On one hand I like Bylsma and think he has brought the team a long ways in the first half of the season. On the other hand I wonder if he has in a sense been out-coaching himself lately. Where has the intensity gone that we saw those first 10-15 games of the season? Out-shooting and out-skating every team.

And this talk of Tim Murray being a drunk from rain man in the previous blog is just ridiculous. Sounds like something you would read in a certain unnamed bloggers spotlight section of the home page.

Lehner looked smooth in the crease last night despite what the score board read. Pysyk was cool as a cucumber as usual too.
- SayBeers

It wouldn't surprise me at all if he's "out-coaching himself". There's a long line of guys who have out-coached him. You should see him in the playoffs. His first adjustment usually comes after two losses.

I don't think it will be long before the Sabres are legit contenders. Might need another high pick or two. When that time comes you'll need a new coach.

poor disco.

I was not happy with the hiring of Bylsma. I started to accept him with the teams start. But now with his constant line juggling, I am back to the same feeling as when he was hired. Where has Murray been? Did he go out scouting and forget that this team is just not that good. How long do we have to watch a last place team. Come on Tim, do something to fix this sinking ship. A poor hiring of a coach and some questionable trades, I am starting to worry about the future.
- mikes1519

I was wondering why bylsma wasnt getting any flack for this season. People have been piling on murray for awhile and somehow the coach has gotten a free pass. Seeing gionta, moulson, and legwand still getting as much responsibility as they do is boggling- they are toast, it happens. Its taking time away from girgensons, mcginn, and larsson- if we arent winning and arent scoring, give the minutes to the future. Maybe we lose 4-3 instead of 2-1, but that would at least show progress. I wonder how much murray even had to do with bylsma, pegula wanted a big time coach. Kinda seemed like richardson was the guy until babcock shook loose, then bylsma was the logical consolation.

I was wondering why bylsma wasnt getting any flack for this season. People have been piling on murray for awhile and somehow the coach has gotten a free pass. Seeing gionta, moulson, and legwand still getting as much responsibility as they do is boggling- they are toast, it happens. Its taking time away from girgensons, mcginn, and larsson- if we arent winning and arent scoring, give the minutes to the future. Maybe we lose 4-3 instead of 2-1, but that would at least show progress. I wonder how much murray even had to do with bylsma, pegula wanted a big time coach. Kinda seemed like richardson was the guy until babcock shook loose, then bylsma was the logical consolation.
- rover16

100% agree. I could very well be wrong but there was little to no chatter about bylsma until the babcock thing went pear shaped. It reeks of an owner going after the big name rather than the right choice.

Edit: It's not enough that they're bad but they're boring too

100% agree. I could very well be wrong but there was little to no chatter about bylsma until the babcock thing went pear shaped. It reeks of an owner going after the big name rather than the right choice.

Edit: It's not enough that they're bad but they're boring too
- Sabresfan-365

The difference between this year and last year has been Eichel and O'Reilly and that's about it.

poor disco.
- RhinoFan

I was not happy with the hiring of Bylsma. I started to accept him with the teams start. But now with his constant line juggling, I am back to the same feeling as when he was hired. Where has Murray been? Did he go out scouting and forget that this team is just not that good. How long do we have to watch a last place team. Come on Tim, do something to fix this sinking ship. A poor hiring of a coach and some questionable trades, I am starting to worry about the future.
- mikes1519

Unless a move improves the team for the future, any other move would be nothing more than a panic move. Why the rush to finish 20th at the end of this year instead of 29th?

The difference between this year and last year has been Eichel and O'Reilly and that's about it.
- sbroads24

Im so glad I was wrong about O'Reilly, Im not sure this team would even watchable without those two.

They are so predictable. Shoot the puck on the boards and the winger tries to out skate the defender who already has several strides on him, usually squashes him against the board and half the time lose the puck and they freely skate away and get bottled up in their own zone. I can't take it anymore. Try something different.

Im so glad I was wrong about O'Reilly, Im not sure this team would even watchable without those two.
- Sabresfan-365

For sure. When Bylsma took over the first thing he should have stripped the C off Gionta till he determined who deserved it and given it to ROR.

Im so glad I was wrong about O'Reilly, Im not sure this team would even watchable without those two.
- Sabresfan-365

It's scary to think how many points we would actually have without them

It's scary to think how many points we would actually have without them
- gerbe75pts

I can't believe he's on pace for 70 pts on this team.

Once they did something different. Risto took over the game and scored 3. They need to try that again.

Fasching with 2 shorties tonight, minnesota 7 penn 1.

I was wondering why bylsma wasnt getting any flack for this season. People have been piling on murray for awhile and somehow the coach has gotten a free pass. Seeing gionta, moulson, and legwand still getting as much responsibility as they do is boggling- they are toast, it happens. Its taking time away from girgensons, mcginn, and larsson- if we arent winning and arent scoring, give the minutes to the future. Maybe we lose 4-3 instead of 2-1, but that would at least show progress. I wonder how much murray even had to do with bylsma, pegula wanted a big time coach. Kinda seemed like richardson was the guy until babcock shook loose, then bylsma was the logical consolation.
- rover16

Yeah, thankfully Gionta hasn't gotten more than 16 minutes of TOI since 12/19, so hopefully the trend continues. I'm ok with Legwand's role. He plays the 4th line and some PK, he's only got 3 games in the last 17 with more than 10 minutes TOI, and most 9ish and under.

Speaking of watching, I've been binge watching Person of Interest the past dew days. What a tremendous show.
- kingcong39

I need to catch up. Only seen a handfull of episodes. I don't set a TV time to watch a show series. Usually just random.

Great blog! I can't say I disagree with any of the grades. Maybe Risto with an A-, and I'd be tempted to give Bogosian an incomplete, because he missed virtually all of training camp and preseason and has only played half as much as the rest of the team.


My mid season awards would be:

MVP: O'Reilly, No contest, maybe Eichel one day but until then it's O'Reilly's team.

Top defenseman: Ristolainen, again, no contest. He's a beast already at 21. Like Pach said, can't wait to see him hit his prime.

Unsung hero: Tough one, i'd have to say Johnson. He was trust into the starting role which he's never had in his NHL career and for the most part run with it. But I think Legwand and Weber are close too. Legwand, a former 2nd overall pick at the end of his career has embraced the 4th line, PK role he's in and performed admirably, he's a guy really where his only job is to not (frank) up and give the top guys a few minutes rest a night. And aside from a real rough start to the year Weber has been solid. The only thing I want from him is to not hear his name, because the only time you hear his name is when he makes a mistake.

I need to catch up. Only seen a handfull of episodes. I don't set a TV time to watch a show series. Usually just random.
- cabin

It's one of the very, very few shows that gets better with every episode. Completely underrated because it's about a complicated topic that requires thought.

It's one of the very, very few shows that gets better with every episode. Completely underrated because it's about a complicated topic that requires thought.
- kingcong39

Shame this will be the final season, one of my favourites.

It's one of the very, very few shows that gets better with every episode. Completely underrated because it's about a complicated topic that requires thought.
- kingcong39

I'm re-watching Arrested Development, but have been meaning to watch Person of Interest and will probably watch it soon.

It's one of the very, very few shows that gets better with every episode. Completely underrated because it's about a complicated topic that requires thought.
- kingcong39

Must be why I liked it . If it's on when i'm surfing . it's on.

These playoffs suck

So, other than Byfuglien, who takes the first run at Kane tomorrow? I say Wheeler.

So, other than Byfuglien, who takes the first run at Kane tomorrow? I say Wheeler.
- Wetbandit1

Ladd/Trouba

Shame this will be the final season, one of my favourites.
- Sabresfan-365

Jon Nolan and Abrams have said that there's a chance it'll be picked up by another entity not named CBS.

CBS doesn't like it because they don't own the show.

For those that don't have Netflix, WGN America shows episodes quite often, and they have all 4 seasons so far.