Porous Five Hole

The Sabres have had two six goal periods in the span of a week! Simply astounding.

There’s a reason Bease went unsigned all off-season and got cut after a cup of coffee…and it isn’t because he got his feelings hurt.

I remarked to myself more than once on Sunday that Josh’s ball placement/accuracy left something to be desired. He’s not doing his pass catchers any favors. At the same time, McKenzie & Knox were guilty of egregious drops. They just don’t look like they’re quite in sync right now. And the Bills are still winning. I think they’ll figure it out. I understand Bease’s usefulness when you need five yards on third down, but the Bucs could also use that and moved on from him pretty quickly. I think he’s used up.

Ok fine, but were you actually expecting a playoff team in 22-23? The top four D is set and competent (and improving). The goaltending is unsettled, and Anderson’s pending exit gives KA another chance to get it right this off-season. Fingers crossed. It’s a lot easier to acquire toughness when the time is right then it is to acquire goals. It’s also cheaper. If you believe in the Cozens line, then let them blossom together all year. Long story short, it’s hard to address goalie (who was out there willing to sign in Buffalo anyway?), progress your top four young defensemen, and get tougher in one offseason. Setting a record for playoff-missing futility sucks, but there are reasons to be optimistic that next season is the return to playoff form. Here is to hoping.

I agree with this. Maybe I am a Krebs fanboy, but burying him on the fourth line isn’t playing to his playmaking strengths…nor is it developing him to be anything more than a plugger. I am ready to move on from Mitts, so promoting him to the top line helps nothing.

The Sabres have lost three of five so far in December. After Ottawa’s win tonight, Buffalo is last in the division. It is getting pretty tough to argue that they’re not out of it. While it’s “only” eight points, it is also six teams to leap to get into wild card position. Unfortunately, it is looking bleak.

Man, and now Rhamondre & Deebo both go down this week too. Whoever gets me in the playoffs is getting a walkover lol

Just show me the deals he should have made that other teams have made and I’m all in. I’m really not coming from a “defend the Sabres at all cost” POV. There’s nothing out there except spare parts.

Isn’t his job to make the team better in the long run? Ethan Bear doesn’t do that.

I guess I am trying to move the needle. It’s the only way to be a playoff team this season.

He’s a -4 in protected third line minutes. So Lyubushkin numbers. I also want to improve the Sabres, but this doesn’t move the needle.

I meant that I was invested in our back and forth. I understand your position. I don’t think I’ll live forever, nor may I get to see fruit of another slow rebuild. I might be sick and I’m terrified. But there’s room for nuance and I don’t fault the GM in the same way you do…and you haven’t provided a reason to be up in arms to regarding the goaltending position. Go Sabres. We all have. I’m just asking for the lack of a move where GMKA effed up. Surely there’s one for all this vitriol. Can you point to it?

The Jets D is for real. The Bills have plenty to clean up, but I’ll take it.

Ok so now I’m invested. You’re going to die on the hill that the Sabres should have signed a career backup in Jake Allen, who has sported a 2022-23 line of 8-10, with a .896 save percentage and GAA of 3.40? I hope you see that half the league is looking for what the Sabres are looking for at the moment. This is not enough to roast the GM.

I land here as well. Elite teams have an effective third scoring line or shutdown checking line. Buffalo doesn’t have either of those quite yet. The elite is there, but qualified pieces remain unfulfilled on the above.

I’m too hot of a commodity 😜

I’m not going to forcefully push back, but I would like a sample of what worked elsewhere that should have been the Sabres move. The only transaction that could have been the one is the Husso trade (with a huge risk given sample size). But it isn’t like the Sabres stood idle while the whole league flipped competent goalies via trade Willy Nilly. I just find it hard to blame the Sabres when Ulmark left them at the altar for more money than most thought reasonable for a guy who couldn’t stay healthy. I wanted Jack Campbell signed via UFA in the off-season and he has a 4.12 GAA so far this year. Half of the league is looking for a number one goalie in the NHL right now.

This might be true, but we are talking about third pair D (also Bear sucks…I don’t think he was an upgrade over anything). Pretty far from blockbuster or super-impactful. So no NHL team has acquired a top six forward, a top four D, or a starting goalie. But it’s just our GM isn’t doing enough?

Back to back weeks I’ve lost my starting QB mid game. 😢😢

What moves since opening night made by other teams are we supposed to be jealous of?

I think the Bills drafted three O-line in 2021 and one in 2022. However, none in the first four rounds.

It’s Terry’s fault. He’s in the coaches room demanding short and cute passes. Always meddling. Prove it wrong!

Is Clague benched or injured?

I did not. Thank you for clarifying.