Michael Pachla: Quick hits on the forwards prior to the December 19 trade freeze

Nice work like always! You think Botts has an early trade in the works?

Nice blog!

Nice work like always! You think Botts has an early trade in the works?
- Bandito

thx...not sure it happens until maybe after the first of the year...methinks he'll get the jump on the 2018 trade deadline and set the market with kane, should that come to fruition

Nice blog!
- 51_Killer

thx, frank

Nice work and detailed analysis as always, but i have a bone to pick:

Zemgus Girgensons--Normally a player with only one goal and three assists in 28 games would be way down the list, but after being a healthy scratch, Housley gave Girgensons a shot in the top six and he's doing his part. The points still aren't there, and they may never be, but he's working the corners and is the net-front presence Housley wants him to be. The O'Reilly/Okposo/Girgensons line represents some big bodies that can skate pretty well and they have some chemistry, at least for now. Perhaps the bubble will burst and Girgensons will be in the bottom-six again, but for now his work up-top is one of the reasons Housley's able to roll three lines.

The 26 yr. old center is another one who will be the first to admit that he needs to be better, as he's told us that time and time again. He sounded sincere the first 50 or so times he said that but it's gotten to the point where his words just seem empty anymore. O'Reilly is notorious for rather long goal droughts and this year is no exception. However, as the team's top two-way center, he's expected to pick up his defensive play when his offense grows cold. Sure, he takes every key faceoff and has most of his zone starts in the d-zone, but a team-worst minus-16 rating? He needs to be better.

You seem to be much brighter on the work that Girgensons is doing than O'Reilly, which seems to be the consensus on this board. Is it just that you don't expect anything out of Girgensons, or that ROR is paid more, so he should be at a PPG instead of .64? i mean 4 points in 28 games is terrible, but your review seems to be more favorable to Girgs, and he's most certainly dragging ROR down on that line

You have to buy jerseys of old players. I don't buy a jersey until they're retired after getting suckered by Myers and Miro Satan.

I bought a Myers jersey and after he was traded I said never again. $200 for something that I can't even wear to a game without looking like a goober.

Had: Satan, Myers, Peca and Hasek.
Now Have: Peca, Hasek, Zhitnik and Shields.

I want to have a Tsujimoto (sp?) #74 jersey made, but apparently that's played out now.
- RhinoFan

is it? i have had one for a few years and have one it to a few games at columbus since i don't make it to buffalo anymore. can't say i have ever seen anyone else with one there.

I hope we don't wait too long on Kane. If he hits a slump, or god forbid gets hurt, we are franked on trade value

is it? i have had one for a few years and have one it to a few games at columbus since i don't make it to buffalo anymore. can't say i have ever seen anyone else with one there.
- IndianaSabresFan

https://www.nhl.com/sabre...f-taro-tsujimoto/c-438557

Nice work and detailed analysis as always, but i have a bone to pick:






You seem to be much brighter on the work that Girgensons is doing than O'Reilly, which seems to be the consensus on this board. Is it just that you don't expect anything out of Girgensons, or that ROR is paid more, so he should be at a PPG instead of .64? i mean 4 points in 28 games is terrible, but your review seems to be more favorable to Girgs, and he's most certainly dragging ROR down on that line
- jcragcrumple

low expectations for gus...Housley wants him to reek havoc in front of the net and he's done that...he was in front of the net for Rodrigues' game-tying goal in st. louis and was there again for eichel's second goal vs. Carolina...and don't forget the play he made in philly to set up o'reilly for buffalo's only goal

as for 90...maybe i'm just sick of hearing "I've got to be better"...his scoring his good, but his plus/minus sux and he's not playing the aggressive two-way game he's capable of, imo

is it? i have had one for a few years and have one it to a few games at columbus since i don't make it to buffalo anymore. can't say i have ever seen anyone else with one there.
- IndianaSabresFan

Brought it up to a friend who works at the arena. He seemed to believe that they were becoming more common. Said he sees a couple each game now.

He smokes copious amounts of marijuana though, so not sure if he's a reliable source...you may be right.

low expectations for gus...Housley wants him to reek havoc in front of the net and he's done that...he was in front of the net for Rodrigues' game-tying goal in st. louis and was there again for eichel's second goal vs. Carolina...and don't forget the play he made in philly to set up o'reilly for buffalo's only goal

as for 90...maybe i'm just sick of hearing "I've got to be better"...his scoring his good, but his plus/minus sux and he's not playing the aggressive two-way game he's capable of, imo
- Michael Pachla

That's reasonable, but is it fair? Shouldn't we expect more out of a former 1st rounder who scored 15g in 60 games? Granted he was on the first line then, but he's on the second line now, and imo, he rarely gets a sniff of a goal. He's now at 8 goals in his past 100 games.

That's reasonable, but is it fair? Shouldn't we expect more out of a former 1st rounder who scored 15g in 60 games? Granted he was on the first line then, but he's on the second line now, and imo, he rarely gets a sniff of a goal. He's now at 8 goals in his past 100 games.
- jcragcrumple

right but he's making what like 1.6 mil this year and next?

right but he's making what like 1.6 mil this year and next?
- Sabresfan-365

I would argue that he's not worth that much. It's just weird to me that fans feel so much antipathy toward Sam (granted, 2nd overall), while first round bust gus generates apathy among fans

Great blog, as always :

Do you see 90 or 21 getting moved to open up some cap room?

Jbotts mentioned having the 2 good centers 90, 15 when he took the job
If middlestat can make the jump, seams like we have quite a few centers

I would argue that he's not worth that much. It's just weird to me that fans feel so much antipathy toward Sam (granted, 2nd overall), while first round bust gus generates apathy among fans
- jcragcrumple

Although gus falls alot and doesn't score:

He plays to the best of his ability and tries hard, checks and shows heart.

That's what buffalonians like.

Silent sam is a ego filled turd.
Not buffalo like

Great blog, as always :

Do you see 90 or 21 getting moved to open up some cap room?

Jbotts mentioned having the 2 good centers 90, 15 when he took the job
If middlestat can make the jump, seams like we have quite a few centers
- Boss34

I would like to see ROR, Okposo, Jorges moved for picks, prospects. Get a viable center and a pick for Kane

Although gus falls alot and doesn't score:

He plays to the best of his ability and tries hard, checks and shows heart.

That's what buffalonians like.

Silent sam is a ego filled turd.
Not buffalo like
- Boss34

Does he? What happened to the second year guy that bull rushed through defenders to score a goal? He used to wow with effort and skill. I just don't see either anymore

Does he? What happened to the second year guy that bull rushed through defenders to score a goal? He used to wow with effort and skill. I just don't see either anymore
- jcragcrumple

The losing has gotten to everyone.

Buffalo fans like over achieveing ,hard working players. Gus is noticeable at the games live. He checks and hustles.

Silent sam was picked early and smells

I would like to see ROR, Okposo, Jorges moved for picks, prospects. Get a viable center and a pick for Kane
- lulags

#1 or #2 center is so hard to find.
Ror fits the bill.

Would be nice to have a viable center like Jt comtpter is the system . Maybe it's erod or middlestat

Winter break just going back to LA to do some things then off to buffalo then Hawaii for family vacation for Christmas
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Why don't you just go to Hawaii from LA? That makes no sense to come to Buffalo, then back to LA on to Hawaii.

The losing has gotten to everyone.

Buffalo fans like over achieveing ,hard working players. Gus is noticeable at the games live. He checks and hustles.

Silent sam was picked early and smells
- Boss34

Of course, but Gus is way underachieving

I would argue that he's not worth that much. It's just weird to me that fans feel so much antipathy toward Sam (granted, 2nd overall), while first round bust gus generates apathy among fans
- jcragcrumple

i don't think he is either. but in the world of expectations

massive trade, 7.5 mil, core spot>>>mid first rounder, 1.6 mil

i don't think he is either. but in the world of expectations

massive trade, 7.5 mil, core spot>>>mid first rounder, 1.6 mil
- Sabresfan-365

He's scoring at a sub-4th line pace while playing on the 2nd and 3rd lines. He is the definition of a first round bust

He's scoring at a sub-4th line pace while playing on the 2nd and 3rd lines. He is the definition of a first round bust
- jcragcrumple

again, i dont disagree but he'll see less hate because as far as this rebuild goes far less was expected of him to begin with.