JohnC

I do like Laszr. However, he is a much different player than Krebs. Krebs can play a gritty game but his exceptional passing and vision give him a dimension that Lazar doesn't have.

Some quick thoughts on this game: Shesterkin was the best player in this game. Levi was not far behind with his play in net. Levi is the real deal. Not only was he terrific in the game but he was tremendous in the shootout. I thought Tuch was our best player. I would give him our first star and Levi the second star. For the game I would have given Shesterkin the first star. NYR's offense in their zone is East/West. Far different scheme than ours. I thought Joki had an excellent game. And so did Power. His shootout goal was done in such a way that he looked casual in his approach to beat one of the best goalies in the game. My response to anyone who continues to be a critic of Mitts is simple: You will be ignored. He looks really comfortable on the first line. The Rangers are a good team with a world class goalie. We matched them. Levi elevates the roster. Great win. One game at a time. How can one not be proud of this team?

Terrific and thoughtful response. What's become evident that as the talent base increases the more options there are to mix and match. And as the talent base grows this team will be able to adjust their lines to absorb injuries and not regress when a replacement moves up. There are now enough first and second-line caliber of players who can be called on to move up or even down the lines and still maintain a credible quality of play. As far as where to play Tage, his best position is center. I think his injury may be a factor to moving him to the wing. But I also think that the coach is experimenting jumbling the lines just for the sake of different lines to consider in the future. As you well know it was DG who strongly advocated for the acquisition of Greenway. It's going to be interesting to see how he is handled next year. And it shouldn't be forgotten that the coach was astute in moving Krebs to the Okposo/Grirgs line, so I'm confident that he will slot Greenway somewhere to maximize his talents. With respect to Mitts, there is no doubt in my mind that the coach has a high regard for him. He's said on more than a few occasions that he thought Mitts was our best or second best player in last year's camp. Then he got hurt and his play unsurprisingly declined. The coach has demonstrated an ability to put together lines and combos that best suit the individual talents of his players. I look at the players that you listed. The roster is definitely filling out. As it has been repeatedly stated, additions to the blueline need to be made. If Levi becomes the player that many people believe that he will, then this roster will be solidified more than it has been in a long time. How can one not be excited!

Thanks for your insightful response. In three years or so when Rosen is more physically developed, do you see him as an NHL player? Or as you describe it, he is a too one dimensional in a higher league that requires, to a degree, two-dimensional play? Or is it simply too early to make that projection?

A question for the Rochester afficionados here: Is Rosen the most improved player within this season? And which two or three players do you project to move up to the NHL within another year or two?

Krebs will be a good third or fourth line center. The comparison to Curtis Lazar is off the wall and makes no sense. With respect to who will be on the first or second line, it isn't a big issue. There are enough first and second-line players on the roster to mix and match. Quinn is going to be very good, and JJ will be a solid to good player. Some projections are a challenge. This isn't the case here, at least for me.

No one is disputing the fact that this team doesn't have enough depth, especially on the blueline. That's obvious. We currently have a decent 4th line, composed of Okposo, Krebs and Girgs. It's very likely that the fourth line will be reconstituted with additions from the system and market. For the most part, our top two lines are in place, and the pieces for the third line are already on the roster with a younger player moving up, such as Savoie. The fourth line is usually made up of grinding, role players who are cheaper, so it shouldn't be a major challenge to put that type of line together. That's not an issue I'm worried about.

You are right that one can't assume how good he is going to be right away in the NHL or after a stint in the minors. His play is going to demonstrate whether he can play right away or not. If he comes into camp next year and shines, then he will make the big club roster. If the staff believes that he needs to start off in Rochester, then, again, his play will determine when will be called up. Is his maximum potential a lower pairing defender, or is the potential for a higher pairing, most likely a third pairing defender? I don't know. No one knows at this point.

Okposo and Girgs are more checkers than scorers at this stage of their careers. There wasn't a need to replace them this season. At the end of the Carolina game, they did get extra minutes. So, what's the issue that is bothering you about this line. In addition, although their line is not one of the primary scoring lines, for lower lines do they contribute goals that gives you some scoring balance among the lines. The Sabres and Maple Leafs are two different teams, with two different roster needs and are in very different situations. I don't know what issue you are so concerned about?

Going to the net is a major need for this team. He improves on this particular deficiency. Tuch has been present in that tough area.

My main point about JJ's rate of development is that it was better served in Buffalo than playing in Rochester would have been this year. There is no question that he struggled, especially in comparison to Quinn. I didn't say that JJ playing in the AHL playoffs last year, helped or hurt him this year. Although I did say that Krebs playing in the AHL playoffs last year did help him this year. What is obvious is that young players have different rates of development. That shouldn't be surprising. However, I do expect JJ to make a noticeable leap forward next year because of his experience in the NHL this year, and due to being more physically and emotionally mature as time goes by. In general, I don't think that we disagree very much here.

Although his play was often intermittent, there were episodes where you can see the talent. Quinn, without question, looked like he belonged. That wasn't the case with JJ who was often a non-factor. But there were times (not enough) where you can see the talent. He's a fast north/south skater who has the frame to get stronger and be more of a physical presence. I think that playing in the NHL this year, even though it was a major adjustment for him, was a better learning experience than if he played a lot in Rochester. It will be interesting to see if next year will be a leap year for him?

I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a true checking or shut down line anymore in the league. The closest the Sabres have to a checking line is the Okposo/Krebs/Girgs line. At the end of the game, they were relied on more than usual. An argument can be made that it is better to have a defensive oriented line that also has some ability to score. That would be the case with the Okposo line.

This is going to be an interesting offseason.

I expect Thompson to be reunited with his original line with Tuch and Skinner. Of course, that's just a guess. What is apparent as the talent base increases the number of different combinations exist. (As you point out.) It also increases the depth so when injuries happen there are different options/combinations to rely on that don't set you back, as it did with our blueline unit when Samuelsson got hurt. Also, because of the depth, the coach has the ability to change up the lines within the game in order to add a spark to the team.

I have listened to Marty Biron on a few occasions discuss the goalie situation and how it will play out. It seems that he leans toward upgrading the blueline and the defensive scheme of the unit to put the goalies in a better situation. I wouldn't mind adding Varlomov, but if that is the case then it would more likely be to replace Comrie. Why would Varlomov want to come here when it's probable that Levi is going to be our primary goalie? My guess is that the GM is going to stay status quo.

A related question about Casey is what line will he be on and the composition of it. Another related question is Tage going to stay on the top line with Tuch and Skinner or will he be moved to another line to balance out the lines? I don't know.

My understanding is that Krebs did shine in Rochester and in the playoffs when the season finished in Buffalo. Did it help his game for the next season in Buffalo? I can't say. But I'm sure it didn't hurt.

This is just my opinion but I don't see KA making a significant move next year in acquiring another goalie. I see Comrie and UPL working behind Levi as our #1 goalie with both of them vying for the #2 spot. If UPL isn't pegged to be the #2 goalie, there is a good chance he will be dealt because if sent to Rochester he will be exposed to the market. If I had to speculate, the GM's attention will be on adding to the blueline. I'm hoping (expecting) that Ryan Johnson will sign because it is such a good situation for him here.

At the end of the clip he pointed out that there wasn't an issue with any other referee in any of the other games. He then stated that he didn't know why it was an issue in this game. You are the one puzzled.

I am perplexed. It appears that the coach was perplexed. It seems as if the compulsive Levi prefers placing his water bottle upside down in the holder. I guess it was leaking. So the referee ordered that it be removed. What's interesting in this inexplicable episode is that instead of placing the water bottle right side up, he instead took his drink when he was by the bench. Goalie's can be eccentric and compulsive in their behavior. As long as he plays well I have no problem with his eccentricities.

If you are referring to the water bottle issue, it is that the referee took away Levi's water bottle from the holder on the top of the net. On the broadcast it was said that it was leaking so it was removed. It seems as if Levi wants his bottle upside down in the holder. The referee said no, not allowed. It still is perplexing to me.

Don't take any of the mocking personally. What you will find is that the posters whose views you find reasonable and insightful, even if you disagree with them, are not the same people who childishly throw slings at others. You have to ignore some people and give credibility to those who deserve it. If you have been here for a while, it won't be too difficult to discern what category the posters belong in. The best posters show their hockey smarts more when the team is swooning than when it is shining. I appreciate your comments.

Attached from a Sabres.com link is the coach's postgame and short locker room comments. He was asked about Levi's water bottle issue he seemed to be perplexed by the referee's decision. Also, within the page you can find the scoring highlights. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/don-granato-postgame-4823/t-277822760/c-16491424

There is nothing unusual about coaches tightening up the bench at the end of a game, mostly for defensive purposes. Okposo, Girgs, Tuch etc. and our top two pairs were on the ice taking the time away from the less-proficient players on defense. I saw Lyubushkin on the bench in the third period. He didn't seem very happy. For the coach, it is doing what you have to do to win without worrying about feelings.