Michael Pachla: Friggen' bye-week. Burning loss. Plus, Jack Eichel isn't ready to lead

From the Sens Blog:

Nobody is going to trade for the winger unless Ottawa eats up a big chunk of the remaining salary due, and a buyout wouldn't be worth it because of the signing bonus and 10 year commitment buying him out would entail. He will probably be exposed in the expansion draft, but it would likely take quite the incentive for the Golden Knights to take over that salary commitment as well, even for an expansion team.

Right now he is an albatross around the neck of the Senators, and one that they can't move very easily. They have to find a way to get him motivated or it will be a long 5 years. Every player has a role to fill, and them filling it is paramount to the team's success. Whatever Ryan's role has been, there is nobody on this team underachieving more than him. Maybe sitting for a couple of games watching might provide the spark to at least make him try, because I don't think we are seeing the effort let alone the results from the team's highest paid player.

If you can get Bobby Ryan for cheap do you do it?

Also agreed with the bye week aka 5 days? It makes little sense.

From the Sens Blog:

Nobody is going to trade for the winger unless Ottawa eats up a big chunk of the remaining salary due, and a buyout wouldn't be worth it because of the signing bonus and 10 year commitment buying him out would entail. He will probably be exposed in the expansion draft, but it would likely take quite the incentive for the Golden Knights to take over that salary commitment as well, even for an expansion team.

Right now he is an albatross around the neck of the Senators, and one that they can't move very easily. They have to find a way to get him motivated or it will be a long 5 years. Every player has a role to fill, and them filling it is paramount to the team's success. Whatever Ryan's role has been, there is nobody on this team underachieving more than him. Maybe sitting for a couple of games watching might provide the spark to at least make him try, because I don't think we are seeing the effort let alone the results from the team's highest paid player.

If you can get Bobby Ryan for cheap do you do it?

Also agreed with the bye week aka 5 days? It makes little sense.
- ImThatGuy

not to dismiss his talent-level, but he's a right winger, so they're probably not uber-interested in him right now

From the Sens Blog:

Nobody is going to trade for the winger unless Ottawa eats up a big chunk of the remaining salary due, and a buyout wouldn't be worth it because of the signing bonus and 10 year commitment buying him out would entail. He will probably be exposed in the expansion draft, but it would likely take quite the incentive for the Golden Knights to take over that salary commitment as well, even for an expansion team.

Right now he is an albatross around the neck of the Senators, and one that they can't move very easily. They have to find a way to get him motivated or it will be a long 5 years. Every player has a role to fill, and them filling it is paramount to the team's success. Whatever Ryan's role has been, there is nobody on this team underachieving more than him. Maybe sitting for a couple of games watching might provide the spark to at least make him try, because I don't think we are seeing the effort let alone the results from the team's highest paid player.

If you can get Bobby Ryan for cheap do you do it?

Also agreed with the bye week aka 5 days? It makes little sense.
- ImThatGuy

Nope contract is ugly

Nope contract is ugly
- GERBE!!!75PTS

He's 30 in a month and his best seasons were 6 and 7 years ago, pass

Good. This team should get mad. This team should get mad at themselves. They've lost quite a few winnable games this season.

I was hearing talk on WGR this morning about possibly letting the coach go. I don't think it's time for that yet, but people are starting to get antsy. The players need to play the system to see if it does or doesn't work. All of them.

I didn't hear that, but if he did, good for him. I don't think he was treated very fairly by a lot of the fan base (I'm sure I had moments where I wasn't fair to him as well).

This does bring up an interesting conversation though that ties in to Lehner. Lehner is judged unfairly due to the trade Murray made to get him, just like Vanek was judged unfairly due to the GIANT contract that Edmonton gave him that Darcy was forced to match.
- HonkFortheGoose

I was vocal about Vanek, it had nothing to do with the contract though. I just remember working in a department store when that news broke. I was processing inventory in the back room, and I remember thinking they need to let him go for those 4 1st rounders.

As for Lehner, I get why some are mad.. But when you look at the 4 goalies that were traded that day (or period of days), I am not sure there is one I would take over Lehner right now. Including Jones, who did cost more than Lehner to acquire.

Also agreed with the bye week aka 5 days? It makes little sense.
- ImThatGuy

Especially when you take into consideration that the majority of the league just had a break at the end of January during the All Star break. I know that no all the players get that, but it's really just a handful that don't.

Nope contract is ugly
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Budget team has 2 of the worst contracts in the nhl. Makes sense

I was vocal about Vanek, it had nothing to do with the contract though. I just remember working in a department store when that news broke. I was processing inventory in the back room, and I remember thinking they need to let him go for those 4 1st rounders.

As for Lehner, I get why some are mad.. But when you look at the 4 goalies that were traded that day (or period of days), I am not sure there is one I would take over Lehner right now. Including Jones, who did cost more than Lehner to acquire.
- Mentalorgasm5

Lehner has been picked apart and judged since before he even got to put on the Sabres colors. Preferably, you make that trade for less. But I still contend that even if they'd managed to get Lehner for a different pick later in the draft, that the 1st rounder they did use would have been something Colorado would have required us to give them in order to get the ROR trade done. We weren't going to keep that pick that day, no matter what is the way I look at it. So I try not to dwell on it.

Budget team has 2 of the worst contracts in the nhl. Makes sense
- Sabresfan-365

I don't know why, but I always seem to forget that Phaneuf is there.

I don't know why, but I always seem to forget that Phaneuf is there.
- HonkFortheGoose

and that they actually traded for him and that contract

A team from the east complaining about the schedule? Try going on a 14 day road trip 3 times a year, playing back to backs after getting in your hotel room at 2-3 am. At least your team gets a few full practices in here and there. A friend of mine works for the Oilers training staff and he tells me when they are on road trips he goes on 3 hours of sleep a night at the most. I agree the bye week is ridiculous. But these guys are pro athletes and have it pretty good. About five years ago my boys went on a 6 game trip that went from Edm-Nash-Det-NJ-Dal-Phoe. Thats 4 different time zones in 10 days. So to hear any team out east crying about the schedule is a joke among itself.

I don't know why, but I always seem to forget that Phaneuf is there.
- HonkFortheGoose

same. Kinda says it all lol

Breaking news from Nashville!
I have a significant other and yes she is a woman.
No more hookers and blow.
Well, no more hookers anyway.
Carry on with your day.

Looking from afar I came into the season thinking Buffalo was beginning a real upswing. I liked alot of the moves that you made and the players you drafted. I still think trading Myers for Kane was a bad move...bringing a noted locker room cancer into you're team is rarely a good idea. And now hearing Lehners comments makes me wonder if Kane attitude is infecting the sabres room as well? I was disappointed in the game last night....I expected a better game. Was last night's game a one off or more indicative of who the sabres are as a team? All teams are prone to the poopty no show game from time to time.

Breaking news from Nashville!
I have a significant other and yes she is a woman.
No more hookers and blow.
Well, no more hookers anyway.
Carry on with your day.
- jochfr

Jesus Christ

A team from the east complaining about the schedule? Try going on a 14 day road trip 3 times a year, playing back to backs after getting in your hotel room at 2-3 am. At least your team gets a few full practices in here and there. A friend of mine works for the Oilers training staff and he tells me when they are on road trips he goes on 3 hours of sleep a night at the most. I agree the bye week is ridiculous. But these guys are pro athletes and have it pretty good. About five years ago my boys went on a 6 game trip that went from Edm-Nash-Det-NJ-Dal-Phoe. Thats 4 different time zones in 10 days. So to hear any team out east crying about the schedule is a joke among itself.
- Itsjustarash

point taken...no matter, having a mandated five-day haitus in the month of February and squeezing in 14 games in 23 days is ridiculous

Looking from afar I came into the season thinking Buffalo was beginning a real upswing. I liked alot of the moves that you made and the players you drafted. I still think trading Myers for Kane was a bad move...bringing a noted locker room cancer into you're team is rarely a good idea. And now hearing Lehners comments makes me wonder if Kane attitude is infecting the sabres room as well? I was disappointed in the game last night....I expected a better game. Was last night's game a one off or more indicative of who the sabres are as a team? All teams are prone to the poopty no show game from time to time.
- Bullfrog77

It's both, that's the problem

Fire Disco....even if it is the players fault that they are not following the system...he doesn't seem like the one to get them to buy in..

Breaking news from Nashville!
I have a significant other and yes she is a woman.
No more hookers and blow.
Well, no more hookers anyway.
Carry on with your day.
- jochfr

Whatever illness you caught, must be serious. Are you sure it's not eating your brain??














Oh, and congrats

Looking from afar I came into the season thinking Buffalo was beginning a real upswing. I liked alot of the moves that you made and the players you drafted. I still think trading Myers for Kane was a bad move...bringing a noted locker room cancer into you're team is rarely a good idea. And now hearing Lehners comments makes me wonder if Kane attitude is infecting the sabres room as well? I was disappointed in the game last night....I expected a better game. Was last night's game a one off or more indicative of who the sabres are as a team? All teams are prone to the poopty no show game from time to time.
- Bullfrog77

kane had nothing to do with those comments

Looking from afar I came into the season thinking Buffalo was beginning a real upswing. I liked alot of the moves that you made and the players you drafted. I still think trading Myers for Kane was a bad move...bringing a noted locker room cancer into you're team is rarely a good idea. And now hearing Lehners comments makes me wonder if Kane attitude is infecting the sabres room as well? I was disappointed in the game last night....I expected a better game. Was last night's game a one off or more indicative of who the sabres are as a team? All teams are prone to the poopty no show game from time to time.
- Bullfrog77

Lehner and Kane are not the problems...

Lehner has been picked apart and judged since before he even got to put on the Sabres colors. Preferably, you make that trade for less. But I still contend that even if they'd managed to get Lehner for a different pick later in the draft, that the 1st rounder they did use would have been something Colorado would have required us to give them in order to get the ROR trade done. We weren't going to keep that pick that day, no matter what is the way I look at it. So I try not to dwell on it.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree. If it was a 2nd for Lehner, Colorado would have gotten the 1st.

jack's game wasn't horrible last night. that turnover was, but not his whole game. he was dishing but nobody converted. they all kind of looked out of sorts. lehner's comments really concern me though. sounds like we have a split room. that's not good.