eman

Well, if Phil is telling Tage to go and screen the opposing goaltender and Tage isn't doing it (and as far as I've seen, he's not) and Phil keeps playing him, then Phil is a lousy coach and doesn't deserve to be here.

Well, now that you mention it, let's see if Skinner stays? If not, we then need to ask, why not? Also, let's see if Jack stays until the end of his contract and if he does, will he re-up with Buffalo? If he also, does not, we need to know why? Same for Samson. If things don;t turn around by next season or one more after that, career years or not, you can bet they will all bolt. Nothing satisfies more than being part of a winning team. Phil will finish out this season. If by US Thanksgiving of this year the Sabres are still sucking, I don't think we will have Phil around for debate anymore. Just my thoughts but time will tell. .

I expect the Blues to forecheck the Sabres into oblivion. I watched them play the Leafs earlier this season (and the Leafs play a strong forechecking game also) and the Leafs were on their heels. This Blues club (who is fighting for a playoff spot) will come out hard tonight. I expect this to get ugly to be honest and perhaps the final decision maker in terms of how long this club wishes to continue with Phil- who I do believe at least finishes this season. I would like the Sabres to prove me wrong in all of this but somewhere post game, ROR will be smiling. Tarasenko and ROR will score tonight.

Then I would totally concede that maybe, most of this on ice mess wasn't on Phil. But from what I am watching, I honestly believe Phil's system sucks huge. I cannot understand how guys like Pominville and Okposo (and maybe even Girgensons) all of a sudden, don't know how to put the puck in the net like they used to. I think whatever system Phil is trying to install stifles that ability. The defense does not take the body aside from maybe Bogo. (and perhaps McCabe) but the rest- weak. Why is Tage Thompson not told to go in front of the opposing goalie and screen him? That has to come from the coach. Only Samson does this sporadically and he doesn't have Thompson's size. Hockey 101. Have you noticed in the past 10 Sabres games now that screening the goalie isn't in the game plan? I've been watching this closely and I cannot believe it. DeSmith had a relatively easy night. It's mind boggling. Some may argue we have players who don't want to go there, but then its up to the coach to instruct them to go there and do it, or you sit. I am willing to gamble that even under Guy Boucher (who I feel, got the Gallant treatment in Ottawa- but Melnyk is an ownership disaster also) this team would be at least 10 points or more better. What have we got to lose at this point? I have seen nothing out of a Phil Housley coached club that gives me even remote hope for next season.

I seriously cannot see anyone on this site defending Phil at this point. I do not believe any other organization would stand by their coach with the product this club is putting on the ice. For the sake of this entire organization, and PH himself, please end this by seasons finish. Time to try again at a decent head coach.

I also stand by the fact that Phil is definitely not the answer behind the Sabres bench. But we'll know one way or the other by November of this year.

Hitch got them back into the playoff picture. They are still in contention, the Sabres are not. Edmonton might fall short but they were out of it completely when they fired their previous coach. Agreed that Trotz might just be greater than Hitch though. A shame that 2 marquee players like McDavid and Eichel have yet to be really showcased come playoff time. Edmonton's D is suspect as well and Talbot wasn't very good this season while he was an Oiler.

I'll stick to "It's a coaching problem"- Look at the Isles under Trotz. They lost their franchise player and got better, lead the league in GAA with ex-Sabre Lehner in goal and Tomas Greiss for God's sake. Nope, it's definitely the coaching. The team is a reflection of its coach.

and teaches some structure. The D is a complete mess right now. There is talent here (again- once they leave and do well elsewhere, we all post why they couldn't do that when they were here)

Don't you wonder why a guy like Tage (with his size) isn't asked to park in front of the opposing goalie? I mean, that's not even rocket science, it's coaching 101, yet we never see him do that. i seriously believe that is on Phil DeSmith literally had no one in his face the entire night and they haven't done this for the past few games. It is incredibly noticeable. I'm not sure why Okposo has lost his ability to put the puck in the net (I believe he still can as can Pominville- slow or not) Something is seriously amiss in Phil's coaching.

No, St. Louis has some challenges, but they sucked for a good 3 months of the season and once New Year's came and went, they are playing good hockey when it matters now. Tonight they got robbed by Nilsson (again- ex-Sabre doing well) a 35 save shutout and some brilliant stops included if you saw the highlights. (one of them on ROR) They play an entertaining game and you can notice the effort is definitely there. Night and day between them and this Sabre club.

Listen, if this GM manages to fire Phil and get a coach like Quenneville or even Guy Boucher and the club doesn't improve under them, I'll concede that maybe we are talent poor. But I am convinced our problems the past few seasons have been entirely coaching related. I know I am beating this to death but to me, it just seems obvious. Garbage effort results in no one benched with any seniority in this league, screening opposing goalies doesn't seem to be part of the game plan (unless Samson does it- some times) I believe the club is a reflection of its coach (or coaches in our case) Another ex-Sabre stoned ROR and the Blues tonight just as an FYI. His name? Anders Nilsson- stood on his head for Ottawa in a 2-0 shutout win.

I don't want to deal Risto, Bogo et al. I honestly believe under Quenneville he can tighten up the D and implement a system that will help Hutton and Ullmark (I actually like our goaltending also- honest) with a few decent assistants I also honestly believe the offense can get much better. There was a time when Pominville and Okposo could put the puck in the net. Tage has a great shot and size but is never instructed to get his ass in front of the opposing goaltender. Time for some serious coaching to take place here. We have some decent pieces. Tage reminds me of Andreychuk- no one screened DeSmith tonight and haven't for the past few games and I just don't get that. All the other teams do this.

I actually beg to differ. Under this coach, this team isn't good. I do believe there is more talent here than some give credit for. The only time we'll see that is once they leave and do well somewhere else. (and we're seeing it already with ex-Sabres who posters wanted run out of town) This coach stinks, and his assistants. That is the major problem.

Nope, Richard is right . O'Reilly wanted out. I am sure either he or his agent requested to be moved. You could see on his face in the post games he was biding his time and kind of talking around the issue. There is something going on here.

I believe you are correct and whatever it was, he ain't telling. Things have worked out nicely for him though (and Kane, and Lehner and even ###damn Paul Byron in Montreal- he plays a regular shift for the Habs and is a serviceable player- its pissing me off)

and if you lie with dogs, you're gonna get fleas. ROR actually looks really good in the Blues lineup for those that have a chance to watch him. They might make some playoff noise this year.

just give them their money "My God they can taste it!" -Christian Slater in Very Bad Things

Not that I'm a Phil sympathizer, but you have to wonder what he's feeling right now? He's got to know he has lost the room and that any chance he has at another head coaching job will be light years away (if he ever gets another shot) He'll get an assistant position somewhere but he's got to know the clock is ticking and his coaching efforts just seem embarrassing with this squad.

Phil's making him look like one of the Sabres all time coaching greats!

Especially with Phil as the head coach. It really isn't inconceivable that the management group of this team has hired really lousy coaches the past few years. I mean Ron Rolston???? If you went on the Pittsburgh fan site they were warning Sabres fans what to expect with Dan Bylsma (and they were right) Now Phil. Hopefully, JBots can find someone decent with experience who actually wants a shot at this crew and to work for this organization. Might be harder than we think.

kiss a 0.500 season good bye also. They will have a losing record at the end of this debacle.

and Quenneville and Guy Boucher sit idle. I bet both get picked up by other clubs and we lose out once again. Phil just wasn't ready to be a head coach.

and the booing has reigned down from the crowd. Needs to be done. #### poor product.

That's what I mean with "the bar being set so low" around here now. The bar used to be "we don't want to be one of those teams that finishes 7th or 8th only to go out in the first round"- now we are satisfied (or some are anyhow) with "at least we're better than last season"- even though it means we are completely out of the playoffs by a long shot again. So sad what has happened to this franchise.