Mango

I am irrationally annoyed that this is such a click bate title on a message board where clicks don't actually matter.

Even though I commented on a KA over committing to Levi post, this is largely what I meant. We are scoring too many goals to put all of our eggs into the “wait for (insert goalie) to develop” basket. I would love for the Sabres to grab somebody if it makes sense this year. But it has to make sense. Otherwise, as production stands today, I don’t see a ton of reason to comit to anybody on the roster/rights into the 23/24 season without trying to make another move.

Which I don’t even understand. He is not likely to enter the league next year and be “the guy in net for a team that’s leading the league in scoring. There is certainly some room for a better stop gap than what we’ve had so far. At the absolute very best we are in a situation where we have a 1a 1b goalie and Levi being one of them. And that’s the 100% best case scenario.

Since 2000 the highest point differential to not make the playoffs was the 06-07 Av's at +21. Recently the Rangers and Knights missed it at +20 and +18. Missing the playoffs with a positive diff happens, normally a team or two per year and under +10. Rarely does a team in the high teens miss. If the Sabres (+18 as of today) just maintain their current rate through the season and finish middle of the pack (.500), they'll likely be around +30 or more. That would be insane to miss the playoffs at +30 or better.

It’s not just a light switch. All goalies get hot and you have to know how to ride the hot hand and when to rest your guys. We saw Marty get hot and play lights out a ton.

I don't know how anybody isn't a current fan of this current Sabres team and talking about the 23-24 season. We have had other Buffalo guys on the team before but there is something so much more Buffalo about Tuch, and talking about Mogilny or what it is like to wear the goat head jersey he grew up with. Then add in a guy like Tage who might be the Sabres Josh Allen. All the measurables and one day woke up an NHL superstar. At the rate this team is scoring goals and our goal differential, this is the most fun hockey has been in this city in a decade. Enjoy the ride. Go Swords!

If Eichel were still on this team he would be 2nd line center. Filthy

That was insane. Also this looks like the first game the Mighty Ducks played the Hawks. Vegas just looks bigger on the ice.

I had to rewind. That was insane. They are in Vegas…

That’s the one thing you took out of that, that I said elite? Almost that entire era was great hockey in Buffalo. That’s a huge part of the reason the goat heads are a cool jersey.

This is where my head is with the current development and roster. I want the playoffs this year. Even if we don’t make it, I’m still high on the roster. Just making the playoffs and being done in 5 next year would be a fail more me honestly. I think other posters are right on staying the course but I think we’ll be forced to spend on a goaltender at some point.

I actually think that with our current rate of scoring our goal next year needs to be to win a playoff series. You can’t lead the league in scoring and be top ten in diff and head into the offseason with “making the playoffs” as your goal for the following season. But that bar is too low for the current team. Making the playoffs needs to be a step not a finish line for the 23-24 season.

Part of the lore of those being great jerseys are that we were wildly successful for the 10 years we wore them. Down right elite. A Stanley Cup Final, 3x Conference Finals, and a Presidents Trophy. At its core the blue and yellow with the swords rock. But that decade in Sabres history was close to as good as it gets. Because of that I’ll always be a fan. I also love that the current team plays like their hair is on fire in them.

This is where I am at. November really sucked. We have lost a bit of the safety net to fall into any ruts going forward. But our scoring and goal differential are way too high to talk about missing the playoffs before the new year. I am with you on this, I think the Sabres chip away at the hole they dug for themselves in November and find themselves in it come April. If we can split Detroit, Vegas, Boston, and Tampa, that would be a big way to end the calendar year.

Great points. I think Kevyn Adams is better than our GM's the last decade. But I am unsure if he is good enough to get us over the hump. We are scoring a million goals per night, imagine the conversations around this team with Shesterkin. Adams certainly has a window to strike at the moment. So much conversation in this thread about next year, at the risk of sounding too shortsighted, what about this year? Certainly you want to make the right move, not just any move. And I am not sold on Demko at the moment. But also...we are scoring in bunches and missing the playoffs would be a disappointment.

Thank you my guy! I have been a long time lurker and regular poster on TBD. My screen name is one of the laziest things I have ever done, a total brain fart and picked my favorite fruit. Ha! That is fair. Poor wording. It is wild that there is even a scenario where the highest scoring team in the league misses the playoffs.

It is insane to me that a team scoring like we are is on the verge of possibly missing the playoffs. I was just talking with somebody the other day, could you imagine this offense with '99 Hasek? It certainly feels like hockey is back in Buffalo, which is awesome. We seem to be teetering on the verge of something. But teetering can go either way if you aren't careful.

I think 2-3 year ago this org was a dumpster fire. Now we’re the highest scoring team in the NHL. The situation in Buffalo is different today. 500 days ago, no quality goaltender is coming here. Today though…This is likely a more attractive team than it used to be. By that metric Adams has been an improvement. But I’m. It sure if he’s been good enough. Like other posters have said, how we handle the goalie position, what we give up, and how it pans out will define Kevyn Adams in Buffalo.

This is hilariously accurate. Also in the same group text is my uncle who no Schitts creek said "When I played, I loved playing soft teams like the Sabres". Like dude, you are over 50, whose hockey career was Williamsville North. Lets calm down. The team isn't perfect. But for the first time in a long time, in what feels like a decade, the Sabres are playing a brand of hockey that I enjoy watching. They're incredibly elite at scoring, but deficient at goaltender. They're a relevant team in the NHL. Hockey is fun in Buffalo again.

I was just having a conversation in a group text today. My dad has basically broken up with the Sabres and spends his days hoping that Jack Eichel will someday hold his hand. He talks about Kevyn Adams like he has been in charge for 12 years and what a dumbed down roster it was and listed Risto, O'Reily, Nylander as examples of things Adams got wrong. Like dude, none of those guys have anything to do with Adams. We are the highest scoring team in the league. We have a top tier power play. The team is young, and exciting. We are one more d-line and a goaltender from being a team nobody wants anything to do with. I told him I would gladly take all his Sabres gear on trade and I would buy him an Eichel/Vegas jersey in return.

Play aside. I like the idea of these jerseys and on a hanger they look good. But the old ones had way more color. Without color on the shoulders and all the white it’s tough to follow the play on TV. These almost feel like knockoffs of the real thing.

They can be used interchangeably. The original is bush though, as in uncultivated, like the bush, implying amateurism, unprofessional, etc. Busch league is 2nd tier stock car racing so it has the same meaning.

This entire thing is about the Sabres denying Eichels request for surgery. Eichel wanted to have it. The Sabres said no. This meeting is about Jack’s progress after taking the approach forced on him by the organization.

If the Sabres want to change the culture, they need to not threaten to void a contract based on differences in opinion on medical care. That’s where the Sabres look Busch League. It is really that simple. They should be involved in Jack’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Of course. It will be difficult for them to take a step back from their previous flex and focus and focus on general maintenance and care. In regards to Adam’s. I don’t know. I try to give him the benefit of the doubt and not heap all my Pegula baggage on the guy. But the team has been an embarrassment for nearly a decade from ownership down. And promoting your VP of Business Development to your GM feels like a bad move even though he played in the league. He also seems to have a giant hole in his resume from assistant coach in Buffalo to VP of BD. Like what did he do for those 6 or 7 years? Was he a scout? I would argue that pulling the “it’s in your contract that we can control this decision regarding medical procedure, otherwise your contract can be voided” card, for what seems like the first time in the history of the big 4 in the US, would indicate that this sort decision isn’t in his wheel house. This is fair and have no issue with it. My issue is it feels like the Sabres led with that point and it has tainted the waters.

Right. I get that. It’s not the point to the meeting, but it is the point of the overall process. Has any big 4 league ever voided a contract for their star player (or any player for that matter) for differences in medical care? None of the top of my head or a quick google. Ultimately think even threatening control over a medical decision will have severe repercussions for the next few years. If I’m a player on the roster there is no way I sign an extension with an organization even threatening that decision. Especially one that’s been trash for a decade.