R_Dudley

Decisions, decisions... Since I am going to the game here in Daberg tomorrow, do I watch the game tonight and spoil the illusion that I could actually see a good solid well played game here tomorrow night? Could I watch too clunkers in row and still have a good time with the 2nd being in person ? I guess I could root for the Pens and then not be disappointed if they lost.... Such a conundrum... Lets go Sabrequins...

That is what I was going to suggest as well. They were number 1 last year using that system so you would think the coach could just fall back to that and the players would also be able to acclimate back to it pretty quick. What they have been doing this year has been just F'ugly.

Nice find, Captain nostalgia. Wow that brought back some memories.how many obscure players could you name, I recognized Tucker, was that also Christian Ruttu, Of course their was Paul Cyr and Bill Hajt. Housley with those sun glasses I guess his future was so bright he needed them shades.

As unfortunate and hard to accept that reality may be I agree with everything you say except the bold quote above. It sounds like winning is not a goal. If not a goal it is a desired outcome of numbers 1 through 4 as we agree playing not to win is the wrong way to learn to play the game. Just reference the "is the tank worth it" thread for those points.. I agree with whomever i saw post there is a recipe and balance that should field a competitive team while still working towards those goals and that should be part of the plan and may still be but injuries may be keeping that from our view for now due to the lack of quality depth and experience in the new system. At least I hope that's what is going on, Hope is a wonderful thing if you can hang onto to it..

Yes sir I agree. It was the best of times and the worst of times. Please sir can I have some more? Its nice to see some honest optimism balancing out the depressing pessimism that can easily flourish is these trying times.

Yeah I agree or that's what hindsight shows me as well now. I also have to wonder how the multiple coaching choices and changes played into this mess. Would a single solid/good coach on board through all the lineup changes playing the same system from the farm up be yielding slightly better results at this time even with the current lineup. I would think the right quality coach would've but that assumes the GM and coach shared the same vision and plan on what they were doing and how. We now know XGMTM said he left the coaching to the coaches, ignored Nolan and just talked with Blahsma but it never gave the impression it was a concerted concerted planning discussion. That's why we have to give JBOT and Wowie the time to implement their plan because at least it appears they started out on the same page with one.

A competent and strong farm system that grows and wins together. That is Jbot's stated vision when he was hired and what he successfully did while with the Penguins. There is really no reason to expect any other quick fix with that stated model and the current talent level he has to deal with. Now can he he get lucky and pull off some magic trades that accelerate it. IMHO maybe but the best acceleration i could see happening with that is a year down to 2 from the 3 years we are talking about this model of growing your own on the farm reasonably takes.

That's an interesting visual you'll given me,. So like you'll give a flying shaught? 3Putt has an interesting take, get him to play more solo, take more shots no fear with 2 good defensive players. I agree the ice time totals at end should give a good indication. I personally hope its metered out based on who is playing the best relatively speaking. It may also be to try and position Jack playing some easier minutes against the 3rd line. It'll be interesting to see with last line change if that is what he actually does put him out against CBJ 3rd line. May make torts break up some of set combinations to try and counter if it has a positive result. Last anything is worth a try to break this funk they are playing in.

Good post. I agree with everything you said. I do think a good coach can still have some of that old school mentality and help set the tone that can create a competing culture. You can make them practice hard and set an expectation for doing it right no favorites. Someone posted the penguins twitter of Herb Brooks practice skates. The veterans or players that are already hard on them selves that way will understand it. Don't I recall in exhibition hearing we were making players do push ups or something like that for for missing the net? What about wind sprints for failing to execute properly a play or set up that your teaching. How about tape to tape passes on the move and a wind sprint or push ups for missing those in drills. Those are standards of conduct you as a coach can set and enforce on everyone the same, some will grouse about it for sure but if everyone is subjected to doing even your stars then complain all you want but that's what it takes to be better as a team. I am not sure what is happening with practices and coaching sessions. But as far as the media is concerned we have not been anything but focused on positives. That's fine for not calling them out in media. But when it comes to practice and coach time behind closed doors the truth is necessary. Don't want to have to hear it or deal with it then starting practicing as a team like you care. You know what I think will happen you will get better at it.

Ya know I like the idea of moving Jackie boy down a notch or 2 to see how he responds. Does he he get mad and pout or does he take advantage of the supposedly easier minutes? Truth be told though no minutes on any line has looked easy in awhile for this team.

No I don't think the tank was worth it. I would have preferred the rebuild mode. - Eichel, the way he is playing now top 10 but closer to going Top 20 range then top 3. -Absolutely think those comments are valid but also picked up on the it's not tolerated in those orgs, they are made to practice it till they get it right is what heard. No coddling allowed. The real problem as others have posited isn't necessarily which road we traveled but who was driving us their. We have all seen examples of teams that consistently reload and stay competitive w/o ever having tanked. Where is that analytics department the Sabre's were supposed to have. An interesting study would be to take the top 2 teams from both conferences in the SC finals over the last 5-7 years and look at how their rosters were built to get there. How many tank built teams vs. the draft, occasional trade built teams have won cups? My guess is that it would come out pretty even. Then it just comes down to having a solid competent Hockey GM and scouting staff for whichever road your traveling that can identify good and regularly Very good to great hockey players. I am also going to speculate that besides being Canadian through and through and wanting the Toronto job, Babcock may just have looked at our pipeline and saw more fools gold then XGMTM and I thought I saw.

Yeah I'm there with you. The article in today's snooze with the comments from returning players Foligno and Ennis is confirming what we are seeing. A lazy uninspired form of hockey. Its not accepted on other teams but in B'lo its the culture. What happened to the bag skates when they don't get it right in prqactice. I want the Herb Brooks coaching mentality unleashed on these jack wagons so bad. If you won't follow the plan in a game, make them do it practice till they puke. Then at least they'll have an excuse for looking so lethargic and uninspired on game days

I actually like this lineup and am interested to see what it might do. Anything w/o Moulson playing is booyah. Any word on the starting Goalie yet? Gotta be the Big J right after that stretch save on Tuesday.

Ghost and Deluca both MIA. Yeah I have not blocked anyone although I do not post much and always stay away from these wrestling matches anyway. :ph34r: Your wrong! Who cares save it for the sabrespace meet up where you can stalk PA. :P

Kinda Ghost in here for game day thread. Lets go Buffalo can we get 3 periods of spirited play tonight, Ok baby steps I'll take 2 and 1/2, maybe that is enough for a regulation win. Also who gets the start in Goal, didn't see a line up yet?

Hahahaha, best laugh of the day you curmudgeon you....

I have not read through the whole thread so sorry for any redundancy. From the games I have watched these are some of my frustrations. First from the start of the season it appeared that what i considered to be the new core came in less than top shape or ready. With the changes and hype around style change I expected the core to have worked hard over the summer and have picked up where they left off last season out of the gate. I didn't see that from O'Reilly, Reinhart, Risto, Lehner and I know they were coming back from injury Larsson or Okposo. Second, the PP. With largely the same key players the PP went form a strength to a detriment with the SH give away's. Now I know there is different coaching and strategies but what i have seen have been brain farts and over thinking instead of simple hockey shoot and go to the net. The coach is saying he's telling them to play that way but the players aren't doing it. ?? Don't get it becuase that is I believe hockey 101, shoot and go to the net they have heard and been doing that since they started playing hockey. I hope it's not I can't hear you with my helmet on.. Last, leadership. I don't see it yet. The key players that should and some talked about doing more and stepping up have not done that yet in a demonstrable way. Yes that's you Jack stop pouting, O'Reilly and Risto, The few that started to look like they were were injured early(Bogo, Mccabe, Zemgus).. They are solid contributors but we need the supposed stars to shine as well. Now I also know its early still and a new system and I have seen a lot of bright spots so I believe the needle is pointing up if we can address these items above and get to playing fast fundamental hockey.

B-lo stopped skating... Come on coach kick some arse like Torts would here

I will say Risto's play has been really off this year. Not up to par with how he has played....

Oh brother, down 3 do we have a Boston Redux in us

So with teh way Bob is playing why aren't we crowding teh crease, screening teh goalie.... That's what good teams do when a goalie is stoning you.

What is kane doing in the crease

Well if what MM said is true just needing better players then they are showing pretty well tonight. Scoring chances have to be tilted in their favor against a pretty good team.

Yeah I heard that as well, guess SS takes are pretty spot on.

Wow that ROR replay showed their was very little creativity to that shot ROr took given how alone and much time he had. Hey coach guess what practice your team needs SO..