GASabresIUFAN

Yes certainly, but also he has to have a willingness to engage physically. I don't mean running around and hitting people just to hit them (Clifton). I mean challenging a forward at the blueline, clearing the crease, using his big frame to take away time and space from opponents. So far in his career he is unwilling to engage physically. No amount of coaching will fix a player unwilling to do what is necessary to get better on the ice.

Even as cynical as I've become about this team, even I am having trouble believing how physically fragile this roster is. However, watching the last 2 periods against Pittsburgh really illustrated what I wrote in the 2 above quotes.

He was so much bigger that it didn't matter in college or lower levels.

Hits and physicality are not the same thing. The guys you mentioned knew how to muscle someone out of the crease or get their bodies in people’s way. Power Ole’s people as they skate by and has no idea how to move someone out of the crease.

If the PP we saw yesterday was the reworked version Appert and Ventura should be fired immediately. It was the same old same old; pass the puck to Tage for a one timer.

This game featured every fear I had for this team: bad goaltending, bad defense and bad special teams. Not much looks to have changed in Sabreland.

Good thing we have that elite D group to project the goaltending. Power, Kesselring, Samuelsson, and Byram all hurt already. This franchise is truly cursed.

Adams speaking about our elite D group.

How can you not believe a honest face like this

Johnson and Mrtka start the season in Buffalo because two of Power, Byram and Samuelsson won't be available on opening night.

Adams' "elite" D group Dahlin Byram Power Kesselring Samuelsson Timmins Adams current healthy D group Dahlin Kesselring Johnson Timmins Bryson Mtrka (R) Samuelsson (Week to Week), Byram (day to day), Power (day to day).

Dahlin-Kesselring Johnson-Timmins Bryson-Mrtka Can you imagine if this is the opening night D group? I feel for the goalies.

The buyout went from 700k per season before this season to 1.4 if bought out next off-season. As usually, another great decision by GM Howdy Doody.

Samuelsson injured already. Good thing we kept him for this season.

Geez, and I thought I was the pessimist. How many goals were Power and Kesselring on the ice for?

but Tuch doesn't make the top 30 wingers (or honorable mentions), but Mark Stone does.

Laugh, but Georgiev is by far the most experienced NHL goalie in camp Georgiev 303 GP 151 W .903 save % (He also has 20 playoff games under his belt) UPL 155 GP 71 W .898 save % Lyon 113 GP 51 W .902 save % Levi 39 GP 17 W .894 save %

From your lips to G-d’s ears. The sooner the better. Maybe they’ll start listening to the analytics dept?

Who is the 5th?

I've made my position on Adams and his roster very clear, but if this is going to turn around this season, my answer would be one of our 4 headed hydra in net. If one steps up and seizes the starting job and gives us above average goaltending, then anything is possible. If I had to choose one of the goalies to step-up it would be Levi followed by Georgiev. My second choice would be Power. He has the talent to be a top 20-25 D in the NHL. If he decides to be more aggressive offensively and work hard on defense, the Sabres might have two excellent D pairings. This would take some of the pressure off Dahlin to carry the D group lead to better results at both ends of the ice.

I agree with you on this, but Marty has been right all along on UPL and unlike many commentators, he does know something about playing in the NHL. I hope’s wrong as I really like Benson (& Kulich) and want to flourish.

I didn’t remember him at all.

Good effort tonight in the 2nd and 3rd period. I think Mrtka looked really solld for an 18 year old rookie. Kesselring looked good in his debut. I loved all the effort around the CBJ net. This is the way. I finally realized why I like Byram so much more than Power. Byram is aggressive and looks for opportunities (usually on offense, but he makes an effort on defense as well). Power just seems to let the game come to him.

I’m actually very hopeful on Kesselring. He has played very well to tonight. However, you can’t just assume a guy with only 2 years of NHL experience will immediately adjust to his new environment, playing a bigger role and thrive. I hope he does. It will be a huge blessing for the franchise.