FrenchConnection44

Benson needs to get stronger and faster and improve his skating. It sucks he can’t go to the AHL which is where he and Savoie belong, imo. In fact, several of these guys need to show more dedication in strength training. It doesn’t look like Power got significantly bigger or stronger which he needs to do.

He doesn’t play with anyone who can score. He’s also not a very offensive player. But the lines he is on such as well. But if they were going to get anything for him they needed to trade him last year. He’s not going to bring anyone in. Trades are great if they make the team appreciably better. He should go down to the AHL but highly unlikely. But the way Granato has been coaching this team is a problem as well as still having KO, Girgs, and VO get minutes. A problem that won’t be fixed this year. I’d rather dump VO, Girgs, and Krebs in January (and bench KO) and call up young guys even if it hurts us.

I think Granato should be gone at the end of the year if they are in the bottom 10 (as they are right now). I’m for Adams staying on at least another year (maybe 2) but needs to make a great coaching decision and see some of the young players he’s drafted start to pan out. However, if they are where they are come January and then go on a big negative streak, say losing 8-10 in a row or 13 out of 15, as they have been prone to do every year, and find themselves in the bottom 5 or 6, I think the pressure will be on to fire Granato.

As the old Al Davis adage goes, Just Win, baby! They need to find ways to scrape out wins and ties. Just get points in the standings. Whether it looks good or not. Find a way to win and get better as the season goes on. Especially down the stretch. Let’s Go, Sabres!!!

He is scoring more but Kulich is the only player under 20 in the top 10 in goals in the AHL. Rosen is a better passer and overall skilled player. Kulich is bigger with more goal scoring / sniper ability. Two different players who mesh well, imo. I’d like to see them both called up late and also hopefully make the team next year and play together.

I think we have to stop with the 11 forwards and get consistent lines going. And get Peterka on with Cozens like last year. Had Quinn not been injured I think we’d see a very different team. But I don’t expect Quinn to do much this year when he returns. I think it will be next year before we see real improvement in him from last year.

Main thing Savoie has to do is get stronger physically and tougher. Can’t coast and think because he is scoring that he’ll be fine. He has to hit the weights and work his ass off. If he gets stronger and faster he will be going in the right direction. But I too wish he were in Rochester. It’s absurd that he’s not able to. Agree with the “one exception” rule that they should try to implement.

Great stuff. Love his attitude and personality. His statement about working his a** off to get stronger and faster is what you want to see from all our young players. That’s what Benson needs to do (especially given he’s not as fast as, say, a Rosen or Savoie - though his skill sets are of a different sort). Lots of promise from these young players. Really hope they pan out. I’d move to see Rosen and Kulich make the roster next year. And be called up at the end of the year. Also good to have Dahlin locked up - I am sure he’ll be a positive influence on Rosen.

Not all entry level coaches are created equal. I see a far more stable coaching and system (Bruins) from a Leach than Granato - who sort of bounced around everywhere. I am not opposed to a retread. Gallant is interesting. He has potential. And does he want to go to Buffalo? But who else is successful and sitting there (and also employable - which leaves out Quenneville and Babcock)?

Generally agree. Especially agree about young guys playing with crap. Anyone who plays with Girgs and Okposo is going to look bad. We have some young centers with talent. Some of them may need to be wingers. But playing them with someone who can’t put the puck in the net makes them ineffective. We had two good lines last year: Tuch-Tage-Skinner Quinn-Cozens-JJ Mitts is a good passing center with very good puck control and speed; but he needs wings that can score or be productive. Losing Quinn hurt. But then Granato’s experimental mixing and matching lines in the regular season was a big mistake. The Sabres’ young talent seems to be too long in development right now for that to help. But at the same time, a playoff run seems unlikely even with one or two trades. But by the time some of that talent can reach the NHL - and be effective (with no guarantees it will be) - Skinner will be diminishing and Tuch may need replacing when his deal is up. Personally, I’ve seen enough of Greenway to be done with him. He has very little offense. Maybe he can be a throw in with a deadline deal for another player.

I agree. This has been my thought expressed in other threads. I mentioned the assistant in Seattle (Leach) who coached in the Bruins system for 4 years (HC of their AHL team). Need a coach from a winning franchise that has a sound system. He needs to get these players tougher mentally and physically. (Bit of an aside but I just don’t think the organization has been on top of developing their talent. Physically - all these guys need to get bigger and stronger. Mentally - they need a hardened, tougher mentality. And they need a sound system (doesn’t have to be some hyper rigid defense - but just proven that allows their hockey talent to flourish as a team).

I don’t think the Sabres will or should panic. Making a trade for a center or other players at this point may just keep us treading water as a borderline almost winning team. Or fail just as bad and have fewer assets. I see no on ice direction to this team. It’s like Granato throws the puck on the ice and says “go play hockey.” I wouldn’t fire him today but unless we make a big run he should be gone. I’d look to fire him in January. and just let an interim take over. I think we need a coach with experience in a good organization. I posted this in the Penguins thread but this guy seems ideal: Jay Leach, Seattle Kraken assistant coach After four years as the head coach of the AHL Providence Bruins, Leach was hired as one of the inaugural assistant coaches with the Seattle Kraken prior to the 2021-22 season. He was in consideration for the Bruins' head coaching job this past summer after Bruce Cassidy was fired, with the B's picking Jim Montgomery. Leach was described by one former colleague as "warm and engaging." "If you spend 15 minutes in conversation with him, you'll realize he has that 'it' factor," the former colleague said. "Like, this guy is a leader of men. Someone you'd have no problem being front-facing for your organization." A few more options. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35930681/who-top-candidates-nhl-coach-gm-jobs?platform=amp At least Leach comes out of a winning organization that develops players, that plays tough hockey, and has his feet wet as a head coach and now assistant in the NHL. I don’t see a Scotty Bowman sitting out there. But the coaching has to change. I also don’t think that means a huge turnover in player personnel. Depending on the coach. The talent and youth is there to mold. They need an actual system and some toughness added. Both instilled within the players and 1-2 vets who play hard nosed hockey. (Greenway doesn’t supply that and while he has been decent on the penalty kill he doesn’t do much else. I’d send him away). I would see where we are on January 15 or 30. Unless we go on one of those 10 game losing streak benders before that. But I’d be combing the coaching carousel and looking at a guy like Leach.

Jay Leach, Seattle Kraken assistant coach After four years as the head coach of the AHL Providence Bruins, Leach was hired as one of the inaugural assistant coaches with the Seattle Kraken prior to the 2021-22 season. He was in consideration for the Bruins' head coaching job this past summer after Bruce Cassidy was fired, with the B's picking Jim Montgomery. Leach was described by one former colleague as "warm and engaging." "If you spend 15 minutes in conversation with him, you'll realize he has that 'it' factor," the former colleague said. "Like, this guy is a leader of men. Someone you'd have no problem being front-facing for your organization." A few more options. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35930681/who-top-candidates-nhl-coach-gm-jobs?platform=amp

Ryan Johnson is about the Only bright spot tonight. UPL is a half of a bright spot. He played really well for most of two periods. Fluke goal of his face mask. Then a bad goal. And then an “own goal” by EJ. This team has regressed. They don’t play together and I think the mixing of lines every which way doesn’t help. Only hurts. Granato’s an NHL coach. Gotta know your team and figure it out dude.

The Sabres look like a bunch of grade school level soccer players all chasing the ball all over the field playing against an experienced high school team. We have 3 legit goal scoring threats on the team right now (Peterka, Skinner, and Tage) and one of those is in a total funk (Tage). Cozens’ game is lost. He wasn’t playing great earlier but it especially feels like he’s lost confidence since that fight. What is the point of putting Casey on a line with Girgs and Okposo or Greenway? Or another non scoring forward? Casey is not a goal scorer. His forte is speed and passing. And none of those line mates can score. And what is up with Savoie? Did he get tired from that 4 minute run last night?

I am a biased observer, but still I thought the officiating was horrible. So many penalties they didn’t call. Bogosian cross checked Greenway about 4 times in a row with all no calls. And Power totally got tripped behind his net late in the 3rd. I hope Granato is sending those and other to the league for review. Ryan Johnson is light years better than Bryson was last year. He’s a really good skater. Needs to add some muscle (that’s true for about half the team!) but I think he’s going to be a really solid blue liner. Plays with really good poise and the game doesn’t seem too big for him. He’s a pro! I liked Peterka with Tage and Skinner. Greenway is an important player for us but he just not a scorer. That really limits his game Was expecting to see Savoie a bit more. Says he got 3:55 in ice time but I only noticed him once for a short moment. Levi with a great game. That was a must win. So glad we got out of that with a W. But we need to build on it and also play better. Still feel we play a bit too passive on D in our own zone.

Why would they sign Kane without first testing him out to see if he can actually play? (Not saying they wouldn’t, just saying it makes zero sense). If he can’t go full speed (and I think he’s washed up and needs to retire; plus no one really seems to come back from his situation), the signing would be ridiculous. No telling how many times a fledgling franchise tries to do this and it doesn’t work. He certainly is not going to solve the particular issues they have. Smh. 🤦‍♂️

Good post. Thanks.

Basically 4 starters out recently (DC, Sam, Tuch, Quinn), with Cozens and Samuelsson on the verge. 3 of them (Cozens, Quinn, Tuch) would have been part of our top two lines this year. I am not sure the Sabres know what they want to do. I don’t know where they want to put Savoie when Tuch returns (just put him back with Tage and Skinner). Maybe try Savoie-Cozens-JJ ? I’d try it. or Savoie-Casey-Greenway? But neither Casey nor Greenway are consistent goal scoring threats imo I just don’t think they have good line matches for 3 player lines right now, due to the Quinn injury and the other young guys not yet developed, other than our top line from last season. But I think the mixing and matching to find something is creating a lot of inconsistency right now I am not sure what they would do with Kulich right now. maybe with Casey and Greenway? Or Cozens & Peterka? It feels like they are a bit at cross purposes. Trying A) to win games and B) playing musical chairs with finding consistent lines and simultaneously develop young players. If they brought Kulich up, they could go: Skinner-Tage-Tuch Kulich-Mitts-Greenway Savoie-Cozens-Peterka At least they have snipers and facilitators and some physicality on all three lines.

I like all those pairings. And I really like Cozens with Peterka and Quinn. (think they have misused Cozens this year - I am not sure they know what to do with most of the forwards. The Quinn injury - and the failure to seek and find a replacement - seems to have had a trickle down impact). Kulich is more a winger / occasional C, imo, who will have a decent two way game. He’s not a facilitator like Rosen, imo. But he also has physicality to his game. And good puck skills. But both have good speed. But I also thought Savoie blended well with those two. In 2 years, would we complain about a line of Savoie-Rosen-Kulich? I doubt it. For me, Benson needs to get stronger and faster. He especially has to build up his legs to match some of the speed that Savoie brings. Both need to build up physically still. Benson needs to get into the high 170s range. It will take a year or two but Kulich really added a ton of strength this season and added 10+ lbs to his body. He’s focused. I’d be good though with a Benson-Savoie paired with either Casey or perhaps Krebs or Jost if they improve. I don’t think either of the latter two have had good pairings. or perhaps with a C we can get via trade or free agency.

I still think Cozens should be a C. I think his problems this year have been Granato - the way he’s been used. Cozens is the best face off center on the team (some don’t think that matters, but possession matters for chances, imo). He was our best two way C last year. But last year he was paired mostly with Quinn and Peterka - rookies - and they formed a good line. With much better potential til Quinn got injured. I don’t like the pairings he’s been given this year. It seems Granato just does not know what to do with half (or more) the forwards on the team. I don’t have a problem with Cozens doing some dirty work on the boards. He still scored 31 goals last year and he can set up teammates. He’s not really a sniper. We went from a team with a solid first two lines and potential for a 3rd solid line with young talent waiting in the wings and on their way up to add more scoring … to a team with very little line identity and inconsistent scoring. That’s not the only trouble with this team. But it’s one of them. I just don’t think the staff knows what to do with these players. I don’t dislike Granato. He’s been good for the players. But if play continues this way, he’s going to rightfully take much of the blame.

I thought we played well and tough. I don't know who coaches Carolina's penalty kill but we could learn from that. They were dominant. Felt impossible to get past them on the blue line - they just lined up there and said, "Try and get by." Dahlin on a fantastic individual play. I agree with PerraultForever that we are too passive on the penalty kill. We just accept their possession and sit back in a tight box. Carolina is a great contrast. They are all over the puck. Right on top of every player. Sometimes it didn't look like they were shorthanded. I thought UPL was great. The OT mistake was bad. I think that comes from just a lack of experience in the game. One thing for sure, he won't do it again! But otherwise, he made some great saves and really had no shot on either goal in regulation. The first was clearly off Greenway who deflected it perfectly into the corner. SMH. The second goal was a phenomenal pass and once again, a failure to back check. Still, we need to be tough every game. And more aggressive defensively; esp. on the power play.

Terrible. Took a beating. He has great spirit but if he doesn’t start lifting weights in the off-season and putting on another 15 pounds of strength, he’s gonna be what is the rest of his career. All these guys that are under 23 need to add about 15 pounds of muscle and toughness. I know there are people on here who think that the Sabres are playing tough hockey, and it’s not that they don’t try to play tough, they do try, but they still just are not physical enough. It’s one thing to have guts and lose a fight or take a hit, it’s another to play intimidating hockey, and that doesn’t necessarily mean fights, but sometimes you just got a pound guy. Exert some dominance! More than that, it’s about being strong, skating fast, overpowering the opponent when you’re fighting for the puck, and creating opportunities. Instead, we are sloppy, inconsistent, and just not physically strong enough in my opinion.

Love that meme, lol. The problem for me with Greenway is that as big as he is he doesn’t play physical. He should be out there intimidating other players. Brad Marchand at 5’9 is far more intimidating. Greenway should be a guy you don’t want to be on the ice with (not a fighter or goon. But a rough player).

This was a great 3rd period! UPL was so poised! If he just plays with fundamental soundness (and his legs seem much stronger) his confidence can rally go up and that is a massive factor in good goaltending. Nailed it with our chances! Almost had one more with Peterka.