JohnC

With respect to the highlighted segment: That's exactly what I have been saying all along. The solution is to add players and not subtract them in order to replace the subtraction.

I'm supremely confident that Joki will not be traded. You can be as zealous/stubborn on this issue as much as you want to be. The primary problem associated with our blueline unit is its lack of depth. Shipping out one of the players currently in the second pairing makes no sense. I have repeatedly said that if a better defenseman or more is brought in that it would make sense to drop Joki down. Stylistically, Joki is different from some of the other players on the unit. So what? You may not accept Granato's evaluation of Joki but it is definitely much higher than yours. And he has said on a number of occasions that he believes that he has even more upside to draw from. The problem is not replacing Joki as it is to add another player or two to the mix.

You don't have to be a bruiser to be a good defender. You preferably want a mix of styles of play within the unit. But the notion that being a bruiser is a requisite is outdated. Samuelsson is not a bruiser, and neither is Power. Dahlin is hitting a little more, and because of it getting hurt more. But you certainly can't describe his style of play as bruising. You keep promoting the false premise that Joki is a detriment to the pairing he is on. That's not an accurate description of that tandem. As stated by @Taro T and others there definitely is a need for another defender or two to bulk up the unit and improve the lower pairings. I would be more than happy if the GM was able to bring in another Lyubushkin type of player and create more depth on the blueline. And assuming there is an additon/s Joki will still stay.

If there isn't a serious commitment to winning next year the fandom, including me, will tune out. And rightly so. The seriousness of this organization's commitment will be demonstrated this offseason. Most of the roster is set for next year. Our top two line are assembled. The necessity is to bring in a couple to three players to round out the roster i.e. quality over quantity. It's time to become serious.

If you stretch the search for a legit 4-5 defenseman, then that would be a wider market to draw from. And that procurement could be done on the free agent market which would not require giving up assets. It becomes an issue of what contract are you willing to pay. On that count the Sabres are in a favorable position compared to most teams.

As you point out if Savoie does make the roster at the beginning of the season it probably will be done for introductory purposes. You also make the point that Levi has a small chance of starting in Buffalo. In my opinion he needs a bulk amount of playing time. And after he gets that force feed exposure we will see where it leads to. I'm not dismissing players being called up due to injuries. But it is the often-stated view of the GM that it is better for young players to play a lot, even at a lower league, than to get intermittent play in the big league. If you look at how our GM handles prospects, he is more inclined to bring up a more prepared player a little later than a less prepared player too soon. If you considered what the GM did this year, he added a number of youngish, experienced players, such as Jost, Greenway and Stillman players to the roster during the season instead of bringing up prospects. Added to that group is Lyubushkin who is a veteran player who he brought in during the offseason. My point is that based on how the GM handles prospects he is going to error on the side of not rushing them. And that is the right approach to take. No. And that will be a good thing for the organization and the players.

No, it won't be. There may be rookies who will be called up due to injuries. But I doubt any rookie will make the opening day roster. If you think otherwise, who do you think will make the opening day roster? Our roster is starting to fill-up to the point where there will be competition for roster spots that won't include rookie players. That's how I see it.

@Taro Tresponded succinctly and clearly on the best way to make a deal. As he wisely pointed out depleting an already deficiency within the unit isn't the best approach to take. Adding to the unit to increase the talent base is the better course of action. There is an inconsistency and illogic in advocating to trade Joki in order to enhance the play of Power. What you are not acknowledging is that Power is playing at such a level that he is a serious contender for the rookie of the year award. And do you know who his partner is? It's Joki. You make it seem as if Joki is an anchor that is undercutting this impressive rookie's play. That's not the case. It's the opposite of hindering the youngster. He's a partner that is contributing and enhancing the stupendously success of this tall and gangly rookie. Joki shouldn't be the primary defender on the #1 or #2 pairing. I acknowledge that. He is more suited to be the complementary player in one of the top two pairings. And that is exactly the role that he is playing. I thought that Joki played one of his best games this season yesterday. (The same assessment for Lyubushkin.) I don't understand why the members here have such a jaundiced view of this player. It's like the Mitts syndrome where people get influenced by the herd view and then get too invested in it to alter their view. Make no mistake, if the GM brings in a top tier defenseman in the offseason, I'm open to moving him down the pairings. As it stands, I'm more than happy with the current situation other than there needs to be another addition made to the unit.

The good news is offset by the bad news that Samuelsson is hurt. He's out for now. TBD.

With respect to the highlighted segment: Absolutely not! Joki had an exceptional game last night. It seems as if he has replaced Mitts as the designated target for fans frustrated with the team. Please stop with these reflexive negative responses about him that don't reflect how he has actually played. He was one of our better blueline players last night. I thought this was one of his best games as a Sabre. And I say the same for Lyubushkin's play yesterday. Don Granato has on more than a few occasions extolled Joki's upside as a player. Joki is not a weakness on the blueline. Being a partner to Power is one of the reasons why Power has prospered as a rookie player. As @dudacekpointed out on his comments in this game, Joki was exceptional in this game. There were more than a few occasions where he got back to forestall a Ranger odd man rush. I also have noticed him to be more aggressive participating in the offense. It's apparent to me (maybe not to you) that he is expanding his game. I'm not against moving him down a pairing if the GM brings in a better player to pair with Power. That would certainly upgrade the blueline unit. I would have to see who is brought in, assuming that type of player is added to the mix. I still believe that a third pairing player is more likely to be acquired than a genuine second-pairing player. Just like the Mitts bashing this Joki denigration makes no sense to me. Despite how many have negatively categorized him, he has become one of the core players that the GM and coach are counting on.

My expectation is next season. If that doesn't materialize I will be very disappointed. The GM has this year, without much attention, bulked up the lower half of the roster. He added Jost, Lyubushkin, Stillman and Greenway. (I'm aware that he is now playing on the top line but when Tuch returns there will be more line depth.) He still needs to add a few more players. But over a short period of time the young roster has internally improved and the roster thickened with pickups. I honestly don't believe that this team is far away from being a relevant team in this league. I'm counting on next year to be the pivotal year.

I agree that his hesitancy to shoot is maddening. Generalizing that issue, I would say that the hesitancy to shoot plagues much of this roster. It drives me crazy. But to Power's credit he has expanded his offensive game as exhibited by a greater willingness to carry the puck to the net or deeper into the zone. You rightly noted that this youngster hasn't yet come close to attaining the level of strength that mature adults have. So, I will give him some slack on that issue. By all accounts he's dedicated to the sport and is a hard worker. In time he will be more physically imposing, and I'm sure that will also translate into more confidence in his offensive game. Sometimes we forget that he is a rookie. It doesn't take make of a leap of faith to project him to be an elite hockey player. It might even come quicker than the timeline that Dahlin had. Think about that!

It was offsides. A player was heading to the bench and was still in the zone when Jost entered the zone and shot it in. It was the right call.

The biggest positive takeaway for me is the play of Peterka. (As you noted.) Not only was he the best player on his line but I would go so far as to say he was one of the better players in this game. He markedly stood out. I agree with you that Joki and Lyubushkin both stood out. How can that not be a positive development with implications beyond this game when you add them to blue line assemblage that includes Dahlin, Samuelsson and Power. I understand the disappointment of many because of the final outcome. But what this game demonstrated is that this team is capable of playing at a higher level. All the negatives and deficiencies that have repeatedly been called out this season by all of us were not exhibited in this game. I will say it again that I thought despite the final outcome, this was one of the finest games played by the Sabres this season. And for me from the beginning to the end it was one of the most entertaining games of the season. This was hockey played at a high level by both teams.

No question that the end of the season spiral has been disappointing. But this game was in my opinion one of the best Sabre played game all seasons, including many of our victories. What have most of us railed against about this team? It was the play of our defensemen, the goalies and the team defense in general. This game demonstrated a high level of goalie play, good blue line play throughout the pairings and responsible forward play throughout the game. Rangers got a goal on a deflection off of Power. It was a fluke play but also a play that happens in this sport. I'm not speaking on your behalf. But for me this was one of the best played games we had all season. The intensity for both teams was on exhibition throughout the game. We lost in overtime. That's disappointing but how this team played was encouraging, at least for me.

I thought that this was one of Buffalo's best all-around games this season. They played a tight two-way game throughout. No lapses in play with energy throughout. The goal by Kane was a fluke. That's hockey. The defensive structure was on exhibit throughout the game. UPL looked like one of the better goalies in the league playing behind that defensive foundation. Just some quick thoughts about this game: I would give UPL the first star. This was Peterka's best game. If someone wanted to give him the first star, I wouldn't argue against that judgment. This was the tightest two-way game that the Sabres played this season. Greenway is a big fellow. He also has some skill. Granato knew what he was doing when he strongly argued to deal for him. No one should complain about Mitts any longer. His play has been consistently good. He has also turned out to be one of our noticeable effort players. I thought Lyubushkin played well. His recent play has been more than solid. I thought all our defense pairings played well. I don't like to complain about the officiating but on balance it worked against us. The chances of making the playoffs are fading. But despite that reality the manner in which the Sabres played this game gave me more optimism for the near future than discouragement. If you look at the play of Krebs, Quinn, JJ, Power, Joki you can see even more upside to their game. I enjoyed this game. It was played at a playoff pace and intensity level.

One doesn't have to be highly knowledgeable about hockey to recognize that Power is going to be a top tier defenseman in this league. In his rookie year, he already plays at a high level and does it with unnatural confidence for such a young player. The big surprise, a pleasant one, is that he has demonstrated more offensive ability than I thought he had. While Dahlin is a dazzler Power is a less ostentatious player. This tall rookie is on his way to being an elite defender like his Swedish teammate.

You and I are on the same track. Nothing I said contradicted the good points that you added to my response. This is still a developing team and an incomplete team. The addition of Greenway and Stillman is an indication that the GM is aware of the weaknesses that still need to be addressed. You want the team to play a more rugged brand of hockey. As this team is currently constructed it simply isn't capable of playing that style of hockey. This team is built more to play a fast-paced north/south style of game. The addition of Greenway and Stillman is an acknowledgement that this roster needed changes in personnel to better play the style of hockey that you favor. I don't believe that Pegula is constraining the GM in any fashion, including the budget. I do believe that the GM has been smart in acknowledging where this team was at, is at and where it needs to be. The semi-reconstruction of the roster he inherited was not going to be reworked in one offseason or two. To his credit the GM has made a number of solid smaller deals such as Jost, Lyubushkin, Stillman and Greenway that has added some bulk to the roster, and he did it without giving up much in assets. I believe because of our favorable cap situation and where this team is in its development (more advanced) that he needs to make a couple of more aggressive moves (wisely giving up assets) to address our noted deficiencies. Just a sidenote: I'm not worried about players not wanting to play here. If a player is reluctant to come here then I don't want that player here. There are other options to choose from. I'm not worried about that issue.

I'm excited about having Levi in the system. (I'm aware I'm making an assumption.) But I'm not counting on him being ready in his first or maybe even in his second year, at least not as a primary goalie for us. The Sabres are at a point where the roster and the system is built up enough to where the present/winning now has to be more of a priority even if it is at the expense to the future. This offseason it's imperative that a few consequential additions be made to accelerate the rebuilding process. The fans and the players deserve that commitment to winning sooner rather than later. I think you and I are in accord that this team is not too far away from being a serious team. The organization needs to demonstrate more urgency in this offseason. We shall soon see if the organization feels the same way.

The goalie position and blue line unit each need to be upgraded. Patching one hole without addressing the other hole is self-defeating. If you add another 4-5 blueliner to the mx and bring in a #1 goalie (suggested names have been made in other threads), then the roster will certainly be strengthened. Would it be better to bring in another top four defenseman to pair with Power, resulting in Joki dropped down to the third pairing? Yes, but is that option available on the trade market or even free agent market at a reasonable price? I'm not sure that it is. Without question, the priority is the goalie position. And without question the Sabres have more assets than most to deal with.

What high end goalie would be on the market that our GM could make a surprising deal for? I believe it was @dudacekwho suggested that maybe Nashville would be willing to trade Saros if their franchise decided to go through some sort of rebuild. I'm ambivalent about giving up a high-end prospect such as Savoie to get a deal done . But the reality is that adding a high caliber of goalie to this roster would be transformative.

Before the season started, I predicted that the Sabres could have a 90 point season and stay in the playoff hunt up to the end of the season. I believe we are on pace for those goals. As @Thornystated an increase from a 79 to 90 point season is a step in the right direction. The organization couldn't get a deal done with Ullmark. At this point it is a waste of time to argue why that didn't happen. (I lay the most blame on the GM for his inflexibility.) But factoring in that setback at the most important position on the ice, if the team does get to the 90 benchmark and does have a winning or even a break-even season, then when taking a wider perspective this season has been at the minimum a modest success.

There isn't anyone who contributes on this board who has a speck of hockey knowledge isn't aware of this team's glaring needs. Of course, it is the defense, mostly lower pairing, and goaltending. And everyone here who is knowledgeable about makeup of the roster is aware that it needed to add size and toughness. That's why Greenway was brought in. Look where this team was two years ago and look at where it is now. It takes time to fix the numerous deficiencies that were evident to all of us. If you had a little more perspective, you would realize that the team is trending in the right direction. The younger players are getting better. Clearly, we are not there yet. That's part of the frustrating and at times exasperating process. That's the reality most of us are aware of.

The reviewing officials didn't interpret the player's action as being deliberate. You have every right to disagree with the call. But the reviewing officials didn't come away with the same conclusion you had. The game's over. There will be no redo of the play or game. The Sabres lost and the Islanders won. We earned zero points and they earned two points in the standing. That won't change. Buffalo plays Dallas tonight. That's what needs to be focused on.

I'm wrong all the time. I can handle having deficiencies.