pi2000

Wasn't too long ago that this team had terrible 1st periods, finally showing up in the 3rd and winning some games in dramatic fashion. For most of the season they sleepwalked the first 20 minutes. Now they have the opposite problem. They don't know how to play with a lead.... probably because they haven't been in that position very often. IMO it's something that will come with experience, and it shows with their reactions after the game... Jack says they keeping sitting back too much, others blame a bad bounce sends them into a tailspin, etc... they're searching for answers which is part of the learning process for a young team. They've learned how to get leads early the game, now they need to learn how to close out games... which might take some time, but what some see as dysfunction I see as a natural progression.

just figured out why they call ROR "factor".. The O'Reilly Factor .. Bill O'Reilly. everybody prolly already knows this but i just got it and wanted to share, thanks for listening carry on.

It's the inconsistency that's the issue. Some nights they look great, they play hard and smart for a few games, then look completely uninspired for 2-3 games, don't show up for periods, just the body language at times look they're just going through the motions. That's on Bylsma to get them playing at a consistent level game in and game out, which he hasn't been able to do for 2 seasons in a row now. They haven't had a 4 game winning streak in 5 years or something ridiculous like that.

Right, and you hear alot about players talking on the bench during the games, trying to stay positive, talking to eachother, etc... normally that's something the head coach does, but I think the players have figured out they're not going to get that type of leadership from Bylsma, they need to generate it on their own. That's asking a lot from a young team IMO.

In today's NHL you need more guys like ERod in your lineup. IMO the Larsson's and Girgenson's, guys who can check but don't put up points, don't belong in the modern NHL.

The way the players are talking about it, Murray's speech was either truly epic, or simply something they haven't heard from their head coach all season.

Agreed. If it takes a GM speech to get these guys motivated and pulling in the same direction, than the head coach isn't doing his job.

One of my pre-season predictions was that he would make the team out of training camp. He looked this good at the end of last season as well. IMO he provides more value to this team than Larsson, he just has better offensive instincts and ability than Larsson does.

Yep, anybody would've drafted Eichel, Reinhart, and gone after O'Reilly etc... ultimately he'll be judged on hitting on mid-round picks, cap management, and filling out the roster with a healthy mix of vets and young players.

Improve? A complete overhaul is needed. How you do that in one off-season? No idea.

In a perfect workd, you take that $28mil you're giving Moulson, Gorges, Bogo, Kuli, Gionta and Ennis... and give it to 2 top 4 D, and some scoring depth. You could add two stud D at $6mil/each, and still have $14mil left over to add some scoring depth, or a stud LW for Jack to play with.... so many possibilities. That said, I don't know how the hell GMTM is going to shed those contracts. Maybe a tank team takes them on to reach the cap floor? One can only hope.

My understanding is that WPG mandated we Bogo's contract off their hands as part of the Kane deal. I don't believe GMTM was targeting him to lead the second pairing. Bogo is fast when he gets up to speed, but his quickness, first step, and agility are on Gorges level and it gets him into a lot of bad situations against today's speedy forwards. And his hockey IQ is off the charts... the bottom of the chart. Guhle will add speed/quickness, but I haven't seen enough of him to comment on his d-zone play.. same for Borgen. Fitzgerald could Brian Campbell or Marc-Andre Gragnani. He looked good at the wjc, seemed to have very good awareness and poise, but just haven't seen enough of him. That said, Chycrun is having a nice rookie season in PHX, he would've been my pick at the time over Nylander... based on need obviously. IMO he could've helped this year... long term will Nylander be a better player? Maybe, I hope so.

Everytime I see the thread title "The Great SS Game Meetup!" I picture this....

Very Tim Connolly-esque.

haha, yes! it consists of taking a shot of old grand dad every time he loses a puck race or turns it over.

exac... um, no.

That's OK, we have confession every Friday.

His injury really sucks, but it presents an opportunity to resign him on the cheap. I'd still like to see what he could do fully healthy... certainly could fill a top 6 role at worst IMO. He was one of FLA's best players in the playoffs last season and he's still only 26. Offer him a 1 year deal at $3mil to see if he can regain his form, but it sounds like he just doesn't want to be here.

Dunleavy's canadian accent bothers me too. Accents never bothered me before, but as I get older it's become more and more difficult to listen to. Spent the first 25 years of my life in Buffalo and I had a thick WNY accent, but it's gone now (at least to my ears it is). Anyway, I think it might have to do with all the western european/australian news anchors and talk show hosts on american television now a days... i mean, go work in your own country right? The Sabres should have american tv and radio crew... it's complaint thursday right?

To me the Moulson signing was his biggest mistake.... and allowing Bogo to be part of the Kane deal. Those 2 contracts are killing this team. It's like a $10mil cap penalty for the next 2-3 seasons. Shedding those contracts this summer would be the best move he could make for this team going forward.... but I don't see how that happens... maybe he gets lucky and VGK takes one of them... or they work out some agreement where VGK takes Moulson and in return BUF gives them a draft pick or prospect or something.

Can't stay Marty's accent, like nails on a chalkboard. That said, Ray sucks too. Where's RJ?

Moulson + Bogo together cost over $10mil/yr. That's how much guys like Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin make. How different would this team be with one of those guys on the roster instead? This team isn't going anywhere until those egregious contracts are purged from the ledger. And it's a shame that money is going to waste while guys like Eichel and Reinhart are on their ELCs.