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I’m not attempting to overrate his talent. But for me there is a simple metric: are the Sabres better with him, even in the short term, than without him? If he can be added for a draft pick that isn’t a first round pick, then I’m open to adding him. In this discussion I’m not looking at this topic from a big picture perspective. The issue is reduced to whether one thinks the team will be immediately better or not. I believe so.

Casey Mittlestadt looked good because it was relative to what we had available at the time. “Credibly” has alot to do with expectations. He was better than our alternatives then, but if your expectations are playoffs, he is not a credible roster addition. A few off-seasons ago I said Mitts will be a useful depth forward in the NHL. Something just north of replacement value. For a brief moment I thought he might prove me wrong. Nope. The only way Mitts is someone worth putting back on the roster is if Norris ends up on LTIR. Even then, he’s probably not a center on the Sabres anymore. I just don’t see him as a worthwhile add to the roster unless this team is in a roster bind.

When Tage was hurt Mitts moved up to centering the first line. The line continued to play at a high level. Is he a genuine first line center talent? Clearly not. But he has played as a second line center and at wing for us and played credibly. Even if he played at the 3C spot I would have no reluctance to bring him in if it was for a 2nd round pick. However, as others have said, a first round pick would be too pricey.

Not sure how much good that would have done you, anyway, I mean, unless they were playing Utah.

I saw that video and thought he did a good job with the breakdowns and agree the Sabres were and will continue to be dangerous on the rush. I still think the changes I highlighted did more to address the lack sustained pressure in the offense zone, willingness to drive the net, and much needed support in their own end than what they were able to do last year. A big part of the issue last season was there were still guys in key roles that didn't buy into that strategy and impacted the entire team. Even without Peterka I think this lineup is more aligned with the game this team needs to play to be more successful in this conference. I also see a lot more real competition for spots and roles than we've had in a while. Bryson is the 8th dman on my list but I don't expect him to go away quitely, and we might see 10-20 games from Ryan Johnson if he comes to camp ready to prove something. I'd love to watch some fights breakout in training camp this year when guys aren't giving it a full effort and get called out by the real ones on the team.

They didn’t show it last season. That youtube video showcased it. In theory we got 2 new guys for the bottom 6. JJP is gone, but Quinn is gonna eat most of those minutes on the 2nd line.

Yes, he should have, but he didn't, so maybe take what's available? I mean a 2nd is nothing. Anyone want to argue Malentstyn is better than Mitts?

This may be true for sure. Players drafted in the last 3 years not in the NHL yet. The trend might not be showing up yet in the stats. Maybe many of these "tall" guys won't make it either. Have to wait and see. In any event the Sabres are certainly not too small or short on D (lor forward for that matter). Strength is the greater issue I'd say. Let's face it, what happens with Power over the next few years determines a lot of how this D goes.

This is nearly 20 years ago, but I found it very interesting in terms of how Lindy used his players https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20052006&seasonTo=20052006&gameType=2&position=F&playerPlayedFor=franchise.19&sort=timeOnIcePerGame&page=0&pageSize=50

Lafferty and Aubé-Kubel were failures, but I think it’s fair to say they were attempts. It will be interesting to see how Lindy allots ice time: is the 9 or 10 minutes the 4th liners got down the stretch the way Lindy likes it, or is a reflection of the available players being those guys as well as Östlund Kozak and Rosen. Danforth got 14:23 and Doan 13:31 last year with their previous clubs

I don't disagree with this in theory. As you say though, it is reasonable to have a "show me" approach. Olofsson, Skinner, and Mittlelstadt, weren't Sabres last year. Malenstyn, Lafferty, and Aube-Kubel were. I'm not convinced that Doan and Danforth get 12-14 minutes per game. Our 4th line upgrades last year, came to us having received 12-14 minutes of ice time per game on their prior teams, only to have that cut to 9.5-10.5 minutes per game here.

Gradual change can be hard to recognize. Doan and Danforth will get 12 to 15 minutes a night and are very good at forechecking and getting to the net. Along with Tuch, Benson Zucker Greenway and Malenstyn they represent 7 of your 9 wingers. Pure perimeter guys like Peterka, Olofsson, Skinner and Mittelstadt don’t play for the Sabres any more. You’re right to say show me, but the push over the last year or two has been consistently in the direction of getting better in this area of the game

Someone in the last 24hrs posted a youtube video discussing why this team hasn’t been successful recently. I watched it just a few hrs before it was posted here. The analysis the youtube poster suggested is that this team is built for scoring on the rush, and taking shots from further out when not on the rush. It has been their MO since at least Granato and continued last season. So what you are suggesting isn’t a new path. It is status quo. We all know this team does not routinely go to the net. I am not convinced Doan and Danforth, both bottom 6 guys, are making a dent in this teams “go to the net quotient “.

A lot of good posts on this above so I will just say yes, I concur this was an intentional move by the Sabres in order to get bigger and stronger in their own end as they got manhandled there most of last season against teams willing to play hard on the forecheck. The other trend no one is talking about yet is the team the Sabres have built so for 2025-2026. They have added some significant shot power on the backend: Kesselring and Timmons both have rockets, Dahlin is a hard and smart shooter, Power and Byram aren't afraid to put it on net. I expect Tage, Quinn, and Kulich will be launching bombs from their offwing on the PP1 and PP2 units. They re-signed two strong net front forwards in Zucker and Greenway, added Justin Danforth and Josh Doan, who along with Benson and Tuch aren't afraid to pay the price in front of the net. Right now it looks like the Sabres are going to be a "work it to the points for a big shot and look for the rebound in front" type of team next year with a similar strategy on the PP units (of course adding in the offside winger into shot mix). Not only will this create some room in the offensive zone as teams will have to play the D tighter, but it should open up Tage, Quinn, and Kulich more often on the PPs. Barring anymore moves I have a feeling this is how GMKA is planning to replace the goals lost in the Peterka trade. I think this type of team aligns closely to Lindy's coaching style so he should be able to get more out of them this season vs last year. I also found this gif of GMKA presenting this strategy to Terry after last season:

we are not at all... in fact, pretty much we are in total agreement... @dudacek also made a good point... does the fact they have size not necessarily physicality, matter... longer reach, more difficult to move, etc... I was focusing on physicality

this is fair... longer poke check reach, harder to move... Tage's span is an asset for sure... fair very fair point, I was looking more at physicality.. I got you.

Whether he wanted the assistants he has to work with or merely accepted them, considering he's seen their results 1st hand and didn't punt any of them makes him part of the problem. Credible rumors he wanted to replace Wilford. But at the end of the day, he didn't. And that is unacceptable. At an absolute minimum he, Appert, and Ellis should've been handed their walking papers.

Not arguing that snarl doesn't matter: it does. But doesn't size have other benefits that have nothing to do with snarl? Strength is strength that usually comes along with size, and that can be an advantage, regardless of snarl. But more importantly, length is length: bigger guys make bigger obstacles in terms of getting sticks on pucks and diverting attackers wide.

My point is simply that when you draft or acquire a more finesse oriented player, then that is what you get. We're not disagreeing here.

As you describe Ruff's authority, or lack of it, is a demonstration why this Pegula hockey organization is a failed organization that is structured in an unusual way. If Ruff doesn't have the authority to hire his staff at this point, then this organization deviates from how a normal franchise operates. It's ridiculous.

Yes thats fine but I was responding to the question of does the size of this unit matter... and in my opinion, the size is nice but if you are looking for this unit to be physical they are going to need to change their modus operandi... aka spots... and we all know how often a leopard changes those... lastly that size in itself doesnt mean you are that type of temprament.. citing smaller players that were hellions to play against... so I dont disagree with what you are saying, but I was responding to the does size matter question... so while it may or may not be a respectable unit, I am not anticipating hard nosed physical play out of this unit.. they will just be able to see over a lot of players looking up ice LOL...

Yes, but under no circumstances do I operate under the assumption that Ruff has any say in the coaching staff. Ruff taking the position was a way for him to make some money, help out his hometown team, and let Pegula clear the books a bit before the next phase in coaching took over. So, knowing that, the administration of the Buffalo Sabres kept Wilford, who, in my opinion is the problem here. It doesn't matter to me if someone above is responsible for keeping him, Wilford is accountable for coaching the defensive scheme. Let's go RACI charts! Yes.. but we know the Sabres don't have one of those. The GM won't allow it and I'm still not sure Pegula wants it.

Why would anyone who is famous have a social media account open to the public? Gambling or not that seems like an invitation for social parasites to attack.