HumanSlinky39

Habs shooters:

Do they even practice the power play?

Attaboy, Greeny

I love hockey, so yes, I can still enjoy them on a game-to-game basis. This season, the losses are more frustrating than most years, though.

That's because there's a Sabres game about to start.

Alright, boys, let's not embarrass ourselves tonight!

My magic 8-ball says this is a W.

Winning makes places a destination.

They won the previous game. This season says odds were very high they were gonna eat an L today.

Last year, that was a fine motto. They barely missed the playoffs and were playing great hockey the last 1/3 of the season. THAT was a developmental season. They've regressed almost across the board this year; I'd say only Peterka and Upie have taken steps forward. Given last season, playoffs should have been the expectation this season. Going on 13 years without a single postseason. When does it end? When are people going to be held accountable for their failures? Because that's what this season is, a failure.

I don't "hate" or "not like" this team. I'm just wildly disappointed in them. So much promise coming out of last season, but there have been 2 major failures: 1) KA not doing enough to supplement the talent on hand this offseason. Neither Clifton nor EJ were ever going to move the needle. Maybe EJ was brought in to add some grit and veteran leadership, but so far I've not seen it. They needed to add 3-4 solid veterans with experience in winning hockey. Adams failed to do so and now the roster has regressed nearly across the board. 2) Sticking with a failing coaching staff. The players quit on these guys by the time December rolled around. They are not buying whatever it is Granato and Company are selling. The goal this season should have been the playoffs, nothing less. Continuing to do the same thing every day when it clearly is not working is a failure of the front office. Edmonton fired their staff and totally turned their season around. St. Louis looks much better under their new coach. Minnesota has played better since they made a change. This group needs a new voice and no move was made, essentially wasting yet another season. All of the progress of last season has been pissed away.

Watching these games on tv, the body language amongst these guys is terrible. Last year, they were a team. They were smiling, they were flying around, they looked like they were enjoying themselves and eachother. This year, I see a team (barely) going through the motions. Some of that is certainly on the players, but (to me) that falls heavily on the coaches. When's the last time you saw Granato or Ellis getting on someone's ass on the bench? Ever? Has Granato ever benched or scratched someone for lousy effort or making an inexcusable mistake? I can't name an instance. If nobody above is correcting their behavior, the players will continue to loaf and mope around. The guys on the ice certainly aren't policing themselves. It's a ***** country club.

Oh, okay. Cool.

I'm watching the Oilers game on now...it's like they're playing a different sport.

*Obligatory*

55 games in and still haven't won 3 in a row. Even lowly San Jose has managed to do that this season. The only teams that haven't? CBJ and Chicago. the 29th and 32nd ranked teams in the league.

Eh, fair point. I've been thinking for a long time now that a new coach could conceivably get these guys on track and compete for the postseason. I think it's all too far gone at this point. Another year wasted after so much progress last. I agree 100% the next coach NEEDS to be an experienced coach who will whoop these guys into shape and hold them accountable. Brind'Amour would be a grand slam, Berube or Gallant 3-run home runs. Need a "name" that has won and knows wtf he is doing. No more on the job training.

I don't live near Buffalo, so I cannot speak to the pricing for Sabres games, but me, my wife, and our two daughters went to a Wild game back in December. All in, tickets, concessions, souvenirs, and parking, we easily spent $750. For one game. I'd imagine prices at Key Bank aren't significantly different from Xcel Energy Center. People spend a ton of money to go to these games. When you put out a ***** product for well over a decade, you should expect some backlash for poor performance. The players getting butt hurt about it is just another symptom of the total lack of accountability within this organization. Hell, I'd call it an outfit, not an organization. Don't want to get booed? Put a better ***** product on the ice. At least the Wild won the game we went to.

"One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The Story of The 2023-24 Buffalo Sabres" Fire Granato.

That might have been my favorite moment from last season. Eff Tampa Bay. If they can't do it against those tomato cans, they never are.

I missed most of the game. Went out with the family this afternoon, had an early dinner at a Buffalo bar here in Omaha (had a terrific beef on weck), got back in time to see the tying goal and OT. I should do this more often.

Alright, who had Joker in OT on their bingo card?

My biggest beef with Granato's philosophy...zero physicality. Let's get that second point.

7 goals, then blanked the next time out. New coaches, plz.

And again...