mjd1001

Exactly. Its not just me, but I would say I probably have posted 10 or more game vizualization replays or actual replays and images where he either quits on plays...or is too tired that he can't get back..(which is still his fault for being on the ice too long). Last year Krebs was the king of either being too slow to get back....or just quitting/not putting the effort into backchecking. Krebs has gotten better this way...not Cozens....I have seen WAY to many times where Cozens is just gassed or does quit. Mind you, he won't quit in the offensive zone...he'll charge into the corner to chase a puck in the offensize zone without a problem. But he does not do that on the backcheck as often as many think.... As Jorcus said he isn't always the only one. Even Benson does it occasionally. Krebs still has his moments..Thompson, Tuch...all of them do. But I think Cozens does it a bit more than his reputation leads on. I'm not down on Benson, but I think some of his play lately is being excused by his 'reputation' as a hard worker who usually does the right thing. He's another one to keep an eye on, hopefully his play recently isn't a case of him picking up bad habits he didn't have before. Personally, I would like any of the season ticket holders on this forum, or anybody who goes in person to games frequently, to chime in. I know I have seen Cozens quit on plays but the only time I get to see replays of that is when there is a goal allowed.....Id be interested in some good feedback of anyone who might follow him in person at a game, shift to shift, play to play, in ways we can't see on Television.

In his most recent 32 Thoughts: The Podcast episode, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that he believes Buffalo Sabres forward Dylan Cozens has generated trade interest around the NHL. "If I'm Adams and the Sabres, I'm worried if we trade him, does he become the next guy?" (to have success elsewhere) full article here: https://sports.yahoo.com/report-sabres-star-generated-trade-180614584.html

3rd line WINGER at best. Back to one of the few things I'm decent at on this board, bashing Cozen's play. But seriously, when you look at his play, for the past year and a half, is he really even a GOOD 3rd liner? I think he gets slotted on the 2nd line because he has the 'raw' talent (skating speed, agility, size) and pedigree (top 10 pick). The kind of 'talent' a coach looks at and may think "I'll be the one to get him out of it" But in reality...for his career (Even INCLUDING his career year), he is a 19 goal per 82 game guy. A minus player and a deeper minus guy than the average of the other forward on your team. Under 50% at faceoffs. Ineffective on the PP (currently leads Sabres forwards in PP time this year, split time last year on the first and 2nd PP unit, and has a total of 3 PP goals total between this year and all of last year). He is a 10% shooter (8.5% over the last 2 years and 8.3% every other year if you exclude his 'career year'.) He hits less than he gets credit for by many...3.37 hits per 60 for his career, which is average-to-slightly-below-average among forwards on the team. He's the antithesis of clutch....Never had more than 1 game winning goal in an entire season across his whole career, and it seems like he is much, much more likely to take a dumb penalty late in a close game than make a play to win it. We know the numbers. All of that above paragraph would lead me to think he is possibly a 3rd line winger. Not 1st line, not 2nd line, not even a 3rd line center. But to be GOOD as a 3rd line winger with those numbers, you have to be at least decent without the puck. I think there are very few people left who believe he is actually good defensively. Some of us, including myself, think he is BAD. Like worst-player-on-the-team-bad positionally. To me, he has to change, he has to improve immediately. His offensive production justifies nothing higher than a 3rd line winger at the moment, and when you includes his defensive lapses and tendency to wander and 'do his own thing' out there (I like to think of his play without the puck as the forward version of Ristolainen), I think he's a slight negative even as a 3rd liner. Oh, and those offensive production numbers? IF they played him 3rd line minutes and less on the PP, with less ice time his production would likely be even a bit lower than it is. Cozens may have more of that 'raw talent', but in terms of actually being a hockey player, the Sabres are a better team day in and day out with another guy the level Zucker, or Mcleod, instead of Cozens on the ice. He has a good game on occasion. I'm not rooting against him. I want him to be a 20-25 goal per year guy and be a factor on the PP and to think 'defense first' in close games. When its a tie game with 5 minutes left, I want him to make the move on the D-man and put the puck over the goalies shoulder for the game winner. But he just doesn't do it. Like, 4 out of 5 games he does none of that. He's has to start soon, 'young and inexerienced' as a reason is running out for him. That is become less of a 'reason' and more of an 'excuse' at this point.

This is what I think Terry doesn't 'get': Hes the owner, he has to sign off on new contracts. He wants to know what is going on with his team. That is understandable. But an owner being present "TOO MUCH" can be an issue. When you are always around. In draft meetings, watching practice with the GM frequently, stuff like that.....like it or not it can make some people in the hockey department a bit on edge. Sure you should say they shouldn't be like that, but think of many of our own jobs. We know the Boss/owner is in charge, but if he was walking around the office, or sitting in the corner of the cafe watching whenever you had a casual sales meeting, its just not the best work environment.

I remember 2, maybe even 3 years ago listening to the morning show and having the 'insider experts' on 590 out of Toronto talking about hockey. The talk then about the Eastern Conference was "Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, which one will take the step up and be a legit contender in the east first? Maybe it will be Montreal, but they are probably 1-2 years behind the others." I remember them talking that Detroit may have the least potential high end talent among the 4, but they have Yzerman heading things up and they looked to be spending money, so their rise up the Eastern Conference standings was the most imminent. Then the next year, it was the same thing they talked about on occasion. Buffalo shows promise it will be them. Then this year, it was the same thing about those 3 or4 teams. Too much talent. Too many high draft picks. Ottawa looks good this year finally with a goalie and looking healthier than before. Yet, here were are, another season, the absolute bottom of the Eastern conference...Guess the bottom 4 teams? Obvioulsy, Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, and Montreal. All 4 teams negative in goal differential. All 4 in the bottom 7 in goals scored despite those high draft picks.

Moving Centers to wing that can't make a read is all fine and well (think that should have been Cozens 1.5 years ago), but if you moved both of them to wing to follow through on that threat, what does that leave you with at Center?

Rangers have statistically dropped behind the Bruins (now in 7th) and NY is in 8th and the final playoff spot right now at a point percentage currently of .558. As the Sabres stand, the get more than .558, to take away what is currently the 8th playoff spot in the east, Buffalo needs to win 6 in a row. 6 wins in a row from here would put them at .560. Providing the Bruins and/or Rangers do not gain any more ground and play above that level, 6 wins in a row will put the team back in the last playoff spot Saturday Morning, Dec 21 before a game with the Bruins. Which if they lose to and don't win 7 in a row could put them back out of the playoff spot. So, just win (preferably in regulation), over Detroit tonight. Then the Rangers. Then Washington. Then Toronto. Then Montreal (3rd game in 4 days). Then Toronto again. Then probably Boston (to keep them behind you). Do something as simple as that and yes, this team could be clinging to the last playoff spot as we approach the end of December. They haven't dug themselves too big of a hole to climb out of, have they?

Cozens last year before the fight: 10gp, 3g, 4a, -1 (82 game pace of 24.6 goals, 33 assists, 57.4 points -8.2) Last year from the fight game on: 69gp, 15g, 25a -3 (82 game pace of 18 goals, 30 assists, 47.5 points -3.5) Statistically not a huge difference. As far as his play away from the puck, I remember he was pretty bad and made mistakes early in the year before the fight, and he just kept on making the same dumb mistakes after the fight. For me personally, that fight I can use as a turning point as a kind of 'mental crutch'. Meaning, he came off of a 31 goal year, so the 3 goals in 10 games was only 'slightly' off that pace and not signficant enough for me to think he was anything other than a 30 goal scorer. Did the fight actually impact his play? Or has his play since the beginning of last year actually been who he is, before and after the fight, as he came off of a one-time career year? Do we simply use the fight as a MacGuffin for the narrative that it was a turning point? His stats weren't that much different after the fight as they were before...and the team as a whole statistically played almost the same, and actually slightly better after he came back from the fight with him in the lineup....with him playing more minutes.....than the team played before he got in the fight with him playing less minutes per game. Even hitting. A little obscure of a stat but before the fight, he was averaging 1.20 hits per game. After the fight game 1.35 hits per game. So hardly any difference of note. But he didn't shy away from the physical game, he had slightly, SLIGHTLY more hits per game after he got in the fight than before it. Had the fight not happened and he continued to score at that lower pace, by the end of the year I would have thought....last year was a mirage I guess. The fight just happens to be conveniently at a time (with the subsequent games missed after) to allow us, and myself included, to put significance to it meaning something. When in reality, the whole season last year, before and after the fight, may have been him just reverting to the norm after a career year.

One could say that just as firing staff during Covid was to save money, that mandate might have continued to exist for the next couple years under the new GM, whether it was Adams or anyone else, to not spend anywhere close to the cap, make moves that would save the team money. A lot of theory here, but its pretty likely that if the team wanted to save money and Terry didn't want to spend, that could be part of the reason Adams couldn't (or was directed to) 'find a reason' to trade a disgruntled Eichel and a longer term contract extension, at a higher dollar wasn't offered to Reinhart. Adams simply was the guy that was operating under those conditions. Had it been a different GM, the same conditions, the same edicts from above, might have existed. They certainly didn't go after any 'bigger name' coaches that they would have to offer more money to after they made a change. No long term high priced guys were brought in. Guys due for raises were often moved out. Even the Taylor Hall deal was short term and he was moved out pretty quick.

Ok, it is not a cup winning looking lineup that is for sure. Krebs is not a great player, but I'm willing to see what he does for one game up there (knowing Lindy it might be a few shifts before he sees something he doesn't like though). Krebs was my whipping boy on this forum for the last 1.5 years, maybe even as much as Cozens. But I have liked glimpses of his game this year. Again, does he deserve first line time? No, but why not at this point? McLeod on the '2nd' line, hopefully that means 2nd line minutes (1-2 more minutes per game than he averages) Greenway back. I never loved his game, but wow, could this team use him. Hope he plays. Cozens on wing, and on what looks to be a 3rd line. Best thing I have seen on this. Now keep him off of special teams also. Kozak on the 4th line. Well he scored 1, maybe 2 goals in 2 games so far D-unit. I want to see Johnson play again, teaming him with Byram I hope will be good. Power-Joki? with that combo you could get a great game that gives you the win OR they could single handedly be the reason you lose. Bryson-Clifton. I think they are a fine 3rd pair. Not great, but I do not think they hurt you anymore than most 3rd pairs hurt. But if Samuelsson and Gilbert play instead, so be it, don't care too much. If they play with these lines, I hope Lindy stick with them for the whole game. Some changes will at least be SOMETHING to look at and talk about.

The thing about those 2 vs Cozens.... I have heard from a lot of people who dive deeper into stats that at a team level, and that a player level, Shooting percentage is something to look for that can 'revert to the mean'. Meaning if an entire team, or a player, has a career year...but the shots they take, the location of the shots, if many of the metrics are similar to other years but their SHOOTING percentage is higher, it may be a sign it isn't sustainable. Suzuki and Stutzle had more than one year of production/10%+ shooting percentage before signing. Cozens had 49 games and earned his deal off of that. Cozens signed his huge contract about half way through the 2022-23 season when he was shooting 14.5% over 49 good games over 1/2 a season and was a plus +1 over that time. He didn't get that deal over him scoring 13 goals in full season the year before where he was a -19. He didn't get it off his rookie year where he scored 4 goals in half a season. Basically, before those 49 games that he earned that contract on, his career was 17 goals and 34 assists over 120 games and a MINUS -34. (an 82 game pace of 11.5 goals, 23 assists, and -23) Again, so his contract was mostly based on production over those 49 games. So, what is his entire CAREER other than those 49 games? Before and after he signed the new deal? a 9.3% shooting percentage over 258 games, minus -48, and an 82 game pace of about 16.5 goals per 82. The Sabres made him the 2nd highest paid player on the team (at the time) and the 2nd highest paid forward overall (just a fraction behind Tage who scores at more than double the pace Cozens does and this year is scoring at almost triple the pace Cozens is), based on under 4 months and 49 games of play. There are some people that aren't fans of Tage, but him and Cozens got about the same deal, at about the same time. But even if you take out Cozens rookie year where he only scored 4 goals, From 2021-22 to present, for the same money, Thompson has 128 goals to Cozens 68. And as much as some people don't like Tage's defense, Cozens has made a LOT more bad plays costing obvious goals against that probably any player on the team. Ok, there is my bi-monthly Cozens rant.

Peterka's stats recently are a bit alarming: -9 times he had over 20 minutes of ice time. Lindy must no like something because, despite being down in some recent games and needing scoring, Peterka hasn't had over 20 minutes of ice time since the Vancouver game on November 29th. -In his last 11 games: 1 goals, 2 assists, -12. A minus 12 in 11 games is REALLY bad. -He's had shots, but is only shooting 4.5% in those games over the past month or so. I'm not worried about him like I am about Quinn and Cozens. Not yet. But he really hasn't contributed much of anything in a positive way.

Yes and No. Even despite the contract and the "A". Lets say Cozens was only getting paid half as much and didn't have an "A". That still leaves him: -As the guy you have given the most Powerplay time to above any other forward on the team this year, and gets the vast majority of his starts in the offensive zone, yet: --Is playing as an 18 goal, 36 point, -18 plus minus Center losing the majority of his faceoffs, with only a single power play goal in all that PP time, who makes a lot of bad plays without the puck causing chances against, shooting at 8.3%. --That is a top 10 pick with now over 300 games experience, in his 5th NHL season, who just came off of a season where he scored 18 goals, was a minus player on a plus team, and shot 9%. Even last year he was 4th among all your forwards in PP time He is so 'un-clutch' that he had one single game winning goal the entire year last year, and only 1 this year (2 of his last 24 goals were game winners. For comparison, Alex Tuch has 8 of his last 30 goals being game winners over the same time perios)) Even without the money and the "A", I think a lot of us are upset that he continues, for going on 1.5 years, to be a high draft pick who is now mature in the NHL, making mistakes over and over and yet getting some of the best ice time and best chances while not delivering. The fact he is getting paid $7m per year on a long term contract and has an "A" is simply the small cherry on top of the hugely disappointing sundae.

I just talked myself into looking at where he is shooting from even more. Compare high danger chances shots on goal, (close, in front of the net) to perimeter shots with Quinn: 2022-23: 42 high danger, 84 perimeter (33.3% high danger, 66.7% outside) 2023-24: 12 high danger, 44 perimeter (21.4% high danger, 78.6% outside) 2024-25: 1 high danger, 41 perimeter (2.4% high danger, 97.6% outside) Hes not going to the front of the net. And the few times that he does, hes not getting off shots on net...but he is still taking them from the perimeter. For comparison, the rest of the Sabres this year, as a TEAM besides Quinn, are taking 23.5% high danger shots on goal, 76.5% outside, and that INCLUDES D-men who are usually taking more shots from outside/the point. As a matter of fact, he is taking MORE perimeter shots then before: 2022-23: Outside/perimeter shots on goal 1.12 per game 2023-24: Outside/perimeter shots on goal 1.63 per game 2024-25: Outside/perimeter shots on goal 1.75 per game. Again as per my other post, Cozens, nor the other wingers he plays with, have not had a significant drop-off in inside/high danger shots. Other lines (Tage, Tuch) are not having a big drop off in high danger shots with ratio to Perimeter shots. Its just Quinn. Him going to the net and getting less shots from there and more from the outside started last year compared to his rookie year, but has drastically accelerated this year. Each time he gets injured, is he just too afraid to go to the tight areas anymore? I didn't vote for that, but these numbers lead to that being a strong chance.

It can't be just Adams though, you have to clear the entire room.

I have no clue why. Similar linemates, seems to be healthier than in the past 2 years, yet dreadful play and its not a short term slump, we are almost 1/3 of the way through the season. The ONLY thing I think of is Lindy. Not that Lindy doesn't like him, nor does he not like Lindy. Just sometimes even a small change in style/coaching can impact players. That is all I have. But he went from being a nearly 13% shooter to basically Zero (only goal being empty net, hasn't beaten a goalie all year). There is one difference you can see from NHL edge shooting charts that doesn't make sense, especially if he is healthy. He is not going to the high danger areas or not taking shots from there. Its almost like he is afraid of the front of the net like never before: -This year through the entire year, he has 1, ONE shot from high danger areas (from the crease out, no farther out than the dots, between the dots). Lets compare that to 2022-23, in 75 games he had 42. So yeah, 2 years ago he went to the front of the net and took shots from there 42 times. If you project what he is doing this year, he is on pace for THREE shots per 75 games from the same area. Is it he just isn't taking shots from there? or has he become totally allergic to being anywhere in front of the net? In games where Quinn isn't with Cozens, the other wingers that are with Cozens are going to the net and getting shots, but not Quinn when he is there. So, I get that he might do better with a different playmaking center, but why is he not even going to the net when Benson, Zucker, and Peterka are when playing with Cozens? Its not the coaching. Cozens already has 18 this year. Tage has 10. Tuch has 18. Benson 12. Peterka 12. But Quinn, again, just 1. Why?

The problem with Tage on wing is he seems to work best when not along the boards. Many of his goals are when he has room both to his left and to his right. 11 of his goals this year according to NHL edge are between the dots. 25 of his 29 last year were between the dots. The previous year he had 28 goals alone from either right in front of the net or between the inside of the circles. I know that is the prime scoring area for everyone, but if he is that good between the dots and he is the best shooter/best hands on your team, I want him in the position to take the most shots from those areas. Now maybe some of their data is off by a few feet (going off of diagrams) but the thing is, other than a one-timer on the PP or a set play, he doesn't score well on rushing coming up the ice on the wing. He is most dangerous front and center of the net.

McLeod to me doesn't make a lot of bad mistakes. He plays a more 'veteran' game. I just posted elsewhere, but guys like Quinn, Cozens, Krebs, Kulich...I would not put them on the ice together without at least one, and preferably 2 veterans with them anymore. They all take turns, maybe on the bench, but you pair them with 2 guys like McLeod, Greenway, Zucker, and hopefully someone else you can acquire to fill out the 2nd line. I'd almost rather have Malenstyn even fill in on the 3rd line with those guys rather than continuing to pair the young guys together. It should have been done 2 seasons ago, not letting the young guys 'develop' together. but you can't undo that damage, only hope to minimize it now.

I myself have underestimated the need for veterans..for overpaying for some semi-quality vets as part of development. The issue with this team now may not be drafting poorly...it may not be awful development in the minors....it may not be bad signings or trades. Instead, not paying money when you did have room under the cap, possibly overpaying. Someone else just brought this up, and I'm sure a few of the veteran posters have brought this up over the last year or two. What if, in the last 2-3 years, you signed a vet, either as a free agent or you worked out a trade, and paid a 30 year old who scored 18-22 goals per year $6-$7m over 3 years? For that production it is an overpay. But if you had room under the cap, how much of a value would 1, 2, or maybe even 3 of those guys be to pair with the young guys? Have a guy or two like that on a line with Peterka or Quinn instead of having Quinn, Peterka, and Cozens all 'develop' together? What if you took a 'Good' Dman that wouldn't come here for market value, but you gave that 28-30 year old guy who got $5 someplace else and you gave him $7m here for 3 years...so when Power or Dahlin were in a slump you could pair them with a vet...and you are paying them $7 per year not for their production but for having SOME production and being a settling influence with the young guys. Erik Johnson was a good idea last year, but I'm talking paying possibly a LOT more to get someone better than him. You had the cap room. I criticize Pegula alot, and I'm going to take a shot at him here that may or may not be true. I would think that Adams and the hockey department WOULD want to do something like the above and WOULD want to spend to the cap....but after being burned with bad contracts in the past, it may have been (and I think it was) Pegula that limited the spending and had a desire to stay 'under' the cap until the team started to play better...instead of the other way around. Paul Hamilton and one of the other Sabres beat guys (forgot the other one) both said that 2 offseasons ago the Sabres were considered an up-and-coming team and they were getting calls from agents asking about coming to Buffalo. That was their chance to do all of the above. But after last season and so far this season, they blew it. So what do you do now? McLeod centers a line with Zucker (or Greenway when he gets back), you throw Cozens on that wing. That would be a start. TWO vets with just ONE of the struggling young guys. Quinn doesn't play for a while until there is an injury or if you want to swap him in for Cozens and Cozens sits. My main priority trading this season is to get a good center or a very good winger (at least 5-6 years experience and at least 26-27 years old) to fill out the 2nd/3rd line. Quinn, Cozens, Krebs, Kulich, even Peterka can play, but you do not put 2 of them (of course not all 3 of them) together on the ice at the same time.

If you had a solid 2nd line, you could use your '3rd line' to work in guys like Kulich (or Rosen). With your first 2 lines producing, and your 4th line your energy/d-zone start line...the 3rd line could have some vets on it that you pair with the rookie, and allow that rookie/younger guy to play a 2 way game, tell him to take some offensive risks, but with some vets on the line with him to help him along/cover for him. Of course, with nothing close to even a respectable 2nd line, that isn't even an option.

You quoted the example I put of "in board meetings" I'm not sure why? you are saying that is how I see it and its not true? I am seeing capital letters/shouting that others aren't? If that is not the case I'm not sure why that was included in your quote. You are obviously the one that needs to feel justified in your posts. As others have said, you have WAY too many replies that are short, vague, with no substance and filled with sarcasm. That is how I see it, and obviously that is how others see it. It appears the only person, up until this point, who sees things your way is the person with the sticky 'caps lock' key.

So was your post on the previous page where you said "YOU IN THE BOARD MEETINGS??????" Shouting, in addition to the apparent lack of a verb. And yet when I read all the posts, it is you and Trips that use the sarcasm and shouting that comes across to not just myself, but apparently a few other people as exhausting and angry.

Bingo.

Ok, you are using caps shouting and your argument sounds like its coming from a 3rd grader who is saying something and shouting 'gotcha' after you say it. I always say its a message board so anyone can say what they want, but it does show the level of a particular poster when they don't engage in conversatation but rather resort to all caps or put a post with nothing but sarcasm because they can't articulate their point beyond that (see post immediately above this for an example).

This is a message board, not a court of law, I don't have to prove anything to support my post BUT if you want proof, i'm not typing it all over but look through my posts about this topic in the past month, or take a look through the older thread titled "the trial of Terry Pegula". In it there are a LOT of articles, Quotes from Terry himself, quotes from reporters who were in the room, stories written by credible sources/news sites giving examples. Again, I'm not going to take a hour to repost it but you don't have to search the whole internet, there stories and quotes are on this forum. There is a whole lot of smoke, and some actual fire there.