LGR4GM Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Another thread got me thinking about this. What do we expect this team to realistically look like during October. Eichel seems ready to go. Okposo is getting back up to speed and looks good in Da Beauty League. We added Scandella, Antipin, and Baloo to the defense while really only subtracting Franson. Gone is the Bylsma and his system of risk aversion and in his Housley and his system of ?????. That is a lot of turnover and changes for one offseason. Realistically I think we have 2 options. First option is the more likely. We start a little slow. It takes the month of October for the new coach and teammates to even begin to gel. We run about 6-5-1 in October. Right around 500 but not where we want to be. I think most of those wins come nearer the end of the month with us being a bad road team in October. We lose to the Sharks, Kings, Ducks, Columbus all on the road. However going into November you really see the team coming together and things clicking. November looks way better. Options #2 and the less likely option. We come out on fire. The preseason is a mess but once it matters everyone just falls into place. Jack Eichel proves he is top 5 nhl talent. Reinhart takes that next step to prove he was worth his draft place. The defenders we got flourish in Housley's system. A couple bumps here and there but this team just gels and is on a mission to prove themselves. Well what do you realistically expect for October? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I think they come out of the gate looking turrible mostly due to Lehner magically becoming a sieve overnight due to Housley's system. Chad Johnson then wins the starting job and we go on a tear from mid-November through the holidays. Johnson gets hurt before the WC, in which Lehner makes his triumphant return and somehow shuts out the Rangers. Lehner then plays really well through January but the team can't get a win to save its life. Jack is cold. Things come back together in February and they play pretty well down the stretch.Lehner hangs onto the starting job until April when Chad takes it back. We miss the playoffs by 2 points thanks to our slow January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabres Fan in NS Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I expect a little below 500 for October, but close to it, as the players and coaches get used to each other and what is expected. Happy to be competitive each game and entertained. Positive, but small, steps. I anticipate and will not accept a noticeable improvement in November. Antipin will be a very pleasant surprise and Eich will just have signed the largest contract in Sabres history ... term and $. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabel79 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I expect the disco demolition to be worth at least 20 points. Not freaking kidding. This team as assembled is a playoff team. Going forward. Something Disco had no concept of. All will be well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi2000 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I expect a very very poor start. They'll struggle to keep the goals against down because of Housley's firewagon system. Lehner will be exposed as they'll give up 5-6 breakaways a game. Johnson will take over sometime late October, and they'll start winning some games. Overall an up and down season while they adjust to the new system, missing the playoffs by a dozen points or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubkev Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Frustrating start, then some good play, then more frustrating play, then some good play. Miss the playoffs by 2-8 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyldnwoody44 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 We start Casey as the & 1-3 centers as he gets rest as the 4th line is out, so he has time to finish writing his new language. He scores 655 goal per game from the bench. On a serious note, I want the Sabres to look like a different team and so badly, and I thought Bylsma sucked, but I think we're gonna see a team a bit better than last year, but overall we will be dissalointed because and only because I think our current expectations are just simply too high Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohicksie Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) I'm gonna go out on a limb: The Sabres will win 7 of their first 10. Jack will lead the way in scoring, followed by Kane, ROR and Pommer. McCabe greatly impresses Housley and is named Captain. Pominville, even with no letters on his jersey, becomes a "big brother" leader to the young guys, inspiring them with tales of Sabres teams past. Wait.... is this supposed to be a prediction or a fantasy? In all seriousness, I fully expect the Sabres to get off to a better start than they ever did with DDB. I think Housley's system will be sound and will resonate with the team. The basic system will be simple but flexible enough to allow the starts to shine. The league will underestimate the Sabres and they'll be significantly over .500 by the end of October. Edited August 23, 2017 by Doohickie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 That sounds like a nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Man you guys make me want to go to a funeral to cheer up. Normally I'm the one full of doom and gloom but it seems like you beat me to the punch. I have no expectations other than to be entertained and hopefully see progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodbuster Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I think they come out on fire, giving up a lot of goals, but scoring a ton. They're near the front of the pack but start to fall apart around Thanksgiving because they're not used to playing with such speed and just tire out. They limp into the playoffs and get beat the first round, but they're over the hump and know what it's going to take next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Undefeated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Ville Leino is going to score the first goal of the season, and then never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Hard to say how quickly they adjust to Housley, but talent is there for the playoffs if Lehner doesn't implode. I fully expect Jack Eichel to tear up the league: most dominant season by a Sabre skater since 16 in his heyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Finally hockey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted August 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 just keep in mind we are only talking October into November. Not a full season prediction here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tondas Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 October: Start slow, under .500. Jack feeling the pressure of $10 million and being Captain. Tries to do too much. Lehner is average, Chad outplays him in his only start. Pominville leading goals scorer. Risto leads in points. Sabres only team to not have a fighting major in October. November: Team shows some hope. Gets to .500 by end of month. Defense better but still not scoring enough. Jack gets in a grove. Lehner still average. Chad gets more games and impresses. PP is cold. Some games are very entertaining (best in years) followed by duds. Fasching a pleasant surprise with 5 goals YTD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Again its hockey... Go Sabres! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted August 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Again its hockey... Go Sabres! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Only reason I like that song is after watching that. Forgot who, maybe it was you Liger, but someone else posted that a few weeks back and now I love that song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted August 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Only reason I like that song is after watching that. Forgot who, maybe it was you Liger, but someone else posted that a few weeks back and now I love that song Hmm, might of been me. I did post a pump up video I found a bit ago but ik others have posted similar stuff. Either way... SO. READY. 4. HOCKEY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I'd expect a sub-DeLuca but NHL 0.500 in October. & then playing overall at ~98 point pace from there on out. 2 decent (5+ game) NHL win streaks & 1 sad DeLuca 4-5 game losing streak. Perhaps a 2nd 4 game L streak. Should be enough to make the playoffs. If they can stay in the Adams rather than WCing to the Patrick might even win a round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Played with Ct-Fab last night, won 5-4 with his help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorner Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I don't think the team can afford a slow start out of the gate, and I think everyone involved knows that. The off-season "Reset" didn't buy the team a grace period like the original Tank did: gotta make the playoffs this season. I think Lehner is on a quick leash for this reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I don't think the team can afford a slow start out of the gate, and I think everyone involved knows that. The off-season "Reset" didn't buy the team a grace period like the original Tank did: gotta make the playoffs this season. I think Lehner is on a quick leash for this reason. If this team has 10 points after the 1st 10 games, there is AMPLE time to pick things up to the ~96 point season long pace it'll take to make the playoffs. 4-4-2 gets them there & it's only 2 points off the 12 they need to be at 96 after 80 games (w/ 2 bonus road games they can likely afford to lose to round out the full slate of 82). Picking up 12 points out of the 1st 20 games will sink the season. Bit I'd expect the ineviable slow start to be 8-10 points out of the 1st 10 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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