JohnC

Are Samuelsson and Greenway back in action for this game? If so, that is very surprising to me.

The coach is a straight shooter who is not afraid to unload. He may not have enough of the right players to play the way he wants them to play. But that doesn't mean that he isn't going to hold them accountable. He's the right coach without the right roster mix. That's not a coaching problem as it is a GM problem. I predict a Buffalo win. What does that mean if it materializes? Not much in the grand scheme of things.

I wouldn't deal Cozens. I would prefer playing him on the wing. In the international tournaments he thrived as a winger. Our misguided and less than visionary GM had the opportunity to re-sign Mitts and have him center the second line. Without a doubt, Byram is playing very well. But from a roster construction standpoint, it would have made more sense to keep Mitts and then put him in as a second-line center. In addition, Mitts had the versatility to also play wing or even move up to the center the top line when Tage gets hurt. Just think, we had Eichel, Reinhart and Mitts on the roster. That would have been quite a center spine for this team. All are gone while this team continues to spin its wheels and get nowhere. Our GM is a checkers player competing with chess players.

If you lived in a well-managed and upscale development, would you be interested in moving to the ghetto for the same rental price? It's gotten to the ridiculously low point where your best players want out and players on the outside resolutely don't want in to your place. Pathetic and shameful!

There is not one organization in the NHL that would have considered KA for a GM position other than this one. And there is not one organization that wouldn't have fired KA for the work he has done during his multi-year stint other than this one. Without a doubt, the position is a challenging multi-faceted position. One essential quality that the position requires is an overseer of a franchise is having a wider perspective associated with what type of roster he wants to build, and then going out and getting the pieces so that they fit. A person can be a great scout or coach and still not be suitable for the position because the job requires a broader vision than most people even in the hockey business don't have. I don't want to lay all the blame of this franchise's problems on this congenial and earnest fellow. But the obvious fact is that he was not suitable for the job when he was hired, and his accumulated work product underscores that assessment. It's gotten to the sad and also laughable point where its best players desperately wanted out and got out. Only to thrive with their new teams while their former teammates continue to be stuck in a losing situation playing in front of a diminishing fan base. It's sad and pathetic.

Pathetic, just pathetic.

I predict that the Sabres will win today. I'm suffused with overwhelming confidence about the outcome. I want to have @SwampD have one less day of despair. He deserves a respite, even if it is for the short term.

It certainly could get worse if the GM makes foolish decisions acting out of desperation.

My point is simple. Bad decisions by mediocre staffing result in predictable outcomes. And this has been going on for almost a generation. That's what makes this situation such an absurdity.

Don't be in a state of despair. In my view, this isn't a bottom. That's not the issue with me. This is a situation where we are again flirting with the possibility of fighting for one of the last playoff spots and then missing out. My basic point on my numerous points on this subject is that it didn't need to be this way. With a few prudent moves this team could have been improved to the point where it would be climbing up the ranks. That's not the case right now. We seem to be stuck in this never-ending cycle of mediocrity. Our GM is basically a status quo GM whose team has been anchored in the same situation for the past few years. Compare the Sabres to the Washington Capitals? Since their Cup year they have steadily (not dramatically) reworked their roster. Their current record is 18-6-2. Their now reworked roster is at the point where they are in contention. By no means are they an elite team. That's not my point. What they have done in comparison to our flaccid organization is constantly take action to improve their team. It's not just about adding players but more importantly always keeping in mind of building a well-rounded roster. If you review the past number of games against good teams (Minn, Vancouver, Colorado and Winnipeg), the difference between winning and losing was miniscule. That's why I put much of the blame on the GM. In my opinion, just a few more judicious personnel decisions over the past couple of years could have made a big difference and altered the low perception of this franchise. There is a saying (I made up 😃)Dullards don't shine.

We don't have many players in the "no touch" category. He, Dahlin and maybe Tage fall in that small category. He's already a good player. In another year or two he will be a top tier defenseman in the league. I think for the most part the posters here recognize that.

I just want to focus on Quinn and how he not meeting most of our expectations entering the season has hurt this team. Speaking for myself, I thought he was going to springboard into a 30-goal season. What a difference that would have made for this team and the line he was on. Not knowing the actual source of his struggles, based on what I have seen so far, it seems mostly to relate to his loss of confidence due to not regaining the pop he had before his leg injuries. Sometimes it takes more than a year after the structural healing of an injury to get that lively bounce back to your legs. I'm just conjecturing here but something is definitely off with his game. And without question, not elevating his game to most of our expectations has set this team back. To say the least, very disappointing. It would be terrific if he could find his game again.

It would be an outlandishly stupid move to deal for an expensive and fading player. Acting in desperation would be even more evidence of organizational obtuseness. A Clifton like acquisition would make a lot more sense. When you put your franchise in a bad spot you lose your leverage to make a fair deal, let alone a good deal.

At best, this team can be clawing for a lower playoff qualifying position. The GM and organization overestimated the roster and the progress the young players were going to make. A GM's responsibility is to not only assess his talent but to do so in comparison to the rest of the league. The GM miscalculated in his assessment. Now, what you see is what you get. We're stuck where we are because we are what we are. Reality sucks, especially when a few more smart moves could have made a difference.

You can do whatever you want to do.

I thought the Sabres played hard throughout. If they would have played the same way from start to finish in the Colorado game, they would have won. I thought Byram was our best player. I also liked the play of Power. I was critical of the Mitts trade but have become more favorable to it. The Mitts trade would have made more sense from a roster building standpoint if the GM would have added another second line player this offseason. During the losing streak, what is evident is that we don't have enough finishers. The lack of scoring is evident. Tage seems to be our main threat, and the opposition is adjusting to him. Our PP is awful. The disallowance of the Kosak goal was perplexing. The rule should be interpreted that the interference has to affect the play. There is too much traffic and battling for positions around the goal mouth to expect no contact at all, especially incidental contact where the goalie is not impaired. What's become obvious is that UPL is establishing himself as our #1 goalie. He's earned that role because of his consistently good play. It's a disappointing loss where at least we got a loser point. I can't complain about a lack of effort.

Your response is a continuation of your illogic. You are complaining about how posters are responding to a topic. There's a simple solution to your angst: Don't respond to it. It's like going to a restaurant and knowing in advance that you will not like the food. After eating the meal you then predictably complain about the meal. Simple solution: Don't go to a site that you know you will not like. There are plenty of other topics that are less aggravating to you to respond to. That's not being rich, it called common sense 101.

Why are you responding?

That's a ballsy claim to make. 😁

Basically, we are in accord. What's exasperating is the wasting of time during this recent period. (As you have regularly stated.) Considering the assets this franchise has to work with, with some smart dealing, this team could be in a better situation. That's the source of my frustration.

We do agree on that issue. What I'm arguing is that with smart stewardship this team can be back in the fray in short order.

Tell me what franchise would have considered KA as a GM candidate other than Pegula?

I strenuously disagree. The Sabres are not devoid of talent on the roster and within the system. They have assets to parlay. A good hockey person at the helm should be able in a relatively short time span make enough judicious move to upgrade this roster.

I'm aware of that. Pegula hired a person who would do whatever he wanted him to do. What is obvious to everyone in the hockey business is that he hired a person that not only no other organization would have hired but also no organization would have even considered for an interview. The end result is that the owner got exactly what he wanted. And to no one's surprise, the irrelevant that he presides over continues to flounder. The lesson to be learned is that "mediocrity breeds mediocrity". What's confounding to me is that the owner has two franchises in his sports empire that should demonstrate the right way to function i.e. the Bills and Bandits. Both are resounding successes in their respective sports and also entertaining products with regular full houses.

I have had two back operations so I have an inkling what he is going through. In all likelihood, it will take an offseason of focused rehab to get back to normal. As you point out, it has been noticeable for quite some time that there was a physical issue affecting his play.