Man, a handful of you people are way too negative all the time. Do we have a similar record as last year? Yes. Is there dead weight on this team? Yes. However, you can't tell me TM doesn't plan on making the necessary adjustments when the time is appropriate. The stats alone show significant improvement in almost all facets of our game and it won't be long until we're competing again. I for one enjoy the fact that we have 2-3 players 24 and under that all have star potential. Have a little faith. I can't even imagine what some people would be saying right now had we lost the Eichel race last year. Just give it time. Would one more top 5 pick in our home arena really be that horrible?
- 50GinosIn07

This really is a good post. there are alot of shortsighted post as of late. People forget that we sold out to be last place last season.

One thing I will say is that the big trade a lot of folks are pissed over (Lehner) is the main reason we are not higher in the standings now. If Chad Johnson is carrying the bulk of the workload, your team better be putting up 3-4 goals a night, otherwise wins will not come consistently. Lehner WILL be an upgrade in net, given time to get back and in the swing of things, maybe by March God willing.

Until then, I am content--note: not happy--with the way things have been. We will lose more one-goal games with a career backup as our starter than we will win.

Anyone who says this team is not better than last 2 years, by leaps and bounds, ignores stats that show we are much improved in possesion, shots on goal, shots against, 5 on 5....and "watchability". I barely made it through a handful of complete games last year simply because being down by 2 and outshot 40-16, AND knowing deep down there was NO chance of a comeback, ALMOST every night after 2 periods got so fvcking old.
- LandlordTom

I find it
te frustrating to watch them outshoot every team and never score. I guess it's more frustrating because, what else can you do different?

One thing I will say is that the big trade a lot of folks are pissed over (Lehner) is the main reason we are not higher in the standings now. If Chad Johnson is carrying the bulk of the workload, your team better be putting up 3-4 goals a night, otherwise wins will not come consistently. Lehner WILL be an upgrade in net, given time to get back and in the swing of things, maybe by March God willing.

Until then, I am content--note: not happy--with the way things have been. We will lose more one-goal games with a career backup as our starter than we will win.

Anyone who says this team is not better than last 2 years, by leaps and bounds, ignores stats that show we are much improved in possesion, shots on goal, shots against, 5 on 5....and "watchability". I barely made it through a handful of complete games last year simply because being down by 2 and outshot 40-16, AND knowing deep down there was NO chance of a comeback, ALMOST every night after 2 periods got so fvcking old.
- LandlordTom

This is like saying anyone that can't see that a pile of dirt smells "better" than a pile of poop has no sense of smell.

When the bar is no more than six inches off the ground, it doesn't take much to hurdle. It's still miles away from being acceptable.

Look at Montreal struggling without Price.
- sippyd

And I appreciate CJ's numbers are pretty good both goalies have totally had their moments, but Lehner was slated to be the Guy, something we haven't had since Millsy. Once we get the Guy I think we will not have as many one-goal game losses...according to Garth we have 12 so far. Win half of those and we are in the playoff picture right now.

It's a crappy contract, for sure. But he is far from alone in the underachieving department on this team. At least his adopted son hasn't been in the headlines for any nefarious reasons, so there's that... he's a 5 million $ babysitter.
- LandlordTom

I wish I could be a $5 million babysitter.

People forget that we didnt just get last place last year, we were competing for it. We literally cheered when arizona beat us at home. As typical with darcy he didnt do enough soon enough to gurantee eichel.

One thing I will say is that the big trade a lot of folks are pissed over (Lehner) is the main reason we are not higher in the standings now. If Chad Johnson is carrying the bulk of the workload, your team better be putting up 3-4 goals a night, otherwise wins will not come consistently. Lehner WILL be an upgrade in net, given time to get back and in the swing of things, maybe by March God willing.

Until then, I am content--note: not happy--with the way things have been. We will lose more one-goal games with a career backup as our starter than we will win.

Anyone who says this team is not better than last 2 years, by leaps and bounds, ignores stats that show we are much improved in possesion, shots on goal, shots against, 5 on 5....and "watchability". I barely made it through a handful of complete games last year simply because being down by 2 and outshot 40-16, AND knowing deep down there was NO chance of a comeback, ALMOST every night after 2 periods got so fvcking old.
- LandlordTom

Really?

Let him prove it first please!

"Duuuurcy" as you call him has his team in 2 nd place in the Pacific division.

Where is "Beady eyed douchebag" Murray and his Buffalo Sabres, eh?
- BuffaloHardHat

So did Durcy get a promotion from Asst GM? And the Coyotes have been drafting at the top for years, I'm not suprised to see them poke through eventually. Especially with the way Max Domi has risen up the charts. We are less than 10 pts out of the playoffs and have lost the most 1 goal games of any team by far. I don't pretend to like GMTM, but to say he's going to trade good players just because he didn't draft them is also wrong.

"Duuuurcy" as you call him has his team in 2 nd place in the Pacific division.

Where is "Beady eyed douchebag" Murray and his Buffalo Sabres, eh?
- BuffaloHardHat

You've outdone yourself this morning. This is more effective than your usual material. It's certainly far better than the "Eichel is too lazy to even masturbate" memes. (Yes, it's "urb" in that word, not "erb" as you spelled it).

I suppose it was Jack's 9 points in 5 games that got you off that riff?

24, so about the late 90s
- 50GinosIn07

That's what I thought.

Not trying to be critical or demean you because of youth but, if you have witnessed or lived this sports nightmare for over 40, some 50 years as some of us here you probably wouldn't be as forgiving or positive.
The negativity , speaking for myself of course comes from years of the same old story from this cities sports teams.

Over 40 years worth.

Gets more and more difficult every year to be quite honest.

Why is it that whenever someone argues something negative about the team they are invariably attacked personally? Because it is easier than dealing with their argument? People aren't allowed to have opinions that don't match your own?
- SabresPanacea

Bingo.

Because they just love to incite me and be dramatic later about how I hurt their wittle itty bitty feelings.

You've outdone yourself this morning. This is more effective than your usual material. It's certainly far better than the "Eichel is too lazy to even masturbate" memes. (Yes, it's "urb" in that word, not "erb" as you spelled it).

I suppose it was Jack's 9 points in 5 games that got you off that riff?
- Der Kaiser

I cant tell if he is being serious or not!

Bingo.

Because they just love to incite me and be dramatic later about how I hurt their wittle itty bitty feelings.
- BuffaloHardHat

Confirmation bias

the team really was directionless under lindy. We had a team that made the playoffs and were bounced out by philly so darcy adds leino, erhoff and regher and we didnt even make the playoffs. Darcy really was clueless. yeah he won trades , sorta but 99% of the trades we never really got better from. Just more mediocre. Teams that win stanley cups have dominant players and myrray traded for players that one can argue are dominant. so yes we did give away alot for them but we did get what we want. Darcy would never do that and thats why we were just mediocre under him.
- joshs

I'd rather stay "mediocre" than to be keep being fleeced in deals because our "beady eyed douche" GM is reckless which some here mistake for bravado.

Did u read hardhats post? The guy is being very hostile.
- joshs

I'm not attacking anyone here personally.
Big difference.
Mess with the devil, you get the horns.

I'm not attacking anyone here personally.
Big difference.
Mess with the devil, you get the horns.
- BuffaloHardHat

Weak tea.

Bingo.

Because they just love to incite me and be dramatic later about how I hurt their wittle itty bitty feelings.
- BuffaloHardHat

I am 55 soon to be 56 . I have been a fan since the league announced they were granted their expansion franchise a long with Vancouver. It is sports! It is grown men being paid to play a game! Sure is not worth frothing at the mouth. If you are something is very very wrong . Seek a medical professional!

This is Sabres Hockey Max...it's not like other sports. I'm sure you understand my frothing.

I am 55 soon to be 56 . I have been a fan since the league announced they were granted their expansion franchise a long with Vancouver. It is sports! It is grown men being paid to play a game! Sure is not worth frothing at the mouth. If you are something is very very wrong . Seek a medical professional!
- Maximum Signal

Feels like a bourbon day coming on, Max.

Feels like a bourbon day coming on, Max.
- Der Kaiser

May join you!

This is Sabres Hockey Max...it's not like other sports. I'm sure you understand my frothing.
- RhinoFan

Okay as long as it is I know more than anyone including the GM frothing

This really is a good post. there are alot of shortsighted post as of late. People forget that we sold out to be last place last season.
- joshs

Which in it of itself was a douchebag move with loser ( I give up )mentality written all over it because beady eyed douche Murray couldn't assemble a team the way Genius , REAL GM's build their teams.
I never "embraced the tank" .
I'm not that guy that wants a woman that just throws her legs up in the air.
That shows weakness and desperation and Murray wreaks of all of those qualities and why I dislike his weak ass even more so.
Anyone that would argue that it only showed intelligence must like things handed to them as well, and not earn them.
Tanking is not earning, only in a quitters world it is.

Which in it of itself was a douchebag move with loser ( I give up )mentality written all over it because beady eyed douche Murray couldn't assemble a team the way Genius , REAL GM's build their teams.
I never "embraced the tank" .
I'm not that guy that wants a woman that just throws her legs up in the air.
That shows weakness and desperation and Murray wreaks of all of those qualities and why I dislike his weak ass even more so.
Anyone that would argue that it only showed intelligence must like things handed to them as well, and not earn them.
Tanking is not earning, only in a quitters world it is.
- BuffaloHardHat

This is what Cabin calls "crapping up the thread."

Really?

Let him prove it first please!
- BuffaloHardHat

Of course. I have no choice but to let him get back and into game shape and get our team a #1 starting goalie for years to come, or else deal with backup goalies playing "not bad".

I will not, however, call the trade bad or overpayment or call for TM to be run out of town because the guy has played half a game, and that is not the gm's fault.

The future looks better than the present, and the present looks better than the recent past.

And nowhere have a laid out personal attacks...got it, you two Mr. Defensives?

I'd rather stay "mediocre" than to be keep being fleeced in deals because our "beady eyed douche" GM is reckless which some here mistake for bravado.
- BuffaloHardHat

How did we get fleeced?