PerreaultForever

I'm not thinking just of the fight. The injury from the fight is the bigger issue to me but the fight is just a moment to launch the conversation. I have been thinking about his play all season. He doesn't seem to have kept progressing this year and has taken a bit of a step back in his overall play. Now that could be temporary, but I had thought he'd really come into his own this year and that hasn't happened, all fighting aside. Now as to this bold, absolutely correct. While you want those guys unafraid and ready to step up when needed, it's better if you have some bottom end guys to handle that dirty work more often. I, for example, wanted us to sign Hathaway rather than Okposo. I still think a 4th line overhaul is what this team really needs.

Well it's true, since face offs don't matter for the Sabres, they are all wings. So too many wings then. How ever you want to draw it up it's too many similar guys looking for the same spots on the roster. Something has to give. As for needing new deals, that is correct, but if you're a good GM you also have to be projecting forward and you make moves to avoid a moment with too many deals at once. You want your contracts coming on and off the books to be staggered.

I don't pay much attention to playing well in the AHL. If we get to see him play an NHL game I will be able to assess him better. Right now he remains a mystery to me.

Was talking about Mitts but anyone is a trade chip under the right circumstances. Somebody traded Gretzky remember. ANYBODY can be a trade chip. So, specifically to Cozens, what if Mitts stays good or even gets better and Thompson is locked up and is good, Mitts signs a good deal, outplays Cozens, now Cozens is 3C. Then Benson and Savoie both shine and we have too many centers. Sure, convert some to wing but Quinn and Peterka and Kulich etc. maybe we have no room at wing but maybe we still need a D man. You move a center. In that situation it COULD be Cozens. It COULD be anyone.

No, there's no "need" to do it but I still think if you are at an impasse you have to think ahead so you entertain offers and see if there's a deal that makes the team better out there. There's no need to rush but you might get your best offer now rather than waiting until you're up against the wall and other teams know it. If the offers aren't good enough you don't accept them.

Well since I haven't seen him play a single minute of a game I have no idea how "gifted" Savoie even is. Time in the NHL: is fine and that's what the 10 game window is for. Then you decide if they stay or go and that's it. To me the Sabres are monkeying around too much and it can cost the team.

Probably, but not necessarily. If they are far apart on Mitts next contract and they think they have a prospect ready to step in (eg. Benson) I could see them trading Mitts for picks. I think they'd prefer moving him for a player(s) who could contribute now and fill a need but if that's not on the table they'd take the picks in that scenario. Ideally though they will hope to sign him. Mitts keeps playing as well as he has been they might also sign him to top dollars and then move Cozens. A highly marketable player I would think.

This is likely the main issue. Save money. Cap floor last year. Don't burn ELC years. There's a pattern.

maybe respect on the Sabres, but not from other teams. He's a big guy but if the word is he can't fight and isn't that tough he loses respect not gains it. Hathaway's a fighter, but he's not all that. Tkachuk took him out in last year's playoffs. Pronger threw his weight around though. He hit hard and often. Nobody on the Sabres does that.

True. I'm just saying IF this makes him more skittish he might not be all that but it's an IF. I've also not been impressed with his D play as a whole this year so far. He looked promising in this respect when we had him shut down McDavid and such last year but he's played softer and slower this year. It might change, but right now I'd say Mitts has leapt over him in terms of the center depth chart.

A lot of things to like in that game imo. They hung in tough in a tighter checking game and that's something they have to learn to get good at so it's a start. I think they are far too passive on the PK though. They form the box and then with Tage and his reach and everyone else they try to shut everything down with their sticks and the other team gets to move easily around that. I'm not saying they should chase, but they have to pick their moments and up their physicality. When the net drive happens, it's usually unopposed. Carolina didn't forecheck or hit the way I've seen them do in the past. Maybe they save that for playoffs but they are still a tough team to play against and more physical when and where it counts so it was good to see the Sabres fight through that. Peterka one great play, one missed backcheck which is I guess what you expect at his stage of development. I'm not going to critique the OT cause 3 on 3 is stupid no matter what happens. overall solid effort. Probably the game I've liked best from the Sabres this year.

Pronger comparison to Cozens? Come on man. A guy who goes down and is out for several games because of one Hathaway punch is not going to generate any respect or space at all. Quite the contrary.

We can skate with them, but they forecheck really well so it's a big test for the D. I suspect this game will reveal our flaws in that regard but it's winnable if the PP comes through, PK is solid and we strike fast with quick outlet plays and finish our chances.

Until we win, yes, because I have been consistent from day 1 that I think their plan is backwards and I don't see how it can work. If I'm wrong and they start winning consistently and then make the playoffs, great, happy to be wrong. But until that time I will be sticking with the old mantra, YOU BUILD A TEAM FROM THE GOALIE OUT not the top line down. Three "offensively dangerous" lines is the plan, that's clear, but there's no checking line. There's no shut down. The Okposo line isn't it. That's a has been cast off pile of crap. So they want to run and gun and win 6-5 rather than 2-1, that's clear, and it will work when they play the Leafs or some other similar team but it's a flawed idea when the checking gets tight. Pessimism or truth, you can label it what you want but it is what it is. Reality.

idk, I wonder if he won't drop the gloves easily any more and although it's not a necessary thing in this league, we do need a few people who are ready to answer when needed. My hope was that Cozens would be that complete player guy. Now I'm not so sure.

Cozens still out? Hmm, I wonder if he's going to come back gun shy. Not good. Those bottom lines are not good.

Predictability in ANY PP is a bad thing so it's true, teams do look for Tage now but most teams have one key sniper. The key is the movement and motion of the other players and the net front. We also try too hard and too often to get it to Dahlin to let him be QB. He is, but it can't be your always play. Sometimes you have to go where the other team allows.

tomato potato, you're still saying the same things as me, they haven't made up their mind as it's still "opportunities" and "looks" at this point in time.

That's part of what I mean though. They can't decide where those players should be. If they just wanted to keep them they could but I think maybe they feel they can only keep one and just aren't sure which at this point.

Stay as far away from DeAngelo as possible but the other three have appeal, depending on the price of course. I will be shocked if Sabres make a move though. It just doesn't seem to be their way right now.

Seems to me the Sabres simply cannot make up their minds on a lot of these guys and it's likely because a lot of them are very similar. So now Savoie gets his audition I guess.

Well you know it does say something when the Leafs second best D man is 40 years old.

I like Crouse as a player quite a bit but the Coyotes aren't doing that bad so are they actually looking to unload people at this point?

Not true. He was yapping at Marchand skating by and when Marchand chirped him back he was seen smiling and laughing hysterically.

There was a lot there but I'm just going to focus on this line because if he did say that it's troubling to me and might explain one of the reasons we continue to fail. By the time 1/4 of the season is over you have very often made your grave and are ready to lie in it. You can't waste too many games learning and developing if you truly want to make the playoffs in a league this close and competitive. It's also odd to me because it is once again backwards. The coach is supposed to forge the identity of the team and have them play to a certain plan. Yes, you do make some allowances for individual specifics and talents, but as a whole you decide what you want to be and you mold a team to be that. The players should never be the driving force in that. Maybe this is why we never get it right and never play the right way. Skating around and scoring goals is fun. Blocking shots. Zone coverage. Taking away passing lanes. etc etc. Yuck, ain't nobody got time for that.