PerreaultForever

Patience? It's always "the next one". Problem is by the time the next one arrives the previous one has left. It's normal to have the best prospect pool when you're at or near the worst. It's also normal to have a bad prospect pool if you're the top or near it. If you can be the top and have prospects you might be a dynasty. Sabres have the best, then it drops down the list, but the NHL team doesn't get better. Go figure.

I just don't know. Mainly because I'm simply not all that familiar with Norris' game and have to wait to see what he can do and if he can stay healthy. So if Norris can play effectively on the PP I guess you build it around him Dahlin and Thompson but let's just assume he's not healthy or effective. In that case, with this roster I am going to try to break convention. I'm going to put Power and Dahlin and Byram on the points overlapping the ice time so all 3 get 2/3 of the time in the 2 positions. Dahlin and Power have both switched sides in the past when needed as well. Tage high slot, let's say Tuch in front and the last guy (?) down the wall and behind the net. If Tage isn't open have the point drive towards the net, either shoot or pass off but stay in the bumper while the others rotate positionally. Big skilled bodies down low and in front. Maybe I'm not explaining it properly idk, but it would require a lot of motion and positional shifts but put the main onus on the D men, who are our presumed strength. Eventually I see this as a possible Benson role. I just think we are rushing him and it will overwhelm him at this time.

Yes, Norris is worth a shot. Maybe it helps. Definitely need someone who can win that draw more often than not. Regarding the bumper, like my other comment, it's a veteran spot. We think of the point guy as the PP QB but the bumper has to be aware of everything and think very fast (react fast) for an effective PP. You don't get to hold and control that puck you shoot or pass to the right spot almost instantly. You also have to handle the physicality of being in that spot. Quinn plays too soft imo. I don't think we have a guy for that spot at this time.

He's not ready. He needs to be faster in his decision making and needs to improve the accuracy of his shot. Eventually I could see it, but that's a complicated spot to play effectively. Effective bumper needs to be aware of everyone all the time.

Lack of movement, predictability, losing puck battles, and too much perimeter play. Those are the main problems. Can you fix it? Sure, but the current personnel have to be willing to play differently. Are they? Will they? I doubt it. The last time we had a really good PP (if I remember correctly) we had ROR on the team. This was key. Now we can argue that "face offs don't matter" but winning that offensive zone draw and getting instantly set up will increase your PP percentages without a doubt. We need net front presence to actually screen the goalie. Thompson's big enough to be that guy but he won't be that guy, he'll want to be a sniper so somebody else has to do that. Benson? Willing but small. Tuch? A little, but not really all that willingly physical. idk who effectively takes that role. idk who can drive the play down the wall but maybe considering we have 3 PP D types maybe we break the current mold and use 2 D on the points. With the players we have we need speed and movement. They need to practice and practice it and play much better positionally so they can blind pass and be where the puck is going to be rather than just waiting for it. Maybe that's a confidence thing but it's also a young player thing and we just won't be better if they are still filled with Cozens type hesitation.

1. New Owner 2. New GM/Director of Hockey Ops (preferably 2 people) 3. New coaches

I agree with the last line. The best of them are already on the roster. We no longer have any rebuild advantages from those trades. I didn't count Mrtka yet as he's new and very raw. Remains to be seen what he becomes. Likely plays but really unknown at this point. Levi idk. Can he become the guy here like Wolf has. Maybe. I certainly hope they give him this year in the AHL though. Then we shall see. I have no faith in Östlund making it at this point.

Well if you are going to look at it that way you have to factor in the bonus this group got from trading Eichel, Reinhart and Risto. Extra picks. Should be better as a result. I don't over analyze it and simply look at how many potential NHLers they have not currently in the NHL? I see Helenius as one more than likely. Nobody else moves the needle for me. That doesn't mean we won't see some of them in the NHL and maybe even as good players but right now, at this moment, Helenius and that's it.

I pretty much agree with @LGR4GM here. It sounds like a bunch of bs excuses. Ruff is a veteran to the extreme and he was hired with plenty of time to make changes and adjustments. The fact he didn't, or wasn't allowed to bring in his own staff was the biggest reason this team was poorly coached, and none of that has changed. How a failed team doesn't fire anybody but a fitness trainer is just mind boggling. Meanwhile I read about Rick Dudley talking about threepeats and I just shake my head in dismay. We could have just handed this thing over to smart alumni years ago and been spared all this pain. Thanks Terry.

I know for a fact here on the BC border some Canadians are being asked to hand over and unlock their phones or they aren't allowed in. It's absurd, and border crossings are down around 30% from the usual amounts. This sort of thing will undoubtedly hurt the Sabres. Detroit and Seattle as well I imagine.

Considering how high and how many picks they have had I'd say their drafting has been meh for longer than that. Probably through the entire Pegula era. Unless I'm forgetting somebody Samuelson and UPL are the only non first rounders that they drafted still on the roster and they were both JBot picks. In any event considering 15 years of no playoffs their prospect pool should be ranked higher than 13th wouldn't you say? Top ten at least.

Lots of low points but I think this is my lowest. I'm truly numb and dead inside when I think about them. I see virtually no chance of this roster being any better than last year and the future isn't all that bright either. I can see that full prospect cupboard emptying out and amounting to very little as well. If Dahlin was serious with his comments last year demanding they do something to change things I really can't see him not asking for a trade sooner than later. They certainly didn't DO much of anything. Maybe even got worse.

E-Rod was a top 6 player for Florida. Is E-Rod better than Benson? Just saying. How you construct your roster and how pieces fit together is more important than statistically analyzing individuals and placing them together based on numbers.

Oh yes the 2026 draft looks like a very good one but do we really want to tank for yet another draft? I think not. Sabres likely get a top 10 pick anyway but I certainly don't want to rebuild again (although I see it potentially happening)

Roslovic (and to some extent Gryzlyk) still not signed by someone is a little surprising. Do they have kids playing hockey? Maybe we should tank for their draft year? 🙂

So is the short version you agree with me that Norris and Tage should play together on the top line?

Tage isn't a playmaker either regardless of stats. I don't really know what Norris will bring them but I believe he can motor (if healthy) and will do better with more open ice. I am simply reluctant to have youngsters in key offensive roles. It hasn't worked yet and it won't work now.

I see Terry has a nice big 100 million yacht so he is abandoning this sinking ship.

It's true about Greenway, but I want a veteran grinder beside Kulich. Open up space for him and Tuch to do the scoring. As I said, I think Adams failed by not getting another top 6 player so I'm working with what's there to create line chemistry and complimentary function. Similarly if Norris can be the playmaker, that can allow Tage to be the sniper. Zucker is the reliable 2 way vet to cover for them but again, ideally, I'd prefer an upgrade. No he's not, but we are missing one (if not two) so line chemistry and function is my focus.

There's nobody on this roster that will "save" them. They need several of the guys listed to have good seasons just to compete and not be complete basement dwellers.

It's not good enough but I'm currently thinking: Zucker - Norris - Thompson Greenway - Kulich - Tuch Benson - McLeod - Quinn Doan - Krebs - Malenstyn The idea being mixing veterans not developed in the Sabres system with youngsters and Sabres who just don't get it yet. It's not good enough but it's best I can come up with and of course it all falls apart when Greenway, Norris, Zucker all get injured.

Oh I don't think the Dylan Cozens comparison is accurate but we shall see what they are this year wherever they are. "Solution to the Sabres problems"? Well heck no, and you already know I hate what Adams has built, don't think the future is bright, hate our roster plan, and could go on and on with the issues they have BUT since Pegula doesn't fire Adams and he won't sell the thing and nothing there is likely to change you either quit and find a new team or try to be realistic around what we have. You also have to look at what's available. Is McTavish a perfect answer to everything? Heck no, but if he's available you look into seriously and if you can get him for picks/prospects you definitely do it.

I like him too but I think they want a lot. I'd suspect if it involved top prospects they'd want Helenius plus. I like the idea of trading Byram but that would leave the D very thin again. I think the D even now falls apart really quickly with any sort of injury issues.

That's my thought too. It's long overdue but encouraging all the same. You need to set that tone in your AHL team first imo if you want to build that forward into the NHL team. Most of these guys will never play in the NHL (or just limited action) but you want to have the work ethic and presence start there. You also want to win down there so that the guys coming up will bring that with them too. Also, most of these grittier AHL guys know they have to work hard for a shot and so they help build the culture.

Red Savage signed for Rochester. I remember his draft year I thought what a great hockey name. Sounds like a guy who would have played with Gordie Howe or someone back then. He hasn't lived up to that name, but fun to have him around all the same. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/yzerman-red-wings-parts-ways-with-in-state-standout-signs-with-sabres-affiliate