When the Sabres hired Phil Housley almost two years ago I was excited. I remembered the fast skating defenseman who had been one of the players that changed the way defensemen played the game. No longer was slow/big/gritty and tough the moniker for NHL Dmen. Rather fast skating playmakers and puck carriers became the new model. I was confident that Housley would bring this thought process into his coaching career here in Buffalo. After a year and a half I’m starting to believe that he’s a dinosaur. One of those typical NHL guys who still look to grit and veteran presence more than speed and talent.
Lets look at some of Housley’s decisions recently. First and foremost is the inexplicable benching of Lawrence Pilut. Has Pilut been perfect? Absolutely not. Has Pilut showed signs of being a top four NHL defenseman? Absolutely. Have Scandella, Hunwick or Beaulieu shown those signs? Absolutely not. We have a team that lacks scoring and which lacks puck movement from our defenseman. Instead of keeping the young Pilut in the lineup he’s been a healthy scratch the past two games so “veteran” guys can “shore up the defense”. That’s exactly how dinosaurs think. Instead of saying “we need puck moving defenseman to get the puck out of our zone” we get “experienced defensemen who can block shots and clear the crease”. That’s not how today’s game is evolving.
Another instance of Dinosaur Phil comes in the forward groupings. How can you possibly play Elie more minutes in a game you are losing 1-0 than Mittelstadt? What was he thinking? Elie has ONE point this entire year. That’s not a misprint. ONE point. No goals. One assist. In 16 games. Housley plays Girgenson, Larrson, Sobotka, and Okposo. He sat Pommonville which I get. But to play Elie over him makes no sense. To play Elie more last night than Casey is just plain stupid.
We have over the past few weeks been clamoring for Smith, Nylander or Oloffson to be brought up. We’ve been asking for a second line center. We’ve been demanding that Botterill make some moves. What we’ve received is nothing. No moves, no call ups, nothing. We have four or five guys that are playing well. The rest are just there for the ride. We have a season where we could clearly make the playoffs. That’s not happening without moves and without Dinosaur Phil playing the best players each game. Botterill has to do something also to prove he’s a real NHL GM. Don’t sell the future but with four 1st round picks in next two years and with guys like Guhle, Nylander and Oloffson in Rochester we have plenty of assets to make at least one major move without mortgaging our future.
Its time for both of these guys to show what kind of coach/GM they are. Are they dinosaurs or progressives? Let’s hope for the latter.