PerreaultForever

Ya exactly. That's what I was getting at saying now Ruff has to get them to do this consistently. It's the long standing issue of not having a strong culture and a veteran locker room. These guys have never figured it out and they need to now, quickly.

The Ottawa game gives me hope again. But can they bring this on a nightly basis???

I thought Byram played his best game of the year against Ottawa. As such Quinn deserves the #1 worst label now. He still sucks.

It's fine. He needs to play.

So there you go. They show us that they are capable of bringing the effort and playing decent hockey. Ruff just has to figure out how to get them to bring that every night on a consistent basis and not just every now and again. No complaints. That was entertaining hockey. I personally think Gilbert should stay in the line up. At least for a while. Quinn however, still needs to sit. Byram looked better

I think that is maybe true. I've kind of forgotten the details but it sounds true. I just can't imagine Quinn, playing the way he is, not being benched and out of the line up on any other team. I don't see how you can talk about accountability and let him keep playing.

I will just say this here. You do not build a winning franchise by saying things like "this is a development year" . You do it by saying "we want to win now". Winning is all that matters for successful teams.

I don't think it's Pegula deciding everything but I do think he hires yes men who try to please him rather than just doing their job thinking only about hockey and winning. The problem imo is Pegula sitting in all those meetings and having an influence on a constant basis. Like in any corporate environment. Think of it this way (hypothetical). Start of the year Pegula says "I like the look of this team. Fast young guys playing offensive hockey. Love where it's headed. Really like that Jack Quinn. I have high hopes for him. You did a great job drafting him. He will be a star here." Now you're in this meeting later and as a hockey guy you think Quinn is such garbage this year, do you say it with Pegula at the table? Do you dare bring up that the guy you know he liked is garbage? Do you say I might have drafted the wrong guy? No, no you don't. Just one hypothetical possibility but I think that's how a lot of it goes. Owners who don't know anything about the sport (but think they do) and meddle in day to day are always a problem. We were all warned when LaFontaine walked out the door.

I'm starting to wonder if Lindy's lost it or he too is just following the Pegula party line to earn his retirement cheques. I really don't get him dumping on Clifton saying Clifton has to be better. Yes, he does, they all do, but that's your number 6 D man and he's hardly central to the equation why is he the whipping boy? What is that going to achieve? Are you trying to not hurt the feelings of the so called "stars"? Why is he not saying Quinn is garbage or Cozens needs to be better? Dahlin isn't living up to his contract. Samuelsson is useless. Tons of passengers, but it's Clifton who has to be better. WTAF?

I've seen a few Ottawa games and they can play well. They are fast and physical and they go to the net. Their PP can be deadly. Their defensive coverage is still lacking at times so if you attack them aggressively you can get chances. Obviously, this is a moment where you either turn this thing around and start moving forward or you give up on the year. Maybe not that extreme, but also kind of definitely that extreme. Given what we have seen so far, I am not optimistic.

I totally get the Boston hate and that's reasonable and fair. I don't post these Boston things to praise Boston, but to illustrate what is missing in Buffalo. There are other teams that have similar strong cultures, I'm just simply more familiar with the Bruins as they are my B team (who coincidentally have a B crest but what ya gonna do, seems right in a way). Florida obviously has a strong culture. It would appear that Tampa does as well. Vegas had a privileged pathway but they definitely built a culture there. Talented teams that crap out in the playoffs like Toronto would seem to be lacking in that area.

I know he was and you can argue DesLauriers "value" but that's exactly my point. The team DID NOT VALUE these role players and their roles. They are all exceptionally good at exactly what they do but this team didn't think we needed those roles. They are easily replaced , except they clearly are not. Who we chose to offer to keep Ullmark was a choice too.

It's the team first aspect that draws me to it. Zemgus isn't going to win that fight. Stanley is a monster, but his instant reaction to be a team first guy is something we don't see a lot of in Buffalo. Occasional now, but not often. We certainly didn't see that side of Zemgus here. As for his "points". Who cares? He's not there for his points. Tampa has wins.

Damn, why do players turn into real hockey players only after they leave??? Zemgus. https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n270048

But they're not speedy puck movers. I agree with you 100%. Sabres under Pegula have not valued physical players at all. Ever. Look how well Carrier has done. DesLauriers is a goon but could we not have used that on many an occasion over these years? Foligno, heart and soul and would be captain now if I was running the show. So big accomplishment we rebuilt the bottom line this year. All this time it could have been a veteran unit of fan favorites in Carrier-Foligno-DesLauriers wrecking havoc and putting fear into opposing teams all over. But nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, we just need little speedy mice.

I know some of you guys hate it when I bring up Boston and their culture but I have to mention this. Pasternak benched for the third period after lazy efforts on late second period giveaways. This when the team was winning the game 2-0 and he has 6 goals and 5 assists in their 13 games. In Buffalo, Jack Quinn still in the line up. Compare and contrast.

It is Pegula. But it's Pegula hiring unqualified yes men so sure, fire Adams, but Pegula will just promote another yes man who will tear down and retool and make mistakes and do it all over again.

Always a false illusion. Sure, late in the year, out of it, they place loose and get some points. Opposition teams give us their back up goalies and their lazy trap game efforts. We have not been as good as our late season point totals in any of these years.

I wouldn't say nothing has changed. More than any recent year this team now resembles the bare bones of an actual roster but there are holes in it and the GM seems content to let their be holes in it and if you have holes things fall apart like dominos. The biggest hole is of course because we traded away Mitts. We didn't replace him. There's also a constant expectation that the new kid will fill the old gap and it'll just happen (presumably because they firmly believe in their drafting genius) and that's all they have to do. Wait. They never create much of a situation where the young guys have to earn their spots. Cozens was just given his 2C spot and he's never had to earn anything. Quinn was just given his second line spot. Peterka stepped up for their plan but not every guy does. It's rare. Youngest team in the league. Again, not an accomplishment. Cap money to burn, because we will need it later. Except it seems we won't.

Even game. Equal teams. Both bad. A big thing was made of the line up changes coming and then nothing major. I thought Ruff would be different but this is the way this team goes every year. Just tinker around the edges but not sitting the guys who actually sucked the most. These changes were meaningless and I do not in any way see how that teaches accountability. I had to laugh, sportsnet was running the Detroit feed and they referred to Bryson as "diminutive". Lousy game. Lousy teams.

Proof that a mediocre goalie can look good if a team plays good defense in front of him.

Pegula. He's the overriding reason for everything.

First period up 5-0 right now on 7 shots total. Not great goaltending but they know how to put the puck in the net when they get a chance. Very different team to what we have that's for sure.

Probably, and he should get a decent return. Especially if we eat salary, but he also gives Ruff something to highlight in game film sessions. "This is how you do it" type stuff for the slackers/kids.

Zucker's Gordie Howe Hat Trick was nice to see but we need more guys like that with consistent effort. Still way too many passengers on this team.