mjd1001

I think people underestimate the impact he has on the 'defensive' side of the game, at least slightly. Now, there is a difference between 'defensive play' and 'defensive impact.' Maybe he's not going hard into the corners and winning a ton of loose pucks in the D-zone. Maybe he's not coming up behind players and taking the puck away numerous times a game. Yeah, I get that. But, just by his size and reach, he has an positive defensive impact on the game that often isn't noticed. How many passes are NOT made or not completed by the opposition because his size and reach takes up so much room in the center of the ice? How many plays are prevented in the defensive zone with him just standing on the slot because of his size compared to a guy who might be 5'11"? Is it a TON of plays? maybe not, but I think it would be naive to say it doesn't matter at all. Its like CBs in football, you notice the guy who plays great man-to-man and sticks with the WR that you can see, but sometimes a guy who just sits in the zone can have just as much of an impact on the play.

A lot is being made of how good Kulich looks, but he hasn't shown it yet against NHL competition. Benson, he hasn't produced at a super high level but as a young rookie played a solid game all around. As they both get experience and older, who is eventually better?

Short answer for me. Yes. Long answer, it is SOOO much more complicated. What do you consider a good center? One who can excel in the role you put them in, so they may be a top player for YOUR team but not so on another team with different teammates? What do you want them to do? Is a 50 goal scorer who is below average defensively better or worse than a guy who scores 30 but is a shut down, penalty killer, on the ice protecting a lead at the end of the game guy. For me, the way a forward can change a game the most is by scoring goals, not preventing them. Yes, preventing them is important, but the best-of-the-best defensive center I think matters a bit less than the best-of-the-best producer of goals. So I put a bit more weight on that. Tage, for me, I think his production was down because he was playing through an injury. Every center in the league being healthy, I think Tages gets you close to 50 goals, and for me, that puts him in the 5th-10th best in the league. So top 15? yeah. I also think he was very effective as a penalty killer last year when given that chance. His size and reach allows him to 'hold is ground' and not start 'chasing' in his own end. He did well at it. Now, that was with DG's system, will he have the same role with Ruff? Maybe not, but in one defensive part of his game (Penalty killing) he showed he could use his size/reach and be very good at that at times.

Krebs hit Thompson that caused Thompson to get hurt? or 'threw a hit' on Thompson? There is a difference. I can't think that in the first 10 minutes of practice in camp that are allowing/encouraging full contact on each other. Well, my hope for this season, and I have been saying this all offseason. 1.) Thompson is good enough to score 50. 2.) Dahlin plays like a top 5 D-man in the league. Those were the 2 most important things to me for the season. If Dahlin and Thompson are both hurt 15 minutes into camp..wow.

He was the first one on the ice, so I don't think he's sick or something minor like that...Possibly the absolute worst thing that could happen to this franchise right now...if your best player gets hurt 20 minutes into training camp. Hopefully its nothing long term.

Captain: Dahlin. A's: Tuch and Thompson If its anything different than that, I'd be surprised. The only 2 other 'top players' that are likely to be here for a while would be Cozens and Power, and I don't see either of them as captain or assistant material now. Samuelsson I would put in this group also but can you play 65+ games in a single season first? Plus, you give an "A" to Tuch. Hes only under contact for this season and next. Hopefully you get him re-signed. But if for some reason you don't, that opens up a spot for someone else (Maybe Cozens or Power, Quinn) to move into in 2 years IF its open.

I'm not saying they are the same players. I'm just saying Krebs does not excel in any other area (defense, getting back to his own end quickly, faceoffs, physical play)...he's at best 'another guy' in those areas...so I feel he should get the league minimum. If there is anything that justifies more than that, its if he has shown signs of production, and my comparison shows, compared to others in the league that did sign for much lower values, he has not even shown that. Yeah, their situations are different, different teams, different longevity in the league. The one thing that is not different is neither has shown they are a complete player and you really don't have much of a reason to give over league minimum for both. One accepted that and took a lower deal, a 'prove it to me' deal. The other either wouldn't accept that, or was offered much more when it wasn't needed/justified. Robertson gave the leafs SOMETHING (scoring in the teens over 56 games, a 20+ goal pace) and that still wasn't enough to justify more than what he accepted. I don't even get close to that out of Krebs, and I personally don't think he brings much in any other part of the game, to justify what he got.

I'm not devasted by this, its not a big deal, but why I don't like this deal that much... Peyton Krebs. Hes not a bruiser, he's not a speedster. I haven't seen him play a game where I said "wow, he's really effective at forchecking". I HAVE seen him on the ice for goals scored against the Sabres where if he was one step faster, put in a tiny bit more of an effort to catch up to the play or was faster, a goal wouldn't have been scored when it was. So basically, I do not see anything that shows me is is anything else other than "another guy' in every way besides scoring. So what about production? Nick Robertson last year...14 goals in 56 games. Peyton Krebs last year....4 goals in 80 games. Robertson: 1 year deal at $875,000. Krebs yet gets $1.45m per year and double the term.

I think its a bit too much, what options did he have? and what is he going to bring to the team? On the other hand, its not really hurting them with cap space all that much. They have the room this year and likely next year. I still think its too much.

Quinn's career shooting percentage is about 13%. Can he shoot 15% over a full season? yeah, not a stretch. Now, where can he play where you can get him 250 shots per season? He functions best between the dots. 250 shots at 15% is 37 goals.

I agree with most of this. To me Krebs is now a '12th-14th' level forward on most teams, a AAAA player (to use a baseball term). He is basically 'just another guy' that, POSSIBLY because of his pedigree/observed 'raw' talent as a 1st rounder, sill has a CHANCE of becoming better, but not a great chance at this point (10% or less). To me he's at the same level/same place as Tyson Jost was a few years ago. Krebs was a 17th overall pick, Jost was the 10th overall pick. In Jost's 2nd and 3rd years he showed offensive promise (double digit goals both years) to never be shown again. Krebs, in his 3rd and 4th years almost hit double digits, but fell down to 4 in 80 games last year. Jost then got traded for an undrafted journeyman (Nico Sturm) who is a career 3rd/4th liner. Then after 2 years (and about 30 total games), Jost was waived. I kind feel Krebs is someplace close to that in his career now. If he signs, he signs. If not, oh well.

Not on their 'resumes' so to speak, but it could be about style, a 'forcheck' first thing Ruff maybe wants? All 4 of those guys are consistently in the top 10 percentile of fasted skaters in the league. Greenway is not. That doesn't mean Greenway won't make the team, but if style of play means anything, all of those guys above have something Greenway does not, and they all were aquired/selected AFTER Ruff became coach. I personally think you just take the best guys from camp. Sure they may have who they THINK will be on the roster, but I think what you do is have an open mind, and the top 12 guys that fit the roles you want them to fit in, you take them. If Kulich outperforms Krebs, then he gets a spot over Krebs. If Greenway outperforms Aube-Kubel, he gets that spot...and so on. Let camp play out.

I don't have a problem with Tuch or Thompson. Tage took a step forward taking an additional role penalty killing (and I thought he did a decent job) and I'm personally pretty sure a lot of the drop in his production is due to his injury. The fact he played though it is a minor plus. Tuch, kinda the same, there is no doubt at the beginning of they year he was playing hurt, he missed time and practices in training camp and in the early season. Plus his drop in production was partly due to injury and partly due to him having what I think was his career year the previous year. Plus I think he puts the effort in to be one of the best forcheckers in the league. I guess with those 2, I don't see a problem with their play. Cozens, I agree I'm not sure he should get a letter. He may be a 'high energy' player, but I don't think hes a smart player (yet) and he certainly is not someone you rely on in tough situations. Now, that is all on ice stuff. How much should it matter off-ice or Locker room? I guess a lot and I don't know what goes on there. But, as above, my personal opinion is Tuch and Thompson were not a 'problem' with this team last year, and to the extent they were it was somewhat injury and expectation related.

A lot of people want Greenway around, but a 'top 9' spot can be had if Kulich is awesome in camp, and I think Greenway ($3 salary, last year) might be the odd man out, or at least the guy in the press box IF Kulich gets a spot in Buffalo.

I think at this point ,if there was any doubt, Miami is nothing more but a middling, average team overall. The 70 points against Denver and just the thought of how much speed they have on offense, at least for me, made me think they were/are more dangerous than they actually are. This year they barely beat Jacksonville at home, and lost to the Bills, who were in total control of the game even before Tua got hurt. The Bills team without its best LB and losing their 2nd best...with questions and inexperience at Safety....that is the team Miami had trouble moving the ball on. Last year they were shut down in the playoffs. In the regular season they allowed 56 to Baltimore in getting obliterated by them...and in Playing Buffalo (twice), Baltimore, Dallas, KC, and Philly (The best teams they played), were a total of 1-5, with squeaking out a couple point victory against Dallas at home, and being outscored by 93 points in the other 5. The Bills did what they needed, they had a few injuries, the flew to Miami on a short week, Allen may not have been 100%, and they got the Win. Buffalo did what a good team does. Miami? Even with Tua I'm no longer worried about them, but without him, whatever. The big story about the game is the Tua head injury. Beyond that, THIS is the game that 100% convinced me that viewing Miami as any kind of thread (even with Tua) is just frauduant.

Sidney Crosby, remember, had some serious concussion issues also. At one point I remember there were people telling him to call it a career, back in 2011 and 2012. But, they didn't rush him back like the Dolphins did with Tua a couple years ago. I think Crosby missed over 100 games in 2010-2012, but he got healthy, and it hasn't been a huge issue later in his career. As you said, the Dolphins should have given him a full year off, and honestly, if this is more than minor (looks like it might be somewhat serious), they can't be thinking of their 'season', he needs time off.

I know they are trying to make money and technically you are getting more for your money, but when you are talking AHL and minor league/college hockey, there is a limited market. Offer it ala cart, and you will get a LOT more people saying "yeah, I'll throw a few dollars that way to see my minor league team'. But when you increase the price so much and give them alot...I think a lot of people will say, I don't need all that programming. I mean, squeezing in the Amerks games is hard enough when you have the Sabres, NFL, NBA (for some), whatever movies/shows we want to watch, and life in general. To ask for more money expecting people to consume MORE minor league and college hockey/juniors, I don't think it going to work so well.

Sabres first 2 games against New Jersey...

If i'm not mistaken (correct me if I am) but he didn't play any ice time in the playoffs last year. He hasn't played a minute of ice time in the playoffs since 2022-23, and he was pretty brutal (he was a -7 in 11 games and he was playing so badly that by the end of the playoffs they were only putting him on the ice for 7-9 minutes per game). And that was a season and a half ago. Add 1.5-2 years of age to that, and yeah, I'm not interested.

Offseason but quickly approaching training camp. NOTHING going on. A wide ranging, vague topic which invites people to voice any kind of opinion on the team we want. We need some on-ice action really soon.

Cycling rules are something I will never understand. I ride a lot, but I'm a casual cycler. I have my 'comfort bike', ride on the side of the road or bike trail if available, I cruise along comfortably, 12-15mph at most. I do see alot of the people, often in groups, the cycle wearing the tight spandex, the bikes that cost a few thousand dollars, tires that are about 3/4 inch ride, and they like to go along at 20-25mph. That is fine. However... If I'm on the side of the road and you are passing me, how about passing me like a car does, give me a bit of room. They go by me so fast that if I made even the slightest move to the left we would collide. Also, they give no indication they are going by. Kinda rude/unsafe if you ask me. I did live on Cape Cod outside of Boston and it was totally different there. The post signs on the rail trails there asking people to say 'on your left' when you approach someone going slower, and almost all the time people do. They gave plenty of room when they pass. Even when not on the trail and you have those 'semi-pro' cyclers, I always found them much safer and much more courteous when I lived on the Cape. Here in WNY, and when I lived in Florida...totally different. very rude, very unsafe.

I don't really want Zegras unless you are just sending 'slightly better than garbage' back, which I don't think they will do. (Krebs, 2nd round pick, mid level prospect). To me there is no guarantee that Zegras will be that much better than Quinn, or Peterka, or even Benson. Maybe, maybe not. But if I don't know for sure (The Sabres DO know alot about them, not so much about Zegras), then I'm not moving one of them (or 2 of them, or a package including them) for Zegras. I mean he LOOKS talented and he may have as much or more raw talent as any of the Sabres youngsters....He has scored 21-22 goals per 82 games (pretty good for only going into his 5th year, but not great). But on the other hand, there are some people who say he skates hard all the time, yet I have seen clips where he just floats around, seemingly randomly, in is own end waiting near the blue-line for a breakout pass. I'm thinking again about it as I type this and am going back and forth. If the Sabres traded for him would I be excited? Sure. But if they gave up Quinn or Peterka, much less so.

Maybe he has taken a step back, but even if that is true, there still might be the reputation that is lingering that he hasn't...and of course once someone has the history of doing it at all, I would assume an potential candidates to come here might wonder if he will start again. So, maybe he has gotten better, but it might always be a lingering issue for some. I do almost totally agree with Terry hiring Kevin because he would be a 'yes man' of sort. He would not offend Terry, He would make him feel involved. I really believe that part to be true. Now that doesn't make me feel hopeless about the upcoming season. Other than the first 2 games against New Jersey in Europe, I'm looking forward to it. Even if Adams is a 'yes man', he still is more involved in the day-to-day than Terry so EVENTUALLY some good decisions will be made. Its just after all these years, I still Think Pegula is a bad owner, he is bad for the success of the teams he owns...his saving grace in football is when you buy enough lottery tickets, EVENTUALLY even a bad owner will win with a good QB.

I agree in principle, but I think Terry thinks he knows too much about hockey and wants too much input. There have been stories, even interviews how as Bills owner he will sit in on the meetings, interrupt coaches to ask questions, but I have never heard anything about him being involved in day to day decisions regarding roster construction or strategy. However, on the hockey side of things he has been involved in decisions (didn't he openly say he was behind the Leino and Erhoff signings? Much of what we hears from various sources is that Murray and Botts didn't like his direct involvement in hockey operations, or at least Terry's business people being involved in it? I think he has been a bit more 'hands off' with the Bills than the Sabres. That may in part be part of the reason for the Sabres bad decision making, and it also might impact who you are going to attract to come here and work under him on the Hockey side.

I kinda agree. Overall we can complain about the taxes and other costs in the area, but WNY has stabilized the population drop, some years and in some areas it actually grows. I looks like Syracuse is getting a TON of high tech money (Micron) and some of that may spill over a bit to the west with smaller related businesses (not a lot, but some I hope). Western NY/Buffalo has become, and is continuing to become a nice place to live for a lot of us. HOWEVER, Billionaire sports team owners (and aspiring owners) don't care at all about it being a 'nice place to live', or about how much us members of a message board love the team. Other areas are growing fast, MUCH faster (probably too fast in terms of them being a nice place to live), but with that really fast growth comes a lot of money to be made from owners of franchises. We can only hope any future owners of the team are involved in buying it because they were a fan of the actual team, because other than that, almost ANYONE who buys a team is going to buy it to simply be a pro team owner, or to 'join that exclusive club', and there really would be no reason for them to keep the team here compared to moving it to a market where they could print (even) more money and have the local government build them a brand new palace just to show up with the team. As far as the Bills go, they really should have done a much better job of reaching out to the GTA to try to get even 1-2% more of that are to be hard core bills fans, get even a few companies/corporations feel welcome in the stadium. It wasn't a mistake to TRY to reach out to Toronto a Decade or so ago, that is what they should have done, they just did a really REALLY bad job of doing it. The Sabres could and should be doing the same. Not with Toronto directly (the Leafs won't like that, there may be rules against it, AND you aren't going to change any Leafs fans to Sabres fans), but they can be doing a LOT more with Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Welland, maybe even this side of Hamilton: Play a preseason game in Hamilton EVERY year and not against the Leafs (market it as an affordable way to see NHL players). Get Marty and Duff to do a remote or two across the border (they are both Canadiens, aren't they?) Make sure every Sabres game is available on TV to everyone across the border (maybe hard to do, but find a way to make it work). Have a 'Canada' night at the arena (free poutine sampls and nothing on the scoreboard but clips from Strange Brew and Kims Convenience). Stuff like that. I don't know how much can be done, but I don't really see them trying at all.