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And if Martin hadn't hurt his knee and the repairs available today which weren't back then he'd a Hall of Famer, not first ballot but he'd be in. Andreychuk had Espo goals, Martin was Bossy before Bossy

Some of them are in the HoF.

Mildly improved GT because Lyons can play more than Reimer did. Also, I would hope that Ruff learned not to give UPL 400000 starts because he can't handle it.

This is an excellent post, but I’m not with you on the bold. This is the year the Florida Panthers won their 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup. Guys like Matthew Tkachuk set a tone and drag their teammates into the fight.

Ah thank you that what is needed, especially Martin to Robert to a sneaky back pass to Gilbert, Pegs bought the team remembering those highlights, hopefully he remember that, and at the same time it nice to remember gifts that players gave to the fans in the Aud

Listing the players out like this really highlights the issue. Power and Samuelsson. You can’t have two 6’5”+ defenseman that don’t touch anyone, especially in Mattias case where he brings no offense or puck moving ability. What is he good at? ***** if I know. The offseason should have been about finding an Elite more established, physical player to swap for Power, instead we are looking to move Byram, a player who does occasionally hit people.

So by default would the timid ones be: Muel, Power, McLeod, Quinn, Kulich?, Bryson Uncertain to me (timid or pack runner): Byram, Timmins Hopefully the new names added to the pack guys will make a difference….as that group outnumbers the “timid” guys that I think are there.

Better defense Worse offense Same Goaltending Same coaching staff Zero chance this team cracks the top 8 unless a major trade is made.

Jesus I hope they don’t give Muel an “A” again next season. I would like to think in a Florida locker room, he would have been pitchforked for not responding to the aid of a teammate. By contrast in Buffalo, he get’s to keep a letter he never deserved in the first place (just like his contract).

And with zero changes in the coaching staff, I have no faith the PP strategy will change. No new proven PP asst. coach on staff to change the strategy. Yet another failure by management to address a glaring need.

There probably is something to this. It’s the same as any workplace I suppose. If management isn’t fully committed, why the hell should the employees (players) express that level of commitment. This is depressing…

I see that point of view too. Additionally, I see that adding a player like Kadri, puts a positive note to the boys in the room. That they're looking to push this year. As it follows up on the "changing the culture", moves of Peterka for Doan and Kesserling. The additions of Danforth, Timmins. It just doubles down on that. I would only see this if they are getting Kadri ++ for Byram.

I’d add Benson to that list. He’s not a big dog, but he seems like a willing ankle biter.

Reinhart I think, re the bold

All that culture stuff Adams talked about 5 years ago that everyone bought into? Hey it’s still there! It was real. They are just disingenuous frauds: they are literally the ones infiltrating the franchise and pumping that poor culture right to its veins

I'm curious how they staff the 1st PP this year? Do they go status quo and just plug Kulich into JJ's slot? It's his natural role and he has a history of being very good there. Another unwrapped option is Norris, who also has a history of being very good on the PP, but from the Thompson position. I think one of the issues is the lack of a pure passer and/or playmaker other than Dahlin. And with Ras kinda anchored at the top, who is breaking down the box with motion and misdirection? Who is sneaking down from the top? I've seen Byram and Power have success at doing the above and wouldn't mind their skills being better utilized on the PP. Teams moved away from 2D on the PP basically to get their best offensive talent on the ice. I think you could make a very good case that Byram and Power are among our five most talented players. Maybe they should explore using those skills. What do they have to lose?

But my God...look at how ridiculous those goalies look. How were games not 15-12 with their terrible shot stopping ability?

A pack mentality is what arises simply from the realization of the group that they are united in a common goal beyond themselves this conversation, imo, is off the rails - what’s missing isnt a “pack leader” (what year is it?), nor do the Sabres randomly just “happen” to add a bunch of guys with no bite what is happening, in actuality, is that we aren’t assembling a group of players who are uncharacteristically stupid: they can perceive and understand that the Buffalo Sabres aren’t committed to a real goal How can the players lay down their hockey lives for a cause when the sabres don’t have a cause worth fighting for? You want them to lie down for Pegula’s yacht costs? come on now, people, use your noggins on this one

What I found particularly frustrating last year was their failure to lean into their strength: Thompson. The year before they failed because Thompson was their only weapon and they didn't try anything else. Last year they overcompensated and went out of their way to avoid Tage. Find a happy medium.

I don't see any lead dogs on the roster, which I think is the chief problem in this area. Guys I see who probably would run with the pack if we had it: Dahlin, Kesselring, Thompson, Tuch, Zucker, Greenway, Danforth, Malenstyn, Doan, Krebs, Benson (edited to add) Not sure how many more of those guys are necessary to create some sort of a critical mass when we don't have a pack leader. Adding a pack leader sure would help.

You are right but they run it through the point because Dahlin is the only one that can run it. They have no high hockey IQ/playmakers that can run it from anywhere up front or the sidewall.

Another thought... I wonder if you could trade Byram and Krebs to Anaheim for McTavish. They have Carlsson, Strome, Poehling, and Granlund with McQueen and Sennecke in the pipe... I wonder if they would be willing to move McTavish to upgrade their defense. Unsure but just a random thought of the day.

If I were Buffalo at this stage, I would do Byram - Dahlin Power - Kesselring Samuelsson - Timmins

“Historically 3rd pair” translates to “found money top 4 upgrade” in the ancient Adams dialect

You miss the nuance, Gilbert is not Gilbert, don't blame yourself, probably just a younger!