BillsFan4

I just hit chapter 4 and have a bit over $10,000. I found the first treasure in chapter 2 and I ended up googling the other treasures and finishing them all. It was well worth the time because I haven’t had to worry about money for anything since about mid chapter 2.

It would not surprise me at all to see the NY Jets go hard after him. They love making splashy moves. Seems like they go after every big name that becomes available.... and I doubt Maccagnan will have any issue with AB’s character. He doesn’t seem to be one that’s overly concerned with “character”. Gase may have concerns, but I’m not sure if he would feel comfortable making a strong stand against a player like AB yet. I will be surprised if the Jets are not at least in the mix.

He was also pretty good in 2016. He was ranked #9 in pass protection by PFF, and finished with an overall rank of 29 out of 72 ranked centers. The main thing that worries me about long are his run blocking grades. It looks like he’s been pretty good in pass protection for most of his career.

Can’t help you teddy... The only part of the Grammy’s I caught was the “best song of the year”, as it just so happened to be on when I walked in the room. I did not know a single song or artist up for best song of the year....

Let’s not blow this Sobotka thing out of proportion guys. Sobotka gets 2 seconds more per game than the next closest forward (Sheary), about 15 seconds more than the next 2 closest forwards (ERod and Larsson) and about 30 seconds more than the next cluster of players. There is only 1:10 ice time per game that separate Sobotka from the guy who gets the least amount of regular ice time on the team. He is 13th in total 5v5 ice time on the team. And it'd worth mentuoning that Sobotka is under his career average ice time by quite a bit. He averaged 16-17mins almost every year in St. Louis. Even under Hitchcock (a very well respected veteran coach). I mean, what do you expect housley to do? ROR was the guy housley relied on to eat all those defensive minutes and he was traded away and replaced with Sobotka and Thompson. Do you consider that an adequate job by Botterill (for this season) to fill that massive hole ROR left? How many head cosches rely on young and/or rookie players to play heavy defensive roles? It’s really not unusual to see a coach rely on a veteran player in a defensive role. And especially in this case, where housley really doesn’t have another veteran defensive forward to rely on. I can almost guarantee that if housley had someone better to fill that role, he’d use them.

about time! Can’t believe it took this long... Somewhat Surprising that the GM is naming himself interim coach though. He must want and up close look at what the problems are. Obviously they have more issues than just coaching...

Here - https://www.usgamer.net/articles/01-02-2019-red-dead-redemption-2-hunting-animals-list-selling-pelts-tracking/legendary-buck-pelt Go there and hunt/kill the legendary buck if you haven’t already. Tip - keep turning your deadeye on and then watch the mini map, when looking for the animal clues question mark to start the hunt. You will see that question mark (to start the hunt) you are looking for pop up on the mini map. Then go to the fence and have the Buck antler trinket made. It makes it way easier to get a perfect pelt when hunting animals. As long as you use the right weapon, you usually always get a perfect pelt (even from the 2 star animals sometimes). Here are some badger locations and tips (it says hunt at night) - https://www.polygon.com/red-dead-redemption-2-guide/2018/11/6/18069228/badger-perfect-pelt-map-location heres another couple locations if that one doesn’t work - https://rankedboost.com/red-dead-redemption-2/badger/ https://www.ign.com/wikis/red-dead-redemption-2/Badger_Location_and_Perfect_Pelt_Hunting_Guide

Subban was obviously well established by the time he was traded to Nashville (yet still credits housley for helping him with his game). But as I mentioned before, Josi had only played two 1/2 seasons before housley got there (50 games in 2011/12 and 48 games in 2012/13) and had yet to establish himself as an elite talent. Housley then spent the next 4 years (over 300 games) with Josi, where in that time he got better every single year, and in every single statistical category (fancy stats included), and developed into a Norris level defender. He spent more time with Josi than any other coach. If Housley doesn’t get credit, who does? Same with Ellis and Ekholm - 3/4ths of Nashville’s top 4. And Seth Jones was coming along very nicely under Housley, too. I’ve also heard Peter Laviolette, David Poile and Roman Josi himself (among others) credit Housley with his (Josi’s) development. And the praise he got for his work in Nashville came from a lot more than just the players themselves. Poile, Laviolette, every beat reporter that covered the team, hockey people from around the NHL, national media, analysts etc etc. I mean, Basically everyone credits him for the development of Nashville’s defense corps. His time in Nashville as an assistant coach is completely separate from his time here in Buffalo as a head coach. You can judge the two separately. He could have done (and in reality, Did do) an excellent job there and still do a bad job here. We see it all the time, where a guy is among the best assistant coaches yet fails as a head coach. That doesn’t mean that they were suddenly no longer a good assistant coach before becoming a head coach..... You can’t go back and erase his time and work in Nashville because of his time in Buffalo. Anyway, I realize that you are not going to change your mind on anything related to housley so I will just let this conversation end here.

I disagree. Almost every one of their defenseman had better seasons under Housley than any other coach. A few (Ellis, Josi, Ekholm) had career years under Housley after Trotz left. Shea Weber, a well established 8 year vet, had his highest scoring season in Housley’s 1st year. Ekholm and Ellis were both struggling in their development before Housley came on board. Neither were considered top defenseman before housley’s time there. He has been pretty widely credited with their development - https://sports.yahoo.com/news/phil-housley-coaches-offense-predators-defense-152520840.html 2 of those defenseman were not 1st round picks. One was a 2nd rounder. The other was a 4th rounder. They were by no means sure things when drafted, and Housley worked with them longer than any other coach has. Trotz wasn’t with some of those defenseman for more than 1 full season. Ekholm played 3 games for Trotz before Housley got there. Ellis played about 60 games. Even Josi had only played 2 50 game seasons before Housley got there. Housley was with them for 4 full seasons and was there in the early stages of some of their development. Plus, Every Nashville defenseman raves about housley and many credited him for their development as players. Even Shea Weber and PK Subban, both experienced vets when housley worked with them, raved about Housley and called him one of the best and/or most knowledgeable coaches they had. Heres a quote from PK Subban - https://www.nhl.com/news/coach-phil-housley-shaped-nashville-predators-defense/c-289275342 and Ellis - And this - There are plenty more articles out there with high praise for the job Housley did in Nashville, and plenty more player quotes raving about him. His development of the nashville blue line was a huge reason he became such a hot coaching candidate, and why he was considered the hottest coaching candidate on the market the year buffalo hired him.

Big win. Buffalo desperately needed those 2 points. I didnt see the 1st, but I thought buffalo played a heck of a 2nd and (most of the) 3rd. That was a good team win.

I’ll definitely be interested to see how this all turns out. Between Gase and Williams, and now Vitt and Williams a-hole son Blake. Then add in a guy like Jamal Adams playing for Greggo... it could get interesting.

They play a completely different system than what Trotz ran. Housley was actually hired by Trotz in Nashville (and then kept on by Laviolette, where he was given free reign to run the defense while Lavy focused on the offense). He was there for Trotz’s last year (2013/14) and then worked 3 years with Laviolette. Trotz ran a much different, defense first system where the defenseman hardly ever joined the rush. He was actually considered too safe and too defensive in Nashville, which is part of the reason he brought housley in. He let housley start to implement parts of his system in 2013, and the change was noticeable on a Nashville team that had always played conservatively. Housley was then allowed to fully implement his 5 man attack when Lavy took over, where the defenseman began to consistently join the rush. Even the Nashville players talked about how different the new system housley put in place was, and how it was such a big change from a system that was very much the opposite of Laviolette and housley’s. And Nashville’s defense took a huge step forward under Housley. Ryan Ellis didn’t start to come into his own until that first season under Housley (and only played 1 full season under Trotz). Mattias Ekholm (a 4th round pick) only played 1 season under Trotz and didn’t blossom into the defenseman he is now until after Trotz left. Roman Josi (2nd round pick) made a huge leap in Housley’s first season. Went from 18pts to 40pts. All 3 really didn’t blossom into the defenseman they are today until after Trotz left. Ellis, Josi, even Subban have all had their best years, points wise, under Housley (and after Trotz left) Peter Laviolette and pretty much every Nashville defenseman all raved about the job housley did. He may be in over his head as a head coach, but you can’t knock what he did in Nashville. You’re missing a pretty good game so far! I didn’t see the 1st period (for some reason I thought the game wasn’t on tonight, even though I updated the thread title yesterday to show the game time....lol). But the 2nd has been pretty exciting, and mostly all buffalo. Lets hope it continues...

The Amerks game was broadcast for free on Facebook tonight. I don’t know how to embed the video, but here’s a link - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=370653276820317&id=54162273113&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Ftheahl%2Fvideos%2F370653276820317%2F&_rdr You don’t need a Facebook account or anything. Just click on the link. They have the entire game posted if anyone wants to watch/re-watch. I havent watched it yet and dont know the outcome so please don’t spoil it for me! I’ll be watching it tomorrow morning. Thanks.

I wonder if this is true.

This makes a lot more sense now. I couldn’t figure out why Reinhart was calling out the goalies after the team’s defensive effort in front of them. But he wasn’t. Edit - clarification from housley as well -

Headed to the game. Let’s hope for a win!

“Many of the Sabres enjoying playing meaningful games in February (for the first time)” https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/many-sabres-are-enjoying-meaningful-games-february I know I’ve already mentioned this, but I really do think the bolded could be part of the thought process behind (not the whole reason, but in part) why Housley keeps veterans like Sobotka and Scandella in the lineup. They offer important first hand playoff experience to a group that’s sorely lacking it. I also wonder, if you start healthy scratching those guys on a regular basis, will it start to take some weight away from their words in the locker room (similar to what we saw happen to Josh Gorges in his last season or two here)? I’d imagine it’s probably harder for a guy to lead if he doesn’t really have a regular role on the team. I am sure some guys would be less inclined to listen to a veteran that is your 13th forward or #7 defenseman vs. a guy who is out there on the ice every night, battling with you. So many of what we consider to be our core have no playoff experience - Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen, even Skinner (hopefully). Same goes for guys like McCabe, Girgensons, Larsson, Rodriguez, Nelson. You can even include rookies like Mitts, Dahlin, Pilut, Thompson. I mean, what is that, almost 3/4 of the team? When you look at all the guys we have with no playoff experience, it’s not that surprising our coach and GM are keeping the very few veteran players we have (with playoff experience) in the lineup.

He was late to practice today but I believe he did end up participating. So I’m hoping that means he’s ok.

Damn, if that’s what a 34yr old bottom 6 center rental is going for, I don’t have much hope that Buffalo will be able to acquire a top 6 C rental this year. There’s no way Botterill is giving up a 1st for a rental. I think it’ll be tough to get a rental this year anyway. The Sabes don’t have their 2nd round pick this year, and they don’t have their 3rd or 4th round pick this year either (depending on Sheary’s point totals and/or Hunwick being traded, it’ll either be our 3rd or our 4th). They don’t have their own 3rd next year either. It would likely have to be a player for player/prospect type of trade, or a 1st for a younger player with term and/or team control left. Buffalo just isn’t in position to give up a 1st for a rental.

He played shifts with Mittelstadt in yesterday’s game and I thought Mitts looked really good with Reinhart. So IMO it makes sense to see if Reinhart can help get Mitts going. Plus, the Sheary/Mitts/Reinhart line was together in the 3rd period against Minnesota and I thought they looked good. They scored goal #4 that would have been the game winner if not for the wild tying it with 1min remaining. And If that line combo doesn’t work, I’m sure Housley and his asst. coaches will switch things up in game again. As I said in my last post I could see Reinhart being reunited with ERod and Smith. And I thought Thompson had a somewhat rough game yesterday (and really, his last couple games). He was demoted to the 4th line before the Wild game, and Housley was presumably looking for a response which Thompson never gave. So it wasn’t surprising to see. Sometimes it’s good for these young kids to get to take a step back and breath. I agree Sobotka sucks. But at least he’s on the 4th line now, and is a better fit there than Thompson if Housley is looking to use them as more of a defense first, grinder line like he normally does. I agree Tage has way, way more potential than Sobotka. But I also think he’s much more suited for a top 9 role than a 4th line (role). Sobotka fits that 4th line grinder role better IMO. So I tend to look at it more like Thompson is sitting for CJ Smith.

glad to see Reinhart still on his own line. I actually like these lines. Maybe flip Reinhart and Okposo, or bring smith up to Reinhart line if things don’t work with Sheary/Mitts/Reinhart. D pairings the same. I’m good with that, too. I thought Dahlin/Risto and Scandella/McCabe both played well together yesterday and though I thought Pilut made a few mistakes (and 1 big one that resulted in a goal), he also had some good moments and overall that pairing did ok.

I was in NYC yesterday and didn’t get back to buffalo until pretty late. So I was pretty tired watching the game on DVR but I thought buffalo played a pretty old, exciting game. They had an excellent 1st period. They dominated. Minnesota didn’t even get a single shot off until about 8 mins into the period iirc. Buffalo came out playing like their hair was on fire. They are finally learning how to show up at puck drop. That is a definite improvement over previous seasons. Minnesota pushed back in the 2nd and buffalo did not handle it well. But still managed 2 goals in the period. The 2nd period has been one of buffalo’s biggest weaknesses for many years now, going back to Bylsma. Then, the 3rd I felt was better. It was a back and forth period. Both teams had their chances. Overall I thought it was a pretty even game. I thought some of the new lines looked pretty good. Reinhart had one of his best games of the year. He looked good with both ERod and Mittelstadt. Mitts had one of his best games in a while. Eichel was fantastic no matter who his line mates were. I like Sheary with him in the 1st. Skinner didn’t seeem to do as well away from Eichel and it looked like he ended up back with Eichel for the 3rd, inch I’m fine with (though I’d like to see Skinner on his own a bit more so botterill has a better idea of what he’s truly worth $$ wise). IMO they have to think about keeping Reinhart away from Eichel. It gives us a much better 2nd line and anoher line that can help drive the play in the O zone and score some goals. Pilut had his moments, but he also had some huge mistakes. He just stood there on the 3rd goal and watched Coyle bury the puck and had numerous other defensive lapses. People shouldn’t act shocked if he is scratched again. Ullmark was fantastic. Still too makes mistakes that lead to goals against. But this is a young team. I can’t think of many other young teams around the NHL who play excellent defense. At least buffalo is playing an exciting brand of hockey though, which is what everyone was screaming for when we had Bylsma. I would much rather watch an exciting game like last night over pretty much any low scoring snooze fest of a game Bylsma coached... lol.

Wow! $11.69 million per year for only 5 years (only 1 UFA year bought) is pretty brutal! That is the price I would have expected on an 8 year deal. Suddenly Eichel's $10M x 8 looks that much better...

Good! They have to try something different because what they’re doing now isn’t working. As as much as I love Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart together I’ve actually been curious to see them on separate lines for a bit now. It’s great having one super line, but buffalo just doesn’t have the scoring depth with all 3 of our best scorers on the same line. I don’t know if it will work but it definitely seems like it’s worth a try IMO. If it spreads out the scoring it could be just what buffalo needs. What do they have to lose at this point? If it doesn’t work you can put them back together. Or give them shifts together during a game if they need a big goal. I hope they give these new line combos a legit chance (meaning more than just 1/2 a game).