Ok, I'll give u Toronto, but not Werenski.
Of course he's been really good...
but the biggest difference for Cbus this year is that they stayed healthy instead of getting crushed with injuries like they did last year

And we had a lot of games lost to injury this year
A relatively healthy lineup next year, & a couple dependable defensemen, and we will be just fine

How was Calgary last year?
Teams make big leaps quite often
We can too

We don't have a team of "meh" players
That's crap
- jdfitz77

The team around Eichel isn't good. Period.

Whether you want to attribute that to coaching, fine. But you have a guy playing at a PPG pace, and you're a bottom 5 team. That's remarkable

The team around Eichel isn't good. Period.

Whether you want to attribute that to coaching, fine. But you have a guy playing at a PPG pace, and you're a bottom 5 team. That's remarkable
- sbroads24

Ummm the Oilers last year? They only had 70 points. Not so remarkable.

I don't think there's a single person that doesn't think there're problems with this team. There's a group that thinks the rebuild has failed, and that's plain ludicrous. The team was about the same as last year. Call it regression because they didn't really progress, but the Avalanche regressed, the Kings regressed. The Coyotes are just terrible.

Ummm the Oilers last year? They only had 70 points. Not so remarkable.
- Wetbandit1

And the Oilers were universally criticized which prompted major shakeups in that lineup.

Remember two years ago when we all made fun of what the aoilers had become? Now it's normal? Nah

Good things are possible even when they don't happen right now.

Good things are possible even when they don't happen right now.
- Der Kaiser

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, unless you count yesterday, then it's the second.

50 shades of stink

On points per game: Looks like Jack finished #11. Right in front of him? Draisaitl. Just behind him? Pastrnak. Reinhart sees this, walks away slowly while whistling random notes.

not going to lie


this was the hardest year for me as a sabre fan

On points per game: Looks like Jack finished #11. Right in front of him? Draisaitl. Just behind him? Pastrnak. Reinhart sees this, walks away slowly while whistling random notes.
- Khmylev

not going to lie


this was the hardest year for me as a sabre fan
- homiedclown

Agreed

Maybe next year!

Eh.. who am I kidding. Probably not. At least until Bylsma is gone.

Anything on Cal Petersen? I've not heard a peep.

not going to lie


this was the hardest year for me as a sabre fan
- homiedclown

I gave up about half way through this year. just didnt have it in me.
I'll be back next year.
I don't trust Murray right now to make the right moves.

Anything on Cal Petersen? I've not heard a peep.
- burner087

hawks or stars, take your pick

I gave up about half way through this year. just didnt have it in me.
I'll be back next year.
I don't trust Murray right now to make the right moves.
- ImThatGuy

I watched a bit of the game yesterday, commercials on masters then went to bar to watch both side by side for the 3rd period


glad it's over, it's a mess


you see a few good plays here and there, and 55 minutes of nothing

I don't post much because I'm on the other side of the planet, which means I don't see the games, but I try to listen to as many as possible during the season. I come her to get some different takes on the team and the players.

At the beginning of the season, there was a lot of optimism about the team based on last year's progress and that Eichel, Reinhart and Risto would taken the next step. My take was that everything would have to fall perfectly into place for the Sabres to be in the playoffs this year. Eichel's ankle sprain the day before the season opener and Kane's rib injury in the first game sucked the life out of the team straight out of the gate. And I still think ROR was playing injured for at least part of the year, especially in the autumn. Now this is not to make excuses because the team was healthy down the stretch and they clearly underperformed, which disappointed me just as much as everyone else here.

But let's look at the big picture around the league. Dallas missed the playoffs after winning the division last year. Tampa missed the playoffs after two straight years in the Eastern Conference Final (Stamkos injury obviously played a huge part in that). So, what I'm trying to say is there is no exact linear pattern where a team stays on an upward or downward trajectory from year to year. Teams have up and down years, especially young teams. A three point drop over last year's point total isn't much over 82 games -- disappointing, but not a total disaster.

Of everything you have discussed over the year, the one thing that concerns me the most is Bylsma. If the players have tuned him out, as has been suggested, then he has to go. He does seem to be rather inflexible in his approach to the game and his system. But in his defense, the defense corps was a mess this year, as has been stated here, due to lack of quality and injuries. This is the one area where I'm sure Murray will be making changes over the offseason.

You boys and Goosie can correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Reinhart play his best hockey during his rookie season when he was on ROR's line? If so, I'd like to see him back on that line and Kane with Eichel for the entire season. I also think it's worth playing Reinhart at center to see how he responds.

So looking forward to the draft lottery and seeing where we land.

Do we trade the pick for a defenseman or hold it and pick the best d-man available? Are there any good d-men likely to be available in the 6th slot? I believe I looked at the half-year rankings and it was a good year for forwards.

Thanks everyone.

And thanks to Michael for the blogs over the year. The effort is much appreciated.

Tell me how old Kane and Toews were when they went to the WCF, before they won a cup.

Tell me how old Crosby and Malkin were when they lost a cup final.

Tell me how old Leon and McDavid are

Tell me how old Matthews, Marner, and Nylander are


We are a bottom 5 team....bottom 5. Not "close", not in the hunt, bottom freaking 5.
- sbroads24

The Oilers spent 5 years stockpiling talent and allowing them to mature before McDavid came around...4 years for Pens, but same story. Chicago were terrible for a decade and had an almost fully developed Keith and Seabrook when Kane came around.
Even Toronto spent as much time as Edmonton developing Kadri, JVR, O'Rielly , Bozo and Gardiner before their 3 talented kids were ready for their debuts.
None of these rebuilds happened quickly.

hawks or stars, take your pick
- homiedclown

Bylsma stays h6?

The Oilers spent 5 years stockpiling talent and allowing them to mature before McDavid came around...4 years for Pens, but same story. Chicago were terrible for a decade and had an almost fully developed Keith and Seabrook when Kane came around.
Even Toronto spent as much time as Edmonton developing Kadri, JVR, O'Rielly , Bozo and Gardiner before their 3 talented kids were ready for their debuts.
None of these rebuilds happened quickly.
- Larsson_fan

Yep. I think our expectations were too high coming into the season.

Bylsma stays h6?
- Sabresfan-365

reported

The Oilers spent 5 years stockpiling talent and allowing them to mature before McDavid came around...4 years for Pens, but same story. Chicago were terrible for a decade and had an almost fully developed Keith and Seabrook when Kane came around.
Even Toronto spent as much time as Edmonton developing Kadri, JVR, O'Rielly , Bozo and Gardiner before their 3 talented kids were ready for their debuts.
None of these rebuilds happened quickly.
- Larsson_fan

What do you think the Sabres have been doing since 2012?

2012 draft - 2 1st rounders
2013 draft - 2 1st rounder, 3 2nd rounders
2014 draft - 2nd overall pick - 3 2nd rounders

We were stockpiling for a while up until Tim Murray came here and arrogantly thought he could speed the process up.

Yep. I think our expectations were too high coming into the season.
- 100goalseason

there was no reason to expect this team to be worse


kane stepped up
lehner stayed healthy
risto improved
jack improved
okposo added


it's a sh!t storm over there

What do you think the Sabres have been doing since 2012?

2012 draft - 2 1st rounders
2013 draft - 2 1st rounder, 3 2nd rounders
2014 draft - 2nd overall pick - 3 2nd rounders

We were stockpiling for a while up until Tim Murray came here and arrogantly thought he could speed the process up.
- sbroads24

his first trade is a perfect example of how he is as a gm

2 second rd picks and mcnabb for a fringe 4th liner and a prospect who has under-performed

reported
- homiedclown

Lol, no biggie figured he'd stick around

his first trade is a perfect example of how he is as a gm

2 second rd picks and mcnabb for a fringe 4th liner and a prospect who has under-performed
- homiedclown

Sad part is I cant tell which one of these is Fasching