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Phil Housley paid the price for another season lost during his dismissal Sunday, but Buffalo Sabers captain Jack Eichel reiterated Monday that the dismissed coach should not be held responsible for the fall of the team in the second half.
"It's about us in the room, we are the product on the ice," Eichel told KeyBank Center as the Sabers cleaned their lockers and held exit meetings. "It's a pity that it must have happened because Phil is not the one who plays the games and I've told you before, it's our job to play better on the ice every night. The product on the ice was not good enough, it does not fall on us except ourselves. "
Eichel said he did not feel disconnected between the players and Housley, even as the Sabers were sinking to the league's worst record after Dec. 1.
"I think we may be looking for answers," he said. "When things went wrong, the guys were probably looking for answers and the situation was a little accelerated, it was difficult, I think we were trying to find something, to grab something and we did not could not find it, but unfortunately it has grown. "
Eichel refused to answer the question of what qualities he wanted to see in a new coach.
"It's difficult.We just left our coach yesterday.It's a tough question, that's certain," he said. "We just want to get the most out of every player, that's the big problem, I'm sure (general manager Jason Botterill) has an idea of who he wants to work with and who his opinion, will be beneficial for this group.We'll let him do his work there.As a group, we should worry about our game on the ice.We should worry about being better for next season. "
The Sabers have now missed the playoffs for eight consecutive years, an NHL top. Eichel is 0 for 4 in his career. The captain said that the long-suffering team of supporters of the team must soon be rewarded.
"It's a city that loves us and they care so much," he said. "They have such a positive view of our team even in these difficult times, and I think it says a lot about people here … First of all, we want to do it ourselves, because it's been a long time and here. Of course, I want to do it for the fans, they deserve it, you talk to guys who have been here for years and say how great it is, as a group we want to capture. "
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