FrenchConnection44

Samuelsson is a healthy scratch? I suppose that is a message?

This is the same team we’ve seen for the last few years (though they were at least entertaining 2 years ago with all the scoring). They go out and lose 2-3-4 in a row. Then they win an unexpected game and win a couple in a row. They are a .500 club. The same thing they have been. Which sucks. If they are .500 this year they should just blow it up. Trade their talent. Pick up first rounders. Get rid of Adams. Wish Pegula would sell but that probably won’t happen. There is no reason to follow this team until something radically different happens.

That’s about as disappointing a loss as it gets. What the heck is Tage doing in OT? And for the last however many seasons our shorthanded defense has to be one of the most passive. But when it’s six on five skaters, you have to be more aggressive. Can’t just pack it in and then give a guy space to tap it in! UPL did himself no favors on a couple of those goals.

Between 1972 and 2001 we were in the playoffs 25 out of 29 years! And a very competitive team with anyone in several of those seasons. Winning or not winning a cup that franchise over a 3 decade stretch cannot in any way be described as a joke. (to say nothing of the fact that we were clearly robbed in the Dallas cup finals) The last 14 years in the Pegula - Adams era (which can’t end soon enough), can quite fairly be described as a joke.

If we benched Cozens, I would not change up the 3rd line but would move Krebs in that position between Benson and Quinn. Krebs has compete and could gel with Benson. And he was originally a talented offensive prospect.

I think/hope Cozens still can improve but he’s overpaid and I don’t have much confidence. Ever since getting pummeled in that fight last year it seems he just hasn’t had that same compete he has two seasons ago. He was really weak on that steal.

I love these Sabres away uniforms. Which used to be their home unis. Especially great when we play well. 😉

He seems apathetic and cheap re the Sabres Maybe if only 3000 fans show up each night he would be pressured to do something. But who knows. He might be waiting for the new stadium and that revenue to kick in before doing anything. Or not. The NHL is low on the totem pole for revenue and popularity. It’s the red headed step child among the big 4 professional team sports. Heck, it gets less pub than the WNBA since Caitlin Clark came along. It’s also way below CFB.

Who is going to trade anything for these players? Who wants to come here as a free agent? Team needs a new owner and a new GM and then to finish last and win the draft lottery in a year there is a McDavid-level type talent coming out. That could be decades. Otherwise we have to hope we actually scratch and claw our way into the playoffs and get a hot goalie to win series - then a talented player or two might want to sign. But Pegula has to want to spend. It’s funny to me that the NFL and its media generally loves the Bills, but the NHL seems to have no respect for the Sabres.

If they keep struggling after a few more games, that might not be a bad idea as a slap in the face, lol. Anything that would get them a bit angry and play with more life and sharpness in their game.

We shouldn’t have any shot at winning this game, so we probably will. If we are anything like last year’s team. But then we are sure to lose to the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks. Lol

I think it would be the best move by the organization to play Kulich tomorrow. When is he ever going to play a real game for his NHL team in Prague? Dude has been busting his butt the last two years. and do we really think Krebs is going to make all the difference in one game? Over a season he is probably more consistently reliable at this point but in a single game - in Prague?! Gotta go with Kulich.

It’s not the end of the world but it is also a BS start for a team that was somehow working hard and ready to go. If I’ve heard the bs line, “It’s early, they still are adjusting, yada yada yada” line once I’ve heard it 10,000 times. Even uttered it myself. How well has that worked the first 1/5 of the season the last 13 years? Have heard it about the Sabres and any number of other sports franchises for which I root. 90% of the time it has no basis in reality other than the reality of wishful thinking. Not giving up hope by any means. But it’s a lousy start for a team. No excuses. The Devils didn’t offer any. Hopefully the players realize these are real games and come out storming Next game. And we are that 10% who come along and develop into a solid playoff team. Still … wake up!

He’s not yet a bust. That’s a more accurate wording. ( the waiver rules and lack of playing time on the trip make sense - given he’s not making the team) But it’s still a disappointment, imo, that he’s not able to make the team - on a team that had 84 points last year.

Wish I could, since I lived in Prague (Praha) for two years. Such a great city. Also loved the hockey there! Saw several players who later played in the NHL. And went to several games at Jagr’s home town team, Kladno (not such a great city 😉).

The most glaring feature of that list is 9 defensemen and no Ryan Johnson. First round pick in 2018 and he’s 23. He should be a starter if not 2nd line at least by now. Looking increasingly like a bust. Even when he was at Minnesota he didn’t look special or exceptional to me at that level.

Honestly I think Cozens game dropped off much of the year after his fight with Hathaway and his broken nose & black eye. A big mistake to do that. He seemed to come around late. But it appeared to take a lot out of him. He just wasn’t his same confident, aggressive self after that. But that’s why we need 1-2 solid but bruising, physical players - who can actually play, not just goons - to handle that. This below is a good sign. Wish all the young guys (esp. Power) would have this off season focus.

Exactly. Well said. This has been my point for about three years now. And I think this is everybody’s point who argues for trying to get a bigger power forward. The responses of those who don’t think it’s an issue are all straw man fallacies. Putting words into someone’s mouth with such utter nonsense as “If X is not 6’2, 220 some fans won’t want him.” No. It’s fine to have several smaller guys. But when all the taller guys are not really physical nor intimidating in some way, that’s not helpful. Many teams, including the Sabres, could use a Barkov or a Tkachuk. The Sabres perhaps more than anyone. Put one or both of those on this lineup and we are immediate contenders. You gotta draft that type or go all in with a player in free agency or trade. But those two - and others of varying abilities with that profile around the league - are big enough and physically strong enough they can annoy and skate with anyone. And agitate. And be a physical presence on the ice so that other teams are less apt to rough up smaller players. All those traits have their use.

I sure hope you are right. I am sure those who disagree would also hope you are right! We all want the team to win … I don’t see the physicality yet, nor the shooting ability, to put him anywhere near the Marchand type category. All the other intangibles are there. I think he needs a good 10-15 lbs of muscle over this and next year or two. Hopefully he added some this offseason. And work on his overall speed and shooting.

Gotta hope this guy makes the team and plays well. Last year he seemed to get off to a good start and then faded late. Hes got serious talent. But he has to come through.

Wow. He was SO great. What a coach. Not just for the Sabres. Those years with the vaunted Habs teams as well. Happy Birthday indeed.

Well said. My thoughts also. Not going to transform the team but good to have him at a good price.

I am mixed on the Casey M trade. Doesn't look like we got much for that but we'll see. I've never been a fan of early talent / drop off / reclamation projects (Byram). Those always look potentially great on paper but rarely turn out the way fans want in multiple sports (football, hockey, etc.). We shall see. The Savoie - McLeod trade ... meh. We'll see how McLeod does. Big difference playing as the 3rd C on a team with McDavid and Draisaitl 1 & 2, vs the Sabres. You just have to be close to or even a little under the +/- mark and your team will be fine. Really was hoping for more but we won't be able to judge the outcome until next year.

Giving some more thought to this, I wouldn’t have minded trading Savoie if it was for a hard nosed tough defensive forward. But we didn’t. Have to wonder if McLeod will contribute.