Porous Five Hole

This is a comment I can get behind. With that said, some clarifications: GMKA was hired in June 2020, so he’s only been around for three seasons leading up to this year. Granato was hired in interim in March 2021. Due to the Krueger effect and due to how much time left in the season (a few weeks at most), I’m willing to absolve the rest of 2021 from his record. That means he’s had 2+ years on a team that everyone knew was in another rebuild (Nov 2021 was the Eichel trade/reset). So he has been handed the youngest team in the league in back to back years. But that’s two years and not four years as you said. To your specifics (thank you), we suck at face offs. Is that a coaching issue or an issue with drafting and development? Personally, I don’t hold this against the head coach. The PP. This can potentially be pinned on coaching, but the Sabres were top five last year. It has only been six weeks and it’s a long season. It’s too early to pin this on coaching, and oh by the way…the PK has dramatically improved from last year. That should be taken into account. Compete level of defenders? Sounds like roster construction over coaching. Compete level forwards? My first instinct is to point out that the GM iced the youngest team in the league (again). Can you really tie this to coaching? Perhaps, but I’m not willing to assume DG is only a developmental coach because he has been given a bunch of guys who legally can’t drink and aren’t succeeding against veteran teams. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🦃🦃

I want to have a meaningful conversation about this. My reaction to what you said is if we are firing coaches for what I outlined and you agreed, that’s kind of silly. Is a different guy behind the bench going to make Girgs and Cozens be better in those specific moments? I don’t believe so. If someone wants blood/fall guy, then sure. Bosses are ultimately responsible for their direct reports. But the impactful moments of the last min of the third and OT don’t fall on the coach to me.

I mean, maybe? Reading through the thread is a whole lot of anger at the Sabres not being higher up in the standings. What specifically can the head coach be blamed for? The reason we lost tonight was not 11F & 7D. Is Meatballs to blame for Girgs not tying up his man on the game tying goal and Cozens not hustling back on the GWG? Genuinely curious.

please outline the rationale. I want to talk about this.

UPL should have been given the crease tonight. 🤷‍♂️ I think the result would have been different if he started over Levi.

Yes, it seems like it. Please check this time stamp and reference it to other news outlets and their stories:

Okay, but facts matter. WGRZ had an eyewitness account within an hour on video. The witness of the event clearly indicated the scenario was not what was initially reported by the national outlets. We should expect better than what we got from the large and national networks. So yes, it was surprising. And we are not at a “final investigation” phase.

Are you assuming VO has value on the open market? Because he does not. It was widely reported VO expected a trade during the offseason. The fact that he was not moved indicates he has no value at his salary. It is what it is. The Sabres are on the hook for a deal that has aged poorly. Giving him away for “nothing” was never an option.

Ouch lol

This is wrong. More recent info has come out. Please delete.

The Sabres need scoring, veteran leadership, and people who know what it takes to win a cup. We all know who the Sabres need to bring in. And that is Phil Kessel.

This times a million. The Sabres are sitting on soooo much F depth and there’s more bodies than spots in a future lineup. It’s time to make some developmental decisions and part with potential to help this team now. Rosen, Kulich, Benson & probably Savoie have a lot of value. Time to focus on 2023. To reinforce the point, the trajectory for each of the above is top six forward soon. But the Sabres already have Tage, Cozens, Skinner, Tuch, Peterka, and Quinn penciled in for the foreseeable future. This doesn’t even mention Mitts who will likely be part of the equation. It is time for the Sabres to be bold.

I think you’re right, but I expect the Bills to use high draft capital on WR2 next year (or bring a FA in as the cap allows). Diggs will be turning 30 and his window will soon close. He’s also been remarkably durable considering his Viks tenure. I’m all for 12 personnel, but the Bills will need another weapon and Davis ain’t it. This will be a big six games for Shakir to prove himself.

I’ve been to the Webster joint three times. The beef on weck is the same and the wings are sauced painted on just like the vintage joint. Might as well save the drive for the same/similar experience. It’s good.

One note to make: The Sabres in 2022 after 18 games, the Sabres were 7-11-0, 14 pts The Sabres in 2023 after 18 games, the Sabres are 8-9-1, 17 pts This is not the growth we were hoping for.

Free to a good home, sizes XXL & XXXL

Are you a rather large man? I was gifted some Amerks jerseys from my recently diagnosed as a diabetic uncle. He’s lost a ton of weight and no longer fits in his XXL & XXXL Amerks jerseys that he never really bothered to wear. They are too big on me, even in a hoodie. If you want them, they’re yours.

The Chiefs might also be overrated. They’re last in the NFL in second half points scored and their WR group might be the worst in the league.

Wow the Oilers are a mess. 5-12-1. McJesus with two goals and is a -1 on the night. They might really be broken.

The podcast today had Paul Hamilton on. While most of us aren’t fans of Hambone, he has been traveling with the team and also watches the practices. He noticed a different Granato during and after the Winnipeg loss, both in between periods when he lost his mind after the second…and during practice the next day. He noted that Meatballs worked them extra hard to the point that Krebs went down to block a shot during a 3 on 3 drill…in practice, and it hurt him. Not sure if this is better here or in the fire Granato there, but it’s Hamilton’s opinion that Granato’s message has changed year over year and also that Meatballs is more passionate than he shows to the media. Just food for thought.

More thinking on-field alignment and snap priority from the WR position, but yes Kincaid is probably the second best option the Bills have.

In looking ahead, is anyone NOT in favor of Shakir at WR2 and Gabe to WR3? Shakir doesn’t have Gabe’s size so perhaps outside isn’t his best fit (when you’re not elite like Stef), but, any production is better than Gabe’s production the last three weeks: 0 receptions, 2 receptions, 0 receptions I think it’s worth a shot.

I appreciate the discourse. No one here thinks the Sabres played well tonight, and UPL got it done. It’s hard to say that any Sabres tender would have done the same thing. Maybe? Probably? I dunno. I just know UPL got it done. I understand your concern about the Caps. Did you know their PP is second worst in the NHL at 7%? Even worse than us. They’ve won five of six, but it’s the bottom six leading the way. I don’t think they’re as dangerous as their reputation would lead one to believe. By and large, the goals they’re scoring are greasy and I don’t think any goalie really matches up more favorably than another. We shall see.

Thanks. Edited.

The AFC is a little bit of a mess right now. Looking at the wild card picture, the Bills are currently looking up at Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and neither team scares me. The Bills are also looking up at the Texans and they are hot, but rookie QB’s with rookie head coaches don’t usually make the playoffs. And just behind Buffalo is Cinci and Indy, who aren’t expected to make a run. If the Bills can split their next two games (Eagles & Chiefs), they should be fine to get to the playoffs.