PerreaultForever

Granato is a good hockey coach, and a good teacher, and he helps develop youngsters, but I'm still not convinced he's a great HEAD COACH. As an assistant I think he'd be unquestionably among the best, but as a head coach it remains to be seen. Lindy as HC with Granato as an assistant here would be really good don't you think? We shall see how Granato goes as the team matures as I doubt he will be replaced any time soon regardless of their record.

I am liking Jost so far. Seems like a decent pick up as he's definitely better than a few people we already had. he takes the body occasionally and I'm hoping with him and Samuelsson maybe it rubs off on a few others and that aspect of our game improves.

They were better. They're a much more balanced team than us. We have a ways to go to get to their level but I think we are trying to develop a similar style. Lindy's a better coach. Still.

He is having a very good year so far. Both him and Krejci are thriving in Montgomery's system . There are very few Bruins looking bad right now. Probably only Craig Smith and maybe Zboril.

Well considering that whole thread about New Jersey did it why can't the Sabres do it I'm interested to see if they are actually better or maybe just have a few more things going for them at the moment. I've not seen them play this year so I am intrigued. On the surface it appears maybe this is speed vs. speed but idk.

I guess you see more in Krebs than I do. I think the Sabres plan is different. This is Mitts year to show or go. He's going to keep getting his chances all season and only then will he be re-evaluated. He's either going to rise to the challenge or eventually be replaced by Savoie or whoever. Krebs is younger and time in Rochester isn't going to hurt him. NEXT year will be his year to show or go. That's my guess anyway.

I disagree with this. I really don't think Krebs is going to make it at the NHL level as an offensive playmaking talent. I think he has IQ and some skill but he needs to accept becoming a role player and develop skills appropriate for that role. In the AHL I'd have him on the PK not the PP and play him in a checking role against top opposition. Develop his face off skills as well. Try to turn him into a solid 2 way. Also hit the weight room regularly. He's got a temper, he needs to channel it.

There's absolutely no question he's a factor. I was happy when they drafted him and was pretty confidant he'd be a solid performer down the line. He's even better than I expected but it doesn't explain to me why we suddenly played with jump and fire that was missing a number of games back. Something else changed.

Okay fair enough, and I'm not in any way debating that Samuelsson is a good player and he makes a difference, but it's such a huge contrast. Lack of depth was clearly a huge issue but he's not Bobby Orr. One guy shouldn't make that much of a difference and put that much jump in their step (collectively). idk, I'm not going to question it, just enjoy it and see if it lasts.

That felt like I'd time travelled. Black and red team, fast and tenacious, dominating at times. Like the good old days!!!!!! I honestly don't know what to make of this team. Where was this 2 weeks ago? Can we really explain the forwards playing that much better because Samuelsson is back??? It's like a night and day contrast. I have no explanation but I also have no complaints. Quinn's best game as a Sabre by far. Side note - Sabres are undefeated with Jost. Go figure.

Jost had energy and feistiness. He might realize this is his last shot . At the moment, he's a decent 4th line fit.

New guy. I claim foul 🙂

New guy gets our first fight on his first shift. Didn't see that coming. Dahlin plays bigger with Samuelsson out there. They really needed this. REALLY needed this. Hopefully it keeps going. St. Louis will be tougher.

They are rebuilding a different way than us. The contrast will be interesting.

Be Here Now right? Very Zen. But I can't HEAR you. There were a few free agent options but I can accept your argument that there wasn't any real significant body out there we could add to change things. It's also VERY POSSIBLE that they almost all have no interest in coming to Buffalo. It might also be possible that almost every possible trade involves a guy with a 10 team no trade clause the has Buffalo at the top circled in red and underlined. The one thing you fail to acknowledge in your own repetition is that teams are looking to move bodies for salary reasons. Spending a little could improve this team in the short term while we wait for future prospects to develop properly. It doesn't have to be and shouldn't be an all rookie team. We had a D crisis and Mike Reilly was free for the taking. Is he great? No. Is he better than Pilut, Clague, Fitzgerald or even Bryson, definitely. One more year of salary after this one so what? Veteran presence who can play in that puck moving style we want even if he trails off totally so what? We don't have to add a done goalie to meet the floor. I was watching Tampa and Boston and Tampa snapped up Rudolf Balcers for free, Why didn't Adams? Guy would look great playing beside Zemgus on that 4th line. Find a third and make it an all Latvian line. Before you say he's crap, he's feisty and he grinds and he'd help give that 4th line the character it needs. No, we went Jost. Sure why not. Let's be soft forever. A guy can play on Tampa, but he's not good enough for the Sabres. Ya, that makes sense. Give it up defending Adams, it's a losing argument. This team is a cost cutting joke and he's Bozo leading the clown show.

I like the idea of acquiring people like those players but I don't see getting them for those prices being possible, especially the Greenway one.

I agree, but he might evaluate it and think no, they are too far away, even I can't save it, and then take a pay cut to go to some contender. Avoid pressure he doesn't want at this stage of his career. Hard to say.

Exactly. Much ado about nothing. Tuch a little banged up. No big deal.

I don't think that's true. First, he doesn't have to say he wants to play for the Sabres. Why would he? The idea might interest him, but he's going to entertain all options presented to him. Depends what he thinks he has left and if he wants another cup or not too. Second, that's exactly the type you want. The one who can visit mommy after every home game cause she did "squirt him out" . He'd give us instant legitimacy, and if he publicly stated repeatedly how much he likes it here other players might start dropping Buffalo from their 10 team no trade clause lists. BUT, if we show no signs of turning it around this year, he might not want to join a sinking ship.

There's a presumption there however that it's viewed as an investment or a business and not as a big toy for a rich guy to play with. Maybe it is, or maybe it's become that, but I don't think that was why he bought it. Seems to me cost cutting in a sports franchise as a modus operandi is a losing feedback loop that just makes things worse and worse. Any owner who doesn't want to spend on a team likely should sell that team.

Hopefully, but unproven at this point. Certainly cannot be considered "core" YET.

You're absolutely right, but there is still one more question. Is it a good young core? So far only Dahlin and Thompson fit that description. Maybe Samuelsson, see how it goes when he gets back. The rest, big question marks.

Well that'll be unlikely as Thompson signed long term but if we don't win next year I could see Dahlin playing extreme hardball in his negotiations. No reason for him to want to stay in Buffalo at that point.

dig another well. idk, the question of "afford" is a hard one to answer with a rich owner. He can afford to do anything. He might not want to.

I'm pretty confident in speculating that Ullmark played hardball with the Sabres and Adams felt he had made him the best offer he'd get so he'd take it. Bruins offer raised quite a few eyebrows at the time as an overpayment. Adams didn't want to be Skinner'd but as we've discussed, he didn't have a back up plan and should have. He really should have been going after 2 goalies all the time not just one. and, let me add this. I'm sure nobody here would have been excited if his signing this year was Martin Jones, but he was available, and Seattle either got really lucky or did their homework much better than Adams did.