JohnC

Of course, I'm disappointed in not getting the win. However, @SwampD has a perfectly pitched response/sensation about this game that I have, and suspect most of us have. The Sabres were a little raggedy in this game compared to the previous games but that had a lot to do with the quality of the opposition. We matched them in effort and opportunities. The missed shot by Olofsson at the end when the net was open was excruciating. But let's not forget that the Capitals also missed on some golden opportunities. If I were handling out starts to our side I would give the first star to Skinner. He got two goals and would have had one or two more goals if it weren't for the exceptional stops of the opposition's goalie. My second star would have gone to Tokarski. Although he was brutal in the SO he kept us in the game. I'm a coach Granato fan. If anyone wants to get a good perspective on this game and his team watch his postgame comments. He knows where his team is at and where it is going.

He was up with the NHL team. He got hurt and then went to Rochester. The organization decided to keep him there. In the last offseason after they weren't able to sign Ullmark it went and signed a 40 yr old goalie on a minimum contract. What does that tell you? It tells me that it felt it had a goalie prospect close to being ready to move up to the NHL. If you interpret their actions differently regarding the position, then that's fine. In my prior post, I stated what Granato said on WGR. He stated that he felt that UPLat this stage could develop as much in the NHL as in the AHL. That's what he said. How he is currently being handled is how they want him to be handled. There is no iron clad approach to this player or any player for that matter. The organization alters its approach as the situation changes and how they see fit. And it should be noted that on WGR Granato said that Quinn was playing at a level above the AHL. He stated that he felt that his development curve would be better served in the NHL than in the AHL. Quinn is currently playing in the AHL.

I have heard Granato talk on WGR on a couple occasions about what UPL status is as a prospect. My impression is that he is as much an advocate for the young goalie to be in the NHL as is KA. The coach made the point that from a developmental standpoint he felt that the player could learn more as a NHL player than as a AHL player. If the organization doesn't bring in another veteran goalie next year, then it would be obvious that the organization is invested in the big young goalie.

I think you are missing the point about the highlighted comment. There are teams that clearly are at a higher tier than Buffalo is. That's a fact! Teams such as Calgary, Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Colorado etc. The reality is that we are at a lower tier. Again, that's a fact! I don't see how anyone can deny that categorization. However, that doesn't mean that we can't be competitive with those teams when this team plays to its max and with good goaltending. This organization is rebuilding. Those running the organization publicly admit that. We have brought in more talent with the trades of our previous core that spreads the talent around more than before the trades (as you point out). But where we are now is not where we need to be to be in the higher tier of teams that were mentioned in order to become a serious cup contending team. Anyone who has been following this team recognizes that it is on the right track. And anyone who has a scintilla of objectivity recognizes that this team still has a way to go (less distance than before) to get to the level that would make this team a SC contender. I hope this elaboration clarifies the issue for you.

Quick impressions on this game: Of course Tage gets the first star. The second star should go to Anderson. Over the last half dozen games or so what is apparent is that when we get good goaltending we are able to match the opposition, even if they are more talented. In general, I would say that we slightly outplayed the Penquins. There were at least three occasions where we controlled the offensive zone and the opposing defense ended up scrambling and getting exhausted. This was a game where other than Tage with his laser shot it was difficult to determine who were our better players because everyone was working hard on both sides of the ice. Over the past half dozen games or so against good teams the Sabres have played a tight and cohesive game. The one negative about our play is on the draw. Collectively we are bad at it. Tuch is a tremendous addition to this team. He has a multiplier effect of making his linemates better. Three wins in a row against good teams. More importantly for more than a half dozen games (with the exception of one game) this team has been playing well and hard. The optimism meter is trending up.

You bring up an interesting issue about Mittelstadt: What level of a player is he? As you pointed out he can tantalize you with some sparkling plays but do they represent his overall game. What I saw last year after Granato took gave me a lot of optimism about him and his potential. This year it has been tough to evaluate him because of his injuries and recovering time. There are 19 games left in the season. It would be great to get a better sense of what he is capable of. If he can demonstrate that he can be a factor for this team and be another young player added to our young core it would be such a bonus. With respect to Olofsson my view of him appears to be a minority view. I would prefer to keep him as a lower line player and also a player on the second PP unit. Upgrading the lower lines by adding more scoring punch is something this franchise hasn't had in a long time. The one problem that isn't a problem is having too many players competing with one another and providing depth.

Getting grammar correct can be nettlesome. Fortunately, posting on the internet doesn't require a high standard of accuracy. I feel very comfortable in that low standard environment. Let's not discuss spelling! One of the greatest inventions of all time is spell check. Even there, I sometimes falter. In the eyes of the punitive Jesuits, I am a failure. 👨‍🎓

Is Anderson coming back? If he is, I don't see the Sabres bringing in another veteran goalie. It just seems to me that the GM is invested in having UPL being one of the rotating goalies. I would prefer to have another veteran goalie brought in but don't believe that is the approach that the GM is taking.

As you well know I have mentioned it a lot. It still remains an open issue whether they will do it. At least it is for me. You may be confident that they will utilize that good cap situation but I'm not so sure.

You make a good point about if there isn't much of a return then why upset the locker room balance. I'm hoping this offseason the Sabres use their cap situation to acquire a good player or two.

And Makar didn't have a head coach who insisted he play as if he was wearing a strait jacket instead of allowing him to simply play and grow as a player. Krueger stifled Dahlin while Granato encouraged him and allowed him a little more freedom to develop as a player. For Granato, mistakes are part of the learning process while for Krueger mistakes are a reason to harness the player even more.

There are a select few great blue line players with a number of young defenders approaching that tier in this league. In my view, he is in the group that is approaching that emerging tier. I'm not going to say that he will eventually win the Norris Trophy but I'm comfortable in saying that in another year or two he will be in the conversation when discussing the Norris. What I can say now is that Dahlin is our best player and our most important player. And what is even more exciting is that he has more room to grow. Right now, you can see in his play that he is exuding a supreme confidence in himself. And beyond his play that can be statistically analyzed you can see him becoming a leader on this team. A player of his talents deserves to be on a winning team and become a showcase player in this league. This organization has to have the urgency to make that happen. Didn't we have a thread urging that he be sent down to the AHL? And wasn't there another thread that advocated for Cozens to be dispatched on the thruway heading east to Rochester? What's the definition of fickle?

I didn't interpret anything. I asked a question.

Offseason.

What aspect of the skill set don't you like?

The front office also made a move up to draft Peterka in that same draft. Kudos to KA and his staff.

You are much more succinct and efficient. I salute you with a beer. 🍺

The annoying exhibition of being punctilious.

This high octane fluid may not elevate your level of hopeium but it might dull the pain. Sometimes being in a state of stupor is better than being in a state of painful reality. https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+jack+daniels+bottle&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS802US802&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=TxqJr-1iCpIgRM%2C7gqB4euI2qhfyM%2C_%3BMnRuLzvDwuqkcM%2Cbs8QGGVgEa0LGM%2C_%3BjwKDU2r7Hxh4sM%2CSLu7leHIh4WUYM%2C_%3BBzN43LryV7CTrM%2CFcVfjODNtM4fSM%2C_%3BrNqceoFbtlYGrM%2CFcVfjODNtM4fSM%2C_%3Bogle15HVfBMQGM%2C8HpvQ-KpWq8mPM%2C_%3BVUTfxkHfkMRamM%2CSLu7leHIh4WUYM%2C_%3BPngzZqXxUVb4uM%2CFcVfjODNtM4fSM%2C_%3B_tVRv8qpzSCp4M%2CIBYCg41u0f9_BM%2C_%3BG3yZAMW_m8PdAM%2CFcVfjODNtM4fSM%2C_%3B4wWr5TBVwEC59M%2CMvcySWsjTbwnIM%2C_%3B5QSJAIujwUUn4M%2CA6f4XhKMVl--KM%2C_%3B7-MOo4ynCDtk3M%2Cun6G5Y8mncEvfM%2C_%3Br_iqhyZ0heyn5M%2CSLu7leHIh4WUYM%2C_%3B0Ja30PrCNOqobM%2CMvcySWsjTbwnIM%2C_%3B5eIcCVQYUDz8zM%2Cph6BH0Wtb2UMyM%2C_%3BOp_bZrfVFUJCbM%2C8OKattMEI_abpM%2C_%3BrasYWlilrP5AqM%2C34d--BjLm00j-M%2C_%3BpvFybJSssYbwtM%2CMvcySWsjTbwnIM%2C_%3BsMOG0hBFQfdmoM%2CFcVfjODNtM4fSM%2C_&usg=AI4_-kRj4vXdIouEIlqF83x5Q2fEhQGMpA&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjG-rSWztX2AhVWB94KHUnaACIQ9QF6BAgCEAE

So @Brawndocan watch it and report the official results. 😄

In a tight and fast paced game you are going to get turnovers because you have to rush your decisions and plays. That scenario played out for both teams. That's the nature of that type of game. For the most part where both teams were pressing each other I thought the level of play was relatively clean. Overall, I thought this was the best or near the best game that the Sabres played this season. (I thought the Sabres played to their maximum ability in a home loss against Colorado.) In this game the Sabres, with an incomplete roster, played close to their maximum potential. That's all you can ask for.

Maybe if Miller were healthy this year and respectably played he would have value. If the Sabres get a 4th round pick for him I would quickly walk away from the scene of the heist and not look back. It wouldn't surprise me if he drew no interest at all.

You have followed Power closer than most others. Does it seem that after the Olympics he is fatigued and playing with less energy?

Your comment about Quinn thinking at a higher level than his AHL peers mirrors what Granato said about Quinn on WGR. Before he got hurt when he was brought up Granato said that he had outgrown the league.

If this ***** puts out his hand to greet you I would recommend that you either decline or wear a disposable rubber glove. ☠️