Pimlach

I am waiting to buy in, he is looking pretty solid so far. Still young. He can get stronger.

Needs to be much better in the defensive zone and around the net. Good puck mover, creates offense.

Miller: You let Murray trade me, even though LaFontaine said I was staying. TP: I just really wanted McDavid.

Tuch. Yeah. Let’s trade him. /s

TNT

No pressure is part of it but they played like a team that didn’t know each other for most of the season. They are starting to come together, defend each other, and work harder for a full 60. They need to make a few good moves in the offseason to take that next step. No rolling it back, but they are getting better.

He has been scoring lately, and he has to at least hit the net.

He had room to skate with it and he made a lazy and dangerous pass.

Power terrible giveaway.

He sticks his nose in there. I like it.

Steve Tasker added to the on ice festivities. You could still make a case for him in Canton.

Yes. That was bad, but Hall was a former MVP and did nothing to help.

Hall at $8M was a joke. Has any Sabres player been paid more for less?

Funny and sad. Adams priority last off season was to rebuild the 4th line in order to make the playoffs, meanwhile the Canes 4th line is filled with ex Sabres.

Ahhh. Thanks for clarifying. I do not see Östlund being hurt by his look, the PP2 time gave him some opportunity to show offensive skills. I think this tells us that the Sabres already think he has more offensive upside than Krebs does. Maybe if he gets more games they move him up a line now that he showed he plays with some awareness and poise? I recall seeing Savoie in his very short 1 game look and he did not want to possess the puck. Östlund played with the bangers and showed no fear, so far.

The Canes should be bringing their A game tonight. This is another big test, albeit with no pressure on the Sabres. Reimer magic must continue to win this one.

But you also said that Krebs has earned a chance on the 3rd line right?

Cozens may still have a better career than all of the guys you named. Caulfield (drafted 12) was brought up slower, and is passing him in scoring, but Cozens is ahead of Zegras, and is far ahead of Krebs for that matter. Matt Boldy (drafted 15), who was also brought up slower, is the best forward drafted after Cozens IMO. Kaapo Kakko (taken 2nd) is behind Cozens. Kirby Dach was taken 3rd and is far behind Cozens. The NHL draft is not a slam dunk but I think the Sabres completely screwed up Cozens development by rushing him in every aspect. And now a "friend of a coach" tells someone that Cozens is dumb, but I think that it was Adams who was dumb. I too am a friend of a former Sabres coach, one who is still in the NHL, and he told me that the Sabres (Adams/Granato) were doing things wrong and that he feels sorry for any coach that replaces Granato because the kids are not developed right. Here we are with Lindy scratching his head all season long. No blockers right? What veteran 2C did Cozens beat out to earn his NHL minutes? Maybe the Sabres brought Cozens up too fast and gave him too much responsibility too soon? He was very young and given a 2C slot playing with 2 rookies in a "system" that did not teach defensive responsibility. He was also given PP and PK time. He was given an "A" when he was just 23 years old. Boldy and Caulfield might be better players anyway but they stayed in college and extra year after the draft and they had a taste of AHL. Cozens went straight from juniors to a terrible hockey program and had ZERO AHL games. I still think he can be salvaged into a good player in time, we shall see. What works better is a system that makes the prospects earn what they get. I really like what Lindy did with Östlund who is being brought up at a much smarter pace.

Norris, McLeod, Kulich, Krebs, Kozak - We have a lot of mediocrity and questions marks at center (assuming Thompson stays at wing and not counting the potential promise of Östlund or Helenius). Norris is a talented but not at all reliable 2C/1C. He being on the roster is a driver to keep a winger that can play top 2 line center, which brings me to Kulich. Kulich is looking good but we have seen young players have up and down seasons. Adams should not count on Kulich and Norris alone as the 1C/2C combo to snap the drought next season. Kulich can be a productive winger though and he can help at C too. Lindy loves options. McLeod is a good 3C that can help top 6 when needed. I think that Krebs ceiling is McLeod, maybe, but I prefer McLeod. I think Krebs floor is the current Kozak. Kozak is a 4th liner that is still developing and improving. He did the same quality job as Krebs at 4C, and probably even better defensively. Östlund and Helenius should start the season in Rochester. Krebs can be packaged in trade to help fill the holes needed to break the drought. We just can't keep all of these guys. I would like an FO that can move something around here and think bigger. Next Year: New Guy (vet in prime years) - 1C/2C Norris 1C/2C Kulich - winger and possible center fill-in on top 6 to cover injuries McLeod - 3C and possible help in 2C Kozak - 4C Östlund - first call up. Krebs - I like him but I think he is tradable and worth something in a packaged "hockey trade".

There isn’t if you have a healthy Norris and Greenway. Kozak will push for 4C also.

They let Linus go and Swayman lost his mojo.

Power and Byram are supposed to be Dahlin level players (or close to it), but they are not in the defensive zone.

Despite all the hand wringing here I don’t think Ruff handled Östlund wrong so far. Make him play defense and be responsible first. Playing 4th line with Maley and Lafferty isn’t his end role but he still created some opportunities, he passes well and he sees the ice. Playing him on PP2 was also smart to let him stretch out his game. I liked what I saw but he will benefit more from a second season in Rochester. He could be the playmaker I am looking for.

I don’t think the coaching change helped at all. McAvoy is out, he is their Dahlin. Marchand got old, they miss his leadership. Debrusk, Coyle, others of that ilk are gone. No one fears the Bruins. They have one line.

I thought he has a good but short stretch in November too, Ruff said he did. Then he disappeared.