StuckinFL

What's the definition of insanity?

Oh I'm not even gonna check the score now. **** this team.

Too many years of 'here we go again'. Towards the end of the streak I was getting pumped again, but then because Buffalo. I'm just not ready to get hurt again. This team has broken my heart too many times and then promised that this year will be different. And then every year it's the same...

I'm right there with you. I used to take the night off of work and do a whole Buffalo themed dinner every year for the first game, but this year I'm not even taking off.

100%. I need my 2nd line to be defensively responsible, but able to get it out of the zone and be a threat with the puck more importantly. With the improved D I can see that line being able to transition to attack dangerously.

If you can get him for Risto with a bit extra, you do it. Sign him to a short bridge deal and commit to the plan you have. If HCRK is half the motivational force that he's been touted to be he should be able to squeeze more out of guys that have those kinds of issue. You don't get a coach known for analytical openness and motivational strength and then not give him any problems to solve that you can get for cheaper. If you believe in HCRK's strengths you give him the ability to showcase them to better your team for cheaper.

Only thing I can think of is drills. Hammer in enough drills and the body starts moving automatically. I think this is the biggest issue with the rotating coaches. Plays and drills they might have been hammering in them were shifting too often and they had to think before they move.

I actually think he'll hit about 65. I think he's going to see substantial time on PP1 and with the way the way the team is constructed I expect a 5 man attack that will funnel him a ton of points.

I'm not so sure I can completely agree with this. Goalies are weird and develop/bring it together at odd times. I'd give him another season as a backup before I'd rule him out as a potential #1. Let's see what the new goalie coach can do with him.

I actually disagree with alot of what's being said here. I don't think this season will define him. I think this off season will. If he does nothing more for the 2nd line, is perceived as doing too little, or a bad move, the fanbase will turn and blame him and not the coach or the players. If he is seen making more good moves, solidifying up the 2nd line, then our focus will be on a brand new coach or the new players and he'll be looked at as a good GM that's still cleaning up a mess. Either way, I think the narrative on who JBot is will be decided in the next 2 months. If we turn on him the season would have to be amazing for that narrative to change. If we're behind him, the season would have to be an absolute dumpster fire for us to change our minds.

The ROR definitely soured me on him. I was ecstatic though and was woefully optimistic before that though. I like what I'm seeing in Rochester and I like most of his other moves, but I haven't had a moment that has truly made me a JBOT believer. I feel like his moves in the next few months with our current glut of defenseman will define that. If he makes moves to create a truly dangerous 2nd line, then I'm a believer. If he doesn't or trades them for picks, I'm on the disappointed train.

I think Ullmark is going to have the most surprising season. I actually expect Dahlin to backslide a bit at the beginning of the year and then make huge strides. I actually have this odd feeling that the inverse of last season is going to happen. I think we'll play mediocre hockey in the beginning of the year and then break out and play amazing and inspired hockey starting in December. I really do feel like we're going to be a lock for the playoffs for the second half of the season. We've been underperforming for so long that I think once the players start playing to their ability and talent, this thing is gonna explode.

I'd feel more than comfortable offering him 6.5/7 x 8, with a NTC for the first 4 years, this year right out the gate. He gets security and you get a steal of a contract by the end of the deal. If he pushes for 7+ then I get rid of a NTC for the length of the contact.

If he wants to go a penny over 8, I only offer 7 x 8.75 and he doesn't get NTC protection. If he agrees to the 8x8 contract, he gets NTC for 5 years and I front load either as much as possible.

If he was going to sign, it would have already been done. He's testing free agency.

I miss Flagg

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner. Not that he was given a ton to work with in that middle 6. But he'll get the axe before JBots does unless JBots has been waiting to pull off some sort of trade miracle this off-season and fixes the leaks in our middle 6 without killing us in another position.

I don't disagree at all. But the return we got for him signaled to me that JBot had a push to get rid of him when we did or that TP was in on that decision and owns it and partially his own. That's why I think there's extra leash. If the consensus is that low talent is the reason we didn't take a bigger step forward and TP owns all or some of that decision, then I can see them getting an extra 7 months to right the ship rather than being fired in a few weeks.

I don't think he will. I think both will be given till Thanksgiving. The writing on the wall is that the talent is too low right now. I think ultimately getting rid of ROR was TP move, not a JBots one or that TP owns part of that decision. If that's the case, not having a 2C and teams just needing to shut down our first line absolutely killed this teams ability to consistently win hockey games and TP will give a little extra slack. I think one good off-season is all we need to set the ship right. Bringing in a decent 2C and graduating some of the kids from Rochester will make this a playoff caliber team. Especially if Mitts takes a progression next year in a 3C role. And as long as we don't have both goaltenders falling off a cliff at the same time like we did this year (please get a new GT coach) we should take a huge jump. I get that we're all disappointed but the sky isn't falling. We've packed it in and aren't competitive right now because the team is in a 'here we go again' slide. We're fine. The Sabres will be fine.

Is there anything better than Leaf tears? I want us to win this game so bad.

Me too.

I mean this is just sad. We are absolutely pathetic. We fold at the slightest amount of pressure and we absolutely cannot score right now. How much longer can this go on before people start getting pink slips?

Yeah, I have zero hope for this team anymore. Expecting a blowout. Guess is that Chicago beats us by 3 or 4.

I'm inclined to agree

Leave em wanting more? Come on, don't leave us in suspense like that. I enjoy reading stuff like this quite often. Given the way the season has been as of late, it's the only source of joy about this team left, haha.