nfreeman

Good to see ya sir! The cold heart beats again! This team will do that to ya.

Well, if you insist, but I’m going to need a couple of drinks first.

And a goalie! Don't forget the goalie!

I'd guess Krebs. I thought he did not play well vs. Chicago.

I was pretty skeptical about Mitts/Quinn/VO going into the Chicago game , but I was pleasantly surprised at how well they were able to gain possession and create chances in the O-zone, and it was borne out by the analytics cited upthread. So maybe that line will work. Quinn certainly looks better in the last couple of games than he did to start the season. FWIW, I love Cozens, but he still needs more finish to his game. I thought his line created chances with speed and forechecking vs Chicago but it seemed like he missed a number of shots and passes.

I think the Mitts/Quinn line has been improved in the last 2 games, although still not where we need them to be. I tend to agree that although VO is flawed, this team needs goals. We aren’t getting anything from Skinner, Mitts, JJP, Quinn, VO or KO. A guy who lights the lamp pretty consistently adds a lot of value and should be appreciated.

Well, I thought Quinn had his best showing of the season vs the Habs, so perhaps there's hope for Mitts' line. It just seems way too easy for the other team vs that line to get possession away from them and move it out of the D zone though. Small sample size, but the goalies' W/L records are kinda interesting and reminiscent of last season.

False.

Things have taken a turn in here.

There is some cold truth in this but way too soon to draw any conclusions IMHO. Also TT has played very well in the past few games and Skinner isn’t far behind him — I think they are going to start scoring. I think VO is the biggest disappointment so far relative to last year, and he still has 4 goals in 7 games. They need more from a few of Mitts, VO, KO, Quinn and Skinner. Yes and Savoie is coming in hot pretty soon for a top 3 center slot.

Interesting. I don't think Quinn has earned that spot on PP1, but I'm not sure VO has earned it yet either, and regardless the PP needs a jolt. Also interesting that Aspie, who I thought was playing fairly well, is getting scratched. I'd guess it's more of a send-a-message move by DG than a statement on Aspie. I feel your pain and would note that we've earned the right to panic, having watched this team crash and burn after good starts multiple times in recent years.

I'm not a huge fan of Graham's but this seems a bit harsh. And his stance as he articulates it doesn't seem unreasonable, although I know your view differs.

The apprehension about the good start just being another mirage is palpable. They need to come out fast and determined like they did vs Calgary and Vancouver. They also need more out of Power, Fitzie and Pilut than perhaps it's fair to expect. And they need Skinner to start lighting the lamp, which is entirely fair to expect. And they need good goaltending. Go Sabres.

The PP has indeed been a travesty. I don't disagree that the scheme is likely a problem, and not just the personnel, but I'd really like to see VO in his office on the #1 PP instead of Mitts. Also, I second @Brawndo in recommending the PDO podcast. It was a very good analysis of the Sabres from a couple of pretty knowledgeable Sportsnet hockey guys.

If you're going to throw this into the conversation, you need to back it up with details and links. Otherwise you're just wasting everyone's time.

Because he'd parachute in as the highest-paid defenseman on the team, despite being a 3rd-pairing guy whose team dumped him as part of a burn-it-down process, and despite not having proven himself here. These guys are human. They compare themselves to each other on a number of factors, and one of those is pay.

For those of us who already loved Diggs:

I've always liked Myers, but I don't think KA would bring in an outside vet making that much money. Even though the Sabres have the cap space, I think there is inevitably still a negative effect on the locker room. That might change if Vancouver were to retain some salary.

Seth Appert was on WGR last week and spoke glowingly about Rosen. He said Rosen's improvement from the summer to now has been remarkable.

Yikes. I know there aren't a ton of options, but that D lineup is asking a lot of Loobie and Bryson.

Fair enough, but if KA could've given the Kraken, say, a 4th-rounder for them to take Bjork instead of Borgen, wouldn't that have been worth it?

I think Tuch needs to stay with TT and Skinner on a permanent basis. Now, Kulich or Savoie with Cozens and JJP sure sounds interesting.

I'd guess that DG has been reminding the team early and often that they lost both games to Seattle last year, and that if they want to make the playoffs, this is the kind of game they need to show up intense and determined for.

Let's take it down a notch on the hostility please.

Yes -- it seems like he's gotten steadier each game. I don't think I noticed any rookie blunders vs the Canucks.