GASabresIUFAN

Truth. If you win they will come.

What alums do we really want to be mentoring the kids anyway? Who brings a winning culture? Grier? Drury? Briere? Last I looked these influencers are now all NHL GMs. Ryan Miller? Pominville? Teppo? Vanek? Hasek? Older alums? Who would you choose? Craig Anderson seems to be hanging around (which is a good thing). KA brought in Erik Johnson and that seems like a positive for the young D group. As I mentioned earlier I’d bring back Gaustad because he understands hard work. I’d wouldn’t mind Pommers and even Gionta (now working for Niagara U), because they fit that mold as well.

There are a ton of face to face meetings in hotels that plant the seeds of many deals, even if they are completed by phone later.

I agree. I love the energy of the event with the teams there. Given modern communications, you don’t need to have 30 people at each team’s table but jeep the event generally as is. Yes, I think having the GM’s together at the draft site can foster easier trade discussions.

You do realize that after 3 games the Sabres are 31st in the NHL with 40.5% FOW.

Better game all-around. Levi was fantastic tonight.

I guess that partially explains why Power and Dahlin were the 2 D on the ice at game’s end.

I should have added that they could send down an exempt player Levi. If they want to get creative you activate Savoie for the 2nd game of the 4 game home stand, send down Levi for games 2&3 and bring him back for game 4. This way you see Comrie and UPL in games 2 & 3 as well as Savoie and Benson together in the lineup for 2 games. This isn’t what they are going to do, but it would be interesting to see.

Can't activate Savoie without a corresponding move such as someone else going on IR or someone being waived or traded.

Yes I would.

We are 2 games into the season. Breathe people, please. The Sabres started 9-12-1 in their first 22 games last season. Although they started strong with a 7-3 record, they then stumbled and went 2-9-1 (including an 8-game losing streak) in the next 12 games. Yes, defensive injuries played a part, but in 7 of those 12 losses, they scored 2 or less and also allowed 5 or more goals in 7 of the losses. They then went 33-21-6 the rest of the way, despite having 3 more 4-game losing streaks. They were clearly a streaky team last year and probably will be again this season. Again, let's wait 10 games before burning down the house. Don't forget we are really integrating a rookie starting goalie, 2 new players on D, an 18-year-old rookie forward, plus a finally healthy Greenway. It's going to take a minute to gell.

Wasn't Craig Anderson at camp? Aren't alumni Ellis, Mair, and Kennedy part of the coaching and development staff? (Thereby proving that those who can't teach). I wish they'd hire Gaustad to teach the current Sabres how to win a friggin draw.

I think I've been to more shows in the last 2 years than I ever went to as a kid. Here is the list Haim, Tears for Fears (w Garbage), Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, Goo Goo Dolls (w Blue October), The Killers, Johnny Mahr, Elton John, Bare Naked Ladies (with Five for Fighting and Del Amitri), Goo Goo Dolls (again - w O.A.R), Morrissey and Depeche Mode. My wife and I have been having a blast.

They were both really good shows. We were almost at the stage for Morrissey. The best part was that it reduced my Bills/Sabres anxiety.

"The Butler did it" each time he scores. I can hear RJ now. @dudacek is probably right it's going to be something boring like Benny or Bensy.

What happens if they move VO? Surely he has no market value at this point given his cap hit and his advanced stats. Would TP even allow such a move to bury nearly $5 mill in the AHL? How much of his cap hit would KA/TP be willing to eat to facilitate a trade? Would waving him to the A be the best thing for him or would he prefer to be loaned to a SHL team? Would a D first team like the NYI be willing to take a chance a him given their desperate need for scoring? My last question is was this roster situation foreseeable? I wrote in the off-season that VO was not going to get traded because of Quinn's injury, but now I wonder if KA and his staff should have realized that at least one of Biro, Rousek, Kulich, Benson, or Savoie would make the team. If they had realized this, maybe they still should have traded VO when he had some market value (maybe they still did try and he didn't have any market value then either). Even if none of them proved immediately ready, there were a large number of good vets that remained un-signed in Free Agency for weeks and weeks. Hell Kessel, Stastny, Puljujarvi, and Josh Bailey are still; un-signed.

That’s not very nice. 😉. I understand what you mean, but if Mitt’s line remains this effective all year it will make everything easier for everyone else.

You want them to play worse?

Fairburn talked today about how good Savoie has looked in practice and also raised the lousy chances for and against with VO on the ice. To activate Savoie Fairburn suggests waiving/trading a goalie. I’m not sure you’d make that move if both backups haven’t even played a game yet. I’d send Savoie to Rochester for a rehab stint so that KA can get a look at what he has before moving on from anyone. I also wouldn’t mind seeing VO sit, put Jost in as the 4C and move Krebs to Cozens’ wing to see if adding Krebs’ passing and willingness to work will help get that line going.

It was a joke.

Ken Dorsey is not the answer, but Brian Daboll might be available soon.

In general I don’t disagree, but so far outside Mitts’ line, none have been good enough.

Went to Morrissey on Thursday. Today at Depeche Mode. Opening act DIIV. Sorry to be missing the Bills game but what can you do. Priorities.

From the Athletic “4. Kyle Okposo, Girgensons and Peyton Krebsformed one of the best defensive lines in the NHL late last season. Okposo and Girgensons were brought back for their ability to play a reliable and direct game as part of Buffalo’s fourth line. That line has leaked chances against in both games, though. On Saturday, the Islanders had more than 94 percent of the expected goals when that line was on the ice at five-on-five. In two games, that line has generated only one high-danger chance and allowed eight against at even strength.” I have no idea what your heat map is showing but 8 to 1 in HDC against vs for is enough of an indication that they aren’t getting the job done so far.