GDT: Sabres @ Devils - April 11, 2023, 7pm, MSG 📺 WGR 📻

[Eleven]

1 minute ago, Quint said:

I was watching Girgensons with the golden opportunity to score in the final minutes, and then transposed Rousek or Savoie or Kulich in his place. If the Sabres can get four scoring lines, we're going places. 

It's one of the reasons I didn't want 28 out there in the third other than to give rest to other forwards.  He's a great heavy forward.  He's great at opening space.  He has hands of stone.  I do think there's a place for him next season though.

[sabresouth]

Well, I'm happy overall with  their effort the last several games. It was a good run at the end. Just played several tough teams in a row with a college goalie. Cant really complain about the results. They just ran out of gas. 

At least we finally have our goaltending taken care of for next year. Now KA needs to go out and get some competent players to fill in some of the wholes in the bottom half of our defense and upgrade Okpposo and Girgs.

[North Buffalo]

Missed this one before work but fun while it lasted... happy golfing season is here

[HumanSlinky39]

The frustrating part is, those two big swoons, 0-8, and 2-8-2...if they had just gone, say, 9-9-2 instead of 2-16-2, they're 47-26-7 and comfortably in the playoffs. Unfortunately, with a young team like this, those kinds of bad runs are destined to happen. 

Another year of experience, including actually participating in a playoff race and Devon Levi in net next year in all likelihood puts us closer to...or better than that 101 point mark.

Edited April 12, 2023 by HumanSlinky39

[Taro T]

7 minutes ago, sabresouth said:

Well, I'm happy overall with  their effort the last several games. It was a good run at the end. Just played several tough teams in a row with a college goalie. Cant really complain about the results. They just ran out of gas. 

At least we finally have our goaltending taken care of for next year. Now KA needs to go out and get some competent players to fill in some of the wholes in the bottom half of our defense and upgrade Okpposo and Girgs.

They have 1/2 of the goaltending set for next year.  They still need to pair Levi with somebody that gives the team a chance to win any given night.  Sign Varlamov and then fix the D.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

The frustrating part is, those two big swoons, 0-8, and 2-8-2...if they had just gone, say, 9-9-2 instead of 2-16-2, they're 47-26-7 and comfortably in the playoffs. Unfortunately, with a young team like this, those kinds of bad runs are destined to happen. 

Another year of experience and Devon Levi in net next year in all likelihood puts us closer to...or better than that 101 point mark.

Thing is, all of the teams that were in the mix with the Sabres had streaks like those 2 that doomed the Sabres.  That's why they were where they are.

Personally was more frustrated with their efforts and results in the Anderson games against bad teams from January through March.  0-4-1 in those.  Make those 3-1-1 or even 2-2-1 and they make the playoffs.

Hoping they have a team goal next year of never losing 3 in a row overall nor 2 in a row in regulation at home.  If they can keep from building up those long losing skids, they'll be in the playoffs next year.

Really expect Adams goal is doing damage in the playoffs next year.  After 12 years, will be happy with being there.

[Eleven]

4 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Really expect Adams goal is doing damage in the playoffs next year.  After 12 years, will be happy with being there.

I won't be.  This was the year I would have been happy with just "being there."  This was the Tyrod Taylor playoffs for me.

Next year, I want to see "damage," as you say.

[CTJoe]

Not that it matters but now Anderson can probably have his going away party:

OTT:  Anderson

CLB:  Levi or UPL

[Eleven]

1 minute ago, CTJoe said:

Not that it matters but now Anderson can probably have his going away party:

OTT:  Anderson

CLB:  Levi or UPL

Yep.  And if Levi needs rest on Friday after the back-to-back, I'm ok with it.  (And if he doesn't, give him the development opportunity!)

[sabresouth]

14 minutes ago, Taro T said:

They have 1/2 of the goaltending set for next year.  They still need to pair Levi with somebody that gives the team a chance to win any given night.  Sign Varlamov and then fix the D.

Agreed.  I did fail to address that. Any of the three current goalies not named Levi are not sufficient. We need better.

[Brawndo]

 

[CTJoe]

20 minutes ago, Taro T said:

They have 1/2 of the goaltending set for next year.  They still need to pair Levi with somebody that gives the team a chance to win any given night.  Sign Varlamov and then fix the D.

Wouldn't Varlamov want to sing somewhere where he's the clear cut starter?  Levi, I think we all can agree is all clear cut starter.  Acquiring 1 or 2 big upgrades at D is more important than a backup goalie.  

[SABRES 0311]

Owen Power next year.

 

[PASabreFan]

43 minutes ago, CTJoe said:

Wouldn't Varlamov want to sing somewhere where he's the clear cut starter?  Levi, I think we all can agree is all clear cut starter.  Acquiring 1 or 2 big upgrades at D is more important than a backup goalie.  

We can't all agree on that. Come on. I know he wasn't at fault for any goal, but please... It's very much open for debate.

[...]

This is an Okposo who knows he's not coming back. Kind of sad.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/kyle-okposo-postgame-41123/t-277437090/c-16563692

 

[Randall Flagg]

The past 12 years have brought with them a moment where I get smacked by the understanding that the season is over, and that the N remaining games exist for nothing more than "development" and hoping Ennis or Eichel or Tage can put up some fun numbers. N was usually a number in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. N was 72 in 2017-18. Along with this blitz of reality came a quiet dread knowing that there were still months before spring, and dozens of hockey games to watch before they might contribute towards a successful season again. 

This season, N is 2. 

Normally when we reach game (82-N) I come on here to post about all the things that the general manager should have seen, things obvious to us, that might have made things work out differently. These things were maddening, because they would not only plainly doom a season before it started, but hinted that the men in charge would not be there when we finally climbed out of the abyss

I cannot make that post this year. I can still recite Jason Botterill's comedy of roster moves, Tim Murray's woeful bottom-6 and defensemen preferences etc. But this year that content doesn't exist, there's nothing in the bag for me to pull out

It is apparent to me that Kevyn has come as close to optimizing our trajectory out of that 18 game losing streak 25 months ago as you can reasonably expect from someone. Sure, there are things he could have done here or there to make this ending a little better - that's always true, and in reality, it's true of the teams around us as well - why let the Sabres make a hindsight tweak if you wouldn't let Florida make one as well to leap back ahead? Sure, one more solid defenseman would have helped that without-Samuelsson record. But I can't organically get worked up about this the way I still can about GMs from years ago, because too many things made too much sense and worked out too well in comparison to those seasons. Kevyn is a real GM and he has built a real team that is about to be real good.

I would then launch threads outlining the sorts of things we would need to do to drag the roster to respectability the coming summer - usually 6-8 additions that stretch the limits of my imagination and would require a lot of work, a lot of thinking. Things that every one of us knew would not come close to happening. But this year, I can't do that either. I need a good backup goalie, a 4D, and some depth. Sure, I'd take another splash or two. But things are different, I don't NEED that to be able to pretend that our team could squeak in. My eyes are telling me that even if he didn't lift a finger this summer, we are a 100 point team next season. I trust my eyes a lot

It is very nice knowing that I only need to sit through 2 games, which end within 72 hours from this point, before these guys go home and get ready to be great in October. They will be FUN, because we all know what is coming.  

[thewookie1]

15 minutes ago, ... said:

This is an Okposo who knows he's not coming back. Kind of sad.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/kyle-okposo-postgame-41123/t-277437090/c-16563692

 

To be honest I think he's planning to retire. Adams would likely welcome him back 1 more year but he may just honestly be out of the physical ability to do it

[SwampD]

46 minutes ago, ... said:

This is an Okposo who knows he's not coming back. Kind of sad.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/kyle-okposo-postgame-41123/t-277437090/c-16563692

 

Not sure why you are so sure of that. He's coming back.

[SwampD]

Jersey looks pretty good. I think they will beat Boston. ***** Boston. The Sabres look like the Sabres.

Pretty sure I'm done with Bryson. I think he would be a better forward than an NHL defenseman. 

[PerreaultForever]

Disappointing. Good effort, but ultimately disappointing, and even more disappointing with Pittsburgh losing to Chicago at home. 

Dare I say New Jersey is better coached than us? They are not that different from us in terms of talent, but they play a more structured and disciplined game, better team D, block more shots, intercept more passes, just better team structure. I guess they are in fact a good year or so ahead of us. Maybe we get their point total next year if we fix our holes. 

Owen Power is quietly becoming very very good. Looking at his progress and development this year I think he will eventually be more important to this team than Dahlin. Maybe not as dynamic offensively, but more important in terms of an all around game. He also seems to elevate his game under pressure and the bigger the game the better he plays. 

On the other hand, we need to upgrade Jokiharju and Bryson/Stillman. I don't think anyone will disagree that Bryson is terrible and Stillman is a bottom end sub at best but Jokiharju is also terrible. Sure, he has some good nights and occasional good offensive plays but he is simply a bad defenseman. Power deserves a better partner .

Really hope management makes the necessary moves this off season. 

[steveoath]

Damn. 

[Huckleberry]

we can still make it if we win both and pens and isles loose ? 🙂

[CallawaySabres]

1 hour ago, Huckleberry said:

we can still make it if we win both and pens and isles loose ? 🙂

It’s over, sadly 

[Radar]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Disappointing. Good effort, but ultimately disappointing, and even more disappointing with Pittsburgh losing to Chicago at home. 

Dare I say New Jersey is better coached than us? They are not that different from us in terms of talent, but they play a more structured and disciplined game, better team D, block more shots, intercept more passes, just better team structure. I guess they are in fact a good year or so ahead of us. Maybe we get their point total next year if we fix our holes. 

Owen Power is quietly becoming very very good. Looking at his progress and development this year I think he will eventually be more important to this team than Dahlin. Maybe not as dynamic offensively, but more important in terms of an all around game. He also seems to elevate his game under pressure and the bigger the game the better he plays. 

On the other hand, we need to upgrade Jokiharju and Bryson/Stillman. I don't think anyone will disagree that Bryson is terrible and Stillman is a bottom end sub at best but Jokiharju is also terrible. Sure, he has some good nights and occasional good offensive plays but he is simply a bad defenseman. Power deserves a better partner .

Really hope management makes the necessary moves this off season. 

Agree with this assessment. Always liked Lindy as a coach. Having said this I'm not ready to dump DG but need to upgrade our defense and maybe some assistants. Overall this team from last part of last season through this season is an improved team by a lot.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Radar

[Radar]

7 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

Got to love this guy.