PerreaultForever

One of the reasons for this is our over reliance on Dahlin as the QB. Teams that have scouted us at all know this and attack the point and/or anticipate the pass. They know they do not have to cover net front as much as with some teams so they can play higher in the zone. Giveaways are definitely a problem and most of all we do not battle for pucks. We are a possession team that folds when we do not have possession. We are not a team that takes away time and space. That's the main difference. Taking away time and space is how you win in the NHL. This is what Tochet did with Vancouver. Turned them from a possession team into a team that takes away time and space. Puck battles. All the division leaders are teams that focus on taking away time and space. But the Sabres know better of course.

I remember earlier in the year Anaheim was surprisingly good at times but I think they are garbage now. So it should be a close one. Whatever happens if Zegras hot dogs it somebody smack him. (Sabres won't, but it's what I want).

Sure. There's lots of teams with numerous options. For example, if the Bruins crap out of the playoffs again, they will be restructuring their line up and have basically zero picks and prospects so they might bite on a deal for one of their D or a bottom 6 guy. Philly might trade some grit for some skill as they look to keep rebuilding. Any team that falters in the playoffs will be looking to change something.

No argument on what we need. As far as the pick goes though, I still think you always have to take BPA. You only take need if he's close in your ranking. The side note though is with BPA philosophy you HAVE to be willing to deal prospects for different prospects or veterans that will fill your needs. There is absolutely no point in stocking multiple versions of the same guy if you have other weaknesses. So far KA has not done that. Even if it's a drop in the draft that's fine for me. If the bruisers and big power forwards are ranked lower by all means trade down and get two or three of them to hope one develops rather than that speedy little Euro forward or whoever that we already have.

No no, it'll be Krebs because he has all the tools to be an elite, a REALLY ELITE player. https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-peyton-krebs-confident-scoring-will-come-i-have-all-the-tools/

long distance truckers? idk, but aside from driving somewhere can't imagine they have many listeners.

To some extent that's definitely true, but the guys I see there in the first aren't what we need. Hence, trade the pick.

The D men are mostly offensive upside guys too. No big bruisers and/or shutdown guys. No real power forwards either.

Most of the players that fall to where we will probably be picking are all similar to guys we have already picked so idk, more of the same. Trade the pick.

I'm thinking Buffalo sports is trying to decide who you hate more, Terry Pegula or field goal kickers? Am I right?

So Levi's back up already? This team is a clown show.

You know what I actually want? I want the Sabres to be good enough that Eichel coming to town simply doesn't matter.

I suppose so then. I thought it could be 2 but if it can only be 1 so be it. I'd give him 3 years or maybe even 4 if it was cheap. Under 2.

Bitter at the Sabres? Ya, definitely. Why aren't you? Why isn't everyone who has ever been a fan? It's a clown show.

2.5 would be extremely generous imo. With that money you're in the Skinner, Ingram, Vladar comparables and while none of them are consistently good, neither is UPL. If you are offering him any more than around 2, you're putting an awful lot of faith in a guy with (as you say) "middling" numbers. I'd rather we made a deal for a real proven goalie while we bridged him and let time prove him worthy of more or yesterday's news.

"Risto hits things" Sometimes "things" also hit Risto Ottawa dominated after this. Hint hint.

"developmental year" F##k me it's always a "developmental year". The defense league wide this year I talked about early in the season. It's the cup winner effect. Whatever the cup winner did other teams try to copy or emulate. Happens every year. So this year there's more Cassidy style focus league wide. It's contagious. Are the Sabres better at defense? Not really. We are still a fair weather hockey team and soft like butter. This constant "we are young" argument is bs because it's a self fulfilling prophecy. If you don't bring in veterans who are needed and you keep trading away people for prospects and picks you are forever young and forever "developing". Yes, it's a "development" year again. We are developing players for other rosters when they get traded away eventually. You want real development? Take a close look at what Philly has done with a LOT LESS talent.

I can. I said I wanted Torts and people around here called me a dinosaur living in the 80s. Pegula don't like strong willed experienced people so something like that will never happen until he sells the team or kicks off.

Indeed, it was pretty ridiculous to bring Levi in for a handful of games at the end of the year and then Adams presumably pronounced to himself, well, that's done, goaltending taken care of. Even though some people here also believed it, or at least hoped that if they believed in it hard enough and said "Levi's an allstar" 3 times in a mirror they could make it come true.

Truth. The bar here is much much lower than it is in most other organizations. I think they recognized they needed a culture change here when Adams came in and there was a start, but they've blown it again and you can see it on the bench. This team accepts losing. There is no TEAM here. There is a bunch of rich guys who enjoy hanging out together and having fun between their stalls or wherever and when things go easy and well they have a great time, but as soon as it gets tough they disappear and they're fine with it. It's been that way since Pegula got here, or at least from when they fired Nolan the second time with the tank. We "tanked", and we have never gotten off that ocean floor.

I think he's a bit of a psycho, but I also think he does know hockey, he's really competitive, he can motivate, and with the right assistants he might just do a great job there. Add some fire to that boring shutdown team. So idk, but according to Friedman he was being considered around the league and the Isles felt they had to jump at the chance now or not get a chance. I think it is a gamble, BUT I personally would rather have him here than Granato. No way would Roy accept soft hockey from them. Probably give them a beat down himself to wake them up. maybe a psycho is just what we could use.

Doubt it. It's a move that should have been made long ago and Levi simply has to play and not ride the pine.

JBot was an experienced assistant GM, and that's what he is now. Murray was a nepobaby.

He becomes "experienced" once he's fired.

Kid's day. At least the kid's learned an early life lesson in "Refs You Suck!" which will serve them well later in life. Not a terrible effort but still the usual softness leading to turnovers and poor defensive play around the net cost them. Typical result for us facing that type of hockey. Tampa has changed. That was Bylsma hockey. Different look for them. Similar to what the Canucks threw at us. I guess Cooper shifted to that with the early goalie injury and the slightly diminished roster. Team seems to have accepted it. Not exciting, but effective. Nick Paul is an example of exactly the type of player we need to trade for, sign and draft. Peterka was probably the best Sabre today. Power the worst.