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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Pachla: The 2020-21 season is upon us. A look at the Buffalo Sabres
Author Message
lulags
Buffalo Sabres
Location: St Louis
Joined: 02.24.2007

Jan 31 @ 11:34 PM ET
pain
- IceColdBeer

Crazy how Draisaitl paces him too. They still suck thought. They are about to blow a 6 goal lead lol
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Jan 31 @ 11:40 PM ET
haha! what an incredible will into existence play. weirder things have happened.
- IceColdBeer



At the end of last season I believed Eichel had closed the gap between himself and Mcdavid to be negligible. Mcdavid is better but Jack was finding his stride big time. Much in the way Josh Allen did for the Bills this year. Yeah if the Texans wanted to trade straight up Watson for Allen, Watson is probably better, Even if only minimally better. He's better but Josh has clearly invested himself and made that difference negligible. The gap between Eichel and Mcdavid is widening again. Part of me would be happy Jack was stuck up in Edmonton.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Jan 31 @ 11:40 PM ET
I mentioned this earlier in the season and a bunch of people on here jumped on me arguing about how many secondary points Jack has. His body language is terrible and he gives the puck away almost every shift. I hate to say this but I think this team would be better off with whatever haul we could get for him. Good riddance.

Also I actually like Reider and Sheahan, better than Rodriguez, Vesey and Sheary anyways. Every team has some players like that.

- IceColdBeer


Its always been strange that Jack celebrated by himself. Almost like the team needs to wait, until he finishes his move into the glass ect.

Nj was pumped each goal
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Jan 31 @ 11:41 PM ET
Its always been strange that Jack celebrated by himself. Almost like the team needs to wait, until he finishes his move into the glass ect.

Nj was pumped each goal

- Boss34



Exactly. Most non-Sabres games you watch you see what looks like more comfortable team unity.
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Jan 31 @ 11:46 PM ET
Very valid point on Eichel. I just don’t think he will ever have the mental maturity to carry a team as Captain. He is a stud, but not a leader. I’ve said this a couple of times before.
I believe more and more he wants out. I’ve come to terms with the fact we are not going to be a top contender with Jack at the wheel. If we could get a stupid return,
I’d be game moving him

- lulags



Could be the pressure of not just being a good hockey player, but being assigned to be the savior of a franchise that needs a savior because they deliberately went downhill.
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Jan 31 @ 11:48 PM ET
I just watched a brief tidbit on TSN in between periods of the Sens, Oilers game called Unwanted Visitor. It's about why Ted Nolan isn't coaching in the NHL. I just watched the part where he was asked about his 2nd time with the Sabres and he said" absolutely management wanted him to tank for the 1st overall pick.
- SABRES 89



It's such a shame. I'm glad for him and his family that he got to make a few million doing it, but it's overall a shame. His last shot at the NHL shouldn't have gone like that.
Wetbandit1
Vegas Golden Knights
Location: Unpopular opinion (i think): The best Die Hard movie is the 4th one- Live free or Die Hard -jdfitz7, NY
Joined: 10.07.2010

Jan 31 @ 11:50 PM ET
I just watched a brief tidbit on TSN in between periods of the Sens, Oilers game called Unwanted Visitor. It's about why Ted Nolan isn't coaching in the NHL. I just watched the part where he was asked about his 2nd time with the Sabres and he said" absolutely management wanted him to tank for the 1st overall pick.
- SABRES 89


There's a 16 minute video on TSN's YT page. I watched it this morning. It left a lot unsaid, but hinted at things.
lulags
Buffalo Sabres
Location: St Louis
Joined: 02.24.2007

Jan 31 @ 11:55 PM ET
Could be the pressure of not just being a good hockey player, but being assigned to be the savior of a franchise that needs a savior because they deliberately went downhill.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Most definitely. Not too many veterans could handle this, let alone a young guy. ROR could have taken some of the pressure off of him if that worked out but that was not going to work out.
I think he thought Hall would take some pressure of but that’s not working out so good either
Da_Cashman
Buffalo Sabres
Location: London, ON
Joined: 04.18.2011

Jan 31 @ 11:56 PM ET
There's a lot of reasons to criticize this team right now and at this point they all seem valid. Coaching sucks, goal tending sucks, this guy sucks, that guy sucks. all of it.

2 observations I have:

First there's something off about Eichel. I don't mean his potentially not being 100% right now but overall. Going back to last year I see him look somewhat disinterested and pissed off. I've never seen a player enjoy himself less when he or his line scores. Every time he scores his face and body language heading back to the bench resembles a guy downplaying the accomplishment as if his team is down 9-0 and just got it's first goal with 7 minutes left, almost regardless of the situation.

You might not think much of it but I think it lands somewhere between strange and a big deal. I see it affect other players. Almost as if they can't be excited if Jack isn't excited. And Jack is rarely excited. It's like a glass ceiling on the teams excitement because Jack is the franchise.

Second is the affinity for scrubs. Sheahan, Thompson, Reider, Hutton. Too many flat out scrubs. These are such forgettable NHL'ers and we've carried so many in recent years.

- Buffalo--Sabres[/quote

I imagine it has to do with being the best at everything you ever did and then having to play for a team with a soccer coach and a drunken teletubby o the team when the gambling helicopter bankrupt guy was tough but then they got rid of hik for being a portrait of an assgrabber and the signing human spoogewipeslike the worlds best Latvian hockey player to 3 f-big year contracts because he is a nice guy and then giving a big contract to a guy that looks like a scooby doo vampire with the name
Tage thay is hurt and is a major puntang a lengthy contract and the some guy signs form the bloody islanders for a 6 year contact and has sweet potatoes for brains because he gets his bell ring worse than Tim tiny Connolly even though he is big but a wimp and you have a generational defense who can skate like the wind by the soccer ball guy says don’t attack the net just skate over the blue line and tap it to the other loser standing on the blue line instead of going to score like Bobby Orr but play like ski freaking berg or MFE and suck the big one but look like you are sweaty so people think you are trying hard and then put the 40 goal scorer on the fourth line to try to teach a 27 year old a lesson about synergy which was a corporate buzzword that died in 1994 becaue the figure skating wiz kid should be someone he’s not when everyone else can be what they are which is shiddy hockey players and ballerinas.

No one eichel makes faces like vanek when Elbe shot and missed or lost his shirt at the (frank)ing casino. He is a winner playing with losers. I wish he was an inspirational man and could get people to buy in like the mighty Ducks coach but he is a spoiled kid form Boston who got his own way his whole life and just wants to win.


Da_Cashman
Buffalo Sabres
Location: London, ON
Joined: 04.18.2011

Jan 31 @ 11:57 PM ET
At the end of last season I believed Eichel had closed the gap between himself and Mcdavid to be negligible. Mcdavid is better but Jack was finding his stride big time. Much in the way Josh Allen did for the Bills this year. Yeah if the Texans wanted to trade straight up Watson for Allen, Watson is probably better, Even if only minimally better. He's better but Josh has clearly invested himself and made that difference negligible. The gap between Eichel and Mcdavid is widening again. Part of me would be happy Jack was stuck up in Edmonton.
- Buffalo--Sabres


Not even the same planet. Eichel is Lafontai e to McDavids Gretzky. One can score 120 pots and the other scores 220. Both are remarkable achievements but not even close. MC David doesn’t look like he’s gonna kill someone either.
Da_Cashman
Buffalo Sabres
Location: London, ON
Joined: 04.18.2011

Feb 1 @ 12:01 AM ET
Most definitely. Not too many veterans could handle this, let alone a young guy. ROR could have taken some of the pressure off of him if that worked out but that was not going to work out.
I think he thought Hall would take some pressure of but that’s not working out so good either

- lulags


My theory- ROR is no dummy. He sees how Canadian advertisers cream over bearded guys like jumbo Joe and that other defsenw man from SJ. Even doesn’t fix his tooth in purpose so they think he’s a real hockey player. Dad controls him and it’s all $ and booze. IMO
SABRES 89
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I'm very Happy to be here. Las Vegas Via Buffalo N.Y.
Joined: 02.17.2007

Feb 1 @ 12:03 AM ET
There's a 16 minute video on TSN's YT page. I watched it this morning. It left a lot unsaid, but hinted at things.
- Wetbandit1

He can come back and coach the Sabres any day IMO, just get this ass clown out of here.
Da_Cashman
Buffalo Sabres
Location: London, ON
Joined: 04.18.2011

Feb 1 @ 12:04 AM ET
I mentioned this earlier in the season and a bunch of people on here jumped on me arguing about how many secondary points Jack has. His body language is terrible and he gives the puck away almost every shift. I hate to say this but I think this team would be better off with whatever haul we could get for him. Good riddance.

Also I actually like Reider and Sheahan, better than Rodriguez, Vesey and Sheary anyways. Every team has some players like that.

- IceColdBeer


Look at the Nordiues after trading Lindros.

1 man who sleeps all day to get ready for game day mAy be too intense for ceryine else. Big winner but annoying Ashole to be around. Especially if you are a born loser like the rest of the team and hate that eichel makes u look bad because you ducks t hickey and just wanna party and drinks endorsed coke and bang whales.
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Feb 1 @ 12:06 AM ET
Most definitely. Not too many veterans could handle this, let alone a young guy. ROR could have taken some of the pressure off of him if that worked out but that was not going to work out.
I think he thought Hall would take some pressure of but that’s not working out so good either

- lulags



What's funny is my observation of Hall is he's a very skilled relatively young player that has a good time playing the game while being good at it. I see he is experiencing Jack Eichel enjoy being an NHL player and he doesn't understand it.
Buffalo--Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: 2 15/16, NY
Joined: 07.07.2010

Feb 1 @ 12:07 AM ET
Look at the Nordiues after trading Lindros.

1 man who sleeps all day to get ready for game day mAy be too intense for ceryine else. Big winner but annoying Ashole to be around. Especially if you are a born loser like the rest of the team and hate that eichel makes u look bad because you ducks t hickey and just wanna party and drinks endorsed coke and bang whales.

- Da_Cashman


?
Da_Cashman
Buffalo Sabres
Location: London, ON
Joined: 04.18.2011

Feb 1 @ 12:09 AM ET
?
- Buffalo--Sabres


Trading Eichel might get us multiple pieces and 1sts and then we will win the trade for once and then win. Maybe.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 1 @ 12:09 AM ET
My theory- ROR is no dummy. He sees how Canadian advertisers cream over bearded guys like jumbo Joe and that other defsenw man from SJ. Even doesn’t fix his tooth in purpose so they think he’s a real hockey player. Dad controls him and it’s all $ and booze. IMO
- Da_Cashman

His hockey persona is incredibly phony. I’ve said this for years

He’s a very good player, was very good his first year here.

He totally played at 75% the last two years when he realized Eichel was the guy and he would be second fiddle. So he calculated his way out of here with his depressed post game press conferences.

My friend actually hung out with him quite a few times and speaks highly of him as a person, but him leaving was his plan for over a year before it actually happened



SABRES 89
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I'm very Happy to be here. Las Vegas Via Buffalo N.Y.
Joined: 02.17.2007

Feb 1 @ 12:14 AM ET
I'm ready for Bruce Boudroe (sorry spelling) get a coach in here that his some passion and life and will push these sissy's to play harder.
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 1 @ 12:21 AM ET
I don’t even know why I bother but whatever -

There’s a giant difference between keeping a middle six winger that ended up signing for under a mil, and being concerned that the 2C we acquired is no longer a viable 2C, which is how Staal has played so far

I have no “hate” for Staal. He’s 36 and playing like he’s 36. I “hate” how this team chooses to address holes in the roster

- sbroads24


After a slow start, Staal has 4pts in 6games
Of course he’s not a Malkin level 2C,
but it’s a hell of a lot better than what we’ve had since ROR
Idk what you expected,
but i guess ROR isn’t as “easily replaceable” as u thought
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 1 @ 12:32 AM ET
After a slow start, Staal has 4pts in 6games
Of course he’s not a Malkin level 2C,
but it’s a hell of a lot better than what we’ve had since ROR
Idk what you expected,
but i guess ROR isn’t as “easily replaceable” as u thought

- jdfitz77

So first you misconstrue what I’ve said about Staal, then pretend my expectations were for us to get a Malkin level 2C?

Staal has not been good through 10 games. The first four games still exist, and he was absolutely terrible today and took two penalties yesterday because he has 0 foot speed left. So it’s not like he’s been trending up since game 4 We have not had a good second line this year at all.

I’ll just settle for good.

At best he looks like he can be a finisher if they have 2 wingers who can drive play on that line
jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 1 @ 12:41 AM ET
So first you misconstrue what I’ve said about Staal, then pretend my expectations were for us to get a Malkin level 2C?

Staal has not been good through 10 games. The first four games still exist, and he was absolutely terrible today and took two penalties yesterday because he has 0 foot speed left. So it’s not like he’s been trending up since game 4 We have not had a good second line this year at all.

I’ll just settle for good.

At best he looks like he can be a finisher if they have 2 wingers who can drive play on that line

- sbroads24


Sure, the first 4 games exist
I’m willing to give an older Vet the benefit of the doubt that he needed a few games to get his legs going since there was no preseason

2Cs aren’t being traded all over the place
Hell, there really aren’t many trades at all lately

He’s played ok since a slow start

It’s not like I’m not willing to upgrade the position,
but we didn’t have a “Laine” to give up for Dubois
What “good” 2C do u think we could get?
Who would u like us to go after?
That’s a convo worth having at least
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 1 @ 12:57 AM ET
Sure, the first 4 games exist
I’m willing to give an older Vet the benefit of the doubt that he needed a few games to get his legs going since there was no preseason

2Cs aren’t being traded all over the place
Hell, there really aren’t many trades at all lately

He’s played ok since a slow start

It’s not like I’m not willing to upgrade the position,
but we didn’t have a “Laine” to give up for Dubois
What “good” 2C do u think we could get?
Who would u like us to go after?
That’s a convo worth having at least

- jdfitz77

They’ve needed one for 3 years now.

Botterill whiffed on Mittelstadt and then didn’t trade for one

Adams went a route I wouldn’t have taken

I wanted them to secure the spot for at least 2-3 years until Cozens was a few years into his career

There’s been a ton of 2C’s moved since we’ve traded ROR

The Leafs sign guys similar to Staal in Thornton and Spezza to be their 12/13th forwards, not their second line centers

jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 1 @ 1:08 AM ET
They’ve needed one for 3 years now.

Botterill whiffed on Mittelstadt and then didn’t trade for one

Adams went a route I wouldn’t have taken

I wanted them to secure the spot for at least 2-3 years until Cozens was a few years into his career

There’s been a ton of 2C’s moved since we’ve traded ROR

The Leafs sign guys similar to Staal in Thornton and Spezza to be their 12/13th forwards, not their second line centers

- sbroads24


1- No, there hasn’t been “a ton” of 2Cs traded since ROR, there’s been a couple
Most teams aren’t stupid enough to trade their good 2C like the Sabres did- and especially not for the dogsh!t return we got (that you liked btw)

2- Staal had 47pts in 66games last year- 58pts in a full season pace. That’s pretty good.
Comparing him to Jumbo Joe is just bad. He had 31pts in 70games & was a -19.... Spezza had 25pts in 58games. Terrible comparisons dude

3- still waiting to hear what u want us to do now
Trades can still be made, right?
Who do u wanna see us go after?
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 1 @ 1:12 AM ET
1- No, there hasn’t been “a ton” of 2Cs traded since ROR, there’s been a couple
Most teams aren’t stupid enough to trade their good 2C like the Sabres did- and especially not for the dogsh!t return we got (that you liked btw)

2- Staal had 47pts in 66games last year- 58pts in a full season pace. That’s pretty good.
Comparing him to Jumbo Joe is just bad. He had 31pts in 70games & was a -19.... Spezza had 25pts in 58games. Terrible comparisons dude

3- still waiting to hear what u want us to do now
Trades can still be made, right?
Who do u wanna see us go after?

- jdfitz77

Lol. I don’t care how many points any of those guys had

Trading for very old players to play key roles is stupid. Trading or signing them to be role players and leaders is smart. It’s an absolutely fine comparison

Kadri
PLD
Duchene
Trochek
Domi
Strome
JT Miller (half center half wing)

Yes, there’s been plenty. That’s not including any UFA’s

jdfitz77
Buffalo Sabres
Location: buffalo, NY
Joined: 05.21.2007

Feb 1 @ 1:16 AM ET
Lol
- sbroads24


Oh well,
i tried to have a reasonable convo with you again
Not surprised this is how it ended up going

Asked multiple times for u to talk about some 2Cs that you’d like to see us target, & instead get “lol”

Have a great night
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