pi2000

Good post. However, I'll bet this doesn't sit well with guys like O'Reilly and Kane. They didn't come here to take part in a tank job. It might be the right move long term, but at some point you've actually got to put your best players on the ice. Replacing a hot Ullmark with an unproven tendy who hasn't played a full NHL game in a year, is not the right move IMO. I understand they can't Lehner down in Roch forever (14 days), but at least give him a few more games since it sounds like he hasn't shaken the rust off.

John Scott sent down to the AHL. Does that mean he's no longer eligible for the All-Star game? Also, Zadorov called up. Zadorov posted 8 goals and 10 assists in 28 games with the AHL's Rampage.

Will be very interesting to see how GMTM handles this. If Lehner struggles, what does he do? How attached to Lehner is he? Is he willing to move him if it looks like Ullmark is the long term answer? Or does he move Ullmark as part of a larger deal while his stock is high? Or does he bury him the AHL for a few seasons so long as Lehner is healthy?

Strange that they're top 3rd in goals against, but terrible on the PK. You'd think those two stats would be similar.

As long as Buffalo is sniffing 30th place, GMTM will be willing to move anyone for the right price. I'm OK with that. He hasn't touched the roster since the draft. This current group has had plenty of time to gel and show something. They haven't (at least a number of them haven't), so it's time to cut bait. What I like about GMTM is he doesn't fall in love with his own players, which many many GMs are guilty of.

Ennis, Reinhart, and Gorgeous Gorges for Barrie and Rantanen. I would love that trade, but that's not nearly enough for Barrie/Rantanen... maybe Barrie and a guy like Comeau or Skille or we can get Compher back, or... I JUST WANT TYSON BARRIE DAMMIT!

I like home whites, that's how it should be. Now if they can just eliminate the silver piping on the jerseys and go back to the original blue color, we'd have the best jersey in all of sports.

Is this actually happening? I love it! That top 4 gives a huge boost in speed on the back-end which this team is sorely lacking. Now, just add in Tyson Barrie and somebody like Guhle in a season or two, and we're set.

The next few weeks are critical. If this team can somehow turn it around and make a move in the standings, then he'll probably keep his hands off for the most part until the draft. However, if they continue down this road I expect many more moves to be made come the deadline. That was his approach last season... gave the team until late Jan to prove themselves, then started wheeling and dealing.

O'Reilly has as many goals as our bottom six combined. Can't win that way, especially with shaky goaltending, 6th worse sv% in the league.

I do not not have nhn.

But we're better statistically... so we got that going... which is nice.

Why would you ever NOT draft for need? Isn't that what the draft is for? If you have some number of guys graded out in the same score bucket, you take the guy who can fill a need on your team. This whole "we always take BPA" is complete and utter . That's just a saying the GMs use to cover their if their pick doesn't pan out and the guy who could've filled a need does become a good player. Like when GMTM said they "got their guy" when they took Reinhart second in 2014... insinuating they would've taken him 1st overall if they had the #1 pick, why? Because they NEEDED a center.

Craig Button, lol. No way BUF passes on Puljujarvi.

Is there some rule that says they both can't be successful franchise players? IMO they're both going to be perennial all-stars.

Consider this team is coming from Ted Nolan's "system". Most hockey pundits don't believe Nolan even has a system other than outwork the guy lined up across from you. I would imagine some of the more "mentally challenged" players on this team would struggle with picking up a modern hockey system for the first time in their lives. I've played competitive hockey through high school, college, and a year of pro.. albeit back in the mid 90's. Modern hockey systems are much complex these days, but even back then there were always a few guys on the team that just didn't get it. Talented guys who are accustomed to just going out and playing, now have to play a positional team game. At the pro level the game is too fast to think, you just react, and it looks like some of these guys just aren't reacting the way the system is asking them to. Again, I'm not worried about it... it takes time (more time for some) with a new coach, a new modern system, and young players still learning how to play the pro game who are adjusting to pro-level coaching for the first time in their lives. That, or Zemgus is just done with it and wants out.

There's still a lot of season left. Bylsma's system is an adjustment... for everybody. He's probably never had this much detailed coaching at any point in his career. I give everybody a pass this season except Moulson, he's been in the league long enough he should be producing in any system. He's not getting to the net and he gives up on plays. I don't see Zemgus giving up on plays, he still plays hard as is getting chances.... they'll start going in, hockey is a streaky sport, he could put up 10 goals in one month and be right back on pace.

He was a top 2 center the last couple of years, he got top minutes, etc... that means more opportunities. He's not getting nearly as much ice time or looks on the PP as he had in years past. I'm not worried because he wasn't projected as a top 2 center... he was projected as a 3rd line C who can put up 15-20 goals/yr. He still has that potential IMO.

Growing pains. He'll be fine. There's so many guys struggling to score on this team... Girgensons, Larsson, Foligno, Moulson, etc... I can understand some of the younger players maybe don't feel the pressure they felt in years past now that guys like O'Reilly and Eichel and Kane are on the team. It's almost as if they think it's no longer their job to score goals... the pressure is off. Eventually they'll realize they all need to play desperate hockey night and night out to be successful in this league. Guys like Moulson and Gionta should know that by now... Gionta, he's just old and slowing down... Moulson has no excuse however. Back to Zemgus... you don't give up on him. He'll get it eventually and he's still only 22, he'll work through it, don't move him.

ROR has as many goals as Girgensons Larsson Moulson Foligno Legwand and Gionta combined... that's a problem.

Hopefully this is the team Buffalo will become in another few years. FLA bottomed out and hit in the draft with Barkov and Ekblad.... they shore up their goaltending and boom, instant contenders.