Phil Housley:


On the late-third period scrums: "Guys are just playing with some emotion down 4-1. We should have that aggression more at the start of the game, it would help us finish some checks early on."

No disrespect meant to Jack, but yeah, Barkov would be the right choice 100 times out of 100. Maybe this comes from me watching Barky since he was an 18 yr old rookie, but it's a no brainer.
- Ratsreign

No it’s not jack avg more point the first two years... and he has no help zero, none.
This year barkov has one goal more then jack and more assists... again nobody can seem to score on the Sabres. You want to argue merits fine but 100 out of 100... no chance. Barkov is a talent no doubt, I’d argue right not jack has the least amount of teammate talent than any forward in the nhl.

Preds win!

No it’s not jack avg more point the first two years... and he has no help zero, none.
This year barkov has one goal more then jack and more assists... again nobody can seem to score on the Sabres. You want to argue merits fine but 100 out of 100... no chance. Barkov is a talent no doubt, I’d argue right not jack has the least amount of teammate talent than any forward in the nhl.
- gordong

barkov put up much lesser numbers than Jack in his first 3 years


ppg during this time is not even close


this conversation needs to happen 2 years from now IMO

Preds win!
- jochfr

who cares



SENS WIN!!!

Preds win!
- jochfr

The Florida stadium seemed to be louder with more cheering despite the piss poor attendance.

Thanks Pegula.
- Da_Cashman

Not trying to say that FL's attendance is stellar, but it looks even worse on tv because the sections right behind the benches are Lexus Club seats, much more expensive than sitting on other side of the rink. The camera doesn't show it, but it's usually much more full on that side. As you in Buffalo are starting to see this year, fan apathy has a hell of an influence on attendance numbers, I've read many here say they'd rather stay home even if tickets were free, rather than watching the poopshow which you are presently stuck with. FL was like Vegas presently is their first few years. Many years of the organIzation accepting losing and never keeping your good players around has an amazing way of dwindling the fan base. I've known many who used to go who would reply when asked if they want to go, "Why? So we can go watch them lose again?" With Gallant as coach, people were starting to believe again, and then they pulled the poop they did last year. Apathy reinforced, and as good as this team is right now, people are still like, "yeah, prove it to me". Not to mention that a great number of people that live here have loyalties that they didn't leave behind when they moved here. It's a different situation than almost every other hockey market.

e-rod had an interesting quote after the game Wed

Evan Rodrigues:

On the team effort: "I think we had all 20 guys pulling in the right direction. We didn't have anyone cheating on the wrong side of the puck. Everyone was staying on the D side of the puck, making sure the puck got out first and we stuck with our gameplan.

Sticking with the plan: "As the game wore on, we didn't try cheating for offense. We didn't have guys blowing the zone or anything. We all stuck to the defensive side of the puck. When you do that, you wear teams down and you finally get rewarded."


makes me wonder if they were refusing to play the system early in the season
- homiedclown

Maybe it just takes a minute to get everyone in sync

It’s not just playing the system, but everyone playing it the same way

barkov put up much lesser numbers than Jack in his first 3 years


ppg during this time is not even close


this conversation needs to happen 2 years from now IMO
- homiedclown

If point total is your only measuring stick, than ok. Barkov is, and has been since coming into the league, a much better all around player than Eichel.

The analytics guys will see +100000000000 corsi, +10000000000000000000 RelCor, they'll be the greatest players in the history of the sport, according to some graph I'm about to make.
- TheSabresTaco

😂😂😂😂😂

Not trying to say that FL's attendance is stellar, but it looks even worse on tv because the sections right behind the benches are Lexus Club seats, much more expensive than sitting on other side of the rink. The camera doesn't show it, but it's usually much more full on that side. As you in Buffalo are starting to seeing this year, fan apathy has a hell of an influence on attendance numbers, I've read many here say they'd rather stay home even if tickets were free, rather than watching the poopshow which you are presently stuck with. FL was like Vegas presently is their first few years. Many years of the organIzation accepting losing and never keeping your good players around has an amazing way of dwindling the fan base. I've known many who used to go who would reply when asked if they want to go, "Why? So we can go watch them lose again?" With Gallant as coach, people were starting to believe again, and then they pulled the poop they did last year. Apathy reinforced, and as good as this team is right now, people are still like, "yeah, prove it to me". Not to mention that a great number of people that live here have loyalties that they didn't leave behind when they moved here. It's a different situation than almost every other hockey market.
- Ratsreign

It did appear there were more people on the camera side, but the PR guy ought to be fired for that alone. Who the (frank) puts the seats no one sits in in front of the camera?

Russ Brandon would never do that!

Also, Jack, every time.

You can't even say that Jack misses time, because Barkov has missed his share as well. Barkov is 13 months older and has 2 seasons more experience.

Not trying to say that FL's attendance is stellar, but it looks even worse on tv because the sections right behind the benches are Lexus Club seats, much more expensive than sitting on other side of the rink. The camera doesn't show it, but it's usually much more full on that side. As you in Buffalo are starting to seeing this year, fan apathy has a hell of an influence on attendance numbers, I've read many here say they'd rather stay home even if tickets were free, rather than watching the poopshow which you are presently stuck with. FL was like Vegas presently is their first few years. Many years of the organIzation accepting losing and never keeping your good players around has an amazing way of dwindling the fan base. I've known many who used to go who would reply when asked if they want to go, "Why? So we can go watch them lose again?" With Gallant as coach, people were starting to believe again, and then they pulled the poop they did last year. Apathy reinforced, and as good as this team is right now, people are still like, "yeah, prove it to me". Not to mention that a great number of people that live here have loyalties that they didn't leave behind when they moved here. It's a different situation than almost every other hockey market.
- Ratsreign

IDK, Tampa seems to have no troubles. And it's filled to the brim with Canadian ex-pats.

https://twitter.com/DaveDavisHockey/status/969752506212503553


Jesus Christ.


Im sorry but if you want to trade the #1 pick, give your head a shake.
- Sabresfan-365

But did he score? Because I'm pretty sure that's the object.

It did appear there were more people on the camera side, but the PR guy ought to be fired for that alone. Who the (frank) puts the seats no one sits in in front of the camera?

Russ Brandon would never do that!

Also, Jack, every time.

You can't even say that Jack misses time, because Barkov has missed his share as well. Barkov is 13 months older and has 2 seasons more experience.
- Wetbandit1

Exactly, I've often wondered who the genius was that decided to put the club in there, not only does it limit the people that would buy those seats, it screws up the access to the adjoining sections because the entrance tunnels for three sections are funneled into one. It's a stupid setup, maybe it's better for concerts and other events, but it sucks for hockey.
I'm not trying to say Eichel isn't a great player or that I wouldn't want him on my team, but Barky came into the league already stellar in his two way game. He came back on D like a seasoned five year vet as an 18 yr old rookie. His offense has blossomed from there. I admitted I'm biased from watching Barky since he came into the league, but, I'll stand by what I said, I'd take Barkov every time over Eichel. Homie has a point that this convo would be better had in two years, we'll see if Jack's all around game approaches Barkov's level by then.

IDK, Tampa seems to have no troubles. And it's filled to the brim with Canadian ex-pats.
- Wetbandit1

That goes back to the one part to my original comment, re, the product on the ice that's worth the time & money to go watch.
And the Tampa Bay example only goes to show that it will also work in Sunrise/Ft Lauderdale if and when they do it right. They're finally on the right track after all of these wasted years.

That goes back to the one part to my original comment, re, the product on the ice that's worth the time & money to go watch.
And the Tampa Bay example only goes to show that it will also work in Sunrise/Ft Lauderdale if and when they do it right. They're finally on the right track after all of these wasted years.
- Ratsreign

Wasted years? They did win a stanley cup.
Tampas fan environment is really good, they have that going for them... And my last point.

So, for as much crap thrown at GMTM for unloading a bevy of draft picks and players for the likes of ROR, Kane, Bogo ... he then gets credit for finding, for free Antipin, Nelson, ERod, CJ Smith, drafting a Guhle, Asplund, Pu ... right?
- IonSabres

Sure
But let’s see if any of them amount to anything more than a bottom6 forward or depth defenseman

Guhle is the only one i feel confident will make a consistent impact

I also don’t think the book is closed on Bailey or Baptiste
And Olofsson is having a good season in the SHL this year too
He should be over next year with Asplund

U left out a few others too:
Borgen, Ullmark, Fitzgerald...
i feel like I’m missing someone still

Anyways... still all tbd

From what we can say so far,
GMTM utterly failed the Sabres

I think JBotts is equally good at drafting. Let's face it, he had options at #8 and he picked Mittelstadt where very few people here wanted him selected. He was probably the one guy in the top dozen or so who I did the least amount of research on. So it looks like he nailed his first 1st round pick and it wasn't a given like selecting Eichel. Davidsson is young but looks decent, and the goalie was one of the top 2 on the board.

I wish JBotts would have received a few more picks at the deadline because it would be interesting to see where he goes with them. Maybe he'll make some draft day moves and pick up a few others.
- sskkoo1

I don’t remember who everyone wanted...
but Mittelstadt was ranked between 6-8 by most
Even better by some
And rarely lower than 8th
Botts wasn’t exactly reaching

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2017-nhl-draft-rankings

Barkov is unreal
- sbroads24

He & Seth Jones were my 2 favs in that draft class (over MacKinnon & Drouin)
I was hoping Monahan or Barkov would fall to us
Was happy when we got Risto
Basically laughed at everyone who was freaking that we didn’t take Nichuskin

We should inquire about his rights
I think i read a while back that he could be had for a 3rd round pick?

But did he score? Because I'm pretty sure that's the object.
- Wetbandit1

Had the exact same thought.

I don’t remember who everyone wanted...
but Mittelstadt was ranked between 6-8 by most
Even better by some
And rarely lower than 8th
Botts wasn’t exactly reaching

http://www.mynhldraft.com...t/2017-nhl-draft-rankings
- jdfitz77

Spot on, I seemed to remember that he was thought to be a top 5 pick.
Hey, good on us for him selecting him

He & Seth Jones were my 2 favs in that draft class (over MacKinnon & Drouin)
I was hoping Monahan or Barkov would fall to us
Was happy when we got Risto
Basically laughed at everyone who was freaking that we didn’t take Nichuskin

We should inquire about his rights
I think i read a while back that he could be had for a 3rd round pick?
- jdfitz77

I should watch more Flames games, they drafted several 0,Ayers I wanted, including him.

As far as GMTM failing us, that is my point...yes and no is the answer to me.
Those trades aren’t turning out the way we hoped ... but the draft picks look strong, yes they need to prove it, but looking good so far.

How do they play Tampa like they did and then play like this.... the 1,000,000 dollar question I guess
- gordong

Rodrigues was the best player on the ice against Tampa and they had 6 defensemen the entire game. Probably helped...

Rodrigues was the best player on the ice against Tampa and they had 6 defensemen the entire game. Probably helped...
- kingcong39

Gotta send ERod down when he is healthy, much more important that Roch has a strong finish and playoffs

Gotta send ERod down when he is healthy, much more important that Roch has a strong finish and playoffs
- IonSabres

I'm kinda torn on this....on the one hand I want Roch to kick some serious ass in the playoffs...but on the other, its kind of unfair to Erod, who has shown himself to be a legit NHL player, to reward him with a trip back down to the AHL.