mjd1001

He has to make the decision... If he was going to be just a 'depth piece' here, all the reason why he may not want to be here. I think wherever he goes he's going to want to get meaningful minutes. As armchair GM's, a lot of us may have wanted him as a depth piece, but he's the one making that decision, not us.

I was referring to last year also. He's not a rookie so because he only has four games,I also was going back to a couple good games he had at the end of last year... And honestly he had an occasional really good game at the beginning of the year before he got hurt.

Agree. Does he have a lot to prove? Of course he does. But after a decent rookie season last year, I wouldn't really entertain the thoughts that they might have blown the draft pick at this moment. Blowing a draft pick doesn't mean who has more points or who is better right now.... If you're judging whether or not the draft pick was wasted, you have to take into account his injury and the missed time.

I'm not down on Levi, but at this moment in time there's no real reason to have him up here playing an occasional game when he can be in Rochester playing more games. UPL is playing well right now, and Comrie has proven that he can have good games also. I'd rather have Levi in Rochester and free up that roster spot to occasionally give one of the many young guys that play forward in Rochester a few game taste of the NHL here and there when needed.

A lot of times the Defense plays a bit tighter and more aggressive for those 3 quarters and it works (often). The logic is...when protecting a lead play softer, make the other team work down the field and as they take time off the clock hope they make a mistake. If by the time they get on your side of the field they don't make that mistake, then tighten up. That is coaching by fear. The thing is if you rush harder and play a little tighter in those last couple minutes, there WILL be times you will be burnt deep. However, we see that when they play loose, they are losing just as many (if not more games). Again, it is coaching out of fear/for reputation. If you get burnt deep while playing aggressive, the coaches are fearful that they will be called out for it. If you lose the way they play late game D, you can just say "the other team made plays"

Lots of mistakes, I don't want to ignore everything everyone has said but: You lost, in overtime, on the road, against the team with the best record in the league and it was very close. You out gained them, and for much of the game were dominating the game. I hate, I despise when people complain about referees. But...In a game that close. That's something that you had to fight against. Of all the things that happened, a guy had to make a 59 yard field goal on a wet turf in the rain in order for you to not win the game right there. That FG, the was-it-a-fumble-or-not...in most cases would go for the Bills and it would be game over with a Win. But they didn't. In a typical game, you might call 15 bad plays and you might make 20 mistakes. If you win that game, you don't even notice those things or we gloss over them as fans. It's just when you lose it that we notice those things. It sucks the Bills lost, and this close game might be the difference between them making the playoffs and not. But It's not the reason to make wholesale changes. The reason you make major changes, it's if you think you can be better. If you go 13 - 4 and make the playoffs but you think a coaching change will make you better you do it. The single biggest thing I've taken away from the past few weeks of watching the bills.... Poyer and Hyde both are the Buffalo Bills version of Okposo. They don't need to just go next year... They shouldn't be here this year and the team would probably be better if they were replaced with younger/faster players. As good of leaders they are and as smart as they are, physically they just can't keep up with the play. Just one other observation. Dalton Kincaid. It just seems like his role on the team is... Throw the ball to him on second and long and he will never get the first down, but he will always get you within one or two yards of it.

I agree almost 100% but I'll take it by saying that the D actually isn't that bad Many games. I posted this earlier in this thread, the forwards really hang the D out to dry. After you see a few goals where a defenseman is out of position, Go to nhl.com and look at the replay of the goal. Oftentimes they will show it from various angles.... go back 10 to 15 seconds. Watch the play develop. Go frame by frame. You know what I see when I do that a lot? Forwards are late getting back, Often times without much effort. Forwards are losing battles on the wall in their own end. Forwards chase the puck like a dog chases a squirrel and leave their position open, so now a defenseman has to worry about HIS guy AND whether or not he should step up and take the guy who is wide open because Cozens or Krebs or another young guy made an awful D-zone decision (and yes, Cozens does this a LOT...stop the talk about him being a good 2-way playe. He can be a disaster positionally in his own end... Don't confuse him skating hard with him knowing a single thing about defensive positioning) Oftentimes the D man gets caught between those two spots when the goal is scored and on the 5 second replay it looks like the defense didn't know what they were doing, when in actuality they were trying to cover for the awful forward play. A snapshot of the goal has us think the D don't know where to be or make bad plays, when they are trying to do their job AND the forwards job at the same time. There are many times the Sabres are defending a 3 on 3 but the defenseman have to play it as if it's a 3 on 2 because they just can't rely on the forwards to make a correct decision. When a goal is scored, it looks easy to place that on the D, But oftentimes it is the consistent lack of smart positioning or effort from the forwards that is more at fault, and we simply blame the defense as being bad, when it's not always true. I want my defense to do 3 primary things: 1. Don't make mistakes in your own zone. 2. Get the puck out of your own zone. 3. Cover up for mistakes that the forwards make in your own zone. The biggest weakness this defense has is they're not good enough to do #3, and often they look worse than they are when trying.

So now what? The things that no-one wants to hear. Patience and waiting and hope by the time that is done they aren't too far out of the picture. -Muddle through till Thompson gets back and plays close to 100% -Cozens and Tuch have obviously been playing hurt at least part of the time, get them back to 100% -Samuelsson, hopefully you can get him back soon and to 100% Figure out the lineup, make a decision to play your best 12 forwards and best 6 d-men, stop going 11/7....and pick 2 goalies and go with them.

Clifton I think is hit and miss. He has bad games, but if you view him as a good 3rd pair guy who can slot in occasionally as a 2nd pair guy, I'm good with him. I agree on Power and Samuelsson. Power, I thought most were too high on him last year, I saw a lot of tenative play from him. This year he seems to be a slight step behind even where he was last year. Samuelson can be good in his own end and on the PK, but he is never availaible. Samuelson IS 'good' for a young guy, and Power I think will be very good/great, but he isn't close to being there yet. Dahlin had a slow start but is playing better the last 2 weeks. He is bordering on Elite, but he won't be by the end of the year if you keep running him into the ground. Overall, the D couuld be better, but I'm not upset with their play. Even Johnson. To me this teams primary shortcoming is they just aren't scoring goals they way they were last year, AND if you look at the goals allowed (look not just at the 1-2 seconds before the goal was scored but watch how the play develops for 5-10 seconds before), it is STILL the forwards that are often hanging the D out to dry with the forward's awful positioning that the D-men are often out of postion to try to cover up for mistakes in the D-zone by the forwards.

I'm not saying Granato should get a free pass, nor am I saying he doesn't make game-day mistakes but who is out there that you will bring in who is going to be a lot better considering: -Your best forward and top scorer (Thompson) is hurt -arguably your 2nd best forward (Tuch) seems to be playing less than 100%, missing time both in preseason and the regular season -Cozens, your 4th best scorer last year, is playing hurt and not impacting games much. -You #3 D-man (Samuelsson), and arguably the best guy in your own zone, is made of glass and seems to miss almost as much time as he plays -Jack Quinn, your best rookie from last year, has been out all year -Other than the game the other day, almost every time Okposo steps on the ice he is dragging things down, late to backcheck, his forechecking is a shell of what it was...and that is more of a GM mistake resigning him, not a much a coaching mistake. So I do not think Granato is doing a great job, but I'm not sure there is anyone out there who is going to do much better at the current time, if there is let me know. And I realize I'm different than many on this board, but they are playing poorly and I'm not someone who just says "lets make a change and see what happens, it can't be worse"

Interesting ice time on the Defense Dahlin with 26+ minutes, Samuelsson with just over 20 Power still at 17+, but down from some games earlier. Everyone else in the 12-14m range. I expected Jokiharju to have a bit more.

I grew up with the blue and gold watching as a kid (I'm in my late 40's) and I so much prefer the red and black.

I don't have a huge problem with Bryson as a 3rd pair guy or the 7th guy sitting out on occasion. I'd like them to 'resolve' the 3 goaltender situation by sending Levi down. Not as a punishment but I want to see him get more action and UPL/Comrie have played not great, but "good enough" to see them split the job up here for a month or two. Pick 12 guys up front and go with them. You resolve a bit of the roster situation and go with a balanced lineup. Have Bryson sit some games, and on occasion (back to back, 3 games in 4 nights, or injury) put him in there on the 3rd pair. Hes still likely to get 40, 50, or more games that way if you handle the lineup in that manner.

Dahlin isn't having a great year (but he has been playing better that last 2 weeks). He currently isn't in the discussion for the Norris. He isn't leading the team, carrying it on his back to wins game after game. He isn't dropping the gloves. But yet, he seems to be more 'likeable' to me as I watch him play. Not likeable as in "he is our superstar so we have to like him" but more as in "I like his play even when he is having a bad game and just is someone I am glad is on this team/in the city of Buffalo" kinda way.

I wasn't happy with the Okposo re-singing, but I was "OK" with it. However, it seems like it is hurting the team a little bit. He is "OK" on the 2nd Penalty killing unit. Other than that, hes not effective and sometimes a problem. PP2 for the past few years he was pretty good, but he hasn't produced much at all in his limited time. Even strength he is the weak link on that 4th line, just being a tad bit slower to make his forecheck (which he used to be good at) not as good, and he is usually a half step late backchecking where he wasn't in the past.

I'd like to see him or Roch for a little while. UPL and Comrie have played 'good enough' (not great, but good enough) to have them rotate the job up here (with a bit more to UPL) while Levi gets more starts in Roch like you said to refine his game, positioning, etc. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but with the big club, every practices now is focused on winning with player development not as much of a priority. I would assume in Roch (with a slightly lighter schedule) not only can he play games, but you can have coaching work with him more between games. I'm not talking about a year long demotion for bad play. Just let him go down for a few weeks, maybe a month (or two) and see how he does there and how Comrie and UPL do up in Buffalo...and re-evaluate as needed.

The goaltending to me has been "OK", but I wouldn't say 'very good'. I do agree with you that the problem this year is not goaltending, nor the play of the defensemen. It is that their scoring is down quite a bit. I would LIKE the Defensemen to be better (I didn't have high expectations for a big jump from Power like others, but he seems to have regressed) and I think the goaltending is decent to good, but not great...but I can live with both. It is the offense that needs to pick things up.

I'm halfway in between viewpoints on Cozens. Last year I though the was given more credit than his play deserved. Yes he put in a 30 goal season and thats great, but I thought he was awful at defensive plays and positioning. This year it is the opposite. He IS not playing as well as last year, but some of the comments on this board have him as being borderline useless. Not there either. He wasn't as good as many thought last year, hes not as bad as many think this year. Still want to see him 'find his game' and be better this year.

I do not see the problem with Girgs. Hes not carrying this team to victory, but he doesn't make a ton of mistakes and gives you want you want in a 4th liner. Decent penalty Killer. Hard forechecker (might be the best on the team next to Tuch). Scores an occasional goal. Fast enough skater that he isn't late getting back on plays. Okposo I was with many with thinking I'd rather not resign him, but I have no problem with Girgs.

Others have said some of this but here goes: -12 forwards. Roll 4 lines. Fill in/call up who you need to in order to make that work. -As far as play this year, UPL has been generally the best, Comrie very close 2nd. I'd get Levi a stint in Roch and go UPL/Comrie 60/40 percent from now on and the immediate future. -IF Cozens is hurt in a way it is impacting his game, sit him for a few games. He's making mistakes to hurt you AND not producing as much as last year. Get him right. -Dahlin is starting to play better after an up-and-down start, but can we not put him out there for close to 28 minutes in a game? -This team is better off right now if Okposo and Krebs miss some games.

The only issue I have with the above in a big way is Krebs, if he doesn't turn things around and improve. Still not impressed with Greenway, but Krebs is the only big issue. As others have said, a lot of things can change from what we are seeing now until then.

Krebs numbers through this part of his career are close to Mitts and Thompson. As others have said, Mitts and Thompson seemed loss through their first couple of seasons. I was one of the few on here that wanted to stick with Mitts and Thompson until you could not anymore..until every last person in the organization was convinced they were a bust. I always say keep a guy a little too long versus not enough. All that said, something about Krebs when I watched him from the moment he got here just didn't add up to a big time NHL guy (or even a good one). He loses a lot of loose puck battles. Despite his pre-draft scouting reports saying he 'skates well" or is "shifty" or "has NHL speed", I don't see that for sure. He is late getting back to back-check more than anyone on this team than probably Okposo at this point. Give up on him? No, I'd want to give him at least 1 more season, but right now I am down on him more than I have been on Thompson or Mitts even at their lowest points.

I'm OK with him staying or going. He has shown signs of playing well, but not well enough that the fate of this team making the playoff likely rests with whether he is here or not.

Whether due to injury or any other reason, a large part of the Oilers poor start has to do with getting less production from McDavid himself so far. Draisitil is on pace for 100+ points, Kane is on pace for close to 40 goals and close to 80 points, Hyman is very close to his pace for last year. It is Nugent Hopkins and McDavid that are producing at a much lower rate this year than last year. Is he the problem? No, but 2023-24 McDavid is getting paid and is viewed as the best play in the league so he can carry the team beyond its problems. So far most of the 'supporting' cast is doing close to what they are expecting to. McDavid has the biggest drop in production (so far)

I understand where you are coming from but recent history shows (2015 and beyond) that if a guy is not a superstar in waiting drafted (top pick or two), it is very rare for a guy to play in the minors and come up and have an immediate, game changing impact. It just rarely happens. Often times the young, high draft pick guy who is tearing up the AHL will not be that much better than the vet journeyman you currently have. Now, eventually they likely will be, and at some point you have to bring them up and let them get that NHL time to become better players, but I just don't think bringing up the young guns from Rochester makes this team that much (if any) better 'right now.' Guys drafted 5th through 15th overall in the last 8 years who, as a forward, have had even a minor impact on their teams: -Marco Rossi spent a good part of 2 seasons in the AHL, scoring 34 goals there. In the NHL, no goals in his first 21 games. -Jack Quinn had 26 goals in 45 games in roch (almost a 50 goal pace) and then in a full season in Buffalo, 14 goals. Good for a young guy, but not a game changer impact. -Alexander Holts had over 30 goals in just over 60 games in the NHL. Upon his first NHL games, 3 goals and 6 points in his first 28 NHL games (certainly not an immediate impact). -Zegras might be the best example, but he was 'almost NHL ready), playing only 17 games in the AHL, but having more than a point a game. In the NHL, he debuted with 23 goals his first season. -Boldy also did well his first season in the NHL. But overall, when you look at guys taken in the middle of the 1st round, many, many more go to the minors, do well in the minors, but they just don't make an impact in the NHL right away. The often do eventually, but it just rarely 'fixes' problems the big club has. The biggest issue may be that even the guys how do well in terms of production, they are often bad defensively. They are often deep in the negative of plus-minus...and get better over time. But again, their overall game is not something that will turn your team around.