JohnC
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Posts posted by JohnC
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I only watched the first period so I'm not going to comment on the game. My biggest takeaway from that first period was unless a team gets a basic level of netminding, your team doesn't stand a chance. Their starting goalie was atrocious, and deservedly got yanked in the first period. Under UPL's recent play this franchise has gone from being subjected to erratic goaltending to consistent quality goaltending. (Fingers crossed.) What a dramatic change of fortune!
From what I witnessed in that first period and from the goal clips, I thought Greenway played well. He's not going to make eye popping plays on offense or defense, but he on offense he is going to do the grunt work to put his mates in a good position to score. Getting him from Minnesota for a second-round pick that was in the Jack trade was a solid deal for us, as was the Clifton signing. Not big-time deals but solid deals that made this roster better and more well rounded. We need a couple more of these type deals this offseason.
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Just now, K-9 said:
I resolved this dude name caller's problem. I put him on my ignore list. I aim to please.
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1 minute ago, SwampD said:
Dude. You really need to get over yourself.
I don't know what you are so aggravated over. The Dude word in your response is juvenile. You don't have to respond. I will do you a favor and not respond to you any longer.
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7 hours ago, Pimlach said:
No doubt the defense is better than last year and the year prior. I expected a big improvement considering how bad it once was.
One nice result of adding Byram is that he pushes 3 other guys down.
Next step is a big body, a tough stay at home top 4 guy. A guy that will clear the front of the net and make people pay for touching our goalie. Get that guy and watch Power flourish. Because Power is not a physical player, and Byram is not that guy, and Dahlin should not have to be that guy, we need the #4 defenseman to be that guy. Did you see Detroit getting chippy with UPL? When this team gets better this will happen even more if they don’t address it.
Get that kind of guy at D4, and now look at 5,6,7,8 - pick from Samuelsson, Clifton, Johnson, Joker, and Bryson. Good teams have depth.
I know it’s not easy to find these players, especially for a perennial bottom feeder, but that is what Adams is paid to do.
So yes, the defense is better. But it’s not there yet, there are too many players that have the same skill set. We are missing a key ingredient.
The Sabres are 3 or 4 players away from being a very good team. I don’t think we have to wait for all these prospects to develop to get there. Adam’s 5th off season is coming. For most teams his time would be up. Considering where Buffalo was when he got there he gets another year.
I agree with your last paragraph. The Sabres have enough assets within the system to add at least three good players this offseason who add some snarl and grit to this roster.
It's unlikely that the Sabres will make the playoffs this year. If that doesn't provide KA with the urgency to make the required upgrades, then he should be dispatched as a GM. There will be no excuse for not taking action.
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7 hours ago, SwampD said:
Is BB-4 a top pairing defenseman? I mean, on a team that actually makes the playoffs?
An unequivocal yes.
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6 hours ago, SwampD said:
I don’t know, man,… he’s pretty soft. He’s really young, though, so I still have hope.
I'm confident that he will in the not-too-distant future be an instrumental player for us. Don't let his more finesse style of play cloud your judgment on him. He's going to be really good. So good where a lot of organizations would make a bountiful trade to acquire him. Be patient---you will come around.
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18 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:
It was a fine deal as Nylander was basically on a VO level at his best moments and definitely a draft mistake but I would be happy if we flipped him this summer and brought in a solid defensive defender. Big and tough.
I can see Byram/Dahlin, and then Samuelsson/Clifton but Power/Joker is flawed imo unless Power gets more physical and becomes more of a Pieterangelo type. As is I'd rather have a big defender paired with him and Joker could be part of a trade for that (unless they want to ditch Samuelsson because he's made of glass).
18 hours ago, Pimlach said:This is good since we have Ryan Johnson too and I like have to 7 or 8 good defenders but as it stands right now we lack the big tough one and I see that as a hole. Especially for playoff style hockey, which starts in February.
We can disagree on what would make the best combinations on the blueline. But that discussion is made possible because in comparison to a few years ago, there is now enough accumulated talent where you can trade a player in order to add another player to better round out this roster.
Mitts was a good player who had value. He was dealt for a top pairing defender. We gave up value to acquire value. We're allowed to have this discussion because we have a supply of assets to parlay with. Not long ago, that wasn't the case because of a dearth of talent. Injuries would result in a cascading effect where players would then be playing higher roles that they were capable of handling. Injuries can now be handled without having such damaging effects.
Not to belabor the point, but I'm confident that Power is going to be a stud player for us. In the near future, he's going to viewed as a top-tier defenseman in the league. He's not a banger, and never will be. Don't let it cloud the fact that is going to be really good.
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42 minutes ago, Pimlach said:
I am expecting the Wings to come out playing hard and tough. They see their season about to go down the drain and at home. They remember the last game.
I expect the Sabres to be ready for it and hopefully their special teams come through. I think PP and PK will be the key.
MUSCLE WEIGHT
In the last game, the Sabres had an advantage over Detroit because they were coming from Vegas and concluding an extended road trip. Our legs were demonstrably fresher than theirs as evidenced by how much faster and quicker we were. There's a lot at stake for both teams. I'm hoping this turns out to be a game where when it's over the posters here will be smiling. If not, expect an onslaught of lamenting. 😃
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1 hour ago, Pimlach said:
My thought with Joki is that he is a good player, but very similar to the others. I would like one of the 6 to inflict a little fear into opposing forwards. Diversity of skills are good. Give me one big tough guy back there.
We are riding in different buses to the same destination. This organization has made a lot of trades over the past half dozen year. I consider the Nylander for Joki deal to be one of our better deals.
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16 hours ago, Pimlach said:
Yup, I agree there were posters who lost patience with all the players you mention, and more. I’m still not a fan of of Bryson, and I’m only Luke warm on Joki -mostly because he is very similar to what we have.
There are many posts covering which goalies were available and when. I’m too lazy to look. There are also posts stating Adams tried but could not get some of them. I stand by my position that goaltending has been mishandled and now, Im happy that UPL is working out. Good fortune had to happen at some time. I’m not gonna spend time looking back.
The next step is improving the forwards lines, adding more diverse playing styles and skills, and making the playoffs. That is what I will focus on. That, and cap a management, and improving the coaching staff.
Let me make some comments on the two defensemen that have been mentioned. I put Bryson in the category of being a utility player. He's a tweener NHL/AHL. At best, he's a third pairing and lower player. I'm not going to overrate his game paired with Clifton, he is not a liability. What's happening in general is that there is enough talent on the team and in the system where players are being slotted to their talent level. That wasn't the case in prior years. Bryson is a depth player who when brought up functioned adequately.
With respect to Joki, and as well to Power, their play is downgraded by many because they don't play a banging style of game. Joki can skate and move the puck up the ice. He's also more willing to be involved on offense. He's not going to knock people down when they are hovering around our net. That's not his game, and never will be. Too many people focus on his limitations rather than on his assets (not saying you). In general, the era of guerrilla defenders who are inclined to fight is over with. Some people have difficulty altering their preferred profile on players and positions (again, not saying you) to the newer/different style of play.
With respect to my assessment of Power, he is going to be a gem and a core player for us for a long time. In the not-too-distant future he is going to be a top tier blue liner who will be coveted by many teams. Based on his play this year, I can already see him expanding his game and becoming much more confident and adventurous in his play.
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On 3/14/2024 at 11:44 AM, shrader said:
Anyone interested in a Jagr bobble head? I found 18,000 of them in my backyard. Must have fallen off a truck.
Don't be surprised If you find some young adults wearing FBI wind breakers knocking on your door.
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4 hours ago, Pimlach said:
Once we lost Ulmark, I was firmly on the camp of bringing in a NHL starting goalie to help the team compete while UPL stayed in Rochester and Levi was in NCAA. Nothing that happened makes that strategy wrong. Adam’s started talking about blockers about the time Ulmark left
IMHO - Tokarski, Dell, Comrie and a very aged Anderson was not adequate GM work by Adams, especially given his asset stockpile and his cap situation.
Everyone in the NHL circles raised eyebrows at the process Adams took. He was subtly criticized on ESPN and TNT. Even Kevin Weekes made comments this season and did an eye roll on the Sabres goaltending situation prior to January. The ESPN panel questioned this in between periods.
Adams can get credit for developing UPL. He can equally get blame for missing playoff last year, and probably this year. This team was better than were they finished in each of these seasons.
If I had to do this again, I would still start by bringing in a goalie that can help your core players compete and buy time to bring up your goalie prospects from the lower leagues until they are ready
This season a vet and UPL was the logical way to go. Levi was promised something I hear. We have to get past that. Once this team stops sucking they will have leverage when dealing with 20 year old prospects. Comrie was promised another look too.
A vet and UPL could have done the job and kept us in the race all season. UPL would have probably emerged either way.
Congrats to Adams for developing UPL. Now, moving forward, he MUST make the moves to get us out of hockey hell.
In my original post, I said that there was a faction of posters who not too long age wanted to dispatch UPL. That is true. There was also a faction that quickly determined Power to be not worth his draft status and keeping. That is true. Are you going to disagree that there wasn't a clarion call from a number of posters who declared Mitts to be a bust? That is true. It wasn't too long ago that Cozens was also targeted of being a minor bust. That is also true. The same premature judgments applied to Bryson and Joki. My underlying point is that too often there is a premature judgment on young players. That was my basic point.
With respect to not adequately acquiring a veteran goalie to become our starter, which goalies are you identifying who were available? There is no question that UPL is playing at a high level. But there are some underlying reasons beyond his individual performances that have allowed him to recently shine. The first reason is that our defensive unit has been bolstered with additions (Clifton) and now Byram. And credit should also be given to young players such as Power, Joki, Ryan Johnson. Bryson etc. who got better. In addition, our forwards are in general playing better defensively.
If you want to talk about the preceding years, then go ahead. But this year, we started off with three goalies vying for playing time and roles. It took some time to shake out, but in the end UPL earned his #1 role. Prior to the season based on last year's end of season performance there was an expectation (by me) that Levi was going to win the starting job. He simply wasn't ready. I'm sure you disagree but in the end the approach that KA took worked out.
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1 hour ago, Hank said:
6Ks a good goalie? Who saw that coming? 🤪
There were zealots here who were arguing that he should be dealt for some retread on the market. When it comes to judging goalies, experienced or not, the best approach is to be humble. One year's Vezina winner could turn out to be next year's bum. I'm not in the column of those predicting that UPL would be playing at his current level for such a sustained time. The truth is no one was. It just seems that because so much frustration has been built over the seasons that it has resulted in people looking for instant cures instead of allowing young players to develop. That same impatience has also been directed towards players such as Cozens, Mitts, Power etc. Very often, trusting in the process takes a lot of fortitude and courage to simply stick it out and allow things to naturally unfold. And it should be understood that I'm not suggesting that little else should be done to augment the process. As it turns out, the GM who has very much been vilified, was right on how he has handled this particular goalie.
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22 hours ago, Marvin said:
Update: I just got canned.
Does your employer offer any help in finding new work? Or do they simply in cold blood issue the notice? As someone else suggested, don't be afraid to rely on your friends and work cohorts to give you leads to other opportunities. Wish you the best.
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14 hours ago, SwampD said:
Dude. Sorry to hear this.
There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).
I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.
People in general often get consumed by little things that in reality are simply life irritations. You are dealing with something serious that relates to health and life. Wish you the best.
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Just now, Pimlach said:
I watched it out tonight. Really good game. They came out strong at home and although they didn’t score in the first they stayed at it and outplayed the Isles. They stayed patient and intense and the goals came.
UPL was excellent, great to see the fans treated to a shutout.
Lots of contributors tonight. Cozens and Greenway stood out to me. Benson too. Clifton gives up 4 inches and 37 pounds to Anders Lee but holds his own.
Big one on the road Saturday in De-Troy-it. Keep it going boys.
As you smartly point out, the Sabres didn't get frustrated not scoring in the first period. They stayed patient and kept at it. This team is playing with a lot more maturity over the past dozen games or so.
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In this NHL link is a recap of the game and highlights of some scores.
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2 minutes ago, Brawndo said:
Absolutely.
Even when he has not been getting points he has been driving play and good defensively
As you point out, even when Benson was not getting points you can never say that he was a liability on the ice. Quite the contrary, as you noted he was driving the play and playing a very responsible defensive game. For a long time, he was one of our best players in giving us net presence on offense. Usually, young players fade as the season grinds on. He is getting better and better.
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Some quick thoughts on this game. I thought that Greenway played really well in the first period, also played solidly throughout the game. He's a big horse who plays big. He can't be moved. He's also a very smart player who although isn't the fastest player on the ice, he does have good anticipation and is positionally sound. Great value pickup.
The Sabres were by far the faster and quicker team. We utilized those advantages. \
This was a game where it is difficult to single out any one player because collectively everyone played well. Both the defensive pairs and the forwards played a responsible defensive game without few lapses. No Sabre player in this game could be considered a liability. All our pairings played well and all our line were good.
Benson is getting better and better.
Cozens is playing well. It seems that he is out of his funk.
So far the lines that DG has put together has worked. Skinner seems to play with a little more determination with his new line.
UPL is playing to a high standard, his now usual standard. He is playing with calmness and is seeing the puck. Credit has to also go to the defensive pairs who are playing well in front of him and quickly getting the puck out of their zone.
I liked Clifton in this game. He adds an element of toughness and grit to this unit. Both he and Greenways additions by the GM and an element of strength and grit to this team.
I enjoyed this game. Over the past dozen games the Sabres have gone 8-3-1. Let's keep it up.
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4 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:
All joking aside, I respect the members in the medical community. It's a tough and exhausting profession to be in. Gracias senor.
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5 hours ago, Doohickie said:
I would word that as "this new duo could recognized as one of the best pairings in the league in the not too distant future."
...because I think they already are, people just haven't realized it yet. Even on the Avs forum on HFBoards they're saying that.
I believe that Colorado's front office understood how good Byram is. They are in a position to seriously compete for the Cup. They made a deal that made sense for them by acquiring Mitts to address a need in pursuit of their high aspiration for this season. When you want to receive value, you have to give up value. This was a good hockey deal for each franchise.
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8 hours ago, Hank said:
Of course he's a lesser Makar. EVERYBODY is a lesser Maker. No shame in that.
Using the perplexing logic that some posters advance one must conclude that Dahlin is a failure because he's no Bobby Orr.
In the few games that Byram has played for us, it's evident that because teams have to account for him thus creating more space for the other players on the ice. It shouldn't be forgotten that adding him to the PP makes it much more potent.
I do agree with @PerreaultForever that this new acquisition is more of an offensive defenseman than defensive defenseman. That's fine with me.
Dahlin is our best defenseman. And being paired with Byram makes him even better. I don't want to get ahead of myself but this new duo could up to be one of the best pairings in the league in the not too distant future.
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Don Granato was asked on WGR about Quinn. He said that he was still wearing a boot. It's very doubtful that he will be playing this season.
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11 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:
Oh god no.... After 2 or 3 times, we use sedatives 😂😂
For the patient or the doctor?😁
Casey Mittelstadt traded for Bowen Byram
in The Aud Club
Posted
After watching BB play for us in this short stint, I like this deal for us. The advantage that having a player like Mitts is that although it is fair to categorize him as a 2-3 C, he still had the talent to move up to the first line and keep that line playing as a productive line. Mitts can also play as a wing on a variety of lines. As you and others have stated, this is simply a good hockey trade that makes sense for all parties involved. It will be interesting to see how Krebs handles his elevated roll as a 3C. So far, I would say reasonably well. However, not sure if that will be his long-term slot.