PerreaultForever

Flyers are proof of what I am saying. First half of the year they were not that bad but they had no goaltending at all and that led to a lack of confidence, giving up etc. Now they got the kid up and he looks like the real deal and suddenly they are winning the close ones. In the win streak, we were not that good, but we had big saves at big moments. Since then Hutton has let in soft ones often and is rubbish and Ullmark is better but still hot and cold. If we had the kind of goaltending Philly is getting right now (or Montreal or Boston) we wouldn't be having a lot of the conversations we're having. We'd be overlooking some of the issues. Some of those defensive lapses would not be goals against and we'd still be a playoff team. Goaltending is everything in this league.

That holds for the 60s maybe but not the 70s. Unless you count convincing teams like the California Golden Seals to trade away first round picks as cheating.

or he is not part of their plan for the future. Most teams rotate a few prospects this time of year. Looks for scouts and their own assessments. It's normal. Search for potential chemistry. I am surprised we aren't seeing a few more given the crap 2nd and 3rd lines we have but I guess they are more future focused than we are and want to build a winning culture in Rochester first.

Montreal Canadians 60s/70s - and they didn't cheat to do it.

It was a buyer's market last year too. It always is now. I hope it is true that Skinner will want to be here, but if that is the case, why not sign now? I'm sure there is a solid offer on the table.

Yes, this is one. I've also heard it many times in many places. With the tv package I have I sometimes watch the opposing announcers to hear what they think of the Sabres figuring it might be less biased in their favor. I remember the New Jersey guys raving about him as well as others. Even the Boston duo, go figure. You simply are expecting too much from an 18 year old D man. Patience.

here's my question. Has Skinner said he would like to stay?

This is how I see it as well. The goaltending is also not as good as it was then so put the two together and you see losses instead of wins. This damaging players argument doesn't fly. All over the league the view is that Dahlin is ahead of where Hedman and Karlson were at his age. He will be just fine. Give the kid a break, he is JUST A KID.

This is a big pile of meh.

I really don't think a coaching change is the way to go. The structure to build on is in place. The style of play (when executed) is perfect for the direction the league has gone in and will continue to go in. It's a recipe to build on and throwing all that away for a new guy, a new system, etc etc would just bring back all the question marks and no telling how long that would take. The players simply have to be held accountable and we have to realize we were never as good as people wanted to believe during the win streak. We are a little better this year than last year when we were the worst team in hockey. We are on the right path, but obviously it has not moved as far forward as we would like. I have learned to lower my expectations over the years so I don't want another starting over until we actually take a step backwards. Good drafts and FA's, we simply need more talent.

So let's put those two things together..............maybe, just maybe, he needs a better winger. Pominville is not the answer, but remember that stretch back in October. In 7 games, Skinner 13 pts. Pominville 13 points. Eichel 12 points. What was that stat they were talking about during the game? Eichel has more zone entries where he kept possession than anyone else or something like that. Maybe he could be a little more dominant if once in a while his winger carried the play and let him hit the open ice instead of having to do it all alone. If Skinner doesn't sign in the next week or bit, he has to be moved as well, cause if he doesn't sign a solid deal now, he will not choose Buffalo in July. The carpet has already been rolled out.

maybe he should be on the PP, god knows the group(s) we use usually can't get it done there.

Maybe, maybe not. I think if you notice most of the critiques are about how this team is soft, Housley is soft, we need a stud alpha etc. and yet your hope is on our softest D man. Go figure. Gonna disagree on that but no point to keep arguing the same point. Time will tell. I'd prefer if you were right, but I don't think so.

No, we were mounting a comeback just like we did multiple times then, but then a weak goal gave them a two goal lead again. Most of their goals were not difficult stops. If we had the goaltending that Ullmark gave us against Dallas we would have won this game.

Disagree totally. His rebound control was awful. He simply drops the puck a lot lately and shots are going through him that he should stop. He was outstanding in the 10 game streak, but since then he has been a hack.

He cost us the Vancouver game. I dunno, Dallas scored once when he sat, Chicago scored 7. Not all on Pilut obviously, mostly bad goaltending, but Pilut is no savior. He is small and weak in his own end. Good generating offense, flawed and needs work defensively. Not sure if he can get better, hope he can. In the three last games I thought Hunwick was actually the best of the three.

Stick a fork in them, they're done. You will not make the playoffs if you do not dispatch bottom feeders like Chicago so I think it's time to become sellers rather than buyers. I don't like it, but it is reality. What the hell has happened to Hutton, that's my question???????????????

Honestly, we are playing exactly the same now as we were during the 10 game win streak. The difference is a few good bounces (during the streak) and goaltending. Ullmark has been hot and cold and whatever mojo Hutton had going on then is totally gone now. You do nto win at this time of the year without great goaltending, and ours is rubbish. That is NOT on Housley.

Must win. Simple as that.

The part of those articles you are conveniently ignoring is those RUMORS were all denied by management and other players. So your contention is believe the rumors, the fake news if you like, and everything the actual people say is clearly untrue. Fine, go that way if you want to even if the scenario that those were expensive long term contracts on the books going into what everyone knew was going to be a hard negotiation year (lockout occurred thereafter) makes more sense from a business point of view - and it is a business - but whatever. I mean really, if everyone was trading away every young guy that parties, there'd be no league. There has to be much bigger problems than that to even think about dumping stars and it's always been that way.

As long as we improve each year I will be happy. What would be disappointing is a rise and then a huge drop back like New Jersey. I didn't expect playoffs this year but I did expect improvement and we got that. More importantly the team is faster and has a better attitude. Compete level way up. Attitude way more positive. Those are not little things. They bode well for the future and will create a culture where quitting and slacking won't be acceptable and that is a truly important thing. If we don't sign Skinner and we don't sign some FA talent in the summer we will be in trouble, but I am willing to wait for that before passing judgement.

I think so too, but he's really only had that one good playoff run to base it on. If he is still on the roster when we do make the playoffs I will be interested to see if Sam has a second level. Some players do, some don't. My gut tells me he won't, because my general issue with him is, while he does go to the front area of the net, he does not play tough and when things get physical he throws the puck away blindly or too quickly to avoid a pending hit or contact. Smart or scared? I guess that can be debated, but I know where I stand on it.

Doesn't matter but, since you asked: https://thehockeywriters.com/5-years-later-richards-carter-trades/ and more importantly: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20151117_Ex-Flyer_Mike_Richards__sudden__mysterious_fall.html The latter being even more amusing since it contains a Tim Murray quote - lol. Yes, he did party, like most young guys, but that was not the reason he was dealt. To quote: Peter Luukko said the Flyers front office was unaware of Richards' problems when they traded the center to Los Angeles in 2011. Luukko, the Panthers' executive chairman, was Flyers' president at the time of the deal. "He never had any issues like that at all," Luukko said last month. But like, whatever. ROR drove drunk into a Tim's, so I guess that's why he was traded - LOL.

Yes, worst Sabres GM ever. There have been others in the league just as bad or maybe worse. Chiarelli is one. Holmgren was one. Jim Devallano was another one imo. Married the daughter if I remember correctly so never got fired and got bumped upstairs later. Everyone who worked for Harold Ballard. The list goes on and on, but for the Sabres, I give it to Murray hands down.

Guess hoping for secondary scoring two games in a row was too much to hope for. Disappointing. Hats off to Dallas' coaching. Relentless forecheck on our D (where most of our offense starts from) and shut down the top line, that is the strategy to beat this team cause the rest of the forward lines are not a threat. Good game plan and well executed. Sort of game where Housley has to make adjustments and consider a little juggling and moving the top guys around a little. No guarantee that'd work, but you have to try. Ullmark played really well. Pity they couldn't get a goal or two for him.