R_Dudley

It looks like this team is falling no matter what I think. I am so disappointed with this team from too many post game interviews where I heard one of our players say something, something , we weren't ready to play, ... they came out with more desperation, etc. If that's just press speak then find something else to say because that tells me your not a team playing for each other. Yes we have some talent but still lack a lot of heart and compete. Effort can exceed talent when talent plays w/o effort, and the efforts of a group/team playing together exceeds the efforts of few with or w/o talent.

Skinner-Eichel-Wilson Sheary-Rodrigues-Reinhart Okposo-Mittelstadt-Thompson Girgensons-Larsson-Pominville I might actually like them to try this combination above as a whole I don't think its been done. I really don't understand what Phil see's and is trying to do with his line combo's when the biggest issue i continually see and hear isn't the combos', Its the "we weren't ready to play, they had more desperation, excuses being trotted out.

Note to self ! Make sure I know my facts before I make any definitive claims or statements or ?. ?

Dam it , PP gives up too many SH chances...

Minus the points...

The team has said it and then so will I. Must win ! This is the division rivalry team to beat. Since the Tampa game the team is playing with Confidence. I would like to see someone punk Mr. Marleau for that boarding he did to Jack previous game. Oh yeah i haven't forgot and and I think that might be the base injury that jack has been playing though since. Paging the raging Mr. Bogosian, please report as the disciplinarian, tonight. So does anyone have a hat trick in him tonight? Doesn't matter to me as long as the good guys win.. Lets Go Buffalo. Win one on the road.

Ahh too late. Need more notice time to make it work.. i would have liked to try. i actually think we started this awhile back with Tom at the bar on Broadway he was part of. How many years back now ? SDS was there as well. All good.

By this point in the season the rental players $$ cost is prorated and/or negotiated in the trade and IMHO not a significant factor. Now what you have to give up in trade is where the real cost lies. I agree with all here who said it is situational based on teams needs. Lets face it playoff hockey changes where a lot more is let go and tight checking, pics, interference is the new norm although that has also crept a bit too much into the regular season for my liking as well. The fancy stats guys could if data is available run these trends for us but i'm pretty sure special teams, face offs, goal tending and and 2ndary scoring(3rd and 4th lines) are often the difference in many games. So for all the reasons already said in the thread around, 1 more better player than the other team, covering gaps/deficiencies or getting that first taste of experience is why teams do it hoping for that lighting in the bottle. Oh and one last thought on that new guy upsetting the chemistry, what about that new guy messing up the analytics and scouting all teams do about tendencies and changing the chemistry in a positive way...

True but they have been sitting extra bodies for awhile.

All righty then any chance this means someone is being traded?

Wow this is a thread that has really plumbed the heights and depths of fandom and that perception does drive a lot of realities. I also think its a interesting question and voted Jury still out. I didn't know what to expect for a generational D-man and needed to see these historical facts to really put into perspective how he is playing vs. what I was seeing and expected. I had hoped for a stronger shot and more silky, sneaky just dirty plays but maybe I'm confusing that with my fantasies...

Just watched that interview. I have admittedly not seen him in too many recent interviews but he seemed to a little defensive and edgy from the get go. i also didn't agree with him putting the focus on the last 10 games playing better in spurts and ignoring the team stopped performing well almost another 20 games before these last 10. Yeah I definitely can see and agree with what some are saying in the thread that comparatively speaking their is improvement or hope for growth in the changes that were made but trumping out the rookie excuse playing in prominent roles they haven't been in before didn't sit well with me. I would have liked someone to ask why did we put those players in that position when that's a likely outcome and not get a few more veterans to fill the gap to let the Rooks develop in Rachacha. I would prefer he man up and say they expected the year to be a throw away because they decided to put those players in that position. I would also have liked to ask him how that approach reconciles with what he said about building through the farm and letting the players learn how to win in the AHL vs losing in the NHL... but that probably would have not gone over with the PR they were selling...

I see other threads calling it toughness, heart, Intensity, not playing for each other, etc... Watching the NHL channel of ex Hockey players describe the Sabre's play of late they say they are playing without any urgency. Watching other hockey games and teams that's exactly what I see as well. Montreal, TO, Boston, Tampa, NYI, also now NYR, Hurricanes, Florida, playing on their toes playing with urgency and passion up and down the ice. Several of these teams are no bigger or much more skilled than the current Sabre's. Of course it starts with having players that have some of that in their DNA(hate to lose) but isn't that how all these guys supposedly made it to this level? But I also hear watching the NHL channel pundits talk about how coaching on these top teams demand it. If its not there players sit, are removed from prominent roles/given lesser roles. They promote the effort vs. the going through the motions under achieving. If a coach isn't consistent on what he expects, wants done and how he communicates and enforces it with all the players then how does the overall team respond if you don't manage everyone's time, role and chances the same. This is the Head coaches main job. This is where our coaching/management has not helped much this season. How long before players were or should have been sent to Rochester, players were taken off the PP1, moved to PP2 or off it altogether, playing the same players or lines for so many games when execution and performance wasn't where it needed or should be. That's where you create the teaching moments, assuming your position coaches work with said player for what is expected and reinforce things you know they can do better and what they can do to improve. Do you really have any other tools to motivate a players performance. If a player is happy sitting vs. playing because he wasn't playing right then do you really want him on your team? Having watched all season and doing all the same head scratching I have read here about which players are or are not playing in what roles on what lines, whose up vs whose down at this point I guess I am not real surprised. These Sabre's still do not look or act like a team that are putting forth the the same efforts, urgency and passion for what they do and for each other night in and night out. Sad its their profession but lately looks more like a beer league on too many nights.

Alex, I'll take don't think that way/practice precise shooting enough for $100. What happened to art of a wrist shot or one timer. Too often looks like trying to set up perfect when a shot on net, go to the net would be good enough. Now mind you like pool you still have to play the angles and anticipate based on practiced shot selection where the puck is more likely to end up. Also we almost always appear to be going top shelf and miss completely when getting it down low on goalie produces rebounds that work for goals. That's all i got PA. Discuss.....

Okay I know better than to bet for or against the Sabres so my bad. I won't really consider it a loss if I get to have a beer there from the pictures I have seen. Will provide plenty of notice around when this trip may be happening.

I will bet against that. The glove is down. Is this a gentle mans bet or for beers for either of our next trips across the ocean? (note my oldest son wants me to do a Germany trip sometime next year that this may be able to worked into.)

I hope Doohickie is as successful in GDT as PA has been of late. Not that we SS's are superstitious or anything (as I throw salt over shoulder, rubs rabbits foot, knocks on wood, crosses fingers and legs...) Another must win to keep pace or lose place.. Friday evening, no work tomorrow , game on, drinks flowing, sleep in allowed, i do work for the weekend. My Nephew NY Ranger fan is in town and going to the game with my brother, Brother-in-law, Daughter, Son in law and nephew and he never asked me if I would've come. So any single Ranger fan(he wears his NYR gear) you see with Sabre's fans named Paul please give em a rough ride... And Buffalo please do your part and beat em like dish Rag's!! Lets Go Buffalo, nothing but family bragging rights will do...

My heart says yes but my head and eye test says no and that's how I voted. Now I do expect them to keep us all engaged right up to the bitter end of season when we miss out by 4-8 pts. Then the final season reflection can begin of if we only had a PP that worked, a different 2nd line center, so-so didn't get hurt.we could squeezed out another 3-5 wins during the different down stretches how everything would be different

Hahaha, your rounding back into playoff form my friend, you must start the thread Friday. I can't start the thread, never fear Dudly is here I'll start the thread........ to the rescue Nice use of modern iconography and what you did their with pulling out the strawman analogy. Old is the new hip especially once they replace one....

LOL, Nice work. Its your GIF so then shall you dub that the "Ullmark Shake or the "Ullmark Shimmy" ? I personally like Shimmy but that's me...

Well stayed out of the GDT during but watched the game. Best complete game I have seen from this team in some time. Now that's how you play at this time of the year. There was a little running around during the 3rd that got me nervous but they didn't fall apart. And how about that Larry line. Finally looked to have some balanced line play. I also think Pilut played with more poise and looks better than Dahlin right now with the puck and his decisions on the ice (positioning and playing the puck, knowing when to step up,etc.). Very nice to beat a top team and start to build that team confidence again. Nice feeling when they play like we think they are capable of. Thank you sir may i have another....

Well we got almost 2 and 3/4 periods of solid play against the 1st place Jets team and now we get to see a test of the Sabres mettle with another 1st place team tonight. We will see if this team is up for the task. Agree with all those in the thread questioning some of Phils line-up decisions and who he puts on the ice in key situations as I don't see what his rationale is with certain players and why others why who may have more upside potential are not being given a chance. Lets win one against a team higher than us in the standings for the home fans. Hedi, heidi Ho, Let's go Buffalo !

As someone who has questioned Phil's head coaching for several months now I hope you kept a space for me in that HHole?

Was on a mini guys trip last Tuesday through late Sunday, Missed the games but peeked at the scores and determined didn't miss much. Back at it at work and stopping in here but still jet lagged so I'm not sure if I'll suffer them tonight or go to sleep and try and continue recovering from all that drinking and debauchery. Regardless I hope they win for the home crowd. Let's go Buffalo

"No_confidence" Sorry that's my vote and I kinda made it one word so rules are meant to be bent...?