I have a brother that used to work at Towne. That's why I have been driving Mazda's all these years. Like I said, I like them a lot, but the selection (including trim) isn't that impressive this time around.
- buffalofan19

Mazda really messed up when they got rid of the Speed6 and Speed3, IMO

Getting out shot 2-1 every night is not a system. Overall, a very boring game to go to

You and I used to argue about Myers. Ultimately, I said that if this team was ever going to win a championship, they needed a defenseman that was better than Tyler Myers on it. I also said I thought Ristolainen might be that guy. I'm still not certain. He might be the championship caliber #2 they need. I have no idea how you get a #1 then.
- buffalofan19

Neither am I.

He does 1 thing really well.

That being said, I wouldn't rule out him being better under another coach with a better partner, but catering to those things scream that he's better served as a #2 or #3

Mazda really messed up when they got rid of the Speed6 and Speed3, IMO
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I was never into the Speeds...and they pretty much had rid of them once they divorced from Ford (I believe they have the design patent). Like I said, I have been very loyal to the 6 for quite a while and it will take some convincing to get me to break away.

Getting out shot 2-1 every night is not a system. Overall, a very boring game to go to
- jcragcrumple

The one thing they are consistent with is that they get outshot all the time

Just about every championship caliber team has a defenseman that eats those kinds of minutes, though. Granted, they also have better supporting casts.
- buffalofan19

If this defense is 6 Risto's where would they rank?

I for one think he is a top-3 d-man right now. He is only going to get better.

If this defense is 6 Risto's where would they rank?

I for one think he is a top-3 d-man right now. He is only going to get better.
- ImThatGuy

I think that's fair, but if I'm the Sabres, I'm operating as if I do not have a #1 D-man.

I was on the "Tyler Myers is only going to get better on a better team" bandwagon for 2 years.

How many Jets fans said "Bogosian will be better when we are better"?

IMO, Risto is a lot closer to the 2 above, than he is Subban, Karlsson, Hedman or Burns.

My car lease is up. I drive a Mazda6 Grand Touring which I like a lot. I'm leaning towards leasing another one. It would be my third one.

However, I rented a Chevy Malibu last month when I was in Florida and was pretty impressed with it.

Anybody have experience with the Malibu?
- buffalofan19

I'm honestly curious as to what you are watching. Not even trying to be an ass.

He was on the ice for 15 shot attempts for and 31 against. That's double. So twice the amount of shot attempts went towards Lehner, than they did Gibson, when Risto was on the ice. And it's been like this for months
- sbroads24

This stat doesn't mean much to me when talking about individual players
For example:
Risto can be doing his job, tying up a guy in front of the net, while shots are coming in from the point or the wing
Does that mean Risto isn't doing his job well?

I think that's an issue for our TEAM
But u can't single out individuals when talking shots for & shots against

I think that's fair, but if I'm the Sabres, I'm operating as if I do not have a #1 D-man.

I was on the "Tyler Myers is only going to get better on a better team" bandwagon for 2 years.

How many Jets fans said "Bogosian will be better when we are better"?

IMO, Risto is a lot closer to the 2 above, than he is Subban, Karlsson, Hedman or Burns.
- sbroads24

Right now he is not a #1 guy and i agree with all those points.

Curious to see how his numbers would/hopefully will change if he wasnt forced to play 28 minutes against the top two lines. Coaches are in a tough spot bc someone needs to play those minutes and 6,47,41, 4 just cant handle that

Hey, we're still at .500! * looks at standings, sees EVERY team in the eastern conference is .500 or better*
-poop.

The one thing they are consistent with is that they get outshot all the time
- mattmoulson

It's brutal. The fans were trying to cheer but theres not much to cheer when you're hemmed in your zone and killing penalties.

Right now he is not a #1 guy and i agree with all those points.

Curious to see how his numbers would/hopefully will change if he wasnt forced to play 28 minutes against the top two lines. Coaches are in a tough spot bc someone needs to play those minutes and 6,47,41, 4 just cant handle that
- yen6d1

It's definitely a major factor, however on the flip side, when you are playing 28 minutes, you are getting ice time with Eichel, ROR Kane etc too.

It's not like all of his time is with Gionta and Grant.

This stat doesn't mean much to me when talking about individual players
For example:
Risto can be doing his job, tying up a guy in front of the net, while shots are coming in from the point or the wing
Does that mean Risto isn't doing his job well?

I think that's an issue for our TEAM
But u can't single out individuals when talking shots for & shots against
- jdfitz77

Yes, you definitely can.

You can argue that maybe Risto doesn't give up quality shots. And I couldn't argue too much otherwise, but it can't be debated that when he's on the ice, it's tilted against us.

It's definitely a major factor, however on the flip side, when you are playing 28 minutes, you are getting ice time with Eichel, ROR Kane etc too.

It's not like all of his time is with Gionta and Grant.
- sbroads24

100% agree and also falls a little on 15, 90.

I wasnt trilled when they brought Dan in to coach but imo this season is far from his fault. I think the issues are..
1. Injuries
2. D personnel
3. AHL prospects (How bailey is playing now is how i thought he'd play out of training camp)
4. Top guys need consistency
5. Coaching

long story short i feel the coaches are trying to saw wood with an (Injured) butter knife haha. Tough to criticize

Ok.... so I like how Foligno has played overall,
But I'm ready to switch lines up a bit
I think this is what I'd like to see the rest of the year:

ennis-EICHEL-OKPOSO
-I've thought Okposo should've been here all along, and I wanna see if Ennis can get going with his speed & ability

KANE-REINHART-girgensons
-I like the idea of Reinhart at center using his playmaking ability to set up Kane, and Girgs has played well enough that he deserves top9 icetime

foligno-O'REILLY-GIONTA
-to play against other teams' top lines & I think this line should be able to help out on the scoresheet as well

moulson-deslauriers-bailey
-before everyone freaks out, I'd have Eichel doubleshifting here. Bailey look so ready for the NHL, but he's not scoring yet. So for now, he's not in the top9

*anyone in lowercase is subject to be moved, the guys in CAPS i wanna see kept together for a bit
*what I'm looking for here is some more 5v5 scoring,
but more specifically...
-Eichel with guys that can finish
-Reinhart at center bc I want 3 scoring lines next year
-Foligno doing the "work" so O'Reilly can focus more on scoring when in the offensive zone, and I think those 3 can be defensively responsible as well. Gionta has been one of our most consistent forwards all year & I wanna see him with O'Reilly who has struggled (offensively) here & there
-Eichel doubleshifting so that the 4th line isn't a waste. Moulson can still finish, he's shown us that. Bailey looks like he belongs, but still needs work. And he'll get opportunities playing with Jack, even if it's just 10min a night. When he starts scoring, he gets more icetime

Anyways...
those are my thoughts

Ok.... so I like how Foligno has played overall,
But I'm ready to switch lines up a bit
I think this is what I'd like to see the rest of the year:

ennis-EICHEL-OKPOSO
-I've thought Okposo should've been here all along, and I wanna see if Ennis can get going with his speed & ability

KANE-REINHART-girgensons
-I like the idea of Reinhart at center using his playmaking ability to set up Kane, and Girgs has played well enough that he deserves top9 icetime

foligno-O'REILLY-GIONTA
-to play against other teams' top lines & I think this line should be able to help out on the scoresheet as well

moulson-deslauriers-bailey
-before everyone freaks out, I'd have Eichel doubleshifting here. Bailey look so ready for the NHL, but he's not scoring yet. So for now, he's not in the top9

*anyone in lowercase is subject to be moved, the guys in CAPS i wanna see kept together for a bit
*what I'm looking for here is some more 5v5 scoring,
but more specifically...
-Eichel with guys that can finish
-Reinhart at center bc I want 3 scoring lines next year
-Foligno doing the "work" so O'Reilly can focus more on scoring when in the offensive zone, and I think those 3 can be defensively responsible as well. Gionta has been one of our most consistent forwards all year & I wanna see him with O'Reilly who has struggled (offensively) here & there
-Eichel doubleshifting so that the 4th line isn't a waste. Moulson can still finish, he's shown us that. Bailey looks like he belongs, but still needs work. And he'll get opportunities playing with Jack, even if it's just 10min a night. When he starts scoring, he gets more icetime

Anyways...
those are my thoughts
- jdfitz77

Yes, you definitely can.

You can argue that maybe Risto doesn't give up quality shots. And I couldn't argue too much otherwise, but it can't be debated that when he's on the ice, it's tilted against us.
- sbroads24

I'm not arguing that
What I'm saying is that it's a TEAM thing, not a RISTO thing
That's why I provided the example

The way I'm judging Risto isn't shot against...
defensively:
-is he turning the puck over?
-is the guy he's supposed to have scoring, or setting guys up for goals
-is he winning puck battles?
-is he making good breakout passes to get us out of the defensive zone

Like I said...
20 shots from the point or the wing have ZERO to do with whether or not Risto is doing his job

That's how u judge TEAM defense, not individuals

Hey, we're still at .500! * looks at standings, sees EVERY team in the eastern conference is .500 or better*
-poop.
- Khmylev

I heard there was a lot of scouts at the game that's good news for us

I'm happy Tim Murray didn't say kane was safe at the deadline

he could have easily said this is what we traded for why would we

I'm happy Tim Murray didn't say kane was safe at the deadline

he could have easily said this is what we traded for why would we
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Who says he's not safe

Who says he's not safe
- SABRES 89

He is just saying Murray didn't say he is safe in his presser, he said if someone threw something at him that he couldn't refuse he would listen. But he isn't TRYING to move him and his happy with his play, and they continue to work on off-ice issues.

Who says he's not safe
- SABRES 89

He doesn't have Aflac.

Murray will look like even more of a fool if he dumps Kane, no reason to trade him. With money coming off the books and players that will be available next season, a power forward like Kane is a keeper.


And we wonder why the Sabres constantly get made fun of and wonder why this team can't seem to move forward.


Ennis screws the Sabres yet again.

He is just saying Murray didn't say he is safe in his presser, he said if someone threw something at him that he couldn't refuse he would listen. But he isn't TRYING to move him and his happy with his play, and they continue to work on off-ice issues.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

If it wasn't for the off ice issues nobody would have an issue or, they would complain about his contract. It's a no win on this blog with Kane, people have wanted him gone form the get go.