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I would trade Power for Barzal. I think we have enough top prosect on defense to move Power in an effort to fix the top 6 and try to start winning again. They can put other trappings around it to even things up and maybe the Sabres get another piece. I think Barzal immediately becomes the 1C and he would help Tage immensely. If Josh Norris ever comes back, then Barzal and Norris would be the 1 and 2, McLeod the 3, KoShack the 4. Kulich and Krebs are wingers that can also play center. Now its looking a bit more sturdy. Kesselring picks up some of the minutes that Power was getting.

There is a good reason why this team lacks an identity: it was constructed by KA. He’s a superficial thinker in a deep thinking job not knowing the difference between collecting talent vs constructing a complementary roster. Terry Pegula is the owner and KA is his hand picked GM. What did you expect?

Is he going in as a member of any team?

I don't disagree with any of this, I was just focusing on his drafting. I'm pretty firmly on record in saying his biggest failure is not doing enough to supplement the homegrown talent they do have. And with that being the case, he NEEDS to be killing it with his drafting which he emphatically is not. Also, like you said, the "search" for a coach was a charade and he settled on a lazy/uninspired hire in Lindy then saddled him with detritus from within the organization as assistants. Hard to change a culture when you just stick with the garbage that hasn't worked. His entire tenure is a failure and his ass should be in the jackpot. No excuses, if this team is not in the playoffs this coming spring, after a 6 year reign, he has to be gone. If he's not, what the hell are we even doing?

Sure. The Sabres keep "winning trades" yet they continue to drop in the standings. Look at the last 3 games. Is this the identity they are forming or will some players emerge to turn this around?

Nobody is watching anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter? I mean an NFL week 3 pre-season game likely gets higher ratings than the Stanley Cup Finals.

This is just how Dahlin has always played hockey though. He's extremely talented, but occasionally makes boneheaded decisions that he can't cover up with his skill.

John, I thought this was a spotty, careless, and often lazy effort for the most part. The Sabres put 10 shots on goal before Boston registered one shot, but Boston had 2 goals on their first 3 shots. Why? Boston went to the high danger areas and the Sabres did not. Lyon had more stress and was under pressure even when Boston only had a registered a few official shots. This is yet another game were the opponents 4th line scores on the Sabres by out working them. Kastelic did whatever he wanted to do out there. Boston got a few calls their way, and the Sabres could not respond and came up small again. The big players are not carrying the team. Big mistakes by Dahlin, and Tage was playing a solo game at times - this is not leadership by example. Lyon let in 3 goals on 19 shots in regulation and failed big time on the goal in OT - he needed to play the man with the puck, let the defender worry about the pass. Some unknown dude ripped him and he left a lot to shoot at. My fear is that Lyon will burn out soon. The decision to play Lyon was curious to me. If Ellis can go he should have had this road game and maybe the team responds with more urgency and a more disciplined game in front of him? But I am probably asking too much from this group. Win Rate - we have three losses in a row, albeit with 3 points out of the last possible 6 points That pace will get us to low 80's at best. Like last year, this team looks like an odd collection of players, not like a team with any kind of identity.

There is no way the promise was "You play like dog crap, put up bad numbers for early 1980's goalies, play worse every opportunity you are given and don't worry, you will still have a spot here, accountability be damned!"

What's the interest rate they are charging? Did the Amerks fight for a better rate due to the Fed's lowering interest rates again?

I would not call UPL a 'big deal'. He didn't even get #1 goalie money. Essentially he got high end backup money. It's why i don't understand why people think that contract is "untradable".

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.