mjd1001

I don't really know enough about the nhl game and positioning, coaching, etc to really have a great idea how he is doing. However, it seems that D-Men usually need more time than Forwards to reach their potential. With that said, I'm still hopefully he can/will be a Norris trophy caliber D-man eventually. For now, I just want him to get better every year. I really don't care if he kills penalties..but by next year I hope he is good enough to be leading the D-men in even strength and PP ice time.

I actually don't mind Dunleavy. He isn't 'flashy' and sometimes it takes a second or two for me to register if a goal was scored, but overall I prefer him to a lot of other people I hear doing play-by-play. Of course, I must say that I am NOT a fan of guys that get overly excited....RJ's calls to me are a bit too over the top. But I'd be perfectly content/happy with Dunleavy going forward.

As far as a goalie goes, you can't have a bad one. You can get away with having a bad line on your team....or a bad D-pairing...but because there is only one goalie, your starter can't be 'bad'. With that said though, I don't think you need a great one. Just get someone who is just above 'middle of the pack', but has the potential every year to go on a good run. If you can get that and NOT pay him top 5 goalie dollars, I think you are set in net.

Don't forget Montreal. I think there are 5 or 6 games left where Florida/Montreal/Toronto play each other. If one team tanks, it is likely the others will pick up some of those points from each other. According to NHL.com...remaining strength of schedule for the rest of the year.... Sabres, 4th most difficult remaining schedule in the league. Montreal, 15th most difficult Toronto, 17th most difficult Florida, 21st most difficult There are also alot of sites out there which tell you how likely a team is to make the playoffs, factoring in probabilities both based on 50-50 odds in each game..and others with strength of schedule..and others using very complicated methods like Sagarin's ratings. Of the ones I follow and find have been the most accurate in the past....they have the Sabres at 1-3% chance of playoffs as of today, Montreal at 1-2%, Florida at anywhere from 40-70%, and Toronto most of them all have right near that 55-58% chance. I don't think the Sabres are making it...but if they can reach/beat 88 points on the year (taking into considerations their upcoming schedule) and have a neutral or positive goal differential the rest of the year...I'll be content with the ending of the season they had.

It is an improvement over last year. The sad thing is, it would be their best season since 2011-2012 when they had 89 points (They still have a chance of beating that season) How long go was that? That team featured.......Tyler Ennis was only 21 years old...So was Luke Adam who scored 10 goals in just over half a season...Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr lead the D-unit in games played. I really hope this team with Eichel having his great year can top that team and get 90 points.

plus they are actually producing this year....more goal than usual for them. I think Larsson and Girgs are actually pretty valuable as 4th line players on 4th line contracts.

There is no denying what Cozens is doing in the Juniors right now...but many people were saying the exact same thing about Mitts 1 year after his draft. Yet Mitts might not be ready for the NHL 3 years after his draft, let alone one.

Whenever the Sabres play and I'm at home on the computer, I like to check in on the opposing teams twitter followers or message boards for info and amusement.... For the last 10-15 minutes, the Leafs boards have erupted in blaming the officials. Many comments about how the 'league is against them'.

If that is true, then why does it seem he is glued to Eichel like no other 2 players are? If it is true that their numbers don't drop off when seperate, then why is that the ONE thing this coach hasn't done to try to get a 2nd line going?

Ok, I still don't think Jbot has to go. He inherited a mess, and he hasn't made it a lot better but I don't think he has made it worse. The O'Reilly trade I don't put on him....someone (him, O'Reilly, ownership) made the decision he had to go...probably before the bonus was paid, and he took what was probably the best offer. Was it fair value? probably not..but I don't think another GM in his place would have gotten a lot better at the time. With that said, I also don't think he is doing a great job...kinda just sitting on his hands. The moves he has made have been minor, haven't impacted the team in a big time positive way or hurt them long term in a negative way. Skinner deal doesn't look good based on how he is playing this year....but most people wanted him signed and you signed him for what he wanted. What I hate, and really hate about being a fan of this team now is the lack of any activity. Was this year a 'waiting game' year, trying to clear the cap? Maybe. But that doesn't mean you can't do SOME things to at least give the team and the fans something to hold on to for the future. Was there a deal for Risto that may not have been perfect but could have been decent? If so then make it. Is Bogo not going to be here next year? If so, the play Pilut more. Is Dahlin improving and is going to be the franchise D-man...if so then HE should be leading the D-corps in minutes. I don't think you need to rush players up from the minors....but...just do something..do something that gives us fans at least something to talk about and something to hope for...for the future. I don't hate the job Jbot has done because there isn't really a lot to hate..or like...I just hate the inactivity. This isn't the first or second year of a tear-down for this franchise where you have to preach patience to the fanbase...we are rapidly closing in on a decade of it.

I'll add my agreement to this. Someone above laughed at the notion of the cupboard being bare....but it really is. Of course there are players there that are young, but no of them is jumping off the ice and looking like a legit top 6 nhl guy now. If one or more of them really develops into that....well then of course we all want that..but there is little in Rochester that shows the Sabres will be getting a few legit top 6 forwards from there. With that said...the situation is not totally hopeless. You have Eichel, Olofsson, probably Reinhart, and Skinner. That SHOULD be 4 out of 6 top 2- line positions. Is it easy to get 2 more legit top 6 guys...no its not easy...but 4/6 of the way there is not hopeless. Fill those spots....have a 'young guy' 3rd line (Cozens EVENTUALLY, Thompson, maybe Mitts?) and a 4th line that gets only a bit of ice time 5 on 5 but has some quality penalty killing players...now you are competitive up front. So this team could be in the playoffs next year...just i am not betting on it myself. Its not that I think JBott is awful..its just it has been so long since this team has been good...I need to see it happen before I believe it.

If that is what you are getting out of the post, then you are missing the point. Heck, I even referenced the whole point of the post was about the performance of the depth of the forwards in the first line. The point of the whole post points out that it is not a bad thing he is having his '2nd best season', but rather there are a lot of other forwards making a lot more money and having much higher offensive expectations that are doing worse. So yes, this is 'being trotted out as an example of a bad thing' because the point is about most other forward on this team, using Zemgus only for comparison sake. You do not want a guy to be 5th on your team in goals...4th in even strength goals, and one of the few 'plus' forwards on your team when he is a career 10 goal, 23 point per 82 game guy.

Here is something to think about regarding the forward depth on this team....Girgensons this year.... 1 of only 4 players to suit up for all 50 games so far 5th on the entire team in goals. Only 4 forwards on this team are 'plus' players (qualifying players how have played at least half the games). He is one of them. He is 4th in Even strength goals. ahead of players like...Olofsson, Vesey, Sheary, Johanson, Okposo, and every D-man. Basically, he is behind ONLY Eichel, Sam, and Skinner The way he has played the past few years..the fact he is pretty much an NHL 4th liner...and what he is getting paid....he should be ranking a lot lower in those categories.

One reason why I don't think he gets fired...the plan might have all along been to wait for next year and the ownership was in on it. The team went into this year trying to be the 'best it could be' but with the thinking this wasn't the roster long term. If the team is bad..so be it for this year.....or maybe they can 'luck into' something good. They would take 'lucking into' a good season if it presented itself (kinda like the Bills making the playoffs a couple years ago), but this season is more Like McDermott's first or second with the Bills...NEXT years plan is to be like McDermotts year #3.

It depends on what your definition of a 4th line player is. A decade ago on most teams, a 4th line player was a PK specialist that had to have a spot on a 'regular' line for a few minutes of non PK time...or it was an Enforcer...or it was just a bad player on a bad team that had to fill a roster spot. Today, that isn't the case. If Asplund can (eventually) get you 10 goals and 30-35 points or more...plays very good D-zone hockey and is one of your top PK specialists, I'd be just fine with him having a long career with the Sabres. Larsson is a 7-8 goal, 10-15 assist guy over a typical full season...and I'm ALMOST happy with him as my 4th line center at a low cost/cap hit. I'd like to just get a few more goals and 5-10 more assists out of that position though.

I'd be ok with that. I have criticized Sam on this board in the past. I want another go-around with him on a line other than Jack for the rest of the year. I think he has the least chance of 'taking over a game' compared to just about anyone else in the 25 goal/60-70 point range. He has flaws.....but that still doesn't change the fact he is a 20-25 goal guy and 60-70 point guy...and it is going to cost you for that. I'm not elated with a $7 million cap hit for me...but if he can be resigned for that...I'd say do it quickly.

I liked the red and blacks jerseys as well. I'd like to see them as a permanent 3rd to be worn a few times per year.

I agree with you on the Arena. I have visited a few of the newer arenas, and even been to a couple about the age of the Key Bank Arena but the others having gone through a recent renevation...and what we have here in Buffalo is MILES behind what the other cities have. I've said it before on these boards....the Arena DOES matter in todays day and age. If you care about hockey and hockey alone (not the Arena experience) for most people watching at home gives you a better view...better replays...a better overall view of the game. The arena exists for a fan wanting more than just the game, but rather an experience. Whether us 'old timers' like it or not..the experience is now a lot more than just hearing the crowd in person or seeing the players up close (if you are lucky enough to sit that close). The gameday experience is how nice the Arena is...how great of a 'night out' it is compared to just absorbing the game at home. All those things that other Arenas now have that Buffalo doesn't...those are the additions to the 'gameday experience' that goes beyond watching the game on TV that we are lacking here.

Nope, did not read the entire thread. I don't have time to go over every single post in every thread. I try to read most of them, but don't have time for all of them. Just like did you research every post I made in other threads about Reinhart? Because a big thing for me is his even strength production. Or did you not have time to do that and just wanted to die on the hill of your own argument without knowing what I personally think is important in making my posts? Here is the problem with the stats that you referenced that were posted...of those games without Eichel on his line...a larger portion of that production was on the powerplay. To be honest, I STILL need to see him for a prolonged stretch without Eichel now, this year...because even strength is where I'm making most of my decision on him. BTW, cute of you to say that is the hill I wanted to die on....give me the even strength numbers without Eichel, preferably recently, then lets go from there.

False argument? LOL, how can you call something a false argument when you have no idea what the Sabres are even going to pay him? My whole point, that you call 'false' is that Sam has not had enough time away from Eichel to establish a value on him. Give him at least 20 games away from Eichel. What kind of player his he then in terms of production? Does he give you 20 points in 20 games? 15? 10? 5? Before I can make a determination, as a fan, if I think what the Sabres are paying him is worth it, I need a much larger sample size of him away from Jack to figure that out.

I agree with you on visiting Nashville. The bar/nightlife scene isn't really for me, but it is an active downtown area. I have been to a game in Nashville....not in Dallas, but besides Nashville I have visited several of the other Arenas around the country. Every time I am outside of Buffalo and at a different Arena, one thing sticks with me. Just how far behind the rest of the league the Arena/gameday experience is in Buffalo. And I know...a "Real fan' doesn't need the bells-and-whistles that the other Arenas have...but if I'm only in it for the game and not the gameday/Arena experience, than I can see more of the game at home than I can in person most of the time. The Sabres really have to look into improving the Arena. Once you see where the rest of the league plays...the broken seats in Buffalo, the cracked concrete, the bathrooms with no hot water...and all the other little things here really stand out.

I certainly do want to see him play with someone else so I know more of what I have in him. Why would you not want to see if he can carry a line himself..and just give him a big contract without putting him in as many situations as possible? What every other player on every other team that gets a long term contract did has little to do with gaining as much info from your own player as possible. Of all the big money-long term contracts given out....I'm sure many of them ended up not being worth it and hurt the team in the long run because they were given to players that the team thought could be a centerpiece and that player ended up not producing that way. Why not find out now?

Myself I wouldn't let him walk for free, but I do have some doubts about whether or not I want him as one of the top 5 highest players on my team. I really, REALLY, really, really want to see him get some prolonged ice time on a line without Eichel though before I make that decision. At least 10 games, closer to 20 games would be better.

I really don't have enough to go on to make a decision on this. It comes down to 2 things for me that I don't have an answer for: 1. What kind of contract is he going to get to stay with the Sabres 2. I really REALLY want to see him on a line without Eichel before thinking of trading him..or deciding whether he deserves the contract he is going to get to stay here. I really wasn't a fan of Sam his first couple years in the league...because his production was seemingly always on the PP. I'm a bit happier now because over the past 1-2 seasons he has done better even strength and proved he can be a decent goal scorer outside of the PP. Now I would like to see him prove that he can be at least a 50 point guy without Eichel on his line. Throw him on a line with Skinner and/or Johanson..play 20 full games that way and let see if he can put up at least 5 or 6 goals and 12-15 points that way. I don't think that is asking for too much.

I still don't have doubts about him..not yet at least. To me it looks like the plan all along was to get to the point of having a lot of cap room and rebuild from there. That time was always going to be next year. The HOPE inside the organization was the team would be better than it is with the existing talent...but the plan all along was just get to next year. The only way the lack of moves make sense is that he is waiting till next year. Not only will they have more flexibility to make things fit, but with the Sabres having more cap room and other teams not having it...they will also be in a position to dictate terms more beneficial to them in any move.