mjd1001

He's playing well, but 2 things: 1. Project that over 82 games and that is a 90 point pace. BETTER, but not like they are even playing at a pace that would get them sniffing a playoff spot. 2. If he is that valuable to the team, all the much harder it would be to replace him, and the harder of a deal/move that would have been needed to have been made.

Great. On a team that is having trouble scoring goals... Skinner is: -Team leader in goals by a wide margin. -Only player on the team on pace for over 30 goals. -Last year you had your top 5 goal scorers account for about 60% of the teams goals. 4 of the 5 are WAY down in production. Skinner is the only one this year that isn't. If this team isn't winning, the only entertainment I get is watching goals. Skinner is (was) the only consistent source of goals on this team.

I agree. I posted this elsewhere, but here are the factors I think are against him right now. -25 minutes of ice time per game, some games 28-29 minutes AND he is playing behind what is likely a much worse group of forwards in terms of defending in their own end than any other star Defensemen. Basically, He is being worn downy physically AND mentally by the minutes and the quality of help he is getting. -Frustration, he has the big contract, viewed by many as the teams best player, he is trying to do too much. The goal he was on the ice for the other night, he was WAY too aggressive trying to make a play in the neutral zone...didn't get there in time, the puck went into the Sabres zone and a goal was scored. He is frustrated by the teams failures AND he is trying to do too much and that is causing other problems.

Below average coach without Brady, has a record that would get him fired after a couple years (and it did twice with 2 different teams) when he didn't have Brady. You have seen Brady have just as much success with BB as he did in Tampa....Peyton Manning carried a few coaches to very good records and a lot of wins. Tomlin has had winning seasons with basically junk at QB. But Bellichick? Without Brady, as a head coach, he's pretty bad. With Brady, Well, history shows us that almost any coach can take a HOF QB And win games. I'm impressed with him as a D-coordinator, but not only do I think he's not a good head coach, I think he is and was pretty bad. Again, he did what he should have done with a HOF QB (the guy that without him won a SB 50% of the time with different coach), and he showed very little ability to elevate a team without a HOF QB to accomplish much of anything.

My seemingly weekly update on what is wrong with the team this year, compared to last year. Not Power, not Dahlin, not coaching, not the PP (well maybe but that would be tied into the other issue.) Not the goalies....Nope. Its primarly 2 guys, Tuch and Cozens. The Sabres are on pace to allow 22 goals LESS than last season, that is a pretty big improvement. They are on pace to score 52 LESS than last year, that is the issue. Skinner had 35 last year, he is on pace to beat that slightly (37 I think). Its not him. Dahlin had 15 last year, he is on pace for 24....Not him. Mitts had 15 last year...on pace for 22..Not him. Peterka had 12...on pace for 24...not him (as a matter of fact, he's not quite making up for VO's drop in production, but when you consider VO's ice time is down almost 30% from last year...in terms of goals per 60, the 2 of them are on a collective pace close to last year). Quinn just came back, but he looks better this year than last. Even Okposo is way ahead of last years pace. You have 7 guys who have over 500 minute of ice time at forward this year: Mitts, Peterka, Skinner, Cozens, Tuch, Thompson, Okposo....... Mitts, Peterka, Skinner, and Okposo have IMPOVED production from last year. Dahlin and Power dominate total ice time on the back end, and combined their production is higher than last year. So, If its coaching, Why are 4 of the 7 guys with over 500 minutes of ice time doing equal to or better than last year...and why are your top 2 D-men also doing better than last year in terms of offense, WHILE your goals allowed are down? Answer. Thompson and Cozens (Tuch a little but mostly Thompson and Cozens) Last year Thompson and Cozens gave you 84 goals. This year, they are on pace for 36 (they have 18 combined through half the season) That is a difference of 48 goals. So, to summarize, the team is allowing less goals per game than last year. Your top guys in ice time are doing equal to or better than last year in terms of goal scoring EXCEPT for 2 primarly, Thompson and Cozens. The projected shortfall of your ENTIRE TEAM in terms of goals scored is 52, and those 2 guys are accounting for a pace of 48 of those 52 goal shortfall. Maybe Granato is or isn't the long term answer at coach. Maybe Power has not taken any step forward (or possibly a step back) this year. Maybe the goalies are not what you need to go deep into the playoffs. Maybe Tuch is playing hurt...lots of maybes. But as much as many of us have one of those things are are upset about and this team losing allows us to focus on our topic of choice....the bottom line is not much is different about the team this year....actually some things are better...except for 2 players production. Tuch and Cozens. Again, if its coaching, why have so many other guys on this team actually gotten better production, or at least similar production to last year...but not those 2? Some more numbers on Tage (not too surprising but here goes): -Last year he scored in 33 different games for the Sabres. The Sabres had 48 points in those 33 games (120 point pace) He scored in MORE THAN 40% of the Sabres games last year. Remember the Sabres won 8 out of 9 at the end of January last year? Thompson scored in 7 of those 8 wins (10 goals) HE was basically the reason for that streak. THIS YEAR, he has scored in 10 of the Sabres 41 games (only 24% of this years games played for the team). This year, the team has 26 points in the 31 games he has NOT scored in (a 68 point pace). Again, its common sense that you do better when your top scorers actually produce, but the numbers show without a doubt, this team is great when he does score, they are close to the bottom of the league when he doesn't.

I agree with all of those points. With all sports, I want the ability to watch the game without they hype and gambling getting thrown in my face. Its not happening though. I have posted in the past that the Bills were always my first passion, Had season tickets from the time I was a teenager until I moved out of the area...would never miss a game for any reason..etc. But I fell out of love with the Bills/NFL, and it was just in the past few year mostly (when they started to get good again.) The best reason I can think is I just get worn down by the coverage. Steven A. Smith yelling drives me crazy. The non stop talk about who is the greatest ever, best team ever, best defense ever....it serves little purpose OTHER than to cause a discussion and getting people to argue with each other. Basically, the NFL coverage has turned into the things in life I dislike the most...saying something controversial, or at least creating a discussion where people disagree (for ratings) and sitting back while people tear into each other. Espn's shows, talk radio, forums, twitter (see the Dolphins and Bills fanbases last week tearing into each other's cities), it has become a battle that has been intentionally created for ratings and I want zero part of that. With Hockey/NHL, we aren't there yet...but the problem is the team I like is just dreadful to watch and follow most of the time.

Despite the general condition of the season, and the feeling we all had after last game, if they win Tonight, they will have won 3 of their last 4. (trying to find something good to post, but I'm honestly not feeling it)

I follow this forum more than I do watch the games. At least here there is discussion, I have probably missed half the games this year (if not half, then half of them I tuned in late or tuned out early). Its just not fun to watch them. Does that make me less than a Die-hard fan? Guess so. If I get more upset by watching something than I do get enjoyment out of it, I'm simply not going to watch it much. The Sabres, I'm there now.

I'm someplace between both of you. I don't think he floats 'a lot', but I can see 2 reasons for why he might. First, his ice time. 25 minutes per game. Several games this year in the 28-29 minute range....AND with this forward group in front of him those might be the hardest minutes any top D-man plays both physically and mentally. Secondly, I think he is legit frustrated right now...I realize as a leader he needs to fight through that though. My point is I don't think he is floating because of a lack of effort as much as some of the forwards are....but it IS showing a bit in his game.

on pace for 32 goals/34 assists (66 points) per 82 this year. His 'breakout' year in 2021-22 he had 38 goals, 30 assists (68 points) in 78 games. So yes, last year could be a career year, and he is back to what he did (basically) in his first breakout year.

Ok I rewatched the highlights from the game last night and looked at the goals allowed: 1st goal allowed: TERRIBLE. A couple awful plays by Greenway here to start, but a lot of sloppy play in the defensive zone. Greenway with the puck behind the net, does he not see the opposing player or just doesn't care? Anyway, he almost has the puck taken away from him and at the last minute just tries to shovel it forward to Power on the boards. Power can't control it so tries to chip it to Johnson (what are they BOTH doing in the exact same spot?) But its ok, it goes to the center of the ice, right on Krebs stick, but he loses it to...no one? But that is OK, it goes right onto Bensons stick with no one around him and he loses it to...no one? (By the way, Greenway is already out of the zone closing in on center ice waiting for the breakaway pass?) Puck goes right to the defender (who has ZERO problem controlling it on his stick unlike the Sabres clowns who look like they are using sticks curved the wrong way) Shot is taken, Tolvanen and Gourde are both uncovered (neither D-man picks up the guy in front of the net who is just standing there right in front of the goalie, and then Tolvanen comes in uncovered down the near side....Greenway's side of the ice but he is gliding back into the zone) Power has to make a tough choice...cover Tolvanen or Gourde....he does NEITHER, instead standing there looking at the shooter the same way 2 other Sabres are doing the same. Greenway makes the first mistake and doesn't stay in the zone to cover his side. Power makes a bad play on the boards and then covers NO-one on his side of the ice. Both Benson and Krebs can't control a simple loose puck. If ANY of those things change, the goal doesn't get scored. 2nd goal allowed: I want my goalie to make that save, but they are a LITTLE un-discipline on the PK (not awful, but not good) The one good thing about having Tage out there is he doesn't move much (thats a good thing) as he lets his reach and size cover the ice. Without moving much, everyone can hold their position. Here, Cozens starts by going down low a LITTLE too much to chase a puck he had no chance of getting to...which allows the puck to go back to the point where the guy there has PLENTY of time to get the puck, control it, and see the entire ice because Cozens is now 20+ feet from him. After a little puck movement, Cozens collapses too far down low when 2 sabres D-men were already there, allowing the guy in his zone to have plenty of time to make the pass that led to the goal. I want my goalie to make the save there, but this Sabes team does a LOT better on PK when they make no moves toward the puck at all, just hold their position and let the other team pass it around the perimeter. Cozens wasn't as bad as he usually is, but again, his inability to control himself from chasing pucks he wont get too leaves open spots in the ice for the other team to take advantage of. 3rd goal allowed: Dahlin takes a chance on stealing the pass at center ice and misses. Power over-commits to the far side of the ice and can't get back to properly defend the 2-on-1. Goal. 75% on Dahlin, 25% on Power in my view for being so far out of position. This one is on the D, not the forwards. 4th goal allowed: Tip in which is tough...but the tip comes from the center of the Ice. Mitts is playing center, he turns when he gets back down deep, but shows ZERO effort to go back to the center of the ice where it is WIDE OPEN. Not sure if he would have gotten there to prevent the goal, but he did a 'Cozens' here and got out of position and left the center of the ice (the prime scoring zone) wide open with no one there to defend. 5th goal allowed: I want that save made, but Krebs does the stick wave on his guy when entering the zone, Greenway and Krebs just gliding back into the zone. Benson is approaching the OPPOSING blue line when the puck is clearly going back into the D-zone. I might have liked Dahlin to go more aggressively toward the goal scorer, but another good example of how the D is hung out to dry by the forwards. It is basically a 3-on-2 against the Sabres because although Krebs and Greenway ARE in the defensive zone..they are both gliding/coasting, making ZERO effort to take one of the Seattle forwards. Eberle cuts right to the front of the net just a stride or two ahead of Krebs, but Krebs makes ZERO effort to tie him up. The Sabres D has this done to them all the time by their own forwards....they can't aggressively take the wingers into the boards because they cannot rely on the Sabres forward to cover....in this case look at the replay and you can see exactly that with Krebs. Krebs, Greenway, Benson, and Power had AWFUL games, or at least were awful on the goals allowed. Cozens get off the PK, the PK box collapses almost every time here is out there and that leads to goals against also. Mitts with a gaffe (leaving center of the ice open on a goal) too.

I agree with not all of what you said here but most of it. Tuch I believe puts in a lot of effort, but his strength is forchecking. He's one of the best forcheckers in a league but sometimes he's just not in the position to do so. Dahlin, as I said in another post, I think puts the effort in but I think he's at the end of his rope In terms of frustration. I could be wrong but I think that's what's impacting his play. Also, 25 minutes per game on average, some games approacing 28-29 minutes and behind THIS forward group...that has to take a LOT out of you. Thompson is playing like a 5 million player at most, not a 7 million player that you thought you had a bargain on. Cozens, I argue with people on this forum about him being good, but he's just not. He is absolutely awful in his own zone, and he's not getting production in the offensive zone. His line "getting chances" is not good enough. He has to actually produce, we are WAY too far into the season to be accepting "Cozens is getting chances, they will go in eventually" The defenseman are not great but I think they are playing better than we give them credit for. They are often put in bad positions, no win positions by the forwards on their own team and they have to make a choice between a bad decision and they worse decision. I agree with you on Ryan Johnson, Benson, and the fact that the forwards should be going to the net more than they are. A junk garbage goal from a scrum in the front of the net may not look as pretty as a pinpoint shot where you pick a corner, but it counts just the same. The 60 minute game is something I didn't believe in as a criticism in the past. If you make good plays, it looks like you're trying hard, when you make bad plays It looks like you're lazy. But, we have too many examples where this team looks totally different from night to night. I am putting less on the coaches and more on the effort of the players, or more on the players for doing what they want to do instead of what they're supposed to. Of course part of that is still on coaching because it's the coach's job to make sure that the players listen and execute the plan. I think Power is going to be a very good to great defenseman, but I've been saying since last year that he's not as good yet as some people think.... and not to expect him to be good going forward right away. It might take two to three more seasons before we see his best. That's just the way it works with MOST D-men.

I really think Dahlin is having his play impacted by being frustrated. Through the first month or two of this season he was playing slightly worse than last year but not all that much...still He was playing like an All-Star level player overall. His play has really taken a downturn in the past 10 to 15 games. I remember a game a couple weeks ago where he did an interview and he really didn't want to do the interview. He was really frustrated. He basically was giving the one or two word answers and repeating it like he really was at the end of his rope. That's right about the time His play has taken a downturn and it's been... Average and some cases below average since then instead of great like it should be. Hopefully it's either a short-term thing or that's not what it is.... But I think we are seeing a frustrated player more than anything else and it is having a major impact on his play.

I want to see the Sabres score some goals. A win of course, but I don't want a defensive battle tonight.

I think he's a good penalty killer because he has good size/reach and he holds his position well (doesn't just chase the puck, uses his reach to disrupt without over-rotating). But, that CAN be replaced if you get a good offer for him. He looks good some games, but honestly, at 16.5 minutes per game, he is getting 3rd line minutes. I'd like more production from him (on pace for 8 goals, 21 assists) from a guy getting 3rd line minutes before I consider him not replaceable.

Top heavy roster. About a $4.5m raise from this year? Well, the cap might to up 1-1.5...so that would leave you to around $3m to have to come up with. Bertuzzi and Domi are both on 1 year deals totaling $8.5m. So, don't resign those 2, replace them 2 different 'middle to bottom line' guys making $2-3m per year, and there you go. TJ Brodie is also making $5m and comes off the books next year. He can either re-sign there for a lesser number, or they can find someone sligtly cheaper to replace him with (Hes going to be 34 next year, is solid but not stellar defensively and has contributed a total of 7 goals over the last 3.5 years for them from the blueline). Even without offense and him playing well defensively, I'm not sure they want to pay the same number to a guy at his age. Toronto's big problem is that they likely have a 2 year window to be among the favorites for the cup...this year and next. Tavares is a high priced guy who is getting old, but he is gone in 2 years. Hes still producing, (36 goals last year and a 27 goal pace this year). That is hard to replace. In 2 years, either he will be gone, or at least that level of production will be. The 3rd season from now (after their 2 year window I think exists), Nylander will be 31, still good but maybe starting that slow down trend (at least still not improving). Brodie will be gone by then. Reilly is the only really good d-man they have, he will still be good but at 32 years of age no longer impoving either. They don't have a bunch of young guys who are looking to be very good NHL players knocking down the door either. The Nylander contract was done because they NEED him for the next 3 years to keep things together. Also they team won't fall apart 3 years from now, Matthews and Marner will still be in their prime, but they window with this roster...is open widest this year and next.

I'm in Florida right now visiting relatives....a LOT of talk among my relatives here and other people we meet about the game. They are preparing excuses already for the loss.....some version of "well, its not really fair with the injuries we have for this game" Of course they don't want to even hear about the Bills missing Milano or Tre White for the while year who just got hurt earlier in the season.

A 4 game winning streak (3 more wins) puts them at 50% of available points for the season. .500 points right now would make them the 25th best team in the league. .500 points would make them them 13th in the conference. .500 points at the end of that 4 game winning streak would put them at 42 points. The last wild card spot right now is Philly, with .58. Once Buffalo wins the next 3 to get to a 4 game streak....58 points would be 48-49 points, they would be at 42. So if they can WIN the next 3...to make it a 4 game win streak, they would still likley be 6-7 points out of a spot (with 5 teams to jump over)

Its hard to tell if that happened, but in the bigger picture.....this is why the Sabres D-men are probably BETTER than we give them credit for. The forwards don't backcheck, sometimes literally STOP at the blueline and don't enter the D-zone (Skinner), wave sticks at guys instead of even slightly bumping them, and are TERRIBELY out of position (Cozens). Because of that, the D-mean have almost LEARNED to not play the way they should on a normal NHL team, but to have to think more...to analyze the situation more instead of reacting because they have zero idea what help the forward will give, and it makes the D-men look worse than they actually are.

I dislike cable companies, and I have no love for Spectrum. I have canceled it more than one time in recent years. However, if you are using spectrum for internet, look into their package where you can get the basic channels and 'pick' 10 of your choice. If you already have internet, you can get that package for about $30 more, and if you never had it you might get it for a year for even less than that. When they came out with this option last year MSG was not an option. However now it is one of the channels you can pick.

He wasn't always a top four with Boston.... That's just wrong. There were games where he was getting third pair minutes. Also, not hard to believe at all.. absolutely not at all, that he could be better or look better playing behind one of the best forward groups in their own end.... As compared to historically, possibly one of the worst ever defending in their own end as forwards.

Thats good to hear, but what are the quality of those guys? I don't really know how much experience development guys have in the NHL...so I am ignorant to that, it just seems to be the Sabres like to fill positions with guys who are right out of the league, former players who their job with the Sabres is their first job. Kinda like....Sabres hire them, they get their experience here, make their mistakes here, then they move on to other places (Peca).

Part of the reason I peronally am not all 100% for a coaching change is 1.) I like Granato and 2.) I think there are SO many underlying issues that, if they aren't fixed almost ANY coach you bring in is also going to fail. Before you make a head coaching change...or WHEN you make the change, at the same time you have to bring in some legitimate top-tier assistants and development coaches (not former Sabres players on their first NHL job). Overpay, give them double the salary if you need to, its the penance you must pay for the mistakes you made in the past. Make a comittment to bringing in a legit, veteran, top 4 NHL D-man. Make a commitment to bring in (again, overpay if you must in terms of salary and prospects) to bring in a legit 2nd or 3rd line forward who is GREAT at playing in his own end and won't put up with his linemates not doing that. I do NOT want Granato fired unless those things are done at the SAME time. Fire Granato and not fix the other issues...again...you are likely setting up that coach to fail (no matter how good he may be) and wasting 2-3 years likely end up in the same place with him. And on a slightly different point. If you want to bring in a legit coach...a guy who is going to be really really good....do you think any coach like that will even consider coming here if they underlying staff isn't good? If they know the development staff/assistant staff/minor league staff is set up with inexperienced guys who either suck at their job or are only using the Sabres as a stepping stone to a better job? If they know they have a GM and owner who are going to want every decision to not only be approved by them, but want input into them, sometimes possibly setting price caps?

I remember reading a few years ago that the Sabres gutted the scouting department/budget, and probably the development staff also. I'm not sure how much/how far they have gone to rebuild those things. AND that is something came down from up high (Pegula). The question is....players....coaching, all the problems we see.....are they really the problems that we make them out to be? Or is it more the underlying issues that the budget cuts of the past caused. You could being in any coach you want, have the highest draft picks, but if you don't have the support you need or your 'develpment' staff and 'assistant coaches' are all former players RIGHT out of the league with little expereince but that you can pay entry level salaries too....are you really setting things up to be as good as they can be?

If you want your top 3-4 guys to be Dahlin, Samuelsson, Power, and have Johnson (young Johnson)...and for them to get the most ice time then yes. Your other alternative is to get rid of one of them...or push them down the depth chart, and bring in a Vet. I don't mean a really old guy like 'old' Johnson, or another teams 6th/7th guy like Clifton, but to go out and get a legit, 1st or 2nd pair guy who is in his mid to late 20's to replace one of those current 4 guys I listed above. I wouldn't be opposed to that...taking 1-2 minutes off of Dahlin's plate each night....taking 5 minutes from Samuelson and Power each night (maybe having them be on the 3rd pair some nights) to make room for that vet....but when the Sabres do that (or when they can find a guy like that who wants to come here), I'll beleive it.