nfreeman

So now it's shoes, then socks? How's that working for ya?

Ugh.

I hate to say it, but it still seems unlikely that they'd put him out there for a presser and then can him.

I think they had quite a bit of skill on O, as evidenced by the PP, they had pretty solid goaltending and they had a number of respectable defensemen. I think a better coach would've made it work the same way Babcock did in Toronto.

Me too. CT beat me to it. I think better coaching would've made more of a difference to the Sabres this year than better health. That post-bye week meltdown was unforgivable.

Well, if you believe in the collective wisdom of the crowd, this one is waaaaaayyy too close for comfort.

Do you think this roster should be competitive for a playoff spot? I do.

Well, as an NHL winger, he's OK, but probably not top-line material, and maybe not top-6 (not on a top-5 offense, anyway). He was an elite center as a junior. Why not see if he can be a difference-maker at that position in the NHL? It's not like he was lighting it up as a winger, and the team has a lot invested in him.

I'm emphatically on board. yse -- This is not a 5th-last-in-the-NHL roster. Not even close.

Then he's gotta be shown the door on Tuesday.

BTW -- on the PP that led to the TB SHG, ROR had a truly terrible turnover in the Sabres' zone. It didn't result in the shortie, but it was the kind of lazy, sloppy, mediocre, undisciplined play that has defined the team this season.

It's a good idea, but IMHO it won't (and shouldn't) happen unless and until GMTM is canned -- which, IMHO, won't (and shouldn't) happen for at least one more year. Watching this embarrassing performance in TB -- I have to believe that GMTM is going to fire DDB. If that's true, then I think GMTM gets to hire a new coach, and if there is improvement next year, GMTM and the new coach will get at least another year thereafter. If GMTM hires a new coach and there is no improvement, then they're both gone after next year, and it will be time to bring in a president of hockey operations to hire the new GM and, unlike PLF, stick around to oversee matters. Same outcome if GMTM brings back DDB and the team is terrible at Xmas -- both are gone and a president is brought in to hire the new GM and oversee matters thereafter. If DDB isn't fired by Wednesday at the latest, we have a major freaking problem.

Detroit is ahead in NJ -- 2-0 in the 2nd period. If they win and the Sabres lose -- the Sabres end up 5th from the bottom. That is freaking terrible.

I think the 10 years since Black Sunday have been the bleakest period in franchise history.

Possibly. They were 2nd-last in GA/game and 11th in fewest shots against per game, which supports your theory. OTOH, they were only tied for 16th in scoring (but 12th in shots per game). Do you guys want him back?

I was a big fan of Lindy's, but I'm not sure about bringing him back. It's kinda hard to square his results in Dallas with "coach who knows how to win in the NHL as the game is currently played and who knows how to get the most out of young potential stars."

That was our best shot and our best team in the post-Bert era. And the summer of 2006, when they let Grier, McKee and Dumont go, was when they started thumbing their noses in the faces of the hockey gods -- and when the fans started paying the price. I'm with TB on 2006 (and the same goes for 1999) -- those were thrilling rides albeit with disappointing endings. I'd be ecstatic if we get seasons like those anytime soon. I don't hate this team though. I just want to see what they can do with a new coach and a couple of new defensemen. Separately: if one is inclined to believe in such things, one could easily conclude that the Sabres have gotten, over the last 10 years, exactly what they deserve for committing 2 abominations: letting Drury and Briere go, and then the tank. The hockey gods are not mocked.

Indeed. There is a very significant likelihood that ROR is a very good player with zero Drury in him, that Eichel is more MacKinnon than McDavid, that Reino is more Derek Roy than Toews and that Risto is more Phaneuf than Doughty. Again: the tank usually doesn't work, even though you do end up with some shiny toys.

Well, Auston Matthews scored his 40th just now into an empty net to clinch a playoff spot for the Leafs (at home vs Pittsburgh, after being down by 1 with 5 min to go in the 3rd). Makes you kinda wish the Sabres had reeled in Babcock, innit?

I don't think there is any urgency to either keep or unload either of them. Neither has demonstrated that he needs to be kept or unloaded. Both are decent depth players. Larson is a better agitator, while Zemgus has a bit more skill. Neither has shown decent production. Both are capable of holding down a bottom six slot as long as they are cheap and until someone better comes along.

He was joking you hoser.

If we have a coach with head not implanted in rectum, yes. This. No. Correct. Both of these. Kaner and KO are the only expensive wingers we need. Good stuff here too.

Well, they got the 1st pick in the 2nd round for Marty, after years of high-end backup service from him. But I think you're right about Mika.

That really sounds to me like "DDB needs to go."

Regarding Ennis: I agree that he's got his legs back and has recently looked better than he has at anytime this season or last season. I also agree that his hands and finish aren't back yet -- but I think a healthy offseason and training camp, plus plenty of ice time with good linemates -- and the Sabres have enough skill in their top 9 for him to have good linemates -- and he could get those back too. If the Sabres can unload both Moulson and Ennis, I'm fine with doing so. But if they can only unload one, it's gotta be Moulson.