The Buffalo Sabres have had a recurring problem with sloppy starts to games.
The team that is habitually late to work has angered the boss.
On Thursday morning, Dan Bylsma did Dan Bylsma things when he introduced a new power play schematic. Ok. Maybe Dan is just riffing or getting a look at a new personnel grouping for future reference thought the curious bystanders. Who knew Dan was going to use the new alignment in that night's game?
Expecting the Carolina Hurricanes, the NHL's #1 penalty killing team, to stymie his 4th overall power play, Bylsma flipped his usual script. After a conversation with his coaches, Bylsma removed super sophomore from the first unit power play. Eichel also was removed from the second unit power play group.
Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin took a hooking penalty at the 2:54 mark of the first period. The first unit PP unit skated out onto the ice. Ryan O'Reilly, Samson Reinhart, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and Rasmus Ristolainen went to work. Where was Jack Eichel?
Second PP unit, right?
Nope.
Eichel sat and watched as Marcus Foligno set up shop in the low post, net front position with Evander Kane, Brian Gionta, and Jake McCabe.
Eichel saw zero power play time on the first man advantage opportunity.
After the game, Bylsma was asked point blank about his decision to take a Eichel off the power play. Bylsma said he was trying to "send a message" to both Eichel and the rest of his listless teammates.
“The decision was something we practiced today,… Bylsma told reporters after the game. “He went back in on the second opportunity.…
Thanks, Sabres TV
If it ain't broke, why break it, Dan?
Bylsma said that he wanted to see more of Bylsma's electricity and speed. The same applied to the other 11 forwards and six D. Bylsma was speaking to his entire team by singling out his super star center.
Gutsy move by the veteran bench boss.
If the message isn't received properly the head coach risks alienating his best player.
Only Bylsma and Eichel know why he was left on the bench for the first PP unit.
One wonders why Bylsma took such a hard line approach with his star player.
It's not like Eichel has been stinking out the joint.
Eichel landed a season-high 7 shots on goal against Carolina on Thursday night. Eichel played 18:28 TOI.
In his past four games, Eichel has zero points, and is -5.
Eichel has 21 shots on goal in his past four games.
Bylsma may not be digging that Eichel is 44% in the face off circle. Eichel has 13 missed shots and 7 giveaways in his 11 games played.
Is that a plausible reason to bench the kid? Eichel entered the game with five goals and three assists in his previous ten games.
The Sabres lost the game 3-1. For the umpteenth game in a row, Buffalo were sleep walkers in the first period. The home fans booed the team off the ice after their customary lethargic, slow start to the game. Bylsma said Thursday morning that he wanted his players to be more emotionally attached to their games. Bylsma wanted a faster start to the Carolina game. What he got was a sloppy, slow excuse of a performance. Buffalo took four minor penalties in the second period and spent eight or the twenty minutes killing off their penalties.
Bylsma has his reasons for why be parked Eichel on the bench. The head coach isn't spilling the beans.
Eichel was none too happy after the team's third straight loss.
He sat in his locker stall fuming as he peeled off his gear. He emphatically packed his equipment bag for the flight to Brooklyn. He was clearly agitated and upset with himself. Was he frustrated at the loss? His being removed from the first power play opportunity?
Eichel is a pretty transparent guy. I have never seen Jack as after a game as he was following the Carolina loss. Eichel was downright angry. His media availability was short and abrupt. He was not thrilled to be answering questions about his power play benching.
"It's not my decision. It's the coach's," he said. "They (Hurricanes) have a really good "PK" and we had a lot of good opportunities on the power play. We just need to finish them".
"Obviously, "Mouls" (Matt Moulson) has had a lot of power play goals (7 PPG this season) and he's helped our team. Just switching up looks with them the number one "PK" in the league. Try to keep it a little bit uncertain for them."
This Eichel is slick. Most 20 year old stars would have torn into his boss. Not Eichel. He was a man of very few words, however, his body language and beet red cheeks told me that he was hot under the collar about his deletion from the man advantage units.
"I think I just answered that. I'm not the coach," Eichel said. "Like I said, we had a lot of opportunities on the first power play. I was on the second power play. I'm out there working hard. I think that's all I really have to say about that."
Bylsma, an equal opportunity offender, went out of his way to send a message to Eichel. The thought process behind singling out Eichel is no player is immune from the ire of his head coach. The star is just as accountable as the thirteenth forward and seventh D-man. I respect the head coach's decision. I don't agree with it but I respect it.
I always say "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors". Did Eichel break a team rule? Was he being disciplined for something? Was his benching a result of poor performance?
Only Bylsma and Eichel know that answer.
Eichel heard the message loud and clear. I respect Bylsma as he is the head coach of the team. He is responsible for distributing the ice time and special teams assigments.
I fully and completely expect Eichel to get himself properly motivated and jacked up for a first star worthy performance when the Sabres play the Islanders on Friday night.
I'll be willing to bet that Eichel will not only play on the first PP unit, but he will also score a PPG just to stick it to his head coach for sitting him down against Carolina.
Suffice to say, Eichel will be emotionally attached to Friday night's game.
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The NHL roster freeze went into effect on December 19 and will last until December 28.
I've been saying for weeks that I expect several teams, including the Buffalo Sabres to be active in the trade market as early as January 2017.
Despite the league wide trade moratorium, there were several key NHL members of NHL teams; front offices at the Sabres-Canes game on Thursday night.
Tampa Lightning assistant general manager and director of player personnel was in attendance for the third time in the past two weeks.
The directors of pro scouting of the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs were also in attendance. Both teams directors of pro scouting have been frequent flyers to Buffalo in recent weeks.
The director of of player personnel of the Anaheim Ducks has been a regular visitor to balmy Buffalo for the past couple of months.
The Montreal Canadiens have sent their director of pro scouting to Buffalo on more than one occasion in the past five weeks.
Other teams that are actively scouting Buffalo including Colorado, Dallas, Calgary, LA, Nashville, NY Rangers, and Winnipeg.
Injured forwards Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, and Nic Deslauriers have returned to better health, Sabres GM Tim Murray now has a surplus of forwards. Injured center/winger Tyler Ennis will return to the lineup soon and will cause a another traffic jam in the forward ranks.
I will not be surpised when Tim Murray trades Zemgus Girgensons away for defensive help. Evander Kane is healthy and contributing on both side of the puck.
Girgensons and Kane have been the objects of others teams' eyes for the past couple of months. Both players would add immediate value to other teams.
Bylsma sat Will Carrier versus Carolina, opting instead to play Derek Grant, Deslauriers, and Girgensons. Carrier has been a breath of fresh air for the Sabres with his unique blend of power, skill, finesse and consistency. Bylsma has had high praise for Carrier at time this season. The same cannot be said for Girgensons, who has struggled mightily to find his consistency and continuity while playing in Bylsma's system. Girgensons has had 103 games to impress Bylsma, however, he has come up short. The Latvian Locomotive has scored just 9 goals and 14 assists in 103 games in the Bylsma administration. Girgensons, a 15 goal scorer two seasons ago, is a former 14th overall pick in the draft with four seasons of NHL service. His offfensive production is missing in action. Bylsma has imoressive organizational depth in Carrier, Nick Baptiste, Justin Bailey, Alex Nylander and Hudson Fasching who have impressed in the Buffalo call ups and in AHL Rochester.
Kane has played 86 games for Dan Bylsma. He has scored 26 goals and 20 assists.
Kane has battled through tough injuries the past two seasons but is finally healthy. The veteran winger plays in all situations and adds a power/toughness element that is attractive to opposing general managers and head coaches
Several teams are looking to add veteran D-men and Buffalo have Cody Franson and Josh Gorges to trade off their roster. The emergence of Justin Falk as a reliable depth D has has nudged Franson to the side. Gorges has term left on his contract and would add leadership and shot blocking to a contending team.
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This is second of three meetings between the Sabres and Islanders this season. Last meeting: Buffalo defeated New York 3-2 in Buffalo on Dec. 16 Next meeting: Sunday, April 2 in Buffalo The Sabres are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games vs. the Islanders; 6-4-0 on the road. This is the 164th game all-time between Buffalo and New York; Buffalo has an 80-60-23 series record. The Sabres are 36-34-11 on the road against the Islanders all-time. THIS DAY IN SABRES HISTORY
The Sabres are 17-9-4 all-time on December 23. December 23, 1989: Phil Housley records five points (1+4) in a 6-5 win over the Quebec Nordiques, earning his share of the Sabres’ record for most points in one game by a defenseman. December 23, 2013: The Sabres top the Coyotes 2-1 in overtime despite dressing only 16 skaters and losing Drew Stafford to a game misconduct in the second period.
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The Sabres enter tonight’s game with the Islanders with a 7-4-4 record (.600) in their last 15 games.
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Marcus Foligno will become the 75th player to appear in 300 regular-season NHL games for the Sabres. Among current Sabres, only Tyler Ennis (380) has played more.
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The last two games between the Sabres and Islanders were OT wins for Buffalo.
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Fourteen of the last 18 games between these teams have been decided by a single goal.
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Matt Moulson has seven points (6G, 1A) in eight career games against the Islanders.
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Brian Gionta has recorded four points (2G, 2A) in his last four games against the Islanders.