pi2000

Makes sense, I agree.

Marner is a -4 on the season, as much as he scores, he's a liability.

They need a door for goalies and injured players.

I agree with just about all of this, good thoughts jsb.

What about the application of carbon nano-tubes? 100x stronger than steel of the same diameter? Seems like you could make some very strong, very lightweight sticks/equipment.

I think of his name as two parts... Nil son... as in how many goals he will give up... "nil, son!"

As of the 2013-14 season, half-shields are mandatory for any player that played less than 26 or fewer NHL regular-season or playoff games (as of the beginning of the 2013-14 season).

Comparing Lehner to Hasek is laughable.

Nilsson has been good, but he's playing against weaker opponents so his numbers are artificially inflated.

Half-shields should be optional. Remove the instigator rule. OT: 5min of 3-on-3, followed by 5min of 2-on-2, then end in a tie (or goalie fight to determine the winner). Remove the offsides rule in OT. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie.. no more loser point. Let the goalies play the puck anywhere on the ice (remove the trapezoid). Reduce goalie equipment size, but only pants, and chest protectors (and jerseys). Increase rink size from 200x85 to 200x90 (Olympic is 200x100). Home teams wear white. Contraction. Carolina, Florida, and Arizona should be removed from the NHL with players immediately becoming UFAs. No more pro hockey players allowed in the Olympics. Pucks that hit the netting and return to the ice surface are still in play. Use an automated Hawkeye type system for signaling a goal or offsides. Goals that are kicked, gloved, or high sticked into the net are allowed. Hand pass? Allowed in all zones. High stick to knock down the puck? Allowed. (all players wear face protection these days) Dan Bylsma is a great coach and will lead this team on a Cup run. The current struggles are simply due to youth and a losing culture in the locker room that will eventually change when the young players become the voice of the team.

I went with the OT goal because of the situation and the whole thing with Jeanneret and Ray in the corner of the screen... was just a great moment in Sabres history.

Last season SJ had 38 points on this date and ended the season with 98. PIT had 40 and ended up with 104. I know, BUF is no PIT or SJ, but there is a lot of hockey left.

There is a losing culture in that lockeroom which has been around for a few seasons. Until they start holding each other accountable, that won't change. It's going to take a group of players to call out their own teammates on the bench, in thr lockerroom, at practice, etc.. whenever the effort level isn't where it needs to be. Currently, they all seem to like each other a little too much. They need to understand they're not here to make friends, they're here to win. At some point they need to put their friendships aside and get pissed off at each other.

http://youtu.be/AHjyugwQzjw

Luke Richardson

until then? gorges, bogo, franson. yeah it sucks, but it is what it is. d isn't the problem tho. it's goal scoring and a culture of losing. i think the goals will come eventually, but it might be a while until the culture changes where losing becomes unacceptable.

I don't blame Bylsma for tonight's poor showing. The Sabres have a culture problem. The players left over from the tank years are dragging this team down. This particular collection of players we call a "team" will suffer no matter who is behind the bench. Bylsma mentioned in his post game presser that he was completely baffled why this team came out so flat at home against a team they're within reach of in the standings. If you read between the lines of the player interviews, there are clues that suggest not everybody is buying in, not doing what they need to do to be successful. Yeah it sucks, but thats what happens, and why rebuilds can take a bit longer than you'd expect. It's not just assembling talent, it's building a culture of winning by having eveybody buy in to going above and beyond what is expected of them.

I don't blame Lehner, Bylsma or defensemen turning pucks over. The more I watch this team, the more I notice there are group of players on this team that seem to be OK with losing. I don't know if it's just psychological damage from the tank years or what... but evidently it's a culture problem. The only way to fix this is to move on from those players, and I think we all know who they are.

Those are the negative plays Risto needs to eliminate from his game. He deserved that minus.

On breakaways you have guys chasing you from you behind so you can't meander in and wait out the goalie. That said, a guy like Jacob Silfverberg (ranks 4th overall in shootout % the previous 5 season) typically comes in with a ton a speed and shoots from the hash marks. In his case, he comes in so fast that the goalie needs to back up in his net, making himself vulnerable to a quick accurate shot from the high slot. IMO the worst setup is come in at a consistent average pace straight at the goalie. Either come in slow and wandering, fast and straight, change speed, or take a wide angle to the net. P Kane typically comes in with speed then slams on the brakes and dekes. It's the change of pace that makes it difficult for goalies to judge how quickly to back up towards the net and exposes holes.

Wonder what he was trying to teach him? I thought Jack was one of our better PP assets due to his ability to possess the puck and gain the zone under control. As much as I like Moulson, I don't know what he could learn from watching.

There's two ways to approach a shootout. 1 - wait out the tendy and find an opening. 2 - make a predetermined move regardless of how the goalie sets up. Typically, when coming in over the blueline you'll want to take a peak at goalie to determine how far out of the net he is. If he's out far and you get a sense he's being aggressive, you're best off going with a deke. If he's back far in the net, shot is better. Guys that are successful typical take the same entry and come in wide (Perry) or ver slow and winding (P Kane, Osie). In Perry's case he gives himself two options depending on the goalie position. Kane and Oshie also give themselves two options. IMO the problem with the Sabres shooters is they don't give themselves any options. They come in fairly straight at half speed which makes it easy for the goalie. They need to be more patient, come in more slowly, and get the goalie moving before takingba shot or making a final deke.

Can we move this thread somewhere else please? I haven't seen the movie yet and everytime I want to talk Sabres this thread is staring me in the face and I have to make the life-changing decision of clicking on the link or leaving it be.

I agree, I think it's time to put Reinhart back with Eichel for a few games. Not sure I would lump Ennis in with Connolly. Ennis seems like he's generally liked by his peers in the locker room, and has a genuine love for the game. It sucks that he's had to deal with the concussions and now his groin issues. That said, he's still relatively young at 27, I don't think we've seen the last of him.