eman

Neither can I- especially since we heard this before. Again, a decent coach could significantly speed up the process.

In total agreement again Zamboni. This team is free falling under Phil so I believe his coaching won't work here. JBots should get one more season to see if he can entice a couple pieces here (although it may take a miracle- I use Schoop & the Bulldogs assessment of the Bills when Antonio Brown refused to come "Well, quite frankly, Buffalo deserves this because they have not made the environment enticing for free agents to want to come here") This rings true for the Sabres as well. But, one more shot he should have, at least of getting this team competitive for an entire season. Phil can go. I believe even if JBots gets the right coach this time, this club will improve greatly. In a short time, we will know.

In total agreement. I do think there is more talent in this lineup than we give credit for and I honestly believe it is the coaching and the system.

I'll believe it when I see it. This D looks extremely soft to me and I don't think any club covets our defense right now. Do they have skills? Yes, I believe they do, but under Phil's tutelage, their value is plummeting. I do agree, perhaps under Quenneville (maybe even Guy Boucher) they would be harder group to play against but as I see them right now, incredibly soft. They do not take the body whatsoever and opposing entry into Buffalo's zone looks very easy right now. You will not win anything with a defense that plays the way this group is currently playing.

Bingo! Nailed it!

Same boat here. Born in 65' and this is why I am now hard on this coach and management. I have seen enough over the years. 2 great Cup runs and some unbelievable players and goaltenders come through Buffalo. The past 8 years have been an all time low for me. Some posters on this site have set the bar so low that anything even remotely better than the season before means "headed in the right direction" or "they're still young", or "Coach Phil doesn't have the right group of guys to play his system" - whatever the hell it is, (I'm guessing soft & speedy- hardly a recipe for playoff success) Patience has run out. Time for the organization to just show me results as in wins and losses. I couldn't give a #### about possession time and whatever other stats you wish to look at. Bottom line: Wins & Losses and man have there ever been a ton of the latter these past 8 years. This club will not finish above 0.500. Too many times have we seen an effort like this one tonight over the years and that is on the coach. (or several coaches over that period of time)

Season's not over yet. Not sure many more wins are in the cards for this season for this club. Very sad. They actually might be the first club to buck the TSN trend of being solidly in a playoff spot by US Thanksgiving, and than actually not making the playoffs!

I beg to differ. You should be shouted down shortly by other posters here for sharing those thoughts. (although I agree wholeheartedly- it's a disgraceful excuse for a pro hockey club)

Thanks for posting that! Great article and I believe it to be accurate. Good analysis of Phil's shortcomings and good post articles comments by fans as well. Again, another ex-Sabre who looks like they are fitting in and contributing quite nicely with their new club- Nathan Beaulieu in this case.

Best 2nd period yet!!!! OOOppppppssssssss!!!! Maybe not. Wow, what a tire fire this club is.

Totally agree. I wanted him also. I also wanted Julien, Boucher (and yes, I'll still take Guy Boucher anytime over Phil!) and now Quenneville. I don't blame Boucher for that ####show in Ottawa. Melnyk is a disaster owner. I also wanted Torts here before he went to Columbus. Anyone with a pulse please. This decade long gong show is a joke!

Couldn't have said it better myself. Not to mention the level of delusion. This team sucks guys. To say they are better than past Sabre teams of the past few years is laughable. Think about it. I will stick with the "Phil is the problem" until I am proven wrong. He is the reason they suck to the level they do. I do believe talent is here, but whatever the hell Phil's system is (strong skating? Watch other teams this time of year, we still look a little slower) this club is way too soft and that part will seriously need to change before serious progress gets made. I am fine with our goaltenders but we need more defensive structure (like taking guys out in front of the net and applying the body) You can call me negative but by seasons end, look at the final standings. (and this has been the norm for going on to a decade now- even the worst Leafs clubs of the 80's didn't go a decade without a playoff round. Disgraceful!

As good as the Leafs are, I believe their lack of physicality is their biggest weakness, especially come playoff time. Babcock will be under fire this season to get them past the second round. If they fail again, he will be on the hot seat. Washington and Boston stand in their way and I believe the physicality of both those teams will be hard for Toronto to get past. Offensively, the Leaf roster is loaded, but when the checking gets tighter come playoff time, their space to create gets taken away. Sad, but true. Totally agree.

Totally agree. I do believe there is more talent here than is credited for. I still maintain its Phil and whatever system he tries to use. No more patience with him, he can go. I could be wrong, but I know we will find out one way or another.

I hear you. I am in my 50's and remember both Cup Finals. Long suffering fan who would love to see a seriously competitive Sabres club again. Not sure when that will happen. Nice to be optimistic about next season but we have been doing that for far too long now. Time for the GM to show me before I buy into more blind "optimism". If you watch other games in the league right now as they jockey for playoff positioning, we are so far off that, that I can just take a wait and see attitude now. Not expecting much change and I fear coaching is playing a huge role here.

Didn't work for the Oilers either.

Pat LaFontaine was right. He wasn't on board with that and he walked. LaFontaine was absolutely correct. We're wasting Jack and perhaps Reino. I cannot seriously see playoffs for at least another 2 years.

Yup, muscle with speed. Like the Sharks/Bruins game tonight. Fast and edgy (most likely because the Bruins are up 4-1)

At the very least entertaining and guys who busted their ass no question. Effort was never a question with that team.

Exactly, watching the Sharks/Bruins game. Now that's hockey! Both teams have exactly what you just posted. Bruins look solid! (and I hate them!)

Now you might understand what I meant with my post. Just read the past few posts here. Ebb and flow. Sabres get close, board is loving this club, they squander it, Housley sucks, we just suck, fire everyone yada yada yada. They are 2 seasons away minimum of making the playoffs. I'm watching Sharks/Bruins and this club isn't even in the same league. Physicality, speed. Not seeing it here. Sure the Sabres are faster than before but other clubs have another gear. They just play the Leafs better as a rival (but cannot beat them lately) Your post is accurate. They are who they are right now. No point losing your mind.

I know you don't. Just go back a few pages on this GDT. Read the ebb and flow. I love it!

and yet, there was such renewed enthusiasm for this team after last night's game vs. The Leafs. Where did it go?

Another loss?

The dagger!!! Kapanen! Game, set & match!