GASabresIUFAN

No it’s not all on the defensemen, but you have to start somewhere and Dahlin and now Byram have gone without adequate partners for far to long.

As I've pointed out the offense is not the problem. We are 12th in the NHL in goals. Keeping our forwards, especially a productive vet like Zucker makes sense especially for a tema devoid of veteran leadership. I do agree that if he won't sign an extension before the deadline, then Adams has no choice but to trade him. He is probably worth a 2nd rd pick plus a prospect. You maybe able to up the compensation if Adams is willing to take a contract back to help the new team take Zucker's cap hit. The key to this deadline and this next off-season is fixing the defense. The Sabres are currently tied for4th most goal against. Byrson, Clifton, Jokiharju, Gilbert and even Power are expendable. Yes even Power. Adams should no longer be patient with anyone in this 3rd NHL season who hasn't improved at all defensively.

none of the above

How is that working out for us? Dahlin is great, but Power is a cream puff and Samuelsson is completely lost.

But we weren't paying McCabe 4.3 million a season. McCabe low contract cost during his development afforded the Sabres time to be patient. We don't have that luxury now.

This is what I think will happen. It was @Brawndo who originally brought up the idea and we all know his sources are very good. This transaction would save the Sabres about $3.5 mill a year for the next 5 years and only cost the Sabres 714k per season the 5 years after that. Given the rising cap, $714K liability is a drop in the bucket.

Adams better have Zucker and Greenway signed to extensions before the deadline. If he doesn’t they aren’t re-signing here and therefore need to be traded. Adams says he wants to keep both, then stop f-ing around and get it done if that is really your intention. Adams also says he won’t be a seller at the deadline. What he didn’t say is that he’ll be a buyer.

Then get rid of Power and use that $8.35 mill on players to pair with Dahlin and Byram. Then find a way to move on from Cozens and his $7 mill contract and utilize that money to fix the top 6 forwards (read playmaker).

He will be bought out this summer as no one is taking on that contract. It will cost the Sabres 714K for the next 10 years.

Let the historic run to the 8th overall pick begin. Honestly, at this point I’d rather have the top 5 pick. We need at least one elite forward on our team.

Ruff said CBJ put out their goons to start the game and Gilbert stepped up.

The Sabres dominate the 2nd period, but then in the 3rd period crawl into a ball again and hope to hang on. Why? In the 3rd period, CBJ had a 8-1 shot advantage, a 7-2 scoring chance advantage and 5-0 HD chance advantage. That's not how to protect a lead. Nice game by Tuch and Reimer. Power stinks.

By peeing in their diapers

So Gilbert starts the game with a fight! Why?

From Matt Fairburn at the Athletic. “1. The aftermath of Noesen’s hit was the latest indication the Sabres still have a long way to go when it comes to showing the rest of the league they won’t be easily pushed around. Luckily Thompson is OK. That may be part of the reason Noesen won’t face discipline from the league after getting a match penalty. It should be pointed out Alex Tuch was livid on the bench when the hit happened and got an interference penalty for a hard hit shortly after that. Tuch fought Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon earlier this season when Dillon laid a high hit that concussed JJ Peterka. I’d bet Tuch was one of the players Lindy Ruff was referring to when he said a few guys on the bench wanted to go after Noesen right away. That doesn’t absolve the rest of the team, but Tuch deserves some credit. Beyond a fight or a retaliatory hit, the Sabres could stand to play with more emotion and snarl in their game. Rasmus Dahlin said they need more pushback. That’s been an ongoing conversation with the team, and this will only make it louder.” https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6111340/2025/02/04/sabres-nhl-salary-cap-contracts-trades/

During his first tenure Lindy had guys like Ray, Mair, Grier, McKee, Barneby, etc. He had guys who would keep opponents from taking liberties and who would quickly settle things on the ice. He didn’t usually have to many instances where the Ottawa game type response was necessary.

Yes, especially for the contract he's on. He's on pace for about 50 points this season. However don't expect him back.

And what was possession time? What were the scoring chances and the high danger chances? NJ had at least 6 hits in the final minute of the game as they tried to tie the game. According to naturalstattrick.com. the Devils had a 4-0 scoring chance edge and 2-0 HD chance edge on the Sabres in the 3rd period.

That C core is currently 12th in the NHL in GF despite a terrible PP and the less than ideal C group. I fully agree that Adams needs to enhance the centers, but scoring is not really the issue with this team. Defense is the bigger problem.

As Kulich is currently the No.1 center is it really far-fetched that Adams would leave him there if he continues to be effective? In my projected lineup, I had Kulich "demoted" to 2C behind an acquired center and people gripped. Remember Adams is the GM until further notice and he is sticking to his youth plan despite all the evidence that it isn't really working. I also stick by my earlier statement that the offense currently isn't the issue. The only way this team moves forward is a better commitment to playing defense. That starts with better in zone D player which can only be accomplished with new partners for Dahlin and either Byram or Power.

No. Tage can always be moved back to center and you'd still have McLeod, Krebs, Lafferty and TNT to handle the center duties (assuming Cozens is traded). The key IMHO to making the playoffs is improving team defense. The Sabres are 12th in goals scored this season with 164. 12th! The offense, despite the terrible PP and questions at center still scores enough to win. However, the Sabres have allowed the 5th most goals at 177 GA. Fix the defense, get the differential positive and the Sabres will be a playoff team. The Sabres current differential is -13. Every team with a + differential is in a playoff position except TB and they are 1 pt out of playoff spot with 2 games in hand.

Why did they acquire Malenstyn and sign Lafferty. I thought they were supposed to bring speed and toughness to the lineup? Why is Gilbert playing if not the help with the physical aspects of the game? Beck is 6'3 210. He should be able to help settle issues.

Isn't the lack of response by both the players and coaches a sign of them not caring either.

Maybe we'll trade him and then re-sign him this summer.

Bingo! 2011/12 was Lindy's last season of his first go around as Sabres' coach and the first season of missing the playoffs of the current playoff drought. The hit on Miller occurred on 11/11/2011. After the Ottawa game the Sabres were 10-5-0. They then went 9-19-5 in the next 33 games and the drought had begun.