PerreaultForever

In hindsight, JBot did a lot of things right. The entire "young core" of this team that everyone raves about is all JBot. Everyone except Tuch. There's no question, absolutely none, that he got the coaching wrong, BUT I put some of this on the Eichel situation. JBot had to hire a coach to get along with Eichel and to motivate Eichel. Remember the first thing Kreuger was doing was getting to know Eichel and lunching with him. I really think JBot had tied hands and limited coaching options so he swung for the fences with the out of the box great motivator. Unfortunately, he struck out, but that didn't end him. ownership knew what happened there and he was fired for not wanting to fire his scouts and draft people. JBot made mistakes, but he was way above Murray. Whether or not KA is better remains to be seen. The holes need to be filled.

The thing is we need the same things now that we needed when the season started. If they do not bring these people in via trades and/or free agency next year could very well be a repeat of this year with no real progress. Several decent FA D men out there. Goaltending likely requires a trade. Waiting for Levi is not the answer and might just be a lot like Godot.

Yes. Also screens for Thompson's shots and more net front presence. It's worth a solid look to see how if it works.

I don't really think this is true, but if it is, you do realize that what you're also saying is the Sabres are a terrible team in tight quarters.

With the (perhaps) exception of Thompson, I wouldn't say these guys are having "career years" at all. Thompson might not do what he's done this year every year, that's highly possible, but there's no reason to think he isn't going to be a plus 30 goal scorer every year assuming he's healthy. Skinner has always been a streaky guy and his career year was the Eichel-Skinner-Reinhart year where he earned(?) that contract. He's scoring more now because he has good linemates, he's in an offensive role that he's comfortable with, and the team plays an offensive style. No reason to think he won't be roughly the same next year and for a few more after that. Tuch is perhaps having a career year, but I think he's just happy being a Sabre and is giving us a consistent game that should continue, especially if he stays on the top line. Dahlin has simply reached NHL maturity. This is what he was projected to be when he was the consensus #1 overall pick. Just think how good it'll be when Power reaches his maturity in 3-4 years as well. Cozens isn't having a career year. Cozens is ahead of the curve in terms of maturity and, although I preached Cozens potential from day one, he's even better than I expected. JBot done good here with this draft choice. He will be this good and BETTER for years to come. Mitts? Career year? Umm, well, if this is his career year trade him at peak value I guess cause that's a low bar. idk if he can be better than this. I hope so. he ain't that good. Quinn and Peterka should both be better than they are next year but they could have up and down struggles still. Steps backward. Hopefully we have enough depth to deal with that should it emerge. Nothing out of the ordinary if it does. Power might as well but I'm pretty confident he will just get better and better and in some ways might even end up better than Dahlin eventually. My 3 biggest question marks for next year are 1) has Jokiharju peaked or can he still get better? 2) will UPL get better and fix his flaws or will he always be somewhat like he is? and 3) will any of the kids in Rochester be ready for next year and contribute? I don't want another learning/growing season. I want to win. so I guess the other question is obviously will KA find ways to fix the holes now or will there be more hoping and waiting.

I can't think of anything that makes this statement true. It might be, but I think that's just speculative. I see a guy who knows he has to be better to have an NHL career (here or elsewhere) and he is trying hard, but that effort still only elevates him to average at best. I doubt he'd be overly upset if he was traded.

Boston started the season without McAvoy and Marchand. They are currently without Hall and Foligno and Marchand is banged up and playing at half speed. They have 2 D men who could both play in the Sabres line up that can't even get in a game, They call up Lauko or another Providence guy and they don't miss a beat on any of it. With the deadline adds they could play 6 or 7 men out and still basically be the same team. Now I wouldn't expect the Sabres to be able to compete with that level of depth, but you brought them up. It's lack of depth. Big time.

I'm not disagreeing but I'm going to rephrase this: A complete lack of depth on this hockey team is killing us down the stretch run.

Nobody's forgiven until we win a cup. Until then I'd rather see revenge night(s).

He has a place until they get somebody better in there. After that, well, hopefully we've upgraded and he is no longer relevant. He's not the worst player on the roster though so I'm in no hurry to make him first out the door.

Man, Sabres fans can set the bar SO LOW.

Hudson Fasching and a kicking controversy. Unbelievable. Makes you think the hockey gods really like to have a laugh at the Sabres expense. islanders are a boring-ass team but they are built for that sort of game and we are not. I suspect that'll end the playoff reality but anything's still possible I guess. Nice screen by Greenway. We need more of that. AND, for the umpteenth time, Thompson has to use his body not just look for open spaces. Probably never happen.

Bjork having a huge night for the Sabres tonight 🙂 (3 points so far wearing the Blackhawks jersey)

We deserved a better fate in this one. Goaltending difference and some bad luck. Ultimately their Skinner stopped our Skinner more than the reverse and that's your difference. Cozens was really good tonight. Greenway did nothing (but it's just his first game). Clearly, should have worn the goat heads.

If we play like we are capable of playing this is a very winnable game. Edmonton has King McDavid and can score but we can score too. Their D is weak and their goaltending is average at best. This should be a wide open game with lots of offense. If we get reasonable goaltending and stay out of the penalty box (as their PP can be deadly) we can win this playing the type of hockey this Sabres team has been built to play. Not sure if or where Greenway will play but I'd like to see him up with Cozens for at least a look.

Huge game on Monday cause if we lose and Ottawa beats Chicago we will be in a tie with them. Both teams controlling their own destiny over the Isles. Going to be a bummer if the season comes down to who got Chychrun.

That was my first thought too. Atlanta's a growing city and I suppose with the Carolina success they think they can give it another go but I don't see it as a hockey town. Quebec is a smaller market but it would be loyal. Southern Ontario really could handle another team easily but I imagine the Leafs (and possibly the Sabres) would veto any such plans but if you can have 2 NY teams and a NJ you should have at least 2 Toronto area teams as well. The league is always more interested in spreading out U.S. tv coverage and new geography though and not expanding into areas where hockey is already popular.

We didn't give them as much space in front of the net, rebounds and screens like they usually get against us. Most of the time the sight lines were relatively clear and when it's like that, goalies look good. The biggest change with this team over the last month or so is in terms of team defense. Earlier in the year we scored a lot of goals but still had a lot of trouble defensively. Not to say we don't still break down, we do, but it's vastly improved, and you can see the entire structure taking form now. Granato's clearly doing a good job and they are listening and learning.

Well that was a satisfying win to me. very enjoyable hockey game. A real hockey game with all the ups and downs and good and bad you get in a good hockey game. 2 things I've repeated often: 1 - switch to the goat heads full time and forever. 2- We look like a real NHL hockey team again. Imperfect, still things to improve, but it's a huge step forward from what we had. Push back against Tampa was nice to see. Refs favoring Tampa was as usual and often. Don't know why, but they often seem to get breaks. Refs were bad today. I think you can see why I suggested trading for Jeannot when I heard he was being shopped around. Guy is a beast and has some talent to go with it. He will make a few Leafs fall before that series is over. Stillman is brave? Foolish? idk, but I felt sorry for the poor guy. Thompson's a great scorer and everything, and I'm not saying he should fight (at least not often) but I wish he'd be tougher in those scrums. Big man like that should pull some people out of the way a little harder and hit a few as well. I mean if Skinner can jump a guy, come on Tage. belt somebody and help out. Worst play of the night though was Jost on the PK when he lost his stick. Absolutely useless so it was basically a 5 on 3. Take a point man away or just go to the bench and get another stick cause he was just a spectator on that sequence. Fortunately made up for it with a goal later on so he's even. Finally saw some Comrie, he was average and adequate. No more no less. Anyway, lots of positive signs and a good bounce back effort that they had to have after they fell apart in Boston. Looking forward to seeing what Greenway adds.

I love the idea but I'm not sure we have a third piece yet. Bolded, that's the "energy line". Don't really like the Mitts Cozens VO line but we might be stuck with it until Tuch comes back. So Scoring, scoring(?)-ish, energy, and checking. It's not there yet, but it's getting better.

My assessment, I'm meh on the Stillman deal, I like the Greenway deal a lot, the Asplund deal is irrelevant, I wish we'd done more, but at least we're not Philly.

Ritchie brothers traded for each other, that is the funniest thing of the day. I guess they just swap rooms and use each other's stuff 🙂

I always felt there was something about Asplund that Granato didn't like. Didn't really give him the same development opportunities that they gave Krebs and Mitts and others. Not sure why, but it's pretty clear they had no use for him and this move is just clearing the roster spot for Greenway so they don't have to make any other moves with Rochester.

Perhaps he starts filling in for Tuch. Power forward anyone?

I just read this one too. It's a head scratcher.