pi2000

I think Bylsma did everything he could with the hand he was dealt. Was he the right guy for this particular group? Maybe not... but that doesn't make him a bad coach. 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. Who shined in camp? Nobody. Who took that next step in their development? Nobody. Who's taken a leadership role? Nobody. What are the lines going to look like opening night? Who knows. I don't know Housley personally, but it sounds like he hasn't earned the players respect... maybe he will, maybe he won't. Just a very underwhelming start.... with low expectations, and excuses aplenty (new coach/system will take time to adjust), this team is setup for an abysmal start to the season... and I put that on Housley. Every interview he says things like "It's a process".... "It's going to take some time"..... you know what? that! With the talent on this roster, they shouldn't be satisfied with just "making progress". Housley is giving players a built in excuse to take nights/periosds off. He has all the hallmarks of a guy that the players are going to take advantage of.... and it's already showing in the pre-season with slow starts and guys under-performing. I think he's in over his head.

Just because it's different, doesn't mean it's better.

There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

Has anyone ever heard Housley say somebody didn't have a good camp? I'm getting the sense that he only has nice things to say when speaking with the media.

you have to pick 2 teams starting week 14.. read the first post on this thread for the rules.

Surprising win. McDermott has these guys believing and playing for each other. That alone will take them a long way. If they don't make the playoffs it won't be for lack of coaching or desire or team. I can live with that. Fun team to cheer for.

He's got hands like Tim Connolly.

Good post. I feel exactly the same. I've watched quite a bit preseason, mostly teams out west, and they all look light years ahead of BUF. I'm bracing for another loooong season.

The bottom 6 is still an issue. Was really hoping one or two of the young guys would shine in camp.... didn't happen. For that reason I don't see playoffs as a possibility this season. When guys like Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste blossom into legit NHL players, then we can talk playoffs. Instead we're stuck with a steaming pile that is Moulson, Larsson, Pouliot, Josefson, and Griffith... mostly journeymen type guys who do anything particularly well.

That's awful news, he was a personal favorite of mine. cancer.

Beaulieu and Antipin both look good offensively, but very bad in their own end. Hope Housley can fix that, and quick, otherwise it could be a rough start for this club.

Larsson... makes a nice play to intercept a pass, them promptly passes right back to the Islanders.

My love for T. Barrie was mostly because his skill set is what the Sabres were desperately lacking on the back-end at that time. I recognized the NHL was trending in the direction of plus skating defensemen, so he seemed like a perfect fit. I've since been more focused on TRpm where Barrie doesn't score that well (+4 on the worst team in the league), so my stance on him has altered a bit.

fixed..

I'd like to see a 4th line of Nolan, Larsson and Gionta.

Antipin looked very good offensively and through the neutral zone. However, he looks terrible defending in his own end. How much of that has to do with the smaller rink size vs his small stature, I don't know... probably a little of both. So yeah, pairing him with somebody who's solid in the d-zone would be good.... Gorges.

Larsson is slow :P BUF gave up 9 shots, not bad against PIT's starters. They looked a little better in their own end, but leaving lots of guys open.

I still think one more year in Roch would be better for him long term than 4th line minutes in Buffalo. Yeah, he's at an age where he needs to show something, but let him do that in Roch where he'll get more opportunity. They want to build a winner down there and that doesn't happen with guys like Bailey/Baptiste/etc playing 6 minutes a night in Buffalo.

With half the defense missing and the Pens roster even better than their Cup winning version (+Letang), I'll say 8-2 Penguins.... good luck CJ.

I'll allow it.

I'm reservedly optimistic Housley's system will generate more offense, however from the preseason games at least, they still need a ton of work in the d-zone. They still look like they're killing a penalty when the other team has possession, which won't help their shots against. I've said it numerous times here, this team won't sniff the playoffs until they drastically reduce shot attempts against. I've seen nothing thus far in the preseason that would suggest they've made an improvement in that aspect.... so my expectations out of the gate are extremely low.

So the Knights have black gloves now.. at least with their dark home uni's. Looks much better IMO. Black with gold fingers.

No. What are those lines? Are they shutdown or secondary scoring lines? They have no rhyme or reason... they can't score and they can't play defense. Until that changes, this team is just spinning it's wheels IMO.

Why wouldn't he want to play if that meant a spot on the Olympic team? He could still play at that level.

Here in southern california most of my friends (other hockey/school Dads, coaches, etc) are severely pissed at the players and fully back Trump. It takes everything I have to not engage them. They have zero tolerance. If I said anything our friendships would be ruined permanently even though we'd be forced to hang out at school/hockey functions, etc... so to avoid all that mess I just keep my "unpopular" political opinions to myself.... which sucks... is it complaint Thursday yet? haha That said, I admire Jim Kelly, his approach to life and football. I don't agree with his political opinion, but I don't make that a pre-requisite to friendship like most people these days (and I blame the polarizing media for that).