Zamboni

Yea, a lot of rookies/prospects do for a bunch of games. It’s rare if they don’t

You are of the mindset that it just isn’t coaching and system. That if the talent was better, the coaching ability and system he implements would magically make this team a near top of the conference contender? I’m of the mindset, this team has a lot of talent, but I’ll quickly point out the roster always needs improving. With good developing prospects in the pipeline (Sabres are rated top 10 or better in the league for quality of drafted prospects). With young developing players currently on the roster, and a top 10 center in the league along with a top 3 rookie defenseman in the league, we have most of the support around them to be a very good team. I stress again ... we still need to fill a few holes, but not as many as you seem to think considering you think the main reason is “talent”. How I see it. Speaking strictly roster: #1 upgrade... Skinner (if he doesn’t sign) #2 upgrade... replacing Pominville with an established sucessful (points) vet who has much much better leadership qualities than Jason “deadfish” Pominville. #3 upgrade... since I think we are stuck with Sobotka for another season because JB won’t be able to move him, we need to upgrade 3rd line LW. Or move Sobotka to LW and upgrade 3rd line center. #4 upgrade... move Girgensons. He’s spent. We need a more effective LW on the 4th line. We need more scoring from that line. Antiquated thinking is when fans think the 4th line in today’s NHL doesn’t need to contribute offensively. Durrrrr just possess the puck down low and run out the clock and help give the other three lines a breather durrrrr. No, the 4th line need to pot 20-30 goals between the three players. #5 upgrade... more addition by subtraction. Don’t bring back Elie, Wilson, Tennyson or Hunwick. If they want to play in Roch. cool...Let a couple prospects battle it out for spots. Nelson is an adequate bottom line fill in on D. You know what you’re getting. He’s simple and isn’t a defensive black hole when called upon when injuries or slumps strike. And no one will want Okposos contract/term and health issues. We are stuck with him. But not all is lost with him. I think he could improve with better linemates and coaching. With (most likely) Risto, Dahlin, Montour, Scandella, Bogo, McCabe, and Pilut on the team next season, that’s a solid D core. It’s not at a ZOMG upgrade level. I would love to see Bogo moved, but at his cap hit, it’s highly unlikely. Goaltending I feel is also not at a ZOMG upgrade needed level. Last year with Lehner and Johnson, it most certainly was! The number one reason this team is looking bad, game after game after game is coaching and the lack of an attacking, great gap control system. And his flaccid or non existent in game/intermission adjustments. He just flat out suuuuucks.

Hutton isn’t eligible for Seattle’s expansion draft. He’s only signed thru the 20-21 season. Unless we sign him to a one year deal for the 21-22 season. Seattle must choose a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2021-22 regular season and those with an aggregate Expansion Draft value that is between 60-100 percent of the prior season's upper limit for the salary cap. Seattle cannot buy out players chosen in the Expansion Draft earlier than the summer following its first season. Current NHL teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie, under the following conditions. * All players with no movement clauses at the time of the draft, and who decline to waive those clauses, must be protected and will be counted toward their team's applicable protection limits. * All first- and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward protection limits. In addition, all NHL teams must meet the following minimum requirements regarding players exposed for selection in the draft: * One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2021-22 and b) played in at least 40 NHL games the prior season or played in at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons. * Two forwards who are a) under contract in 2021-22 and b) played at least 40 NHL games the prior season or played in at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons. * One goalie who is under contract in 2021-22 or will be a restricted free agent at the end of his current contract immediately prior to 2021-22. If a team elects to make a restricted free agent goalie available to meet this requirement, that goalie must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the team's protected list. * Players with potential career-ending injuries who have missed more than the previous 60 consecutive games (or who otherwise have been confirmed to have a career-threatening injury) may not be used to satisfy a team's player exposure requirements unless approval is received from the NHL. Such players also may be deemed exempt from selection.

That sucks for them for sure. But wow if the NWHL can absorb most of the teams and make a bigger league with 30-40 game seasons and playoff series instead of one game eliminations. That would be phenomenal!

Since the playoffs begin on April 10th, I’ve been saying before the playoffs begin. So yea, after today he has 9 more days as an NHL head coach in 2019.

LAST GAME Saturday, March 30 Buffalo 1 at NY Islanders 5 Goals: Olofsson Goalie: Hutton (33 saves/38 shots) PP: 1/2; PK: 1/1; Shots: NY Islanders 38 – Buffalo 32 CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 234) Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed Jake McCabe (upper body, March 4) – 13 games Matt Hunwick (upper body, March 23) – 5 games Zach Bogosian (lower body, March 25) – 4 games Rasmus Ristolainen (illness, March 26) – 3 games Evan Rodrigues (upper body, March 28) – 2 games Vladimir Sobotka (upper body, March 30) – 1 game TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS 3/26: Signed D Casey Fitzgerald to a two-year, entry-level contract with an AAV of $925,000; Recalled D William Borgen from Rochester (AHL) 3/27: Recalled F Victor Olofsson from Rochester (AHL) 3/28: Recalled D Matt Tennyson from Rochester (AHL); Assigned F Tage Thompson to Rochester (AHL) REMAINING GAMES Tuesday, April 2: Nashville at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4: Ottawa at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6: Buffalo at Detroit, 7 p.m. TONIGHT’S GAME BLUE JACKETS at SABRES This is the third and final meeting between the Sabres and Blue Jackets this season. Last meeting: Buffalo defeated Columbus 5-4 in Columbus on Jan. 29 The Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games vs. Blue Jackets; 5-4-1 at home. This is the 32nd game all-time between Buffalo and Columbus; Buffalo has an 12-16-3 series record. The Sabres are 7-8-1 at home against the Blue Jackets all-time. THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY The Sabres are 12-10-0 all-time on March 31. March 31, 1971: Eddie Shack records his second hat trick in 10 days as the Sabres defeat the Penguins 6-4 in Pittsburgh. March 31, 1992: The Sabres and Minnesota North Stars combine for 360 penalty minutes, including 188 to the Sabres and 172 to the North Stars. All three totals (for, against and combined) still stand as Sabres franchise records.

Top three answers on the board. Here’s the question ... How has this team completely reverted back to the worst team in the NHL again??? 1. Housley 2. System 3. No in season trades to stop the decline in December/January. JB’s fault. IF Housley was better, IF his system was effective, IF JB did 2 or 3 in season trades in December/January, this team would be 20 points better. Minimum.

Re: top 100 scorers in the past decade.... Only if you take out all top 10 draft picks since most top 10 draft picks are talented enough to go top 10, and therefore see little if any junior or AHL time. As you know, that really wouldn’t make your point of players not needing the AHL and it not being a developmental league, if you selected someone like Crosby or Malkin and said “SEE ZOMG! They didn’t need AHL TIME!” ???

No matter what reason I give, you’ll disagree with because your mind is made up. I’m not saying he definitely will or definitely will not sign with the Sabres BTW. i just commented about what Skinner (or any player) says in media scrums after losses as an indicator as to his intentions after the season ends. I’m not saying you’re doing this ... but Ive always found fans who try so hard to read between the lines, read into things, make more out of something that isn’t there, and create agendas based on nothing concrete, eat up anything negative and are usually overly dramatic. Yawn...

Good PR would be the worst reason to bring Ruff back. But with Pegulas mind ... who knows what “wise” thing he decides.

I understand that mindset. I do. The reason why he’s hasn’t looked lost is because he’s been developing nicely in Roch. gaining confidence. If he has a nice post season and looks great in training camp, he’ll make the team. If not, he goes back to Roch to work on his game some more. hopefully Tage gets some serious development time in Roch. too.

Very nice! Wedgewood needs to get his head on straight. Or they are not long for the playoffs.

https://www.nhl.com/video/c-67342503 Olofssons goal ...

A good pro doesn’t air dirty laundry about coaches, GM’s or owners to media hacks. not surprised

Plenty of Developing young players ... it’s true. Plenty of (potentially) great developing young players ... never typed that. agree to disagree

Meh ... don’t read into post game losses media scums ...

And misery ...

T-minus 4 ...

And that 18 year old most likely will need more than a year or two to reach that level of production. Just because a player gets picked top 10 doesn’t automatically mean he comes in to an NHL team and starts pouring in goals. We have more than enough developing young players. If you want established developed players, be prepared to get rid of all draft picks, most prospects, and a few roster players you’ll hate to lose. It must be a perfect mix of developing young players, developed younger players, solid vets, solid goaltending, and a very good coach and system. i know everyone wants to be good now, right now, but that’s just not gonna happen. Im not saying JB has been perfect, but he has, since being the GM turned this roster over a lot in both off seasons. His major fault is not dealing in season. Not his only fault.

And gained a great coach. A great system. And solid goaltending. didn’t have that last year.

Coaching ...

Are the defense leaving him out to dry? Is he getting any support?

I’m gonna say yes. Over the course of the last 4 games, I’ll predict 8 goals. But we’ll give up 64. ?

No! Tage did benefit from being in the NHL all season. Financially. Tage needed the AHL like Nylander needed it. And Nylander needs, yes needs to experience the playoffs in the AHL now. He’ll be better for it next season. Same with Olofsson, Pulit, and Thompson. Even If some want to cross their arms and refuse to believe it.