and you left off Jake Muzzin with his 15 points in 25 games
playing at a 50 point per season clip since the trade, risto won't get near 50 points
- homiedclown

Risto is fine in the offensive zone, it’s the other two zones he has a problem with. He might be the worst d-man at making a stretch pass or any kind of pass out of our own zone that I have ever seen.

Serious question, did Risto get worse this year?
- RhinoFan

No he’s been about as bad as usual, but watching an actually good Dahlin has shined a bright light on it

Risto is fine in the offensive zone, it’s the other two zones he has a problem with. He might be the worst d-man at making a stretch pass or any kind of pass out of our own zone that I have ever seen.
- Pegullaville

This is another depth and coaching problem imo. I have to believe that any number of teams would be drooling to get a guy with Risto's type of game on their squad. Do we know for a fact that Tampa expressed interest? That alone should tell you something. I feel like if he(the team)were properly coached you would see almost instantaneous improvement and I would bet that there's a lot of GM's that feel exactly the same way.

Serious question, did Risto get worse this year?
- RhinoFan

he didn't get better

No he’s been about as bad as usual, but watching an actually good Dahlin has shined a bright light on it
- sbroads24

How do you square that with the fact his Corsi, Fenwick and Possession metrics all went down this year in comparison to last?

How do you square that with the fact his Corsi, Fenwick and Possession metrics all went down this year in comparison to last?
- RhinoFan

he didn't get better
- homiedclown

Ready to move on too. Hopefully Tampa is in love for some reason.

- homiedclown

Could be...

Ready to move on too. Hopefully Tampa is in love for some reason.
- RhinoFan

sometimes change is needed

sometimes change is needed



- homiedclown

He is hilarious. (The dude that’s dressed in a dudes uniform)

- homiedclown

6 points in his last 14 games

6 points in his last 14 games
- Pegullaville

Proven no-brainer bonafide double stamped elite number one center.

is montour our best player over the last 10 games?
- homiedclown

yes and it not even close

6 points in his last 14 games
- Pegullaville

let me guess, He needs to be better????

For those of you that thought we were ready...The Leafs have THREE forwards better than Jack.
- SoCalPucks

Tell Jack. We can't control what he does, he can however.

I am fine parting with mccabe as well as risto
- homiedclown

I'm getting there.
I loved McCabe before, but he seems to have regressed (like about 18 other players)

Serious question, did Risto get worse this year?
- RhinoFan

Not sure, but he has been terrible and needs to be priority #1 to trade for a top 6.
Same stupid mistakes game in and game out.
Can't play the transition game well, passes blow.
Lays the big hit once every 10 games.
His development stalled 2 years ago.
Bye, Bye.
Major disappointment.

This is another depth and coaching problem imo. I have to believe that any number of teams would be drooling to get a guy with Risto's type of game on their squad. Do we know for a fact that Tampa expressed interest? That alone should tell you something. I feel like if he(the team)were properly coached you would see almost instantaneous improvement and I would bet that there's a lot of GM's that feel exactly the same way.
- SoCalPucks

Last year there was quite the debate about if he was the guy being referenced about not playing the System, until PHam called him out specifically.
I think what you are seeing is a guy who is brain dead on the ice...plenty of talent, but dumb IQ.

Therefore I submit to you that the new coach, whomever it would be, would be just as frustrated as has Bylsma and Housley.
Ship him to Tampa if they want him!

Yeah,

Eichel really need to be a point per game guy liked we all hoped. What a disappointment.


Biggest disappointment for sure.

Certainly not mitts , scandella or housley
- Boss34

Scandella, seriously, you expected more?

Housely, I was done with him after last season.

Mitts, I expected 15/15 from him this year and he's just below that.

Eichel? I expected top-10, at least top-15 in scoring. If he would have stepped it up after the all-star game instead of fizzling out, I wouldn't be disappointed. But to act like his just over a .ppg in a season (when there's literally 40 players at or over a .ppg clip) is something special is absurd. Derek Roy numbers from Eichel in a season when scoring is up is not impressive.

is montour our best player over the last 10 games?
- homiedclown

Yes

I'm getting there.
I loved McCabe before, but he seems to have regressed (like about 18 other players)
- IonSabres

' cough, cough.......coaching

Sports analysis is built on cliches and narratives, and 99% of the time, they're bullpoop or overblown. It's fun flowery prose that people enjoy reading. It's also complete horsepoop

Here's what wins:

Talent and luck.

We don't have enough talent, and we blew our luck load in November

Culture, veteran leadership, experience and attitude are bullpoop.

Talent and luck.

We need more of both

Sports analysis is built on cliches and narratives, and 99% of the time, they're bullpoop or overblown. It's fun flowery prose that people enjoy reading. It's also complete horsepoop

Here's what wins:

Talent and luck.

We don't have enough talent, and we blew our luck load in November

Culture, veteran leadership, experience and attitude are bullpoop.

Talent and luck.

We need more of both
- jcragcrumple

right now, we are a poor man's version of the colorado avalanche

and they are not gonna make the playoffs

Sports analysis is built on cliches and narratives, and 99% of the time, they're bullpoop or overblown. It's fun flowery prose that people enjoy reading. It's also complete horsepoop

Here's what wins:

Talent and luck.

We don't have enough talent, and we blew our luck load in November

Culture, veteran leadership, experience and attitude are bullpoop.

Talent and luck.

We need more of both
- jcragcrumple

Pretty much

Sports analysis is built on cliches and narratives, and 99% of the time, they're bullpoop or overblown. It's fun flowery prose that people enjoy reading. It's also complete horsepoop

Here's what wins:

Talent and luck.

We don't have enough talent, and we blew our luck load in November

Culture, veteran leadership, experience and attitude are bullpoop.

Talent and luck.

We need more of both
- jcragcrumple

Triggered.
Well, this debate raged about a year ago.

I think many would agree that winning is a challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach.
Yes to talent
Sure, luck is required at times...sure doesn't hurt.

Culture adds to to the probability of winning. It is hard to define and quite easily blown-off as, well in today's terms "fake news".

But it is difficult to argue with teams that seem to win more than others over long periods of time and with personnel changes involved...Patriots, Bruins, Steelers, Pens.
Yadda yadda. Players hold each other accountable table, challenge each other, and commit to buying in.

Other teams have talent as well and seem to disappoint year in and year out...Sabres are a primary example well before they started the tank. This year is another prime example. Yes, they have some sh¡ty players, but they have talented ones as well...and they quit on each other when the going gets tough. There is little accountability, little buy-in. Risto is a prime example of a talented player who actually hurts his team.

Not all of the above is "culture" to be sure...
There is far, far more to winning than talent and luck, and to blown-off culture is putting blinders on.