PerreaultForever

Well that was the party line. That's how Dubas got the job. They've tried to bring in a host of fill out the roster tough guys and so called grit people but they've mostly gotten duds. Nick Ritchie for example was dumb desperation. If you prefer, call it a failure of the superstar forward model for team building. All your money on 4 hot shot forwards. Nothing left to build a team with. So I don't want another one of those guys. Skinner is already too many. Leafs really miss Hyman. Him I would have signed.

Well I thoroughly enjoyed that.

I agree, but we don't have that guy.

I didn't because it goes off topic, but briefly, I think what you see in Toronto is proof that relying too much, or solely, on analytics is a fool's pursuit. Players like Marner have great skill and can at times put up great stats, but they lack character. I would prefer we not try to build that sort of team.

I hate Tampa. That's all.

This is possible, but it's also been a refrain heard around these parts for years. Just add more talent and they'll all be fine and yet when various pieces of talent have been added it hasn't worked and we end up with Halls and Skinners. With Dahlin, I'm just not sure he has the drive and character to be a star D man so maybe if that falls to Power then he can fall into a role where he can excell without the expectation of being dominant. idk

I was of course joking with those comments (which were the standard critiques). I'm not really concerned with how many points he gets this season. Florida's a really good team and he is sure to rack up extra (empty net goal the other night for example) What I will be interested to see is if he elevates his game in the playoffs or if he's a Mitch Marner. This was a question we never got to answer here.

No. I don't want anyone from Toronto.

ya, but can he drive his own line? He's no Draisaitl. 🙂

never. because he plays unafraid, and although he certainly doesn't win every fight, he can, unlike many of our players, handle himself and fight his own battles. He is exactly what we could use.

If that surgery works. There is no guarantee of that, which is the problem.

Bailey as an example because he was here, we were excited, he was supposed to be good, and in the AHL he is good and still good, but it doesn't translate to the NHL, that's the point. So Quinn scoring in the AHL is good, but it ultimately means nothing.

AHL. It's good to see, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Justin Bailey is the leading scorer for the Abbotsford Canucks (as an example) what's your point?

I still think all of this probably comes down to the insurance company. The procedure Eichel wants has never been done on a professional hockey player so the insurance company will not cover the contract if it goes wrong and so the Sanres, rightfully, will not risk it. It's really that simple and since Jack won't change his stance it's an impass and that's the end of that. So Jack can now have his big shot agent file his grievance and they can rule and then, I think, there are no other avenues of appeal so one side will get their way.

I don't think this debate will ever resolve but I also don't think what you want is Dahlin's personality and so you won't get it, much like I will never see Tage use his size to smash people into the boards. It's just not them. So it is on the team to build and structure around him and I still think we have done a poor job developing Dahlin. Right from the get go it was do your thing and play to your strengths rather than we know you can do that stuff, so you need to work on this other stuff. Contrast him with McAvoy from Boston who was often benched early and brought along slowly and paired with a solid vet and is now a complete D man and a dominant player. I don't think Dahlin will ever be that now so imo the best we can do is pair him with a tough solid defender and build a team that's more balanced around him so that we smash back when our guys get smashed. So far, for far too long, the Sabres have shown zero inclination to understand what balanced even is. In a lot of ways Dahlin reminds me of Housley. Teams took liberties with him too, but in those days we also had guys like Playfair to balance things out. Balance, it's always about balance.

That was the word used in the thread. My point is that "fine" isn't really good enough for us to get better. We have to start drafting better overall. We have top picks every year but are not getting the best talent out of those drafts. Quinn is arguably "fine" but I see no reason to think he will be a great player either. Maybe not a total bust like Nylander, so it won't set us back like that did, but "fine" won't elevate us either. We either have to start getting the best talent early, and/or start hitting on more late picks, getting lucky. Either way, we simply have to draft better. Hopefully this analytical overhaul will help. Personally, I'm skeptical of the approach, but time will tell.

Well picking first overall you'd hope so, but there are people here who disagree on it. Dahlin was supposed to be the consensus #1 pick but right now maybe even Quinn Hughes is better. I'm not sure about that, but I do know at this point I'd rather have Brady Tkachuk or Svechnikov, and maybe even Koktaneimi.

Next year. Give them time. I think Quinn will be "fine" but also "fine" isn't good enough for us to get better. We need to start getting the best player in drafts not just a guy who is "fine".

Just outside Vancouver. I grew up in Hamilton Ontario though, which is where I became a Sabres fan. Wish I'd known bunomatic when I lived in Nanaimo 7 years ago. I thought I was the only Sabres fan there 🙂

I haven't seen them play yet this year but they are clearly doing something right. I thought this might be their fade year but I guess Burke and Hextall know what they're doing. Atkinson trade looking really good for Philly at this point. Watching the Philly Florida game both teams way better than us.

Pretty even game between pretty even teams, neither of which is very good. We struggled in the OT though. This is where we will miss the big name stars like Eichel. 3 on 3 we don't have the skill for that. Some good goaltending though. Granato may have to reconsider his practice hard philosophy if these guys tire out so easily.

Well they made wingers into centers so maybe he will play D lol. Oh twitter...................

Ya, Hughes showed how he's still too small for the NHL. Lauzon manhandled him and he landed right on the shoulder. He's out. This is an interesting game imo. First road game. See how this team does with that aspect of things. Playing another rebuild team that was pretty much at the same point as us last year. If we can beat them it's a good sign. Even game imo. Or at least it should be unless the first 3 games was a total illusion. maybe we get to answer that best coach since Lindy thread now 🙂

How much for the sticks he smashed out of frustration?

Oh ya, Bruins fans still talk about how badly they blew that draft, 3 first rounders in a very good draft and all they got out of it was DeBrusk. Think how good they could have been if they'd taken the next 3 instead of their 3 in a row (Barzal, Connor and Chabot) not to mention Boeser and Koneckny and others better than Senyshyn still out there. Heck of a good draft and they blew it.