GASabresIUFAN

Ovie may be the only player left on the team at this rate. Can they send us Jensen?

Sadly, yes. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/girlfriends-visit-local-boutique/t-277443402/c-15569235

You didn't like the ladies' shopping video on Sabres.com?

I didn't bring up Irwin, you did. I also didn't say acquire Irwin, I just said he is currently better than Bryson or Clague and how sad that is because Irwin stinks.

I disagree. There have been numerous posts here that the guys (like Clague and Bryson) are still young and they'll get better. There was even a post today saying that Joki still has a chance to become Lydman, despite him getting caved again last night. They say all this is going to happen just be patient. They say waiting who knows how many years for Levi to save our goaltending is the right plan. People keep posting about a young team's inconsistency and to just be patient. I'm sorry that just doesn't hold water any longer. While I haven't said in over a year that Adams is doing a terrible job. As I noted earlier, I have stated since the off-season that we have a playoff-caliber team with the right tweaks on Defense and in goal. I have stated he has made mistakes in his decision-making on D and in goal. Stillman is just the latest, and the facts support my argument. However, I have also praised him when he made good decisions as well. Just look at the NJ Devils. They were exactly where we were last year. Their GM made the right tweaks on defense and in goal and they are now one of the best teams in the NHL. Ultimately it's KA's job to actually fix these problems and I mean really fix them. No more Pysyks, no more Comries, no more Stillmans. He has built a playoff-caliber offense, it's past time to give that offense the defense to win consistently. Things change and a good plan changes with it.

So you say, but the facts support my argument. You can take it as negative, but sometimes the truth hurts. For example, the Sabres are 5-21-3 when scoring 3 or less (1-13-1 at home). Our GAA last season was 3.5 and this year it's 3.51. Our save % was .894 last year and .893 this year. No improvement. Our PK was 76.42 last season and is worse this season at 72.35. This despite adding Power, Lyubhskin, Clague, and Comrie and moving on from Miller, Hagg, Pysyk, Tokarski and Butcher. Something clearly isn't working and it's not being negative to point of the truth. However, I'm not negative. I've been saying since last off-season that this is a playoff team with the right tweaks on defense and in goal. Since he got the tweaks wrong in the off-season, why is it wrong to ask for him to correct the course and fix the known problems?

Interesting stat from Mike Harrington The Sabres are 5-21-3 when scoring 3 goals or less. 1-13-1 at home when scoring 3 goals or less. Quote from Harrington on twitter "not enough D, not enough saves."

Anyone have the players on Chad's list from ExpectedBuffalo?

Don't need him in the top 4. We need him or someone like him to be an upgrade over Bryson, Clague, and Stillman

...and now back to the regularly scheduled topic. Greenway is still out there and we could certainly use his size and physical game. I'd rather have him in the lineup over Vinnie. He's also locked up for two more years, was coached by DG in the USNTDP, and should fit well with our group. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/tradecentre/tsn-hockey-s-trade-bait-list-1.203546 Here is TSN's updated list of available players. Also, CBJ maybe trying to move Quick to a playoff contender. I'm going to throw a D name out there we haven't discussed, but might make a good 3rd pair complement to Bush and is an RFA at the season's end. What about Dante Fabbro from Nashville? Any interest? I don't know enough about his advanced stats, but when I've seen him play I think he's a decent player with good puck skills.

Do you realize Matt Irwin is in Washington’s top 6 this season and would be an upgrade for Bush, Clague, Bryson and Stillman. How sad is that ?

I would love to be wrong about Stillman but these are the same people who thought Bush was a good signing.

It won’t be a wasted season. It will be another development year. Come on it’s all part of the great KA plan. How dare you question The Plan.

Everyone keeps telling me that Adams has a plan. Just be patient. So what’s the D plan? We have a D core, three excellent young players who were are currently playing into the ground because behind them is one decent player, Joki, and 4 piles of steaming horse manure. The pipeline has one player, Johnson, who is at least one more season away assuming he signs a contract. Who knows if he’ll actually be an upgrade. The rest are a years away. His big (size wise) UFA signing is positionally awful and he just acquired a younger worse similar player with term. His two “puck movers” are so bad the coach fears playing them and for good reason. With crazy deadline deals going on throughout the NHL it’s doubtful that KA will find real help at a price we can afford. However without help now or in the off-season in both defense and in goal, this team is never going to be competitive with the elite teams. All 8 of our D are either signed or under team control. Given KA current approach this sadly could again be our D group next year. Feel better about the future? If the plan for next year is the status quo, KA has failed the players, the organization and the fans. Aren’t you tired of the team having to score 6 goals to win? Aren’t you tired of the missed assignments on D, the bad clearing passes and the goalies missing shots they see? I know I’ve beaten this horse for months, but when there is no improvement year over year isn’t time to change course and try a different approach?

I promised myself I wouldn’t say a word about the defense and goaltending.

I don’t think there is anything wrong w JJP’s shot.

Find a way guys

Frazier taking next year off. and there was much rejoicing . https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bills-defensive-coordinator-leslie-frazier-to-take-2023-season-off-from-coaching-planning-to-return-in-2024/

I'm not mad, it's just such a stupid waste. It's poor asset management and a dumb decision from someone who knows better.

No he doesn't and hasn't since he changed his game to a stay at home physical player the last 3-4 years, but thanks for playing. Let's compare Stillman to Schenn Schenn - 55gp 3g 18a +9 17:11 TOI 258 Hits 81 Bks Stillman - 32 gp 0g 5a -14 16:06 TOI 52 Hits 34 Bks

Quite possibly, but doesn't make me feel better about the Stillman trade. We get a lousy player who is barely a 7/8 for a decent prospect and Tor gets a legit top 6 player with Cup winning experience for less than we paid. Great job KA. I guess getting a lousy player under contract for another season after that explains the over payment.

So we gave Van a former 3rd rd pick, Bloom, for Stillman and Tor gets Schenn for a 3rd.

Yep and so did Jbot.

Is it just me or are more big names being traded then usual? Meier, Kane, Horvat, RoR, Trasenko to name some with more on the block including Karlsson and Chychrun.

I have stated numerous times that I doubted he’d address the goaltending until the off-season. I’d of course welcome an upgrade, but think we can help the goaltending with better D who are more easily acquired at the deadline.