[UPL 🗑️ Thread]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

Is it "a housing" or "an housing"

I think it this case it should be "a housing" but the original post said "an housing" so i'm not 100% sure.

I did some checking and “a” should be used because of the hard pronunciation “h” in the word housing.

[UPL 🗑️ Thread]

12 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Not sure where else to put this 

 

 

What’s a housing letter? 

[Here we go again…..Kevyn]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The only thing stopping Kev from spending to the cap are the players saying "no thanks."

Why do you think that players are more inclined to say "no thanks" here than with other franchises.

[GDT: Blues @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 6, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG]

28 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

There were SEVERAL veteran coaches out there when Lindy was hired. NONE OF THEM WERE FORMALLY INTERVIEWED.  

 

As you noted, this was a fraudulent "coaching search" that fooled no one. Everyone who had a penny's worth of sense recognized that the hiring process was an undisguised charade. It was lame to even try to call it as anything other than for what it was i.e. an owner's hire. The disqualifying issue isn't that Ruff was selected as the HC. It was that a critical hire, like the GM hire, was made based on the whim of an incompetent and hubristic owner. It isn't a surprise that when an organization acts in a third-rate manner that the end product is third-rate. Ownership matters!

[Here we go again…..Kevyn]

KA was an owner's hire. From a qualification standpoint, it made no sense. From the owner's perspective, he got exactly what he wanted. He hired someone in his organization (business side) who had numerous discussions with on how to cut costs and save him money. A plan was drawn up to start over again, replacing the more expensive core players with cheaper newly drafted players. It was the standard model for most rebuilds. 

The argument shouldn't be about whether the "rebuild plan" was right or wrong because that was the approach that was decided on. Even if it was the wrong approach to take, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have worked reasonably well by year five if implemented properly. Anyone who has been in the work world knows very well that it doesn't matter what the "plan" is, whether it is a smart or foolish plan, that it will not work when carried out by incompetents. 

So where are we now five years into the KA tenure? We are still a flailing franchise that is spinning its wheels and getting nowhere fast. Within the Pegula ownership era it has been noted for its best players wanting out. And it shouldn't be surprising that its current best players will be on the verge of wanting out of this fiasco situation. What's the lesson to be learned? Ownership matters.  

 

[GDT: Blues @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 6, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG]

24 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I see it the opposite.  They know what UPL is.   When UPL is in his good groove he is a 1B, otherwise he is a 2.  Unfortunately he has never shown enough consistency to be a true #1, not even in the AHL.   Everyone knows that.  Could that ever change?  Should they keep rolling the dice on UPL? 

They should be giving Ellis an equal number of games as UPL right now - both backing up Lyon.   If Ellis gets waived and becomes a solid NHL goalie somewhere else it will be another massive fail. 

They should give Ellis some games if he is healthy.  I cannot understand why they wouldn't unless they are showcasing UPL for a possible trade.  

 

A lot of people made a premature judgment on Samuelsson. The same harsh judges were adamant about their evaluation of the defenseman. They were wrong because it is evident that the scorned player is now playing well.

With respect to UPL, I, like many, are skeptical about him. What’s wrong with finding out what he is capable of? And don’t you think that if Ruff believed that Ellis gave the team a better chance to win that he would be in the net tonight?

[GDT: Blues @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 6, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I know UPL said he's starting. I would have bet money Ellis would get the start tonight.

Making a determination on UPL’s status with the team is a more important consideration than determining what Ellis’s role is, of course if it is believed that both goalies give you the same chance to succeed in tonight’s game. If Ellis ends on waivers and picked up, then so be it. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Levi is still in the system and can be moved up when the need arises.

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

The tribute video gets used by organizations that are close with their players.  It’s a nice tradition, I don’t think it gets used too much.  He came up in Buffalo, did pretty good too.   I’ll stick with my old fashion thoughts that team culture is still not a priority with the current hockey organization.   They don’t understand it   

Player retention and relationships.   It’s not a thing in the Pegula hockey era.  

The player wasn't close to the organization. He wanted out. And he wasn't here very long. As I said in the prior post, I just think that it gets overused to the point where it loses its intended effect. I just don't think in this particular case that it was warranted.  

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

35 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I was thinking of this today .  No “tribute video”, or some type of acknowledgement fir Peterka seemed a bit amateurish by the Sabres.  

Adams doesn’t understand culture, lots of players return to their former teams later in their career. Sometimes being comfortable and appreciative in a city is a tie breaker.    Another thing the Bills get and the Sabres don’t.  

 

Why does he deserve a "tribute video"? He wasn't here long and wanted out. Besides, I'm sure he didn't want one or even care about having it. The tribute video is a nice tradition that gets used too much. There are a number of things that one can criticize the organization for, but this isn't one of them. 

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

20 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Utah was by far better.  Everyone saw that.   The Sabres hung on in semi-valiant fashion and got a point.   That’s good.  

Where we differ is I’m not anointing Utah as a top team just yet, and getting 1 point is not a great achievement.  Utah is an unproven team, just like Buffalo. 

Buffalo missed another golden opportunity to pick up 2 points in OT at home.  I’m not happy or relieved to get  just 1 point  at home against a team like Utah.   I’m dissatisfied and disappointed.   I will be upset if they don’t beat the Blues in regulation on a Thursday.  

I set expectations higher, and hopefully the Sabres have too. 

I’m not anointing Utah as a top team. I didn’t sat that they were. However, based on what I watched night, it’s not unfair that this young team is a rising team. 
 

With respect to being disappointed or not at getting a point in a game where you were decisively outplayed (my opinion), I’ll gladly accept the point. If we would have outplayed them or even played them evenly, I would be disappointed at getting just one point for the home game.

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

14 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

What exactly has Utah done to be anointed “the better team”?  All this fawning over a team that is a lot like Buffalo, a unproven group that hasn’t made the playoffs in forever.  

Utah is young, and they looked fast, skilled, and better coached.  Buffalo got great goaltending again, or else this is 5-1 loss.  

Buffalo had 5 shots in the 2nd, and 3 shots in the 3rd - I’m giving the Sabres the benefit of the doubt, there is not enough firepower due to injuries.  

In OT the Sabres had the first couple of scoring chances and they missed.  Utah didn’t miss their chance.  

It’s another loss.  Get ready for St Louis.  That is a poor team and that game is must win, as in 2 points.  

Your eyes are different from mine. In this game, I decisively felt that Utah was the better team. We hung in there but on balance the team that played better won. If you came away with a different conclusion, that's fine. The highlighted commented you made is exactly what I saw in last night's game. 

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't think they kept up. I think Alex Lyon goalied them. 

 

I've said it in other posts that Utah had the edge in play. But for a depleted team with two contributors out of the lineup (Benson and Zucker), I felt that they hung in there all game long. And it should also be noted that just as Lyon was exceptional, so was the opposition's goalie in making some big time stops. 

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

4 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

For me it's the same thing as what has been happening a lot so far this year. They are just not finishing good chances. Quinn had 2 or 3 where it was him vs goalie. Thompson has 2 post hits. The Tuch/ McLoud play. Tuch in overtime. Kesselring had a free look. The defense and goaltending are keeping them in games, They have got to find a way out of the scoring slump.  

I agree that we had good chances that were not capitalized. Some of it due to missing the shot and others due to the opposition's goalie making exceptional stops. But let's not forget that there are two sides to this equation: the opposition also had glorious chances to score that were stymied. 

We are all Sabre fans. But in my eyes Utah was the better team that on balance outplayed us. I'm not scoffing at the point that we gained from this game. We were fortunate to have earned it. 

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

24 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

True.

But I think part of the reason some of us are feeling frustrated is in the middle to end of October, They won three out of four games over the Panthers, Red wings, and Leafs, by multiple goals.

Since then, while they have accumulated the loser point, they've actually left the ice as the losing team 4 out of five games.. with the only win being a shootout win... No actual regulation victories.

Yes, of course we want them to make the playoffs in. Getting points are the way you do that... But ultimately I watch hockey to see my team win on any given night. That hasn't happened much lately.

Getting a loser point when the opposition outplayed you is not a bad outcome. It tells you that your depleted team hung in there to the end. And it tells you that this team has more fight and intestinal fortitude than prior teams. Injuries are part of the game. But recognizing that two important contributors to the lineup (Zucker and Benson) were missing is the backdrop in this hard-fought game. 

There were ebbs and flows to this game where overall Utah had the advantage in play. (My opinion.) However, I never felt that the Sabres ever stopped competing. The reality is that the Sabres are a fringe playoff caliber team. Last night, they played a better team that went full throttle and they kept up. I'm not trying to be defeatist here. I'm trying to objectively evaluate the team that currently exists. 

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

The Sabres were fortunate to squeak out a point with the loser point. A number of our players were out due to injuries, most notably Benson and Zucker. 
 

I was really impressed with Utah. They are fast but also play an unrelenting hard game. 
 

Both goalies shined in this game. Lyon is solidifying a claim to be our #1 goalie.

Anyone who is a nonpartisan fan and watched this game would have concluded that last night Utah was the better team. On the other hand, recognizing that Buffalo was shorthanded in this I’m more upbeat than downbeat with the home team.

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

2 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

 

I don’t think he has any huge fans outside of teenage girls, he’s just not as bad as anyone makes him out to be.  I don’t really like him but I recognize the talent.  He’s a good offensive puck moving dman. I’d trade him in a heartbeat for any top 6 forward with an ounce of grit.  

I’m a Power fan. I wish people will find someone else to target. It wasn’t long ago that Samuelsson was an unceasing target. Now look at how well he is playing. How about showing more patience with Power!

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

Impressed with Utah’s speed.

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

35 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Lets see in 2-3 years how it shakes out.  I refuse to talk about winning trades as if we live in a static world.  

Right now I think everyone is happy that we added 2 players we needed and while Peterka is a very good player, we still might have a player and/or prospect that can replace his scoring.  

I’m not evaluating  this particular trade in the framework of winning or losing. In my opinion, we got better. And I’m sure that Utah feels the same on their end.

[GDT: 11/04/25 Utah Mammoth @ Buffalo Sabres 7 pm MSG and Radio]

10 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

And then watch JJP pot 50 for Utah 

If he scores 50 goals for Utah, getting back Doan and Kesserling was still a good deal for us. JJP made it clear that he wasn't going to sign here, making him an UFA in another year. So the organization did the smart thing to deal him when his value was high instead of waiting for their trade leverage to decline. 

It wouldn't be a surprise if JJP becomes a regular 30-40 goal scorer. And it wouldn't be a surprise if on another team he becomes a more responsible two-way player. After 12 games his stat line is: 4-6, +6. I'm sure that Utah is happy trading him. On the other hand, with the additions of Doan and Kesserling, the Sabres are a more balanced team and a better team. Each of our additions improved areas where we needed upgrading. This was a win/win trade for the transacting teams. 

[Comparing first 12 games of last season to this season.]

11 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Some of the additions/changes have made a positive difference. So far there are still some of the previous players who haven't been dragged into the fight by the new guys but hopefully over time that will happen. 

Most people are talking about Doan for obvious reasons but biggest surprise to me is Timmons. I didn't think he was very good in Toronto and not much in Pittsburgh but he's been really solid and seems to fit their system perfectly. It's made a huge difference. 

Timmons is quietly good. You don’t notice him because there is little flair to his game. He’s fundamentally solid with little wasted motion. He’s the type of defenseman we were looking to acquire for years. 

[How do you pronounce Utah?]

It’s pronounced the same way as when you see Shaquille O’Neil in person and say to yourself: You-tall! 😀

[GDT: Capitals @ Sabres, 7:00pm Nov. 1, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG]

39 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

but since you asked: 1st goal, wristed muffin from the point with some net front presence, UPL graciously directs the puck into the slot and fails to put himself in a position to make a play on the follow-up shot. the skatersdidn't help their goal. UPL didn't help them either.

2nd goal, 2 on 0 madness. not blaming him there, obviously.

You have to consider that he hadn’t played a game for quite awhile. So a little shakiness in the beginning of the game shouldn’t be a surprise. Late in the game and in overtime he faced a barrage of shots and stood tall. In the SO he was stellar. 
 

I’ve been a critic of him because of his up and down play. In this game, it should be acknowledged that he was a big factor in the win. 

[why is the PK so much better?]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Haven’t seen a game yet.  Have they reduced the cross crease pass plays that led to so many SH goals last season?

Yes.

[Buffalo Bills 2025 Thread]

8 hours ago, nfreeman said:

I’ll say it again:  McD can coach my team as long as he wants.  

McD and Beane are a terrific duo and are in sync. Pegula has struggled to get the upper staffing right for the Sabres but has hit a home run installing the leadership for the Bills.

Our OL play in this game was terrific. It created running lanes even when the opposition knew we were going to run.

Kincaid played well. The holding call on Knox was so marginal. Referring is a tough job. But whatever happened to good judgment and discretion. 
 

The Bills’ fans are blessed to have Josh Allen as their qb. He’s an all-pro player and good guy. 
 

Who does more commercials? Kevin Hart or Josh Allen? 

[Buffalo Bills 2025 Thread]

On 10/29/2025 at 3:56 PM, K-9 said:

Worthy would have been better under Daboll, who would have made him his gadget guy, like he did with McKensie. And much like Reid does currently. 

We may not care where he lines up, but OCs certainly do, as does Reid. For instance, and once again citing his off ball reliance, you seldom see him lined up at the X because he’s really not good at beating press man on the ball. He is too easily disrupted with a simple one armed chuck which is enough to throw off the timing on a play. He’s better in the slot and out of bunch formations, which Reid also recognizes. And he’s a lot more effective since Rice came back, too. We have enough slot guys as it is. Sure, it would be great to have his speed, but that in and of itself doesn’t make him a scheme fit for every offense. 

I agree that our receivers aren’t great at creating separation, but Allen has also missed guys when open, either with poor passes or simply not seeing them. It was glaring during the Atlanta game which I had the pleasure of seeing from on high. And I wasn’t surprised when Kubiak said as much in his Buffalo News critique afterward. It was also interesting to hear Allen speak of not trusting his feet after the Panther game, which told me his timing patterns were off. 

It’s easy to blame it all on the receivers and think that one small, fast guy would make it all better but I don’t think it’s that simple. 

The Bills are well run under McDermott and Beane. However, not drafting Worthy and dropping down to take Coleman was a glaring miscalculation.