JohnC

His appearances on the Tonight Show were a riot.

Even if the intended strategy is to be more aggressive when the other team is in your zone, it is an absurdity to not have a shot on goal in a period. By having a reasonable time of possession in the opposition's (even if it is less that the other team's time of possession) you are cutting the time and place for the other team to make a push. The Sabres were on their heels for a full period. That's not acceptable. As I said in a prior post, I'm not going to be dismissive of any win, especially against a better team. But the Carolina possession domination in the third period was ridiculous.

The end of the game "shortening the bench" strategy is a standard strategy that all teams deploy, including the Sabres. There's no question that Carolina's top talent is better than our top talent, just as it is with Colorado. However, the Sabres were overwhelmingly dominated in the third period as with the Colorado game. I'm sure you see it differently, but for me those end of game dominations indicate a lack of mental toughness to handle the predictable opposition push. I see a team fragility that has repeatedly exhibited itself this season. It's a problem that needs to be addressed this offseason. I see it as a roster composition problem that goes beyond an individual talent issue.

In the games where the Sabres blew what should have been comfortable leads it became evident to bystanders (like me) that there was a "loser psychology" of lost confidence when the opposition started making an end of game push. In a long season, that type of deflation when dealing with an onslaught sometimes happens. With this team it is altogether different. It happens too often at critical junctures to not see. The two Colorado games (especially the home game) were the worst examples of a team losing its composure. There is a fragility to this team that can't be unnoticed. There needs to be a better mix/makeup that includes more seasoned and hardened veterans. I'm not going to be dismissive with any win that the Sabres garner, especially against one of the better and tougher teams in the NHL. But the mental fragility is too evident not to ignore. It's an issue that needs to be addressed. I'm not confident that as the current room is constituted the solution lies within the room.

It may be snarky but it's true that there were no Buffalo shots on goal in the third period. That's a stunning statistic.

Some quick thoughts on this game. UPL gets the first star. And McCleod gets the second star. Territorially, Carolina dominated the game, especially in the third period. We weren't the better team but I thought the effort was there up to the third period when we seemed to just desperately hang on. I don't know what the stats were but we were not very good on the draws. What's worrisome is the negative psychology of this team when it is stressed. Especially in the third period, with only one shot on net, the players were simply hanging on and playing not to lose. We won against a good team. I'll take it.

The Sabres traded Eichel. The team got worse and Vegas got better. The Knights ended up winning the Cup with him being an instrumental player. The Sabres traded Reinhart. The Sabres got worse and Florida got better. The Panthers ended up winning the Cup with him being an instrumental player. Both players could have been retained. Jack wanted out and wanted a procedure done that the organization would not approve. The procedure worked out well and the organization dealt a top tier player who was contractually locked up. There was no need to trade him. The Sabres had an opportunity to sign Reinhart to a long term deal. They didn't. So thereafter he became an UFA player who was not going to sign with Sabres. It has been our own organizational mistakes that has crippled this franchise. When you repeatedly shoot yourself in your feet, don't expect to keep up in the race. Why did you make that snarky comment?

The notion of getting a generational player like McDavid for Power is a farfetched pipe dream. It's not going to happen. Let's stay grounded to reality. This franchise has cap room and it has a bevy of prospects that can be used for quality veteran pieces that will help this team right away. The Sabres and the Capitals were in the same echelon from a team/talent standpoint. They scooted ahead of us because they made a number of smart (not big deals) that made their team better. Check where they are in the standings and compare it to where we are stuck! Being smart is preferable to being dumb.

I'm fine with trading Byram. However, I'm adamantly opposed to trading Power. I believe that in another couple of years he is going to be an upper tier defenseman in the league. The Sabres traded upper tier players such as Eichel and Reinhart. How did those deals work out? We are still reeling from those dumb deals. What ails this submerged team is the composition of the roster. It lacks coherency and balance. We don't need to shed our most promising players who have even more potential to tap into. If the Sabres would have done what the Capitals did over the past two years i.e. adding good players to better complete the roster, they would be in a much better place. Blockbuster deals constructed by our inept GM is a recipe for disaster.

You don't have to be inside the organization to recognize gross incompetence. A generation of failure is more than enough sample size to make a judgment on this clownish bunch.

I am adamantly opposed to trading Power. If you want to continue seeing former Sabres thrive on other teams, then continue with the foolishness that has been characteristic of the Pegula era. When the calculations are tabulated, how did the Eichel and Reinhart deal work out? The last thing I want is to allow our current sycophantic GM to make major deals. It's a recipe for additional disastrous transactions that send our backward franchise further back.

My worry is that Dahlin gets so frustrated with the dismal situation he is in with this amateurishly run franchise that he demands to be traded, as like our other best players did. Being one of the better players in the league and never having the opportunity to participate in the playoffs certainly has to get him thinking about "what if" I was with a serious organization.

It's so great to have a team that's entertaining and also a serious franchise that is a legitimate contender for the SB. Baltimore is a superb team that whipped us in a regular season game. Whether the Bills win or lose I am so proud of this team. Your post is a heartwarming illustration that whether the Bills win or lose it will create a wonderful family memory. I just get so angry at how this inscrutable owner has damaged his other franchise to the point of irrelevancy and pervasive fan apathy. It's so sad and stupid. Let's go Bills!

Karmanos is part of the Sabre staff. But that doesn't mean that if he replaced KA he would continue to maintain the status quo. That would be a foolish response by him. Anyone who replaces KA would be well aware that a change in course would be expected and needed. The critical issue right now isn't who will replace KA as it is will the tinkering owner allow the hockey staff (however it is rearranged) to do their jobs without his blundering interference. The truth of the matter is just as our current GM is ill-equipped for the job, so is Terry Pegula ill equipped to be a successful owner. His lack of awareness of his limited talents as an NHL owner has shackled this fading franchise.

The conundrum is that the owner got the kind of GM he wanted: a sycophant who was going to "yes sir" him and his whims. And let's not forget that the organizational re-structure was shaped the way the owner wanted. Until the owner comes to the realization that he needs to put his franchise in the hands of people who know what they are doing, this franchise will continue to flounder. The model for this sphynx owner to follow is the Buffalo Bills. But so far that reconfiguration has not happened with his hockey franchise because he prefers to play his toy.

Excellent analysis and summarization. As you well know, the military historians have feasted on the issues that you noted about the abilities of the generals and battlefield strategies. As you point out, there was no question that Lee was recklessly bold in his attempt to get a win, as much for political purposes as for military reasons. He was determined to get a knockout blow in the north with the hope that it would have a demoralizing political effect. Looking back, the union flanks held, although close to being breached, and pummeled Lee's major force in the middle. As I stated before, although being battered, the rebs did have a breakthrough at the triangle (middle) but didn't have enough manpower to follow through. As brutal the Gettysburg Battle was, Antietam was even more brutal proportionally per day and location. McClellan was the union general. Many historians believe that if he would have been more aggressive sooner, he could have dealt a decisive blow to Lee and his forces. Allowing Lee to escape over the Potomac River in the night allowed the Confederates to head back south and regroup. Maybe??? if McClellan could have destroyed Lee's army to a greater extent, Gettysburg would not have happened. There is any interesting parallel regarding the military and hockey franchises. It relates to getting the right people in place to lead. If you get that wrong, you fail. The Sabres are a classic example of that.

Grant was not noted for his strategy. He was a fighter who sought engagement. That was the reason why Lincoln after going through a number of generals belatedly settled on him. He got tired of his generals being too timid. Grant's philosophy was that if I have three soldiers and you have two, I could fight you to a draw and win based on the advantageous numbers. Butchery at a frightening level. In some respects, what is going on in Ukraine in their war for survival with Russia is similar. Putin is an evil person who is a combination of Stalin and Hitler. For Putin, his mindset is that I got the greater numbers, so casualties mean more to the opposition than to me. Evil personified!

Is Byram more talented than Mitts? Probably so. But from a roster construction standpoint and team need, Mitts would have added more value to this roster. (My opinion.) What happens if Byram decides that he doesn't want to be stuck in this pitiful situation and decides he wants out like Eichel, Reinhart, ROR and others did? His trade value is diminished and if he doesn't sign, then it is another player departure with little value in return. What happens if Zucker and Greenway decide that they also want out and decline to sign here as their contracts expire? It's like taking three steps back, and then one step forward. Going backwards certainly doesn't move you forward. This is another example among many where a shambolic organization performs stupidly!

I've been to Gettysburg a number of times and listened to a number of presentations. Johnny reb did actually penetrate the line but had nothing in reserve to follow up. As far as Little Round Top, if the Union reserves would not have shown up to buttress the line on the hill, the Rebels would have taken that hill. Gettysburg is both a fascinating to visit and a hallow place to respect. The butchery that both sides were subjected to were incredible. General Lee is a revered figure in the south. However, his miscalculations on that Battlefield got a lot of his soldiers unnecessarily killed and maimed. In this case, judicious non-engagement would have been better than reckless aggressiveness.

The impenetrable owner has succeeded in destroying a franchise and obliterating the fanbase. He should be ashamed of himself. When it gets to the point that following this flailing team becomes more of an aggravation than an enjoyable endeavor then it's time to take a sabbatical. This franchise has become a theatre of the absurd. It makes no freaking sense.

The Sabres win 5-2.

The difference between the Caps and Sabres is that the Caps over the past couple of years made a number of mid-level transactions (no blockbuster deals) that made their roster more well-round and tougher to play. They exhibited a level of competency that doesn't exist with the Pegula regime. Now, they likely will make the playoffs, and it won't be considered a fluke.

Let's just win this game and walk away with a taste of positivity. Being negative is exhausting.

Your post is illuminating and stupendously depressing. The Pegula era has made me mad. It's so outrageously stupid.

https://bandits.com/bandits-survive-dogfight-in-win-over-toronto-rock/ If the Sabres can become a serious team the arena would be rocking and rolling with capacity crowds as it is when the Bandits play.