Drag0nDan

They just aren't and haven't been a "team" since the tank. I don't have an issue with Dahlin as a captain, the guy cares, and you can tell after 3 games that he is not a happy dude getting frustrated watching it all unfold. They're just a bunch of players, some good, some with traits, but nothing cohesive.

And somehow lose 6-3

It's hard to put much faith in our scouting crew. Levi has had a slower development than i think was expected with him starting 7 games at age 21 right after a season in college. At the same token - he was traded in 2021 after a stellar juniors tournament, but prior to him playing at northeastern. I feel like since that tournament, he's played pretty well at every level other than at the NHL level last season. I think the goal is usually about 100 professional games prior to playing in the NHL, and he went straight there. Now after 2 full seasons in the AHL where he's looked at the very least - good for AHL which projects to at least "fine" in the NHL, he's just about at that number.

I do wonder if some of the reliance upon rush scoring was causing defensive lapses and bad turnovers. I feel like some of the problems in the offensive zone caused lots of issues defensively too. We were bad against the rush of opponents.

If you got 3 goalies, you don't have any goalies.

I just mean if they're doing construction i don't expect in-season loss of seats each year. Like they'll do some, then do the season, then do the rest or something like that.

Yeah... they can make reasonable accomodations on a multi-year renovation. They don't exactly WANT to lose seats either.

How does that work in the playoffs though? Is it this year or next year when you're now required to be cap-compliant for any playoff games?

Definitely, but it can also unlock a young player too. Functional strength to help protect the puck, win puck battles, and lay some lumber. Also while it can probably harm straight line speed and maybe acceleration, it likely also can contribute to some benefits to your conditioning in the 3rd periods and later in the season.

30+ years they've been pushing diversity? Perhaps he's no longer in consideration for other reasons.

Yeah, or if that combo struggles out of the gate. What a mess this team is.

If UPL misses extended time, its very likely levi. I think Georgiev would clear waivers, or you keep 3 (because you have none).

I had to open my trunk driving back to the states monday. I told him there was literally nothing in it but whatever. Guy was a bit of a jerk though unfortunately.

Byram and Dahlin have some chemistry, both seem to be able to play both sides which is a benefit, but i agree his defensive game has been lacking. Him and Power need to tie up sticks around the net better, move people around more.

I voted Levi because i think he's more capable of doing that, but i don't think ruff/adams would pull the trigger on a change there even if he looks ready. I'm pretty out on UPL, happy to be proven wrong but i think he is another mediocre big dude. I assume they'll roll with him because of the mistake on the contract, but he's just not good. The high slot defense has been so bad for so long, i'm excited to see if he's better there. If you can get the puck back one step before they get the puck to the side of the net, its just as important as defensemen marking their guys more effectively.

Last seasons 13 game losing streak was probably when i hit an all-time low. Like 11-9-1 isn't a hot start, but you can work and build on that. 11-19-4 and the season was over before Christmas. Watching UPL get chased in back to back games on the 11th and 12th of the losing streak was also the absolute nail in the coffin - I have 0 faith in the player anymore and his ability to elevate his performance when needed.

Have to agree on fixing the PP. If they can go from bottom 10 to like 10th - that is like 15 goals which would help offset some of the likely loss of 5on5 goalscoring after the peterka trade. Same with the PK - get that from bottom 10 to 10th and that is 10 fewer goals allowed.

I've been to like 15 games over 3 seasons and they have lost all but 1 i think. I was late to a sabres lightning game and i think they were down 4-0 before i sat down. The one win was cool because i brought my swedish exchange student and her 2 friends from sweden, and dahlin had a good game. I think that was skinners 1000th game too because we got some free swag.

I do see what you're saying - inexperience is one of the biggest issues. I'm more saying if he plays well enough that the decisions kind of made for you. Same with Levi. Were through FA and the draft and nothing happened so it's hard to imagine Adams doing anything now. It's less - oh we are terrible so we should bring up the kids. It's more about giving the team what you think is the best chance to win games today. Nothing's permanent either, and people will get injured. Or play bad. I don't think i need to see 75 more malenstyn games this year if he doesn't play better. If UPL starts terribly... do we wait weeks for him to try and figure it out?

I really hope his offense takes a jump. He's got some slick skills, and a better shot than I think he's shown. Tends to be OK going to dirty area's which is something the team lacks. Absolutely needs to improve his skating and conditioning - which i think is somewhat normal for an 18-19 year old (hence why they usually don't play in the NHL). Either way, a jump is needed on the wheels for both him and Quinn.

I'll take a stab... Benson - Norris - Thompson Zucker - Kulich - Tuch Doan - Mcleod - Quinn Greenway - Krebs - Danforth Byram - Dahlin Power - Kesselring Samuelsson - Timmins Extra skaters - malenstyn and bryson If/when norris goes down i'd probably bump everyone up a line and shift tage to C. I don't think you should bring rosen up to play with krebs/greenway for 8 minutes a night. If there's an extended absence i'd say bring rosen up and find a place for him in the top 9. Ideally rosen (whos played almost 200 AHL games and was close to a PPG player there last year), just makes the roster outright and forces their hand re: danforth/malenstyn. In that scenario where he plays his way onto the roster - i'd imagine he has to fit in the top 9, which would shift doan down.

I wasn't shocked that the team looked better with him out of the lineup, hows that 🙂

There are definitely bats in the keycenter now, lets get some more in there. Home ice advantage!

Only way i see him approaching that 30 goal season is on a PP where they just shoot pucks at him and he gets better at deflections. So in that regard, maybe putting on some functional strength would do him well. When he was in the middle of our power play i feel like he didn't do that and just shot weak shots from the high slot in a panic.

Seemed to have lost his game a bit. Indecision all over the place - Where am i supposed to be, where is everyone else supposed to be, should i pass, should i skate, where should i go? Infuriating to watch. It's in the defensive zone too, do i cover this guy or that guy, do i pressure or play more passive to block the shot? Do i follow-through on this check or get up ice? He never seemed to develop a confidence. I think the bigger issue is he is just not a good shooter for being as sloppy a passer as he is. He can't create a shot, and when he does its almost always right into the goalie. I'm not sure how to fix some of these things, or if they're fixable. In any case, he's not Buffalo's problem anymore.