StuckinFL

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2020/03/13/these-are-the-nhl-owners-who-have-not-agreed-to-pay-arena-staff-for-suspended-events/ Dunno if this has been discussed here yet or not, but this actually surprised me. Given how their PR image tries to project the caring and generous attitude.

I think he's going to be a good solid #1 goaltender the rest of this year and next but not elite. He can steal you a few games here and there but he can't carry the team squarely on his shoulders every game. But since he's solid, he frees up the rest of the team to be much more aggressive and creative. He shouldn't be replaced by anyone less than elite because you can tell that the team trusts and loves the guy. But for the love of God we need to get him a solid backup because Hutton has been HORRENDOUS.

GREAT WIN. Ullmark was definitely the best player on the ice for both teams by a mile.

Ullmark looks so damn good

Ugh, terrifying the talent Washington has for a SO. Encouraging that Holtby has not looked well.

Lol @ Biron getting snubbed and then taking control of the conversation.

I dunno, he doesn't seem the type. I think there's some ruthlessness behind those eyes.

And that is why I'm beginning to believe in him. Any X and O deficiencies can be fixed with different assistants but this team has quit on every coach (besides Ted Nolan) and has really bought into him.

Still looks better than Hutton.

This is the team that disappeared. Loving this game so far.

I forgot how much better we play in from of Ullmark.

I dunno, trading Sam does not exist in a vacuum. Gotta remember whom is either signing or trading him. I think JBot can do less damage signing him rather than trading him. He may overpay him by 1 mil, but if he trades for him I think it's fairly obvious the return would be disastrous.

Girgs' Passion Eichel's Talent Moulson's Class

I'll go further, I think he's the bad attitude in the locker room. He has always seemed to me like a spoiled little brat with his nose up in the air. I had a friend tell me a story about how his brother was an Uber driver and had Jack in his car one night when he first got here and without prompting told the driver 'Your tip is that you got to drive Jack Eichel' Now I dunno about the validity of that story as I'm always sceptical about celebrity stories but that just always seemed to fit for me. Between the stories of locker room division when he was starting out between the youth and the vets and how there is always motivation issues on this team, I can see it being him. Everyone has worked with someone who was great at their job but was an absolute POS and bratty and whenever you had to work with them it was something to be endured, not enjoyed. Worst part is that if this is all true I cannot think of a human being I would trust less than JBot at improving the Sabres in an Eichel trade.

Yep. Sounds about exactly right.

The exact timing was fuzzy. But I still say it holds water. If your top guys are afraid of being benched that is an indicator that there is a talented group fighting for every minute they're on the ice. This roster is just totally void of actual competitive talent. Marty said it the other day: 'You're there, but you're not THERE.' There's no urgency, movement and push to this team. You can't bench half your forwards every game so complacency and laziness set in. I want to see Joe Thornton type attitudes on this team that get pushy and competitive with each other for playing time and rosters spots. But until we have a GM able to put competitive talent into the roster, it won't happen.

It was in 2008. I remember it coming to light at this Vogl article. https://buffalonews.com/2018/03/02/inside-the-sabres-it-comes-down-to-a-matter-of-respect/

But the people being benched are just not talented enough to make any discernable difference when they are replaced. And they are demoted as a last resort, not because they played a lousy game or have a bad attitude. Per example, who in Rochester or further down the lineup can replace Skinner if he starts acting like an ass? No one from line 2 on down can replace him on his worst day with their best day. This roster is a ghost town of talent around a few bright spots. Ryan Miller once said during one of his losses IIRC during his Venzia year that he needed to step up and play better because he was afraid of being benched in favor of Marty by Ruff. Marty was nowhere near as talented but could perform adequately enough if he needed to and the team could STILL WIN GAMES. Talent creates a competitive atmosphere where you are auditioning for your roster spot every night. RK can't create that internal competition without enough talent on the roster.

The best tool a coach has when a player isn't playing up to their potential is to bench them. This team is so shallow of talent that can be called up/moved a line up that it's impossible to replace someone as a punishment. This team is full of JAGs in Rochester and on the Sabres so the coach is completely handcuffed. Hutton underperforming? Who do you bench him in favor of? Samson coasting around? Who do you move up without it being an unmitigated disaster? Risto blowing coverage and leaning back? Who takes his spot? The only line playing like can be benched at any moment is the GLO line. And every shift they are playing with everything they have. And anyone on that line could be replaced at any moment. They're playing for their jobs EVERY SHIFT. Everyone else on this team knows they have job security because the roster is so putrid. And nothing kills a good employee faster than tolerating a bad one.

They've been playing pretty decent the past 5 minutes.

But how did Ullmark look?

Well if that don't be it all...

I dunno, Skinner has always seemed like he would have a bitchy little attitude to me so I can see RK not tolerating it and banishing him down a line until he gets his act together. Or it could be the case of simply feeling that the net combo of Olofsson w/ any one else and Jeff and Jack wouldn't equal separating them and making teams have to defend against 2 lines instead of only one.

Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart Skinner-Lazar-Simmonds Kahun-Johansson-Vesey Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo That's not an outstanding middle six, but they are definitely far more threatening for the opposition and should take a bit of pressure off line 1 and open up scoring significantly. That's a good enough forward group to get you into the playoffs if they gel. I'm excited for Vegas, especially after last night.

Hopefully this is a wake-up call to move Skinner up, but we all know that's never going to happen.