Second Line Center

This team is about to go on one of those 10 game unbeaten streaks. It feels like it - Quinn back. Skinner Tuch and Thompson look healthy. And Levi outside of Columbus (they all stunk) has been much better. It’s a flawed team. I don’t like the captain situation and I think it’s not physical enough. But Okposo responded tonight and maybe the team has realized how serious the situation is with the “fire DG chants” they didn’t think we’re possible just 2 months ago. Like a wake up call.

Need a lip reading

This team makes no sense.

Yea if I’m disappointed in Clifton I’m very frustrated with Samuelson. I don’t get it. He looked like our most important player for almost a full season. He has to be playing thru something. That btw is the problem with him the injuries.

I can’t ignore the minus 8 he’d been up to that - what the recent plus 4 tells me is since Thanksgiving DG is not using him against the opposing teams top 1-2 lines perhaps how he was the first 22 games. I’d have to dig to see if his minutes have been cut. But regardless he was brought in to be a top 4 guy. He’s being paid like it. “Bruins coach Jim Montgomery occasionally expressed frustration with Clifton's play, telling reporters that the defenseman was taking too many risks and not sticking to the team's structure. Montgomery's system put more restrictions on defensemen compared to that of Boston's previous coach Bruce Cassidy, who was behind the bench when Clifton made an instant impact as a rookie in the 2019 run to the Stanley Cup final.” https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/connor-clifton-joins-sabres-defense-corps-on-3-year-contract-in-free-agency/article_17cb2924-1831-11ee-8abb-ff81b497c749.html Yes he’s not what’s wrong with this team I’m just saying he’s not helping imo.

Conner Clifton is absolutely terrible At :58 misses a horrendous attempt at a hip check you never see anymore. Barely 10 seconds later the weakest attempt to clear as this shift is gone on over a minute. Just because he was with Boston doesn’t mean he was good. His game stinks. He can be physical and that’s all I’ll say.

This might also come across to some as insulting but I’m sorry - Okposo is a good ambassador to the game. But he is just a God awful captain. Sure the guys like and respect him. Because he is the anti Mark Messier. He didn’t give you a look on the bench if you had a bad shift or loafed and immediately regretted all life decisions up to that moment. This team has not had a legit captain since the guy in my profile pic. Okposo is captain by default. The worst kind of setup. The coach and captain can’t both be “friends” to the guys. Half these kids on the roster were 10-13 years old the last time Okposo was actually good - in his contract year. This isn’t his fault. It just shouldn’t be his job. KA absolutely bungled this. It also showed the kids they needed that “here is how you do things in the NHL the right way” guy. Not a real sign of trust to a group you think is ready. We need more than that - this team needs Dahlin to be captain asap.

Have we had one of them players only meetings yet?

This game absolutely gets a coach fired. Is this for real?

Time to fire the coach. This team is toast.

The last collection of Sabre greats have coaching or front office roles with other organizations. Briere Drury Peca Grier It was the After the Whistle show that was discussing making sure legacy players stuck around. My theory as to why they aren’t (not necessarily those guys) but “the tank” turned off everyone. The subsequent ROR trade and Cup win further embarrassed a team that already had a reputation - and it’s one that goes back decades as just a hole no one wants to play in anyway. Folks in Buffalo don’t want to hear that but it’s the truth. And my fear is Terry’s approach to folks who feel that way about our organization and city is basically “to hell with em.” Adam’s main job has been to end that perception and he’s started by stock piling elite talent. It starts in Rochester. I think this was just unrealistic to believe this was the year. And if you don’t believe that then the coach needs to be fired. Talented roster? Not winning. That’s on the coach.

4 of those top 9 are under 22 years old. 3 of our D men are under 23 years old. I think we just overestimated how good they’d get in a short time. It’s not realistic. They aren’t surrounded by the right pieces to show them how to compete every shift on D especially and with some toughness. Roster construction has been - let’s just roll with our highly skilled inexperienced easy to play against young guys - where the D is also too young and will be up and down. Then on top of that let’s not get a legit goalie to allow them to feel free to take chances. AND on top of that we have a coach that’s great at developing players but not so much countering what other coaches are doing to us.

Have to essentially go 36-20 to just get to 94 points. I’m not even sure that would be enough. This is decision time KA.

Unacceptable

He even said if we blew it up and tore it down there would be “suffering.” Did he know it could be 12 plus years worth?

Faceoffs matter.

A serious GM would have moved Olofsson, KO, Girgensons, and yes Skinner to. They all contribute one thing that this team needs to get rid of immediately - career losers that haven’t won anything.

Someone needs to be fired.

They skipped Bylsma. Which makes this all the more perplexing - it isn’t just inexperienced coaches We need almost a whole new bottom 6. Our current group of forwards 4-9 should be in the bottom 6. Definitely good enough but a better top group pushes them down.

Team needs a coach that reflects Cozens - he’s the soul of this team I truly believe this. So we have a soft as charmin HC that gets good results with developing but when it comes to winning that’s a totally different animal. Ideally, DG is an assistant coach and a guy that does exactly what Cozens wants to see is the HC. And I guarantee you Cozens isn’t alone. These kids need a HC with more of a ***k you to him.

I'm getting sick and tired of the “collaboration” with Sabres front office and same at One Bills Drive. Both need alphas in charge full stop. Use the analytics but if there isn’t a “buck stops with me” guy there is always an excuse and someone else to blame.

I want to say this team just doesn’t have the DNA to play defense - I’ll have to see those heat charts but I just don’t think we’re ever really pinned down in our own end too much or out shot or see the team possess the puck more then us or whatever metric we’re using these days. It’s freaking goaltending. If we have a team Save % over .910 what’s our record? 14-7? At least 3 more wins easy.

Wait till the season ends then evaluate. But if we’re firing him they better hire Peca.

The most underrated development of the season is his loss. I can’t overstate this enough. I’m probably in the minority on this but it’s just what I think about his impact on the group overall and what kind of ripple effect it’s had. Top that with Tage out. Not shocked we’re barely a .500 team right now at all.