R_Dudley

This experimenting should have happened months ago when the streak ended and the wheels were not spinning instead of waiting for them to fall off and now be at this point in the season where its desperation motivated. Too many new unpracticed moving parts to expect this to magically click but hey lucky is better than good when you haven't been good.

So Oilers vs. Sabres comparison instead of Sabres vs. any other middling team because ? 1.) Nothing much else interesting to talk about 2.) We share the longest records for futility or failure to reach playoffs. 3.) We lost the no 1 for McDavid and got Jack for it. 4.) in 2007 we matched Vaneks 7 year 50 million contract offer instead of taking their next 3 years number 1's. Its all good because I would say for all of the above... Its clearly the Sabres for me because; they have almost shed all the bad contracts, they've built up the farm, they have restocked the pond, they still have lots of good draft capital, The management structure has a plan they shared and have been executing pretty well on it and our defense has lots more potential both on board and in the pipeline even w/o the draft capital to still spend. Now gimme a solid PP coach this year and this teams record would really reflect that we are better...

I know this is a trade thread however we have all seen how bad our PP has been and if Jbot doesn't want to use his draft capital for more talent then dad gummit why can't he improve his coaching with something like this... https://unionandblue.com/2019/01/21/columbus-blue-jackets-hire-martin-st-louis-special-teams-consultant/

While I agree those are all positions of need and add more talent where its needed that alone will not make this team a winner. If it was only talent then the top teams wouldn't need a coach. We have all seen very good coaches do more with less. At least having their teams play sound fundamental hockey. Reading through the post GDT threads its apparent many of the mistakes everyone keeps talking about the players make can be attributed to effort and execution. The great coaches in any sport have always been able to get the most out of their players. This team plays like Housley played through out his career soft, and easily disrupted. Their continues to a be a disconnect between the system they are using, the players needed to execute that system and the coaching needed to make that happen. Sounds simple right. My biggest disappoint continues to be I feel like we may have 2 out of the 3(management and talent base) but I am still not seeing the signs that's going to happen with the coaching.

Nice use of stats masquerading as charts, Ducks and runs for cover... Definitely interested to see if this team can back up their words from calgary game where they said they know now how they ened to play to be successful.. Lets Go Buff-a-lo..!

Wow. Well I am not a nerd stats guys(not condescending my term of endearment) or detailed Hockey strategy know every players fantasy/trade value or have the time to do detailed analysis of every topic discussed here by others. We also have a pretty healthy amount of razzing, snark and great humor that a lot of us have bandied about as well. Maybe that allows the discussions to get misconstrued into making it feel personal because I have seen a lot of very good exchanges prior with the people debating in this one. I voted stats should be allowed because I enjoy reading these various opinions and idea's even if i don't always agree with them. That's what makes this place more than any other board I have read and seen. Now i leave with a Dadism not to offend someone but because I am one. "Don't sweat the Petty things and Don't pet the sweaty things and remember they are all petty on a message board".

Yep a team that works hard for 60 minutes a game vs one that does about 20 comes out on top more often than not.

Yes. I read the WGR article this morning about the hard video session they had yesterday from the Oilers game and they were saying "just having a greater respect when we don’t have the puck that something bad could happen and we didn’t have enough respect yesterday and it cost us.” Is this some new coach speak for a politically correct way say discipline? That's what i have heard good solid coaches call it in the past for what I see lacking when the wheels come off. Discipline to keep on their assignment, discipline to not panic when facing a fore check with blind passes. Discipline in playing a tight checking game because a puck cannot do anything by itself. Now I am not naive to think that alone makes it work, It starts with the system and practice to know what to do in those situations and confidence that the system works and if you at least the match other teams effort your discipline/execution gives you a better chance at success than scrambling around. I just don't understand why doesn't this team have that since a lot of us agree here we are as skilled as the wild card teams now in front of us and the lesser teams below us that we regularly fail to meet their level of play. If a see a maximum, concerted, organized effort I can better rationalize the loss vs win its not even seeing that in so many of these last 2 months lost games that frustrates me about where this team really is. More talent definitely would be great but it won 't solve the discipline, team effort issues I continue to regularly see.

The only game we won recently and looked competent doing it was the lineup against NJD we won 5 -1 and Jack didn't even play. What were the lines for that game. When its not working with a single high scoring line you have to break it up and try different combinations. That and other teams double shift their best center across more than one line. That can create mismatches and more secondary scoring. I agree with whoever I saw in another thread say Phil made a decent assistant coach but he does not appear to have what it takes to be head coach... It looks more and more like that with his use of this roster. Hell I an am starting to think Ted Nolan could do better head coaching then what we are seeing from Wowie.

Okay so looks like they answered my question emphatically with the latest we forgot how to play fundamental hockey demonstration last night. I will also answer Imlachs question again from early in this thread of why we should think better of the Isles and Montreal than our beloved Sabre's and say it definitely is not a huge difference in talent but very simply to me a huge difference in coaching and knowing how to properly use what you got. Now i can step away form the keyboard for awhile and stop watching every game and aggravating myself when I switch between games like Montreal played in Boston and see how taking what you got and making it work is really done.

Well i played along with the superstitious change posting to change up their luck but truth be told was busy with family and work. I know i can't change the teams outcome with anything I do or do not do here. i can say that when this team plays a simple game, gives maximum effort across the board and minimizes the brain farts they do create their own luck a often a few more bounces their way follows. I also know if we had a coach that knew how to design and teach a PP we would also have had a few more wins than losses over the past 6 weeks. So here we are past the half way point and we are what our record says we are a playoff bubble team. So now we get to see how this team responds and can they do what it takes to make a run and make it fun... Lets go Buff-a-lo.

Trotz... now thats a coach I would love to have over Wowie..

Well I really switched this one up, no early GDT post. I did post the last 3 games but I have not been able to watch the games. Today no post but watched the whole game. That was a solid game. I liked the way they played. They competed on pucks, checked all over the ice and out worked NJ most of the game. They got solid goal tending and Phil finally put together line combinations that worked well. It didn't hurt that Girgenson was back either. That's a formula that can work while Jack mends and should be used even when he returns. Break up that top line in a like fashion even when Jack is back. Nice to see them play a smart simple game and it pay off. Thank you Sir may i have another...

I agree PI with the cross roads analogy. I consider it a step in their growth. There is a model a lot of good teams use when they are down important Players/pieces in the playoffs on the road. Starts with being able to adjust your playing style to match some of your opponents but almost always has a tight checking defense first mentality. You want to have maximum effort from everyone and be the initiator because that disrupts the other teams fore check. Keep it at least even to the 3rd period. Make the most of your scoring chances. Capitalize on special teams especially PP's. If everyone does their part from Goaltender out you should give yourself the opportunity to win and really put the pressure on the home team to blink first the later the game gets. I want to see how we can play in an important game like this as good barometer of where we are as a team and that includes coaching. If we can match their effort and win on the road in their barn what a confidence boost that can be... Let's go Buff-a-lo!

I'm was in early last game to break the Funk so count me in again. Now that is how you play the game with the cards you have been dealt. Solid goal tending, Strong checking, Good defense, Finish your chances. If we had a coach who could to fashion a strong PP, I would like our Jackless chances even better. And like last game now I must close with a Haiku. Wound up wintertime An other, wild Sabres win before the Bruins

Whoa there, its not golf season yet my friend. I fixed that last line for ya.... " Playoffs are dead as long as all the teams that are ahead are miles in front of Buffalo talent- effort wise." Think of it this way the November streak would have been about the same record as December without the bounces, puck luck, effort and simple game that boosted this teams confidence. I believe hard work like they did in Islanders game will win more often then lose as long as the Goal tending and defense are very good and it has been so keep working and the bounces (law of averages) should start swinging back to happy winning path. That and getting back Jack, Girgs, Wilson and their Mojo (confidence) Ok that is my 2019 lets start this year positivity followed by these Haiku's Trusting the Buddha, good and bad,I bid farewellTo the departing year. A head full of fears leaves no space for dreams.

Also In early to break the Funk. Yes a must win 3 days into the new year because of the way we closed out last year.

Don't buy what he's selling NS. Don't you see he lives in the greater "great satan" area. ?

Yes. Maybe I don't know jack sh!t but just maybe some others step up and start carrying their weight rather than watch and wait on Jack

Only if he doesn't make a single save in the SO would it be poetic justice..... Yes awfully good and was the best defense man on the ice.

Well, another day, another game and chance at redemption. Still very disappointed in that last Bruins game. Not so much that they lost but more about how and at the after game comments of several players and coach. I can't fathom they thought they really played a good 60 minutes and Boston got the bounces. That's not what I saw especially in the 3rd period and OT. Boston out worked them for their chances. I want to see a team that absolutely loathes losing and realizes that they have to match or out do the other teams compete level. Stop looking for the pretty passes and plays and lets keep it simple. Go to and get it on the net, play more in the other teams zone, clear the front of the net in yours and finish your checks. That's my New years wish for this team. Let's go Buffalo. Show us you understand what it takes to win.

Yes finally. I would have liked him to have practiced with the team before his first game. I don't understand the last minute call up since this has been an obvious need for some time. I just hope he is given enough of a chance to find the best combinations for that 2nd line

These Sabres are trying to be fancy. Boston the better team in the 3rd period and OT in our house. We let them take the 3rd when we had the lead at home. These lost points are going to hurt as this season plays out..

Wow, who is responsible for our PP. He should be fired.

OK lets see a good PP.