PerreaultForever

Agree on the goalie but while it was a pipe dream it wasn't "fanciful". It's a possible (with the assumption you could get the free agents to sign) way to reshape the team dynamic and fill the holes on the roster. We don't just need a player or two, we need better leadership, compete, and team dynamic. We need guys who drag other guys into the fight and as they put it on Shoresy we need a team that "hates to lose"

Well from a purely objective point of view this is what fascinates me about it and why I pay a little attention to them to see what happens. Ideally I think both teams need a little of what the other has/does and a mix is the way to go but we have one extreme and they have the other. So far neither has worked. I'm still interested to see if one "wins" over the other.

You seriously think it could? Seriously?

Zero chance that line up would get in the playoffs. Zero.

Disagree. We have snipers and goal scorers. We need rugged and D. Even if you think Quinn can be very good you are allowed to trade quality for different quality. The make up of the whole roster is what matters. Dream scenario that completely changes the team: You sign Bennett and Marchand in free agency. You then trade Norris for a top 4 D man. You trade Byram for a goalie. You offer sheet and get Cuylle. You trade Quinn for another D man. (Maybe Toronto loses Marner and they give up Carlo as an example) You pick up a lower level grit guy or two in free agency or via lower level trades. Gadjovich Greer types. Bottom end depth guys who can scrap. You make the playoffs and maybe more. Nothing here impossible. None of it actually going to happen with this GM and owner.

Mostly I think that's cause they give almost every top player a NMC. Once you pay your top guys you have to ride with them unless they agree to move. Leafs supposedly had a deal to move Marner to Carolina but he said no as an example. It does show you how hard it is to move up though. Once buried in the basement you need to make a lot of correct moves and you most definitely need good goaltending. Ottawa for example does not get in without that hot run Ullmark had. There's exceptions though so nothing is certain. Washington has defied the rebuild scenario with a quick turnaround and Dallas seems to be able to draft well despite finishing high. Tampa stayed relevant although that might still be ending. The biggest surprise is probably that Edmonton stayed top 4. Crap goaltending and reduced depth but here we are again and Corey Perry gets one more crack at it.

It's all a lot like last year isn't it.

On paper yes, and they have a huge goaltending hole but the comparison still holds until one of the two make the playoffs. Completely antithetical rebuild plans. neither has worked yet. The verdict remains to be seen on which plan is best.

This is pretty much the truth, but all of that is on Adams and yet Adams is still here. Why do we not have more bodies in place? We don't spend to the cap, Adams didn't add players. There were waiver wire players even that could have been added here and there. AJ Greer was a waiver guy playing for Florida and they also got Boquist that way. In terms of roster construction the Florida lines fit the bill better. What they have done is cobbled together a 4th line that has toughness and grit but also doesn't yield too much and so isn't a liability. If the top 2 lines in the playoffs cancel out the game falls on that third line and that's where they killed Toronto. Post deadline they have the best 3rd line in hockey. Sabres 3rd line? Constantly cobbled together leftover pieces that didn't fit elsewhere. This will never happen but if they added Marchand and Bennett and then traded Norris for a top 4 D man to play with Power then they might actually have the basis of a good competitive roster. Byram could also be moved for another D man or solid winger. The "core" of this team just isn't a solid competitive core.

I don't think he's comparable to either of those two and he's not at that level. He's a goal scorer but he is primarily a perimeter player but also in fairness that is who the Sabres are. That is how they play. It's not a good way, but it is their way. Peterka imo is a 20 goal guy but he's weak defensively and often too soft (although I think that could be coached out of him if done right). He should be paid accordingly but not more.

By AHL standards he's a star. It makes a huge difference.

Well maybe if we had a lights out Hasek type goalie but "fixing" with anything viable is doubtful to have changed anything. We picked up a lot of late season garbage points as a loose team taken lightly. It was, as every year, meaningless. We might have gotten a little closer like Detroit at best.

So you are suggesting he's a Sutter or a McSorley?

That second sentence is in no way shape or form true. "solid to excellent"? Your bar is way way way too low. I cannot recall a good back checking forward group on this team since Pegula bought it. It's just not what they do, and then the D runs around trying to do too much. We want to be the Leafs but we aren't as good but also have the same issues only magnified. Take the Seth Jones goal as an example. Carlo was left back and some fans are attacking the trade and blaming him for being crap D but the reason it happens is Reilly thinks he can make an offensive play and tries to jump the gap for a quick attack. He shouldn't have. Carlo was hung out to dry. That sort of thing happens to the Sabres all the time as we promote all this quick exit puck mover stuff and it doesn't work and never has worked but we stick with it cause that's Terry's vision, just like Shanahan and Dubas's, going to redefine hockey with speed and skill. They never learn. Do we need better D? Absolutely. We need some rock solid defenders. Do we need better goaltending? Absolutely. Consistent at bare minimum. Will adding a goalie and a D man fix this team and get us in the playoffs? Not a chance. Not until the forwards get some balls and all start playing with Benson's attitude. Fearless and aggressive. Until then we will be a middling at best perimeter and possession team that likes to shoot from a distance.

What do you mean? I just went on youtube and typed in Rochester Americans highlights. Several videos came up. I do that now and again and watch them if they are interesting or I am interested in something particular. I'm really not sure what you are on about. Highlights exist and there are many of them over the season. I've never had trouble finding them. You can go to hockeyfights and watch the Russian get KO'd if you prefer.

I don't agree. I think it is the coaching and style that matter. The culture and the system. I mean really, E-Rod works there. Come on, E-Rod!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me put it this way, we have youthful energy, size and speed. Why on earth do we NOT have an aggressive forecheck like Florida? That's the crux of it for me.

It's not that though because there are lots of players on bad teams that still look good. It's more that the bad teams are bad teams because of the way the team plays. I have questioned the Sabres style and philosophy for years and I still do. I honestly don't know what we are doing or trying to do.

Say what now? They're all over the place and easy to find.

You twist things as usual. Nobody says "always". Often, but not "always". But yes, they do have bolstered rosters. Kulcih is down there right? If we were in the playoffs he wouldn't be, There really is no need to be nit picky like this but I guess you get bored since the off season is always so long.

It was interesting to watch Seth Jones dominate offensively in this game. Made me think, when we had Montour, he was inconsistent and sometimes awful. So much so we cast him aside. Florida took a chance and turned him into an offensive force. Signed a fat free agent contract with Seattle and was overall meh. Average at best and over paid. Now Seth Jones was dreadful in Chicago. Much like Montour here, and yet now he's looking exactly like Montour did in Florida. So the obvious thing to consider is perhaps it's not so much the individual players you need to examine on the Sabres, but maybe the coaching and the system itself. Just something to ponder over the summer 🙂

Tomorrow is the best day of all. Tomorrow is podcast/media Leaf whining day. The what went wrong discussions begin. They are the best. On that note I heard that post game Matthews said there were "too many passengers" and I believe Marner agreed with that. Very interesting that your star "leaders" put the blame on others rather than taking the responsibility or even better by having actually stepped up themselves. Other than his game 6 goal Matthews was in fact a pretty big "passenger" and considering his salary and role perhaps the biggest passenger of all.

Yes. I don't think in any way shape or form Marchand would come to Buffalo (I think he'd be more likely to actually become a Leaf than a Sabre) but he is most definitely the kind of veteran leader the team needs. He practices, preaches, and competes to high standards.

Not true. To the bold, if they can win the Calder Cup I will suggest they did in fact do it right and maybe more of them belong on the NHL roster next year and it's time to make some Sabres changes and learn from that AHL roster. But I don't think that is what they have. One would think in fact that the worst NHL teams should have the best AHL rosters and all the non playoff teams get bolstered rosters so in theory those are the teams that should go further if they are built correctly. In that way, Rochester has been underachieving. Maybe that changes this year but as in everything Sabres I believe in nothing any more until it happens.

Leaf Killer strikes again.

I think you are over valuing the guys they have. I don't think what you call the "board guys" is overly impressive and while they do have the snipers they do not have a good checking line or heavy bottom 6. The D is also iffy and fairly thin. It's not as one dimensional as it has been but I still think it's constructed poorly. See how far they can ride Levi. I can never see the full games so I am just going by highlights and overall trends. I will fully admit there may be things I'm missing.