GASabresIUFAN

Don't make them permanent, just wear them for big games at home.

Just finished watching the game. That's the best our forwards have played in a while. The Cozens line and Jost really played well. To his credit, I thought Stillman played simply and well. Loved the big hip check, but not really the best time for a fight. Tanner just laid him out and who knows how long Stillman will now be out for. I thought Comrie played his best in a while. Not sure he was at fault for any of the goals. Goat Heads mean victory for the Sabres. Weird stat. The Sabres and Lightning finished their series 2-1-1 each. TB won the first two and the Sabres the next two. Each team won once in regulation 5-3 and each team won once in OT 6-5. I guess the teams are pretty evenly matched.

They added one of the best forecheckers in the NHL with 5 plus seasons of NHL experience who is only 26 and until this season was a consistent 30 point player. He is also willing to stand up for his teammates and loved playing for Granato. He adds elements we simply don’t have on our roster. Getting him for a LV’s second is a steal. I’d suggest watching the Sabres video when KA told Jordon he was coming to Buffalo. KA’s excitement is palpable. This is a player DG was pounding the table for. If you liked Marcus Foligno, you’ll like Jordan Greenway. Ask yourself what is the likelihood that a late 2nd rd pick becomes a full time NHL player and in how many years? If you get lucky maybe 1 in 3 become NHLers.

How about a Gordie Howe hat trick for his debut?

Goaltending. We have lousy goaltending and that equals a lousy PK. Out of goalies 74 goalies with 10 games or more this season, Anderson is a respectable 21st with a .882 save %, but UPL and Comrie have been worse than awful. UPL is 60th (of 74) at .835 and Comrie is horrific at 71st at .778.

Well said, although I doubt he even looked at the goaltending during the deadline. That seems more like a summer fix if at all.

The final regular season contest between Buffalo and TB happens at 12:30 pm today in KeyBank Center. The game will be broadcast on MSG & ESPN+. The new and hopefully improved Sabres need to get back on track following the beatdown at the hands of the Bruins in Boston Thursday night 7-1. This is a huge game for the Sabres as they now sit 4 pts out in the Wild Card race. TB seems locked into the 3rd spot in the Atlantic, has lost 3 straight, and trails Toronto by 5 points. Buffalo is 1-1-1 against TB this season. TB won the only game decided in regulation 5-3 on Nov 5th and also beat the Sabres 6-5 in OT also back in November. The Sabres overcame a late rally by the Bolts in Tampa on 2/23 to win in OT on Lyubushkin’s improbable unassisted SH goal; his first of the season and the first regular season SH OT winner in Sabres history. Sabres added two physical players to their lineup at the deadline in D Riley Stillman and LW Jordan Greenway. It should be very interesting to see how DG utilizes his former USNTDP player in his first game as a Sabre. Will he reunite Tage and Jordan or give Jordan a more depth type assignment? Tuch remains out. Rasmus Dahlin is skating, but is still listed on IR. Tampa added two forwards at the deadline. They paid a huge price (5 draft picks) for physical force Tanner Jeannot (200+ hits ytd) and also added depth C Michael Eyssimont.

KA said in his presser that will let a prospect compete for a job if they think he is ready.

I just watched the Adams presser on youtube. I came away with a fair number of thoughts and impressions. 1) He and DG were as happy to get Greenway as I was and they think the Jordan has another level and Donnie knows the road map on how to get him there. I read elsewhere that Jordan is a good playmaker. I wonder if they are going to utilize him some down the stretch in Tuch’s position until Alex returns. We don’t want people taking liberties on Tage any longer. 2) He really battled to try to get Chychrun but they simply asked for one of the 3 1sts from last year and that was a non-starter. I do get the impression that he offered our 1st this year as part of the deal. I feel much better about his willingness to fix the defense this summer than I did before watching the video. 3) They grabbed Riley because they think he also has more to give, but he was really the plan B if Chychrun fell through. I also get the impression that they like his physical game, but even they don’t think he’ll be more than a 3rd pairing player. Someone asked if these next 20 games were a tryout of sorts for Stillman. KA deflected some, but I think the journalist hit the nail on the head. Stillman, Bryson and Clague are all playing for their futures here (and possibly in the NHL). 4) No one asked about getting veteran leadership for the D, but given the discussion of the their priority of getting experienced young vets like Stillman and Greenway, I don’t think he views getting a Teppo or Lydman as a top priority. 5) He will let Kulich, Johnson and Savoie (and maybe Levi) compete for an NHL job as soon as next year. He said he won’t rush anyone, but if show they are ready he has zero issue with tossing them into the fire. JJP, Quinn, Krebs, Mule and Power are ready examples. I do wonder if that changes some once he has a playoff team. 6) I wish someone would have asked about his expectations for the team next year, as in (as @Thorny asked) “did your becoming a buyer at the deadline signal that playoffs are now the expectation for your team?” 7) He did mention that planted some seeds for the summer 8.) He mentioned that GM’s around the league want our prospects and not just the 3 1sts from last year. I wonder who else? Nadeau, Neuchev? 9) He traded Portillo because he didn’t want to be here. Johnson wasn’t traded. This seems like further circumstantial evidence that KA will sign him once Minn season’s ends.

Don’t count on it. Forcing Levi into this lineup would be the worst thing we could co.

Now if KA can just get us a Ryan Miller and Teppo/Lydman for the defense.

Draft picks are about potential. Asplund’s potential is that of a replacement level player and Portillo has starting goalie potential, although unlikely. Since replacement level players can be had on the waiver wire for free, they don’t have much trade value.

It has been reported by some credible sources that he intends to sign with the Sabres when Minn's season ends.

I don't think you have to worry, I doubt Tuch will be back during the regular season.

Vinnie and someone else who needs a day off depending on the opponent. Could be JJP, VO, KO, Z

Imho, ideally, KA makes over the D completely after the top 3, but that’s unlikely to happen. If the only change is a better partner for Power, that will make everything better. However it shouldn’t be the only change. KA also needs to move on from either Comrie or UPL. To keep both would send the wrong message to the players and the fans. They simply aren’t good enough to backstop a team with serious playoff aspirations. I can see KA trading VO for D help.

I maybe in the minority here, but I think KO will be back as a player next season. He’s going to be entering next season only 18 or so games from reaching 1000 for his career. I find it hard to believe he’ll walk away without reaching that milestone and I doubt the Sabres want him to reach that milestone somewhere other than Buffalo. I realize with the addition of Greenway and guys like Savoie and Kulich pushing from below make it hard to keep KO, but I’m not sure next season is the season to push him out the door.

He is a left shot LW. Not sure it matters to DG. He seems to play guys where he thinks they are needed.

Both notable deadline trades are under contract for next season (Greenway the next two seasons). Here is the status quo roster for next year Skinner TNT Tuch Mitts Cozens Quinn JJP Krebs VO (no I don’t like this line either) ???? Jost Greenway (UFA forwards KO, Z, and Vinnie) Dahlin Mule Power Jokiharju Stillman Lyubushkin Bryson Clague Comrie UPL Cost: $63,115,237 for 19 players with Jost and Clague RFAs.

Does the Greenway addition make the return of KO or Girgensons less likely next season?

Is anyone else surprised that KA failed to “weaponize” our cap space for the 2nd deadline in a row?

@nfreeman aren’t u glad I pounded the table so hard for Greenway? 😉

This deadline grade ultimately comes down to the grades for the Stillman and Greenway deals. The rest are minor adjustments with little impact on the ice. I give the Greenway deal an A+++, but I loath the Stillman trade. I give that deal a D. Overall because the defense is a far greater need I give KA’s effort a C.

So your saying I should have pounded harder for Chychrun to help KA make good decisions? I’m sorry, I didn’t know my own power. Maybe I should be the GM? I know RK would have never been our coach had I been the GM. I’ll be changing my board name to GA4GM.

Mando?