JohnC

Thanks for the advice. Listening to game on WGR. I'll give the app a try.

It's freaking aggravating!

Excellent post. You presented a clear analysis of the contract issue from player and organization perspectives. I'm confident that a deal will be made but as you point out it is tricky balancing the needs of the player with the needs of the organization. And as what was brought up in another post (I believe from you or @dudacek??) that there is a difference between Byrum's and his situation. Byrum went for the shorter term recognizing that he is not in his prime just yet so a later deal would make sense for him. In contrast, Tuch is in his prime now and his future play most likely will level down some. It seems to me that it makes sense for Tuch to get a longer deal now so that when his game slides down he will already be locked in with his contract.

Don't fight mother nature. When you are combing over strands of hair then it is time to yield. 😄

If you lose your hair don't fret. There are options to add to your bald top. 😄 https://www.amazon.com/Star-Power-Awful-Toupee-Costume/dp/B0145QL53U?th=1

As you are indicating, other than the few top tier goalies, it is such a tough position to judge players. One year a goalie will seem to emerge only to plummet the next year. It’s a crazy psychological position to gage. A good way to work around that unpredictability is to have a good defense and two-way and responsible play from the rest of roster.

Thanks for the info. I don't have espn+. I just noticed that the game is on WGR radio. So I'll listen for a while.

Couldn't watch the game last night and can't do it this night. Irritation after irritation. Next option is to watch the WNBA playoffs. When option A is not available then go to option B.

He said the same thing about Benson and his fit with the line today.

You hit on what is so intolerable about this owner. When he was a new owner he deserved plenty of forbearance entering a new sports ownership endeavor. A generation is more than enough time to adjust to this new realm for him. He’s a stubborn fellow. However, I do see him backing off more. And that is a good thing.

The owner may not be aware of it that he is also out of his league in hockey. His record attests to that obvious fact. Hubris is not a positive attribute for a sports franchise owner.

I just saw some clips on the game. So I don't want to exaggerate the significance of what I saw. What was evident to me on the Byrum and I believe the Power?? goal is net presence that created congestion in front of the goalie. It seems that there is an emphasis on tougher play in front of both ends of the net. That adjustment in mentality will be a positive step.

I didn’t watch the game so I won’t comment on the game. With respect to Samuelson, I don’t consider him a lost cause. If he can stabilize his game, he hopefully will turn out to be a good third pairing player. In some respect, salvaging a player is like adding a player to the roster. What this team needs is more additions, not less.

Joker, Clifton and Docker were third pairing caliber of players. As I stated in a previous post, it seems that the projected three pairings i.e. 1.)Dahlin/Byrum, 2.)Power/Kesserling and 3.)Samulesson/Timmons will be slotted where they should be. That in itself is an indication of a better roster construction, at least for this unit.

Of course, Terry was responsible for hiring him. He was enamored with the erudite individual who was impressive in an interview setting. What was Krueger's philosophy? Taking a multi-talented player in Dahlin and then strait-jacking him so he wouldn't be able to exhibit his abundant talent? Krueger was talented in public speaking and less so coaching. This is another example where the inept owner was not self-aware enough to recognize his ineptitude. The right way to hire a HC and a GM is to seek out a lot of qualified voices and consider their viewpoints. That's not what this fool does. He believes that he is the best person to make the critical organizational hires. The owner's record speaks for itself. His stupendous arrogance has crushed this franchise and severely eroded a once vibrant fanbase. This self-made billionaire knows the energy business. When it comes to pro hockey he is a buffoon. I wish he would get on his big tax write-off boat and sail away.

Krueger's handling of the multi-talented Dahlin has to be the worst coaching stifling effect on a player that I have seen. Once Granato took over it was like an immediate liberation of an imprisoned player. The lesson to be learned is that when you hire a charlatan you get a charlatan.

If UPL falters and isn’t quickly replaced, this team is cooked. At a minimum, we need average goaltending. If we don’t get it, the ship will again sink.

As you seem to allude to that coaching is critical in putting players in a position to succeed. As you well know, on that score the Sabres are working with a deficit compared to well run teams. Without even discussing roster talent, the Sabres are handicapped from a coaching standpoint. The Pegula franchise is full of internal obstacles that make competing with normally run franchises difficult.

With young players, especially defenders, you never really know for sure where they end up as players. Kesserling is not being asked to be a can't miss top-10 defender. What he's being asked to do is (probably so) be a good partner for Power as a stabilizing second pairing partner. It shouldn't be forgotten that when he was moved up to one of the top two pairing spots due to injuries in Utah, he acquitted himself very well. So there is plenty of tape to assess his play in that higher role. And there is another possible outcome regarding Kesserling. Considering his age and experience just maybe he hasn't reached his potential and there is more growth to draw from. As others have noted, one of the priorities this offseason was to find a partner for Power. We had to give up value to get a player to fill a critical need. So, I'm more than pleased with this acquisition and am confident enough that he can successfully fill the role that was intended for him.

The GM's comments about the blueline unit being elite is certainly hyperbolic. Who cares what the GM says? How much credibility does he have? Taking a more objective assessment it seems to me that with the addition of Kesserling, the additional year of experience for Power, having Samuelsson play a lower third pairing role, which he is better suited, and pairing Byrum with Dahlin does create a unit that has the makings to be good. Making an argument that this unit won't be elite, which is correct, doesn't mean that it is going to be a mediocre unit. Entering the season, it appears that the players are slotted where they should be. I see this group as a solid to good unit. And that in itself is a positive step.

I was also disappointed with the lack of activity coming off of last season. I was hoping for a second-line forward add. Our listless GM hired by the spynx owner unsurprisingly kept with his low pace for change. The harsh reality is that this is a Pegula owned and operated team. You then get what he wants to give you. You have to be real enough to adjust your expectations to this dismal hockey world. Sometimes a degree of cynicism is appropriate coping with an uncomfortable reality. However, when the level of cynicism gets too overwhelming it is time to take a break instead of being overwhelmed by it. Masochism is self-inflicted.

I can't quite say that I'm confident that the Sabres will make the playoffs. However, I do believe that if our goaltending is average to above, the Sabres should be competing for a spot right up to the end of the season. The blueline is improved and a number of the younger players should be better. Because of that I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't understand the level of despair coming from some of the hardcore pessimists.

I’m not a clueless fan who is unrealistically optimistic. However, if I got to your level of pessimism about this team, I would cut the chord and do away with the torment.

Where I do agree with you is that the owner has almost irreparably damaged this franchise and fanbase. He’s a fool owner who doesn’t have the self-awareness to recognize how inept he really is. I wish he would go on his big boat and sail away.

Getting better goaltending is the most important issue for me. I’m just so unsure about our goaltending group????