pi2000

He would need to finish all 4 years of college. That's not happening. He has slightly above average top end speed, but he has below average quickness in small areas... which is compounded by his poor awareness. This.

Let's not kid ourselves. All those 1 goal losses, I count 22 of them... if he was truly generational he'd have about 55-60 points at this juncture and maybe half of those one goal losses would be flipped to victories.... vautling this team 15-18 points up the standings into a potential playoff position. I understand that's harsh criticism, but I believe he has the talent to do that, even on a bad team. eg, who was Kevin Stevens before Lemieux came along? Look what Tavares did for Moulson... those guys were on bad teams too.

He can work his speed in the AHL now that his most recent NHL experience is at the front of his mind.... that an rebound control can be improved. If he fixes those two things he has everything you're looking for in a #1 tendy.

I'm on board with this... but I'd leave Middlestadt in college, trade Girgensons, Reinhart and McCabe. I think CJ Smith makes the jump, and maybe Bailey. I think you could get a nice return for a package of Reinhart and McCabe, so much so that you could probably include Moulson or Bogo in that deal.

BUF played better in the d-zone, more active and engaged away from the puck which makes a big difference.... still gave up 45 shots but limited the grade A scoring chances and did a nice job collapsing around the Ullmark to clear rebounds. Ullmark played well, didn't give up any softies. You can tell he's mentally tough, he battles to find pucks through screens and doesn't get rattled in heavy traffic. Positionally sound, but it's easy to see where he needs to improve his game.... rebound control, finding pucks in tight, and lateral quickness. He left some awful juicy rebounds right back up the middle of the slot, and seemed to have trouble finding pucks in tight. The lateral quickness will improve as he gets accustomed to NHL game speed. He has all the tools. Thought Eichel took his game to another level tonight. He was noticeable every shift, moving his feet, creating space, getting involved away from the puck in the d-zone and on the back-check. Need to see more of that.

Both Guhle and Ullmark need more time in the Rochester slow cooker. Guhle still looks lost at times in the d-zone, understandable. Ullmark well, he made some good stops, but his rebound control was brutal and he was a little slow laterally... you can tell he's not used to NHL speed of play yet. Has a promising future tho if he can take that next step.

They should get rid of the lottery. It encourages teams to tank because every spot they drop gives them a better % chance of winning the number 1 pick. Sans lottery, if the last place team is 20 points worse than the next best team, then you won't have teams trying to tank to improve their odds during the season... because they won't have any chance of getting the 1st pick.

Studies show that if we keep him in our thoughts, he'll heal faster.

Let's just say they partied in blizzard conditions, on more than a handful of occasions.

It was neccessary. Myers need a change of scenery as did Kane.

Their Dad almost retired at 24 because of a bad back and it plagued him his entire career. Studies show that Sam's lack of backbone is through no fault of his own simply an inherited genetic disorder. Thanks Dad.

It's always darkest before the dawn.... and it's pretty damn dark right now.

JBOT didn't draft either of them... if he doesn't think they'll develop into a role that fits his vision for this team, then he'll trade them while he can still get a nice return. He'd be a fool to sit on his hands while their values plummet every time they take the ice.

It was a challenge and he failed... sure nobody wants them, so you packaging them as part of a larger deal to a team that can eat their cap. If Datsyuk and Pronger contracts can get traded, then so can Moulson and Bogosian.

Take away his gameboy and coleco vision.

Can't wait to see him look up to the rafters, slump his shoulders, roll his eyes and laggardly skate back to bench after he gets eliminated from the accuracy shooting contest.

I blame Botterill for this. Moving Bogo and Moulson should have been his number 1 priority last summer... many of us said that.... but nooooooo, he wanted to give them a clean slate and judge them only on their performance this season. What a huge .

It's still too early to call a winner. Lemieux, Armia, Rolsovic.. all still developing. What happens to Kane/Bogo?

My close friend out here is a friend of his... and boy does he have some stories. Let's just say that Derek likes to party.

All this QB talk and yet I'm not really impressed with any of the guys in the draft. They all have something they do well, but also some major flaws. I hope they realize this and don't reach for a guy by packaging picks to move up into the top 10. With so many holes to fill that would be a big mistake IMO.

All this talk about should Phil be phired.... maybe he resigns after the season.

Have a reason to watch now... that and will be interesting to see how the team responds to Phil's harsh criticism. And hopefullyh a Kane/Falk tilt in warmies.

Do you coach?

Kneelander should be tearing up the AHL, no matter who he plays with. He needs to show something to get a call up.

A healthy Jack Eichel is putting up fewer points per game under Housley vs an injured Eichel under Bylsma..... and his effort is inconsistent at best.