mjd1001

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.

I think this team will 'turn things around' this year....the problem is, how far out if it will they be when they do? They have 4 points now...it is reasonable to think if they can 'play slightly under .500' until Dec 1, they will start December with 18 points. They have to play better than they are to even get to that point though. But even if they do that...that would give them 18 points in 25 games...meaning to reach 95 points they would need 77 points in 57 games (a 110 point pace). So, while it still is early, if they don't turn things around fast they are likely to miss the playoffs again. I think they will turn things around, but not fast enough. -O'Reilly, Okposo, Reinhart, Moulson, are too slow for todays NHL. They are not going to keep up with the play in the neutral zone. They are all overpaid because of this. BUT, that doesn't mean they are a total waste on this team. If, IF, they system is something that isn't second nature....maybe those players are taking a half second too long to think instead of reacting.....add that to the fact that their slow skating speed puts them a half second behind the faster players, and it is a problem. Now, once they get used to the coaching and those decisions are instinct instead of thought, the reaction to being where they need to be will be immediate and they will 'keep up' better. You can get to the same place as a faster player if you get that fraction of a second head start. That is how O'Reilly, Reinhart, and Okposo will keep up in this league...they aren't there yet, but I think (hope) they will be. -D-partners need some time to get used to each other. From many people who have played the game, I always hear there are a LOT less mistakes and it is easier to control the puck when you know where your D-partner will be and what he will do. Not only are most of the D-men on this team not used to being partners...they are new to playing on the same team with each other. Once they get some time and practice together (20-30 games) 20-30% of those 'small' mistakes will be reduced. Pucks now thrown into an empty corner or along the boards with no-one there will instead be passed to a teamate. Put both of those things together, and I think it makes this team at least .500, if not better. It just sucks having to wait for all of that to come together. I really do think O'Reilly and Okposo are not going to be the players they were in the past...simply because the league has gotten faster and their 'reaction time' can only make up for so much of their lack of speed. If there were any 'takers' in the trade market for either with a decent offer, I'd make it. Seeing how that isn't likely, they will make do but don't expect much more from them than being a good, but slow' third line on a winning team. Team speed is critical in todays NHL, but there are 3 parts of it. 1.) Skating speed. 2.) reaction time. 3.) effort. How much of all 3 of those does each player on this team have? I think the reason why Evander Kane looks so good now is he has all three, great skating speed, ZERO reaction time because he just 'goes', and great effort.

I think the big problem here is that for the Amerks to be good, you need Bailey, Baptiste, Guhle to be good, if not real good or great. HOWEVER, with the Sabres looking like they are (for the most part slow, especially the forwards, and losing), as soon as Bailey, Baptiste, or even someone like C.J. smith shows any consistent great play, they are likely to get another shot with the Sabres....thus gutting the Amerks again. I usually see 1 or 2 Amerks games a year (and catch any on TV if they happen to have one or two shown in Buffalo) so I'm looking forward to watching them. Fasching seems like a great buy...but I really want a fast skating team, top to bottom...I don't see him fitting in well to the NHL in the near future.

What is of note regarding this? All 3 of those players have average or below average skating speed. (and yes, O'reilly IS slow, when I watch him coming up the ice he is clearly slower with or without the puck than many others around him) Kane, Girgensons, Eichel, and Pomminstein are at the top of the scoring list for the Sabres, all players with above average to great skating speed. (of course it helps they are getting points off of each other). Not only is speed getting more important in the NHL ever year (this year even more than last year) but it also seems if you want to play the new system, it is even more important to this team. Players who are slow or even average when it comes to speed are falling behind on this team and in the league. We may NEVER get what we want/expect out of ROR/Okposo/Reinhart because of this. It will be interesting to watch a few more weeks to see if this is indeed true, but it looks like it to me.

I really hope not. Unless this team is bad beyond belief (worst in the league by 5+ points or more in January), I think you don't make any changes. I could see some player moves...trades...and I can imagine that pretty soon, but nothing about the coach or GM unless there is some major turmoil where people are yelling and screaming at each other in the front office.

He's getting less ice time (just above 19 minutes a game). That is still close to the team lead for forwards, but more than 2 minutes less per game than last year. That should help him to not be worn down at all by the end of the season. BTW, it looks like Eichel is averaging about 20 minutes of ice time per game under Housley...which is the team lead and slightly more than last year. As far as ROR, it is only through 5 games, but some things to look at this year: -Slightly less ice time (as noted above) -He has taken 2.6 shots per game this year. (He had 2.62 last year, so about the same) -He has more PP time on ice per game this year than last year (Sabres are averaging more power plays this year so far) -He is winning 66% of his faceoffs this year (He was at 58% last year) Very small sample size, it is really hard to gain anything out of analyzing stats until I think about game 20.

I'm not sure what you mean..thats not how it works? Give any 3rd line center in the league first line minutes, and they are going to put up more points. If O'Reilly gets even 18 minutes per game (still probably more than a typical 3rd line center) and he is on the PP but on the second unit (where his talent probably says he belongs) and you are getting 15 goals and 25 - 30 assists out of him for the season. Not even close to being worth $7.5 million for a guy who still makes crucial mistakes regarding giveaways pretty often.

A 3rd line center that gets 1st line minutes. As I said in my post...most players with decent offensive ability will put up a lot more points/goals when given more minutes. When Ennis and Hodgson were on this team and given good minutes, they led the team in goals or points. Add to that the fact that ROR gets a LOT of Powerplay time, and I would expect those extra points. Over the last couple of years, over 40% of his points come on the PowerPlay. That is well above what most of the top players get.