
FrenchConnection44
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What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?
FrenchConnection44 replied to GASabresIUFAN's topic in The Aud Club
Such a good point. And we’ve already been down this road multiple times in the past few seasons. On the other hand, if a couple of players, like Cozens, play well before the deadline we might be able to get some assets if the GM would pull the trigger. Really, the two things I wanted was 1) to trade a Cozens and even Power or Samuelsson for a stronger, more physical and more defensive defensemen. Who still has some tread left. And 2) make it to the top 4 in the draft (who knows with this team?). I think any of the top 4 could start for this team next year. I would rather trade away some soft players who are young than some of the guys that are constantly mentioned. We need grit and we are talking about trading some who have added some of that. I just don’t think the team culture is going to change with the way any of those 3 play. Maybe Power needs to be sent out in the ice in a tense situation to be forced into a fight - let Lindy tell him, “go kick that guy’s butt and stop asking ppl half your size, like Krebs here, to do your dirty work!” And get his ass kicked and it would light a fire under him to become physically tougher in the off season. 😉 Of course it won’t happen. -
Now watch us continue on a big win streak and move out of a shot at one of the top 4. But then we will lose several and probably draft 8-10. Get some guy who will sit in the minors for the next 3 years. We While the Penguins will get a top 4 guy who comes in and plays well and becomes a star. Smh. This team can’t win and they can’t even lose when they need to! Lol. It’s the worst kind of failure 😂
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OT: Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead
FrenchConnection44 replied to SABRES 0311's topic in The Aud Club
Wow. That’s strange. He was 95 so he was not unexpected. But the wife and dog? Fishy I remember going to see The French Connection as a kid. I was 10 My mom took me and got some looks about taking me to an R rated film. But man, I loved it and it was one of the movies that launched my love of film—which remains to this day. He had some great roles. Always liked his on screen persona. RIP -
Vinny Prospal evicerates Alexandr Kisakov
FrenchConnection44 replied to inkman's topic in The Aud Club
Yeah! Misa is top class. I’d love him. Could be a great player. Would be awesome. If not him then Martone. Hope we can land one or the other. We should offer Cozens & Power for one of the top 3 picks and draft both Misa and Martone. 😉 Even throw in Samuelsson! No seriously. 🤷🏼♂️ Both are just so impressive. Both are first line players in the waiting imo Our luck, we will get hot and not get either. We need to make do everything at this point to ensure we are in the top 4. But this is a good draft. I would trade those 3 to get more picks. -
Roster Building with the New Cap Increases
FrenchConnection44 replied to Flashsabre's topic in The Aud Club
Let’s make it happen. Frees up cap space and might get a player in return. -
What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?
FrenchConnection44 replied to GASabresIUFAN's topic in The Aud Club
I’d like to keep Greenway and Zucker and all the NHL RFAS. I am done with Power, Samuelsson, and Cozens. The workhorse from Whitehorse has turned into a pommel horse or a kiddie ride horse. Seems especially so since he got hammered in that fight last year. Maybe we can throw in Ryan Johnson as well. About to be 24 and he’s on his way to another 0 goal 10 assist season in the AHL. -
Vinny Prospal evicerates Alexandr Kisakov
FrenchConnection44 replied to inkman's topic in The Aud Club
Well, if we keep our spot, Tankathon has us taking Porter Martone 4th who is 6’3, 207 at age 18. Maybe you’ll get your wish. We need some players with size and power. And have a bit of a nasty streak. Hopefully he does. -
Czechs. Slovaks. But the Czechs did win Olympic gold in 1998. Of course, Hasek, Jagr & Lang
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We haven’t seen the two countries together since 1991. Both countries still produce quality hockey players. I used to go to games there in the early 90s. Saw Jagr’s home town team—Kladno—play a few times. Quality hockey to watch. Always root for Czech players since I lived there for 2 years; have a soft spot in my heart for Kulich. (less a fan of the name Czechia than Czech Republic 😉 )
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The Sabres need to move on from Mattias Samuelsson
FrenchConnection44 replied to LGR4GM's topic in The Aud Club
Said the same thing above before reading this. I've been saying this for 2-3 years now. Thought Power would be that but he's soft as well. If he had the fire in his belly he could have been a guy who was on his way to being a Victor Hedman type which is what you want in a 6'6 defender. He's 221. He should be 225-230 range by now and getting big hits. Both of them should. Maybe Novikov will become that guy but it's gonna be a bit. He has that ruggedness in him but he still needs to get stronger and a bit bigger (215 range). And he's a year away. But It would be great to get a veteran who is already an intimidator. And then if Novikov can come up next year, we could have two defenders who are more physical than anyone on the defense (though yeah, Clifton is nice to have but he's not going to make anyone think twice about roughing up our more talented players). -
The Sabres need to move on from Mattias Samuelsson
FrenchConnection44 replied to LGR4GM's topic in The Aud Club
Not only is he constantly injured, which is a problem of reliability - the most games he's played in a season the last 4 years is 55 - but Samuelsson is 6'4, 225 and has 72 penalty minutes in 185 games played. That's one 2 minute penalty every 5 games. He's a friggin Lady Byng candidate! Not what you want from a player that size with minimal offensive skills. He should be an intimidating presence on the ice, and I don't mean fighting per se (but he shouldn't be afraid of that), but as a hitter and physically roughing up any forward who comes into the zone. And he's about to turn 25. He should be so dominating that people are challenging him and he's getting co-roughing penalties if not multiple majors. Between him and Power we have to have the softest and most spineless two defensemen combined who are over 6'4 and 220+. Those two should have been crushing it in the weight room and taking some MMA training the past three offseason just to be ready for some phyical scrapping. I'd rather see them get suspended for PEDs and be tough than what they are. SMH. I'm fine with trading him. And Power. Trade him and Power - even in a swap with multiple teams to try to get one defenseman the size of Samuelsson who has some gumption and toughness. -
GDT: Devils @ Sabres Feb 2, 2025 - 1:00PM, MSG 📺, WGR550 📻 🎙
FrenchConnection44 replied to LGR4GM's topic in The Aud Club
There is no one man enough to retaliate on this team. Krebs is the only one with the fire to do so but he doesn’t have the size and strength. And the players with size (Muel, Power) are, frankly, female genitals on ice. But 1-2 self appointed experts (fans who aren’t in the ring) keep arguing “nah, we don’t need bigger, physical, bad ass players.” That Tage incident is Exactly why we need 1-2 of those, a poor man Tom Wilson types. I don’t see anyone in the Amerks ready for that. Tyson Kozak would be as he’s about the only other one I see with any real gumption on the ice, but he has the same problem Krebs has as he goes only 5’11 173. Maybe if Komarov puts on 30 lbs of muscle he could. But that isn’t happening. If we are going to finish last or near last in the East and bottom 5 overall, we might as well be a team everyone fears playing. And make other players think twice about attempting some BS hit to the head of our star players. I’ll say it again, trade Power and some future small talent for a 6’4, 220+ guy who plays defense (F or D) and has some physical intimidation if not brutality to his game. And get these weaklings in the **** weight room. Stop adding 3 lbs of muscle to your 180 lb frames and on 10 lbs of muscle and start hammering some people. It’s a talented but soft team. That doesn’t play much D. That’s a bad reason. -
GDT: Devils @ Sabres Feb 2, 2025 - 1:00PM, MSG 📺, WGR550 📻 🎙
FrenchConnection44 replied to LGR4GM's topic in The Aud Club
I don’t understand why they don’t put McLeod on line two with Tuch and Zucker. Put Cozens with Benson and Quinn. -
Really like what Kulich is bringing. His hard work is showing. He needs to keep working physically, get closer to the 200 pound range (190-195 would be great) for greater strength and he can be a force for us. I'd be happy with a Tage-Kulich-Tuch line next year. Or move Tuch to line 2 and put JJP up there.
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There isn't a great deal of physicality in college hockey, anyway. Not like the NHL (or the AHL). But the FO, if they had any presence of mind, had to think if he understood what was needed for the NHL he'd become a bigger, stronger, faster player who could use his size and 'power' to good effect. Someone needs to light a fire under that kid or he's another wasted top pick. And we are likely on our way to another high draft pick, top 3-4, who might come into the league when he turns 21 or 22 and everyone will say, "Well, he's still young."
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GdT Sabres in Vanc: Jan 21/25. Like 10 tn; you figure it out
FrenchConnection44 replied to PASabreFan's topic in The Aud Club
Funny how we are talking face offs. That certainly was a key to the win for this game. I forget who it was trying to argue that face offs wins do not matter. Well yes they do. They can be crucial if they are won at the right time. Not all face offs are created equal. Kulich had been over 50% earlier in the season. Even though he was at 45% in the game, the nine he won were instrumental. Several of our best opportunities came on his face off wins in their zone. And with Tage on the wing, that makes his wins a huge danger. I think there is some promise there and like the idea of Kulich centering Tage or other scorers. He does have to improve his D - but then so does the entire team. But I do like his clutch ability to win. He will get better as he continues to get stronger and more experienced. -
This team desperately needs more physical players. Power is such a disappointment. He should be dominating with physicality and speed and he’s just not near the force he could have been by now. It’s a soft team. About the only thing we are really good at is Kulich winning face-offs especially in the offensive zone. I don’t dislike our forward lines. If we kept them as is but added one more rugged player who can play and be tough I’d be happy. Doesn’t look possible. Especially with defensive needs. Such a soft group of players. It’s just incredible that none of these know how to play defense with any dominance. Not a one. Physicality is a major part of this game. Not just getting in a scuffle but physically over powering the attacker. We just don’t have it. I would be happy to trade Power and a prospect in Rochester for a more defensive defenseman with some size and toughness. Or to sign one.
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😂. True. And the 4 WS Titles Maybe because they moved? 🤷🏼♂️ I used to be a huge Buffalo Braves fan. But I sure ain’t a Clippers fan!
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The real issue with ‘being a Sabres fan’:
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Although much to complain about with the trades, signings … We could also throw in The Casey for Byram trade which really was for this year moving forward. Middlestadt has 8 & 18, 26 total in 40 games with a -13 +/- by far the worst on his team. Byram is at 5 & 17, 22 total in 42 games and a +5 +/- —on a losing, inconsistent team. I’ll take that. Savoie for McLeod remains to be seen. Will Savoie make the jump? And when he does how good will he actually be? As Nate Bargatze would put it, “Nobody knows.” But in another sense we let Skinner go and he’s now on the Oilers. Comparing those two is interesting. McLeod is at 7 & 14, 21 total but a +5 +/- . Skinner has 7 & 8, 15 total and, like Casey, a team worst -10 +/- I’m down with those. Yet this team continues to underperform.
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GDT: Buffalo Sabres @ Colorado Avalanche 01/02/25 9PM --MSG
FrenchConnection44 replied to bob_sauve28's topic in The Aud Club
Tired of losing leads, especially leads in the last half of the 3rd period. Inexcusable. A two goal lead with under 3:00 to go in the game? Regardless of the blame, that is completely and utterly inexcusable.