PerreaultForever

Yes, if you want more hockey news go Canadian. They will be overly focused on Canadian teams like the Leafs but they will give you more info and usually faster. Hockey is important to most Canadians. and of course right here where breaking news is usually posted quickly .

There are without a doubt aspects of the game that have improved. When other teams let them, they can be dynamic and explosive. They do have the skill to score goals and can, at times, play a fast and exciting offensive game. There are however, many flaws, particularly on the defensive side of the game that I think will still lead to many bad games down the stretch. It's definitely more fun to watch this year than last though. and successfully moving on from the Eichel crap, the disappointments with Risto and the Reinhart debates has been refreshing. It's a more positive vibe all around for sure. I think we just disagree on how many holes the team has. If I'm correct you think we just need a few players, while I only like about half the current roster (maybe 2/3).

probably a ton of crap hockey left to be played too.

You see it's this last sentence that I question. Last year we were 9th from the bottom. Right now we are 11th from the bottom. So was that the schedule - move up 2 places? How can you say it's "on schedule" when we don't know what the schedule is?

There's nothing new here, we already know this, but at some point you have to be able to evaluate the plan to see if it's working or not. At what point is making the playoffs the actual goal and failing to do so is in fact failure? It's been 11 years. I do not want to hear any more next year talk.

I wouldn't say aloof, but maybe not connected. Just kind of there, but not really into being there.

Terrible hockey game for 2 periods but then the Kings pretty much fell apart after the 5 on 3 goal and the Sabres took over. I like Clague as a replacement much better than Pilut. I hope to never see Pilut again. When Skinner returns I'm moving Mitts down to the 4th line or right into the press box if I'm Granato.

There is no reason not to be able to win this game. Stylistically they shouldn't have trouble doing their thing against Lalaland and it might come down to goaltending.

So to those key words "cutting the plan short" I'd counter what is the plan????? We all want to win now. The "plan" is clearly not designed that way but WHEN is it time? next year? the year after? After that? When do you get to demand that the plan should be yielding results by now and it's behind (or ahead) of schedule? I see lost opportunities to be better than we are now. maybe not playoffs, but better than we are. How much longer do we have to wait????

Who's looking back to "Flyer thuggery"? People who critique toughness always go back to nonsensical examples from ancient history. Hockey is still hockey. Tampa's a skill team right? Right? Now count how many times Maroon has run over one of our goalies and how we've never done anything about it? Hockey is still hockey. Yes, you need talent to win games, but you also need grit and toughness. Also grinders and even some instigators and pests. Balance. The ability to play in all types of games. We have the talent on the roster and in the system. We lack team toughness and bottom end grit. We desperately need another Samuelsson or at least another Lybushkin (who doesn't get hurt as much) so that we can shore up the D pairs. We need a 2 way checking center. Ideally with scoring skill AND defensive ability like a Bergeron or ROR but a less offensively talented high end defender would suffice. We also need a couple physical 4th liners to give us a more impactful bottom end to use when needed (as most top teams have). and a goalie. 🙂

Maybe we can bring back ROR to center the 3rd line? 🙂 Well if I'm KA the first thing I'm doing is making an offer to Compher. He'd be the perfect 3C for this team and is still under 30. But I'm pretty sure that wouldn't happen so it's likely going to be Mitts/Krebs and 2 rookies I think you are right. The question for me is where does VO fit in? Right now I'd be looking to trade him as I just don't think he gives us what we need.

I think that's true. Skinner-Thompson-Tuch and Quinn-Cozens-Peterka will stay as units for the year if possible and will be the only 2 lines carried forward into next year. I've said before I don't think they care about winning this year and I still believe it. Next year (I hope) that changes and we will likely see a new kid line as line 3. Not sure what they will do with line 4. See if they move or re-sign Girgs and Kyle. Mitts is being given every chance this year and probably too many chances to earn a place on next year's team. We have half a team at the moment.

We lost our last bit of true toughness when JBot decided to trade Marcus Foligno. Since then we haven't really had anything worth mentioning and we pay the price for it every now and again.

Yup, dead last again, and everybody said that'd be Montreal.

Wow, you really loaded that one up with insults and condescension didn't you? The notion that physicality and intimidation are somehow gone from the game is naive and simplistic and down right stupid. It's a view held by children and hockey novices who have never played the game and don't understand what goes on on the ice and in the locker room. If you're soft, you'll be run out of the rink when it counts. If you don't believe me, just take a look across the border at the Leafs and their playoff success. Or ponder why a high skill team like Tampa added a brute like Maroon to get them to glory. The list goes on. It's pointless to argue against something so simple and obvious. It is in fact childishly simplistic and utterly stupid. Now go back to your video games where nobody gets hurt.

So's Mittlestadt. So what?

I doubt that, but spare parts on D is all we needed for our lack of depth. They were available. I also suspect there are a number of teams looking to unload salary so they can make their own deadline pick ups but deals like that would take creativity and a desire to win now.

What I said was there was no one on THIS roster that would take on Lucic. It's not worth arguing about the response back then, pretty much everybody knows it was inadequate, but that was then. This is now.

I was going to say this very thing. I noticed for example Krebs smiling and laughing having a real good time when they were losing and should have been digging down extra. The attitude does seem to just be go out and have a good time. They are just flat as a result and basically the same so when the opposition gets serious they get beat. and they don't seem too upset about it (most of the time, there are exceptions, and this isn't every individual) It's an interesting contrast to Torts approach in Philly where you have a team with very little talent, much less than the Sabres, but the work ethic and effort level is a demand not a request. I think it'll be interesting to see how things go when we play them again. We SHOULD beat them badly on paper, but will we? idk. I've felt for a long time that the Sabres run the place like a country club and maybe boot camp would be better. They certainly need to break into a sweat more often than they do.

Every morning. S**t Shower and Shave right? The phrasing is too absolute. I think he is doing things, but I don't think he's actively pursuing the things we want and feel we need. I think it likely (for example) that he's made a bid on Chychrun but it's likely a low ball bid compared to what they want and Adams is fine to wait it out or even let it not happen. Arizona wants 2 1sts, I would guess he's offered them 2nds and maybe a prospect like Rosen. I don't believe he's actively pursuing a goalie or any other major move though. Might have feelers out on our potential deadline candidates (ufas). So I guess the short answer would be, not a lot.

lol, there is nobody on this roster that would take on Lucic now that he's old even, yet alone back then.

So you haven't been watching for the last 10 years?

We went through this last year and he never brought us what we wanted at an NHL level. Maybe this time will be different? Can somebody/anybody convince him to use his size and get mean?

Been a Sabres fan longer than you've walked the earth bucko. Shut it. No it doesn't. I hate Crosby. Always have.

Nothing overly unexpected here. Kiss those playoff dreams goodbye (if you had them). We cannot play with the big boys. More competitive than last year, but still far away. Cozens whining instead of scuffling was disappointing, but the biggest disappointment on the night for me was when Thompson got manhandled to the ice by their D man and he didn't do a damn thing. Big guy like that with no physical push back, I guess that's Sabres hockey. Maybe one day we won't be a soft team any more....................maybe one day...............