JohnC

You are so very much off the mark. I live in the DC/MD area. The previous owner was a morally deficient fool who significantly meddled in the football operation and surrounded himself with yes men. As long as this shyster continued to own this franchise it would never be able to become the relevant franchise that it once was. It not only lost its fanbase, and even the minority partners were determined to disassociate themselves from this stenchful character. This was a conniving owner who bought outdated airline peanuts in bulk and then sold them at the stadium. He also cheated his fellow owners by manipulating the revenue figures on game days. This despicable human also paid out money to settle with women for inappropriate conduct. Of course he had non-disclosure clauses in the settlements. So when it comes to that former owner you know little compared to what I know about him. You may not be aware of the obvious but good ownership is a factor in the success of a franchise; and conversely bad ownership is a factor in a systemically unsuccessful franchise.

I was listening to a couple of sports radio stations commenting on the Hail Mary pass. In those separate forums they made the same point that the critical play that set up the game winning pass was the previous pass that you referred to. You may not be aware of it but at times you are astute and perspicacious. 👋

I wholeheartedly agree with you that the two man rush in that scenario makes no sense. When will they learn!!!???? The Commanders are a good example of what a downtrodden franchise can do when a wretched owner is replaced with a competent owner. The former owner, Dan Snyder, was an incompetent and meddling owner who was also a despicable person.

Has this happened? I haven't seen it.

The McDermott/Beane tandem is a strong pairing that has kept this team in contention for most of their tenure with the Bills. sidenote: I don't know if you caught the Hail Mary play in the Chicago/Washington game. https://www.si.com/nfl/commanders/news/watch-jayden-daniels-hail-mary-lifts-washington-commanders-vs-bears-highlights

He needs to comb his hair. 😀

I agree with your assessment after that dispiriting trip. I didn't relate your response to only that trip. I thought it also applied after our recent games. My bad for jumping to conclusions without understanding the context.

I don't consider you to be a pessimist. On the contrary, I consider you to be fair-minded, especially considering the deflating history of this recent franchise's performance. What I find encouraging (not conclusive) is there seems to be a greater attempt to play a tighter and tougher brand of hockey compared to the free-floating style of recent years. As they say: TBD.

I don't understand your response in judging their play. They both are playing well since the European excursion. I'm simply perplexed by your opinion of these two first line players, especially during this short period of success. Will their productive play be maintained? I can't say. Let's just see how these players and team play in a longer time frame when an opinion can be better supported. Right now, I'm more positive than negative.

Let's put aside the minimal winning streak and where we are in the standings. What's encouraging is the more structured and responsible two-way play. Compared to the past number of years, there is more effort in putting bodies in front of the net in the offensive zone. What is also noticeable is less perimeter play and more emphasis on getting the puck down low and battling. At least for me, I can see the influence of Lindy as a coach and the type of play he is promoting. And without question, with the added players from the offseason, the lower half of our roster is demonstrably better. As you point out it is still very early in the season to confidently prognosticate anything. But based on what I have seen, this is a better and more well-rounded team than what we have had in the past number of years.

Are you watching the games? Tuch and Thompson are both playing well, at least from what I have observed. Tuch may not be garnering a lot of offensive stats but on both sides of the ice he is one of our most aggressive players. He and Greenway are two of our best penalty killers. Our top line is playing well. He's a factor in that.

Does anyone know what the attendance was? recap: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-det/2024/10/26/2024020122

Just a few impressions about this game: The Tage line is playing like a good NHL first line. Tage is cooking. I thought the play of the game was JJP's pass to Tage for a score near the net. JJP is playing really well. Cozens and Quinn appear to be playing better. I'm not going to overrate their play, but they are not as invisible when on the ice as they have previously been. When Byram scored his goal that bounced off a defender it was because the defender was tangled up with Quinn near the goal mouth. The additions that KA made in the offseason are not flashy players but they have made this a better and more mature team. What I liked about this team is that even after dealing with adversity, as they did having a shorthanded goal against them, they didn't let the adversity affect their play. Dahlin got too cute and tried to pass to Tage instead of shooting it. UPL was solid. If we continue to get consistent sold to good goaltending, we should be in the playoff fray all season long. Greenway is not a flashy player but he is playing well. I have made this point before so I apologize for the repetition: The difference between this team and previous teams is that our lower lines are so much better and our lower pairing (third pairing) with Clfifton and Samuelsson are playing well. The bottom has been significantly raised making this a much more balanced team. A good home win and streak that is starting to establish a Lindy coached identity.

I agree with you that exercising patience is the best approach to take with the Cozen's line. As you point out, the frustrated center is generating quality chances. He's pressing to hard and is missing the mark. As you and others have already pointed out, the fading Quinn is baffling. He's the young player that I thought would take an exponential leap this year. Something's off for a player of his talent to become an invisible and inconsequential player. So far, Kulich has by far outshined him.

You make a keen point that his efficiency in making the right play is not as noticeable as a player whose style is more physically combative. As you point out, quickly getting the puck out of your zone isn't as eye popping of tangling with the opposition in your own zone. This young guy is quietly good and doesn't catch the eye of many of the viewers who favor body contact. I'm a Power fan. He is playing well now, and in the not-too-distant future he will be rated as an upper tier defenseman in this league. I already consider him to be an anchor player for us.

That's what is so perplexing about this discussion: He's playing well. His last game against Dallas was very good. The basis of the criticisms of him relate to his style of play that lacks aggression and pugnacity. And to my surprise, I very like much like the Byram and Power combo.

You make a terrific point in that sometimes we fail to consider that the other teams have comparable, or often more talent, when judging the performances of our own players. Most fair-minded people would acknowledge that Dallas is a superior team that also has an upper tier goalie. In this game, I thought we played even, or slightly outplayed them. This was not only a good win but also a good measuring stick game that indicates that this team can compete with the best teams in the league.

Absolutely not! We already have a 1C in Tage. The assault on Power from many members here has me baffled. It seems that the underlying basis for the harsh reviews of are due to the fact that for a big guy he is not a banger. He will never be a banger. So what? Power is a tall and lanky young player who when he physically matures will turn out to be an anchor defenseman for us for a long time. It took some time for players with similar physical profiles, such as Hedman and Chara, to physically mature and become top tier players. I strongly recommend patience. He's steadily getting better and more confident on the ice. This guy's going to be a gem and be a player that Lindy values and trust.

I understand why you have reservations about Power and his style of play. He's not a banger, and never will be. However, that doesn't mean that he isn't or won't be an impact player for us. He's a big guy who can skate and has steadily shown that his hockey acumen is very good. It usually takes defenseman, especially tall and lanky players, more time to develop. Hedman and Chara are examples of that. I'm very confident that Power still has a lot of untapped potential and with experience become not only an anchor defenseman for us, but also one of the better defensemen in the league.

I would go with UPL. He's earned starting again.

Both Clifton and Greenway have been consistently solid so far in this season. Although neither player would be describe as dazzling, both have played a tough and strong brand of hockey. Greenway may be our best PK player.

Game recap from NHL.com: https://www.nhl.com/video/dal-at-buf-recap-6363618090112

Some quick thoughts on this game: I thought UPL was superb. He would be my first star, Power would be my second star. Power's pass back to Tage for a score was a smart and basic play. Tage is playing really well. A big difference between this year's team and the past few is that our lower two lines are faster and contribute more goals. Big upgrade on those lines. I thought our team defense that included the play of our forwards was excellent. The pairings and forwards were quick in getting back. Good stick work all around. Dahlin seemed to move much better in this game. I thought our play in the second period may have been our best this season. Dallas was stymied and outplayed. Krebs is contributing. He's feisty and gritty. His stick work on his goal was nifty. He waited for the puck to drop before swiping at it. This was a good win against a good team with an upper tier goalie. Our play in the second period may have been our best period so far. Dallas was stymied and outplayed.

Do you wear glasses? If you do, you need to increase the prescription. I don't mean this to be mean-spirited but you are getting to be a tiresome crank.

What's both encouraging and discouraging at the same time is that Kulich looks better than Quinn, so far. If Quinn can get back to form, then that line second line should be more productive. Right now, my inclination is that Cozens is better on the wing. I would love to have him prove me wrong.