusted to it, or didn't like it and just wouldn't do it, but they clearly never bought in and the leadership never got them to buy in and we switch back and forth and flounder. Team needs a clear vision. This is how we play this is who we are (or in our case will be). That has to be stated, set and affirmed in every aspect and at every level. Then it has to be committed to. Solid management structure. Long term plan that you stick to and a core that buys into that vision. Those who don't have to be gone asap. I mean really, who are we? What are we? idk. Until we know that, we can't make the rest of the pieces fit.

One could argue that in his case we have (perhaps accidentally) developed him the right way. Kreuger forced him to play defensively and we stepped him back down last year and made him sit and watch and thus he maybe lost a little of his privileged attitude and started to work harder and now with Granato opening things up he's more comfortable, but also a more complete player. Time will tell if his old habits and attitudes reassert themselves or if he will stay a complete player and continue to grow into that. Too soon to tell.

This is another over reaction thread. He's been tried at C before and his stats always go down in that role. Also, most importantly, his face off percentages suck.

and how bad Steve Smith was. I'm not sure why he was the one tossed with Kreuger (I guess they were seeing eye to eye those two) but I've wanted him gone for ages. Since Housley left the D has gotten worse and worse and Girardi seems to have made a difference. In the very least they seem to be playing better positionally which is huge. The one thing I don't get though is all year I (along with many others here) have been saying they need to be better in front of the net and go to the blue paint and they finally are. The thing is though, I remember Kreuger saying that very same thing. So why are some of them doing it now when they wouldn't do it for him? Despite some of the we like him rhetoric, did they quit on him? It would seem so.

The over reactions here remind me of the 10-0 start (a bandwagon I also jumped on to). Maybe get a little excited if we blow past New Jersey every game but talk to me after we see how many of those 7 games we win against Boston. I'm not convinced this is more than a blip. A few players have surprised me though. Like Mitts. Let's see if it's going to be sustainable. At the moment my greatest fear might be coming true. A modicum of success after firing Kreuger leading to a stay the course mentality and thus another bust season next year.

Well we're definitely playing with more speed and life in our game. Similar game to the last one and we played the OT much better and smarter. This is much more fun to watch for sure.

Did you really change your view on Montour from that one game and one shift? I didn't. I don't want him back either.

I'd really like to get Nick Foligno into Hall's spot but I doubt it happens. If Toronto can't pay him I'd also try to pry Zach Hyman out of there. Cizikis? idk, mostly I'd look for character guys in the middle range, not overpriced aging stars. and a goalie.

He does so little he's unlikely to get injured but you never know. I wouldn't sit him but if I was Adams I wouldn't wait until we get squeezed at the deadline, I'd move him now for whatever the best offer so far is. and I don't really care what it is, just get him gone. Forever.

Philly wants a goalie. I think they have a lot of young forward prospects.

I'd rather play players like Fogerty. No added question marks or iffy types. Just character guys and the kids.

Olafsson can be really weak on the puck at times........ It's nice to see that (to some extent) we seem to be losing our fear of the blue paint. Progress. I really like Fogerty. Not that skilled but plays hard and goes to the net. Love it. I really hate Taylor Hall. Giveaway giveaway after giveawy. I really hate Taylor Hall. One last thing. I really hate Taylor Hall.

Don't get why some of you want to snap up garbage rejects from other teams. We have enough of that on this roster already. Can we waive Skinner?

It's not about laying it on one guy but it does make a difference imo. Eichel just doesn't have the right personality for it and would be better just focusing on scoring and not having to be that guy. ROR should have been given the C. Remember when Eichel got the C there was lots of talk about leading by example on the ice and so forth but clearly that wasn't leadership. Reinhart should also be a vocal leader at this point, but he's not. You can argue about his skill level and committment, but neither of those core players has leadership skills. We don't have enough leaders imo and that's what we need to address more than anything in terms of trades or free agents.

I do not think this is true.

More importantly, if you've noticed, he's acting like a team captain and leading. In the absence of Eichel he's stepped up and you can see him talking to guys, congratulating, rallying them, etc. basically lifting the emotional side and simply leading. Is that perhaps one of things helping this team? I don't know, but maybe. Said it for a while and stick with it. Eichel's a crap captain and it does make a difference.