JohnC

Why?

I have underestimated his ability to play on a top two line because I thought he was limited offensively. I'm slowly but steadily altering my position on him because he has demonstrated albeit in an early stage that he can improve offensively. It will come when he gets stronger. He has more offensive upside than I originally thought. My hope is that players like Quinn, JJP, Kulich and Power continue on an upward trajectory. The GM and franchise are counting/betting on it. In addition, although it is still very early to make a judgment, I'm impressed with Östlund's mature play in the little that I have seen of him.

That's a fair response. I think he will get better while a number of people are skeptical that he will. I can't blame others for having a different viewpoint because his play has been uneven. The issue for him is whether he is willing to play a grittier game that goes beyond his offensive game. TBD.

This team has to start off well next season. The fanbase unsurprisingly is skeptical about the owner and franchise. I assume the GM will be back. Whether he is or not a few smart personnel decisions need to be made.

Quick thoughts on this game: Reimer has been the main factor in our winning stretch. His positioning is superb, good balance and little wasted motion. I can't recall a juicy rebound that he gave up in this game. UPL needs to watch film on his teammate and use him as his model to playing the position. Carolina is a tough team to play. You don't have much room to maneuver. A Carolina game is not an aesthetically pleasing to watch. They can frustrate you if you get frustrated and too impatient. Over the past dozen games or so this team has been able to play the same game whether they are leading or behind. It's a sign of maturity. The play of the game was Byram getting a clean draw from McCleud ?? and then making a quick and precise pass to Tuch for the short hand goal. Pretty play. Quinn also fought to get the puck and then made a nice pass to JJP for a score. Quinn has a lot of critics here but he's working to round out his game. I wouldn't be surprised if Östlund wins a roster spot next year. Are these meaningless games? From a standings standpoint, yes. But from learning how to play the right way it shows advancement. The Sabres have won 8 out of the last 9 games, and have won five games in a row. They have made the home ice a tough place for the visiting team to play. I'm not complaining about that.

Quinn made a nice play to get the puck, and then made a nice pass to JJP for the score. He’s worth being patient for.

The Mitch Marner dream is fantasy. Does he have a partial no-trade clause in his contract? If so, you know that Buffalo is at the top of his "no go" locations. Acquiring a veteran top 4 defenseman seems to me an attainable desire. We have the assets to parlay to make such a deal. I also believe that adding another top two-line forward is realistic. I would be open to dealing Byram in a deal to make that happen. As far as the goalie issue is, I have no answers. If UPL is rehabilitated, then we are in a better situation. If not, the ship with a gaping hole will sink again. I would love to add another Zucker like player who is a little younger. We have a collection of young players such as Quinn, JJP, Kulich, Power, maybe Oustlund and Power. Will they all get better? Quinn has struggled more than I thought he would, but it seems that the other youngsters are improving. Our GM designed a rebuild strategy around the draft/develop model, so it seems he is fully invested in it. What it comes down to, a few smart and reasonable moves, added to the addition and return to health of Norris and Greenway, will thicken the roster and make it better balanced. As you and many others point out, the real critical issue between success and failure is the goalie position. I'm not sure how to get that issue resolved.

As you point out, he lacked hockey IQ. I've felt because he lacked that essential trait for a centerman that he should have instead played wing. In the international tournaments he would usually play the wing position. When positioned there he would usually play really well with the top players in the sport. For this particular player: less thinking results in better play.

Vino, vino, vino. Make sure you order the red.😀

I grew up on the West Side when it was 98% Italian, first and second generation. One of the guys I grew up with was a terrific athlete but also a hoodlum. He was supposed to testify in a criminal case that he was involved in. The Big Boys wanted to make sure that he knew how to testify properly. So they called him for a meet to go over his testimony. They had a car pick him up and put him in the front passenger seat. They drove to a location in the neighborhood. The person sitting behind him ended up garroting him and killing him. His brother who was also a bad dude had a number of criminal talents. One of them, besides his main thievery talents, was as an arsonist. The Big Boys got tired of his lone wolf escapes acting without their approval. So on one of his arsonist jobs the person he was with ended up throwing gasoline on him and lighting him up. He didn't die but was severely burned and disfigured. My point in recounting these boyhood stories is I encourage you to be careful when giving me that menacing scowl that you exhibited in the picture that you posted. Just remember, I still have friends (Sicilian businessmen) that I can call on when the appropriate amount of respect is not given. Do you capiche? 😀

A week or so ago, Marty Biron talked about UPL's degraded play. What he noted as a main reason for his diminished play was that his mechanics were out of whack. He was reaching and flailing instead of retaining a stable posture and reacting without flailing motions. It seemed that he lost confidence in the defense around him (understandably so) with the increased onslaught and reacted by losing his mechanics. When he's on there is better body positioning and a lot less movement. If he closely watched Reimer during his recent good play, he would have noticed Reimer's economy of movement. There is a lot at stake for the team for him to get back on track. If that goalie position is stabilized, this team should be in a much better position. The bottom line is what pitching is to baseball; goaltending is to hockey. Without it you get nowhere meaningful.

Great effort in your analysis. With respect to UPL's faltering how do you fix that positional deficiency? Do you try to rehabilitate him or replace him? If you decide to replace him, then with whom? Is Reimer at this stage of his career have the ability to be a # 1 workhorse goalie? I'm wary about taking that course. And as far as trading UPL, who is going to take him with his contract. My sense of what is going to happen under KA is that there will not be a change in staffing the position. That will be risky but the options appear to be limited. Your Cozens analysis is intriguing. What it basically concludes is that his shedding was addition by subtraction. My hope is that Norris gets healthy and becomes at the minimum a contributing #2 center. If that happens, then the trade would favor the Sabres even more. On the Quinn issue, it appears that I am an outlier. I'm more inclined to be more patient with him than you. (To state the obvious.) But even if retained, his role and playing minutes should be dictated by his play.

You may not be aware of it but you have a menacing look. You look like a west side bookie bill collector from my youth who was just told by a tardy gambler that he'll come up with the money tomorrow. The collector then pulls out a crowbar and wacks the guy on a knee. When the wounded scofflaw asks why he was hit, the collector responds that he wanted to make the point that it is imperative that he comes up with the money owed, plus interest, very soon.

The goalie issue for the Sabres, as it is for all teams, is that with the exception of the few elite goalies, the players playing the position are erratic in their play, year to year and also within season. Reimer has been stellar over his recent extended play. Can he expected to carry a full load next season if he becomes our primary goalie? I'm skeptical about that. Should UPL be relegated to a backup role or be dealt because his recent play in general has been lacking? I'm not sure? What this recent winning stretch demonstrates is that with good goaltending this team can be a competitive team. However, what does the GM do to solidify the position and make it a more consistent position to depend on? I don't have the answer for that. As you point out with Swayman, he gained a rich, long term contract based on his play when his contract was coming up. Now, it seems that he is adrift. In watching the game against Boston what became apparent was that the Sabres were the superior team. And as the game advanced it became ever more apparent. Looking back at this season, how many games against lesser teams did we lose to and how many games against superior teams did we elevate our play and win. This team had opportunities but due to a lack of maturity it did not seize on them when they were there for the taking. I'm aware that from a playoff standpoint this is a failed season regardless on how this team plays these end of season games. But what is apparent to me is that this team in general is playing a more responsible two-way game. And it is also apparent that the coach is giving out playing time and roles based on performances. The focus now isn't so much player development as it is on which players put this team in a better position to win. How Quinn is being handled by Ruff is an example of that. When his play is lacking, his playing time becomes limited and his line assignment is dropped. That's a good thing for the team and also for the player in question.

They didn't simply beat us---they thoroughly spanked us!

There is a bookstore that I frequent that sells old books on the cheap. I have reread a few James Michner books such as Chesapeake and Texas. His research is so detailed, and the family lineages in his books are captivating. I've also acquired from the same bargain bookstore a few Tom Clancy books that I read a long time ago. After re-reading The Hunt for Red October and Red Rabbit I have solidified my view that Russia is a malignant and malign country. Many of their past and current leadership are outright evil. The term "Evil Empire" (I think was given by Reagan??) is an apt description of that country. Putin is an evil person who is a world-wide menace.

It was Coach Donny that also got Dahling unlocked from the Krueger shackles. Krebs is starting to carve out a role for himself for his energetic and gritty play. But the player who will be appreciated more when the Sabres become more of a factor in the league is Benson. When he becomes more physically developed he will be recognized as one of the mainstay players on this team. To their credit, both Krebs and Benson are full effort players.

He did say 15 games. I would give him a longer period of time. Not an unlimited period of time just more than he would. We have different opinions on the time frame on that issue. Big freaking deal. As I said before: TBD.

I know exactly the point LGR is making. I simply disagree with it. If it's not understood, then so be it. I can handle a difference of opinion.

And I view your haughty tone as irritating.

Give it a freaking rest!

I don't understand the point you are attempting to make. I believe that a particular young player has more upside. There are others that see this particular player with less upside. I'm willing to wait on him a little longer. That has little to do with complacency as it does with evaluation of a player.

Sometimes you don't recognize how obnoxious you can be. You are giving an opinion just as I am. It's not about refuting you or me as it is expressing different opinions.

Ovie breaks the record. https://www.nhl.com/video/wsh-nyi-ovechkin-scores-goal-against-ilya-sorokin-6371144441112

You are a legend in your own mind. Congratulations on your copious pomposity. What is intoxicating for some is insufferable for others.