Where did I suggest that we hire a coach that consistently yells and screams?? All I said is someone with a pulse behind the bench. I gave you two pervious coaches that were really good at motivating their team. Not sure I know of any coach that Consistently yells and screams. and of course it would get old if that was the case.
- gordong

Housley apparently shows the kind of emotion u want,
just at practice & not in games

And yeah...
i do think the yellers & screamers do so on a fairly regular basis
If u NEED to do that to motivate your team,
your team blows & isn’t going far

Our team isn’t losing bc “Phil doesn’t have a pulse”

Is him yelling gonna make Tage an accurate shooter?
Is it gonna make Sobatka have some offensive talent?
Is it gonna make Mitts or Pilut develop faster?


Like i said...
I’m not totally discounting the “emotion” part of it
But i also think you guys are making WAY too big a deal about it
And that overall, the effect it would have isn’t all that great

If we had a yeller behind the bench...
are we a playoff team?
Nope
We definitely are not

To be fair, you never spelled his name right

But Mittelstadt should be playing, and playing with the best players available, because playing Sobotka in any role, but especially a top 9 role, is a useless exercise when there's nothing to play for
- jcragcrumple

I made an effort after i got sh!t for it
But it didn’t take me long to just say screw it

You’re preaching to the choir about Sobatka
Pretty sure i was the very first to come on here & blast the trade bc i didn’t like him or Berglund (or Tage)

But like i said before...
if Mitts sits a game or 2, no biggie
Yes, he should be playing with better linemates
But we only have so many options
Only 3 spots on the 4th line

He doesn't have the stones to bench Okposo or Skinner.

Rookies are easy to pick on. A convenient scape goat for a clueless coach
- jcragcrumple

That’s pretty much every coach though
Even the “good” ones

As soon as Phil realized that Erod doesn't suck, he stuck Mittelstadt with Sobotka or Larsson and threw him under the bus.

What the (frank) are we doing here if we're scratching Mittelstadt in a useless season?

Can someone please tell Housley that Sobotka sucks?
- jcragcrumple

Could've fooled me.

Could've fooled me.
- Frizzlefry

These things are relative.

He's a 4th liner asked to do too much. He's a better option than most at center, and he is thrust into a position he shouldn't occupy.

Phil suddenly realized that he is a decent player after Eichel got hurt, and has since overplayed him and thrown Mittelstadt under the bus.

Well
1st, no team in the NHL can tank for #1, nor 2, nor 3 anymore.
It is only a chance, and a significantly reduced chance that it works out that way...it is a major difference.
So no, I can't buy that explanation.

2nd, the benefit in having a higher pick is twofold
I) it may allow the team to draft a player is a different tier of projected play. This year, Hughes and Kakko are thought to be in a different tier than the ne t 8 or so after them...then again another tier kicks in around 10 to 20. So, theoretically that 8 vs 12 COULD be a difference.
B) it allows the team to have control over the player THEY prefer, rather than leftovers even within a tier. This year, I would prefer to have Cozens because he matches what I think the team needs...size, skating, skill, sniper and some degree of physicality. Others seem to be more like a Nylander...more perimeter, more distributor of pucks.

Summary, tanking has merit.
Glad you now see it.
Does that change now mean Pegulaville and other tankers are now good fans because you joined their line of thinking?
- IonSabres

It KIND OF had merit

When you’re tanking for a franchise player,
like Hughes or Kakko...
that’s completely different than tanking for a Top10 pick instead of trying to make the playoffs- even if you’re destined for a quick exit

A couple weeks ago,
I went into detail with all the guys picked in the teens who were better picks than Top10 guys

It’s happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR
Those preconceived “Tiers” NEVER HOLD UP
NEVER

So when he was saying we needed to tank to get the 8th pick
Sure, in theory it has merit
EXCEPT it totally discounts that we still could get a really good player at 16 or 18 or wherever
The odds go down, a little
But if you’re a good drafter at pick8,
you’re gonna be a good drafter at pick16


The ONLY time tanking has merit imo is when you’re going for one of the top guys
Bc the odds are pretty big that those guys are franchise changers
That’s worth it

All that said...
i still don’t cheer for my teams to lose
Yes, that does make u a bad fan

If u were sitting next to Mitts tomorrow night...
would u cheer for us to lose?
Would he think you were a good fan if you did?
I HIGHLY DOUBT IT

Several seasons ago the Sabres were something like 4th all-time in regular season winning %.

There have been more than 6 good regular seasons here, but not much playoff success.

I think the '92-'93 team was very good, but were undone by injuries.
- Losman

IMO it depends on if you want good, or successful.
-Good - fun to watch, talented, win more that they lose...but doesn't achieve the end-goal
-Success - set out with a defined goal, relentless pursuit of goal, talented players, play as a team, realize end-goal.

Sabres this year were good for about 1/3 of the season all told. They were not successful.
Sabres have had several more than 6 seasons of being good, I agree. Six seasons of success is being generous.

At 60, having watched them since the start if the `72-73 season, I want them to be good for sure...however I am now expecting for them to be successful...starting with playing well into the playoffs very soon and winning the SC within 5 years.
First me, anything less is a failure now.
At ages 20, 30 even 40...fans may feel differently...they have a much longer time runway.

That’s pretty much every coach though
Even the “good” ones
- jdfitz77

I think a good coach recognizes the talent available to him. I think Housley for all of his talk of a modern, up-tempo, neutral-zone aggressive hockey team, is actually very conservative and over-reliant on slugs and dinosaurs, and he should have realized that in December, but he doubled down and demoted Smith and Pilut; two players that supposedly play the system he's looking for.

In short, I don't think he trusts his own system, and he's lost when it comes to making personnel choices.

These things are relative.

He's a 4th liner asked to do too much. He's a better option than most at center, and he is thrust into a position he shouldn't occupy.

Phil suddenly realized that he is a decent player after Eichel got hurt, and has since overplayed him and thrown Mittelstadt under the bus.
- jcragcrumple

Even as a 4th line player I dont think he stands out above any of the other 4th liners we have (and we have a lot). Just more of the same but with a stupid mouth.

Even as a 4th line player I dont think he stands out above any of the other 4th liners we have (and we have a lot). Just more of the same but with a stupid mouth.
- Frizzlefry

I'm not gonna defend him. If you're interested in his underlying stats, or counting stats, they're there for you.

I think a good coach recognizes the talent available to him. I think Housley for all of his talk of a modern, up-tempo, neutral-zone aggressive hockey team, is actually very conservative and over-reliant on slugs and dinosaurs, and he should have realized that in December, but he doubled down and demoted Smith and Pilut; two players that supposedly play the system he's looking for.

In short, I don't think he trusts his own system, and he's lost when it comes to making personnel choices.
- jcragcrumple

I think he realizes we don’t have the horses to play like Toronto & “outscore” teams
Thus,
We aren’t really playing the style that he & Botts envisioned YET

That’s a BIG reason why i was so p!ssed about the return for O’Reilly
Sobatka & Berglund aren’t “fast”
They never were a FIT for the style we wanna play
And yeah, Tage has talent
But he’s not a burner either
Never really saw him as a fit for the style we (SUPPOSEDLY) wanna play either

It KIND OF had merit

When you’re tanking for a franchise player,
like Hughes or Kakko...
that’s completely different than tanking for a Top10 pick instead of trying to make the playoffs- even if you’re destined for a quick exit

A couple weeks ago,
I went into detail with all the guys picked in the teens who were better picks than Top10 guys

It’s happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR
Those preconceived “Tiers” NEVER HOLD UP
NEVER

So when he was saying we needed to tank to get the 8th pick
Sure, in theory it has merit
EXCEPT it totally discounts that we still could get a really good player at 16 or 18 or wherever
The odds go down, a little
But if you’re a good drafter at pick8,
you’re gonna be a good drafter at pick16


The ONLY time tanking has merit imo is when you’re going for one of the top guys
Bc the odds are pretty big that those guys are franchise changers
That’s worth it

All that said...
i still don’t cheer for my teams to lose
Yes, that does make u a bad fan

If u were sitting next to Mitts tomorrow night...
would u cheer for us to lose?
Would he think you were a good fan if you did?
I HIGHLY DOUBT IT
- jdfitz77

With the exception of the Eichel draft, I have never cheered for the Sabres to lose, never.
I don't cheer for them to lose this year either.
I do however see the benefit of picking at 6 rather than 13 FOR SURE.
When they lose, I still get pissed and usually very frustrated that at 72 games I. Jack can't figure out to tie his guy up in the slot...and wonder what would cause Scandella to drive by the slot into the corner while his man is open and puts a goal. WTF

I don't stand up and do a dance.
There is a difference between rea,izing the benefits of a loss and cheering for one, and a major difference in calling out other posters as bad fans when they gloat the team is getting closer to that 6th spot. Like them doing so has caused the team to lose.

If I sat next to Mitts, I would ask him why such a large number of players can't seem to play as a team, play a system. When the Sabres score I'd stand up and clap.
When the opponent scored I'd be pissed and probably swear at the dummy who lost his man in front again.

I'm not gonna defend him. If you're interested in his underlying stats, or counting stats, they're there for you.
- jcragcrumple

I was saying all year that E Rod should be the 3C and Sobatka should be moved to the wing- or on line4 where he really belongs

I think he realizes we don’t have the horses to play like Toronto & “outscore” teams
Thus,
We aren’t really playing the style that he & Botts envisioned YET

That’s a BIG reason why i was so p!ssed about the return for O’Reilly
Sobatka & Berglund aren’t “fast”
They never were a FIT for the style we wanna play
And yeah, Tage has talent
But he’s not a burner either
Never really saw him as a fit for the style we (SUPPOSEDLY) wanna play either
- jdfitz77

Be that as it may, and I don't disagree, his "updated" system is worse than the system he abandoned. He's a man without a philosophy, and totally adrift at sea. He doesn't know what he wants, and he doesn't know what he has

With the exception of the Eichel draft, I have never cheered for the Sabres to lose, never.
I don't cheer for them to lose this year either.
I do however see the benefit of picking at 6 rather than 13 FOR SURE.
When they lose, I still get pissed and usually very frustrated that at 72 games I. Jack can't figure out to tie his guy up in the slot...and wonder what would cause Scandella to drive by the slot into the corner while his man is open and puts a goal. WTF

I don't stand up and do a dance.
There is a difference between rea,izing the benefits of a loss and cheering for one, and a major difference in calling out other posters as bad fans when they gloat the team is getting closer to that 6th spot. Like them doing so has caused the team to lose.

If I sat next to Mitts, I would ask him why such a large number of players can't seem to play as a team, play a system. When the Sabres score I'd stand up and clap.
When the opponent scored I'd be pissed and probably swear at the dummy who lost his man in front again.
- IonSabres

I’ve always seen the benefit of a loss
You’re acting like i didn’t
Pegs was actively cheering for us to lose
That’s just sh!tty imo
And not the same thing as cheering for your team... but then shrugging your shoulders when we lose and saying, “oh well, better pick we’ll get”

Yes... in THEORY... pick 6 is better than pick 13
But in REALITY...
pick 13 is often still a very good player
And in many cases, even better than pick 6

It happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR

I’d STILL rather have us in the playoff race right now- even if we’d miss- and end up picking 13th
Than have to have given up on another season (like i have) and barely even watching us play right now

Be that as it may, and I don't disagree, his "updated" system is worse than the system he abandoned. He's a man without a philosophy, and totally adrift at sea. He doesn't know what he wants, and he doesn't know what he has
- jcragcrumple

He’s also hamstrung by the guys Botts puts here though too
It’s not his fault that he’s had way too many 4th liners on the roster this year,
and that the young talent has barely been given a shot
It’s not all Housley at fault

As soon as Phil realized that Erod doesn't suck, he stuck Mittelstadt with Sobotka or Larsson and threw him under the bus.

What the (frank) are we doing here if we're scratching Mittelstadt in a useless season?

Can someone please tell Housley that Sobotka sucks?
- jcragcrumple

Maybe its an off ice / being tardy situation?

I'm not gonna defend him. If you're interested in his underlying stats, or counting stats, they're there for you.
- jcragcrumple

His underlying numbers have taken a hit lately

I don’t mind him as a 4th liner but he isn’t someone who should make more than 1.25-1.5 mil. I think they probably move on

It KIND OF had merit

When you’re tanking for a franchise player,
like Hughes or Kakko...
that’s completely different than tanking for a Top10 pick instead of trying to make the playoffs- even if you’re destined for a quick exit

A couple weeks ago,
I went into detail with all the guys picked in the teens who were better picks than Top10 guys

It’s happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR
Those preconceived “Tiers” NEVER HOLD UP
NEVER

So when he was saying we needed to tank to get the 8th pick
Sure, in theory it has merit
EXCEPT it totally discounts that we still could get a really good player at 16 or 18 or wherever
The odds go down, a little
But if you’re a good drafter at pick8,
you’re gonna be a good drafter at pick16


The ONLY time tanking has merit imo is when you’re going for one of the top guys
Bc the odds are pretty big that those guys are franchise changers
That’s worth it

All that said...
i still don’t cheer for my teams to lose
Yes, that does make u a bad fan

If u were sitting next to Mitts tomorrow night...
would u cheer for us to lose?
Would he think you were a good fan if you did?
I HIGHLY DOUBT IT
- jdfitz77

Management has a list of " cant miss nhl players"

If they feel like this draft has 7 or 8.
You make sure to finish bottom 5ish

Pretty simple

I think he realizes we don’t have the horses to play like Toronto & “outscore” teams
Thus,
We aren’t really playing the style that he & Botts envisioned YET

That’s a BIG reason why i was so p!ssed about the return for O’Reilly
Sobatka & Berglund aren’t “fast”
They never were a FIT for the style we wanna play
And yeah, Tage has talent
But he’s not a burner either
Never really saw him as a fit for the style we (SUPPOSEDLY) wanna play either
- jdfitz77

Matthews (1st), J.T (1st), Marner (4th), Reilly (5th), Nylander (7th), Kadri (7th).

Average draft position of 4.16. That’s the core of a “cup contender”. The Leafs have be rebuilding for 14 years but nobody ever likes to think of it that way. Sure they made the playoffs in Matthews and Marner’s rookie year but a lot of losing had taken place in order to get the depth arround them. The leafs got depth first, superstars after. Sabres have a couple superstar talents, with no depth. Good thing is we have another top 10 pick and a lot of cap space to acquire depth.

With the exception of the Eichel draft, I have never cheered for the Sabres to lose, never.
I don't cheer for them to lose this year either.
I do however see the benefit of picking at 6 rather than 13 FOR SURE.
When they lose, I still get pissed and usually very frustrated that at 72 games I. Jack can't figure out to tie his guy up in the slot...and wonder what would cause Scandella to drive by the slot into the corner while his man is open and puts a goal. WTF

I don't stand up and do a dance.
There is a difference between rea,izing the benefits of a loss and cheering for one, and a major difference in calling out other posters as bad fans when they gloat the team is getting closer to that 6th spot. Like them doing so has caused the team to lose.

If I sat next to Mitts, I would ask him why such a large number of players can't seem to play as a team, play a system. When the Sabres score I'd stand up and clap.
When the opponent scored I'd be pissed and probably swear at the dummy who lost his man in front again.
- IonSabres

Bingo

His underlying numbers have taken a hit lately

I don’t mind him as a 4th liner but he isn’t someone who should make more than 1.25-1.5 mil. I think they probably move on
- sbroads24

Idk what they're gonna do. They need more speed, and he has that. At his price point they would be wise to offer a deal imo.

He’s also hamstrung by the guys Botts puts here though too
It’s not his fault that he’s had way too many 4th liners on the roster this year,
and that the young talent has barely been given a shot
It’s not all Housley at fault
- jdfitz77

Of course, but I'm at a loss to come up with anything that Housley did to make the situation better, or even examples of players who have benefitted from his tutelage

Asplund scores. Rochester up 1-0 on then Marlies. Olofsson with an assist. Asplund up to 11 points in his last 9 games.

Asplund scores. Rochester up 1-0 on then Marlies. Olofsson with an assist. Asplund up to 11 points in his last 9 games.
- Pegullaville

Didn't he have like 1 point in 15 games to start the season? His half-a-point-per-game stats are very encouraging