pi2000

Hockey is a simple game. There's a simple reason this team is underperforming... but go ahead and make complicated excuses for everybody if that makes you feel better.

And who's fault is that? Trading away underperforming players would be a huge mistake IMO, and set this team back for many years. I hope Botterill is smart enough to realize that if every single player is underperforming then coaching is the issue. That said, I think he gives Housley until mid-Jan to show some kind of progress. My guess is he's using the looming threat of trades to try and motivate these guys. I'd be shocked if he actually pulls the trigger on any of the core guys.

Wrong. The expectations were that this team was going to battle for a playoff spot. Going in with the attitude of "evaluation and deleopment" is a loser mentality. This is ice hockey were talking about. Other than Moulson getting waived (which should've happened years ago), and the Wilson trade, what else has happened during the season? Nothing. The Sabre's improved by 30 points in Bylsma's first year. They took a step back his second year, but that was because of Eichel's injury. In fact the 2016-17 team without Eichel is outpacing this current team with Eichel and an improved roster. Sad. Creating a competitive atmposphere is not something the GM should be responsible for. The Head Coach needs to make it a competitive environment by challenging guys and handing out ice time to those who've earned it. That's not happening on this team, and that's Housley's fault. Just because he's new, doesn't me he can't hold guys accountable. How many times has Eichel been benched? Reinhart? ROR? none. You hear it in player interviews as well, guys talk a lot about holding each other accountable... why? Because it's not coming from the head coach, so they need to police themselves. That's a losing environment, it creates a divide in the locker room... I've been there and had coaches like Housley, it's no beuno. The best coach is a guy all the players fear, and respect, he's not their friend, he's their leader. You want a friend? Look to the guy sitting next to you on the bench. That atmosphere brings guys together, and it's lacking on this team.

You know who else is 19? Laine, Tkachuk, Sergachev, DeBrincat, Keller, etc... Nylander can't even contribute to an AHL club, I'm sorry, that's disappointing.

So basically throw away an entire season just to get to know everybody better? I disagree strongly with this. Look what Gallant has done in Vegas. He's hard on the guys, expects a lot and they play like their hair's on fire because of his leadership. Housley wouldn't have that team anywhere near a playoff spot, but hey... he'd be "getting to know everybody really well"... right? Not necessarily Torts, but somebody who isn't there to just to make friends.

flight and accommodations included?

I think Housley is a fine coach.. for a veteran team that's already learned how to work hard every shift. He's not the right fit for this group at this time... they're still figuring how to bring a consistent effort shift by shift.. .and that requires a disciplinarian, not a tactician. I just don't think he's demanding enough and it shows on the ice. Bylsma was a better disciplinarian than Housley, he was more demanding and they had better results (with a worse roster). Sure, young players may not have liked that style, but it's what's best for their development.... now they've taken a step back in the wrong direction, lazy play, developing bad habits, it's a mess... and that falls on the head coach.

Has Nylander done anything at all in Rochester? What a disappointment he's been. He's getting outscored by guys like Sahir Gill and Steve Moses.

If he was a little bit stronger maybe he scores on that giveway by Elliott and puts them up 2-0, and it's a completely different game at that point. It's those little things this team hasn't figured out how to do yet. They can't bear down and win a battle to score a timely goal. Compete level isn't where it needs to be. I blame Housley, and it's not a system issue, it's a motivation issue, he was a soft player and he's a soft coach. They're at the bottom of the league and I can't remember him benching anybody in any game even for a single period. What kind of message does that send?

most depressing GDT ever, we've reached a new low. It's always darkest before the dawn.

This is great. The best part is at 1:15 when Snow and Hasek get involved. RJ starts yelling and there's somebody screaming incessantly in the background.... intense!

For the sake of transparency (and I've mentioned this previously)... my source works for the Ducks... I play Tuesday nights with him. He actually brought up the subject of a Kane trade himself this past week in the locker room as he knows I'm from Buffalo and follow the team. It's common knowledge that the Ducks are looking for scoring and Kane would be a nice fit, they think he would thrive with Getzlaf who is primarily a distributor. He did say BUF was looking for a roster player, a prospect and a pick... or some combination of the above in addition to taking on a bad contract (Moulson/Bogo).... which is cost prohibitive for the Ducks who have only a few million in cap. He thinks that's an outrageous asking price for a pending UFA, which I agree with, but they do see Kane as a potential upgrade over a guy like Cogliano who's 30 years old and a pending UFA himself. Bieksa's $4mil is also coming off the books (I know him personally, he's told me he's retiring after this season... hopefully to play on our beer league team! :) He's a great guy, I've got know him pretty well as his kid plays on my younger boys team. He occasionally skates with them and makes locker room appearances before games to pump up the kids, he's well liked, offers to buy everyone coffee in the mornings, etc.. I could go on and on). Anyway, the Ducks could make something work longer term with Kane but they'd need to move a large contract of their own (Perry, Henrique, Eaves) as part of the deal or a separate deal during the offseason.

When Josefson comes back they should send both Fasching and Rodrigues down. They'll benefit more from 1st line minutes in ROCH than 3rd line in BUF. Let them continue to develop on the farm in a winning environment. Ultimately I'd like to see a line of Fasching - Rodrigues - Smith... perhaps as soon as next season. Still lots of fodder to clear out of BUF.

No. Correct. Again... my source says he'll be shocked if anybody gives BUF what they're asking for at this time. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but BUF is looking for a "pie in the sky" type of deal. Maybe by the deadline some team gets desperate enough, who knows, but for now the chances of a Kane trade are minuscule at best.... of course that can all change in the blink of an eye if their asking price comes down, but my source doesn't think that will happen any time soon.

You'll need to convince me my source is wrong beyond any reasonable doubt... good luck!

Sprinkle in an Eichel and Kane into that lineup and we're in business. That was fun hockey, Ray, Barnaby and Boughner dropped the gloves every period it seemed. Those 3 collectively racked up 760min of penalties in 96-97. That's more penalty minutes than half the teams in the league had last season.

My source tells me Kane isn't going anywhere. BUF is just putting his name out there hoping somebody gives them an offer they can't refuse... which won't happen.

CAR plays a very disciplined possession game and their players are well versed in the system. CAR ranks first in the league in SAT% (BOS 6th), BUF ranks 25th (which is an improvement from last season where they ranked 29th).

Foligno - Tucker - Andreychuk

fixed.

I tore a ligament in my brain trying to read that. Do you think it has anything to do with Gallant being more demanding of his players? As a former player, just listening to both guys talk in interviews, I'd be more likely to skate through a wall for Gallant than for Housley. His Housley a demanding coach behind the scenes? Tune in tonight on NBCSN at 11:30p ET to find out!

Let me ask you this... what type of system is Vegas playing and why is it so successful? Do they simply have that much more talent than Buffalo? ask Vegas

So Eichel, ROR, Okposo, Ristolainen, etc.. lack of production is simply because of their talent deficiency? Isn't the job of head coach to get the most out of his roster? Why is Housley trying to fit a square peg in a round hole?

Disagree, this team is struggling much more under Housley than they ever did under Bylsma. Every player (except Kane) is struggling to produce points. They've taken a big step back individually and as a team.

There's no denying that Eichel (and ROR and Risto and Okposo, etc) produced at a much higher level under Bylsma. So a 20 year old kid didn't like Bylsma's style... boo ###### hoo. Eichel has no idea what it takes to be successful in this league. Tail wagging the dog IMO. They gave Eichel what he wanted, and look where it's gotten them.