PerreaultForever

Huh? How is this in any way accurate?

The league is pushing kids into the line ups sooner than they used to, that is true. I'd argue against Dahlin being pretty good right off the bat but it's not worth getting into. The point overall is they learn bad habits and lack the physical size and muscle to learn to play the right way. Risto is actually the perfect example. A guy who got messed up and didn't know who or what he was. Cozens can still be fixed but he has to unlearn and relearn. He might, he might not. My basic argument would be if your line doesn't have a veteran on it (preferably two) it's a bad idea and Cozens-Quinn-Peterka was a bad idea. Rookie D not paired with a veteran also a mistake. You'll have a hard time convincing me otherwise.

What is the logic in making this game "unavailable in your area" ? It's a preseason game, it's not on sportsnet +, so what does anyone gain by not making it available? It's almost like they don't want fans.

Cozens was rushed and the kid line as your 2nd line was stupid, Risto was rushed, Meyers was definitely rushed. There's a list and it doesn't matter. The main thing on all of them is minutes, roles, and responsibilities. Power for example should have had less minutes and sheltered minutes along with more one on one coaching. Since we didn't have veterans to mentor him on ice we should have hired an assistant to work with him one on one. Jay McKee would have been good for example. They placed him 2nd pairing and he saw big minutes as a rookie. It was stupid and that's the definition of "rushed". Scoring stats don't matter for rookie D either. It's about learning D.

I feel you but am undecided on this. Helenius is more NHL ready than other prospects so if he earns it I have a hard time holding him back. I want to see Doan show something. I do not want him on the roster simply to validate a trade. I want to see something out of him that says he deserves a spot. If Helenius is markedly better than Doan I'm going Helenius.

Ya, lol, preseason. I just watched Seattle put a beat down on Edmonton. Anyone want to argue Seattle's a better team than the Oilers? Wasn't our preseason record with no NHLers (as they went to Europe) stellar last year too? This is why I just look at guys with something to prove and see what they do. We can be excited at the potential of Helenius and Mrtka. Georgiev might not suck. Kesselring might upgrade the D and Norris and Thompson might have some chemistry. That's all I can say at the moment.

They might keep 3 goalies up but if both Lyon and Georgiev are playing well you try to trade UPL (unlikely with his salary) and if there's no trade you waive him and send UPL down. Nobody is picking up that salary unless they are goalie desperate at the moment. If there is someone goalie desperate there's your trade. Otherwise, obviously if Georgiev or Lyon are not playing well then you just waive one of them. No big deal.

I can see this happening too (especially if this team fails again this year) but if Jarmo is made GM would he hire Appert as coach? If he did, that would mean he's just another Pegula puppet. Otherwise I'd expect him to work with his own people and a clean slate of all new coaches. That is the only thing that would give me hope for change. A new development guy is a good idea. It's been a weakness.

Faster yes, Have to utilize that though. Many if not most teams seem to be looking at big centers and some of them are slower. Sabres aren't small but overall they are not that physical so we will have to see how that works in a league that appears to be headed more towards the physical this year due to the Florida effect. and the cup winner is always a thing. The thing for me is we always try to be a possession team and we end up with lots of perimeter play. I truly believe this team would be successful if we did two simple things. One, emphasize physicality more (not every guy just a few bigger and tougher bodies) and two, play a simpler north south game. Dump it in and use that speed to chase. Heavy forecheck to create turnovers and then that dreaded drop pass might actually work if the D pinches with the forecheck. It's the Florida plan. It would work. This team is a little more physical. Not sure it's enough. Don't think it is. We shall see.

Sportsnet didn't deem this game worthy of coverage. So I only saw the highlight package and couldn't tell much from it. So only one question, was Norris any good? Did he have chemistry with Tage?

Bruins used this on their cup run. So maybe not. Just bring back the Sabre Dance. BUT make it the Dave Edmunds Love Sculpture version.

That's all true. I just thought he was more of a physical thumper than he appears to be. Being in Utah I didn't see much of either of them last year so it's just my wrong impression. We'll see how he actually is over time.

Maybe. Sportsnet had the Columbus broadcast on. They were saying Danforth was their "swiss army knife who could play up and down the roster". I didn't see anything to validate that but if it's true maybe he's that injury plug in guy.

inconsequential and near invisible.

One game obviously but if that is him I'd rather we had some of that jam on the fourth line than what we had last year. Not just because he can obviously "chuck 'em" but he was an immovable object screening on the Byram goal as well. Solid outing but no idea if they will go that way or not. History says no.

Interesting. There does seem to be a better focus on defense this year. At least with these players. Much better on the boards as well compared to last year. Georgiev didn't suck. Mrtka runs around too much but you can see the skill. With good coaching and development (?) he might be very good in a few years. Kesselring is tall but lankier than I thought and for his height kind of skinny. Skates well for a big guy but more Tyler Myers than Risto. Not exactly what I thought he was. Need to see more. Not impressed in any way with Doan. One preseason game obviously but if that's him, he's barely a roster player and definitely not a top 6. We may have been sold on some hype and name recognition here. That's all. Can't say I paid attention to everybody.

Well the 2 things I am interested to see are in this game so worth a watch. Seeing if Power-Kesselring can be something and seeing what Doan actually is.

Nah, you missed my post in the other thread. It was my good news positivity post for the Sabres. After watching the Bruins today I think it's almost certain the Sabres will not be last in the division. So you can celebrate.

Well here's something positive for the Sabres. After watching the Bruins today I'm pretty confident the Sabres won't finish last in the division.

If your fandom is affected by my comments (or the comments of anyone on the internet) then your fandom is very weak. You be you and wear your jersey or wave your flag or whatever you want to do and I will be me, a cynical old grouch who is sick of this franchise being a mickey mouse useless organization. I have in the past (more distant past then recent but still) had hope and optimism and thought this is the year and so forth, but they have squeezed that out of me. I won't get fooled again until I see something real. Well the team is the same over and over for years so.............................

March or April. Whenever it's official that they've missed the playoffs. Then we will be limbo with Kekalainen likely acting GM to the end of the year at which point Lindy will resign as coach and be named Senior Advisor and Jarmo will become GM. Terry Pegula will remain as director of hockey operations though so nothing will change and Seth Appert will even possibly be named head coach. Unless they suck even worse than expected and then Appert will be named head coach this season and firings will be sooner.

I'm responding to people who ask me questions. You don't have to read it.

First fight of the season too.

I'm not a betting man but I bet you half a dozen beers and a plate of wings they don't. Yup. It's called venting.

I plan to watch other teams more this year. I like hockey too much to cut the cord (which isn't really a cord since it's wi-fi and streaming :)) but until they show me something I do think this is the first year in quite a few where I will not watch every Sabres game and if the sucking continues that'll probably be few to no games by the end of the year. but it's not a strategy.