pi2000

Disco took a less talented team to 78 points... a 20 point improvement. Housley has done zilch. Offense, defense, and special teams are much much worse since he took over. Oh, but Disco's style of play wasn't fun to watch... Well.... are we having fun now?

Can we send Housley down and bring up Taylor? Housley needs to learn how to win.

With Olofsson all you need to do is look at the goals he's scoring. Sure he's 23, but his goals are pure skill, not rebound/deflection type goals using his size, strength or positioning around the net. That matters in the overall evaluation. The quick release, accuracy and velocity will translate well the NHL.

He doesn't need time or space to get that shot off.... it will translate well to the National league IMO. It all depends what role they're asking him to play. If they want him to be a trigger man, PP specialist, then it doesn't matter how many puck battles he wins. If they're asking him to be a well rounded 200ft player, then yeah there's a lot he needs to work on. I think it was Brett Hull who, when asked about his lack of defensive awareness, responded "Do you want me to score 50 goals, or play defense?". That said, there is some minimum defensive awareness all players need at the NHL level, but he should be able to pick that up pretty quick. And if Housley deploys him in the right situations... PP, offensive zone starts, matching up against other teams weaker D pairings, etc... then he should find success sooner than later.

What could possibly go wrong playing rum slaps? haha We used to play a similar game, but with flaming Dr. Pepper's. My buddy ended up spilling his flaming beverage all over his face and suffered severe burns... during 1993 spring break in Panama City. Good times.

As it should be. Anything less would be a disappointment. I expect a number of these guys to see some time in Buffalo during the season, but return to Rochester for the playoffs along with Thompson. Is Dahlin eligible to be sent down for an Amerks playoff run?

The guys in Rochester like Nylander and Olofsson aren't guys you want in your bottom 6. Their rolls are as high end skill players. Bring them up when they're ready to play those big top 6 minutes... otherwise let them learn how to lead and win in Rochester.

B-o-n-e-r

*****

If he keeps scoring at this outrageous clip, it doesn't matter what his flaws are.

Agreed. Those are mistakes you'd expect a rookie to make, but this is his 5th season. He's played +350 games in the NHL. These types of mistakes are inexcusable. They are simple plays and he just lacks the hockey intelligence to read and recognize average everyday situations. I just hope the coaching staff and JBOTs are picking up on this stuff and will do what's necessary.

I fixed the image links, take another look.

You can blame Berglund for not defending Marchessault, BUT... that play doesn't happen if Risto doesn't go fishing on the zone entry taking himself badly out of position. He's a defenseman, look where he is when Karlsson makes the pass.

I took a look at the first 3 Vegas goals to see where things went wrong for Buffalo... First Goal: Risto (circled in red) takes himself badly out of position on Vegas' PP zone entry, forcing McCabe to abandon his position and defend Karlsson who finds a wide open Marchessault. Guilty party: Risto's lack of positional awareness and game situation... some blame on Berglund for not recognizing Marchessault was sneaking in behind him, but normally that's not his responsibility (if McCabe could've held his position instead of making up for Risto's gaffe). Second goal: After a ghastly turnover by Reinhart at the Vegas blueline (BUF on the PP), he makes an impressive effort on the backcheck to negate the 2-on-1. However, Risto doesn't recognize this and stays in the center of the ice giving Eakin way too much time and space, failing to get stick on puck and disrupt the shot attempt. Guilty party: Risto's lack of positional awareness and game situation (also Reinhart for the turnover). Third Vegas goal: Face-off to the left of Hutton. Risto lines up on the half-wall for the face-off as he's playing the left-side while Dahlin is lined up the right side. There's a scramble for possession at the dot after the puck is dropped. For some reason, Risto mans up with Karlsson and follows him to the top of the crease, completely abandoning the left side of the zone. There is no need for Risto to follow Karlsson as Dahlin is in good position to defend the net front while Berglund is defending Marchessault. The wingers are also in proper positioning defending the points. This leaves Riley Smith all alone with the puck deep in the left side of the zone (where Risto should've been), with an egregious amount of time and space to find Karlsson's stick in front of Hutton for the easy deflection while Risto makes an attempt to scramble back to the left side. Guilty Party: Risto's lack of positional awareness and game situation (he gets caught on the wrong side of the ice defending a player that Dahlin already has position on). There's a chance they were supposed to switch after the draw, but seems unlikely given Dahlin's position in the picture below.

That's the classic excuse when you have lack of effort.

That's nice but wish he would've followed through on his commitment to play college hockey at Miami.... I'm afraid he'll suffer the same fate as Auston Matthews.

Still more productive tho. I have no further answers.

28 Actually he's 18.

Olofsson would look good in that spot eventually. His release is lighting quick. Is Okposo the next Moulson? Only 5 more years at $6m/yr.... God I hope not, but man.. it just looks like he's plodding around out there most of the time.

They play down to their competition to start the game. Then if they get behind, they turn it up in the 3rd period. They need to learn to play consistently at their own speed, and not play at the speed of their opponent. That's where a good experienced veteran coach would make a difference. They just seem afraid to come out firing to start a game and really jump all over their opponent. I mean how many times have they jumped out to a 2+ goal lead to start a game in the last 4-5 years? It's a mindset that needs to change if they're ever going to realize their full potential.

It's interesting to listen to post-game interviews after a loss. Eichel - We lost because we didn't execute. Housley - We lost because we didn't execute. Hutton - We lost because we weren't desperate enough. I liked that Hutton admitted he should've made the save on their second goal. Kudos to him. The more I listen to Hutton, the more I hear the voice of a future NHL head coach.

Meanwhile, Matt Donovan is tearing up the AHL with 3 points in 4 games. Significantly out pacing his former teammate Rasmus Dahlin in ppg in north american pro hockey.... just sayin'.

I was hoping to see Peterman exercise some demons.

I pin this loss on Housley. Should've went with the hot hand in Ullmark. He probably makes that save on the shorthanded goal... Maybe even stops the first goal with his size. Again, he didn't have them ready to play. They looked slow and disinterested in the first period.

RIP in peace