Pimlach

Sunny Buffalo?

I don’t see TP making any changes.

Yet, he was available.

Terrible period. Wow. Go home kids.

Poor UPL.

No. They need to keep playing to win. Evaluate the coach with his team.

They just need a few tweaks. I wasn’t expecting a win in Edmonton. Let’s get a PPG and go after a point.

Ekholm looking like a goal scorer tonight.

Ugh.

Another late goal against. Terrible.

Nice. Cliffy.

When they reach 25. Then they leave.

Weak defense by Byram there.

Bummer. Late goals against suck.

VO and Byram.

Dahlin high numbers in hits, blocks, points. The NHL should consider everything when passing out Norris Trophies.

Oh well. Not to be.

Dahlin with a great shot. Laser

JJP. Nice pass Tuch

Good evening Teammates, Punch checking in. Big game tonight. They need to win tonight to stay mathematically involved. Muscle Weight

Donny is smart and creative. Looking at the list of successful coaches that never played in the NHL, they are all extremely demanding hard *****. So far Donny is not. I for one think that DG looks to be maxed out as a coach for this team. DG has to demand more and make them pay when they don't play right. Most players want that and they thrive on the higher expectations. He will be given another year so we are going to see.

Mitts is playing for Bednar, who also never played in the NHL either, and he had the same amount of AHL coaching experience as Meatballs. There are many great coaches that never played in the NHL. Ken Hitchcock's team beat Lindy Ruff's team for the Cup. Hitchcock never played past youth hockey leagues, never even at Juniors level. Ruff played 691 NHL games. I am not saying Meatballs is a good NHL coach, I am saying your reasoning is wrong and there are numerous examples to prove it.

It all comes down to expectations that are set at the top. Pegula set them and flowed them down. Pegula put Kevyn under the EEE policies when he gave him the job. Adams in turn has sold this slow rebuild concept. They have operated under the cap for years now. Kevyn sold Pegula on this rebuild; a rebuild from within using your own drafted players. Unless he brings in several proven players in their prime this coming off season, we will continue to see more prospects get their chances in the NHL next season. This can only work if UPL is real, and the Core (Thompson, Cozens, Dahlin, and Power) rebounds and plays much better, plus a few more kids have to break out. Everything has to line up. Including no big injuries. Kevyn said the biggest surprise he had when he took the job was not getting buy in from players. So Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Montour and Ulmark all got to leave. Hence, the "we only want people who want to be here" mantra. This bought Adams even more time with Pegula. Pegula is now paying a new Core (Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Cozens, and even Muel). Are they better players than the old one? Mitts was traded because we have a surplus of young forwards that he wants to look at. Mitts wanted to be here, but ask him again after the playoffs and I think he will say that the trade was the best thing that ever happened to him. (Same as ROR, Eichel, Ulmark, Reinhart, Risto, Montour ...) Bottom line is both Adams and DG are safe because Terry's expectations are what drove this plan. When I complain about Adams I should redirect some of it at Pegula.

Granato was an AHL HC for 6 years. He had 7 years of NHL experience, 3+ as HC.

When you are the youngest team every year, growing older might imply getting better. If next year they bring in no new veterans, let Z and VO go, replace them with prospects, then the ‘we are young excuse’ is still there.