Dr. Who

It could, but do you trust KA to get the forward bit right? If he really thinks internal growth is going to be enough, it won't.

Let's see if they make some obvious moves to change assistant coaches. The PP should not be putrid, and it is. They're still very often sluggish in the first, and going down a goal to start games. I am skeptical on DG, and this is another second half where the Sabres win some games because they don't really matter. Folks talk about a country club atmosphere. I do think the players care, and want to win, but they are not mentally tough. I think coaching is part of that, and youth, of course. I'm not sure they can make all LD for the most part on D work, but there's talent there. They still need a number of veterans, more grit and toughness in the forward group. A top 6 RW, a 3C, someone who can reliably win faceoffs. I think a veteran backup for UPL, and not rushing Levi would be smart. Buying Skinner out might be even smarter. He's like the shipwreck survivor from the old Night Gallery series. Doesn't matter that he can score when he's on, he sinks the team. KA has the assets to make it work. I don't think just running it back is the answer. If he thinks it is, with the same level of add as last off-season, no bueno. I'm also not convinced Terry P. isn't perpetually cheaping out on the Sabres.

Well, this is not really reassuring.

I think he means "Terry really likes him."

Cumulatively, we're approaching Biblical proportions of time in the desert. Moses needs to buy a GPS.

You'd think the decade plus of futility and bonehead dithering would be pretty embarrassing, no? But alright, let's hope Jed Clampett feels it enough to make changes. Until he steps away and let's tough hockey minds hold sway, so what? The fish rots from the head.

Well, that 5% short of correct, isn't it? Good for you on sticking by UPL, btw.

I have stealth hope on that, but I'm officially "it's too late," because I don't trust the universe not to crush every tiny bit of hope. Schopenhauer is a philosopher I often identify with.

The obvious solution is to hypnotize the whole damn team and tell them it's Jan 1, 2025 on opening night.

Pretty sure there are fine programs that help folks get over trauma, but I generally just drink another Guinness for that.

It was just a joke, but I apologize Mrs. G.

Okposo and Zemgus, somebody run out and buy a lottery ticket.

Wrong thread. This is the Canadian spelling bee.

I'd feel better about KA if he showed evidence of a willingness to trade prospects for NHL ready players, and if he prioritized top 4D, a 2 way C, and forwards with grit and toughness as trade targets. It's fine to draft redundancy in the types and grabbing BPA if you're willing to trade the assets to get the balance right on your team. It's no good if you think you're going to evolve into a Euro finesse team that scores a lot, and wins in an exciting way (I fear this is Pegula's dopey vision.)

Someone needs to tell KA.

Do you think that is likely to happen anytime soon?

I'd rather keep Casey, if there's another path, but yes, I would do it. Not sure Ottawa would.

Rosen, Cozens, Kulich, and next years first.

I'm hoping for a bit more than marginal, but the tepid response is a KA specialty. He sure as hell better add a top 4D as well in the off-season.

Ah, yes, there's even a dark cloud in the silver lining.

I've granted that Granato may be objectively coaching somewhat better this year. One can focus on any number of granular issues and perform analytics in the hope of discovering a secret formula. The holistic, intuitive evaluation is almost always likely to be more accurate, even when one cannot pin it down in the manner favored by analytics. (And surely, there are analytics that could be chosen to accommodate a different narrative.) Of course, it isn't all on Granato. I personally think he's a very nice fella who is probably more suited to be nurturing young players in the AHL. "Retread" is a loaded word with obvious connotations. One could replace that with "experienced coach with a track record of winning" and say the same thing with an entirely different coloration. I'd take Berube right now over Granato, and it isn't a terribly hard decision. Regardless, I don't expect that. I am hoping KA will feel enough heat to spend some prospect cash for needed, ready-to-play upgrades. Alas, it will come too late to alter the trajectory of another failed season.

I don't want to dismiss everything you said. It's easy enough to acknowledge that for whatever reasons, Tage and Cozens are having regression seasons, and that has significantly affected offensive numbers. Losing Quinn for most of the year is also a factor, as a leap forward was anticipated, and quite possible. All that said, those who point to a weak schedule in much of the new year are correct. The lackluster numbers for a few key players on offense does not address the poor home record, the slow starts, the habitual hole of giving up the first goal, not to mention the obvious deficit of grit and toughness, a lack of snarl that permits the other team to consistently bully the Sabres. Granato may indeed be marginally coaching better this year, but he appears to be enabling a culture of entitlement and hostility towards a long-suffering fan base that has plenty of reason to voice their displeasure. If your job allows you to play a game for millions of dollars, accepting that element of the implied contract ought not to be too onerous a burden. All that said, the addition of a genuine top 4 D and some grit vets with more in the tank than the Latvian locomotive and KO could have been the missing ingredients in a year where UPL has emerged as a surprising stalwart goalie. That is on KA, who is always hedging on expectations, and pushing into the distant future the winning that is long overdue.

That's almost always good advice.

I am cautiously optimistic. The cap going up somewhat more than expected gives some relief on eventually getting under the cap. I don't think fans' obsession with WR is misplaced. The WR room needs a significant upgrade at the X, and it is a very good draft at the position. They should take one early and another fairly early on day 3. There are quite a few quality free agents at safety, and traditionally, it is not a position that commands high dollars. They will find someone or two and take one in the draft, as well. The best safeties will go before the Bills' pick in the third, so they would have to use #60 or wait on some decent fellas likely to be there in the mid-rounds. I hope they wait till day 2 for DL. I think there are a fair number of DTs available, not so great at edge. There aren't too many obvious 1T, which is what we really could use. If Sweat drops to the second, that would be a fit. Keith Randolph, Jr. could develop into one, and you can get him on day 3.

He probably thinks Josh Allen should catch his own passes, too.