I'm not going off the rails at all. I'm just asking why we should keep him. I don't hate him at all. I feel the same way about him that I felt about Matt Freakin Ellis. He's a placeholder forward. The only difference is that at one time, girgs held a ton a promise and has regressed.

I think it's totally fair to hold him to the standard of his draft position and rookie season. That's not a level of hate
- jcragcrumple

He had 8 goals his rookie season dude

He had 8 goals his rookie season dude
- sbroads24

Jesus, you're right. My bad. His sophomore season

I used to know that.

His rookie season is still his 2nd best season

Jesus, you're right. My bad. His sophomore season
- jcragcrumple

I figured that’s what you meant, but that 15 goal season is just a better shooting %. Probably from being on a “top line” with more opportunities

I figured that’s what you meant, but that 15 goal season is just a better shooting %. Probably from being on a “top line” with more opportunities
- sbroads24

That still doesn't explain going from 1000 minutes and 30 points to 900 minutes and 15 points. He has regressed, and there's no reason to keep him around. Malone or O'Regan could easily be better. Hell, I bet Wilson centering Bailey and Baptiste would be significantly better

I'm not going off the rails at all. I'm just asking why we should keep him. I don't hate him at all. I feel the same way about him that I felt about Matt Freakin Ellis. He's a placeholder forward. The only difference is that at one time, girgs held a ton a promise and has regressed.

I think it's totally fair to hold him to the standard of his draft position and rookie season. That's not a level of hate
- jcragcrumple

Wow dude... no one is disagreeing with him not living up to expectations

No one is saying he’s anything other than a 4th liner

You’re making a big deal about nothing

That still doesn't explain going from 1000 minutes and 30 points to 900 minutes and 15 points. He has regressed, and there's no reason to keep him around. Malone or O'Regan could easily be better. Hell, I bet Wilson centering Bailey and Baptiste would be significantly better
- jcragcrumple

I don’t know if that’s regression. He has 3 other seasons that are all similar to each other, and then that one.

It’s an outlier

Wow dude... no one is disagreeing with him not living up to expectations

No one is saying he’s anything other than a 4th liner

You’re making a big deal about nothing
- jdfitz77

It's July 18th, these things will happen

Girgensons is a 4th liner. If he never plays for the Sabres again no one should care.

He’s a bust of a 1st rounder.

The expectations of Girgensons this past season were pretty much what he produced. He isn’t why were 31st
- sbroads24

Beg to disagree.
He was picked 14th OA.
He should be at least, at least a productive 3rd liner, possibly a 2nd.
S/b potting something like 15-20G 15-20A's
He is barely a 4th liner
He contributes virtually nothing.

He IS exactly A problem, just not the only one.

Beg to disagree.
He was picked 14th OA.
He should be at least, at least a productive 3rd liner, possibly a 2nd.
S/b potting something like 15-20G 15-20A's
He is barely a 4th liner
He contributes virtually nothing.

He IS exactly A problem, just not the only one.
- IonSabres

Right, but those expectations waved bye-bye two years ago.

It’s not like people were penciling him in for 20 goals this year.

He did what people thought he would do

Right, but those expectations waved bye-bye two years ago.

It’s not like people were penciling him in for 20 goals this year.

He did what people thought he would do
- sbroads24

So why are we keeping him?

So why are we keeping him?
- jcragcrumple

He’s under contract? Bailey and Baptiste can’t keep an NHL job yet? Draft pedigree?

I don’t know, and honestly think it’s really not a worry at all as long as he doesn’t make his way to Eichel or Mitts line

what exactly is my best?

I can't take anything that's Sabres-associated seriously until I see an actual product on the ice. Not horribly contrasted and damp looking uniforms and a bunch of undisciplined idiots, but a well-dressed and entertaining game and an atmosphere that doesn't drag with paper fans and drunk morons who don't know how to root for a team whether it's losing or not. Obviously the losing has a lot to do with it but I don't like how a miserable on-ice attitude has been allowed to drag on this entire time.

Ted Nolan wouldn't have been such a bad last few years and we still would have finished last. For a guy who loves his "Sabres Alumni", Terry Pegula sure has run through quite a few of them since he's bought the team.

It's no excuse for lazy management this last several years, in any case. The marketing is stale, the presentation is old, the tone is flat and the environment is empty of any kind of emotion. It's all just a ho-hum attitude from the top down, and the fanbase isn't free of this criticism, either. The players live like the populace does in Buffalo.

Criticize Jack and Sam for supposedly being drinkers who stay up until the sun comes up on game days and still show up to work, yeah, how dare they. They aren't Jim-Kellying around town or driving into buildings and literally every single player ever does that when they're young and grinding the schedule.

I do see them go through the motions but I do NOT see them mope. I have seen a few players mope and be invisible leaders in a confused locker-room that's clearly hostile because they don't have a healthy work environment.

It's still a (frank)ing poop-show and until it actually appears as a consistent and entertaining on-ice product, then there's no point in repeating the same things Ad nauseam and taking blog discussion so seriously that it interferes with your everyday life.

Suck it, beady.
- Der Kaiser

4/5

Right, but those expectations waved bye-bye two years ago.

It’s not like people were penciling him in for 20 goals this year.

He did what people thought he would do
- sbroads24

It's more a damnation of
A) Sabres scouting
B) NHL drafting at age 18

I thisnk you statement should be adjsted to say, now that we know who he is, he is doing what people now think he is capable of.
Back in year 1 & 2, people didnt think of him as a 4th liner getting ~5 G's

It's more a damnation of
A) Sabres scouting
B) NHL drafting at age 18

I thisnk you statement should be adjsted to say, now that we know who he is, he is doing what people now think he is capable of.
Back in year 1 & 2, people didnt think of him as a 4th liner getting ~5 G's
- IonSabres

Agreed.

4/5
- BeadyEyedDouche

Feeling generous this evening I see

He’s under contract? Bailey and Baptiste can’t keep an NHL job yet? Draft pedigree?

I don’t know, and honestly think it’s really not a worry at all as long as he doesn’t make his way to Eichel or Mitts line
- sbroads24

It's not just Bailey and Baptiste he's holding back, which are imo, far more intriguing options. Let's go with a depth chart:

Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart
Erod-Mitts-Okposo
Wilson-Berglund-Pominville
(Girgs spot)-Sobotka-Thompson

So for that LW spot you have

Girgs
Smith
Olofsson
Nylander
Bailey
O'Regan

Almost all of those offer higher upside than Girgs. Why keep him?

It's not just Bailey and Baptiste he's holding back, which are imo, far more intriguing options. Let's go with a depth chart:

Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart
Erod-Mitts-Okposo
Wilson-Berglund-Pominville
(Girgs spot)-Sobotka-Thompson

So for that LW spot you have

Girgs
Smith
Olofsson
Nylander
Bailey
O'Regan

Almost all of those offer higher upside than Girgs. Why keep him?
- jcragcrumple

We’re at the point where if any of those are truly better they will end up playing over him.

IMO Girgs had a longer leash because of draft status. Only goes so far

I must say that I do enjoy The Athletic.
Stories come fairly frequently..of course I wish there were 20 per day related to my specific sports interests...but there there are multiple articles daily I enjoy.
I do think the Sabres have a strong representation there, so that is good.
For July, it is kicking asses.
It sure beats The BN by a wide margin

I must say that I do enjoy The Athletic.
Stories come fairly frequently..of course I wish there were 20 per day related to my specific sports interests...but there there are multiple articles daily I enjoy.
I do think the Sabres have a strong representation there, so that is good.
For July, it is kicking asses.
It sure beats The BN by a wide margin
- IonSabres

X2. I took the discount and paid for a year. Mostly for Kris Baker alone.
But I also think Vogl was one of the only level headed writers at the BN.
Definitely worth $3/month to read Baker's evaluation of players im never going to see in moose-poop saskatchewan.

It's not just Bailey and Baptiste he's holding back, which are imo, far more intriguing options. Let's go with a depth chart:

Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart
Erod-Mitts-Okposo
Wilson-Berglund-Pominville
(Girgs spot)-Sobotka-Thompson

So for that LW spot you have

Girgs
Smith
Olofsson
Nylander
Bailey
O'Regan

Almost all of those offer higher upside than Girgs. Why keep him?
- jcragcrumple

Because he's the best defensive player on that list. If he's on a checking line and killing penalties for another season, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

X2. I took the discount and paid for a year. Mostly for Kris Baker alone.
But I also think Vogl was one of the only level headed writers at the BN.
Definitely worth $3/month to read Baker's evaluation of players im never going to see in moose-poop saskatchewan.
- seedy

Lol!
I enjoy Ryan Stimson's articles as well.

Lol!
I enjoy Ryan Stimson's articles as well.
- IonSabres

Yeah, im reading his "age" article now.

Beg to disagree.
He was picked 14th OA.
He should be at least, at least a productive 3rd liner, possibly a 2nd.
S/b potting something like 15-20G 15-20A's
He is barely a 4th liner
He contributes virtually nothing.

He IS exactly A problem, just not the only one.
- IonSabres

Girgensons is a symptom of the disease that results in 31st overall finishes.

Unfulfilled expectation leading to apathy and complacency.

Maybe his isn’t THE problem, but he is certainly part of the problem.

Yeah, im reading his "age" article now.
- seedy

I just wish he would take it one step further when be talks about specific Sabres as it relates to the general topic...like recommendations for each... not just a weak conclusion on what it may mean for that player.
Kinda like, dont come to me with problems, come with solutions to problems

Girgensons is a symptom of the disease that results in 31st overall finishes.

Unfulfilled expectation leading to apathy and complacency.

Maybe his isn’t THE problem, but he is certainly part of the problem.
- Der Kaiser

You may keep breathing.
I agree with your conclusion.