JohnC

If the next singer you showcase for the audience is Frankie Avalon I'm going to have you sent to the old folks home. 🤡

Are you aware that the youngsters here don't know who Bobby Vinton?🤡

Some quick thoughts on this game: My first star goes to Anderson. My second star goes to Tuch. If anyone wants to reverse the order I'm fine with it. The biggest surprise in this game is that Tuch was able to get back to his energetic and tough play even after a long injury layoff. His presence is felt by the rest of the roster. When he is playing this team is confident. Beyond the scoring our first line played a tough battling game. The Thompson and Skinner passes to Tuch for scores were nifty. Skinner has turned out to be one of our best passers. Cozens showed persistence on his goal. His young wingers are playing with confidence. Peterka is showing why the coach stuck with him even when he seemed to be in the doldrums. I thought the tandem of Lyubushkin and Stillman were solid. Joki played well. He led the team in minutes. He played one second short of 27 minutes. Many fans don't have much confidence in this player but the coach certainly does. I'm putting the Joki critics on notice that I'm tuning you out. Watch the games and stop regurgitating your preconceived negative notions about this player who is getting better. I'm really encouraged on how the Sabres have played in this game and the Ranger game. As a unit they are playing a tighter and tougher style of play. The Sabres may or may not be in the playoffs. If we string a few wins together we may be able to get back into the race. Regardless, you have to be encouraged at the intestinal fortitude this young team has. Great win. Entertaining game.

I've listened to Granato and KA on more than a few times this year. It seems that you have captured their mind-set about this team, season and philosophy. They believe in their rebuilding approach and are invested in it. It appears that they are sticking with it. Is it a demonstration of fortitude/resoluteness or is it a demonstration of inflexibility and stubbornness? Time will tell.

You are not the first person to be penalized without a reasonable explanation. Join the club that I am also a member of. Life is full of little dings. Don't let the issue linger---just brush it off and keep moving on.

The both of us watched the Ranger game and for the most part came away with similar observations. How the Sabres played in that game was demonstrably different from how they usually played. There was much more attention and determination to play a more defensive brand of hockey. The forwards in this game were more inclined to be responsible in their defensive assignments. That type of two-way play, instead of looser up and down play, can do a lot to cover for the goalie/s. So if the goalie position is not upgraded in the near term, then the style of play has to be adjusted to cover for the goalie.

I not saying this as a criticism but as an observation. It just seems that the GM laid out a rebuilding plan and is reluctant to deviate from it. So, he's going to continue on continuing on. If you are going to bet money on what the GM is going to do---bet on him continuing on with what he is already doing.

Especially for goalies, intermittent play is not as revealing as a fuller body of work. Maybe he can be a solid backup? Based on this season I just can't say. My sense (guess) is that the GM has not written him off.

I'm not sure what you mean by "twitches" but the goalie situation in general entering next season makes me queasy. It seems that too much is being on foisted on the shoulders on Levi.

What's a shame about the Comrie situation is that because he got hurt early on and has had to contend with injuries this season, he didn't get a fair enough trial to demonstrate what kind of player he is capable of being. The book on him as a Sabre is still unknown.

I don't know what the organization's plans are for the net next year. And I doubt that the person who tweeted that the organization is going to keep the status quo (minus Anderson) entering next year doesn't know either. But if that is the plan, then it would be even more of an imperative to bring in a couple of defenders to upgrade the blueline unit. Also, if the tweeter turns out to be accurate, there will be a need to require a greater emphasis on team defense (including forwards) as was exhibited in the Ranger game. Right now, with or without the tweet, there seems to be too much reliance on the quick development of Levi. That bothers me.

With respect to the highlighted segment: That's exactly what I have been saying all along. The solution is to add players and not subtract them in order to replace the subtraction.

I'm supremely confident that Joki will not be traded. You can be as zealous/stubborn on this issue as much as you want to be. The primary problem associated with our blueline unit is its lack of depth. Shipping out one of the players currently in the second pairing makes no sense. I have repeatedly said that if a better defenseman or more is brought in that it would make sense to drop Joki down. Stylistically, Joki is different from some of the other players on the unit. So what? You may not accept Granato's evaluation of Joki but it is definitely much higher than yours. And he has said on a number of occasions that he believes that he has even more upside to draw from. The problem is not replacing Joki as it is to add another player or two to the mix.

You don't have to be a bruiser to be a good defender. You preferably want a mix of styles of play within the unit. But the notion that being a bruiser is a requisite is outdated. Samuelsson is not a bruiser, and neither is Power. Dahlin is hitting a little more, and because of it getting hurt more. But you certainly can't describe his style of play as bruising. You keep promoting the false premise that Joki is a detriment to the pairing he is on. That's not an accurate description of that tandem. As stated by @Taro T and others there definitely is a need for another defender or two to bulk up the unit and improve the lower pairings. I would be more than happy if the GM was able to bring in another Lyubushkin type of player and create more depth on the blueline. And assuming there is an additon/s Joki will still stay.

If there isn't a serious commitment to winning next year the fandom, including me, will tune out. And rightly so. The seriousness of this organization's commitment will be demonstrated this offseason. Most of the roster is set for next year. Our top two line are assembled. The necessity is to bring in a couple to three players to round out the roster i.e. quality over quantity. It's time to become serious.

If you stretch the search for a legit 4-5 defenseman, then that would be a wider market to draw from. And that procurement could be done on the free agent market which would not require giving up assets. It becomes an issue of what contract are you willing to pay. On that count the Sabres are in a favorable position compared to most teams.

As you point out if Savoie does make the roster at the beginning of the season it probably will be done for introductory purposes. You also make the point that Levi has a small chance of starting in Buffalo. In my opinion he needs a bulk amount of playing time. And after he gets that force feed exposure we will see where it leads to. I'm not dismissing players being called up due to injuries. But it is the often-stated view of the GM that it is better for young players to play a lot, even at a lower league, than to get intermittent play in the big league. If you look at how our GM handles prospects, he is more inclined to bring up a more prepared player a little later than a less prepared player too soon. If you considered what the GM did this year, he added a number of youngish, experienced players, such as Jost, Greenway and Stillman players to the roster during the season instead of bringing up prospects. Added to that group is Lyubushkin who is a veteran player who he brought in during the offseason. My point is that based on how the GM handles prospects he is going to error on the side of not rushing them. And that is the right approach to take. No. And that will be a good thing for the organization and the players.

No, it won't be. There may be rookies who will be called up due to injuries. But I doubt any rookie will make the opening day roster. If you think otherwise, who do you think will make the opening day roster? Our roster is starting to fill-up to the point where there will be competition for roster spots that won't include rookie players. That's how I see it.

@Taro Tresponded succinctly and clearly on the best way to make a deal. As he wisely pointed out depleting an already deficiency within the unit isn't the best approach to take. Adding to the unit to increase the talent base is the better course of action. There is an inconsistency and illogic in advocating to trade Joki in order to enhance the play of Power. What you are not acknowledging is that Power is playing at such a level that he is a serious contender for the rookie of the year award. And do you know who his partner is? It's Joki. You make it seem as if Joki is an anchor that is undercutting this impressive rookie's play. That's not the case. It's the opposite of hindering the youngster. He's a partner that is contributing and enhancing the stupendously success of this tall and gangly rookie. Joki shouldn't be the primary defender on the #1 or #2 pairing. I acknowledge that. He is more suited to be the complementary player in one of the top two pairings. And that is exactly the role that he is playing. I thought that Joki played one of his best games this season yesterday. (The same assessment for Lyubushkin.) I don't understand why the members here have such a jaundiced view of this player. It's like the Mitts syndrome where people get influenced by the herd view and then get too invested in it to alter their view. Make no mistake, if the GM brings in a top tier defenseman in the offseason, I'm open to moving him down the pairings. As it stands, I'm more than happy with the current situation other than there needs to be another addition made to the unit.

The good news is offset by the bad news that Samuelsson is hurt. He's out for now. TBD.

With respect to the highlighted segment: Absolutely not! Joki had an exceptional game last night. It seems as if he has replaced Mitts as the designated target for fans frustrated with the team. Please stop with these reflexive negative responses about him that don't reflect how he has actually played. He was one of our better blueline players last night. I thought this was one of his best games as a Sabre. And I say the same for Lyubushkin's play yesterday. Don Granato has on more than a few occasions extolled Joki's upside as a player. Joki is not a weakness on the blueline. Being a partner to Power is one of the reasons why Power has prospered as a rookie player. As @dudacekpointed out on his comments in this game, Joki was exceptional in this game. There were more than a few occasions where he got back to forestall a Ranger odd man rush. I also have noticed him to be more aggressive participating in the offense. It's apparent to me (maybe not to you) that he is expanding his game. I'm not against moving him down a pairing if the GM brings in a better player to pair with Power. That would certainly upgrade the blueline unit. I would have to see who is brought in, assuming that type of player is added to the mix. I still believe that a third pairing player is more likely to be acquired than a genuine second-pairing player. Just like the Mitts bashing this Joki denigration makes no sense to me. Despite how many have negatively categorized him, he has become one of the core players that the GM and coach are counting on.

My expectation is next season. If that doesn't materialize I will be very disappointed. The GM has this year, without much attention, bulked up the lower half of the roster. He added Jost, Lyubushkin, Stillman and Greenway. (I'm aware that he is now playing on the top line but when Tuch returns there will be more line depth.) He still needs to add a few more players. But over a short period of time the young roster has internally improved and the roster thickened with pickups. I honestly don't believe that this team is far away from being a relevant team in this league. I'm counting on next year to be the pivotal year.

I agree that his hesitancy to shoot is maddening. Generalizing that issue, I would say that the hesitancy to shoot plagues much of this roster. It drives me crazy. But to Power's credit he has expanded his offensive game as exhibited by a greater willingness to carry the puck to the net or deeper into the zone. You rightly noted that this youngster hasn't yet come close to attaining the level of strength that mature adults have. So, I will give him some slack on that issue. By all accounts he's dedicated to the sport and is a hard worker. In time he will be more physically imposing, and I'm sure that will also translate into more confidence in his offensive game. Sometimes we forget that he is a rookie. It doesn't take make of a leap of faith to project him to be an elite hockey player. It might even come quicker than the timeline that Dahlin had. Think about that!

It was offsides. A player was heading to the bench and was still in the zone when Jost entered the zone and shot it in. It was the right call.

The biggest positive takeaway for me is the play of Peterka. (As you noted.) Not only was he the best player on his line but I would go so far as to say he was one of the better players in this game. He markedly stood out. I agree with you that Joki and Lyubushkin both stood out. How can that not be a positive development with implications beyond this game when you add them to blue line assemblage that includes Dahlin, Samuelsson and Power. I understand the disappointment of many because of the final outcome. But what this game demonstrated is that this team is capable of playing at a higher level. All the negatives and deficiencies that have repeatedly been called out this season by all of us were not exhibited in this game. I will say it again that I thought despite the final outcome, this was one of the finest games played by the Sabres this season. And for me from the beginning to the end it was one of the most entertaining games of the season. This was hockey played at a high level by both teams.