Pimlach

OV was bitching to the refs

We need a healthy Quinn for next season. The Sabres are better than the Caps. They just don’t know it.

Up 2-1 after 2 periods on Fan Appreciation Day, which they aren’t talking much when I’m watching. I’m ready for fan hockey rest, more golf, spring, and summer.

No Rob, Clagg was not all over him.

Tuchie. I acknowledge Jokers pass. I’m on him a lot lately.

Nice work by Tage line. Dahlin went in deep and then blasted Pacioretty.

If you’re saying we need lots of internal leadership from the players I agree. Players leading by example and influencing others is always better than a coaches pep talk/magic wand. I never implied that. I was talking about coaches that demand commitment, and get it. That alone lasts for awhile and the team improves. But all coaches will eventually be ignored to various levels, that’s when having players that are great leaders will keep the team at a high level.

Skinner is aging but …. not all players are motivated. At least Brind’Amour thought so You cannot deny some coaches motivate players better than others. I see a roster that verbally rallied around their coach, and proceeded to play .500 hockey all season long, putting him in danger of being fired. The aging process helps, as does a coach. I think this team has reach their peak with this staff.

So you want another first timer? That’s what you will get. Hire an experienced Coach, like Lindy as an example, get his input on the roster and try to accommodate. Work together and don’t force NHL tweener level players on a team that is $20m under the cap. No good coach will agree to it.

I steadfastly know he has meddled. Right now he has been very quiet. He made big changes to the way the Sports Empire is run, he got rid of the restaurants/bars and other things. He has a sick wife to support. He has Beane and McD running the Bills. He has a new COO to look after the stadium, the scoreboard, the roof, and the cash flow. He has Adams, who he trusts to carrying out the long, slow, under the cap rebuild. When they start spending to cap and winning again he may resurface. Why would an owner pay a guy like Brind'Amour a ton of money and then not let him get what he says he needs to succeed? My dream is we pay RBA a big pile of $$$ and he turns this thing around.

There are coaches that can take commitment to higher levels than we have been seeing. The newly committed Sabres have to start working on 24-25 the same day they clean out their lockers.

And therein lies the rub. Terry wants involvement, not just information. I have said this a lot, if you want a big name coach with NHL experience, then you better be prepared to give him roster input. If not, then you have to get lucky and hit on a first timer. So far no luck in that department despite having many talent young players come and go over the years. Someday we might see one of his kids running the team.

True. I do not condone anything he did either, and I don't feel bad for him because he was a Buffalo Bill. He had domestic violence issues with his first wife too. As a young Buffalo kid, I had posters of OJ, Gil Perreault, and Bob McAdoo on my bedroom wall. I got to meet him once and he was what you would expect at that time, he was the coolest and most magnetic guy in the room. For a short period of time in the 70's we had 3 very good teams, all with superstar players.

Seems logical to start with the coaching staff and then let the new coach input on the roster. Logical next step. DG is a good guy, he did what he can, time for a fresh start.

I think a brain scan will likely reveal some issues. He had anger issues that came later in life.

I know. I hope they don’t pour gas on it tonight with a bad effort. 🙏

OJ was an icon before he went nuts. Not gonna make excuses for him either.

You have been a very positive force here lately. The build momentum got a good chuckle from me. I just want them to win at home, and let the kids see reasons to like this team. I really do not want to them fall behind and have the crowd get upset.

muscle? weight. ?

Thank you, thank you, thank you. The over use of the word "hater". Disagreement, or not liking something, is not hate. But some people are now conditioned to call anyone who does not agree with them haters. It has become a careless over-reaction and a mechanism to vilify those who have deferring opinions. It is a lazy. Back to Owen Power - I cannot think of any Pronger-like defenseman today. Chara is gone. Dare I say the game has changed some? If Power will just learn to use his body effectively - wedge, trap, box out, use size and reach as leverage - he could become great. The Sabres had a defenseman named Bill Hajt who also was not a banger or a fighter. But he was big and strong, and he used his body effectively as you describe. He had a good outlet pass and would use his size and reach to create the room needed to smartly make the breakout work. He was a lifetime +318 in 854 games playing mostly on a second pairing. You probably were not going to score a goal on the Sabres with Billy on the ice during his prime years. He is an afterthought now, in nobody's hall of fame, but he mastered what you are asking for playing 13 seasons with no minus years. Power can do that and so much more given his offensive skills and his vision.

Well Cooley, Guenther and Raymond did not score 30 playing center for 2 rookies last year either. This season has been rough for Cozens from the very start. Our crappy roster construction forces the kid to be a leader, a fighter, and a protector. Cozens is falling victim to what Trotz described. They threw a ton of money at a 22 year old and said, you are a core leader, go get'em Dylan. They had similar expectations on Dahlin - he never had a mentor or was paired with someone that could help him get better and learn. He did it on his own. Dahin and Cozens have been pushed fast. Power too, for that matter. Some players can handle it, some cannot.

Great data here! I think Tage is going to remain a solid contributor whether you call him a 1C, or a 2C that plays 1C on this team. I think Tuch is what we see. A 20-25 goal scorer, that can hit 30+ some years, and that can play anywhere on the top 9 as needed. Peterka is still learning and has earned top 6 this season. Quinn is another that should be pushing for top 6. Cozens is clearly having some growing pains. Thinking of the Trotz quote, we really need to help him. Sabres #1 need, without any doubt is a top center. Add 2C/1C capable guy that easily forces Cozens to 3C. Trade some of the precious kids to start winning now. I am not thrilled with Krebs as a 4C either. He works hard but 4C is a were I want to see a shut down center, with some scoring touch, that wins draws, and helps on the PK. We need 2 veteran centers to improve for next year. Bringing in kids from Rochester is not the answer if playoffs are a serious goal. We are saturated with youth.

The came within 4 points of a wild card spot 6 times this season and came up with an 0-6 record on the next game. This is hard to do. They choke under even slight pressure.

At some point the Sabres players will be refusing long term deals.

Fan Appreciation Day. Given the Sabres track record for playoffs, you would think they would do this game earlier in the season. I hope Terry is there.