pi2000

These are humans, they're not robots..... they have emotions and losing hurts. At least losing *should* hurt... maybe if more players hated to lose as much as ROR does, they wouldn't be in this spot. Coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history you want them to trade their top PP point producer, second leading scorer, and the greatest face-off artist in the history of the game? My goodness.

I liked Scott Wilson's interview. Playing in a winning program in PIT, he knows what it takes. He talked a lot about intensity and focus every time you're at the rink, not just on the ice.. but working out in the gym, going over film, pre-scouting. There needs to be more intensity, focus and commitment from the first rep in the gym to the last pass in the gameday skate. My hunch on who hasn't shown this level of commitment: Girgensons Larsson Ristolainen Eichel Reinhart Pouliot McCabe Beaulieu ...basically the young guys and the guys who have been infected by the losing environment the past 5 seasons. It's just a guess, but would make sense IMO based on what I've heard in these exit interviews and from Housley. That said, if this has been problem all year why wasn't it addressed earlier on in the season?

they should have

shut your mouth goalie and do your job

That is a conversation for October, November... The season is over. They're the worst team in the league, there's nothing they can do to change that. He's simply reflecting on the season, which was the question he was asked. Part of leading is being honest, don't sugar coat things or just recite cliches for a sound bite. I appreciate his honesty. He's not the reason this team sucked. They need more guys like him who hate to lose as much as he does.

Eichel

Yeah, they all need to be called out in the media... and that's the media's job, not ROR's.

So he's officially blaming the players now? Sounds like a desperate man who's career is on the ropes.

They should play for each other. They should feel guilty when they lose. They should play hard for ROR because he's their teammate and he hates to lose. What? You just said he should call out his teammates in the media.... ...should he call out his teammates in private locker room discourse? Yeah, if it's warranted... maybe he has. Maybe some guys tune him out and just want to collect a paycheck. Maybe if Housley called guys out, he wouldn't have to. Maybe if Housley benched some of these clowns once in a blue moon, they'd feel they need to play harder to save their careers.

You don't call out your own teammates in the media.... that's a surefire way to alienate yourself in the locker room. By taking blame and saying he needs to be better, is a great example. If everybody on the team had that attitude they'd have much better results.

He hates losing more than anyone and takes blame, always pointing the finger at himself before anyone else. That's a great leader. Put a guy with that attitude in an atmosphere where his teammates accept loses and the coach is OK with it... that sounds like a living hell. If we're talking a 20 game beer league season, yeah it's doable to keep your chin up for a couple months. Stretch that out over an 82 game season and it becomes a serious drag mentally and emotionally for a guy like him.

Can't believe how many here are raking him over the coals for giving his honest opinion. He obviously hates losing and this season was hard on him. Fans often lose sight of the fact these are real people who feel real emotions and expect them to just be able to handle every situation. Maybe if more teammates (and coaches) hated losing as much as he did, they wouldn't be in this situation.

Can you point me to one post (besides mine) that says to fire Phil right now? Every post I read say he should be fired early next season if they don't improve. 90% of this board was begging for Bylsma to be canned back in March last year, nobody wanted to give him a chance with an improved roster and healthy Eichel.

Yeah everybody was fine with Bylsma in April of his first season because they improved by 27 points. His second yearz without Eichel for almost half the season, they drop 3 points in the standings and he gets run out of town. Enter Housley with an improved roster and playoff bubble expectations... boom, a 16 point drop... but sure, let's keep him around.

I agree. That said, I've seen nothing to suggest Housley deserves the chance to continue coaching this team. If his name was Dan Bylsma instead of Phil Housley people would be clamoring for him to be fired. But since he's a former Sabre, hall-of-famer, came from a successful Nashville organization, etc... he gets a free pass. Mind-boggling. If he somehow turns this team around next season, I'll happily eat crow, but my money is on another slow start, same excuses, he'll praise their effort, etc. etc... and it will be another lost season before we hit Thanksgiving. Yay.

Failed top 6 players... Josefson Pouliot Girgensons ...all 1st rounders. I'd throw Moulson and Pominville in that group as well, not as failed top sixers but overage players who can't fill a bottom 6 role because of their inability to defend.

The league is going flip back to a heavy game soon. Just be yourself the best you can, don't try to be a player you're not. Do what got you there. With all these guys trying to get lighter and faster, the league will be ripe for a big strong team to bully their way to the Cup. I say get out ahead of the curve. Bring back Bylsma and load up on big physical players that teams are willing to giveaway for next to nothing.

I like all of this. I have a man crush on Barrie, but no way is COL trading him. He lead all defensemen in PPG this season... a monster season after signing a nice bridge type deal (that he deserves btw, plus minus be damned! haha). Prototypical PP QB, ha 30 points on the power play... which allows me to overlook his negative PM. I'd trade Reinhart and Nylander for him straight up.... but COL won't even consider it. You're spot on about the bottom 6. I said it last off-season, this team won't improve until they fix the bottom 6. They need players who can chip offensively and know how to defend. The current group are castaway top 6 players who can't defend worth and we're launched from other teams because they failed to live up to expectations offensively. Again, thus was a massive blunder by JBOTs and Housley to just wipe the slate clean and ignore the hours of film on these guys. Wasted season is the result.

nope

Nylander was a bust two seasons ago. And he's still a bust. The longer they wait to trade him, the less valuable he is. It's time to cut bait. Why is everyone so enamored with him? If he was drafted in 5th round he be buried in the minors, which is where he belongs. He's done nothing to deserve a look over guys like Blackwell and Gill.

8 players sent down.. Nelson Guhle Ullmark Nylander Wilcox Tennyson Baptiste Porter Rodrigues would need to clear waivers I think, and Mittlestadt is banned from the league for being too good.

This is nothing new... it was evident in training camp and pre-season. And here we are. https://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/25237-phil-housley-your-feelings-after-preseason/?do=findComment&comment=981222 "I've seen nothing from this preseason to suggest Housley has them on the right path. Guys like ROR, Eichel, etc... sleep-walking through pre-season games, ragged scrambley d-zone play, giving up odd man rush after odd man rush. Lack of effort and focus... and all Housley has done is heap praise on this group for their work ethic.... well, I for one, don't see any amount of work ethic from anybody."

Took my 12y/o son to see it last week.... good movie.

This is horrifying. Having logged many miles on team buses, this is just unfathomable... Had some close calls traveling around the north east in the winter, but this is just something you never really think about when you're on the bus with your teammates hanging out playing cards, studying, or just enjoying each others company. Terrible tragedy.

And just like that, he's a -15. -10 in his last 5 games. Still has a positive TRpm tho...