JohnC

The difference in this game was the play of our goalie. He kept us in it. What's encouraging is that this team, loaded with young players, will get better. None of the young players played hesitantly. Although the Sens had a number of breakaways, I felt the team played hard two-way hockey. I liked the play of Cozens in this game. This is going to be his step-up year. Lyubushkin is a good addition. The Sabres play a fast-paced game. They are entertaining to watch. It's not surprising that this opening game was a little bit choppy. It should smooth out more after a few games. Watching the game on TV I got the sense that the fans were into this game.

The goalie play in the Ranger/Lightening game is elite. It's quite impressive.

Attached is a 20 min. WGR interview with Don Granato on the Jeremy and Howard Show. If someone else posted this link on this topic or another, I apologize for the redundancy. Granato talked about the Okposo and the captaincy. On that same subject he talked about Dahlin and his leadership, competiveness and the respect he has from his teammates. His response to the goaltending situation was simply I don't know for sure until the season starts. He pointed out that the Sabres are one of the youngest teams in the league, and because of that he anticipates this team getting better as the season goes on. Granto is enjoyable to listen to. He doesn't shrink from answering tough questions by answering in meaningless coach babble. He's an understandable communicator. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

A short stint in Rochester in his rookie year would not have hindered his development. That was my point. You took my comments out of context with respect to the issue of development for players such as Mitts, Peterka and Cozens. If you respond again that is your prerogative. I'm not following up on this issue with you any longer.

Yes. I do believe that a stint in Rochester would have benefited him. If you read my full response you would have noted that I said that he had the resilient makeup to handle the challenges of a young player playing in the NHL without hurting his confidence compared to a player such as Mitts. And I made the point about him relative to Peterka that there is an adjustment period for most young players in this higher league. If you disagree with that then so be it.

We're in general agreement that Cozens was rushed. However, I think that Cozens has a strong enough makeup where he can handle struggles at a higher league without allowing it to set him back. That couldn't be said for Mitts who shouldn't have been rushed to the extent that he was. Contrasting to Cozens, I do believe that rushing Mitts did set his development back. I'm not worried about Peterka as much as others may be. It won't be surprising if he initially struggles in the NHL. What I do already know about him is that at the AHL level he shined, especially in the second half of the season. It seems that the organization believes that from a development standpoint he is beyond the AHL level of play. It shouldn't be surprising that he will need some adjustment period in the NHL. It may not be right away but accorded enough patience he is going to be a gem, i.e. a legitimate second line player, if not first line player. I would rather see him on the ice struggling and developing than simply playing a JAG who will get you nowhere. Be patient and you will be rewarded.

In this camp and preseason he has excelled. Prior to this season, even with inadequate talented wingers, he has not excelled. It shouldn't be surprising because it is part of the maturation process that all players go through. I expect that he will be one of our primary players this year.

I'm just going to respond to your Peterka comment. Is Peterka ready for NHL play? That's a legitimate question. It will not be surprising that he will struggle when given extended play. That will most likely be the case. However, the issue for the coaching staff is what is the best approach for his development? Would it be better to start him off in Rochester and have him play extended minutes, and then bring him up? Or would his development as an NHL player be accelerated with having him play right from the start this season in the NHL. I'm not sure what the right answer. My leaning is to start him off in the big league and allow him time to acclimate himself to it. Cozens may be a good comparison for Peterka from a developmental standpoint. There is no question that he struggled. He had moments where it appeared that he was going to break out, and then there were interludes where he would be invisible. From the glimpses that I have seen of him in the preseason, he more than any other young player is ready to have a breakout season. With Peterka I would prefer that he played with the Sabres and was given the opportunity learn how to play at the NHL level. If it doesn't seem to be working out, then send him back down.

Why are you freaking out over a meaningless preseason game when our full complement of players didn't play? I'm sure you will have plenty of opportunities to be genuinely agitated when the season starts. However, this game shouldn't be a reason to get you uplifted or dejected. It means absolutely nothing.

With the addition of Lubushkin and Power, the blue line is not only better but should also enhance the play of the particular goalie in net. (As you noted.) And with those added blue liners there is more depth on hand to deal with the inevitable injuries. As @mjd1001described in his analysis there is a number of areas of expected improvement that should support the play of our goalies. Again, as you are stating.

Terrific effort and analysis! What you are essentially saying is that there is a number of avenues where this team can (and should) get better. An improvement in a few of the avenues you enumerated should move this team up the ranks. It's not a stretch as much as it is reasonably doable.

It took me awhile to figure out your gif. I'm sure that you wouldn't be surprised at my ability to exasperate my teachers. I was usually around the right answers but never precisely so. 🙃

You demonstrated that you were ahead of the curve. Because he has such a wicked shot he has become a player when he has the puck on his stick in he becomes the focus of one's attention. Dahlin and the emerging Power also have that quality to grab your attention.

On that goal he turned on the jets and blew by the defenders. That was impressive. You also make a keen observation about his backchecking. He's a very a responsible defender. When your best goal scorer plays diligently on both ends of the ice it says a lot about the player and his willingness to lead.

Cozens is playing like he is on a mission. Lybushkin is not a flashy player but he is gritty defenseman who is tough and smart. He's a great addition. Powers is going to be one of our anchor players. I am pleasantly surprised at how good offensively he is. He repeatedly gets low in the offensive zone and doesn't seem to get caught in a vulnerable position. He's smart, tough and has so much more upside. Hinostrosa is a versatile player who can play on any line and never be a liability. Tage is one of our star players that other teams have to prepare for. The Sabres are an entertaining team to watch.

As like you, I would prefer Tuch back on the first line with Skinner and TT. However, last year Skinner demonstrated that he is not only a willing passer but also adept at it. In fact, I thought there were times when he was too willing to pass when he was in a good scoring position. Granato is not a stand pat coach when it comes to putting together lines and pairings. He frequently jumbles the lines during the game. It's going to be intriguing how after a dozen or so games he predictably will rework the lines. As you and others have stated before this emerging lineup has a lot of player flexibility to work with.

Let me add a couple of points to your fine capsulation of why most prognosticators are shortchanging their previews of this team. The big "what if" for this team is the caliber of goaltending it will get this season. I don't think that it is unreasonable to say that if our goaltending last year would have been at an average to above average level this team would have accumulated 8-10 more points. And if you factor in the number of injuries to a thin roster last year it shouldn't be surprising that it took a toll on this team. What happened when this less than complete roster got healthy over the last third of the season? This team played at a playoff pace. I'm not suggesting that even when mostly healthy that last year's team was a playoff caliber team because it wasn't. But if one can believe that last year's team was an 80-84 point team,then it isn't a great stretch to believe that this year's team will be in the 90 point range, and capable of vying for a lower playoff spot up to the end of the season. There is no question that this year's team has more depth on its Buffalo and Rochester rosters. That means when the inevitable injuries occur there is a reservoir a talent to draw from so this team will be better situated to absorb the loss of players and still remain competitive. And if you factor in that the biggest boost this team will get is from internal improvement from the players who were on last year's roster then that is an added reason for optimism. I'm not going to declare that the Sabres are going to make the playoffs this year. Because I just don't know. What I can say is that I will be disappointed if this team isn't in the playoff race up until the end of the season. I'm stoked about the upcoming season.

I have little concern over the issue of captaincy. There are a number of instrumental and high character players on this roster that will exhibit leadership regardless of official designation or not. Most people favor Okposso, as I do, to be the captain. If someone else was selected to be the captain it would have no effect on his play and how he would conduct himself on the ice and in the locker room. What's even more important than making the right selection is having enough of the right kind of people on your roster so that there is enough internal leadership in the room that can properly deal with any issues within the group.

Tage, Quinn and Olofsson are our snipers. It's going to be fun watching these marksmen getting the red light turned on. This team has started to accumulate a number of goal scorers so that the scoring will be more spread out compared to previous years where the lower lines contributed little offense. There is now enough talent where players are not slotted higher than where their talent would indicate.

UPL might be a goalie who plays better in the NHL than the AHL because there is more defensive structure in the major league and less scrambling play than in the minor league. I thought that UPL looked very composed and played with an economy of movement even when he was under duress. As you indicate it might be best for him to get a lot of playing time in Rochester before moving up to the big club.

As you indicate it isn't wise to make quick judgments on young players. However, although Krebs has shown talent on the power play where there is a lot more open space, on 5 on 5 he isn't very effective. It's still early so I'm certainly not going to write him off. But that issue is a concern for me. It might be wise to start him off in Rochester and let him get a lot of playing time before moving him up to the big club.

It's difficult to evaluate players in training camp and preseason because there are so many players to work in. But what I can say from what I have seen so far is that Savoie looks like a better prospect than Krebs, much of that favorable view based on Savoie's ability to shoot and Krebs reluctance to. It's likely that Savoie will be sent back to the juniors for developmental reasons. There is no question that Krebs is talented. However, he has not translated that talent to the NHL game yet. Maybe more extensive playing time in Rochester will better prepare him for the NHL? Shoot more please!

Whenever I read these potential line and d-pairings I come away saying that they make sense or are interesting. What's apparent is that this roster is made up with a number of players who can play a variety of positions or roles. I still favor the first line being the same productive first line from last year : Skinner/Tage/Tuch. However, if you ask me how the second/third and fourth line are going to be constructed, I just don't know. What I can say is that this coach who has a tendency to jumble the lines going into games and within games has a lot of options to work with. It's also apparent that the depth has thickened to the point when injuries happen there will be NHL ready players to draw from in Rochester. That claim couldn't be made last year.

I'm not going to describe their play as being at a shutdown level. It's difficult to make that leap in assessment so early. But from what I have seen so far is that two mature defensemen were added to the blue line mix that helps to balance out the unit. I would say that with this pair's addition they help to solidify this young defense corps. As like you, I am pleasantly surprised with Pilut's early play. Whether he starts with the big club or not I'm sure he will be getting playing with Buffalo this season. Last year, when the Sabres incurred some injuries this thin team was severely depleted. It now appears that there is a reservoir of depth to draw from when the inevitable injuries happen. KA didn't make a lot of moves this offseason to get outside help. But his few judicious additions have helped to solidify this young and evolving roster. The big question mark is going to be the play of Comri. If the goalie plays well, KA will have had a productive and smart offseason.

He provides an element of rugged defensive play that this unit needed. I consider him more of a third pairing player who isn't going to dazzle anyone but whose brutish defensive style of play was lacking on this team. He was a solid addition who makes this team better.