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The Buffalo Sabres season is over, and the team gathered today to give their final remarks to the media and gather their things for summer vacation. Each player had their own take on the season, and here’s the news, thoughts and quotes that you need to hear.
We Need To Be Better
To start off, there were a number of cliched quotes about not being good enough, which, while being cliche, are also very true.
"We fell short." Coach Bylsma's full 15-minute press conference this afternoon: https://t.co/kElQjm48k0 pic.twitter.com/hLySYhIiLp
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 10, 2017
Sam Reinhart: Individually, we need to get better. I think there's more I can give - this summer's going to be a big step to proving that.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 10, 2017
Ryan O'Reilly said he was terrible this season. Love the accountability. #Sabres @WKBW pic.twitter.com/ExRCgfl7ua
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) April 10, 2017
Jake McCabe: It's about consistency. We would win, then we would lose. It got to the point we were playing .500 hockey, that's unacceptable.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 10, 2017
Gorges just told me if you need a coach or outside sources to motivate you, you shouldn't be in the league.
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) April 10, 2017
Kane: We need more “F-U attitude”
Evander Kane: "We need to have more bite to our game...a little more of an "F U" attitude" @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/U1xYymu7oT
— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) April 10, 2017
Eichel: “I haven’t scratched the surface of where I can be”
Eichel was not a happy camper. Take 1:46 and check out some of his comments. Straight fire, as per usual #Sabres @WKBW pic.twitter.com/IFdphxW9S4
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) April 10, 2017
From the interview above, it’s also clear that he’s aware of this small detail:
Leon Draisaitl's 2 pts last night knocked #Sabres Jack Eichel out of the top 10 in league Pts/Gm. Eichel misses out on a $2M bonus by 0.01 pic.twitter.com/5ZLqxtHwdO
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) April 10, 2017
Bylsma likely sticking around: “Moving forward”
"We fell short." Coach Bylsma's full 15-minute press conference this afternoon: https://t.co/kElQjm48k0 pic.twitter.com/hLySYhIiLp
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 10, 2017
I've spoken to many inside the Sabres organization and I have heard nothing to indicate that Dan Bylsma is being let go.
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) April 10, 2017
A few other notes:
O'Reilly said he's playing for Canada at the Worlds. Ristolainen said he wasn't sure if he'd play. McCabe is not playing for Team USA.
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) April 10, 2017
Reinhart said he has not been contacted about Worlds, and Lehner isn’t sure about playing due to his RFA status. Girgensons will play for Latvia.
Brian Gionta wants to continue with Sabres. Whether it's two years from now or whenever, who does he eventually see as captain? pic.twitter.com/a3ejizM71z
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) April 10, 2017
After his relatively productive season this year, I wouldn’t mind the team bringing Gionta back, provided the price is right.
Bylsma - we missed Okposo not only on the ice, but we missed his presence in the locker room #Sabres
— WGR 550 (@WGR550) April 10, 2017
Get well soon, Kyle.
End of the season meetings between the Pegula's and Tim Murray have not taken place. Today is all about meeting with players.
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) April 10, 2017
And that’s it! Give us your thoughts on the player’s final comments this season in the comments.