Doohickie

Or maybe it was true at the time, and times change. But it's looking like this is just about the Kighthawks, so it's a moot point.

RIP Dickey Betts

Jeff Skinner at his worst is Victor Olofsson at his best. Jeff had a "terrible" year this year and was third on the team in goals. He had a -2 in the +/- which isn't great but neither is it a disgrace. I think one of the challenges the new coach will have will be finding a role for Skinner. Maybe it will be on the power play and playing wing on a protected third line like he was at the end of the year with Krebs and Greenway. Maybe it will be on a second line as a scorer. Skinner has a unique skillset and some flaws but he's shown he can still light the lamp, even on an off year. I know he's one of the whipping boys this year and has been for some posters for a long time, but I think he will have a bounce back year next year and score about 35.

With the youth on the team, and the ascension through Donny's coaching tenure until dropping off this year, I think the younger players on the team basically took for granted that they should just follow the leader.... "Trust the process." With the dip this year and Donny's firing, I think it was a wakeup call to all the younger players on the team. I think this will make all these guys take more ownership in the process going forward. And I think that's what I found interesting in Muel's statement. To me it articulated that sentiment. "it's on us." Because face it, the core of this team is not a bunch of young kids anymore. They are, collectively hitting their career primes at the same time. It's been painful to get to this point and they are by no means over the hump, but when Kevyn said he had a plan I think having a large group of players all peaking at the same time was part of that plan. Then you feed in a Benson this year, maybe a Savoie or Kulich next..., and keep the train a rollin', even when you have to move some of the more developed players because it would mess up the cap structure. I know that sounds like rose colored glasses but really, for me as a fan, I have to have a future that looks bright. I have to believe in the team and the direction it's going. Realistically it likely won't work as swimmingly as what I mapped out, but I need a light at the end of the tunnel.

And I'm not saying he's the next captain or anything. I just thought what he said was interesting. I mean everyone's busting on the team because other players said they need to be pushed harder. Now Muel says, no, we need to do it for ourselves and when I post it I get panned for it. Some days you just can't win.

He speaks with an authority beyond his years. Teammates have said as much. It might be because he grew up in an NHL family.

I understand what you're saying. I disagree.

"I would say we wouldn't really need to bring in, like, veteran leadership. I think guys have been in the league long enough now where it's on us. We don't need someone else to tell us how to do it." I've been thinking this to an extent. They jettisoned Okie and several people have mentioned in the exit interviews and discussions about them how the new coach will likely want to bring in veteran leaders. I think the leaders are here. I'm not saying we shouldn't bring in any veterans to fill needs on the team, but I really don't think leadership is something we have to bring in. Dahlin will be in his 7th NHL season next year. Clifton's 28. Tuch is 27. A lot of players are 25. I think a lot of the players had a real reality check this year rather than losing their love for the game, they seem, as a team, to be more determined to improve next year.

What "lies" would those be?

In general: Subscribe to the Buffalo Sabres on YouTube. Or just bookmark the Sabres YouTube Page.

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I wouldn't have a problem with Thompson. I think Tuch would be my personal first choice but I think there's an intense but quiet fire burning inside Tommer.

I like Tage. He gave a good interview.

Oh, I'm still about 20 pounds into the Obese range of BMI, and I can't claim "but I'm a muscular build" because I'm basically a skinny kid that got old and fat. I can't get younger but I wouldn't mind being skinny again.

Two things: It's a common mantra that "You play the way you practice" and apparently the Sabres weren't practicing hard enough. And two, I remember when I was in Detroit, they said that after every home game, the team would ride exercise bikes hard for 20 minutes or so, which built up their endurance, especially for later in games.