But the past 2 games weren't mediocre. They were good.

Build on it
- Aetherial

rangers was a complete game...they couldn't finish off the hawks...one point of two is 50%, or mediocre

I think its the expectations set by each team though. Correct me if im wrong but like the sabres last year this season for the leafs was about growth and taking a step forward with the new young core?

The sabres had that year last year so naturally expectations are higher now. its frustration more than anything else.
- Sabresfan-365

Yes, good point. There was different expectations.

Injuries have hurt you guys this year though also.

i get it...i'd prefer to wait until Lehner gets in a full season and see where contract negotiations go before making any judgements
- Michael Pachla

its not the actual term im worried about but we all know thats his guy so unless he's gone i dont see why Petersen wouldn't go somewhere else that gives him a better more sure fire opportunity to become a #1.

Oh he definitely is... and I can see why, especially when it is so tough to make up ground.

How do you think the Leafs feel about the season so far? No team has collapsed more often and given up more 3rd period leads. I doubt that any of them are less pissed off or less competitive than Eichel.

Gotta stay positive. This was a good week.
- Aetherial

expectations were low for them early in the season...their latest run ramped up expectations...let's see what happens if and when they face some adversity

rangers was a complete game...they couldn't finish off the hawks...one point of two is 50%, or mediocre
- Michael Pachla

Hawks are a tough out though, and when Eichel scored the go ahead goal, I believe there was a lot of time left? It isn't as if they blew a 4-goal lead...

and I know all about what that looks like.

Honestly aren't most GMs the first option
- mattmoulson

Probably...but then we see guys get traded multiple times in a season, at least a couple times on a contract.

its not the actual term im worried about but we all know thats his guy so unless he's gone i dont see why Petersen wouldn't go somewhere else that gives him a better more sure fire opportunity to become a #1.
- Sabresfan-365

Petersen's a 22 yr. old goalie coming out of college...it's a huge jump to the NHL no matter how much potential one has...

if you're a gm, would you make a 22 yr. old college goalie, one who doesn't even have international experience, your starter at the nhl level?

expectations were low for them early in the season...their latest run ramped up expectations...let's see what happens if and when they face some adversity
- Michael Pachla

I don't know if expectations are going to crush them.

I think so many rookies hitting the wall in a grueling NHL season, and a pretty awful defense, is going to catch up with them. I don't expect them to stay in a playoff spot for long.

Tonight, they will out play the Habs, by a fair margin, again, and they will lose, again.

Petersen's a 22 yr. old goalie coming out of college...it's a huge jump to the NHL no matter how much potential one has...

if you're a gm, would you make a 22 yr. old college goalie, one who doesn't even have international experience, your starter at the nhl level?
- Michael Pachla

Yes, good point. There was different expectations.

Injuries have hurt you guys this year though also.
- Aetherial

true but even healthy this team simply isn't very good. coaching is part of that but we've got a 10 million dollar second pairing that gives less value than 2 ahl guys. A coach known for his offensive minded game has to take a page from early 2000's soccer and park the bus because he doesnt trust the blueline enough to have his team open up a bit.

Hawks are a tough out though, and when Eichel scored the go ahead goal, I believe there was a lot of time left? It isn't as if they blew a 4-goal lead...

and I know all about what that looks like.
- Aetherial

i'm not sure he was ticked at talking to the media...could've been himself, could've been his teammates, could've been the coach...

they got a loser point and i don't think he likes to lose regardless of who they play or where the game is played

Petersen's a 22 yr. old goalie coming out of college...it's a huge jump to the NHL no matter how much potential one has...

if you're a gm, would you make a 22 yr. old college goalie, one who doesn't even have international experience, your starter at the nhl level?
- Michael Pachla

Im not talking right away. Im saying him and his agent might be a little concerned that Petersen may not get a real shot period, because Murray+Lehner.

for him, not taking all four points amounts to a participation trophy...buffalo's teams have been mediocre for years, or in the case of the bills--decades...he's not mediocre nor does he want his team mates to be happy with mediocrity
- Michael Pachla

So how come you dont hear that kind of talk from decorated NHL players with Cup rings?

I don't know if expectations are going to crush them.

I think so many rookies hitting the wall in a grueling NHL season, and a pretty awful defense, is going to catch up with them. I don't expect them to stay in a playoff spot for long.

Tonight, they will out play the Habs, by a fair margin, again, and they will lose, again.
- Aetherial

next year they're expected to take a step forward...let's see how that goes...

until then, they've got some mad skills up front...am really looking forward to the two teams meeting again

So how come you dont hear that kind of talk from decorated NHL players with Cup rings?
- Larsson_fan

Don't read into it. He's saying what fans in buffalo love hearing.

So how come you dont hear that kind of talk from decorated NHL players with Cup rings?
- Larsson_fan

dude...you're blowing this way out of proportion

Im not talking right away. Im saying him and his agent might be a little concerned that Petersen may not get a real shot period, because Murray+Lehner.
- Sabresfan-365

what if murray signs Lehner to a three year deal?

would that be a deal-breaker for Petersen?

dude...you're blowing this way out of proportion
- Michael Pachla

Im not the one that wrote a blog about it, Bubba.

i'm not sure he was ticked at talking to the media...could've been himself, could've been his teammates, could've been the coach...

they got a loser point and i don't think he likes to lose regardless of who they play or where the game is played
- Michael Pachla

Yeah, seems to be some question about the coach? It seems like maybe a change is coming there.

You aren't getting value out of your D though, but that's because your developing D need time... so someone has to hold down the fort. Again, I hate to keep doing this, but the Leafs are going through the same thing. There are a lot of similarities between the teams.

what if murray signs Lehner to a three year deal?

would that be a deal-breaker for Petersen?
- Michael Pachla

Again I dont think its the term literally speaking. I think Lehner will always be "the guy" under Murray which leaves no room for Petersen to be that. I think all the guy wants is a chance to eventually earn the #1 job. I seriously doubt he gets that opportunity here.

next year they're expected to take a step forward...let's see how that goes...

until then, they've got some mad skills up front...am really looking forward to the two teams meeting again
- Michael Pachla

You could easily see that rivalry heating up again in the next few years!

Im not the one that wrote a blog about it, Bubba.
- Larsson_fan

waaaay out of proportion...

Eichel didn't mince words while talking to the gathered media after practice yesterday. "I think that's the problem," he said rather matter-of-factly with an obvious distaste in his mouth from blowing the Chicago game. "You're satisfied with three points and it's not good enough.

"We have a chance to get four and we should have gotten four. For us to sit here and say, 'Oh we played two of the best teams in the league and we got three out of four,' that's not good enough. We had [Chicago] on the ropes and we should have beaten them. Four points."

not good enough

You could easily see that rivalry heating up again in the next few years!
- Aetherial

can't wait

Yeah, seems to be some question about the coach? It seems like maybe a change is coming there.

You aren't getting value out of your D though, but that's because your developing D need time... so someone has to hold down the fort. Again, I hate to keep doing this, but the Leafs are going through the same thing. There are a lot of similarities between the teams.
- Aetherial

...and the Oilers....defensemen cant develop fast enough. Its a long process no matter the talent level.

Again I dont think its the term literally speaking. I think Lehner will always be "the guy" under Murray which leaves no room for Petersen to be that. I think all the guy wants is a chance to eventually earn the #1 job. I seriously doubt he gets that opportunity here.
- Sabresfan-365

term dictates whether or not Lehner will be the guy...one-year? no...three years? probably...five years? definitive yes...

i don't see murray making that commitment yet