pi2000

As a former player (college then florida league in the early 90's), in my experience, if you want your skill guys to develop as skill guys, they need to play with similarly skilled players... guys who think the game in the same way. Playing with 4th line grinders is fine, but I'm afraid that at an impressionable young age this will develop Sam into a grinders mentality. Not what you want from the #2 pick overall. Sam is a skill player, a point producer, he needs to play with similarly skilled players to keep his game sharp. The way he thinks the game and see's the ice is what makes him valuable. We can see he competes hard, his work ethic and hockey sense is NHL level, however his strength on the puck and along the wall is not. If he's not producing points, then he's not doing what he was brought here to do. Let him keep his point production up while he gains strength in the AHL. It's not like he's going to back to juniors where he's playing against teenagers.... the AHL is a tough league, ideal for Sam to develop what he needs to be productive at the next level. He can play with offensively skilled guys like Bailey and Baptiste, get 20min a game and take mass quantities of steroids.

He's solid on faceoffs and PK, kinda surprised he's the odd man out.

Agreed. If he has to play on the 4th line, send him down and let him play with more offensively gifted players in Rochester and get big minutes. Not liking this at all. Also 3rd line for Moulson huh? OK. I'd rather see him in Gionta's spot, but whatever.

Disagree. TOI is absolutely the most critical ascpect to his development at his young age. He needs to be put in all situations, PP, PK, end of game, D-zone faceoffs, etc... Only giving him 4th (or even 3rd) line duties will stunt his growth in the NHL. Give him 20+ minutes a night in the AHL playing all game situations with skilled players while he continues to improve his board play and strength on the puck.

I agree that his hockey IQ is good enough for the NHL at present. However, he's not strong enough yet. He'll develop that strength on the puck getting 18-20 min in Roch vs 7-8 min in Buf.

I counted 3 times Reinhart just got pushed off the puck and fell down to the ice 1-on-1. He's still overmatched physically in the NHL.

Columbus is a playoff caliber team, I'd argue a top 5 team in the conference, Tampa being right up there as well. Good test for the Sabres early in the season, but understand that even with some improvements, Buffalo is still not up to this level of play yet. I'm more interested to see how they fare against the FLA's and PHI's.

The company I work for is based in Boston, and it's not a company holiday.... so it's just a Western New York holiday? http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/08/working-on-columbus-day-it-depends-on-where-you-live/

After the first game, Eichel was on pace for 82 goals. Now he's on pace for only 41.... BUST.

Yeah they're in school (4th and 6th grade). I'm in California. Maybe it's just a regional thing?

I hope so, Weber is brutal, he's not an NHL defenseman. His skating is below average and his decision making is poor. Does he work hard and sacrifice his body to block shots? sure he does, but there's hundereds of those types of player in the AHL who just don't have the required skill set to be a regular NHL defenseman. That pairing with Franson was tough to watch, they really miss Bogosian and his speed. Another guy who looks bad is Gorges. Slow and he loses just about every single puck battle in the corners. He was directly responsible for the Stamkos goal last game. The modern NHL puts a high premium on defensemen who can skate. Look at guys like Kieth, Seabrook, Doughty, Suter, Subban, etc... Both my kids have school today.

This makes no sense. Kids are in school and parents are working, it's not a national holiday. What a dumb idea, glad that knucklehead is gone.

I'll give them 20 games to gel offensively. Eichel and Kane look very good. O'Reilly seems to just be running around out there, seems like he's trying hard but he's turning the puck over and just seems out of position most of the time. Not really worried about it yet, but just a thing to watch. Him and Ennis haven't really clicked. Moulson has done absolutely nothing, not even getting chances. I'd like to see Kane/Eichel/Ennis together. With Girgensons centering O'Reilly and Moulson. The Larsson line is chipping in and creating chances, which is what you want from your third line.

Hmmmm, I wasn't very impressed with O'Reilly's game last night. Seemed to turn the puck over too much, trying to do too much perhaps? That line didn't generate much, hopefully they can build some chemistry.

Played only 11 minutes last night, was moved off Eichel's line down to the 3rd line and didn't see much ice in the 3rd. With the way Eichel's line played with Girgensons on the wing, I doubt Reinhart sniffs a top 6 spot for the rest of the season unless injuries. I'll say it again, +20 minutes in Roch is better than 10 min in BUF for his development. Still too weak on the puck, seemed like he spent half those 11 minutes picking himself up off the ice.

I like the goal song. Not a big fan of how they're mixing it with the "here we go now" over and over, sounds like it's skipping around... just let it play like in the contest.

Same. Talbot looked good, as did M. Jones. Would've rather had either of those two for a first round pick.

My problem with the challenge last night is that it took way too long to review. If it's not obvious in the first 30s of looking at replays, then it should be ruled inconclusive and we move on. It's the obvious missed call they're trying to eliminate, not the "offsides by 1 mm" plays which take forever to review. Hopefully they address that.

His injury changes nothing he was shaky at best. OchoCinco looked deece.

anybody scoer yet?

Just finished up a bike ride to release some tension. Shower, pop open a Labatt's and settle in. Can finally hope this team starts winning some games which is a nice feeling for a change.

it is neither likely nor unlikey (confirmed)

damn i up the poll... anyway, just for the record I picked Moulson

My source is telling me the winner is LMCMT (confirmed).