meh, why not?...he won't cost anything
- Michael Pachla

He’s more of what they already have.

Michael Pachla: The Pegulas witness a disaster and perhaps they need a different approach
- Michael Pachla

I think we have some new suck sisters

Guys are moved every deadline that have you thinking “Why did they move a 5th for that bum?”.
- dadeadhead

technically a 6th

Why?

You finished with 62 points last year.

You are currently on pace for 88 points this year.

I think the main problem is that you over-achieved in the 1st half of the season, and your expectations were raised higher than they should be.

A 24 point improvement is probably more than anyone should hope for.

Hope may be dying for the playoffs this year, but the future looks pretty bright for the Sabres.
- Atomic Wedgie

100%

Skinner's scoring pace has slowed slightly (56 goal pace through the first 41 games vs a 39 goal pace since that time) and a lot of the warts it was masking for the team are shining through.

They were 22-13-6 through the first 41, 6-10-1 since then. Obviously there are other factors, but that's certainly played a part.

He’s more of what they already have.
- dadeadhead

is that so?...they don't have a brutha on the team right now, do they?...hmmmm?

I think we have some new suck sisters
- homiedclown

who came up with that?....jt?

I feel they’re going to do more subtracting than adding.
- dadeadhead

Addition by subtraction

is that so?...they don't have a brutha on the team right now, do they?...hmmmm?
- Michael Pachla

echl

kid can't even get a look in rochester


claim the kid and see what kind of dance he does after the sabres score a goal

The owners are a problem...

The coach is in over his head...

But at the end of the day its the team who play the game...and this team is not only not good enough to consitently win, but have shown a complete inability to handle adversity. This isnt a new phenomena, this has been happening since "the suffering" began.

Botts single goal for the remainder of the season should be to weed out those in the dressing room who are just there for a paycheck.
- feetontheair22

I have bad news... they're all just there for a paycheque.

is that so?...they don't have a brutha on the team right now, do they?...hmmmm?
- Michael Pachla

Okposo is still technically on the team.........

who came up with that?....jt?
- Michael Pachla

I do believe it was him

who came up with that?....jt?
- Michael Pachla

Pretty sure it was JT or Ray.

meh, why not?...he won't cost anything
- Michael Pachla

Yep. He's not great but he's better than at least a couple of the guys they're throwing on the ice every night.

Okposo is still technically on the team.........
- dadeadhead

true...technically

Okposo is still technically on the team.........
- dadeadhead

Why havent we dumped him already?
- Sabre_Tooth

Beaulieu looked good to me yesterday and I think he's looked mostly good this year. I know he was awful last year, but, why in the world is Scandella playing over him all year. Scandella has been downright awful.

This team loses cuz it's stupid. Up 1-0 and McCabe for only God-knows what reason totally vacates his side to join two other Sabres checking one Florida player with the puck. Easy pass to the open side, breakaway, goal, tie game, choke starts. Middlestadt, who generally looked good except he can't finish (nor can his linemates), commits a stupid turnover, 2-1. Ullmark, who has been very good all game, lets in a goal a Mite goalie would save. Game over.

The only player with a hockey IQ on this team is an 18 year old, big problem. Sure, he makes mistakes, but he's friggin 18 playing defense

Nice write-up Pach, as always

I am so conflicted with this organization.
-I want to believe in Botts, but their is ample reason for concern.
-I like the style of system Housely talks about, but either he can't coach it or the players can't/won't play it. Problem for Housley either way
-I used to be very excited about the young core, but now I'm questioning if they have the right guys.
-Eichel is very good, but I still feel like he could deliver so much more
-Skinner is exciting and finally a finisher for Jack...but the rumored 8 years at $8.50sh seems to much for too long
-the team will have CAP space, but will they acquire the right guys for it...I'm less than impressed with the trades and FA's to date...save Skinner
-I thought this was the year we would see growth, gelling with each other and commitment to the system...with few exceptions, they have transitioned from one piss-poor performance to another kind...but equally poor

The list goes on well past that.

Nice write-up Pach, as always

I am so conflicted with this organization.
-I want to believe in Botts, but their is ample reason for concern.
-I like the style of system Housely talks about, but either he can't coach it or the players can't/won't play it. Problem for Housley either way
-I used to be very excited about the young core, but now I'm questioning if they have the right guys.
-Eichel is very good, but I still feel like he could deliver so much more
-Skinner is exciting and finally a finisher for Jack...but the rumored 8 years at $8.50sh seems to much for too long
-the team will have CAP space, but will they acquire the right guys for it...I'm less than impressed with the trades and FA's to date...save Skinner
-I thought this was the year we would see growth, gelling with each other and commitment to the system...with few exceptions, they have transitioned from one piss-poor performance to another kind...but equally poor

The list goes on well past that.
- IonSabres

thx, and great points all through

Murray didn't give up too much...he stole O'Reilly and Kane.

And by the looks of things, given what Andersen and Talbot went for, he didn't give up too much for Lehner.

People just need a scapegoat, and they chose Murray.

thx, and great points all through
- Michael Pachla

the biggest kick in the nuts

3 games that should they should win, rangers devils and panthers

0 points, and really not even coming close to sniffing a loser point

I think about 14 skaters took those 3 games off

I sometimes wonder how much the Pegulas care about their hockey team. Last night was a rarity in seeing them, and that was only because it was in their backyard. I usually only see them being involved with the Bills and any time they do speak it’s usually about how they’re investing more into the Bills operation. I’d be happy if the arena bathrooms could have soap and paper towels on a regular basis.

[quote=Buffalo--Sabres]
Ryan Miller is a backup goalie now.

Keeping him and Vanek and Pominville and all those old veterans wouldn't have made the team any better. They were awful with those guys before they were traded.

And those guys could've kept the Sabres from getting Eichel and Reinhart, both of whom I'll take over aging players from the past who are no longer that good.

Murray didn't give up too much...he stole O'Reilly and Kane.

And by the looks of things, given what Andersen and Talbot went for, he didn't give up too much for Lehner.

People just need a scapegoat, and they chose Murray.
- DJshnooks

Nikita Zadorov
Mikhail Grigorenko
J.T. Compher
2015 2nd round pick
Brendan Lemieux
Joel Armia
Drew Stafford
Tyler Myers
2015 1st round pick


for
bogo
2016 conditional 3rd round pick (mcginn)
2019 conditional 1st round pick
Daniel O`Regan
2020 4th round pick
Vladimir Sobotka
Patrik Berglund
Tage Thompson
2019 1st round pick
2021 2nd round pick

I sometimes wonder how much the Pegulas care about their hockey team. Last night was a rarity in seeing them, and that was only because it was in their backyard. I usually only see them being involved with the Bills and any time they do speak it’s usually about how they’re investing more into the Bills operation. I’d be happy if the arena bathrooms could have soap and paper towels on a regular basis.
- Frizzlefry

They cared enough to buy them. They don't make much money off of them, in the grand scheme of being billionaires.

It's been 8 years, but really they're still young owners.

Why aren't we holding these players' feet to the fire? They should be playing playoff hockey right now. Fighting for their lives. Instead, it's like they can't wait for these last 6-7 weeks to end.

They cared enough to buy them. They don't make much money off of them, in the grand scheme of being billionaires.

It's been 8 years, but really they're still young owners.

Why aren't we holding these players' feet to the fire? They should be playing playoff hockey right now. Fighting for their lives. Instead, it's like they can't wait for these last 6-7 weeks to end.
- Powerslave