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I think his fiancee going through that major health scare is still lingering for him. I wouldn't be right in the head if the tables were turned. I trust he'll get back to his normal level of play as the season progresses

My biggest problem with McLeod right now is his terrible face off percentage. The team in general is not going well in that department but he has been really bad. In general though it's not the goals against killing this team, it's not converting on the good chances we generate. Against most teams you are going to need 4 goals a night to win a game in todays NHL. We have only scored 4 or more in 3 out of 11. If the conversion rate goes up, (it should) I think we we be fine.

The Sabres are a hyperreal franchise.

Its look like 'no' right now. They are tied for 20th-26th in the league in point percentage. They are 21st in the league in goal differential (per game) My own personal 'eye test' opinion doesn't tell me they are that much better than other teams around them near the bottom of the standings (Anaheim, Boston, Minnesota, Seattle, Chicago, Rangers, Kings)

Dahlin looks off. Until he is playing regularly with Byram I’m not going to look too far into it

I guess they have hand the net back to UPL when he’s ready, now. I saw nothing from Lyon that showed he won the starter’s job away from him.

You made my point.

I love that movie, Belushi was great lol Even threw in the zoot suit controversy lol And the dummy on the Ferris Wheel, epic 😂

True. But around the league Norris is only a 2C.

No. No we’re not. It reminds me of the movie 1941. Real *****? No. Wooden *****.

As far as Dahlin goes....there isn't a huge sample size and I'm just going to quote a couple simple analytics, but they may be an indication of what we are seeing: Last year with Dahlin on the ice even strength: 26.6 shots allowed per 60, 26.8 scoring chances allowed per 60, 10.7 high danger chances per 60. Team GAA 3.00. 3.07 expected goals alllowed per 60. He was a +6 in on ice even strength goal differential last year for the entire year. This year with Dahlin on the ice even strength: 31.3 shots allowed per 60, 29.6 scoring chances allowed per 60, 14.7 high danger chances per 60. Team GAA 4.22. 3.85 expected goals allowed per 60. He is a -9 in even strength goal differential this year through just 11 games. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=ev&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL

Everyone is aware he was annointed the heir apparent to UPL or ‘ the goalie of the future ‘ We’ve talked about it here for the last couple of years. He likely thought the backup spot was his this season. Until it wasn’t.

Same mngt team philosophy, build from the draft then proceed to draft terribly. Keep the same power play coach that is by far one of the worst in the league. Hire uninspiring coaching staff. Pick up the broom after each loss and continue to sweep the decade + long issue of rotten organizational culture under the rug while player after player continues to voice wanting out. Not that it matters since it appears not one of the players can muster the competitive fire in themselves to want or will the team to consistent victory. Yes, this is “for real”.

We do know he gave UPL, Muel, Power and others big deals way too early. So now Adams needs to Justify it for the next 5-7 years. Winning be damned.

And we know this how? Aren't we just assuming things?

4 wins, 7 losses. if this is “real”, I’d rather they be a figment of my imagination

By making promises to the kid that are impossible to keep.

His best pick is Benson. Next best is Peterka. Then Kulich or maybe even Kozak in the 7th round of 2020. Quinn is still trying to establish himself. Savoie has played 12 games at Edmonton with little production so far. The Owen Power pick sticks out, but that looks like a mediocre draft year. He has 6 drafts and he had numerous extra picks in the first 2 rounds. Take away the two recent drafts as being too soon to evaluate, and you have 4 NHL players still on the Sabres in his first four drafts. Two of his drafted players (Savoie and Peterka) are traded for 3 NHL players (McLeod, Kesselring and Doan) - not bad. He also dealt 2nd rounder picks for players such as Greenway and Malenstyn. His drafting isn't great but it is not the worst part of his GM performance. His bigger failures are (in no particular order): Dealing away his Core players (Eichel and Reinhart and Ullmark) and forcing another rebuild when the team was actually close and had two NHL All Stars already on the roster Not properly building an NHL roster around the new and now current Core with the right veterans. He nibbles away at this and his teams show no improvement in the standings. Complete mishandling of Goaltending position which has cost them a playoff birth Inability to hire a good NHL coaching staff, his coaching search was a silly charade Inability to inspire and to change the culture of the organization - he has publicly made excuses for the team, himself, and his invisible boss. He doesn't understand accountability, its has become a throw away word under Adams.

He has made a lot of mistakes he didn't make last year. Going into last night, a few of us have pointed out in GDTs he just seemed unaware of things around him that have caused problems in other game. Not always showing up in the numbers/analytics, but it has been noticable. Then last night, he played the zone entry on the First Boston PP goal pretty badly (he was out of position), and he had the giveaway on the other Boston goals. One of the simplest ways to look at him...this year when he is on the ice even strength, The team is allowing a goal every 11.2 minutes. Not only is that the worst among forwards that take a regular shift, but it is drastic drop-off from last season, where it was a goal allowed every 18.5 mins. (with similar usage) I'm not saying he is hot garbage out there, but he has been in my opinion below average mostly due to mental mistakes that didn't happen nearly as much last year. By far and away I thought he was the best defensive forward on the team. This year, in terms of positioning and reliabilty, Krebs is outperforming him in THAT aspect of the game.

Would help if norris could play, ever.

I was just asking how we. "devalued" Levi. By adding Ellis? Signing Lyon? Players get traded.

Lyon and UPL are both under contract for next year.

I like Krebs. One of a handful of guys with a motor who gives an honest shift, can play C or F, and is unafraid to mix it up. A keeper, imo.

You mean what he did in Levi's first year?

By not handing Levi the starter's job?