PerreaultForever

Tampa going to rest people like Florida did? Talk about a meaningless game.

Oh I like Kulich. Have liked him since we drafted him. Sabres as a whole just have this tendency to skate full out and assume nobody's going to get in their way. They need to learn when to turn it on or off more and how to avoid these things. Pick their moments. It's part of the problem with too many young guys on the same roster. As for Quinn, I would prefer him traded.

Edmonton is a little banged up and just lost Ekholm so it might be LA's turn to win that. Not sure about Avs. Haven't seen them since their deadline deals. Great Raantanen storyline though. Goaltending could shift that one. 7 game toss up.

His speed is deceptive but his stride moves him quickly and he shifts gears quickly hence he fools defenders and gets that step forward on them. Good body positioning too. He coasts sometimes away from the puck though and that might make some people think he's "slow".

Okay. I didn't remember and took his word for it. They all need more on ice awareness.

Stars against Avs in the first round. Talk about sending a good team home early!!!!!! Likely LA Oilers yet again.

Correct, but Kulich needs more awareness too. Too many of these offensive guys get caught up in their own game and have a lack of awareness for where the other team's guys are on the ice. Hit was solid and legal. Marginal, but legal. Sabres could use a few guys that hit like that.

This team is still a bunch of pussies. I don't have a problem with Tuch stepping up, and it shows good leadership, but it shouldn't have to be Tuch. It's quite apparent he cannot fight worth a crap and he's a top offensive player so it should be somebody else. We really need a 4th line tough guy. I guess as a whole they are trying to stand up better but they just look ridiculous with all this gloves on slapping at people. I can bet you other teams see this and laugh at it. Go or don't go but stop this clown crap. Just ridiculous. Again, Benson has good instincts and attitude, but he's a kid and it should be somebody else. And in the other scrum Marchand just pins his arms which I guess was an act of kindness 🙂 Really, this is a joke and they would never hold up in a playoff series. Bennett would end somebody in the first minute and the series would be over. Lastly, just as an aside, back when expansion hit and we lost Ullmark there was a moment we could have had Vanecek for next to nothing but whatever. Not suggesting he changes much but we do need a veteran NHL goalie still. Oh right, I forgot. Kulich has to learn to keep his head up.

I know about Rochester but are there any Sabres prospects doing anything of note elsewhere right now?

That's not the definition I use. I have always considered forechecking as part of the offense. Creating turnovers generates offensive chances. Defense is back checking and defending in your own end. Tuch is not good at that. few Sabres are. A 2 way forward is good in both ends of the rink.

Oh no I got that. Not sure who you wanted for Norris from them (Petterson?) but I got the idea. Demko? There's nobody on their D that I'd want. If I'm the Sabres I am however looking at moving Norris to somebody for D and/or goaltending. The only difference there with Hughes and Dahlin is I don't think Hughes will sign long term unless he sees progress first. Dahlin had faith we were already moving in the right direction I'd guess. Or maybe signing and then complaining gives him leverage idk. I could see it either way but in any event it's similar. No instant RHD help. You will be waiting 3 years before any chance of impact. We need a veteran RHD not a draft prospect. We can add a prospect for later, but it's not going to help now.

I doubt that matters. He was best friends with Tkachuk in Ottawa. They don't trade people because of friendships on other teams. The Hughes situation is exactly the same as the Dahlin situation. No more no less. Oh you don't think we have a "Dahlin situation"? Well wait until we lose next year to see. Point being Hughes doesn't want to be part of any rebuild. He wants a commitment to winning now. Just like Dahlin. Hughes traded here? He'd leave after he becomes a free agent and sign in New Jersey.

So can we stop all the talk about how they've figured it out and just wait until next year stuff? That was the same lousy hockey we saw earlier in the year. Still completely useless in front of their own net and they cave under any pressure at all. Zero progress this season. Zero.

Unless Adams is fired (which seems unlikely) I fully expect him to do just that and run a 3 headed monster with UPL Levi and Reimer to start the year. If Levi plays well Reimer might get waived again but that's what Adams will do. It's stupid, but that's Adams.

Maybe Hasek wants to come out of retirement so he can face Ovi in a shoot out?

I'm not going to list specific names cause I don't see the point. None of it's going to happen. But I WANT: 1. all the assistant coaches fired and replaced by Ruff's own choices. 2. I want a real goalie. Don't say it can't be done. Colorado switched both of theirs in mid season. 3. I want defensive D added. Minimum one top 4 guy. Other people do why can't we? 4. I'd like to upgrade Lafferty with more of a feisty gritty and maybe even fighting type guy. That's it. I think that's all it takes but it does take all of that. I see Norris as a huge potential trade chip along with numerous picks and prospects. More than enough assets to do anything you want to do if you have the will to do it. In my dream world I want Adams fired but I can see it's not happening and Pegula would just hire the next loser so it's nightmares instead.

I'm thinking more hairless cat

I've never thought of Tuch as a "defensive forward". Who is calling him a defensive forward and why?

I've said this from the beginning. He could potentially be that guy. Maybe not that far but it's possible and I certainly wouldn't try to take it out of him. We need more guys who play nasty and on the edge.

Oh for crying out loud, if your plan for success next season hinges on whether or not you're going to sign an old waiver goalie you are well and truly f'd before you even start.

So ultimately, Adams not signing Ullmark leads to all of this. That's the biggest mistake. So why on earth does he still have a job???

I hear ya but when we missed by one point and Florida got in I said in the off season we need a top 4 D man, a solid goalie and maybe a tough 4th line guy and I think we can make the playoffs. I'm still saying the same thing. I don't understand why Adams still has a job. It's not that difficult to see what they need.

So really, the start of the year everyone everywhere was like Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo, at least one of these three is set to step up and which one will it be? Some gave Columbus an outside shot and the Rags were expected to be in it but that final spot was there for one of Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo. Ottawa got it. Montreal is the shocker and likewise the fall of the Rags (Bruins fall was overdue and expected. Just a question of how far and how fast). So what's the difference? It's Ullmark. Ottawa isn't "better". We are just as good and beat them consistently but Ullmark stole games for them this year. He had several hot streaks and they won many games close that they had no business winning. Put Ullmark on Detroit and they are definitely in. Their goaltending was worse than ours. But Ottawa two years running now saw their biggest flaw and tried to fix it. First they tried with the guy available Korpisalo. That failed so they traded for Ullmark. They made the necessary moves. Adams? He failed to keep Ullmark. He ran with rookies and old cast offs. Our failure is totally on ADAMS. There is no organization in hockey that would let him keep his job for botching that except the Sabres, and that's your central problem.

Pittsburgh winning it and getting McKenna for a perfect 3 in a row would seem suspicious to say the least but just as long as the Rags don't win another lottery I'm probably okay with it all.

They don't bother hitting us. I've seen them play this year where they do forecheck though. I have to wonder a little if Brind'Amour isn't pacing them feeling they burn out in the playoffs with the pace they use at that time. We will see when the playoffs start if they still have it or not. I see Florida doing a whole lot of that too. They float a lot this year and it's either that they don't care cause they were cup winners last year or they know they will have a long haul and have to pace the season. Again, we will see when the playoffs start.