dudacek

It's incredible to me that with how excited I was about Quinn's rookie season and how terrible i have perceived this season that his production is going to end up virtually identical for each year. Context.

I struggle with the duality of the two conversations that go on here simultaneously and constantly cause friction when they collide: The first is about plays and news and trends and analysis of things that are going on in and around Sabredom on a given day. The second is about 14 consecutive years of dismal failure. I get why most seem to focus on the latter; we all cope with negative situations as best we can and it’s good for people to have a place to vent. But personally, I find conversations like this tedious. I feel like it’s obvious, I’ve heard it all, I share the frustration, I rarely have something new to add and it does nothing but put me somewhere I don’t want to be. I still very much enjoy the other conversation stream but it’s hard when it inevitably moves into “none of this matters because the Sabres suck”. It sucks the joy out of hockey talk. It sucks the joy out of a debate over the merits of the Cozens trade, Lindy Ruff’s coaching job, or an 8-5 road win over the league’s top team. Now to be clear, blame for this rests primarily with the Sabres, not Sabrespace. But for me, whatever else the Sabres are, they remain primarily a hobby, entertainment, something I do for fun. The same applies to Sabrespace. I made a point this year to take the Sabres game by game. As a result they’ve generally made me happy 31 times and unhappy 42 times. Not a great ratio, but I find it better than being unhappy all the time. Threads like this are not fun. They embody why I havent spent as much time around here this year and probably won’t be in the weeks to come.

I don't think you (or anyone really) took that post in the tone intended. I'm highly skeptical of addition by subtraction and I definitely don't want the Sabres to run it back. And I think it is ***** hilarious and utterly Sabres-y how clearly the early returns (don't) support my position and fuel the fears of what the Sabres will do this off-season.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 When you’re right, you’re right. In the 12 games since Dylan Cozens was traded: Freed from the shackles of his wing, Jack Quinn has suddenly exploded for 10 points in 11 games. Moved up to the 3rd line, Peyton Krebs is suddenly more effective than Cozens was as the 2C, producing at a 20/20/40/+20 pace No longer weighed down by eating Cozens mistakes, Bowen Byram has led the team at +8 without being propped up by Dahlin It’s not really on point here, but it should be noted that the “other” new guy, JBD, has a 66% GF% And of course Cozens’ replacement at 2C Ryan McLeod leads the team with 14 points in 12 games. Without Cozens coughing up the puck, the PP has climbed to 25.7% good for 11th overall. Most importantly, the team has gone 7-5, good for 9th in the NHL over that stretch You can’t make this ***** up! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I do. I don't think he's going to be anywhere near Dahlin, but I vividly remember Dahlin's 3rd season and how Sabrespace was ready to punt him into Lake Erie for his mistakes: Dahlin GP: 56 G: 5 A: 18 P: 23 ESP: 12 SA%: 48.8 GF%: 37.1% Power GP: 73 G: 7 A: 32 P: 39 ESP: 33 SA%: 50.9 GF%: 47.5% Young players do get better, even in Buffalo. Dahlin took a step back in year 3 and 2 steps forward in year 4, then became himself in year 5. Owen Power has taken a step back defensively this year, and I'm not entirely sure why, but you'd be foolish to say this is who he is from here on out. This is the list of defencemen his age playing regularly in the NHL right now. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/stats/2024-2025?position=d&age=u23

I hope not.

Not sure that's what they need to get for him anyway, unless Tage to RW is a thing. RFAs looking to get paid, like Byram, this year, or next: Rossi, Knies Villardi McTavish Cuylle Pinto Kakko Schneider Miller Hayton Zegras Players with a year to UFA: Connor Necas Kempe Schmaltz Lowry Andersson Coyle If we need to add a prospect, we've got 'em. If somebody needs to unload the dollars we've got space. Didn't put a ton of thought into it in terms of "equal value" or fit, it's just list of not completely outlandish players whose contracts are coming up, which is typically where GMs do their fishing. The other place to look is at rebuilding teams looking to get younger.

I alluded to this yesterday and think it deserves more traction: The Sabres without Dahlin are 0/8/2 and have been outscored 48(!) to 25. Nearly 5 goals against over 10 games!

I wouldn't trade Power for Beniers (who I like) or Wright (who I do not), but that is his ball park value. The model for a Power trade would be the old Seth Jones for Ryan Johanssen deal. Personally, I haven't given up on Power yet. I'd see what the market is, but it would take a strong offer to pull the trigger. *** Byram's value is at least as good as it was a year ago, where he garnered a 50- to 60ish-point 2C. His 5-on-5 numbers and the minutes he's played while staying healthy have answered the two biggest questions about him from a year ago. The same GMs who loved his skillset previously will not have changed their minds and he's still early enough in his Sabre career that "Buffalo stink" can work to the Sabres advantage. I think a Weegar or Andersson type piece is definitely close enough in the way Norris was for Cozens as main pieces. (Andersson has had a worse season and is a year from UFA, Weegar is 8 years older) I like Byram in the way I liked Brandon Montour and see similar utility in him, but I think his time in Buffalo officially ended when his buddy Cozens got traded. In order to add what we have to add, he's probably the most logical trade chip.

5 goals in 7 games for Brannstrom? The D-core has really become a strength for the Amerks this season. Brannstrom and Clague are fringe NHLers who can really skate and move the puck, and Rathbone is cut from the same cloth Metsa has come into his own to lead the D with 42 points in 61 games. And Johnson, Novikov and Komarov are all playing regularly as prospects and contributing. Its a very deep unit.

Jack Quinn really has me second-guessing my prospect-watching skills, but I always thought Östlund was underrated around here. I mean I got how people were wary of the size, particularly when the production numbers were very good, not special But every time I've watched him play he's always been one of the most-notable guys on the ice: He is fast and he plays fast. His processor is next-gen with or without the puck, and he's always around the puck, always hustling. I mean I brought up the Aho comp the year he was drafted, and they're similar size. Mike Peca had a damn good career as a 5'11" 180-pound centre. I'm certainly not saying he'll be those guys — I don't know if he'll even be an NHLer — but from what I've seen, he plays the game the right way.

/sarcasm

Sabres now winless in 10 without the captain. As if we needed more evidence of Kevyn Adams failures, just think of where they would be without the two key players on the team he didn't acquire.

Sorry for triggering Promo because that was pond hockey, but the difference between being a starter and being a JAG is making saves. UPL hasn’t made enough of them this year. I haven’t given up completely on Jack Quinn, but if I rewind the tape over his NHL career, it seems he only has games like that against teams who are playing like that. I really wonder if he will ever be strong enough and fast enough to play the style he wants to play against good NHL defence.

***** Toronto media bias. Completely ignoring the Sabres are rolling along better than all the pretenders at 6-4

Can you convince him to make Pegula an offer?

He means consensus among the Sabres staff. As in, Belluz was the highest ranked player on the Sabres board, but they went off the board, to the surprise of most of their in-house staff. LGR says he knows for a fact it was Forton's call but he got mad at me when I asked for his source.

If it was me, I'd flip UPL, pick up a mid-tier guy. Sign Reimer or someone like him in the veteran insurance role. And let Levi steal their crease if he's good enough. Raztlaff and Leinonen can fight to earn their ice time. But why pivot when things are going so well? *** As for Leinonen. Of course this is what you do when you invest a 2nd-round pick in a goalie and he is coming off a good season. Whether he should have been drafted is irrelevant. It's about whats best for the team right now.

Someone else mistakenly conflating team defence with defencemen and team offence with forwards I agree Thompson is not getting traded and Norris, Greenway and Zucker are highly unlikely given their recent moves. McLeod only moves if his contract demands are silly and/or he's the centre going back in a deal for a better centre. Leaving these three as the most likely to be traded: Quinn because he was a dismal failure as 2nd-line winger, and next to 2C his was the most obvious forward slot needing to be upgraded Tuch because he is an impending free agent on the wrong side of their window who has good value and may not want to re-sign at a price they'd like Peterka because he is an RFA, might be hard sell to stay, and has the most value among their large group of smallish, skilled wingers That's 8, leaving Benson and Kulich as the leftovers. Neither was good enough to be in the top 6 this year. Both, like Peterka and Quinn, represent what the team has a lot of. Do you want one of them handed the role Quinn failed at? Do you take the risk they do the same, or do you acquire someone more proven? And if you do, do you need to keep them both? On top of Peterka and Quinn? Especially with Rosen, Helenius and Östlund coming? When you know what's needed is a more disciplined, veteran, hardened group? Nobody wants to trade their favourite kids, but if you really want to change the mix, one or more has to go. Me, I'd dangle Peterka because he's the one that could result in the most impactful return. But really it's should be more about trying to acquire what they need to acquire and acknowledging that in order to do that, somebody's got to go.

I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one who thinks Norris was just a first step, and the Sabres are actually going to shake up the forwards this summer. Thanks for this. I'm always amazed at how little attention fans pay to ice time. Post trade deadline — particularly with the issues of Norris, Zucker and Greenway — the Sabres seem to be on a bit of fact-finding mission: How do Benson and Kulich look higher up the lineup How does McLeod function as a 2C Can Quinn find his game reunited with Peterka Can Samuelsson find his game reunited with Dahlin What does Byram have to give without Dahlin What do they have in JBD Is Kozak a potential Sabre to start next year I think culture, in the context of the video, is not about anything more than "these guys aren't playing as good as we think they should." Personally I think its mostly a way for the coaching and management staff to avoid admitting they were wrong in how they evaluated and/or coached their prized kiddie corps.

I think we've reached a point (again) where everything the Sabres do will be automatically criticized because that's what their track record has earned. Personally, I'm tired of anything other than play to win every game that's in front of you. And if that means picking 8th instead of 3rd, I'm more than fine with it. Reimer has clearly been better than UPL, he should play. That's the message the young players need to see.

Pegula is not reluctant to make changes. He’s hired and or fired Ruff, Regier, Rolston, Lafontaine, Patrick, Nolan, Murray, Bylsma, Botterill, Housley, Krueger, Adams, Granato - that’s not an abnormal amount of key leaders over 14 years for a pro sports team. What’s weird is why he fired them. Darcy was never fully explained but he was canned 20 games into a tank Pegula ordered, so that wasn’t about performance. Patty left after some secret behind-the-scenes meltdown Murray was canned, basically, for embarrassing behaviour. Botterill for insubordination and “poor communication” None of these guys were cut because of performance. As I’ve said many times, pro sports is a results-based business. It’s the crucible that forges both the athletes and the people that guide them. If you’re looking for what’s been lacking in the Buffalo Sabres “culture,” I don’t think you need to look much further.

Was posted somewhere the Sabres are one of just 3 franchises he follows on social media, the others being the Jackets and their farm team.

More than most that video avoided the true story here. This trade wasn’t about the Sabres deciding they needed Josh Norris; it was about the Sabres deciding they needed to move on from Dylan Cozens. It was pretty clear between the cuts that an organizational decision had been made that they wanted to move Cozens and that he was being shopped around the league for the best return. This was a building block player they had signed to a $50M deal just two years before. We didn’t see the debate leading up to the decision Cozens had to be moved We didn’t see how he was being shopped and what the other offers were We didn’t see the debate about those offers We didn’t see the other players who may have been shopped for similar reasons My takeaway is that discussions upstairs have centred around figuring out why their plan has failed and what they need to do to fix it. ”Culture” seems like convenient code for “players we might have been wrong about”. And they do seem to be leaning on Lindy as a bit of an external arbiter for those decisions, since he doesn’t own them. Tim Murray got fired in part because he apparently was surprised by his own mistakes and had no plan to pivot. Not sure why we should expect Kevyn Adams to be any different. We didn’t see everything, but what we did see did not look like a confident bunch.

Kevyn Adams should be fired because his plan has objectively failed and that is how pro sports works. It’s not personal and it’s not complicated.