pi2000

Apparently the "better, more modern system" has a much lower floor as well.

Two words.... Must. Win. It all boils down to this. One game. One period. One shift. The season hangs in the balance. A turning point for the organization, in what has a largely been a forgettable season. I, for one, can hardly contain myself. That said, I need to change the wiper fluid in my car, so I'll miss this one. Good luck boys!

Yep. It is a crock. The problem is that it doesn't fit the narrative that the players hated Bylsma and that Housley's system and player friendly approach was somehow going to open the floodgates and unleash the true potential of this group. Reality is that they're worse in every single category... and it's not even close.

The results speak for themselves.

80 points is hardly "extremely gruesome"... considering year 1 was Eichel's rookie season, and year 2 Eichel missed 1/3 of the season. What's Housley's excuse for coming in 20 points under this "bench mark". And all this talk of "unlearning Bylsma's crappy system" is absolute bunk. Give me one example where an "better" coach took over and ran the team into the ground just because they were all "brainwashed" by the previous coach.

At yet they put up back to back 80 point seasons under Bylsma.

The assertion was that they're finally playing the way Housley wants them to. I disagree. Sure they're playing his system better than the beginning of the year, but IMO they have a long ways to go.

fixed

Housley

tantrum

immaturity

We all (well, most of us) thought GMTM was the right GM at that time. How do we know JBOT is the right GM? I've seen this too many times to just assume he's going to push all the right buttons just because he's not GMTM. Maybe he over values his own players? Maybe he doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to give Housley an ultimatum? Maybe he's not well liked around the league because of his condescending tone and the value he puts on his own players? Only time will tell.

You think they've gotten it? What exactly is "it"? Because if they've got "it".. then "it" doesn't seem to be working.

This hardly qualifies as news. We know the offers aren't good right now.

Falk would get an unsportsmanlike penalty, the opponent would go on the power play, and Kane would blow it off as no big deal. If a puck is hit with a high stick, then a defender accidentally gloves it into his own net while it's still in the air.... is it a good goal? If Housley actually called out players in the lockerroom and benched them for long stints during games... would the Sabres win some games?

That would make sense, but.... Bylsma took a less talented roster to a respectable 78 points last year... and he didn't have Eichel for 1/3 of the season. Last summer they add some pieces (Scandella, Josefson, CJ, Pouliot, etc...) yet now they're on pace for only 60 points. What changed? Housley. My theory is that some of the players really liked Bylsma and maybe it's those players who are not responding to Housley.... out of spite? Selling low never ends well. Just watch these guys blossom under other leadership.

Man, I would give anything to hear what goes on behind that door after a no-show period. The Road to the Winter Classic didn't really shed any light because Housley kicked the camera crew out of the locker room. Is it because he's calling guys out individually? Or just cussing up a storm? My intuition tells me he's just too soft. For as a season as this is... I can count on one hand the number of times he's benched a player or sat him even for just a single shift. That said, I don't think he has the respect of the players who are lost and looking for answers. Phil isn't delivering... as a rookie head coach, can he figure it out before the end of the season? My concern is that Housely, as a former player, is more concerned about maintaining friendships with the players and he himself fitting into the locker room and team culture. That works fine if you're winning... but if effort, preparation, etc.. are the problem, then you need a drill sergeant, not another friend in the locker room.

it's time to watch the world burn

Can confirm. Have 12 and 14 year old boys, and yes they're both idiots when online with their buds. I was the same way at that age, except instead of playing games online we were behind a Wilson Farms smoking rolled up pipe tobacco (or other substances) one of my idiot friends lifted off our english teacher. That was our entertainment... at least with the PS4/XBOX there's only so much they can get away with.

Doug Gilmour

i thought he looked great the last couple weeks he played. first 16 weeks? yeah beer league at best

Don't panic. The market will improve as the deadline approaches. The time to send message was in the Fall. There's nothing to gain by panic selling this close to the deadline.

true

Gretzky wasn't just better, he 8s exponentially better than anyone who has ever played.

confirmed