FrenchConnection44

for me, the evaluation of Granato, whom I like a whole lot, is not grounded in whether he makes the playoffs or not. But it’s just evaluating the play on the ice. Obviously, there are personnel moves that need to be made to add additional players to strengthen weak areas. But on the ice, I find that his defensive system in particular is just so bad. When the Sabres are in their zone, they just don’t seem to have a good system. They stand around, don’t back check well, they don’t play aggressively on the defensive end, there are just so many problems compared to some of the better teams, it’s almost night and day. Of course, some of the main questions you have to ask if you are considering firing a coach, is who is available to replace that coach? And do they want to coach your team? And are they a fit with the personnel on your team? They need a coach with some better, defensive prowess, but they don’t need a guy who can’t coach offense either. Our identity is not going to be a grind it out, 2-1 scoring, defensive team. We are always going to be an offensive team with the talent that we have, but we do need a coach who can still have a solid defensive system in place.

Like any other player that age in a great program. Heck, Wally Szczerbiak went from 210 to 240 in 3 yrs at Creighton. I follow Alabama football and most players at RB, LB, TE, add 10+ lbs of muscle (and add speed) each year they are there. Those are all 18-19-20 yr olds. So I’d expect all those guys above could add 8-10 lbs of muscle, improved speed, each year the next 2-3 years. Power was listed at 215 this year. His ultimate playing weight should be in the 235 range at peak. Maybe bigger depending on his frame. I’d say he should go near to 225ish next year. Be stronger in the legs and skate faster with greater balance. That’s the kind of growth to which I’m referring - that which happens at the better major college programs.

Generally concur here. I’d trade Mitts. I like Haula. They do need a good two way Forward. With a good +/- . And another defenseman and goalie.

Agreed. Coaching? I wonder if Granato knows how to coach any kind of defensive system? Aside from, “you four stand here, here, here, and here. Try not to let them get a shot too close in.” Our defense in our zone is terrible. PK or 5 on 5. And an unimaginative PP. I like Granato. Just not sold on him as a legit upper tier coach. Adams has generally done a decent job constructing the team. Not sure about some of his accumulation of defensemen (or failure to do so) aside from the top 3 guys. These last 2-3 weeks have been a massive let down. A wounded Dahlin and injured Samuelsson haven’t helped. Chychrun for the next two years would also have been great. It’s a bummer we could not pull that off. What is the deal with Rian Johnson? Not re the Sabres and just as a player? Just not seeing it. Hard to know after this breakdown what player will want to sign with the Sabres as a free agent without gross overpayment? Adams has to get another goalie - priority 1. And a starting defenseman - priority 2. And another two way veteran forward who can be a leader. Horvat would have been a good one. Players have to have an improved training regimen. Do we need a new trainer and/or strength and conditioning staff? We shouldn’t have just one guy as that but have a whole department dedicated to the science of building the best and strongest hockey player body possible out of the raw mold that enters the building. Several need to add 5-10 lbs of muscle this off season (Power needs to add 15-20 over the next 3 off seasons), get better balanced and stronger on their skates, and play with a more toughness. We are among the softest teams in the league. If not the softest. Don’t have to become the broad street bullies. Just more physically and mentally tough. The Pegula’s have had a tough year with Kim. Hope she continues to recover. Franchise needs her leadership at the top and needs to build out to become a state of the art franchise. Only way to do it with a small market team in the NHL.

Well. What a collapse. Good talent is there. Toughness, mental and physical, and maturity are not. Also need a goalie or two and another defenseman. There is hope for a high draft pick but none of those rated in the top 10 are defensemen. But a potentially very good player.

I remember going to a Sabres-Flyers game and Schoenfeld roughed up Schultz. Took him down. Later on a line change, Schultz was skating off and Jim was standing at the point waiting for the face-off. Schoenfeld fake lunged at him and Schultz jumped away. The crowed went nuts and laughed at him.

Goaltending is a problem but that’s not a clear or easily solution. If one is really good no one wants to let him go. But I agree with the above and I’d say it goes back more than 10 games. The whole defensive system, mentality, and talent (two way forward; top 4 defender who can check someone).

Took the name out of my mouth. Rick MacLiesh. Reggie Leach. The Watson bros. And not to state the obvious … but Clarke. Nothing like turning a crappy Flyers team into a playoff caliber looking lineup. Only the Sabres.

It’s not an excuse. It’s a fact. There is a difference. If they were all 13 would you say it’s an excuse? No one would. If their top 10 payers all went down to season ending injury in January would you say that’s an excuse? No reasonable person would. It’s a reality. They aren’t ready to win. They don’t have the physical or mental maturity or the goaltending. They don’t have 6 all star 30 year olds with Cup experience and Hasek in goal. They are where they are and still have a ton of room for improvement. But the pressure is on Adams to deliver this off season and improve the team, for sure.

This team could not clear or carry the puck out of their own zone if their mom’s life depended on it. It’s uncanny. Something needs to change - systemically. Granato needs to look at himself and scout some other teams to see what the deal is and what he needs to change. So does Adams.

This team is toast. Losing to the Flyers is irritating. Very frustrating. That said, the blasting of the team is absurd. It’s improved in leaps and bounds from last year. Youth is not an “excuse.” It’s a fact. Reality. The vast majority of the team is not yet in their prime; not close. Most are 2-3 years away. But they do have a good deal of talent. They are in serious need of a strong, top 2, top 4 defenseman. And a two-way forward. I don’t know that that will be out there after the trade deadline deals unfortunately.

Love watching him play. Hope he becomes a star. Give it a year. Sadly, he will miss the playoffs this year.

Bummer of a loss. Just not tough enough mentally or physically at this point. They all have to grow and grow stronger. Maybe we will get a wildly lucky draw and get into the top 5! Lol. And I plan to win the lottery.

This team is much improved. Still very young. Lots of potential. But lacks depth. Goaltending. And needs another solid defenseman. Bonafide starter. So I am positive. But they are not a playoff caliber team. Even if they got lucky to get in. Clearly. Need some improvement by the players and a couple of new free agents. Big off-season for Adams if he is going to build a winner.

I put this in the prospects thread but probably could go here. He is considered the top college free agent on this site ideal size. I think it’s a no brainer to pursue and sign not as a solution but who knows? Worth a shot imo: https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/8042640-nhl-college-free-agents-jake-livingstone-leads-list-of-top-available-ufas Jake Livingstone, RHD, Minnesota State A 23-year-old defenseman who has been pursued by NHL teams for each of the last three seasons, Livingstone is a strong offensive performer with size and good mobility. He’s second on his team in scoring with 30 points. He defends well on top of producing, and can be a weapon in transition. The right-shot defenseman comes in at 6-foot-3, 205, so he has the size NHL teams are interested in. On top of that, he's got some track record with two 30-plus point seasons in college hockey and good numbers from his junior days in the BCHL. He likely tops out as a bottom-pairing defenseman, but there's a lot to like in his game.

This is not a Sabres prospect but couldn’t find another place to put this. https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/8042640-nhl-college-free-agents-jake-livingstone-leads-list-of-top-available-ufas While he’s no sure thing He’s rated the top college free agent on this site and a Defenseman with size. I see no reason not to pursue this guy. Jake Livingstone, RHD, Minnesota State A 23-year-old defenseman who has been pursued by NHL teams for each of the last three seasons, Livingstone is a strong offensive performer with size and good mobility. He’s second on his team in scoring with 30 points. He defends well on top of producing, and can be a weapon in transition. The right-shot defenseman comes in at 6-foot-3, 205, so he has the size NHL teams are interested in. On top of that, he's got some track record with two 30-plus point seasons in college hockey and good numbers from his junior days in the BCHL. He likely tops out as a bottom-pairing defenseman, but there's a lot to like in his game.

Leaving aside the bad goal, the inability of the Sabres to check inside their own zone is disturbing. In 5 on 5 if the other team gets the puck and all five players in the zone it’s almost as if they have a power play. They seemed not to understand what teams are doing to them or how to defend around the net. The Islanders run a kind of triangle in front of the net and it was as if the Sabres were not prepared to defend it. Or had no clue what to do to stop it at times.

Of course it is inconsistent and sometimes very bad. No doubt. In ev Ty sport. I think the problem here is that it was not just a missed call on the ice but instant replay; and they should be able to get that right. No reason to have replay if they can’t get it correct. He obviously kicked his leg at the puck and sent it into the net. The replay officials at least need to know the rules. One can argue it should not be a rule. But that doesn’t change that it is now.

I agree except I do give him credit for trying to trade for Chychrun. Wasn’t on him but from all appearances on Arizona. Last viable defenseman drafted was 2019 - Rian Johnson. He’s still playing college hockey and who knows that situation. Or how good he will be. Not a huge force imo. It’s a problem he has to solve but won’t happen this year. If he doesn’t land a top 4 defender this off season it’s a problem.

And if they start to get into the question of “what was in the player’s head” that becomes absurd. Every player will then say, “I wasn’t intentionally trying to score, just trying to stop the puck to shoot,” and who is to dispute what is in a player’s mind? No one. If there is movement toward the goal it has to be disallowed as intentional. Unbelievable.

It’s clearly not a goal. From Buffalo News piece. Any nonsense that he was not intentionally redirecting the puck is nonsense. He clearly was kicking his leg out toward the goal.

I just don’t see it enough from Casey. Only on occasion. Not in the consistent way Cozens brings it. But that’s why the next 20 games are more pivotal for him imo, in how we perceive and evaluate his season (not that that means anything but just as fans).

It is a big game. But we have them again and we also have other tough games coming up in which we will need to scrape out points. But it could go a long way to building momentum for a playoff run.

Reading all the comments I think we want to see Casey continue to play alongside Cozens and see what he does the next 20 games. Good points made about his improved play. If he keeps up the recent trend he could be a player for us. I do think he still needs to be more physical. He’s not as weak as he was with contact. But still could add five+ more lbs of muscle/strength (as is the case to varying degrees with several players) and also become a bit more aggressive. Cozens can’t be the only non-finesse-only player on that line. If it’s Cozens-Quinn-Mitts, then Mitts has to be more aggressive with his speed, balance and physical play. It has improved, but still must continue. I want someone with Cozens who doesn’t just pass but creates some degree of physical intimidation. You want times to not be happy when the Cozens line comes on. Dylan is great in that way but he can’t be the only thorn in the side of defenders.