Mango

Skinner - Tage - Tuch Benson- Mitts - JJP Greenway - Cozens - Quinn Robinson - Krebs - KO Couple of changes, but I think this is close. Maybe a conversation for a different thread, but there might be a world where Skinner is moved at the deadline/offseason. The issue is that depending on what the return is, we may have to keep some salary just to stay above the cap floor (and get value).

I believe that people should continue to get a chance to prove themselves as long as they are constantly getting better. Even though I had some criticisms last year, I really thought that since the team kept getting better that they deserved another year. Even if they didn't improve this year, I thought for sure that worst case scenario would be another low 90 point season, missing the playoffs again, but at least fun, exciting, watchable hockey. What I didn't expect was for this team to look this bad. The bottom end of the roster is bad, the versatility of the guys in Rochester is bad. The goaltending is bad. The coaching is bad. Outside of the Dahlin and Benson, the offseason was bad with no notable improvement from FA's. The kicker is if we fire Donnie midseason, who replaces him? Matt Ellis? Ha, what a joke.

I really like Donnie. I think he is good people and a good, well respected hockey guy. I appreciate what he has done with this team up until this point. I feel for the guys family. Unsure if firing a guy after his brother is diagnosed with cancer is the best or worst move for him. But last night also did it for me. Something about the inability to have any consistent rush blew my mind. Just every time we try and cross the blue line it is the same exact thing over and over and over again. And when we do "adjust" and try and dump it in to the O-Zone it is either because of a line change, or unless Benson is on the ice, nobody is chasing the puck. We have done this time and time again, but last night was sort of the last straw for me. I don't think we can look at this team and blame Granato entirely either. A big part of why we stink is Kevyn Adams. That isn't lost on me. His vision is to keep running the whole thing back until these guys figure it out. I honestly don't want a single roster move until we clean house. I don't want a desperate guy making desperate moves.

I think I have to lean into it. Talk shirt, score a goal. I’m basically Randy Quaid in Major League …..OK, I’m mostly just Randy Quaid.

I’m almost rooting for 20-0 SOG at this point? I can’t believe that’s even possible. But honestly, has that ever happened before?

This…..is a reach.

They were letting the real hockey finish up first. NJ v BOS was a fun one.

No shots on goal with 4:40 left in the period and on the PK. Jesus. Has a team ever gone shotless for a full period.

Guys this is my fault. When I’m on the board during either Sabres or Bills game we normally lose. I was selfishly looking for answers. I’m sorry.

WTF is it like at the arena right now? Like have they sung the anthem, and dudes are just sitting on the bench waiting for 20 minutes?

The games a blast, but I’d also like to know if I can watch my own team. OT and possible shoot out throw that for a loop.

I have a less than favorable feed and every link is NJ v BOS. Great game no complaints. Are they holding the start of the Sabres for this to finish?

Honestly, I think the team was on to something with the white goatheads, the just felt incomplete. I think they could have made those uniforms better with: Blue Pants: The white socks, white jersey, and white shoulders just got washed out. They could even go white helmets. Adding Grey: Grey is part of the goathead color scheme. By making the jerseys 3 colors instead of 4 they look like practice jerseys. Color in the shoulders: Similar to the white pants, the entire thing gets washed out on the ice, especially with the overhead TV angle. They need something to separate it. They definitely overthought the whole thing.

Why? Before Thompsons injury JJP and Mitts were playing the best hockey of either of their careers. Quinn is coming off of a very major injury. Why on earth would you want to handicap JJP after he has been one of the best all around forwards on the roster? That seems like a move to help Cozens at the expense of Mitts and JJP.

When I first read this, I nod my head and go "oh yeah, I get that, of course." But it doesn't pass the sniff test once to take even a casual dive. With the emergence of Mitts, Cozens has been pushed down the depth chart. Even now he is centering the second line because Thompson is coming back from injury. Cozens has spent decent time as a third line center this year, and no real time on a first line. He was our second line center last year. I am failing to see how Cozens is getting tougher looks from opponents after moving down the depth chart.

The PP to end regulation into OT was unbelievably bad even for a team with a terrible PP. They had a million PP opportunities tonight, our inibility to put out a real NHL PP cost us more than anything tonight. The level with play was a lot better tonight. I will give them that. But the biggest or next biggest problem with this team is what we saw when Robinson had the boarding against Barron. Everybody on the ice threw down immediately. And at the end of the period said “eff you, we’re doing this”. Then when Skinner gets cross checked in the ground, everybody stands around and does nothing. This team needs balls.

The PP to end the third and start OT was embarrassing. Our PP has been bad, but that was something else.

1st period. - Tages game is lights out. - PP sucks. Power is part of that. Out of position, losing possession too often, not keeping it in, forcing a reset. Try RyJohn there. 2nd Period - If that hit from behind happened to the Sabres they’d all stand around and watch. - They would never throw down at the end of the period either. 3rd period - Tying it up early changed the entire flow of the game. - Great effort from Muel to cover the open puck in the crease. - Levi made some saves but he was also bailed out too. - Somebody should have Gallagher head for that cross check. The period was already physical enough, it was needed. - That was the most embarrassing PP to end the period. - What an embarrassing PP to end the 3rd OT - Embarrassing PP continues 4o3 SO - Levi was not good.

Don’t forget Greenway. The forward group has missed his play.

JJP is probably the best winger on the team right now. And playing way better than any stretch Quinn put together last yea by a huge margin. I am not putting Quinn down, but on top of that he is also coming off a tough injury with his achilles. There is no way a “Quinn has been better to date”. It’s not close. Once Tommers goes back to center, Mitts is firmly the next best or even 1a/1b C. Throwing JJP back with Cozens in that scenario will purely be to use JJP to get Cozens and Quinn going. Not because it’s a line that is or will be good in the short term.

Quinn isn’t healthy, Cozens isn’t restored, and while Tuch has been good at times he has yet played his best hockey this year. Im not super confident projecting 2-3 guys like Tuch, Cozens, and Quinn on top lines who have yet to play top 6 hockey.

The NHL game is bigger, faster, stronger, therefore more draining to exist in, let alone improve for a young goalie prospect. Levi needs the AHL like cyclists, runners, rowers, and triathletes need steady state. You don’t get better at running the 1500m by going out and racing it everyday. That’s not how that works in physiology, refining skills, or mentality get better in a league with 80+ games.

He got the first 4 games of the season. Then when he came back he played every other game for the better part of November until he went down to Rochester. He was enshrined in the 1 position while we waited for UPL/Comrie to decide who would back him up. Levi has played his best hockey when he comes in rested and controlled from lesser leagues. Ie the NCAA and AHL. I think he needs steady maintenance work in the AHL to bring up the bottom of his game to a more consistent level as well as refining the top of his game.

After rattling off all the defenders, it occurred to me, does Stillman ever make it back to the big club? Admittedly I watch very very few Amerks games. How does he look down there? edit: Stillman* stupid autocorrect. I’m an idiot but not that much of an idiot.

Comrie is a problem. I totally agree. But when it comes to Levi and the goaltending situation Long term, I think it is best for the FO to lie in the bed they made. Even if it means keeping the better player in the AHL.