GASabresIUFAN

Our excellent 4-1-0 start has come a quite a huge cost. 50% of our top 4 D entering the season are now out for what looks like extended periods. Jokiharju is already on IR and Samuelsson, although early reports say he escaped catastrophic injury, could also be month to month with something like an ACL sprain. Hopefully he (and we) get even better news and he is only out a few weeks. If he is out an extended period, is riding Pilut, Fitz, Bryson and Lyubushkin good enough? My gut reaction is it’s not. I like Bryson and Lyubushkin as a 3rd pair ok, but elevating either of them into the top 4 is a recipe for trouble. Putting AAAA Fitzgerald and the unknown Pilut in a position for major PT seems even worse. I think how KA handles this is going to his first real test of his GM skills in this new Era of Sabres hockey. He clearly has an emerging offensive juggernaut that can roll 4 very effective lines that can play against anyone in all situations. The continued growth of Cozens and Mitts as dangerous 2 way players is creating huge matchup problems for our opponents. The Comrie/Anderson tandem is playing lights out. So how KA supports this team in season in the face of these key defensive injuries could make the difference between making the playoffs or not. I’m not advocating making any trades today. Obviously KA needs to know the extent of both Joki and Mules’ injuries and it’s also reasonable to see if our 7/8 guys Fitz and Pilut can step up their games to take the pressure off KA to make a quick move. That said, KA needs to get on the phone and see who might be available and at what price. For example, the Van fire sale is about to begin. They could easily make Schenn or Myers available. While neither is ideal, both are RHD and are capable of being effective players in the correct role, Schenn as a 3rd pair stay at home D, Myers as a veteran 2nd pair. Myers has this year and next at 6 mill. Schenn is at $850K for this season and has playoff experience with TB.

With a 1st and 3 2nd rd picks next year, I suspect we’ll add at least 2 D with those 4 picks. As to another RHD, I wanted a couple in the last 2 drafts. However, I’m inclined with @Taro T to think that that guy will come from outside the organization right now. I hear Vancouver is about to start a fire sale.

Ryan Miller visited the team after the game.

Lance said in Twitter that Mule avoided the worst. I assume this means on ACL or MCL damage

Which is?

Pavelski with a hat trick tonight at 38 years old. Guy had 81 pts in 82 games last season at 37. What an amazing player.

4 different goal scorers, 9 guys with at least a point. Mitts, VO, Dahlin and Asplund all with multi-point games.

Sabres extend their league leading Empty Net goal total.

DG has complete buy in from the team. They played an amazing 3rd period without a top D and with Van having dominating them in the 2nd. How did it take so long for him to become an NHL coach. Hard to believe he was on RK’s staff.

Yes 😉

Now pound Seattle

We want 6

We want 5. JJP needs a point.

Van has way to much talent to be this bad.

I haven’t seen this much 4 corners since UNC in the 1980’s

This is the calmest game for Power so far. He has looked very solid tonight.

Pilut is already up. He draws in next game. I guess Clague is the most experienced guy in Rochester I think.

Is this the 3rd straight game we have finished with 5 D?

How tough is Tuch?

Ask and ye shall receive. VO from Mitts. Naysayers beware!

VO, KO, and Skinner are paid to score. Time for them to step it up in the 3rd. VO needs to drive the net more. KO looks slow.

Ok the 2nd

How bad is this ice?

Was that our first shot this period?

That was coming for 10 minutes. Time to get it going