Pimlach

What is going on? First Thorny is @Thorner Now PA is @Stoner? Someone call a cop, I think someone robbed @PAsabresFan's Avatar. He robbed him blind.

You dress the 12 forwards that give you best chance to win. Two points now are still equal to 2 points in March. I don't see the need to play any of them unless they are doing something special in practice that warrants it.

YES. We finally have an NHL coach. We added 5 men with speed and toughness. We will have a few more home grown kids turn into men this season. But I mostly voted yes because I watch almost every game and I need to believe it for my own sanity.

The receivers were a big reason why Allen had so much pressure, especially in the second half. Did you watch the game? The Raven often played with 7 men up in a box to stop Cook and Allen from running. That was their plan because they did not fear our WRs. They showed this on TV numerous times. If we passed when looking at 6 or 7 in the box then they blitz at least 1, if not 2, of their front 7 and Allen could not always get through his reads. The WRs were not open and they dropped a few that would have converted 3 down in big situations. The constant QB pressure was more about the WRs than it was a bad OL. Brady called ZERO screens and did nothing to counter.

The Bills had not lost by more than 6 points in 43 games, an NFL record. A bad loss was coming and this was the matchup. I agree that some fears from pre-season were on display - the WR core, the backup LBs, the young secondary. I do not like the starting safeties and we need Johnson and Bernard soon, maybe we get Milano back in December/January. The key for our defense is strong DL play, we didn't get that yesterday either. It is easy to blame the coaching but on that first TD run the LB and DB's missed their gap assignments and that cannot happen when we are outmatched against the run to begin with. We needed to be perfect in scheme and they were not. On offense there were passes dropped in the first half that killed drives (Kincaid and Coleman) and we finally saw that we lack real weapons at WR. After Shakir, there is not much there at all. No deep threat, the Ravens had 7 in the box to stop Cook/Allen runs, and if we passed they blitzed Allen from that formation. On ST there was Bass with another miss. I doubt he will finish the season with the team at this rate. The bizarre play call that resulted in a turnover changed the game, we were still in it at that point. Flush this, move on to the the Texans. We will see what kind of team we have in the next 2 weeks. We are rebuilding as we go and you could really see it last night.

So you are Thorner? Not Thornsie?

Wait .... What happened to Thorny? What's with the Joe Pesce avatar?

Sorry for your loss. I have been there too. Looks like a great dog and a true friend.

I like the team spirit and hoping this road trip helps start to form winning team chemistry, and they need to be ready for NJD and get a good start. I have my tickets for the Kings game, the home opener. I am coming in for Lindy and I hope the place is packed and VERY LOUD.

TNT is always styling. Nice hat too. Benson is looking older and with a sturdier build than last year. Bring on the Devils.

What if you already own seats in one of these corners that becomes a “stand and chant”? If they just put out a consistently good team that wins games this would not be a discussion. The fans don’t need help on how to cheer from a FO that has been inept since Pegula took over, they just need a good hockey team.

We still have to see the new Lafferty line against real NHL players and when it counts. If they are good then they force lines 3 and 2 to earn their ice. We need that.

Clinging to customs you love, my deep foray into this is that I never sold my vinyl and continually updated my sound system components over time. Now it is all “vintage” and worth much more than I paid for it. In the day this kind of equipment was “high tech”. Fortunately it’s not throw away. So I get it, and you don’t want to get outdated on the important things in the current time.

Yes it feels like a bad cycle. Add in the impact from social media. Almost any crackpot gets an audience today. A large segment of our population gets their news from social media/ internet. When I complain out loud about the direction of the country or the world today my millennial children tell me “you gotta stop watching the news on TV Dad”. That is partly funny, partly true, and mostly sad.

Someday maybe. But for now I look at who we are playing. No NHL snipers.

I believe that Dahlin was the obvious choice. He has at times played with a hate to lose attitude and he leads by example, which night after night is more effective than fiery speeches IMO. On top of that he is the best player on the team and one of the long tenured Sabres, despite his age. Tuch is another obvious pick and most agree he is A, or even C material. After that everyone else getting an A is being stretched and challenged to reach another level. Thompson is a really hard worker, another by example guy. Mature and stable, a married family man type. I am happy for him and hope he takes the load and responds by demanding more of others. I believe that the real Tage is a 40+ goal scorer, not a 29 goal scorer like last year. Samuelsson is an interesting choice, it seems like Lindy is trying to drive him into what he feels he could be. I would not call him a natural leader just yet, but he may be the type that others on the team look for to be one. It’s up to him to take it on. Cozens is the kid that I felt could evolve into a C someday, but not yet. He is that scrappy Canadian kid that will embrace and understand the tradition of the role. We saw last year that he still has some emotional growth in front of him, but he has fire and he wants it. I like rotating the A’s in this situation. Lindy is pushing the buttons on some of the key guys.

Lindy has a very limited time to install his system and with the Euro trip the Sabres have way less time to look at kids. they already know there are only about 3-4 bubble players so looking at kids is not a priority. Learning how Lindy wants to play and getting ready for back to back games versus NJ is his priority. last year they ran a extended tryout and were not ready to play when the season started. I complained about that a lot. They were terrible right from the start. I think Lindy is doing it right and given the circumstances he has no choice. This team needs a good start to the season. Time to win is right NOW.

How about relax and give Ruff a few games to evaluate his roster?

Class act. Glad to see him get a Cup.

Because they are the leaders. Cozens, should not get one, he is not yet ready for that. Someday he probably will be. TT is a very hard worker and part of my logic in giving him the letter it to inspire and reward. Tuch is a vet that has been a leader since he came here.

Dahlin C Tuch A Thompson A done.

These numbers are higher than I thought. Goalies and defenseman probably contributed to that.

Kulich is now up to 6’1” and 190 lbs. he is not small. Rosen is 6’0” and 176. Still needs a few lbs but not a Smurf.