Sabres Lines: 12-21-2017; Girgs Gets a Shot

[inkman]

Well I guess the have we hit rock bottom question will be answered one way or another. Looking at those players, there is ZERO surprise that we are top 2 worst in the league. How did we end up with so many nobodys after this tank?

Every somebody starts as a nobody

[pi2000]

Making your own lines seems like the lowest form of fandom. We all know there's not nearly enough talent up front. What's the point of this exercise?  Let's see, we have cheap tuna fish, velveeta cheese, whole grain ziti, green olives and some Fritos in the cupboard. Let's plan some meals!

 

That actually sounds quite delicious.

I have this bad feeling that Phil is just in panic mode, and that in this panic, he can't even correctly assess which lines are working and which are not.

 

It seems like line combinations are changed even after we win a game, or at least have an extremely competitive game. It seems like things start working, but it doesn't sink in to Phil that it's working. Is there any truth to this, or am I mis-remembering?

 

Anybody watch the Road to the Winter Classic episode last night?    They showed Phil in the locker room addressing the players after the OT loss to CAR.    He sounded emotionally detached... just saying they have to be better... not one ounce of anger or emotion in his tone.     Seemed rather strange, and gave a clear impression that he's a soft coach, let's the guys off easily.   

[SABRES 0311]

Making your own lines seems like the lowest form of fandom. We all know there's not nearly enough talent up front. What's the point of this exercise?  Let's see, we have cheap tuna fish, velveeta cheese, whole grain ziti, green olives and some Fritos in the cupboard. Let's plan some meals!

The talent is there.  Its the drive that is missing.  Kane, Eichel, ROR, Okposo, place a couple of big bodies like Fasching with those four and there you go.  Maybe put ERod in there.  The talent was gone during the tank but the motivation never came back.  I think what we lack is bottom 6 talent to round everything out.  A couple of guys who can play some minutes, contribute to the PK, and when needed jump up a line.

 

I didn't add Sam because I don't think he has found his role.  Probably because he bounces all over the roster.   

[jsb]

Right. I think the team is best off when that's the case. At least while nobody else is scoring, anyway. I think Kane's value to the team is higher if he's putting in 20-25 goals on his own line than if he's putting in 25-30 with Eichel. I get the logic of "why break up the only line that's scoring" which I expect to be the rebuttal. My response would be the idea is to produce two lines that may individually produce less than the Kane-Eichel combo, but together, would produce more. Trying to create match up problems for the other team and whatnot

 

Besides, it's not like trying something else is going to ruin the team's electric offense :lol:

Wait..... What?? You mean that better than Kane player ROR playing with Tavares' old right hand man Okposo can't put up a 2nd scoring line?? Who next are you going to blame for ROR's drop off??

[Thorner]

Wait..... What?? You mean that better than Kane player ROR playing with Tavares' old right hand man Okposo can't put up a 2nd scoring line?? Who next are you going to blame for ROR's drop off??

That's his point though, inclusive of the view that Kane is having a better season than ROR. If Eichel can drive a line, and Kane can drive a line, we could be better. ROR is not satisfactorily driving the offense of a line right now, so maybe Kane can jumpstart him, and increase the production of that second line, to hopefully the point where we're sitting at a net positive re: increase in production of line 2 v the decrease in line 1 production.

[Scottysabres]

I have this bad feeling that Phil is just in panic mode, and that in this panic, he can't even correctly assess which lines are working and which are not.

 

It seems like line combinations are changed even after we win a game, or at least have an extremely competitive game. It seems like things start working, but it doesn't sink in to Phil that it's working. Is there any truth to this, or am I mis-remembering?

Not to single you out, but.....

I chuckle every time I see a post like this.

 

Phil has tried multiple line combos multiple times. I hardly believe he's panicking. Management and the coaching staff are well aware what they have in the players roster wise.

 

 

Panicking.....lol

[Stoner]

Anybody watch the Road to the Winter Classic episode last night?    They showed Phil in the locker room addressing the players after the OT loss to CAR.    He sounded emotionally detached... just saying they have to be better... not one ounce of anger or emotion in his tone.     Seemed rather strange, and gave a clear impression that he's a soft coach, let's the guys off easily.   

Yeah, olives, tuna, cheese and pasta... it could work. Fritos over the top before baking?

 

I saw the episode and was going to start a thread. He sounded just like he does during his pressers. Monotone, dull, cliche. His syntax is off a lot. It almost sounds like English is his second language. There's something not quite right with him. The Sabres will do that to you. I spent two seasons wondering if Bylsma was human.

 

Also — they need to sign up Okposo's son ASAP. He's two or three and they showed him shooting a ball at his dad in goal. Just living room carpet stuff. But, man, he had the top right corner picked and Kyle actually made a tremendous save to prevent a goal! Funny stuff.

[jsb]

That's his point though, inclusive of the view that Kane is having a better season than ROR. If Eichel can drive a line, and Kane can drive a line, we could be better. ROR is not satisfactorily driving the offense of a line right now, so maybe Kane can jumpstart him, and increase the production of that second line, to hopefully the point where we're sitting at a net positive re: increase in production of line 2 v the decrease in line 1 production.

Except his point yesterday was ROR was a much better player than Kane. That was my point. 

If you're not going to keep up with all the different conversations on this board Mr. Borg, stay out of my counterpoints!!  :P  :P  :P

[Thorner]

Except his point yesterday was ROR was a much better player than Kane. That was my point. 

If you're not going to keep up with all the different conversations on this board Mr. Borg, stay out of my counterpoints!!  :P  :P  :P

If I remember correctly though, he said that while he thought ROR was the better player, he admits Kane is having a better season so far THIS year.

 

I think everyone admits that Eichel and Kane are the only two real drivers of offence right now.

[TrueBlueGED]

Wait..... What?? You mean that better than Kane player ROR playing with Tavares' old right hand man Okposo can't put up a 2nd scoring line?? Who next are you going to blame for ROR's drop off??

 

 

That's his point though, inclusive of the view that Kane is having a better season than ROR. If Eichel can drive a line, and Kane can drive a line, we could be better. ROR is not satisfactorily driving the offense of a line right now, so maybe Kane can jumpstart him, and increase the production of that second line, to hopefully the point where we're sitting at a net positive re: increase in production of line 2 v the decrease in line 1 production.

 

 

Except his point yesterday was ROR was a much better player than Kane. That was my point. 

If you're not going to keep up with all the different conversations on this board Mr. Borg, stay out of my counterpoints!!  :P  :P  :P

 

 

If I remember correctly though, he said that while he thought ROR was the better player, he admits Kane is having a better season so far THIS year.

 

I think everyone admits that Eichel and Kane are the only two real drivers of offence right now.

 

Thorny's reading comprehension: 2

Bozo trying to catch me in a gatcha's reading comprehension: 0

[WildCard]

If I remember correctly though, he said that while he thought ROR was the better player, he admits Kane is having a better season so far THIS year.

 

I think everyone admits that Eichel and Kane are the only two real drivers of offence right now.

Well and Reinhart

[Thorner]

Well and Reinhart

Driving up play I find to be offensive doesn't count.

 

---

 

Wasn't sure where to post this, but Jack and Sam at least make a good combo here:

 

https://twitter.com/buffalosabres/status/943952774844297216

[SABRES 0311]

Not to single you out, but.....

I chuckle every time I see a post like this.

 

Phil has tried multiple line combos multiple times. I hardly believe he's panicking. Management and the coaching staff are well aware what they have in the players roster wise.

 

 

Panicking.....lol

Maybe that is part of the issue.  Lines go through slumps as do players.  Id like to see a more balanced top two lines and have them stay together for a couple of games to see if the come together. 

 

Sam -Eichel-KO

Pouliot-ROR-Kane

Fasching-ERod-Girgs

Cannon Fodder

[bunomatic]

That actually sounds quite delicious.

 

Anybody watch the Road to the Winter Classic episode last night?    They showed Phil in the locker room addressing the players after the OT loss to CAR.    He sounded emotionally detached... just saying they have to be better... not one ounce of anger or emotion in his tone.     Seemed rather strange, and gave a clear impression that he's a soft coach, let's the guys off easily.   

Phil is vanilla. 

[erickompositör72]

Not to single you out, but.....

I chuckle every time I see a post like this.

 

Phil has tried multiple line combos multiple times. I hardly believe he's panicking. Management and the coaching staff are well aware what they have in the players roster wise.

 

 

Panicking.....lol

 

Your chuckling/laughing is hardly a convincing counterpoint to my assertion. But at least someone is amused at the situation.

[Scottysabres]

Maybe that is part of the issue.  Lines go through slumps as do players.  Id like to see a more balanced top two lines and have them stay together for a couple of games to see if the come together. 

 

Sam -Eichel-KO

Pouliot-ROR-Kane

Fasching-ERod-Girgs

Cannon Fodder

  

Tweaking the lines sure. But the 1 year contracts of Pouliot and Josefson kind of said gap fillers for this season.

The Okposo situation this past off season I can see as a reason for him to need time to ramp up. But the most concerning situations are ROR, Girgensons and Reinhart. All have digressed severely this season and that impact is huge imo.

And that's just the forward ranks, the defense appears to be a core talent issue. Combine that with untimely inconsistencies in late game netminding from time to time and we can see why the team is severely faltering imo.

Your chuckling/laughing is hardly a convincing counterpoint to my assertion. But at least someone is amused at the situation.

Sorry, I know its depressing. I just can't help but chuckle when it comes to blaming the coach. How many coaches in a row are we going to throw under the bus before we turn to the players and say, "hmmmm, so and so is better than this talent wise. We know so because we've seen so. WTF is wrong with them"?

[jsb]

 

TrueBlueGED POST

Thorny's reading comprehension: 2

Bozo trying to catch me in a gatcha's reading comprehension: 0

 

I don't mind friendly banter but the Bozo remark I think borders on crossing the line. The problem is I'm not sure if you were having fun or not.

 

 

 

Yes there's a snippet in there about Kane having a better year but your posts seem to lean heavily to the belief that ROR is the better player. 

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays whatever floats your boat.

 

[Drunkard]

 

Yes there's a snippet in there about Kane having a better year but your posts seem to lean heavily to the belief that ROR is the better player. 

 

 

O'Reilly is the better player and has been for many years. This year Kane is the better player but I wouldn't feel comfortable betting on that to continue in future years, even though it's possible.

[WildCard]

Bozo is really an underrated name to call somone

[jsb]

O'Reilly is the better player and has been for many years. This year Kane is the better player but I wouldn't feel comfortable betting on that to continue in future years, even though it's possible.

Phil Esposito was the better player too but that doesn't help us now. Neither is ROR

Bozo is really an underrated name to call somone

?????? Must be a generational thingy 

[Drunkard]

Phil Esposito was the better player too but that doesn't help us now. Neither is ROR

?????? Must be a generational thingy 

 

Putting too much stock in the most recent information can be a recipe for disaster though. How many players have their best years statistically during their contract seasons only to fall off the map after they get the big bucks.

 

In a sprint, I take Kane in a heartbeat. In a marathon though, I'd go with O'Reilly (and this is coming from someone who wants to re-sign Kane after we trade him before the deadline).

[SwampD]

Putting too much stock in the most recent information can be a recipe for disaster though. How many players have their best years statistically during their contract seasons only to fall off the map after they get the big bucks.

 

In a sprint, I take Kane in a heartbeat. In a marathon though, I'd go with O'Reilly (and this is coming from someone who wants to re-sign Kane after we trade him before the deadline).

Is Kane's scoring pace really that far off his average. I don't think so.

[jsb]

Putting too much stock in the most recent information can be a recipe for disaster though. How many players have their best years statistically during their contract seasons only to fall off the map after they get the big bucks.

 

In a sprint, I take Kane in a heartbeat. In a marathon though, I'd go with O'Reilly (and this is coming from someone who wants to re-sign Kane after we trade him before the deadline).

I'll give you this..... ROR was better 2 years ago

Last year was a toss up, I thought both of them had their moments but Kane finished the year better

This year, I don't think it's even close

[Drunkard]

Is Kane's scoring pace really that far off his average. I don't think so.

 

Considering that this year he's a nearly a PPG player (0.91) where his career average is 0.62 (331 points over 530 games played) I say math isn't your strong suit then.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Alkoholist

[erickompositör72]

Is Kane's scoring pace really that far off his average. I don't think so.

 

 

Considering that this year he's a nearly a PPG player (0.91) where his career average is 0.62 (331 points over 530 games played) I say math isn't your strong suit then.

 

The anomaly is his amount of assists this season. His goal pace is .41, up from a career average of .31. You could argue that's not too far off his average.

 

And, I'd argue, the fact that he has grown as a player in many ways contributes to this, as well as his chemistry with teammates. I don't buy the "contract year" trope.