FrenchConnection44

I am 63 and it’s the lowest point for me.

Fair enough. 👍

We have drafted poorly and also been down at the wrong times. Missing out on McDavid - even though Eichel is a really good player, he’s not all time great - hurt. Then when we do get the top pick the best player on the board is Power. Who is clearly not a generational player. But several of our draft choices have not turned out. Dahlin is a very good player but he’s no Austin Matthews. But that 2021 draft with two 1st rounders and two 2nd rounders is not looking great. Really, just not a good draft. The Maple Leafs didn’t pick until 57th in that draft and they have gotten more productivity out of Knies than we have with 3 others ahead of him and there’s a question whether Power is better. We draft Rosen 14th - so far he’s played 8 NHL games. Wyatt Johnson has more goals and assists at the NHL level than Rosen has had in the AHL. It’s like Adams doesn’t scout - he just follows the media boards. All our GMs and Adams particularly have been gifted a ton of great spots in the draft and have either come up short or been mediocre. Imagine Wyatt Johnson on the team? Bad fortune on the years we were the worst team, poor drafting so far, and an unappealing team or location to many other players for whom we might have traded or signed.

Agreed. I said this near the end of last year. Buffalo is not an attractive team. If they had an identity, blue collar, we’re competitive (like, say, Carolina) then we might have something. But so many hockey players don’t want to come here when it’s a bad franchise and sink into oblivion when there are attractive cities and teams in the south.

The good news is we are only 2 points out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. Albeit to the Rangers who also have 2 games in hand and are clearly a better team and franchise. The bad news is we are only 2 points out of last place in the East and only 2-3 teams clearly worse. But really, this team is a disaster. They don’t know how to win. And it’s a bad culture that is unlikely to change. Apparently as long as the Bills win people will give Pegula a pass. But what happens if Josh Allen goes down? He’s the franchise. He needs to sell the Sabres but isn’t likely to do so. And the buy might move them. My one hope is that he actually puts money, energy, and effort into the team after the new stadium is finished. Won’t be holding my breath, tho.

I don’t disagree about Pegula. He’s putting all his resources into the Bills and the stadium and doesn’t show good ownership leadership for the Sabres. He also, frankly, got fortunate with Josh Allen. A lot of high rated QBs have been drafted higher and panned out worse. Without Allen, the Bills are a .500 team. He is a stumbling block for the franchise But we can’t discount the problems with Adams. He’s had 5 drafts and 4 1/2 years. His best draft was the first one (Quinn/Peterka). Has to be scrutinized heavily at the end of this season.

Other than Huglen who is still in college 🙄 What sticks out to me is Ryan Johnson. I got a lot of pushback when I criticized him a couple of months back. But he’s 23. And was the 31st pick in 2019 and there are a number of younger players drafted in subsequent years - some later in the draft - who are at the NHL level or in the AHL and doing as well or better. And that’s on a mediocre—at best—team. 2 assists. At the AHL level. Not giving up on him but he’s a disappointment imo and not flashing first round value. Or close to it.

No. While the national media are bragging about Pegula and his desire for a “best in class” stadium … … They don’t say anything about his running the Buffalo hockey team into the ground such that it’s one of the “worst in class” franchises in the NHL.

It’s called a “metaphor.” Metaphors by definition are not intended to be taken literally. 🤦‍♂️ 🙄

Love it. Casey is not only -13, but also has 4 take aways to go with 23 give aways! That’s one trade by Adams that is looking good so far.

Great game to watch! Let’s hope this is a start of a genuine turnaround. And not just that we caught the Rangers on an off night. Because we’ve been down this road of lose 3 or 4 or 7 in a row and come back and win 4-5 in a row, look good, then go on another losing streak. Gotta stay tough. Mentally and physically. Not every game will be that easy.

Incredible! they need to slow down on the scoring. I can hardly keep up! 😂 just kidding

Amazing.

Greenway!!! Hahahaha

Don’t relax. Stay intense.

Tage!!!!

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.