Buffalo Sabres and NHL: 2019/20: Sabres season officially over. Draft lottery June 26th

[BillsFan4]

 

[PromoTheRobot]

Just saying...

Beat the Leafs and we are 6 points out of a playoff spot. Not dead yet.

 

Forget about the wild card. Focus on 3rd in the Atlantic. Only two teams to watch: Toronto and Montreal.

Edited February 15, 2020 by PromoTheRobot

[K-9]

12 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

No team wanted him? Can’t blame JBotts for not getting something in a trade then.

[Cripple Creek]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are so headstrong and blinded by your zealotry that you have no inkling what my position is on the Sabres, although I have stated it a thousand times. This is not a playoff team. And there is no turning point after this last win because there is no turning point. This roster has some glaring deficiencies that can't be overcome this year. That doesn't mean that this isn't an improved team from the prior lackluster years. I predicted prior to the season that this was an 88 point team. If the Sabres improve their point total by 10 from last year's 76 point total I will be satisfied that the team is moving in the right direction. But the meaningful evaluation isn't about the point total this year as it is how the team plays according to Krueger's system and philosophy. From that standpoint I am very encouraged about their near future prospects. 

 

What I have repeatedly told you and your snickering compadres is that when Botteril took over there was not going to be a quick fix to this team that needed a major reconstruction that also included an organization that was hollowed out. In my view this current GM has steadily addressed his challenging task without resorting to expedient quick fixes that in the end get you nowhere other than staying on the long road of mediocrity. You need to maintain your composure and trust the process. You may be too frantic to realize it but it is working.

 

Hopefully my response offers some clarity to some of your misguided perceptions that you seem unable to shake from. ? 

In what areas have they improved?  

 

What gives you optimism that the GM will be able to do anything of consequence this off season?

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Cripple Creek said:

In what areas have they improved?  

 

What gives you optimism that the GM will be able to do anything of consequence this off season?

With Olofsson back in the lineup we have a legitimate high quality first line. Our defensive unit is not only a good unit it is a young unit that will get better. Dahlin, Joki, Montour and Risto are genuine top one or two pairing caliber defensemen. I also like Miller, and Pilot is ready to be a good piece to that unit. That is a solid unit.

 

What gives me optimism about this offseason? The GM has put this franchise in good cap shape with at least half a dozen expiring contracts to bring in additional talent to upgrade not only the roster but most importantly add to the second line. I also believe that Mitts and Tage are ready or near ready to be contributing players on the third line.

 

In addition, what I find most encouraging is that this team has a good coach in Krueger who has been involved in a rebuild project. I place a lot of confidence in him as a coach and a leader. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

Some people were complaining about the excessive number of defensemen on the team. That issue with the departure of Bogo and Scandella is resolving itself. I wouldn't be surprised if either Risto or Montour is traded, most likely in the offseason, to add a second line forward/center.  We also have Miller playing well and Pilot ready to be a full time player. So even while the numbers get whittled down on that unit it is still a good unit.  

[K-9]

25 minutes ago, JohnC said:

With Olofsson back in the lineup we have a legitimate high quality first line. Our defensive unit is not only a good unit it is a young unit that will get better. Dahlin, Joki, Montour and Risto are genuine top one or two pairing caliber defensemen. I also like Miller, and Pilot is ready to be a good piece to that unit. That is a solid unit.

 

What gives me optimism about this offseason? The GM has put this franchise in good cap shape with at least half a dozen expiring contracts to bring in additional talent to upgrade not only the roster but most importantly add to the second line. I also believe that Mitts and Tage are ready or near ready to be contributing players on the third line.

 

In addition, what I find most encouraging is that this team has a good coach in Krueger who has been involved in a rebuild project. I place a lot of confidence in him as a coach and a leader. 

Never change, John, never change. Your unbridled optimism is always needed in an ever growing cynical world. 
 

Per the bold text, the only one I can see as a top pair D man is Dahlin, in time. Risto  is fully baked as a mid pairing talent,  Montour simply isn’t very good in his own end, and while I like Joki, I just don’t see a top 2 D man, even when he matures. Granted, our forwards need to do a much, much better job of support in the D end, but our D men just don’t strike fear in opponents as far as shutting them down. They’re just too easily outmanned below the end line and that’s how teams play us. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

Never change, John, never change. Your unbridled optimism is always needed in an ever growing cynical world. 
 

Per the bold text, the only one I can see as a top pair D man is Dahlin, in time. Risto  is fully baked as a mid pairing talent,  Montour simply isn’t very good in his own end, and while I like Joki, I just don’t see a top 2 D man, even when he matures. Granted, our forwards need to do a much, much better job of support in the D end, but our D men just don’t strike fear in opponents as far as shutting them down. They’re just too easily outmanned below the end line and that’s how teams play us. 

I respectfully disagree with your rating of our defensemen. I agree with you that Dahlin is clearly a first pairing player. Risto is in my estimation a second pairing caliber of player. He just doesn't have the elite acumen to be a first pairing player. However, his physicality on a unit that lacks that attribute makes him an important player on that unit. I rate Montour higher than you do. Although I consider him a second, and not first pairing type of talent, because of his skating prowess he can complement and play with Dahlin who is in an elite (maybe not now) player. Joki right now is more of a third pairing player but because of how smartly he plays the position it wouldn't surprise me if he turns out to be a second pairing caliber of player. Right now he may be our most efficient defenseman. I don't get hung up on the labels because it is not unusual for a second pairing caliber of player to play on the first or even third pairing because of chemistry and complementary considerations. If you add Miller and Pilut to the mix I see this grouping as being solid and emerging to be good. 

 

I am optimistic about this team's future. However, I don't consider it to be at the unrealistic and unbridled level.  Last year, you exasperatingly asked me when I thought this team would be good. I told you that it would be in another two to three years. I'm holding to that timetable and assessment. I am cautiously optimistic that next year will be our bump up year and the year after this team will be a more established team. Time will tell. 

 

 

[BillsFan4]

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/02/15/amid-virus-outbreak-concerns-about-a-hockey-stick-shortage/

Amid virus outbreak, concerns about a hockey stick shortage

 

Quote

Jack Eichel snapped his stick over the crossbar in frustration after an empty-net goal sealed a Buffalo Sabres loss, splintering it across the ice. He and other NHL players might want to think twice about sacrificing their sticks in a situation like that for now.

 

The coronavirus outbreak that began in China is affecting the production of hockey sticks used by the world’s top players, raising concerns about a potential shortage. Two major manufacturers, Bauer and CCM, have factories in China that have closed.

 

“We’ll see how long it lasts,” Eichel said. “Hopefully not too long. Obviously, I go through sticks pretty quickly.”

 

Eichel estimates he goes through 100 sticks a season, and he’s not alone. 

 

Just how many sticks are used each season in the NHL is not known, but it’s a lot. Boyer figures Red Wings players go through 70 to 120 each year, which would translate to about 1,600 for a full team – and more than 50,000 across the 31-team league.

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by BillsFan4

[snafu]

6 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Just saying...

Beat the Leafs and we are 6 points out of a playoff spot. Not dead yet.

 

Forget about the wild card. Focus on 3rd in the Atlantic. Only two teams to watch: Toronto and Montreal.

 

A good goaltender would help a great deal.

 

 

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

What gives me optimism about this offseason? The GM has put this franchise in good cap shape with at least half a dozen expiring contracts to bring in additional talent to upgrade not only the roster but most importantly add to the second line.

 

You may be right, but I’d want a different GM to fill those holes.

And get a goalie.

[Cripple Creek]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

With Olofsson back in the lineup we have a legitimate high quality first line. Our defensive unit is not only a good unit it is a young unit that will get better. Dahlin, Joki, Montour and Risto are genuine top one or two pairing caliber defensemen. I also like Miller, and Pilot is ready to be a good piece to that unit. That is a solid unit.

 

What gives me optimism about this offseason? The GM has put this franchise in good cap shape with at least half a dozen expiring contracts to bring in additional talent to upgrade not only the roster but most importantly add to the second line. I also believe that Mitts and Tage are ready or near ready to be contributing players on the third line.

 

In addition, what I find most encouraging is that this team has a good coach in Krueger who has been involved in a rebuild project. I place a lot of confidence in him as a coach and a leader. 

What moves that the GM has made give you hope that he knows what he is doing?

 

[shrader]

55 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said:

What moves that the GM has made give you hope that he knows what he is doing?

 

You’re not paying attention if you don’t know the immediate answer to this question. I know people want to crap on him, but this idea that people want to parrot about him making horrible trades is just plain lazy. Yeah, that one trade really hurt, but don’t paint every single one after that with the same brush. 

[Cripple Creek]

35 minutes ago, shrader said:

You’re not paying attention if you don’t know the immediate answer to this question. I know people want to crap on him, but this idea that people want to parrot about him making horrible trades is just plain lazy. Yeah, that one trade really hurt, but don’t paint every single one after that with the same brush. 

What moves has he made that give you hope?  He's been in position going on 3 years.  

[BillsFan4]

 

Haven't had a chance to listen yet but I bet it will be a pretty good interview.

 

eichel interview starts just past 56 mins in.

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by BillsFan4

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said:

What moves that the GM has made give you hope that he knows what he is doing?

 

Trading Nylander for Joki. Trading for Montour for a reasonable price. Getting Miller at a reasonable price. Bringing on Krueger after Housley underperformed as a coach. Having nearly half of his roster on expiring contracts so in the next offseason he has more flexibility and be in an advantageous position to make deals. When he couldn't get a deal for Risto because the return wasn't good enough for him he kept him, and he ended up playing well. When Mittelstadt demonstrated that he wasn't ready after giving him the opportunity to play he sent him to Rochester. Hopefully, in the long run it will be the right move for the player and the team. He handled Olofsson smartly by keeping him in Rochester until the end of the season last year. And now he is a prolific goal scorer on the first line. 

 

Not every move worked out. But that is inevitable for all GMs when making personnel decisions. The ROR trade has proven to be damaging. But there is a backstory regarding his publicly expressed disgruntlement and upcoming bonus payments that drove the deal. Overall, I believe he has done a good job. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, snafu said:

 

 

 

 

 

You may be right, but I’d want a different GM to fill those holes.

And get a goalie.

It's not what you or I want. The owner/s make the call regarding their staff. I strongly believe that the GM will be back next year. And in my humble opinion he has earned the right to continue running the operation. I prefer stability over instability. 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

You’re not paying attention if you don’t know the immediate answer to this question. I know people want to crap on him, but this idea that people want to parrot about him making horrible trades is just plain lazy. Yeah, that one trade really hurt, but don’t paint every single one after that with the same brush. 

Other than Skinner, I can’t think of any other trade that screams “winner.” 

[Cripple Creek]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

Trading Nylander for Joki. Trading for Montour for a reasonable price. Getting Miller at a reasonable price. Bringing on Krueger after Housley underperformed as a coach. Having nearly half of his roster on expiring contracts so in the next offseason he has more flexibility and be in an advantageous position to make deals. When he couldn't get a deal for Risto because the return wasn't good enough for him he kept him, and he ended up playing well. When Mittelstadt demonstrated that he wasn't ready after giving him the opportunity to play he sent him to Rochester. Hopefully, in the long run it will be the right move for the player and the team. He handled Olofsson smartly by keeping him in Rochester until the end of the season last year. And now he is a prolific goal scorer on the first line. 

 

Not every move worked out. But that is inevitable for all GMs when making personnel decisions. The ROR trade has proven to be damaging. But there is a backstory regarding his publicly expressed disgruntlement and upcoming bonus payments that drove the deal. Overall, I believe he has done a good job. 

So, he gets credit for Krueger, who hasn't proven anything as of yet,  but no blame for Housley?

[shrader]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

Other than Skinner, I can’t think of any other trade that screams “winner.” 

I’ll be curious to see if Nylander heads back to Europe this summer. He hasn’t been able to escape from mediocrity this year. It might be time to go thrive over there for a few years before giving it another shot in the nhl. 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

I’ll be curious to see if Nylander heads back to Europe this summer. He hasn’t been able to escape from mediocrity this year. It might be time to go thrive over there for a few years before giving it another shot in the nhl. 

Actually, that’s two good trades then. Joker for Nylander has been a steal so far. Although Joker still has a ways to go before I can say he’s arrived.