We'd be closer but they may have had illusions that the D was good enough
- Sabresfan-365

Question: is the D adequate enough playing this new style over the course of a season to make the playoffs?

I think maybe so on that.

Poor tampa they did everything right with their rebuild ...
- Sabresfan-365

they may get some momentum after last night


still have a decent pipeline and it looks like they can keep everyone after moving Filppula

enjoy that contract Philly
4 points in 13 games, that's what you can expect next year as well

Which brings us back to the question of: why is it that he needs that much ice time in the first place? They seem to be doing ok without him getting any ice time right now. You mean to tell me that reducing his time by 3-4 mins per night would be that detrimental to the team?

Need I also point out that it seems like since the mid point in the season or so, he hit a bit of a wall. If I'm remembering correctly, weren't his advanced stats quite a bit better earlier in the season than they are now?
- HonkFortheGoose

Pretty sure that has been the case the past 2 seasons.

. If I'm remembering correctly, weren't his advanced stats quite a bit better earlier in the season than they are now?
- HonkFortheGoose

a yearly thing with him

The way he creates space and gains the zone he would've crushed it
- Sabresfan-365

Totally agree, and yet the NHL doesn't seem to want their best players to be allowed to show just how good they are without multiple players draped all over them constantly during most games.

Pretty sure that has been the case the past 2 seasons.
- kingcong39

Which brings us back to the question of: why is it that he needs that much ice time in the first place? They seem to be doing ok without him getting any ice time right now. You mean to tell me that reducing his time by 3-4 mins per night would be that detrimental to the team?

Need I also point out that it seems like since the mid point in the season or so, he hit a bit of a wall. If I'm remembering correctly, weren't his advanced stats quite a bit better earlier in the season than they are now?
- HonkFortheGoose

He had no faith in the other guys picking up that ice time. I don't blame him they've played well in 2 meaningless games but in general the "other 4" have been disastrous.part of it is the style but as has been said before, coaches prefer to win small/lose small instead of trying to win big but potentially losing big as well.

We'd be closer but they may have had illusions that the D was good enough
- Sabresfan-365

They've been mentally fragile all season. I guess I just wonder how much of that had to do with losing Jack the way they did.

Question: is the D adequate enough playing this new style over the course of a season to make the playoffs?

I think maybe so on that.
- kingcong39

Not a chance imo. We'd score more and give up more, fits more our style and better to watch but over 82 games it would get really ugly at points. Upgrades are needed to maintain this style you need puck movers...

He had no faith in the other guys picking up that ice time. I don't blame him they've played well in 2 meaningless games but in general the "other 4" have been disastrous.part of it is the style but as has been said before, coaches prefer to win small/lose small instead of trying to win big but potentially losing big as well.
- Sabresfan-365

That last part is the biggest problem with the NHL, along with the officiating.

The degree that things are micromanaged is sad.

On the meaningless game part, yes it was meaningless to Buffalo but it certainly was not for the Leafs.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...t-unprotected-their-teams

This article has Brayden McNabb and Jonas Brodin unprotected 4/4x. But, McNabb, corsi and such!

That last part is the biggest problem with the NHL, along with the officiating.

The degree that things are micromanaged is sad.

On the meaningless game part, yes it was meaningless to Buffalo but it certainly was not for the Leafs.
- kingcong39

Agreed but I was just getting at the sample size

Pretty sure that has been the case the past 2 seasons.
- kingcong39

That's what I thought too, but I don't really look into those at all. What I know about them is what people post here. I stare at enough charts/spreadsheets/numbers at work all day. Don't need to turn my form of entertainment into that a well.

Not a chance imo. We'd score more and give up more, fits more our style and better to watch but over 82 games it would get really ugly at points. Upgrades are needed to maintain this style you need puck movers...
- Sabresfan-365

It's sad they didn't employ this style earlier as it would have potentially given them an even clearer sense of who fits and who does not for the defense.

Question: is the D adequate enough playing this new style over the course of a season to make the playoffs?

I think maybe so on that.
- kingcong39

doesn't matter

kulikov will be gone
franson gone


most likely either bogo or gorges will be gone


they need to bring in a coach with a simple playbook for the d men

look at casey nelson, when he comes out of college and does his own thing here last season, looked pretty decent


has a FULL training camp with this coach, and looks like a train wreck

every kid they bring up for a few games this season, same
guhle
falk
fedun
burgdoerfer
martin


yet the vets, playing the coaches system look like a train wreck more often than not


it's more coaching or lack of IMO than talent

That's what I thought too, but I don't really look into those at all. What I know about them is what people post here. I stare at enough charts/spreadsheets/numbers at work all day. Don't need to turn my form of entertainment into that a well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Totally agree on that Goose.

doesn't matter

kulikov will be gone
franson gone

most likely either bogo or gorges will be gone

they need to bring in a coach with a simple playbook for the d men

look at casey nelson, when he comes out of college and does his own thing here last season, looked pretty decent

has a FULL training camp with this coach, and looks like a train wreck

every kid they bring up for a few games this season, same
guhle
falk
fedun
burgdoerfer
martin

yet the vets, playing the coaches system look like a train wreck more often than not

it's more coaching or lack of IMO than talent
- homiedclown

Going by what you said above, Guhle is going to be great considering how good he looked in his short stint this year. To a much lesser degree, Fedun too.

It's sad they didn't employ this style earlier as it would have potentially given them an even clearer sense of who fits and who does not for the defense.
- kingcong39

That's my biggest beef with the team/coaching imo. They didn't even try the right guys either.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...t-unprotected-their-teams

This article has Brayden McNabb and Jonas Brodin unprotected 4/4x. But, McNabb, corsi and such!
- TheSabresTaco

McNabb is the most over-hyped ex Sabre on this board in a long time


I had high hopes for him, thought he would be a decent second pair


never happened



the only difference between mcnabb and mike weber is we saw the weber happy hour show, the kings got to see the mcnabb show, and properly benched him after enough episodes

Hedman took 5 seasons to get it together, at the rate Risto is going, he'll end up better than Hedman by that point in his career.
- sskkoo1

Hedman was 23 in year 5
Risto will be 23 in year 5 (next year)

Going by what you said above, Guhle is going to be great considering how good he looked in his short stint this year. To a much lesser degree, Fedun too.
- kingcong39

if they ship out the crap

I think they are fine with guhle falk, fedun and bodie for the bottom pair and first 2 call ups


assuming they bring back fedun and bodie


but you need to get 2 impact guys for the top 4 to go with risto and mccabe

if they ship out the crap

I think they are fine with guhle falk, fedun and bodie for the bottom pair and first 2 call ups


assuming they bring back fedun and bodie


but you need to get 2 impact guys for the top 4 to go with risto and mccabe
- homiedclown

Watch gorges get the spot over guhle again. Still pisses me off

Hedman was 23 in year 5
Risto will be 23 in year 5 (next year)
- dadeadhead

halfway through year 4 was when hedman took it to the next level

and this year he took it up another notch


in their own end, hedman is so much better than risto and that is where I want risto to take the next step in the fall

Watch gorges get the spot over guhle again. Still pisses me off
- Sabresfan-365

I read 4 mock drafts last week

1. gorges
2. ennis
3. foligno (I think he is protected)
4. ullmark


I am interested in who that 3rd d man they protect is. I hope it's falk and they expose both bogo and gorges

I don't wonder that

they were close enough at their "break" and folded when they could have made some noise
- homiedclown

IMO the Boston home and home is what killed us, we could of moved into 3rd in the Atlantic winning those 2 games and we pissed them away.