sabresouth

I live 30 miles east of texarkana. We got down to 5 degrees with no snow as well.

Well, if our goaltending can hold out and we beat Columbus and then beat Detroit (must win). We will be in pretty good shape. At least for the short term. That would get us pretty close with a lot of games still to go.

Good win. We definitely had a tuff time against a bigger team. Finally our goaltending stole a game. This is the kind of goaltending we will need on a consistent basis to make deep runs into the playoffs. I hope UPL has turned the corner.

The NJ Devils are a prime example. They last made the playoffs in 17-18. They have been in the toilet with us the past three seasons. They are currently second in the league this year. It can be done.

We have missed the playoffs for ten straight years. This fact requires that KA needs to have some urgency with this rebuild. That means deviating from "the plan" when necessary. I'm not talking about going out and doing something stupid or anything. But we have a ton of cap space and more potential talent coming up than we have room for. I believe if KA would have been just a little more aggressive these past couple of off-seasons, we would be in the hunt for the playoffs this year. But since KA is rigid in "sticking to the plan" we get to "wait till next year ". Kinda getting old. I know, patience.

As stated by other posters, this past off-season was relatively baren of good goalies. And you will have to forgive me as for my memory of the previous two off-seasons. I don't know what was available or not then. I think KA made the mistake of not picking up one earlier when available and now he can't find one. You just can't give KA a free pass on this . He has had three years and this is the best that could possibly be done? I don't think so.

Agree 100%. Couldn't have said it better myself.

We all can see it, the team can see it. They are playing well enough offensively be a playoff team. They just need a little help. As stated above there are at least defensmen out there. Will they help, not sure but what we got aint working. I just don't want to see the kids get discouraged and give up on the season. That is a bad precedent to set. KA expects them to give 100% every game. I just want KA to give 100%. Maybe he is. It just doesn't feel like it.

Your points are valid. We are debating hypotheticals. There is no way to know how things might be different. Just looking at this season though. If we had a true number one goalie, I believe we would be in the playoff hunt right now. And after this long playoff drought we are just frustrated that a known position of need was not addressed for this season. I felt like before the season started we could be a playoff potential team with a goalie upgrade. So if I as just a fan could see that than why couldn't KA?

To the bold. I believe that it should have been just as important a priority at the same time. Surely he can chew gum and walk at the same time.

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.