mjd1001

Ok, statistically, you can make a case that...so far this year..this is the WORST Sabres team ever. Even in the early 1970's in the first 2 years of the franchise....they got more 'points per game' than the current team (seasons had less games back then) The worst 2 other years in the history of the Sabres were the tank years...13-14 and 14-15. In 13-14, the team had 52 points and was a -91 in goal differential. In 14-15, the team had 54 points and was a -113 in goal differential. This year, the team is on pace for 50.5 points...(worst in franchise history) and is on pace to be a -107. So yep, for what we have seen so far...this team is playing like the worst team in the 45+ year history of the franchise.

I'm not sure about the worst team ever....at this point of the season they are probably close. What I can say is they are the hardest Sabres team ever to watch...and give me the least to look forward to of any Sabres team ever. To me, that is the WORST thing. I'd rather watch a worse team where I had some hope for the future..but this...this is just painful, boring.....hopeless.

Imagine what it would be like if the Bills actually beat the Pats this week. I don't expect that to happen, but if they did so much focus would be off the Sabres and on the Bills.probably more than ever.

Its great Rochester is doing well, but there really isn't anyone lighting things up down there in terms of points that looks like they may be something in the NHL soon. Baptiste is the player I'm most hopefull and disappointed with. He has truly Elite speed, and has scored goals everywhere he has played (even his short stint last year with the Sabres he put a few in the net.) But this year he wasn't noticable at all in camp and started out terrible in Rochester. He had Zero points and was a -4 in his first 5 games with the Amerks this year. It looks like he is starting to turn it around though...in the past 8 games he has 4 goals, 9 points, and is a +4.

I've pretty much decided on what I think is wrong with this team, and come to my own conclusion that it is going to be 2-3 years at least until we can have a sniff at being competitive in the first round of the playoffs. I'll watch most games (at least part of them) to see if anything proves me wrong. What will I be looking for...Can anyone besides Eichel or Kane be part of a line that controls play? Can anyone besides those 2 lead a transition game that can generate a goal on the rush other than as a direct result of a turnover? The only way I see this team playing even close to .500 for the rest of the year is IF the powerplay starts clicking again AND they get a lot of chances on it. This team is hopeless, HOPELESS when playing even strength. They are just too slow and are painfully slow and unexciting to watch.

O'Reilly does lead the Sabres this year in "Takeaways" with 18...just ahead of Pouliet with 16, Eichel with 15 and Larsson with 11. Figure in ice time, and Larsson and Pouliet get more takeaways per total ice time. For reference, league leaders in takeaways by forwards currently is 32. With 18, O'Reilly is tied for 46th in the league among forwards.

Speaking of that show (and a bit off topic)...I don't mind them that much. A lot of times, I like listening to that show. But the other day something really bothered me.... They were talking about playing the Lightning...Rivet said the team needs to play physical (no surprise) but Peters took it one step further.... Peters said against guys like Stamkos...you have to hit "to hurt" them...he then apologized for saying it...but again said something to the effect of not just playing physical, but hurting guys like Stamkos (to ME, it came across as hurting meaning injuring them.) I'm all for the Sabres winning of course...and while I have gotten my fill of fighting a good hit is still great to see....but I'm a fan of the NHL....I WANT to see players like Stamkos...and Ovechkin..Crosby, McKinnon...I do not want to see them get hurt by anyone, including the Sabres.

I'm not a hockey coach and can't analyze film as well as people who have played the games for years, but how IS he good 5 on 5? -He isn't a great scorer 5-on-5. Take out the PP numbers and 5 on 5 he is ordinary at best. -As far as back-checking and D-play, I think people are holding onto what they thought of him a few years ago. Plus-minus may not be a great stat, but his is awful...and it goes beyond that. Look at the replays of some of the goals he was on the ice for....quite a few of them he was responsible for a give-away OR he was lazy back-checking. I can remember a coupe goals this year (and I posted about them when they happened) where he had Ovechkin-like moments...he glided back into the zone...was only about 2 steps behind the eventual scorer. -His transition game is below average, if not awful. For every time he manages to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into the opponents zone...or make a great pass that allows someone else to transition into the Offensive zone....there are multiple times where it happens against the Sabres when he is on the ice. I just really don't see what others see in O'Reilly. What I see is a slightly above average scorer (that relies on the PP to get him to that level)...who is great at faceoffs...but over-rated as a Defensive forward and average to slightly below average in transition. Can someone tell me specifically what I am seeing wrong when I watch him play?

I don't know about Jack pouting, but without Kane I think this team will be much worse than most even fear: I have said in many threads that is team is WAY too slow. Okposo, Reinhart, and O'Reilly are relied on to be top forwards...but not only are they not legit top scorers overall...they are actually pretty bad 5-on-5. They are really only useful on the powerplay. They get dominated when they can't set up on the zone..and are almost liabilities in the transition game. Look at the numbers: -Eichel and Kane are 2 of the fasted players on the team (if not the fastest). Many games, their line is the ONLY like that doesn't get dominated in Corsi. But even look at goal production. In the last 2 seasons, they have totaled 71 goals....with only 14 on the Powerplay. They rely on the powerplay for only 19-20% of their goals. -Reinhart, O'Reilly and Okposo have totaled 71 goals also (between the 3 of them). However, 31 of them have been on the Powerplay. Almost 44% of their goals are on the Powerplay. When playing 5-on-5, not only do they not control play at all, but they really aren't productive. By the way, the NHL average is about 20% of all goals are on the Powerplay. Take Kane off this team, and the ONLY player you have that is even above average 5-on-5 is Eichel...thats it. Reinhart isn't going to be a player who can take control of a game. Okposo has his best days behind him. OReilly is good on the PP and penalty killing, but below average for the majority of the game 5-on-5. Who else is left on this team? If you think this team is brutal to watch now as far as skating and the transition game goes...when Kane is gone...wow.

1. Pegula made a bad choice in Bringing on LaFontaine, whos decision it was to hire Murray. Murray is/was a few years behind the times in terms of building a team with speed, instead he focused on size. 2. You 'lost' the lottery 2 years when you had the best odds to win it. 3. You haven't drafted a legit all-star type player in the past 10-15 years (Eichel eventually, MAYBE Risto but I'm having doubts there) 4. Speaking of the Draft, in the past 12 years, You have 30 1st or 2nd round picks. How many have turned into legit top pair D-men or Top 6 forwards. Maybe 2? 5. You overpaid for O'Rielly and Okposo. Both are slow. They would have been very good/great in the NHL of 2 or 3 years ago, but with the speed of todays game, they are not good legit top line guys...yet you are paying them like top line guys for the next 5 years. 6. Developing talent...and this ties into the draft also. Who on this team was brought up through the Sabres system (and there should be a LOT considering the number of 1st and 2nd round picks they have had):Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, McCabe, Girgensons....are the only guys I know of that get significant ice time. The best thing the Sabres can do is fire the entire scouting department.....and go out and find who is the best scout in the league (maybe the best 3-4) and pay them as much as you need to join the Sabres.

For all those saying the Sabres should not trade Kane..it probably isn't up to them.... From Kanes point of view....this team is awful now..doesn't look like a legit cup contender for a while..and he has NEVER played in the playoffs his entire NHL career, right? With all that said...he probably WANTS to try out a team that is good..in the playoffs every ear. So how could the Sabres resign him? You'd have to make him a SUPER strong offer....overpay to a great degree to get him to stay on a team that is pretty bad. From the Sabres point of view...even if they wanted him, do they want to overpay him that much? 5 years and $40+ million, or 7 years and $49million? I think the Sabres may like him....but the fact you are stuck with OReilly and Okposo's bloated contracts basically means you can't overpay for Kane. Even then, if you WANTED to, he may just decide to see if he can get the same money from another team that is in the playoffs every year.

Key bank center is 'fine'. There is nothing 'wrong' with it, but it is for sure toward the bottom of the league in terms of how nice of a place it is for an event. It hasn't always been for Hockey, but I have been to Columbus, Boston, Tampa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and NY (Barclays). The Key bank Center reminds me of what baseball and football stadiums were like in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980s....all of them from that area were kinda the same, lacking any personality or 'fun' to the buildings. I really like the Arena district (surrounding area) in Columbus. There aren't any bad seats in Buffalo, and the Arena does its job....but in the other buildings I can go in armed with a couple hundred dollars and have a lot more fun and enjoyment than just the game. I KNOW a lot of people say that is what is good about Buffalo...you focus on the game for the most part. In Detroit's new place, there are a lot of empty seats because we have heard that people are hanging out at the bars and restaurants (watching the games on TV while there.) But in all honesty, I personally like that better. I'll pay for the seat, maybe sit in it 60-80% of the game but to have other things (places) there I can visit when I want. I'm not a season ticket holder, and only go to a couple games a year so my dollar doesn't count much...but I really wish Buffalo could have one of those new Arena's in the next decade. I just don't see the $ in the area to pay for it. (unless it was a combo deal with a new Bills stadium...same complex or attached...but that might be too rich of a complex also.)

I'm not a big fan of the changes at TBD. When the forum loads, the page is narrower. I prefer the 'wider' look of the old version of TBD and the way this forum looks now.

Was the tank worth it? It depends...for those who say it wasn't...what was the alternative....and how would that have turned out with the position the Sabres were in?

Having the young 'core' brought up together after playing in the AHL is pretty much what the Sabres did back in the mid 2000's...leading up to the presidents trophy and conference finals team.

Last year, I was of the opinion that I would be fine with the trading Kane. However, the more I watch him, the more I hope he won't be moved and, if need be...they 'overplay' him to keep him here. Why? To me, he is the BEST player on the team to watch. I know Eichel has the big name and he is the superstar...but if I had no idea where people were drafted or what their pedigree was (or what expectations they had) and just watched the games....BY FAR he is the best reason to watch this team. Rarely does a shift go by where he doesn't jump out of the screen and his play is very evident. Now, I don't know if he plays the system the right way or not...I don't know if he is a good or bad guy in the locker room...and I guess those things matter a lot toward winning. But as far as an entertainment product goes..I'm going to be very unhappy the day he gets traded away or they let him walk.

Yet, the NHL continues to change toward speed and skill and less about size. Sure, all other things being equal, some size would be nice, but it isn't as big of a deal now as it even was a couple years ago. Look at the top 5 players in scoring right now: Stamkos...listed at 6'1 and 190 Kucherov...listed at 178 lbs..looks less than that. Gaudreau...5'9 and in the 150's...probably smaller than Ennis Jaden Schwartz....5'10 and 190. Brayden Schenn...first guy on the list listed at 200..and barely that..exactly 200 Skill and speed is where it is at in the NHL now.

Maybe the Kane and O'Reilly trade were made too early (meaning should not have been made) Its not as if Zadarov or Grigorenko or Myers or Armia SHOULDN'T have been traded, but maybe those trades should have happened later.....of IF you had the chance to trade them.....I don't know, I'm rambling here. BUT, looking back at things, I think the rebuild was 'sped-up' too much by Murray. I really don't know what moves should have been made instead though. In the past 3 seasons, the team that have finished BEHIND the Sabres at the end of the year at some point: -New Jersey -Arizona (twice) -Vancouver (twice) -Colorado -Winnipeg -Calgary -Columbus -Edmonton -Toronto Of those teams, how many of them have the Sabres stayed ahead of? It looks like Arizona is the only one you can say yes for sure to.

So far this season, I have seen Reinhart and O'Reilly both not put full effort into backchecking, and the guy who scores only ended up having a stride or two on Reinhart or O'Reilly when the puck was shot. Now, I KNOW that if you put 100% effort into every second on the ice, your shifts will only be 20-30 seconds long, but when someone has the puck and is approaching your goal, THAT is the time you need to be bearing down 100%.

If you want to keep Kane, they have to sign him to an extension, and not for one that is 'over market'. If you can't do that, then you have to trade him. It may not be just up to the Sabres, it may be up to Kane also.

It is still early, but we are getting to the point where you can start to make some decisions about who is good, who is bad, where problems are, etc... The thing that surprises me even more than the Sabres is Edmonton. After their play last season, I was SURE they were going to be one of the top 5-7 teams in the league, and almost as sure they would probably lead the NHL in goal scoring. Well, a month into the season, and not only are they 1 of the 2 teams in the league with less points than the Sabres..they are dead last in scoring. Unless you told me McDavid was going to miss the entire season, there is no way I would have even imagined that.

I was just talking to my cousin last week about this very topic....he has had season tickets for a few years. For the last couple of years, he has said he'd almost rather watch the game at home on the big screen HDTV than to go to the arena for most games, but he loves opening night and wants to be there for the playoffs for the atmosphere. He's justified selling about half of his seasons to co-workers or anywhere on the secondary market...but he told me he is losing money on that. His conclusion to me this week...EVEN If the team gets good he's dropping season tickets no matter what. If that means he misses the first game or series when they do make the playoffs, hes fine with it, and eventually he'll drastically overpay to see a few playoff games on the open market rather than keep paying for seasons he can't use or sell now, in addition to the parking, food, drive downtown and back when he works the next day, etc.

Just curious if anyone thinks the playoffs are still even possible? -Team now has the worst record in the conference, and the worst goal differential in the conference through 14 games. -IF we go on a standard assumption that 95 points make the playoffs (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't), the Sabres need 85 points in 65 games. That is a 107 or 108 pace for the rest of the year (82 game pace) It HAS been done in the past, hasn't it? where teams have started out this slow and made the playoffs? Just wondering how many people still think it is possible, vs how many people think this team is seriously lacking talent and want another high draft pick this year instead.

The lack of scoring. Of course I want the team to win, but I can at least be entertained if they lose but put the puck in the net. Goals per game...they are second or third worst in the league right now. First goal is making the playoffs. But if they miss the playoffs, I'd much rather watch a 75 point team that is near the top third in scoring than a 90 point team that is in the bottom third in scoring. Most of the time, even when they win, I get bored watching this team.

Drive very carefully and at the speed limit. I drive a ton for work (about 200,000 miles in the past 5 years for work) and I keep accurate records of my fuel economy (filling up tank, dividing miles by gallons, etc), and there is a massive difference in highway driving between 55 mph to 65 mph to 75 mph. A similar trip at 75 mph might net me 28 mpg on the highway...it goes to about 30 or 31mpg at 65 mph, and up to close to 35mpg at 55mph. I kept detailed records and posted my results (over several round trips in similar conditions of hundreds of miles) on another automobile forum, but the difference for every MPH you drive on the highway over 55mph is pretty drastic.