they're doing exactly what was expected...beating/competing against teams on par with them, losing to those who are better, getting caved in by teams that are far superior...with a stolen game (or two) thrown in for good measure
- Michael Pachla

3-12-2 in last 17 games

Btw, only having Asplund, Bryson, Cozens, Dahlin , Mitts, Tage to evaluate for next season, I would hope they can properly identify which of those is worth effort to keep developing and move those who they have a question about.
- IonSabres

joker?

How is it no fault or there's, everyone on the ice deserves some portion.
- Buff36

Eichel had a borderline Hart season with Ralph as HC in 2018/2019.

Put half a decent franking team around him and we aren’t in this position.

Yet you can build a half decent team, and without an elite 1C, you won’t win a cup regardless.

You need both.

The Sabres got their franchise player thanks to tanking, yet franked up a wet dream.

Jim Benning is currently doing the same with Buffalo West

All those games lost through no fault of Eichel or Reinhart.

Yet Eichel and Reinhart are going to play huge roles in April this year.

But continue to put the cart before the horse.

Hire a good management team and a good head coach, and Eichel, Reinahrt, ROR are all still here and we have a good team
- Pegullaville

maybe tanking wasn't the right course of action for buffalo...again, tanking is often misconstrued with rebuilding...

only four teams overtly and proudly tanked for the top pick in a draft--the 83/84 penguins and devils and the 14/15 sabres and yotes...

end of story

3-12-2 in last 17 games
- homiedclown

Were just in a bit of a rough patch (since 2012)

Yes it is, but you can't coach heart. And rid the player is a little hard when some of the effort is from players you are hoping to build around.
- Buff36

36, respectfully...read that last part of your post to yourself with an open mind...is that who you want to be in your core to build around?
No, hell no...you'll spend more time and effort trying to coax good effort out of a part of the leadership...it 8S what breeds a losing culture.
Get rid of it!

Were just in a bit of a rough patch (since 2012)
- sbroads24

subban to the rescue

Eichel had a borderline Hart season with Ralph as HC in 2018/2019.

Put half a decent franking team around him and we aren’t in this position.

Yet you can build a half decent team, and without an elite 1C, you won’t win a cup regardless.

You need both.

The Sabres got their franchise player thanks to tanking, yet franked up a wet dream.

Jim Benning is currently doing the same with Buffalo West
- Pegullaville

OK be a Captain, don't whine on the ice, come back to the bench and try and help instead of just sitting salking there, go into the lockerroom and talk to different players. Welcome and help your teammates instead of treating them like floor mats

Exactly but bringing him in now even as an advisor would make a difference. Teams need to know from someone like him the importance of the crest on the front of the sweater.
- Camel

You mean the guy that actively fvcked the Crest his last game, then drove a wedge between him and the organization on the way out nixing a trade return because it would have depleted his new team's roster too much?
That guy?

maybe tanking wasn't the right course of action for buffalo...again, tanking is often misconstrued with rebuilding...

only four teams overtly and proudly tanked for the top pick in a draft--the 83/84 penguins and devils and the 14/15 sabres and yotes...

end of story
- Michael Pachla

I diss agree here. M
Washington tanked for Ovechkin

Toronto tanked for Matthews

Both teams played goalies who never again saw NHL action.

36, respectfully...read that last part of your post to yourself with an open mind...is that who you want to be in your core to build around?
No, hell no...you'll spend more time and effort trying to coax good effort out of a part of the leadership...it 8S what breeds a losing culture.
Get rid of it!
- IonSabres

No I don't, but isn't Mitts a player you want to grow with, isn't Dahlin a player you want to grow with.

OK be a Captain, don't whine on the ice, come back to the bench and try and help instead of just sitting salking there, go into the lockerroom and talk to different players. Welcome and help your teammates instead of treating them like floor mats
- Buff36

So Eichel was the problem then?

We should be better now that we have rid ourselves of that “salking stench”

So Eichel was the problem then?

We should be better now that we have rid ourselves of that “salking stench”
- ImThatGuy

He should take some of the blame like every other player.

So Eichel was the problem then?

We should be better now that we have rid ourselves of that “salking stench”
- ImThatGuy

Those arguments that he was a cancer are starting to show some giant holes.

So Eichel was the problem then?

We should be better now that we have rid ourselves of that “salking stench”
- ImThatGuy

And never said we would be better.

Eichel had a borderline Hart season with Ralph as HC in 2018/2019.

Put half a decent franking team around him and we aren’t in this position.

Yet you can build a half decent team, and without an elite 1C, you won’t win a cup regardless.

You need both.

The Sabres got their franchise player thanks to tanking, yet franked up a wet dream.

Jim Benning is currently doing the same with Buffalo West
- Pegullaville

only one elite no. 1 center, sidney crosby, played that pivotal if a role on stanley cup winning teams since the 04/05 lockout...he was a first overall...stammer had a big role, but not pivotal, in their second of two consecutive cup wins but only played one game in the the prior year...

eric staal was second overall
getz was 19th overall
pav was a 6th rounder
toews was third overall
kopitar 11th overall
bergeron 2nd round
backstrom fourth overall
ror 2nd round

Those arguments that he was a cancer are starting to show some giant holes.
- sbroads24

I mean why even tank for Eichel in the first place right ?

Who needs him, grr tanking

Shane Wright in the lineup means we lose 6-3 last night

Tank on
- sbroads24

If they were to
Add a true 1C from the '22 Draft,
And
Add Peterka, Quinn, Krebs, Samuelsson, Power to the roster
And
Trade for competent starting Goalie
And
Perhaps sign a UFA or trade for a RhD
And
Jettison, (JC I really need to Copy/ Save this list, lol) Bjork, Butcher, Dell, Eakin, Hagg, Hayden, Hinostroza, Jankowski, and perhaps Miller

Do you think that roster takes a step or 2 forward.
I do for absolute sure. And no doubt I would gladly sacrifice this season in order to accomplish the first on that list above.

only one elite no. 1 center, sidney crosby, played that pivotal if a role on stanley cup winning teams since the 04/05 lockout...stammer had a big role, but not pivotal, in their second of two consecutive cup wins but only played one game in the the prior year...

eric staal was second overall
getz was 19th overall
pav was a 6th rounder
toews was third overall
kopitar 11th overall
bergeron 2nd round
backstrom fourth overall
ror 2nd round
- Michael Pachla

point pick 79

I diss agree here. M
Washington tanked for Ovechkin

Toronto tanked for Matthews

Both teams played goalies who never again saw NHL action.
- ImThatGuy

maybe...but not as overtly as the pens/devils and sabres/yotes when you look at the in-season moves made by those pittsburgh and buffalo teams...

the buffalo tank was particularly disgusting when you have a fan-base openly cheering for them to lose a game against fellow tanking team, arizona

If they were to
Add a true 1C from the '22 Draft,
And
Add Peterka, Quinn, Krebs, Samuelsson, Power to the roster
And
Trade for competent starting Goalie
And
Perhaps sign a UFA or trade for a RhD
And
Jettison, (JC I really need to Copy/ Save this list, lol) Bjork, Butcher, Dell, Eakin, Hagg, Hayden, Hinostroza, Jankowski, and perhaps Miller

Do you think that roster takes a step or 2 forward.
I do for absolute sure. And no doubt I would gladly sacrifice this season in order to accomplish the first on that list above.
- IonSabres

the plan was tank this year

embrace it

I mean why even tank for Eichel in the first place right ?

Who needs him, grr tanking
- Pegullaville

Damn your right

maybe...but not as overtly as the pens/devils and sabres/yotes when you look at the in-season moves made by those pittsburgh and buffalo teams...

the buffalo tank was particularly disgusting when you have a fan-base openly cheering for them to lose a game against fellow tanking team, arizona
- Michael Pachla

which roster was worse, 14-15 or current roster

https://www.hockeydb.com/...ons/teams/0000332015.html

I mean why even tank for Eichel in the first place right ?

Who needs him, grr tanking
- Pegullaville

we tanked for an elway

we got a jeff george

the plan was tank this year

embrace it
- homiedclown

gotta start trying to win very soon...no later than next season...

they're tightrope walking...personally, based upon these owners, odds are that they fall...which gives me an opportunity to post one of the greatest songs about the depths of a relationship split quite possibly in the history of song