just curious, why does Eichel need structure?
- Michael Pachla

Without structure, teaching is meaningless. Housley can point to a goal against and say, "you were supposed to be here, he was supposed to be here, and this is why we were scored on." Nolan would basically rely on effort as a gauge for how the game went. That method doesn't impart a sense of deeper understanding for what actually happened in the game.

But then Bylsma came and overloaded them with positions, info, etc. and went waaaaay too far the other way

Lets face it. The defence has been brutal during this streak and give away after give away has been the norm. Dahlin is an up and comer but he gives the puck away like the rookie he is and picks some bad times to get caught rushing or pinching. Last game against the Hawks he rushed in on the 4 on 4 then watched as Kane went the other way on a breakaway. With experience he will realize not only situations dictate when to rush the puck but whose on the ice will influence that decision also. For now he is what he is and he will be a superstar.
Some of the young forwards are tight and maybe some experience will help them relax enough to reclaim some scoring touch over the next couple years. They will learn that it’s quality shots over quantity that win games. A bigger area of concern should be moving out some forwards that are making a hell of a lot of money to be checkers and/or single digit scorers for the year.
The goaltending over the last couple months could have been better but overall this tandem will be a lot better when some of the other areas are cleaned up.
The core of this team is good now and a lot of good times are just around the corner.
- Camel

I’m pretty sure most of Dahlin mistakes are a product of Housleys “system” but he should back check a lot harder when he gets caught. Seems like he does not put forth the effort to get back like he should

phil has strong maternal instincts
- Michael Pachla

I really think phil was brought in to make jack happy.
He despised bylsma.

Also phil, is the perfect coach to sell tickets and finish at the bottom last year.

Tpegs fires phil april 6th

Well its time to take the players off the Nipple then.
- hehateme

Giggle giggle

I could see Bowl-U and Girgs playing well in Pittsburgh. I’ll throw in Pominville for Malkin. They need depth, Sabres need a 2C.

Call up Nylander and we have ourselves a hockey team folks
- washedup20

Beaulieu, Girgensons & Pominville...
for
Malkin

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Pittsburgh hangs up laughing

Botts should get a lifetime contract extension if he pulled that off

They should’ve been playing Okposo with Jack ALL YEAR for that very reason
- jdfitz77

Well, to be fair.... ECHL Skinner Sam has been pretty good and the only possitve we have going for us

i dont mind keeping Phail as the D coach.. just can we demote him or something..
- SabresFaninIndiana

Maybe as the "offensive defenseman" coach

Then hire another defensive defenseman coach like mike Ramsey.

Someone who can teach defense. It seems to be missing lately

Lindy as head coach

Yes, but the difference is Bottcoin is more along the lines of savings bonds. You can't cash it in for like 7 years at least.

checks gallup poll, 3ER still numero uno.
- Hatboro_Swords

Does the legendary GMTM have another job yet?

Can’t believe teams weren’t lining up for his services with all the great moves he made

Without structure, teaching is meaningless. Housley can point to a goal against and say, "you were supposed to be here, he was supposed to be here, and this is why we were scored on." Nolan would basically rely on effort as a gauge for how the game went. That method doesn't impart a sense of deeper understanding for what actually happened in the game.

But then Bylsma came and overloaded them with positions, info, etc. and went waaaaay too far the other way
- jcragcrumple

yeah, Housley may do that, but he doesn't get them to do it on a consistent basis...Bylsma had his systems and they tuned him out to the point where they started losing and a deep chasm developed in the locker room...

did you ever hear anyone say they lost their love for the game during those two tank years?

Well, to be fair.... ECHL Skinner Sam has been pretty good and the only possitve we have going for us
- lulags

Plus players need to " earn " 1st line time

Well, to be fair.... ECHL Skinner Sam has been pretty good and the only possitve we have going for us
- lulags

I know, but it was/is more important to:
-have more than 1 line that scores
-up Okposo’s value as much as possible with the idea to try & move him this summer

Skinner-Jack-Sam has been mostly great
BUT we should’ve been looking beyond this season
And even in this season, we should’ve been looking for more balance
We all knew the way we were winning was unsustainable

Plus players need to " earn " 1st line time
- Boss34

And Okslowpoke sure does not deserve it on merit

I know, but it was/is more important to:
-have more than 1 line that scores
-up Okposo’s value as much as possible with the idea to try & move him this summer

Skinner-Jack-Sam has been mostly great
BUT we should’ve been looking beyond this season
And even in this season, we should’ve been looking for more balance
We all knew the way we were winning was unsustainable
- jdfitz77

Plus players need to " earn " 1st line time
- Boss34

It’s not like Okposo has “earned” it now
We needed to shake things up a while ago

I know, but it was/is more important to:
-have more than 1 line that scores
-up Okposo’s value as much as possible with the idea to try & move him this summer

Skinner-Jack-Sam has been mostly great
BUT we should’ve been looking beyond this season
And even in this season, we should’ve been looking for more balance
We all knew the way we were winning was unsustainable
- jdfitz77

At this point I’d abosolutly play the whole shooting match on his line to raise their stock

yeah, Housley may do that, but he doesn't get them to do it on a consistent basis...Bylsma had his systems and they tuned him out to the point where they started losing and a deep chasm developed in the locker room...did you ever hear anyone say they lost their love for the game during those two tank years?
- Michael Pachla

When Foligno and Ennis got to Minnesota they basically said that we had normalized losing and they couldn't wait to get out of that environment, despite however Nolan may have tried motivate them. Maybe Bylsma did that to them, I guess.

I'm too young to remember the pre-lindy Ted years, but I think the time between the two stints/his isles days had clearly taken him out of the pro game for too long. The game had passed him by imo. He hasn't sniffed an NHL job since his second departure, either. Agree to disagree

Glad to see CJ up, he is deserving of the call up. Nylander on the other hand, not so good.

0 goals last 10 games
0 points last 6 games
4 total points in his last 16 games

He needs to turn it around. I hate to say it but if he continues, he's approaching bust territory.

Glad to see CJ up, he is deserving of the call up. Nylander on the other hand, not so good.

0 goals last 10 games
0 points last 6 games
4 total points in his last 16 games

He needs to turn it around. I hate to say it but if he continues, he's approaching bust territory.
- mhp

I think he has all ready paid the toll and crossed the bridge to bustville..

When Foligno and Ennis got to Minnesota they basically said that we had normalized losing and they couldn't wait to get out of that environment, despite however Nolan may have tried motivate them.

I'm too young to remember the pre-lindy Ted years, but I think the time between the two stints/his isles days had clearly taken him out of the pro game for too long. The game had passed him by imo. He hasn't sniffed an NHL job since his second departure, either. Agree to disagree
- jcragcrumple

when ennis and Foligno were traded, they were two years removed from the tank years...

I understand that Nolan's "glory years" happened 15 years prior to his second stint in buffalo, and that his two islanders years were so-so at best, but looking back on what transpired these last three and a half seasons makes me think that he could have done no worse than Bylsma or Housley

when ennis and Foligno were traded, they were two years removed from the tank years...

I understand that Nolan's "glory years" happened 15 years prior to his second stint in buffalo, and that his two islanders years were so-so at best, but looking back on what transpired these last three and a half seasons makes me think that he could have done no worse than Bylsma or Housley
- Michael Pachla

I could not agree more with you sir...

I think he has all ready paid the toll and crossed the bridge to bustville..
- hehateme

I'm afraid you're right. He won't get a call up this year and will be in Rochester next year and hope he does better. From what I have seen, he peels off checks and doesn't go the net. He glides up and down his wing and doesn't create much offense, especially lately.

Glad to see CJ up, he is deserving of the call up. Nylander on the other hand, not so good.

0 goals last 10 games
0 points last 6 games
4 total points in his last 16 games

He needs to turn it around. I hate to say it but if he continues, he's approaching bust territory.
- mhp

But he's only 20 & 10.5/12ths.
It's only his 3rd year in the A.
He needs to be in the NHL, his talent is better suited for it.
.
.
.
Bust.

I'm afraid you're right. He won't get a call up this year and will be in Rochester next year and hope he does better. From what I have seen, he peels off checks and doesn't go the net. He glides up and down his wing and doesn't create much offense, especially lately.
- mhp

maybe that's who he is

when ennis and Foligno were traded, they were two years removed from the tank years...

I understand that Nolan's "glory years" happened 15 years prior to his second stint in buffalo, and that his two islanders years were so-so at best, but looking back on what transpired these last three and a half seasons makes me think that he could have done no worse than Bylsma or Housley
- Michael Pachla

I agree that maybe Nolan could have gotten the same results as Bylsma, but I do think it would have imparted some very bad habits to our young players. I don't think that Risto benefited from Nolan at all.

I'm of the opinion that both Nolan and Gio were both overrated in terms of their ability to motivate and get results. And they teamed up for a last place finish. Nolan was the fall guy for a terrible period in Sabres history, and he did that. But we moved on when we should have imo, even if Bylsma sucked for different reasons

maybe that's who he is
- Michael Pachla

Starting to seem that way