Porous Five Hole

The top six is not good enough as constructed. SDS shield your eyes cuz Krebs is not your boy. Here comes an idea to shake things up. It is time to move Krebs (the plugger we wish Cozens would be) to 3C. His play deserves it. Push McLeod to 2C for the time being. Push Cozens to wing on the top six (there’s a thread about this). Repurposing our 7MM man to figure his stuff out could save our season. Continuing to roll out Cozens on PP1 and C2 is not working. Let Krebs (whose play as a guy who gives a crap) get promoted and promoting McLeod to 2C is the better path forward then rolling out the ghost of “Cozens past” eating minutes where he’s not an offensive threat. The Sabres have be bold here. No fan base has been as patient as this fan base. It is time to not be patient and reward the players like Krebs who show their willingness to win despite the fact that they are not a first line player. I’m drunk and Cozens is not a top six center. Fix it!!

I am about to make a post that I might regret in the morning. Thanks Tito’s 🥃

I’m just saying that three guys with a draft pedigree of these guys could use the coaching of Lindy v Meatballs. Lindy was an edgy defensemen in his playing career who coached some good teams over the last 25 years. With his pedigree, it’s incumbent on Lindy to get the best out of 1OA, 1OA, 4OA. It is supposed to be the Sabres path forward given GMKA’s build of defense first.

I hesitated on this until now due to the contract that Cozens got, but it’s time to try this. Dylan needs to understand that we don’t need him to be a goal scorer…we need him to be Captain Canada. Do the little things that it takes to win (finish every check hard, kill penalties, be nasty after the whistle). He can earn his paycheck and earn a letter in more ways than scoring goals. Putting him on the wing to figure this out may be the way for Dylan to figure his crap out.

This is where I am with the exception with that I was open to the trade. I won’t rehash that part. But I will say that the concept of a one overall, one overall, and fourth overall as your defensive backbone should be elite. And the Sabres D is not elite. This is where the Lindy effect will be real or not. And like you said, Byram being special (or not) is huge part of that.

The Sabres might be in trouble here. They banked too much of their offseason on Quinn progressing to be a bonafide top six forward and he’s not close right now. They need to make a hockey trade for a top six forward. Using Kulich as a “threat” to play better or get scratched is not a viable option for a team who is “on notice” to make the playoffs. GMKA’s job may depend on this player. If that’s true, he needs to make a move for a top six forward and overpay if he has to. I don’t think Quinn gets traded, but this team may need to make a trade RE: this post

lol it is important to vote. Glad Election Day will be quicker.

4-5-1 my friend

No, you didn’t imagine it. I heard the same. He was drafted as a skinny 181 pound guy and he’s now 207 pounds. Given his frame hasn’t changed much, you have to assume it is all muscle. Hockey players have transitioned to lean and quick body types. It’s more about core work than muscle mass today. I don’t understand the hand-wringing about this with players today.

Come on man. These guys have the same “good” access as any other media member. Terry and the News have a history and I don’t think he would ever be anywhere near their outlet.

The last 13 years has nothing to do with the third period this afternoon.

This is what he’s talking about. People with this perspective. Everything sucks because the team has sucked for so long. It doesn’t mean everything is going to suck forever.

Even Tage’s tap in goals are like 100 MPH haha

I guess that must mean the Maintenance Day podcast with Lance & Joe Yerdon is dead. I listened to it from time to time and it was decent. For me, Lance is hard to listen to. He talks out of his nose and sounds whiny at the same time. Not a voice for radio/podcasting. Harrington is surprisingly good conversationally as a guest on podcasts, but he is a blowhard with antiquated takes and no sources.

https://pickinsplinters.com/2024/10/23/early-scoring-success-hasnt-changed-how-amerks-kozak-plays-hockey/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3xkQj0dYgZ6xRIgDrR5j081hUpHFf3mxOaSdr7dfSon_mra8g61RxGcZk_aem_BidyB0_x-xMBGfYCJakT9Q A write up on the game with a focus on Kozak. Also, I’m such a Rochesterian. My phone wanted to auto-correct Kozak to Kodak lol

You’re being generous to say might. Cozens is a mess.

I’m loving the NHL Frozen Frenzy on ESPN. Watching five games at once is fun.

Heck of a breakout pass by Power on the second goal.

Aside from A A Ron debate, the Jets biggest problems are 1) their defense is no longer elite, and 2) their offensive line is not good. Arm talent aside, ripping off 7 of 8 with the head case of a QB is hard to imagine. HOWEVER, astonishingly a team that started 2-5 has made the playoffs each of the last four years. 🤷‍♂️

You will take this win and you will like it!

Tage was great all night. That pass on Peterka’s goal was magnificent. McLeod is settling in nicely and won 7 of 11 draws. Byram was steady tonight. Kulich looks like he belongs. Woof the Hawks are terrible lol

I have a good feeling about tonight. I’m not a UPL guy, but I think he gets right tonight and we get a win. Kulich scores again. 🤞

Granato gets credit for “developing” players, but all he did was give his players excuses. The mentality of the leadership group is broken. Not enough grit or physicality. Lindy may change that over time, but it is evident that the team as constructed is flawed. Remaking the fourth line and trading for a 3C in McLeod was not enough. GMKA let this team down. Again.

This team just doesn’t have a guy who can change momentum. These top ten picks are all too thin skinned and cannot handle adversity. Until one of these highly paid players show an elite level of competitive grit, nothing will change. Too much “here we go again” and not enough playing pissed off. Where is the emotion and hate to lose???

You wanna go???!! 😜