PerreaultForever

I pretty much agree with @LGR4GM here. It sounds like a bunch of bs excuses. Ruff is a veteran to the extreme and he was hired with plenty of time to make changes and adjustments. The fact he didn't, or wasn't allowed to bring in his own staff was the biggest reason this team was poorly coached, and none of that has changed. How a failed team doesn't fire anybody but a fitness trainer is just mind boggling. Meanwhile I read about Rick Dudley talking about threepeats and I just shake my head in dismay. We could have just handed this thing over to smart alumni years ago and been spared all this pain. Thanks Terry.

I know for a fact here on the BC border some Canadians are being asked to hand over and unlock their phones or they aren't allowed in. It's absurd, and border crossings are down around 30% from the usual amounts. This sort of thing will undoubtedly hurt the Sabres. Detroit and Seattle as well I imagine.

Considering how high and how many picks they have had I'd say their drafting has been meh for longer than that. Probably through the entire Pegula era. Unless I'm forgetting somebody Samuelson and UPL are the only non first rounders that they drafted still on the roster and they were both JBot picks. In any event considering 15 years of no playoffs their prospect pool should be ranked higher than 13th wouldn't you say? Top ten at least.

Lots of low points but I think this is my lowest. I'm truly numb and dead inside when I think about them. I see virtually no chance of this roster being any better than last year and the future isn't all that bright either. I can see that full prospect cupboard emptying out and amounting to very little as well. If Dahlin was serious with his comments last year demanding they do something to change things I really can't see him not asking for a trade sooner than later. They certainly didn't DO much of anything. Maybe even got worse.

E-Rod was a top 6 player for Florida. Is E-Rod better than Benson? Just saying. How you construct your roster and how pieces fit together is more important than statistically analyzing individuals and placing them together based on numbers.

Oh yes the 2026 draft looks like a very good one but do we really want to tank for yet another draft? I think not. Sabres likely get a top 10 pick anyway but I certainly don't want to rebuild again (although I see it potentially happening)

Roslovic (and to some extent Gryzlyk) still not signed by someone is a little surprising. Do they have kids playing hockey? Maybe we should tank for their draft year? 🙂

So is the short version you agree with me that Norris and Tage should play together on the top line?

Tage isn't a playmaker either regardless of stats. I don't really know what Norris will bring them but I believe he can motor (if healthy) and will do better with more open ice. I am simply reluctant to have youngsters in key offensive roles. It hasn't worked yet and it won't work now.

I see Terry has a nice big 100 million yacht so he is abandoning this sinking ship.

It's true about Greenway, but I want a veteran grinder beside Kulich. Open up space for him and Tuch to do the scoring. As I said, I think Adams failed by not getting another top 6 player so I'm working with what's there to create line chemistry and complimentary function. Similarly if Norris can be the playmaker, that can allow Tage to be the sniper. Zucker is the reliable 2 way vet to cover for them but again, ideally, I'd prefer an upgrade. No he's not, but we are missing one (if not two) so line chemistry and function is my focus.

There's nobody on this roster that will "save" them. They need several of the guys listed to have good seasons just to compete and not be complete basement dwellers.

It's not good enough but I'm currently thinking: Zucker - Norris - Thompson Greenway - Kulich - Tuch Benson - McLeod - Quinn Doan - Krebs - Malenstyn The idea being mixing veterans not developed in the Sabres system with youngsters and Sabres who just don't get it yet. It's not good enough but it's best I can come up with and of course it all falls apart when Greenway, Norris, Zucker all get injured.

Oh I don't think the Dylan Cozens comparison is accurate but we shall see what they are this year wherever they are. "Solution to the Sabres problems"? Well heck no, and you already know I hate what Adams has built, don't think the future is bright, hate our roster plan, and could go on and on with the issues they have BUT since Pegula doesn't fire Adams and he won't sell the thing and nothing there is likely to change you either quit and find a new team or try to be realistic around what we have. You also have to look at what's available. Is McTavish a perfect answer to everything? Heck no, but if he's available you look into seriously and if you can get him for picks/prospects you definitely do it.

I like him too but I think they want a lot. I'd suspect if it involved top prospects they'd want Helenius plus. I like the idea of trading Byram but that would leave the D very thin again. I think the D even now falls apart really quickly with any sort of injury issues.

That's my thought too. It's long overdue but encouraging all the same. You need to set that tone in your AHL team first imo if you want to build that forward into the NHL team. Most of these guys will never play in the NHL (or just limited action) but you want to have the work ethic and presence start there. You also want to win down there so that the guys coming up will bring that with them too. Also, most of these grittier AHL guys know they have to work hard for a shot and so they help build the culture.

Red Savage signed for Rochester. I remember his draft year I thought what a great hockey name. Sounds like a guy who would have played with Gordie Howe or someone back then. He hasn't lived up to that name, but fun to have him around all the same. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news/yzerman-red-wings-parts-ways-with-in-state-standout-signs-with-sabres-affiliate

The red flag could be unwarranted. You can easily argue Colorado felt Mitts wasn't as good as they'd hoped but what they wanted last year was a guy they felt could be better 2 way and better in the playoffs. They went for Coyle (and didn't like him either). Mitts had to go to get the deal done and fit under the cap. Different type of player with different value. We have a number of guys who might not be good in the playoffs, but we have to get in the playoffs before we worry about that. Boston may never have wanted him they just had to take the contract and they got Zellers as their consolation for doing that. So really not a "red flag" in either case assuming by red flag you mean those teams didn't like him and his play. I actually don't think Boston is moving him because unlike Buffalo they do not create spots for rookies. People there are simply wondering where Poitras fits in if Mitts is there as both are 2C types. The rumor is based on nothing more than some people wanting it to be Poitras.

Not true at all. Florida is very fast but they play a controlled game. They are most definitely NOT a grinding puck possession team. The D is mobile and attacks because the forwards drop. The forwards shoot it in and then accelerate into an aggressive forecheck. They stop the skill offense of the other team before it starts. They are relentless. You look at these skill guys like McJesus and they carry it from their end and you think how fast they are, and they are fast, but Florida turns it off and on at the right moments and plays a structured positional game. Without speed their system fails miserably. Sabres should play that system. They have the size and speed. They need the will and tenacity.

Well they aren't going to make the playoffs but for me, to improve, the 3 would be: 1) Power developing into what he's paid to be 2) Norris being healthy and playing most of the season (and contributing at his healthy NHL rate) 3) Lindy Ruff actually getting this team to play a hard to play against defensive structure. I do not expect any of these 3 things to happen.

Exactly. It's not that we "don't want Benson" in the top 6, we just don't think we should keep playing kids in top 6 roles. Benson may very well become a true top 6 player but he really is just a kid.

How is there internal competition? We already know the 6 D, and the only real question is where Doan fits in. I guess we also have Tage as wing or center but almost everything is already set. I see very little competition for spots at all.

Well solid is arguable but he is a veteran. Anyway, I'm laughing a fair bit at how Sabres fans here have turned on him so quickly. I still remember the conversations of "how are we going to pay him in a few years" from way way back. Now watch him and Cozens have career years lol.

Do you honestly think this roster will stay healthy all year? Your playoff reliance is all on 3 youngsters stepping up all at once (Benson, Kulich, Quinn). If they don't, or only one does, it's nowhere near enough. Do you not value depth and internal competition? If you don't add one more solid veteran (be it Mitts or whoever) how do you sit underperformers without depleting the line up? Isn't that an ongoing issue with this team?

Yes, he should have, but he didn't, so maybe take what's available? I mean a 2nd is nothing. Anyone want to argue Malentstyn is better than Mitts?