PerreaultForever

Look, we will NEVER agree on this but why do you think Rempe is in New York? Deslauriers in Philly? Tampa's new guy Douglas. Olivier in Columbus. The list goes on and on. None of these teams get it right? All those coaches should be fired. I think it's maybe you that doesn't get it.

Well I can't speak to him in Colorado but in Boston they demand work ethic, effort, and commitment to the defensive system. Mitts has moments but then he slacks and gives away the puck or goes to the bench instead of taking his man. Little effort things. They want more. It was an example benching. It's like Quinn here last year.

Agreed. I've wanted this for a long time. Sure, I'd rather have somebody more talented than Geertson in that role but for now he will do. I think they failed to address this for years because Pegula doesn't believe in it. Pegula is like @LGR4GM who just thinks in terms of stats, numbers, and wants fast skilled (virtually) no contact hockey. A team is a composite, and we also don't know about locker room influence on Geertson. He might be in there telling people he has their back. It matters.

Dude, they are LEARNING it. It takes time for some of them to realize things. We haven't developed the culture from square one so some of them don't get it right away. You saw the results. Finally a little spunk. You want to mess with that and replace him with a small soft skill player? Now is not the time. Let this grow.

Right, except the team played bigger with him on the bench. You think that was just magic. It's not. They need to play like they did in the last game every game. We shall see if they do, or if they drift back to their old bad habits. Montreal is a tough test with their speed and tenacity. So you don't mess with a winning line up.

This has always been the way it is. Players take less liberties if they know they will have to answer the bell and your team will play tougher knowing there is a guy to support them if things go that way. Eventually, if you get a tough team by committee these guys become less important and maybe even unnecessary. They sit in the stands in the playoffs as well, but right now, with all the kids and some softer players we need that guy. I suspect anyone who doesn't get this has either never played hockey or learned their hockey from video games and computer stats.

I'm going to guess neither actually plays a game unless someone else gets hurt or there's an undisclosed injury.

They had a VP of ticket sales?

Mittelstadt a healthy scratch for Boston today in Utah. He won't last long there at this rate.

Of course I know what you meant, but I'm not ever going to praise Dougie Gilmour. I knew people who worked at Maple Leaf Gardens that said they were still covering for him in Toronto well past the St. Louis incident. Dude was scum.

Yes, tragic ending but kind of crazy. He wasn't just a battling top, he was dirty. He caused havoc. Him and Dudley together was an awesome line. Wasn't as much of a rat as Marchand but he had his share of altercations that he initiated.

Sure sure, and Carter Hart's an angel and it's just a coincidence he's teammates now with Brett Howden. They're all innocent. There never was a rape culture in hockey and never will be. Gotcha.

So he has a thing for underage girls? Hmmmmmmmmm. (People forget that about "Dougie")

lol, roughly equivalent to 1/3 of one day's pay as he makes 14,423 a day if you break it down into a full year. So I'm sure that'll change his behavior. NHL fines are a joke. It was funny to see him meltdown. I personally find these things entertaining. We need more of these guys in the league not less. Come on Benson, you can be the next one. and let's not forget Spinner. Brian Spencer. He was crazy.

After watching the last few Bruins games it's pretty clear they were pretenders not contenders. Second line (with Mitts) is dreadful. If Sabres had played the way they did in the last game they would have beaten the Bruins and should, next time. IF they play that way (or better). Habs I still like, Sens look like garbage without Tkachuk. They just stay in games because of Ullmark. Leafs aren't as good as last year without Marner and Lightning are up and down. The division could be a dog fight all year. If Sabres get it together and continue what started last game anything is possible.

Yes, he's a battler. Daddy taught him well. This has been the flaw until this point. Not enough complimentary players to balance lines and formations. Doan is that big hard working two way guy that can get you points paired with top talent and helps make top talent look better. He's a good addition. I'd like to see him throw his weight around even more but maybe that comes with time and confidence. He's still young and this is his first real go in a top 6 role. It's encouraging.

The difference is Doan knows how to play net front. No more no less, but it changes everything.

Oh hell no. Barkov is the best 2 way center in the league. You don't replace that and they are not anywhere near the same team without him. Norris? Well it's hard to comment since he can't finish a game. He's basically just dead cap.

Yup. Nothing wrong with disagreeing. After 14 years I have zero patience left though. That's just me. I don't want to wait on anybody. If I don't see it now make a move to get me some more now. Time is well past now. Normally I'd just say bench the guy but we already did that last year with him so I don't see that working. I liked what I saw in this Florida game. I want them to go even further in that direction. Ideally if I could find a way to get rid of Quinn, Norris and Bryson I would. I suspect we are stuck with them though. It might be too early but honestly I'd even be for giving Helenius a shot and sitting Quinn cause I saw more fire in his game. But as you said, we shall see. maybe the rest of them keep going they will eventually drag him into the fight as well.

For me, if I was GM, it's a no brainer. I give Tuch my best offer before the deadline and if he doesn't take it I move him for what I can get. That is the only way to operate with everyone and it doesn't matter how the season is going. You do not want to repeat the Ullmark mistake and get nothing, and you do not want to grossly overpay out of desperation like they did with Skinner. I want Tuch here and I think Tuch is good, but he's not THAT good and there are limits. You need future money for Benson etc. and you can't run a franchise bending to overpay demands. Remember, if he is a homer, he can always come back in free agency even if traded.

I could actually see Benson doing all of it, even the helmet thing (or something similar). Benson is a brat and I love it. True about Eichel. There was a standing around nobody doing anything incident with Eichel getting flattened way back before last year's Tage incident. I think it was in Colorado but I kind of throw old seasons out of the memory with all the previous garbage seasons. I just go from GM to GM though as a new era so under Adams, he should have addressed this right away and if he had we wouldn't be discussing it now.

No. For one, D always take longer. Power is on schedule and I have never advocated trading him. What I have said about him is Sabres wanted too much too soon from him. He needed a vet partner and less top minutes early on. Still does. I don't like the way they develop players as an organization. Quinn lacks compete to my eyes. He's soft and he floats. I don't like his style of play and don't think it's a good fit for what you want to build. I just don't see that changing in him and would look at selling to someone like you who thinks he still has a high ceiling not seen yet. Do it before everyone realizes that ceiling isn't there.

AHL Bruins brought in two of the top AHL scorers from last year in Steeves and Blumel. Neither could crack a mediocre to bad NHL roster. You need to stop the nonsense of thinking AHL success is automatic NHL success to come.

See, this what we should have done when we first started to rebuild. Traded Eichel etc. When you rebuild with youth you want some solid toughness on the roster. Bodyguards if you will. When you do that those kids learn it's okay to initiate cause somebody will have my back. The team grows and plays bigger and then eventually you don't need that guy as much cause you have an army. In time, he won't be needed most nights, but for now he's vital.

For how long? Quinn has been here long enough to show or not show imo. I see guys stepping into the fight now and I still see him as a passive floater. Not the type of player you want for what you want to build. You can have all the skill in the world you want, but if you don't have the compete, you are of little value.