JohnC

I agree with most of your commentary that the football operation has little to do with the hockey operation. Where I have some variance is that I don't see the problem is that the owner doesn't care about the Sabres as much as he is too stubborn to recognize how inept he is when it comes to hockey. His own hubris is sabotaging himself and the franchise.

The best people are not interested in working for the Sabres unless they have the authority to act as GMs do in normally run franchises. Our owner hired a congenial fellow who is a sycophant. That's why the silent owner hired him. I'm more concerned about the owner's willingness to hire a competent GM than about the owner's willingness to spend money when needed. The owner is the main reason why this team has been flailing for nearly a full generation. That's beyond being simply absurd, it's laughably absurd. Until he is willing to provide a competent prospective GM the right conditions to do the job, the situation will remain unstable.

Our GM banked on relying on young players with potential. So it shouldn't be a surprise that in the process of playing them before their game is adequately rounded out in their development that the defensive side of the game would be lacking. Also, playing them so soon before they are fully physically mature would also cause problems playing against tough men. The mistake that our middling GM made is that he put these promising young players in roles that were too elevated for them too quickly. And he also didn't have the right enough veteran players around them to support their development. It was too much too soon for these players to absorb. The GM took a risk filled road in over-relying on these young players. I'm not saying his approach is a failure but in my view it needlessly extended the team developing process. Next year, there still be a major reliance on young players such as Quinn, JJP, Benson, Power, Kulich and to a lesser extend Samuelsson. Will it work out? I don't know. What I do know is that there will be a lesser chance to succeed if the GM doesn't add more maturity to the roster.

There is no question that he was plagued with injuries with Ottawa and with his prior team, Arizona. However, he was dealt because he was approaching a free agent status and made it clear that he wasn't going to sign with Ottawa. The Washington Capitals pounced on the opportunity to get him at a bargain price. That's what a good GM does i.e. seize on market opportunities.

I'm not questioning the contract given to UPL. However, that doesn't mean that his declining performance shouldn't be acknowledged. (As you also point out.) Goaltending is a challenge to evaluate. One year, a goalie plays at an elite level, and then the next year the performance plummets. It's one of the most mercurial positions in all of sports. Las Vegas has gone through a series of goaltenders and felt that Logan Thompson was expendable. The Capitals acquired him for next to nothing. This year he has been stellar and is a main factor for his new team's impressive success. This is an example of good GM assessment and judgment. That's why the Capitals are where they are, and the Sabres are where they are. Stating the obvious, a good GM makes a difference.

I envision Bernard-Docker as a third or fourth pairing defenseman. If that is the case, it's still a good addition. If Norris can enter next season fully healthy then the deal for Cozens is a good deal. Having depth on the blueline is a good situation to be in. Just maybe, a change of scenery for Docker might allow him to play at a higher level here than with his former team.

Washington trusted Chychrun's health status enough to just sign him to an 8 year/$72 m extension.

Stating the obvious: Good goaltending is team transformative. Last night was an example of that. I thought overall that Ottawa was the better team. I'm not saying that the Sabres played poorly because that wasn't the case. But if you take this game as an example of good goaltending, and you apply it to the season, the record is dramatically much better. The Washington Capitals acquired both Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren on the cheap. Their netminding has been stellar. That's an example of good GM work. Our GM is being outclassed, and the spillover is evident in the standings.

The Sabres have a surplus of good prospects in our system who we could parlay in trades to strengthen our big club roster. They can be used as trading assets without the necessity of tapping into prospective high-end picks. What's frustrating is that other teams are willing to make smart moves to improve while this franchise stays stuck in the depths of mediocrity. I have too often made the point that a person who is smart in assessing talent in-house and league-wide could in a reasonable period of time quickly make this team competitive. A mediocre GM can't do that.

You have a keen eye in recognizing his lack of body discipline. However, his misplays are his misplays. Reimer is playing with the same team and is demonstrating body discipline even when frequently under siege. No more excuses for me. A generation of excuses is enough for me.

The announced attendance was 13,955. Those are tickets sold and not people in the seats. In this game what bolstered the number were Ottawa fans going to a another team's home game. When you say that you seen emptier games that supports the notion that attendance is low, disgracefully low when you compare it to other franchises. The owner has screwed up this franchise. He's a disgrace!

You closely follow the prospects as well as anyone. I appreciate your posts on this matter. Are there players in this draft class that will be ready to play within two years?

I checked the attendance for the games that were played last night. Except for the Sabre game, all the games were nearly sold out or completely sold out. Our reported attendance was 13,955. Most likely, that number represents tickets sold, and not people in the stands. The view on TV indicated a lot of empty seats. My guess is that the actual number was between 10,000 to 11,000 thousand people at the game. It is enraging what our silent buffoon billionaire owner has done to this fading franchise. He hasn't killed it but unquestionably he has severely wounded it. If there isn't a demonstration to upgrade this roster this offseason, the league should make it clear to him that his grotesque malfeasance will no longer be tolerated by the league. He's not only damaged the product in Buffalo but also wounded the NHL brand. The Sabre owner is a disgrace and an embarrassment. I wish he would freaking sell the team and get lost. I'm tired of this fool. Isn't a generation of this shiiiit enough???!!!!

The candy industry doesn’t agree with you.😀

What's an illegitimate injury?

Wasn't Buffalo playing with their backup goalie when they played Winnipeg and Ottawa? And even if the opposition is using their backup goalies, they are still playing with their superior rosters. Accept the win as a positive outcome. There are so many negatives associated with this season that I'm not going to dismiss a good outcome when it happens.

I don't think the stats you cited fairly captures how overall our defense played. Samuelsson played solidly and efficiently. Not outstanding but as the subordinate player on the top pairing I thought he played his role well. From what I observed, Power and Byram played fine. Power wasn't very noticeable but that shouldn't be considered a negative. And I thought our lower pairing players didn't hurt us. In general, I thought the blueline unit played well against a team that skates well and has excellent puck control in their offensive zone.

Some quick thoughts on this game. Obviously, Reimer would get the first star. If we had this caliber of play at this position all season long, the season story would be so very different. However, at this stage of his career, I don't see him as a #1 workhorse goalie. I thought Benson played well. His doggedness resulted in a Tage goal. I also thought Quinn played well. He made a nice pass to JJP for a goal that was deemed offside. It was the right call. Quinn also scored a goal. Getting him on track would be a good thing for himself and the team. A lot is riding on Quinn, JJP and Kulich getting better. Samuelsson has taken a lot of heat by the members but I thought he played a very steady game. I was impressed by Ottawa. This is a playoff team. For much of the game they dominated possession and territorial play. This is a very improved team. Many people don't consider the end of season play as being important because we are out of the playoffs. I don't see it that way. Consistent losing is a toxic and contaminating influence on a team's psyche. The only thing that will inject some hope for a better future is to win more often. Finishing the season on a positive note will provide some hope for the future. This is a good win. The team is beating some of the better teams in the league. The downside is that the Sabres have dropped games against too many lesser teams. Those lost points are bone crushing.

He was injured when we dealt for him. He was playing hurt while with Ottawa, so we got a damaged player for a healthy player. It wouldn't be surprising if he finishes the season in the suite recuperating from a previous injury. The GM who contributed to digging this franchise is expected by the owner to be the person to dig us out. Anyone confident that he will accomplish that?

Cozens should have been tried at on wing. This is a deal that was the right thing to do for the player and the organization. If Norris can return to health, then it is a fair deal. There is no question that the player mix needs to be shaken up. My fear is that the team's losing environment is affecting other young players such as Quinn and Samuelsson.

That's what a normally run franchise would do. It's sad to say that the Sabres are not a normally run franchise. KA has been at the helm for five years. His middling work is evident. What's tolerated here is not tolerated with most sport franchises in all pro sports. That's why this franchise has been flailing for a generation.

A couple of Savoie/McCleud deals in the offseason would be such a pleasant surprise.

I'm not obsessing about getting another #1 or 2 center. However, that's not to say that I wouldn't want to add another quality center. If the price is excessive in acquiring someone to fill one of those two top center spots, then the next best option would be to add another winger or two who are second-line caliber players. From there, you have a number of options putting together two legitimate top lines. As you point out, Tage can play on the wing or center, so there is some flexibility there. Kulich is showing too much promise for me to dangle him on the market. And I'm adamantly against trading Power. (I wish the haters would find another target of their scorn. I don't understand the hostility toward him.) On the other hand, if Bryam could bring you a second line player, then I would be inclined to make such a deal.

Has anyone told you that you look like Ryan Miller?

Is that you in your girls night out outfit?