Flashsabre

So John Gibson has a 2.19 gaa and a .927 sv% this season. After years of weak play has he suddenly found his game? I would bet it rests squarely on Anaheim playing a more solid defensive game and limiting chances against. Watching the Edmontons ,Torontos And Buffalos of the league believe that you can play wide open offensive hockey and be shabby in your own end and think you are going to get anywhere is comical. Atleast the Oilers and Leafs have tasted the playoffs. Until the Sabres realize and commit to playing a consistent sound defensive game it doesn’t matter who they draft, sign or trade for. They will be spinning their wheels and none of these young guys will develop as they should.

Simple Question This team seems no closer to even sneaking into the playoffs let alone doing damage. PP is a mess. They seem to be outworked, confused in their own zone. I just have no answers. I mean Boston are dominant with less talent because they play a solid system and consistently work hard. It is not that it is looking like 13 years of no playoffs, it’s that is doesn’t look like anything will improve moving forward. Sure there is a lot of young talent but it means nothing if there isn’t a successful system in place. They need a couple guys that just go to the net with reckless abandon. They score no greasy goals whatsoever.

If you fire Granato you are getting Appert as coach.

Terry might say Screw This and have both franchise up for sale by Christmas at this rate.

Rumour is Belichick will be the next coach after officially changing his name to “Bills” Belichick. He will be bringing along every former assistant coach who was a complete failure as HCs. 😜

The D is put together with band aids at this point. They are still grinding. The O has been a complete debacle with no major injuries. Let’s see if it was Dorsey or if it had been Josh.

Not win another game? Come on, it’s the Bills. They will beat KC and Miami just to drive everyone crazy.

Friedman says Florida is going really hard after Kane.

I imagine a massive Diggs meltdown is in the horizon and I really won’t blame him. They find new ways to embarrass themselves on the national stage. Something is very broken in Bills land and there are no quick fixes.

What an absolute mess of a team. They absolutely gave that game to Denver. I don’t know if Allen can lead a team anywhere. Just a mess in big games and big moments. They need a new coach who sits Allen down and says “you don’t get a say. I’m bringing in the best OC we can and you will follow his lead.”

Kane: “So who would I play with if I signed?” Adams: “ Well I don’t want to overstep and promise you time with Jost and Girgensons but let’s just say I could make that happen”😛

I think this is where most people are at. My excitement lies in the idea that if Kane signs then they have to get off the pot and make some other moves now to improve the team rather then just hoping everyone develops. One way or another it should mean the end of VO. If the only thing Kane does is improve the PP then it is an improvement over VO this season.

Whether Kane signs in Buffalo or somewhere else has anyone heard if he is ready to go ? Is it a case where he signs and steps into the lineup or does he need 2-3 weeks to ramp up at this point?

Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev, Markstrom, Zadorov (no thanks) Calgary have some interesting pieces that should be available. If Buffalo want to shake it up and “go for it” the Flames would be a prime trading partner.

A Lot of Kane smoke right now between Andrew Peters. Wawrow and Chad D. If it happens you have to think some moves will be made. Kane is only coming if, as @tomwebster mentioned, he gets assurances that they are all in. Be interested to see what moves are made. Vet goalie, a Hanifin esqe stabilizer on the back end, bottom 6 centre that can win draws, addition to the coaching staff with an understanding of the PP. I wouldn’t move Kulich or Benson but the others are in the table for the right piece.

Granato doesn’t need to be fired but I would be looking at the assistant coaches. Whoever is running the PP needs to be removed. It’s an absolute mess. Like others have mentioned I was very disappointed that they couldn’t find a spot for Peca on the staff.

I don’t remember you writing this last night when they beat Minnesota.

JJP is such an entertaining player to watch. He was the Amerks best player in the playoffs a couple years ago and has kept developing. The disappointing thing with Quinn is if you track his past he always explodes in his 2nd year in a league: OHL, AHL. He would probably be lighting it up right now. Hopefully he can come back and eventually get to his level. The most impressive thing with JJP is that he is playing his game regardless of the line he is put on. He has always had chemistry and production with Quinn but now he can adapt to any line and really he is the guy you put on a line to get it going. The World Championships were where he really just took over as a player on his own and he has carried it over. I will gives credits to the Sabres scouting staff. They identified JJP and moved up to get him. They identified Kulich and attempted to move up and get him. They identified Wahlberg and attempted to move up and get him. If Wahlberg develops Like JJP And Kulich have them the Sabres are in really good shape.

Mitts ability to shield the puck has been a revelation. It doesn’t always look pretty or consistent but they are making strides defensively. Ryan Johnson has been a god send with Muel out. I’ve said it before but Greenway is becoming the modern day Grier. JJP is right on the cusp of exploding. Amerks won tonight with a ridiculous 13 regulars out. 4 called up and 9 injured. Just insane.

Kane would help the PP for sure. Those basing his ability on last year are a bit off as he battled through the hip all season. Do I like him better than VO. Absolutely. But signing Kane means VO and his salary have to be out the door. The biggest problem I have is the injury and the way others have not bounced back from it. If you could guarantee he was at his level 2-3 years ago then sign me up. But I have doubts that he can get there out of the gate. I will neither jump for joy or have an epic message board meltdown if the Sabres sign him. Just see how it goes.

His hatred of the Sabres is shining through again

When ROR and Accarri came to the Leafs they asked where they were going for the team dinner and were told “We don’t do that stuff here” It is a different Culture with the Leafs.

I’m pretty sure he wanted to go to Buffalo at the draft. Grew up around Richmond Hill, played in Erie, Buffalo is right in the middle. I wouldn’t count out Buffalo as an option if it ever came to that.

I have learned to never have a feeling about a game going into it. Vegas on the road, they will probably win. SJ at home, probably lay an egg. I would never bet money on this team as you don’t know what you will get from day to day. I think they are trending in the right direction but they need to hit a level of consistency.

So according to this he has narrowed it down to a team with $0 cap space and a team with $450 000 cap space. Sounds legit. The Leafs media is the best. They will have them trading prospects and 1sts for McDavid and Draisaitl and just have the cap magically work out.