SHAAAUGHT!!!

Rayzer maybe, but Peters and Ruff are not buddy-buddy based on comments by him on AfterTheWhistle. This is why I’m hopeful Ruff already knows what this team needs and will make sure Adams knows too.

Boone Jenner and Carrier would be great in that role, but I’d be a bit concerned with the injury history of both and the cap hit of Jenner. Columbus would have to keep some of that salary. Carrier might be a good pickup and inexpensive 1yr contract, even if he only played 40-60 games. He’d be an upgrade over Jost or Robinson for the 40 games each they played this season.

At the press conference today Lindy made a point to talk about key members on the team that know and embrace their role, like Rayzer and Peters did during their time here. This has been a major deficiency in the Sabres roster for years. That said, who should the Sabres target that would be effective in this role and that would actually want to play here? For me, they should be looking at lower cost options like a Kurtis MacDermid. He knows his role (5min a game, playing heavy, will fight anyone in the league), is 30 years old, and has never made more than $1M a year. He won’t take minutes away from anyone, adds much needed toughness, knows what Ruff wants and is willing to do it, and would be willing to sign a cap friendly deal (I’m thinking $3.5/3years ($1.17M AAV)).

Whether you’re elated or deflated about this hiring, I can’t wait to see how Lindy handles Skinner, and what Jeff Skinner shows up for the Sabres next year…

The emergence of Benson makes Krebs redundant on this roster. We only need 1 playmaking, undersized fire plug bouncing in between the middle 6. We don’t need that type of player on the 4th line. I’d like to see him packaged to address grit and toughness for the bottom 6z

Me seeing this announcement and completely unable to contain my joy

Goalies are fickle so I never would go over 4 years, but he’s proven he can handle the starting role given a proper 2 goalie rotation. I’d be fine with, and expect him to be, 4x4

I've seen Joker skate away from too many situations where he should have stood up for himself or his team. Last year he literally flinched when he thought someone was going to grab him. Joker and Bryson are two of the most cowardly defensemen I can remember on this team. Even Soupy would mix it up when he had too.

They did have some really good games early this year (the home game against the Avs was amazing), but followed it up with so many terrible efforts. I think it may be a stretch to blame uncommitted player efforts on a 3 goalie rotation… KO is an amazing human being, and a solid hockey player, but he was not the leader this team needed. If he was, Eichel would have never aligned himself with Kane, and KO would have been named captain years before he was…

Has Donny finally figured it out, or is this dumb luck because Kyle and EJ are gone so he has to use different skaters. The line combos and ice time per player indicate he’s reassessed his players, at least Skinner…

Spot on. I only watched the 10minute summary of this game but I was mad when UPL was run over and no one even pushed the guy around. UPL as a starter, in a proper 2 goalie rotation, has proven himself after the new year. He is the main reason the Sabres have been competitive in these games lately. BB4 is doing exactly what I expected him to do and is looking good doing it. I had a bit of a chuckle this afternoon thinking about all the posters upset about the straight up Mitts-BB4 trade. We finally have a solid top 4 D (yes they aren’t perfect right now, but they should only get better) and people still were upset about trading a perennial 15g/season 2nd/3rd line center that was sub-50% on draws. BB4 is the real deal, hopefully he stays healthy.

No, AHL LD.

I agree and think this is a good thing. Donny’s defensive systems are proven to be HORRIBLE. This is not an opinion, it’s back up by stats and overwhelming observable evidence. See Sabres ‘22-‘23 and ‘23-‘24.

While Mitts improved his play along the boards this year, I think JJP has been the best forward on the boards the past two seasons. He finally got his due this year, but has so much more to give. Mitts is definitely set up for success this year in the playoffs. He’s gonna do really well.

When his face was punched in. He took a while to come back from that and play with confidence again.

TNT and Cozens are both battling injuries this season, and terrible coaching/player management. Mitts is the shiny turd in the toilet bowl this year. It’s hard for me to use this season as a standalone basis to project how a player’s career is going to go. Remember when Girgs was our top scoring forward on a terrible Sabres team? Look at the rest of his career. I think Mitts will do better, but it’s unlikely he will ever be a 30+ goal scorer or an effective 2 way C.

Not sure about that. Byram was a major piece on a cup team, performed exceptionally well, and unfortunately has had a few concussions. The Ave’s already have the best defensemen in the league eating up minutes and they know they will eventually have to pay Byram if he continues his trajectory. The Ave’s also needed forwards badly. The Sabres have their top 2 centers locked up long-term and Casey isn’t the type of bottom 6 center we need. I expect both players will do well on and for their new teams, and both teams will be better for it. Plus this finally gets that 10-ply pretender Joker off this team.

This is a solid take. I think people here overvalued Mitts. Yes he is having a great contract year, but he is not a game changer, or a strong forechecker, or an ace on face offs. I’d much rather have an established 32 year old two-way center that can win face offs on my third line and provide stability and support for the younger forwards. Hopefully this is what GMKA is looking at getting us for next season. Joker and EJ are gone next year, and Muel is in and out of the lineup so I don’t hate this, except for the concussion history. Dahlin is a LD that plays right so we basically need one more RD for next year and we have 2LDs on the 3rd pairing.

Sabres need to just play inspired for the next 20min and get pucks on this goalie. UPL seems a bit tired with these juicy rebounds so it’d be nice if they kept the shot count low for him this period

Color me impressed. I may head to the game tomorrow.

As low as 3x3, but I expect a 3x3.339.

He’s finally in a 2 goalie rotation… At least that’s the reason this season

I get that Skinner scores a lot, but he is a trash hockey player. Watching him on the back check is infuriating.

I’ve liked Greenways game lately