Two or less
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Posts posted by Two or less
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52 minutes ago, Big Guava said:
Wow...that was quite the takedown...
Calls him selfish and that the reason he has played 900 career games without ever making the playoffs is because he is "me first" and only cares about his stats.
Craig Rivet been saying this for over a year now. And Rivet and JR are great friends.
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8 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:
My friend @Taro T once pointed out to me that I was once one of the most positive voices on the board and that over the last few years, I’ve become quite negative. For that, I apologize. I am not, in general, a negative person. I am quite the opposite.
However I looked at my posts recently and I have let my frustration and anger with Adams and the Sabres grow to the point that it’s ruined my enjoyment of watching the team. Not that the frustration is misplaced. However, it’s ruined the game for me, so it’s time to take a step back. Time to concentrate on the Braves and fantasy baseball.
What makes me so frustrated is how different the management of the two Pegula teams are. Beane fires Dorsey and then trades for Douglas. He swings for the fences on occasion with the Diggs trade and with Von Miller (he missed here). He moves up and down the draft to get the players and assets he needs. He is proactive with his team and I have no doubt in my mind is that he’ll find a way out of the cap issues this season and Bills will be younger and probably better next year. The Bills missed the playoffs from 2000-2016 (17 straight seasons). Beane and McDermott arrive, and they make the playoffs in year 1 and 5 of 6 seasons with 4 straight division championships.
I compare that to Adams who is reactive, takes little to no risk, and therefore has nothing to show for his efforts but his job. Like Beane, he correctly cleaned out the old core. Like Beane he drafted well, but that’s where the comparison ends. Since the clean-out, he hasn’t made one proactive move, and his reactive moves have borne little to no fruit. If Beane was the Sabres GM. He would have acquired a quality goaltender as soon as Ullmark walked. He would have added defense in trade last season as soon as we were down 2-3 starters on D and he’d have fired the assist coach in charge of our special teams this year.
All that said, the Sabres have a ton of assets to work with, but it’s time for Adams to step up and learn from Beane. This will be the 13th season without playoffs in a league where 50% of the teams make the playoffs every year. If there is a 14th year, Adams will be gone.
So taking a step back and just looking at the organization there are things I like still.
1) Goaltending - a source of weakness since Ullmark left, could be a strength as early as next season, assuming UPL can continue to perform at this year’s level and Levi can make the jump back to the NHL. He is currently playing very well at Rochester.
2) Defense - Dahlin is currently the only top 4 D on this roster. R Johnson may be that someday, but that someday is not today. Clifton, Samuelsson, and Jokiharju are all 3rd pairing guys. Power, although, young and talented and being paid to be a top 4 D, isn’t there yet either. As a unit, they are just ok. I think the pieces will fit better if Joki is traded and upgrade by a legit top 4 RHD. The good news is that Mule is better than he played this year, Clifton has been good in 2024 and Power and R Johnson have more to give. The question is when (if?) they reach their potential.
3) Forwards - An outsider looking at the Sabres has to wonder how a team that played with such spirit last season; playing hard from the opening puck drop until the final horn blew, completely lost their edge. On paper this may be the most talented roster the Sabres have fielded on offense since 2006. There are 6 Sabres forwards capable of scoring 30+ goals a season in the NHL in TNT, Tuch, Skinner, Cozens, Quinn, and JJP. Mitts and Greenway have 20+ goal potential. Benson’s upside is hard to gauge at this point, but 25g, 65 pts seems reasonable. So where did the offense go? Bad coaching? Injuries? Lack of effort? Why also won’t they commit to two-way play? Once these talented guys figure out the effort questions and the 2-way play question, the sky is still the limit for this team.
4) The pipeline. On paper, we have one of the deepest pipelines in the NHL. We have 4-5 top-notch forwards (even without Benson) and at least 2-4 future NHL D headlines by Strbak and Novikov (not including R Johnson). We also have a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft.
Honestly, the roster is close to being a playoff roster. If Adams brings back the entire top 9 I outlined above, I doubt we’d have much room to complain based on talent. But the question for me is what would Beane do if he were the Sabres' GM. First, he’d probably fire the entire coaching staff. He certainly would get rid of the assistants except Bales who has done a good job, especially with UPL. Second, he’d probably find a way to trade Skinner to save the cap and change locker room. He made similar moves when he arrived with Bills. He would also dump all ineffective players including KO, Z, Krebs, Bryson etc… Third, he’d trade this year’s no. 1 pick (and other assets) for the proven D he needs (like he did for Diggs). I can then see him trading our 2nd rd pick and other picks to move up in the draft to grab a player he likes who has slipped on draft day like Kincaid last year. Lastly, he’d probably add a veteran goalie as insurance if UPL backslides or Levi isn’t ready. Beane likes to pair rookies in rotation with vets. This is easier in the NFL but works with goalies as well since Levi can easily be returned to Rochester if he isn’t ready even next season.
Losing sucks.
But i always enjoy your posts, keep your head up and keep posting. Never saw you as negative but just as a frustrated fan like the most of us. Just imagine how great it will feel when this team actually becomes good and we were there for the whole ride...
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He returned tonight in a 6-2 Amerks win and got a assist.
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3 hours ago, LTS said:
People keep saying this... I keep repeating. Skinner has a full NMC. He's not going anywhere unless he wants to. I suppose the question to him is: Do you want a chance on a playoff team for once in your career or are you happy to play only 82 games a season and collect your $9M?
Hard to say. But the Sabres would have to retain 50% or split the money with other teams like Arizona to move him.
On top of that, i can't imagine any team trading for Skinner. There's a reason this guy has never played in a playoff game in his life.
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On 2/13/2024 at 10:53 AM, CallawaySabres said:
I just talked to my buddy at the Blues organization and he was saying the Sabres would be crazy not to jump on a the Berube train. He would be the perfect fit for 3 years to whip these idiots into shape and create a work ethic. After 3 years, Buffalo can then grab the coach they want for the Stanley Cup run. Apparently fans were pretty upset when Berube was let go but they just needed a new voice within the lockerroom. And here we have the worst coach in the NHL talking time and time again about how to handle pressure situations.....ugly stuff.
I don't get this. Berube is gonna make them not be soft? He's gonna teach Power he can play physical in front of the net? He's gonna teach these guys to go to the front of the net?
They all already know this, probably is, most of them don't play that style. No coach is going to turn the softest team in the league into smash mouth hockey. Just doesn't happen.
They need to begin removing some of the soft guys and replacing them with some guys with some bite and sandpaper to their game.
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2 hours ago, Buffalo Super Fan said:
I would trade for John Gibson and Devon Levi are the Sabres goalies next season.
I know Petey mentioned Gibson on his podcast today which is why i think you brought it up here.
I'm watching the Ducks Oilers game tonight and Gibson left after the 2nd period. Lukas Dostal came in the 3rd and Sportsnet reported during the game that Gibson is out for the game with a lower-body injury fwiw.
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4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:
Sounds like the guy who wrote that article just listens to 32 Thoughts.
Probably all true though. The question is will Adams actually make moves, or will he just "talk" to a lot of people about potential moves that never happen.
Exactly. When THN began their team-sites the Sabres had Heather Engel and that was great. But she's been gone to work at NHL.com again and anything THN Sabres page posts is the most basic, cookie-cutter write ups that basically re-word another article.
One day i was curious about it so i looked up this writer because i had never heard of him and on twitter he claims hes a Maple Leafs fan living in Buffalo and on top of Sabres THN work, he is a Leafs blogger for hockeybuzz.
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3 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:
Don't forget Bandits vs Knighthawks 7:30pm tonight ESPN+.
i noticed while flipping channels but this game is also on the CW channel, atleast in the Buffalo area. Arena looks packed. Nice to see. And Bandits look like they are cooking.
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Yup, Jobst did well too, for sure.
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1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:
@19:13 3P, Jobst ENG. 3-1 Amerks.
Awesome effort and pass by Rousek on that empty netter.
And great game by Levi. 32 saves in the win.
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1 hour ago, K-9 said:
Edit: I just looked at the game roster and Levi wasn’t listed as one of the goalies, so I wonder if he even made the trip.
Yes he did. That was their plan all along. Keep Levi fresh physically and mentally. Levi will start for the Amerks vs Laval on Saturday afternoon.
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5-1 Laval.
Rough stretch for the Amerks.
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Sounds like Kuzmenko going to Calgary part of this deal
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Lukas Rousek has gone pointless last 2 games but he got atleast a point in his previous 13 games (4g, 10a). He’s been playing well. As has Biro.
I'm guessing one of those two will be in Buffalo next week once Quinn is placed on IR.
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2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:
I'm curious as to how much Boone Jenner would cost and if he'd be worth overpaying. He's only got 18 pts in 34 games this year which is the main hold up.
I love this player. We have the assets to be able to get him. Not sure what the price would be but hopefully hes a player they are after if Columbus makes him available.
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42 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:
Now I don't actually think he was a "fraud". Coachella's in first place in the Pacific AHL. Bylsma had little skill on the roster so he tried to follow a shut down model. imo he's still the best of a sorry lot in the Pegula era, even if his hockey was dull to watch.
I didn’t realize Bylsma was coaching in the AHL.
The hirings do make some sense like you said but they never changed how they do it, they only go after the hidden gem, the hiring out of left field, Essp at upper management.
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I don’t get the fascination with Sabres going compete off the grid with hiring decision makers. All these failed draft picks, failed free agents, and constant losing meanwhile our players leave Buffalo and have big success elsewhere.
The only constant is we keep trying to be the smartest guy in the room when it comes to hiring GMs and head coaches.
Post-Regier- Murray who wasn’t best available option but LaFontaine wanted a lesser guy so he can be THE GUY, Botterill, which I don’t think we ever did a search, he jumped up our list bc he was recommended to the Pegulas by the Pens ownership and then Adams who is basically a Russ Brandon with a playing career.
Post-Ruff- Ron Rolston, after coaching Amerks and Sabres he went into scouting. Now he’s an assistant coach at Providence university. Bylsma was the most credible guy they ever hired, but looks like he was a fraud who banked on the success of Crosby and Malkin. After Pens he took the year off and then after 2 in Buffalo he’s been unemployed since which is very telling, then they tried Phil Housley who was a assistant with no head coaching experience besides high school and then the Sabres went for a dude mostly invested in european soccer and then Don Granato. Who’s been the best we’ve had yet but we still have a long ways to go.
We never really have given us a fair chance to fight. While Ruff is more of the cloth I’m saying we need to go out and get, I just think there’s better people out there.
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59 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
Jiricek doesn't use his body? And isn't a good skater?
I take back my skating comment, I thought I was remembering what I was reading back in his draft year and just looked it up and nowhere does it say that. I made a mistake.
As for his grit, he is 6’3 and has potential to be a bruiser but until he shows it in the nhl he’ll just be a big guy. I don’t think we have the players who can show him and lead the way for him is what I was saying. He’s only 20 and takes time to develop that part of his game but I don’t think our situation could help him grow into that complete player.
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Also, another off-season target for me is Steve Ott for head coach.
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25 minutes ago, Rasmus_ said:
Lawson Crouse and clone him 5 times.
Send Savoie and then some and see if we can get it done.
Too early for me to think about off-season in terms of trades and line combos, but two players i hope we go after hard is Sammy Blais and Teddy Blueger for the fourth line. Two Cup-winners, play hard, know how to win, and have some smash-mouth hockey in their DNA.
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6 hours ago, Kr632 said:
Maybe not an offseason move but I’d love for Sabres to explore this
I have no doubt this kid is talented but this is the last thing the Sabres need. Big kid who isn't the best skater and doesn't use his body. He feels like he's expected to be a point-producing dmen right now and feels entitled to be the PPQB.
I think this guy needs to go to a team with a lot of vets who will show him the way its done. Whos gonna show him the way in Buffalo? Power? Dahlin? Samuelsson?
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1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:
I'm not saying he is going to be worth much on the open market, but one of the slowest players in the league is just not true.
The NHL edge tracking site is up and there are two ways to measure him (or anyone else), I brought this up in another thread:
-In terms of 'pure speed' top speed hit, he is middle-of-the-pack on the Sabres. Top speed not even close to Tuch or Zemgus (the top 2 on the team), but better/faster than Benson, Okposo, Greenway, Quinn, and most of the D-men.
-In terms of how fast he PLAYS, they have a metric that measures that also, how many times/how often a player has 'speed burts' where they go over 20mph for a few seconds. Not just top speed, but how many times they use their speed. VO Isn't good, he is 'below average' on the team, but not at the bottom.
So in terms of pure skating speed, he is average on this team. In terms of how often he 'skates fast', below average but not at the bottom of the leage. Put those 2 things together and you get an "OK" or "slightly below average" guy in terms of speed, but no where near one of the slowest in the league.
He has some problems and holes in his game. Lack of high end speed or 'fast play' is one of them, but its no where near being close to the bottom of the team, or the league.
Here is what i was going by-
19 minutes ago, Second Line Center said:Is it the same leg as the Achilles?
yes
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3 hours ago, Mr Peabody said:
There’s no sample size of VO playing for a better team. We’ve had a number of players leave and improve their play under different systems. I’m thinking the league looks at him and sees a cannon shot and weak points they can improve. A third line with a couple of strong forwards who play D would be worth a shot.
A player that refuses to play any kind of defense and one of the slowest players in the league who is one dimensional. I know Reinhart, Eichel and Montour caught fire after leaving but don’t think that will apply to our entire roster, essp Vic.
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5 hours ago, Mr Peabody said:
Chance of playoffs are nil. Put Olofsson in and boost his trade value as it’s obvious we aren’t keeping him.
If that's the mindset then who cares about Olofsson, his value will always be small. Teams already have a large sample size to go by. Might as call up Kulich and let him learn defense on the fly.
2 hours ago, pi2000 said:Hope it's not the same achilles. I was concerned he came back too soon.
Elliott Friedman last night during the 2nd intermission of the Vancouver game on HNIC said it wasn't achilles, it was his ankle. He said the Sabres will know how serious it is on Monday.
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Skinner blasted by Jeremy Roenick
in The Aud Club
Posted
I agree. Because Rivet slipped that one time and went on a huge rant about Skinner and the song he picked. Usually he just attacks him for on-ice, being soft, not playing a team game, not defending, lazy, ect. But that one time he just blasted him about the music choice. You could tell theres something there between them.