Quoting: delneggs
I think they have had some very good hockey players on their team, enough to be a playoff team, that's for sure. But I think there is a much bigger problem which is upper management and ownership. From what you say, they don't get enough good players and they keep hiring bad coaches. But lets consider this.....they have had high draft picks almost every year for the past 8 years. Since Eichel was picked 2nd overall in 2015, they have had the 8th pick in 2016, the 8th pick in 2017, the 1st pick in 2018 (Dahlin), the 7th pick 2019, and then the 8th pick in 2020. Lets not forget Ristolainen was 8th overall in 2013 and Reinhart was 2nd overall in 2014. That is 8 years in a row with top 10 picks with two being number 2 overall and one being a number 1 overall. And you say they lack talent? They added Okposo, Skinner and this year Hall and Staal, and still did nothing. They have talent and keep in mind NONE of the high draft picks they took have ever played in a playoff game. Their coaches are not THAT BAD. Bylsma is not THAT BAD. Something else is going on in Buffalo. Perhaps lack of leadership (Eichel)? Perhaps bad team chemistry? Perhaps bad owners/GM that keep making the same mistakes over and over? I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's a lack of talent and all bad coaches. I don't buy that excuse. With all the recent picks they have had and a superstar like Eichel on the team, they should be a playoff team, plain and simple. But they are not. Not even close. Even more telling to me was how happy Staal and Hall were to be traded out of there at the deadline. They are not selfish players, so there has to be something wrong going on with the team. Just my opinion mind you, but it's not a lack of talent and bad coaching.
You really think this team has the talent to be a playoff team? Really? That's laughable. If Bylsma was so good why isn't he a head coach somewhere else? Hall performed because look who he played with in Boston. Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, Kreji, ect... And of course Staal was happy to play on Carolina, their team is a heck of a lot better than the Sabres.