sabresouth

It's an impossible to answer that, none of us were in the room when negotiations were going on. But when you have a glaring need at arguably the most important position on the team and we are in our third season with subpar goaltending I have to say KA has failed. Trying doesn't cut it at this level. You do what it takes to get it done. There have been goalies out there over the past three years. It should not take that long to fill a position.

I have been of the opinion that we were a number one goalie and two defensem from being a playoff caliber team. But I think we need more. When we have three injuries to our starters we can't win games. The eight game losing streak and this last game to pit (I'm sure there are other games as well). I know one wasn't an injury (Skinner) against pit but our record is abysmal when we have a couple of injuries. We have got to get a couple more competent dmen and forwards for call ups.

KA has had multiple seasons to upgrade the goalie. I've been calling for that for at least 2 years. I'm sure we could have gotten one by now if it had been a true priority.

You are absolutely right about the double standard. Crosby would never get a suspension for that and he's a dirty player. I remember last year or the year before he came up behind a Sabre player and put his stick between his legs and just slammed it up against him. It might have been Jack he did that to. I can't remember. I have despised Crosby since that day.

I catch myself saying bold part sometimes about the sabres. But you are absolutely right most games never see a team play 3 complete periods. We played only two and the pens only played one and ended up winning the game. As doohickie said we would have won the game if we had scored a couple of goals in the first. Had a little bit of bad puck luck.

I would be willing to bet Skinner feels bad about it as well and has made amends with his teammates and coaches. It was the heat of the moment thing and just about every player in his career does something like that that cost the team a win. I'm in noway excusing his actions. I would feel more aggravated if this was a chronic thing. He does a pretty good job of being our pest to other teams. I believe this is his first incident as a sabre. I think someone has said it's been 10 years since his last suspension. I hope the team can put this behind them and focus on winning this game tonight.

Over all I have been well satisfied with KA. I just believe he miss handled the whole goalie situation as thorny said about ullmark. And then I don't think he expected the young guns to be this good this fast. I believe we are two good defenseman or one good goalie away from making the playoffs. I believe KA's time-line was playoffs next year. It's just sad to endure one more year of not making it when we are this close. I just believe he could have been a little more aggressive in this past off-season and we would be well in the hunt for the playoffs.

No, I'm just saying that it hasn't been a high enough priority for him. I think he could have tried harder and succeeded if he really wanted to. I run cattle and sell cattle at auctions all the time. The buyer is the one willing to pay the price and that is what it is worth. The other bidders stopped bidding because it wasn't a high enough priority for them to buy that particular steer. The same goes for KA. We have plenty of assets and if you are willing to pay the price you can get what you need. I believe that we can make the playoffs this year. What price is KA willing to pay to make that happen. I don't think we would have to break the bank to get it done. I also would be willing to pay more for a given player than other teams because of the position we are in. It's hard to overpay if it gets you in the playoffs. It's was mentioned up thread that we have players in development that we don't have room for. I'm not saying go crazy out to lunch trades. KA might not can do much now but he could have this past off-season.

I disagree. KA has had two plus years to fix the goaltending and hasn't done it yet. My only knock against KA is his slowness to act at times to an obvious need.

And goaltending

Not sure if this has been mentioned up thread, but I think the Jost, Krebs swap of lines has been a net positive.

Let's Go Buffalo

Unfortunately we don't have playoff caliber goaltending. Until that is fixed, it's going to be an uphill battle. I know defense can help with goaltending, but I can't even remember the last time one of our many goalies over last season or so far this season has stolen a game for us. Having said that I agree with K-9 it's not over till mathematically eliminated.

I kinda like this move. Gives Krebs som veteran influence and gives CM and VO a little bit more intensity. It's worth a shot for a couple of games and see how it goes. Maybe they can conjure up some chemistry.

I don't know, but he's had three years to find him. That's more than enough time.

The cost is to high? I say losing countless games over the past three years is to high a cost. The goalie is arguably the most important position on the team. KA should have addressed this position a long time ago

I am so tired of griping about goaltending. It is ridiculous that we are still going with subpar goaltending afterthis many years. KA has done a good job everywhere else but good grief get a serious goalie

We need a good goalie also. Comrie is at 3.65 gaa And Anderson is well on his way to being over 3 gaa. Tuff to win consistently when you have to score 4+ goals every game. Would be nice if our goalie would steal a game now and then as well.

Stop the loss skid. Just win. Let's go Sabres

I've been trying off and on all day to get espn+. I keep getting message that they are having technical difficulties. Hope they get it fixed before game time.

Agreed. To much white. I think a time or two I lost a player in the ice.

Wow... another great game. The tenacity level that they are playing at just wears teams down by the third period.

Wow!! What a great game. Too many good things to list. But even Middelstadt had two posts. He's got seven points in nine games. I think he'll sink one eventually. TNT and Skinner with beautiful goals.

Sell your house move two miles to the end of a dead end dirt road. We did this and haven't had any trick or treaters in the fifteen years we've been here.

Hence my harping about needing a good goalie for the last two years. That has really been my only complaint with management. I just don't understand why it took them so long to address it. And really this year they just took a flyer on commri. So far it is looking like it will pay off. Hope it continues.