GASabresIUFAN

As I wrote in the OP the response didn’t have to be a fight. Picking up the physical play, aka doing to the Devils what they started doing us, would have been an adequate response. Instead they folded again like a cheap tent. Only UPL prevented a loss.

I was thinking about the Brownschidle brothers as I wrote the OP. They were the first Amherst guys to make it. As a kid playing in the Amherst leagues, they were the guys we looked up to.

Did you watch the play of the 2 teams after the hit on TNT. The Devils took over the game and that included knocking the Sabres all over the ice. The Sabres crawled into a ball and stopped executing. It was hard to watch. The PP featured a shortie and other opportunities for the Devils and no O zone time for the Sabres PP. As I wrote in the OP the win didn’t matter. What mattered was the team standing up for themselves and each other.

Lindy cancelled practice today.

The funny thing is that it was Lindy who sent the goon squad out against Ottawa after Neil's cheap shot to the head of Chris Drury. No one remembers who won or lost that game, but everyone remembers the response of the Sabres to the cheap shot. Lindy knows that the win was less important than the message that the Sabres are up for any fight. Sadly even Lindy has been beaten down by the sad culture of this team.

The Lucic attack on Miller and the Sabres lack of response to it was the first step down the road to where the Sabres are now. That is at the bottom of the standings for 14 years with no real plan to improve. Yesterday two cheap shots, one on Zucker and then one on TNT, both by Noesen I believe, went unavenged and graphically illustrated that nothing has changed in 14 years. This franchise still lacks a spine and without one they’ll never improve. Lindy’s stating at the press conference that winning was the best response is simply BS. For a team at the bottom of the conference standings with zero hope of the playoffs the win is meaningless. For a good culture to grow, the team must stick up for each other. They must become tougher and legitimately harder to play against. Teams push the Sabres all over the ice because they know no response is coming and the Sabres proved that again yesterday. The Adams administration has paid lip service for years to getting tougher. Adams would say that he added Greenway, Gilbert, Stillman, Eric Johnson, Robinson, Clifton, Lyubushkin, Malenstyn, Lafferty and Kubel to help accomplish that goal. The problem with all these acquisitions is that almost none are more than depth players or roster filer. Only Greenway arguably plays more than a depth role and he’s oft injured. Of the guys still on the roster from that list who stepped up after Zucker and TNT hits ? None ! The response didn’t have to be a fight either. It could have been hard checks on Meier and the Hughes brothers. The response could have been picking up the physical intensity and checking every Devil at every opportunity. Instead the Sabres rolled over, gave up a shortie, wasted a 5 minute PP and allowed the Devils to pick up their physical intensity. Only sterling play by UPL preserved the victory. I honestly don’t know how to fix this soft losing culture in the Sabres. However, I do know that Lindy not allowing the few guys who allegedly wished to step up to step up sends the wrong message to the locker room.

Why aren't TNT , Keller & Jason Robertson on the American squad? I don't get Trocheck, Kreider or Nelson making the squad ahead on any of those 3 players.

As you know, I'm all for acquiring 2 RHD to play in our top 4. As to Zegras, I agree that he probably isn't a true no. 1 center. However, he is a gifted playmaker, is on a more reasonable contract @ 5.75 for one more year and then he's still an RFA. Injuries have also slowed him this year and last and therefore he'd probably come much much cheaper than Pettersson. From a Sabres perspective, he's only a 1 year commit if his game doesn't return to form, but if he does get things going again, then he's an RFA which we can re-sign long-term is desired.

From the OP. I guess reading isn't fundamental. Gionta was near the top of my list with Orpik. When I expanded it out to Syracuse and Ithaca Dustin Brown went to the top of the list with Gionta because of his 325 goals and 712 points in 1296 games and 2 Cups

I bought a Kennedy Jersey to celebrate a WNY kid playing for the Sabres. I thought then he’d have a nice career in Buffalo but then arbitration happened.

Correct. This team isn’t making the playoffs and showing a spine was more important than winning. The old Lindy knows this.

I’m sure their coaches can’t wait to play him 10 minutes a night like we do.

What about Brooks Orpik. 1000 games, 2 Cups and what a great shutdown D Ithaca’s Dustin Brown also comes to mind. Nearly 1300 games 700+ points and 2Cups. Do we consider Ithaca WNY or central NY. It is West of Syracuse.

Isn’t Malenstyn supposed to be our resident tough guy? Greenway is out, but what about Samuelsson?

The new Sabres team bus

How do you get a 5 minute PP and respond with absolutely nothing to the cheap shot on TNT. They won, but talk about a “win” that illustrates all the problems with this franchise.

Obviously Patrick Kane is the best NHL player born or raised in WNY. He leads WNYers in goals, assists and games and is a first ballot HOFer when he becomes eligible. I was watching the inept 5 min pp and my mind began to wander. I was thinking about Gilbert being from Buffalo and how most of the guys from WNY were depth or AAAA players with some notable exceptions. Names like Marchant, the Foligno brothers, the Gionta brothers, Stempniak, Callahan and Amherst raised Brooks Orpik came to mind. If we expand the definition of WNY to extend to Syracuse or Ithaca we can add Tuch, Dustin Brown and Connolly. Anyone else? So who is the 2nd best player born or raised in WNY?

What is Joki worth in trade at the deadline? A 3rd or a 4th? Less?

Poor Finland.

The sad part is Kulich is probably the best player of the current lot of Sabres "centers." TNT has been moved to RW and Ruff wants to make it permanent. Cozens has been a disaster all season and like TNT might be best playing on the wing. McLeod has had good moments and bad. He is ok defensively and solid in the faceoff circle, but he is not a top 6 center. Krebs is the same player he's been for the last few years. He chips in some offense now and again and he has stepped up his physicality and his faceoff %. All in all an adequate 4th line center. Lafferty - has been pure unadulterated garbage, but at least he skates fast. So those are your choices Sabres fans besides Kulich. No wonder Ruff is playing Kulich on his top line.

I think people here are confusing playmakers with guys who have good playmaking skills. Guys like Adam Oates and Kuznetsov are pure playmakers. Guys who focus almost primarily on creating for others. The Sabres don’t have anyone like this on the team and only Östlund may qualify. Then there are guys with an all around skill set and do a good job of creating for linemates. Alex Tuch is such a player. JJP seems to be moving in that direction as well, but his shooting is his best skill. JJP has 40 pts ytd including 26 assists which leads all Sabres forwards. Benson, I know has the requisite passing skills, but he is still figuring out the NHL. McLeod does most of what we want a center to do, but his passing skills are limited. As to the original question, I’d like my centers to play an all-around game, be good in the faceoff circle and play 200 ft. We don’t have anyone that fits that description. The best thing about Kulich in the middle is his willingness to play 200 feet and his skills, especially shooting, allow him to convert opportunities. While I’m a Kulich fan, I’d love for the Sabres to somehow acquire a pure making center (Zegras) or an all-around center (Pettersson) to pair with Thompson on a top line. Moving guys like McLeod and Kulich down the lineup.

Adams stated he wants to retain both Zucker and Greenway. I'll believe it when I see it.

lol! You’re welcome! All 3 current alleged centers are shoot first players in Cozens, TNT, and McLeod. The only “playmaker” on the roster is Tuch. JJP has the passing skills but is also a shoot first player. Quinn is shoot first as well. Benson was known as a creator in the CHL but hasn’t made a consistent impact that way in the NHL. Zucker, who traditionally is a shoot first player, has focused on more playmaking as a Sabre. One of the huge issues with this roster is the lack of playmakers once Mitts was traded and no effort was made to find an adequate replacement.

Is Kulich a center? Yes

5 pretty big deals so far with 5 weeks to go until the deadline. Teams getting a very early start. Calling Howdy Doody.