Here lads I've no idea how Housley's lasted as long as he has. Good luck in getting rid of him.
I'm puzzled by Housley. Sure, I know part of his hiring was bringing home "feel good" Phil to give the fans some warm and fuzzies. The hopes I had for Housley were that he would take a very young team like the Sabres, and if nothing else, turn them into one of the most exciting teams in the league. Everyone knows the Swords are ways away from winning anything significant, but I believed Housley would open the floodgates and let these kids create, make mistakes, but generate offense and entertain the fans night in and night out... kind of like the Matthews, Nylander, Marner led Leafs during their rookie season.
Instead, Housley looks like the grumpy, lifeless dad who turns the lights off at 9pm and tells everyone to go to bed. There's nothing fun or exciting about the team he is icing. Nothing fun or exciting in the style of play he employs. It's pure zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Sheary and Okposo on the PP instead of Dahlin and Mittlestadt? Yeah, ok, Phil. Good job.
Housley should turn the team over to Eichel, Reinhart, Dahlin, Mittelstadt and Ristolainen. Maybe even Nylander full-time. Throw out a puck and tell them to go have fun and create. Win or lose, the fans will fall in love with the team and the kids will be fast-tracked to figuring out the NHL. And, if they lose? Who cares?! They get to do it all again next year, maybe with Jack Hughes in the lineup.
Housley is trying to coach this team like he has a boring, vet team that is trying to get over the hump and win a championship. He has young, thoroughbreds... he needs to let them run.