That Aud Smell

I agree with this sentiment. IMO, when fans see an apparent lack of effort, a lack of intensity, what they're actually seeing is failed or failing or fading confidence. The difference between success and failure at this level of hockey -- the highest in the world -- is quite thin from shift to shift and game to game. Moments of indecision can and will make you look awful. I'm sure there's something to the idea of "these guys just need a kick in the a.ss", but I think that's quite limited. This is a bad NHL team. I'd love to see a new coaching staff come in, turn it upside down, and get some of the mojo back. Also, I'm officially done with and out on Skinner.

Man, do they ever. I know it's been fun to dunk on them because, well, they're the Patriots. But that team that the Bills played on Sunday is far from a bad NFL team. Their defense, for one, is a fooking problem. That's a nasty unit. Onward!

I mean I guess.

Gross. Really gross.

Fair point. There probably is respect there. It’d help if EJ didn’t stink.

I don't think Erik Johnson is apt to have much clout with this group. Sure he's had big success in his career, including a Cup. But he's new to this scene. His play stinks out loud. Young guys on this team are apt to have some mix of (1) feeling bad for him because he's decrepit (by NHL standards) and (2) thinking to themselves "yadda yadda, old man."

I see the wisdom in "just play hard everywhere" on the ice. OTOH, I have the sense - unconfirmed by hard data or compiled film study! - that the Sabres of this season have more conservative positioning in their own zone and are also slower to make the transition from their own zone into the neutral zone - and that last season the positioning was more aggressive and the zone departures were faster and more hopeful (?) - to the overall detriment of team defense. That there's a fairly clear distinction between playing defence and playing offence. The transition between the 2 happens fast, of course.

Such a def beat. I love the story about how the Beastie Boys - ragged NYC punks (punk rockers?) who were steadily becoming rappers - started hanging out with this weirdo Rick Rubin at his NYU (?) dorm and Rick played this song for them - explained how it could back a massive rap record.

5:38 mark. So, the reporter (Koziol?) had a big windup of a question where he says/posits everything that appears in the Koziol tweet (along with some other things) and then Granato simply says in response: You nailed it. Not great.

This is an important qualifier. I will try to do the same.

I am with this 100%. I read this and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. FFS. Granato is on record saying that his master plan was to get this young core understanding how to score in this league -- "hard to do - best league in the world" he was heard to observe -- and that defensive responsibility and 200 foot concepts would be folded in from there. Now he's backtracking. Ahhh, fuggit. Back to shinny. I'm not sure what the problem is -- if it's a problem with the GM assembling a roster that can't play a substantially complete and winning brand of hockey (which firewagon hockey is not, afaik), or if it's a problem with the HC who can't get this group to play with more overall defensive responsibility without sacrificing their offensive identity. Regardless of whose responsibility it is, at bottom, this sort of statement seems disqualifying of the HC. He's gotta go. "I said that what we did last year was a sign of growth, but would not be good enough going forward, that we would have to evolve. Now ... I think we're just gonna go back to what we did last year."

Maybe? Idk, man. I think this particular iteration of the Sabres might struggle to crack 70 points. It might be sad, but I'd take it in a heartbeat. It's the only way forward from here.

If past is prelude, the Sabres will put up 45 SOG tonight and pot 5 goals en route to a stirring victory.

I tuned in long enough last night to see that highlight reel goal that Columbus scored for its 3rd (?) goal. There was Samuelsson. Standing there with his proverbial d1ck in his hand. He looked pretty good for a stretch last season. The fact that Adams bought in on him for the length of term that he did - based on the sample size that they had - is another indicator of KA being in over his head.

Did this one get discussed as well? That’s the fu*king epitaph for these Sabres: “We bear some of that.”

Respectfully, no such thing this time of year. But I fear the dead-cat bounce. I don't think there can be any question about this. That said, it is a bit of apples : oranges - comparing Allen to any other QB (mainly Kelly) to have played for the Bills. I was in a full lather at the stadium last night - surrounded as we were by a great many Cowboy "fans."** (Shoutout to my regular STH neighbours who sold their tickets.) Anyhoo - when the refs whistled that one play dead just as Allen broke free and was about to hit Diggs for a 50-yard score or rip off a 25-yard run - I just started screaming "THAT'S NOT A QUARTERBACK IN THE GRASP ... THAT'S AN ALIEN ... AND HIS NAME IS JOSH ... F**KING ... ALLEN." **Cowboy "fans" who were born and raised in the midwest/rust belt? C'mon.

Oh gotdammit - are the Chargers in line for a fired HC dead cat bounce?

Win streak now please.

Sure. Why not.

I trust you meant boarded up buildings. Because brick (sh1thouse) buildings are one of my favourite things about Old Buffalo. Also, I am regrettably aware that "bricked up" is a term that young people use(d) to refer to the state of a man "standing at attention."

For me, there's a baseline level of care for the Sabres that apparently nothing can extinguish. It can burn low and slow when needed, as is the case now. It's just a bed of embers at the moment. It will take some doing for it to become a full fire again. Any 4-game win streak would serve as a bundle of dry twigs and sticks. I'm not making any special effort to tune in. And I will usually be checking the Score app before deciding whether I want to log on to watch. So it goes.

I won't be really back in on this team until they string together 4 wins. Following the lead of @Shoot da Puck, I believe.

How's Greenway getting lumped in with the old guys? He's generally been a good NHL forward when he's in the lineup.