Olofsson Rokkie.

Jeff Skinner 10th year in league.

If you think these are the same, you'd be kidding yourself.

SKinner is paid to be an elite player. He is performing at replacement level.
- ImThatGuy

But everyone tells me how a rookie is doing so much better than him. If it isn't about the situation, then why not switch?

The reason you went this way, instead of answering the question, is that you know the answer is Yes. Anyone put in Skinner's position would have fallen off. The fact we're surprised by this is disconcerting at best.

Shoot once are much easier to sell (to the road teams)

If we had hasek or a great goalie it would be more fun.

Shoot once gets ot shooting also.

If your the Sabres and you know this is a huge make or break season, maybe you try and sell tickets for marked up prices to the general public.

If were good or really good, every seat will be filled.
The 10 game win streak last year and good start this year are proof. People love a winner
- Boss34

Its not even that the ease of exit as well, Ive been home and others on the other side are still trying to get out of the ramp

YOU may hate it, but it is a fact of life.
Much is expected of those who are given much.

Being played top level money comes with expectations, period.
Part of that, being part of the core is to lead by example, period.
Loafing in practice does help create a winning culture, which they definitely need.

Krueger was hired to fix a underperforming team.
Having your star player underperforming and slacking along the way is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with.
This is Jeff's choice and his alone.
JC, what is so friggin hard to understand.
How can anyone defend this crap after female doging about the last 2 seasons and questioning the teams heart and effort day in and day out.

Accountability.
Lack of it, unacceptable.
- IonSabres

I completely understand it, but the team is culpable too, don't you think? If I hire a sales person and don't put them in a position to succeed is it the hire's fault or managements?

Last year Skinner played with a wold class center, and good winger, this year....

Just sayin...

Anyone who looks at the stock market trends over a short period is either trolling or ignorant. Stock traders overreact like teenage girls on their first dose of estrogen any time a bit of news comes out. This plunge will correct itself, once the coronavirus is figured out, if not cured. The market has been trending upwards over the past four years. Big picture, that's what people are and should be "bragging" about.
- buffalofan19

Should be "bragging about" big picture
Isn't what buzzers have been bragging about.

Its gonna correct itself - just like skinner is gonna correct himself.

Its gonna drop every day, all day. Until it is cured. Which looks pretty bleak.

Its not even that the ease of exit as well, Ive been home and others on the other side are still trying to get out of the ramp
- hubie

AKA the 7th circle of hell

Worst contract in league. Botts should be fired for many reasons but this one on its own is fireable
- Fattony1187

And why? As a fan, I am not looking at analytics right now. Please help me understand your perspective on why this is the worst contract in the league.

Thanks.

He's generating chances. That's all the expected goals tell you.

Let me ask this: If you took Olofsson, moved him away from Jack/Sam, lessened his PP time and his overall TOI, placing him with players like Mojo (at center), Slowbotka, Lazar and E-Rod...would you expect a big decrease in production?

IMO you'd be kidding yourself if you thought this wouldn't have a massive effect.
- RhinoFan

Well, he isn't making $9m, but yes I would expect his production to go down
I would also expect a non core player to work his tail off during practice to improve production the best he could
I would expect a $9m core player to bust his ass all the time to set the team standard very high.

It isn't simply his decline in production that is being discussed, it is that along with slacking while being a core player who is paid the 2nd highest on the team.

To much is given, much is expected.

AKA the 7th circle of hell
- jcragcrumple

its pretty much a half hour difference at least

Should be "bragging about" big picture
Isn't what buzzers have been bragging about.

Its gonna correct itself - just like skinner is gonna correct himself.

Its gonna drop every day, all day. Until it is cured. Which looks pretty bleak.
- Boss34

The coronavirus is less "deadly" than the flu. The problem is that it's new. This plunge is all about uncertainty. It will be fine.

Well, he isn't making $9m, but yes I would expect his production to go down
I would also expect a non core player to work his tail off during practice to improve production the best he could
I would expect a $9m core player to bust his ass all the time to set the team standard very high.

It isn't simply his decline in production that is being discussed, it is that along with slacking while being a core player who is paid the 2nd highest on the team.

To much is given, much is expected.
- IonSabres

Do you know for a fact that Skinner does not bust his ass in practice or are you just basing this off of what 89 said?

Do you know for a fact that Skinner does not bust his ass in practice or are you just basing this off of what 89 said?
- hehateme

We don't know whether or not Skinner busts is ass in practice. We just know that Ralph Kruger thinks he doesn't.

its pretty much a half hour difference at least
- hubie

I work on Pearl st. so I generally park at my ramp and walk 10 mins down to the arena. I avoid 95% of the traffic

The Sabres ramp is horrible

The coronavirus is less "deadly" than the flu. The problem is that it's new. This plunge is all about uncertainty. It will be fine.
- buffalofan19

Its no different really then ebola or any other of the "big ones" that we have had in the past decade

Anyone who looks at the stock market trends over a short period is either trolling or ignorant. Stock traders overreact like teenage girls on their first dose of estrogen any time a bit of news comes out. This plunge will correct itself, once the coronavirus is figured out, if not cured. The market has been trending upwards over the past four years. Big picture, that's what people are and should be "bragging" about.
- buffalofan19

Stock market reacts to unknown. As soon as there is a understanding of spread and what can be done to combat, things will return to a better place. The Market does react well to the fear of the unknown.

Do you know that 15,000 people have passed form the flu this season in the US as opposed to 3,000 who have passed due to the Corona virus? The flu is a known, the CV is an unknown.

I think that once you're in a coach's doghouse for something as silly as "doesn't give 100% in practice" you kind of check out emotionally after that.

In Skinner's defense, he's had dozens of coaches in his lifetime. Regardless of any of that, he became one of the highest paid wingers in NHL history.

Yet some soccer coach thinks he's lazy.

I look at it like it is and in this case, I side with the player. Instead of working with him and improving the style of your practice, you punish him like a child? Seems really lame to me.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Well, I have heard Krueger mention a couple if times how the Coaching Staff in fact IS working specifically with him to help improve his game. Do you hold the same argument then if Skinner is sort of rejecting the help?
I'm not there to see it, it is why I have said several times "If true" in my earlier posts and still have questions about it.
Also, from Bingo, he apparently had the same knick in Carolina and was a reason Brind'amour wanted him out...so 2 coaches now.

I work on Pearl st. so I generally park at my ramp and walk 10 mins down to the arena. I avoid 95% of the traffic

The Sabres ramp is horrible
- jcragcrumple

I try to use washignton exchange and it isnt too bad
I have a 4 year old who comes with us so we end up leaving after 2 so it doesnt effect me as often
but my brother in the 200 holy hell do we wait in that ramp

He’s was also arguably a top 3 DE of all time.


Bo Jackson never practiced nor worked out.
- dadeadhead

Come on. Bo never worked out? please, those muscles don't grow themselves.

Well, he isn't making $9m, but yes I would expect his production to go down
I would also expect a non core player to work his tail off during practice to improve production the best he could
I would expect a $9m core player to bust his ass all the time to set the team standard very high.

It isn't simply his decline in production that is being discussed, it is that along with slacking while being a core player who is paid the 2nd highest on the team.

To much is given, much is expected.
- IonSabres

Won't argue that I'd hope for more, even though he's dragging two anchors around with him.

I will argue about his work ethic. He is literally one of the hardest working players in the league. Okposo had this to say:

“His work ethic is off the charts,” Okposo said. “He takes like one week off after the season and gets back in the gym. He really hits it hard all summer. He takes care of himself. In the work ethic department, second to none.”

Olofsson Rokkie.

Jeff Skinner 10th year in league.

If you think these are the same, you'd be kidding yourself.

SKinner is paid to be an elite player. He is performing at replacement level.
- ImThatGuy

Very good - question, where does he go? Could he be moved or is this year, upper body injury and all, a down year?

Stock market reacts to unknown. As soon as there is a understanding of spread and what can be done to combat, things will return to a better place. The Market does react well to the fear of the unknown.

Do you know that 15,000 people have passed form the flu this season in the US as opposed to 3,000 who have passed due to the Corona virus? The flu is a known, the CV is an unknown.
- TC4145

***3,000 worldwide - corrected.

Come on. Bo never worked out? please, those muscles don't grow themselves.
- Angler

Watch the 30 for 30 on him.

I think that once you're in a coach's doghouse for something as silly as "doesn't give 100% in practice" you kind of check out emotionally after that.

In Skinner's defense, he's had dozens of coaches in his lifetime. Regardless of any of that, he became one of the highest paid wingers in NHL history.

Yet some soccer coach thinks he's lazy.

I look at it like it is and in this case, I side with the player. Instead of working with him and improving the style of your practice, you punish him like a child? Seems really lame to me.
- BeadyEyedDouche

NHL Coaches Jeff Skinner's had:

Paul Maurice
Kirk Muller
Bill Peters
Phil Housley
Ralph Krueger

This is his 10th NHL season and the problems he had when he started are the same problems he has today.

That's not really a coaching issue. That's just a "This is who he is" issue. You gotta find a way to maximize what you get out of that.

He hasn't played along side any of those players in a damn long time.

He needs to produce on his own. He hasn't done that.

Im not looking for 40 goals and 60+ points for him.

But is it to much to ask for 30 and 15. This is apparently a yes.

Im looking for him to make a damn difference in games. Im asking him to produce more than Zemgus Franking Girgensons.

45 points for a 9 million dollar winger is not a lot to ask.


here is where I am told he is almost scoring though because his expected goals for are high.

Cool when Expected goals starts to win you games, ill be all for it, but until then, start scoring actual goals.
- ImThatGuy

He has though. Just not recently in this slump.

The coach doesn’t like him. Period. Whether it’s Skinner’s fault or Kruegr’s.

Can you justify in anyway shape or form how Jimmy Vesey has gotten more preferential treatment?

He’s still producing at a second line level in terms of primary production 5 on 5.

He can’t force Krueger to put him back on PP1

Very good - question, where does he go? Could he be moved or is this year, upper body injury and all, a down year?
- TC4145

Probably can't move him right now unless you eat a big chunk of his salary.

Probably don't want to, either.

Give him an offseason to reset and try again next year.

But everyone tells me how a rookie is doing so much better than him. If it isn't about the situation, then why not switch?

The reason you went this way, instead of answering the question, is that you know the answer is Yes. Anyone put in Skinner's position would have fallen off. The fact we're surprised by this is disconcerting at best.
- RhinoFan

Fun fact- Jeff Skinner has more primary points than Olofsson, despite his centers being AHL quality, as opposed to Jack Eichel