Scottysabres

For as much as the kid has his highlight mistakes, he's still a good 3 / 4 d man, I would hate it if he were sent back down. But it is Phil, so who knows...……..

No subsequent call up, may very well be Nelson is returning. How many D men would that put on the roster if he does return? Risto, Bogo, Pilut, McCabe, Hunwick, Beaulieu, Scandella, Dahlin That's 8 right there, Nelson would make 9. Carrying 9 d men?

Any word on how close Nelson is to returning?

I always thought so to. I can never understand some of the sites that list this player as LW or that player as RW.

Talk about cold temps...……….3 guys at work have diesel's, all 7.3 powerstroke's, as I mentioned in an earlier post to haul around equipment. The temps got low enough here in Buffalo that even with the diesel additive, the fuel gelled enough to kill the internal fuel tank sending units ? All 3 of us have to replace them now, talk about a major catalyst for catastrophe. Spoke with 2 diesel mechanics this AM, both said the same thing, they've each received calls from others on this very problem with the 7.3's.

watched that game. He was a beast on the power play, all 3 came on the pp. Ritchie, Spronge and Shore with the Ducks tallies. That is interesting as well. The Jets shutdown Getz, Perry and Rakell with their speed, then went in with their other 2 lines for the kill, and it worked. Good coach?

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-120...t-that-duchene-and-stone-get-traded-1.1251297 Stone and Duchene, both UFA's. But man, that is a lot of talent possibly on the market right there. Just out of curiosity, what would Botts have to offer for both of these guys? I realize he said no UFA's, but a trade and sign for both?

It's not a matter of "projecting" what he can do on TSN, it's a matter of what "trainers and scouts" are telling them. Sure he's on par with development, but to describe him as "ahead of where Hedman and Karlson were at his age" is not what was being said 2 weeks ago and beyond.

Who is describing Dahlin with this analysis? Because I haven't seen that. Dreger, McKenzie, Costance, they've reported what scouts are telling them, and they all say the same thing. They are all saying he's 18 and isn't, and I quote, "A Complete NHL Package Yet". What you posted isn't what those that speak with training insiders are reporting. So who's lying?

Detroit has effectively said they are not moving him. McCabe, is our only physical LD, I hope you have a replacement in mind if your moving him, because both Pilut and Dahlin are anything but physical.

Back to the thread title...………….. Are the players being adversely effected by the inconsistent play here in Buffalo? Is there a double negative on going with regards to that inconsistent play and the apparent rigidness with which Botterill/Housley are maintaining the status quo on the roster? Ellie was waived today, speculation was Wilson on his way up, but does that one subtraction and addition really change the dynamics of the roster overall, or, as I suspect, the players are aware that this is the group they are with to the very end?

Zamboni driver?

I didn't record any of the games this year, it would be interesting to go back and watch a few of them to see how they played their way through that streak. I was at the Nov. 10th game against Vancouver when Casey scored the winner in a shoot out, but even through out that game that's in my mind, the only players that stuck out to me are really not a memory I can draw forth. Hard to say what it would take, but these shellacking's we are taking 7 - 3, aren't the norm obviously, the game before was 1 - 0. To me, it all lay in the consistency I guess. Or, the lack of it. Coaching? Yea, I can see that being an issue, but I can't for the life of me see Phil coaching blind passes in the D zone, or worse, passing it right to the opposing team in the slot. How about the O zone, no one in the slot for us, perimeter play all day long, using an umbrella type formation that appears to rely very heavily on the points as opposed to the forwards down low. These are just things I see game in and game out. A change of on ice strategy would appear to be the focal point, I agree. I guess they call them adjustments, but the only question I have to that end is this: Is Housley not adjusting, are his adjustments just bad and not working, or, is it the players that are not implementing those adjustments if they are indeed being made, and if so, why is this?

I don't know True, I see the numbers others post, I understand them, I understand the reasoning behind them and the story "they're supposed to tell". But in the end, they are just individual player numbers to me, how this player affects that player or that situation and so on. I'm now beyond looking at the individual stats, I'm looking at the collective, and the only stat that tells me the most complete picture of what is going on here in Buffalo is that Win/Lose record and current Conference Standings list. Everything else, to me in any event, revolves around that. For one simple reason actually, and that is this...….the players see the position they are in as well, and they are fully aware of what it takes to improve that position. Let me say that again, the players are fully aware of where they are at and where they need to be. I don't see success when I hear them speak game after game, I see the same defeatist mindset we've seen for several seasons here now. I have come to the conclusion that this rebuild is indeed a failure. Whether or not they turn it around or changes are made or some other plan is designed to alter course is pretty much irrelevant to me now. This current core, while complete or incomplete in it's personnel, has 3 components that are unable, or unwilling, to achieve success. Culture change? Not with this group I fear. Never one to give hope of course, but settling in to the reality that currently, there is no end in sight to this "SUFFERING".

It's now towards the end of yr 4 with the Risto/Eichel/Reinhart core. Risto here even longer for development and maturity convo's.It is becoming abundantly clear with each passing game now that this core is fast approaching failure status. Individual player stats are one thing, but the overall final product of season after season of failure can no longer be ignored. You can have all the corsi, cf, and whatever other stats you want, but in the end, the win/lose record and disappearance of post season play here in Buffalo TOWERS above any stat you can put forth for the players. It does 0 good to have the bun when you have no hamburger to put on it, it's not a hamburger then, just bread.I see no end in sight for this either. There are no hero's coming to save the day, nor should there be given the draft position of these players and where they are expected to be when put in a comparable pool of other teams young star players leading their respective teams to the playoffs. Nope, the Buffalo rebuild is a complete failure, from top to bottom, including the aforementioned players above. There is no other way to view this when looking at the results of the product.

Not sure on the length of leash to Phil, but yea, this is a very valid question as well. But the players...………………..not a good sign in my humble opinion.

I give Jame a lot of credit on this one. He's taken heat for his presentation style, but in the end, it's looking more and more likely he is near spot on. I have come around to his input in the short time he's posted here. I'm more interested now in both his and LG's input on both short and long term management/player/long term asset management input than I was a month ago, that's for sure. I'm open to any idea the fan base has honestly, because I'm hoping at some point this organization pays at least some attention to what the actually fan base is saying. Even though I know it means little to nothing.

Bring ole' 4 point Patty Kane along to deal with the driver for 700 Alex..... "Raw Thoughts of a Sabres Player" ?

The reports of Dahlin wondering around the locker room like a dementia patient is concerning to say the least. It's more and more apparent there are no real answers here. There was supposed to be culture change? Not seeing it. What I am seeing is actually getting worse than prior seasons, and that's hard to digest. I wonder how guys like Jack, Sam, Jeff and Risto actually feel. I have no answers. Change the coaching staff? We've done that multiple times now and no response.Change the players? We've done that and still...…..the same problems as the old players, lack of scoring, lack of hustle, lack of energy, lack of will to do what is necessary to win, etc. etc.Change of GM? We've done that and still same old organizational culture issues.There is something definitely wrong in BUFFALO. It's beyond any one category. The Management team, the Coaching staff and the Players all appear to be subpar NHL performers, and yet, in prior career positions for most of these guys, they were successful. It is beyond baffling, I cannot pinpoint what it is, but something has to be done, 8 years now and this team is actually regressing. 0 progress. The fans are growing beyond frustrated, there's an actual palpable hate for this organization growing in our community, never have seen the likes of this before. I have to assume they are aware of it, if even to a lesser extent than what I am hearing and seeing after games like last night and seasons like this.

If I'm a player of any age in the NHL, I say NO to Buffalo. We are in that much trouble right now.

He won't help.

I respectfully disagree. Going on a 10 game, win it in OT or shootout majority of games run isn't exactly the proof we need that this team is still bottom 5 to 10, with such young studs as Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Dahlin and great pick ups as Tage Thompson or how about those FA signings or those trades for upgrades? Jame, you and I both know this team isn't going anywhere, anytime soon, until serious changes are made, both on the roster as well as the coaching staff. I won't go in to the GM position yet. But there is definitely a larger problem than just the roster in Buffalo, you and I can both agree on that I assume.

This isn't Edmonton. Getting McDavid allows us to formulate building around him. Edmonton didn't do that, they tore down what was around him.

I wouldn't care if it was Eichel, Dahlin and Reinhart, Buffalo's 1st, St. Louis 1st and San Jose's 1st I would make the deal.

I would offer a package starting with Eichel and whatever else they wanted with Jack to get Connor. No lie.