Trade : Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

[JohnC]

27 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

Can reporters be waived by the team they are covering? 🙂

[Turbo44]

57 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

He's correct in that there doesn't seem to be any semblance of a plan in mind

[Pimlach]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

Why would Dallas want a Byram knowing that in a year he will pursuing a long term bonanza contract? And let’s not forget that Dallas is a serious Cup contending team that will likely make the required adjustments to keep him. 
 

I do like Zucker a lot and how he plays. But I consider him a good third line player on a rugged line on a good team. However, when you have a dearth of talent you have to adjust to that reality, at least for the time being. 

I would let Dallas decide that on Byram.   If they’re not interested so be it.  Move on.   Dallas has a big cap problem and Robertson could be available.  
 

The fear that Byram is pursuing a long term bonanza contract is a bit wild.   He really has not proven he is worth that, and in Buffalo he doesn’t get the opportunity to prove he is worth a big contract,  in Buffalo Dahlin is #1, and Power is being favored as the #2  power play defenseman.   Leaving Byram out   

Byram may be happy to sign bridge with a contender like Dallas, or any other contender.  Or he may like to join an up and coming team that needs his skills?  

We don't  know what he wants, we only know he allegedly moved his stuff out of Buffalo, yet he says he is interested in re-signing.  

[dudacek]

Probably premature because I don't expect Byram here, but aren't most people expecting:

• Byram Dahlin
• Power Kesselring
• Samuelsson Timmins

Something Adams said about helping Power makes me wonder if we could see:

• Byram Dahlin
• Samuelsson Kesselring
• Power Timmins

Four reasons:

• Adams says he wants a simple puck-touch, low-risk type playing with Power, that's Timmins game and he played his best hockey being that guy with Karlsson
• This set-up allows you to shelter Power somewhat at even-strength and rebuild his confidence against lesser opponents
• Kesselring's attitude may bring out some of that from Mule and help him play more like the concept of Mule
• The size/range of the second pair is such that maybe you can lean on them in defensive situations

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

Probably premature because I don't expect Byram here, but aren't most people expecting:

• Byram Dahlin
• Power Kesselring
• Samuelsson Timmins

Something Adams said about helping Power makes me wonder if we could see:

• Byram Dahlin
• Samuelsson Kesselring
• Power Timmins

Four reasons:

• Adams says he wants a simple puck-touch, low-risk type playing with Power, that's Timmins game and he played his best hockey being that guy with Karlsson
• This set-up allows you to shelter Power somewhat at even-strength and rebuild his confidence against lesser opponents
• Kesselring's attitude may bring out some of that from Mule and help him play more like the concept of Mule
• The size/range of the second pair is such that maybe you can lean on them in defensive situations

Thought there's a possibility Timmons would be Power's partner, but saw Kesselring as Dahlin's partner in that scenario.

Your combos are interesting.

[inkman]

22 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Probably premature because I don't expect Byram here, but aren't most people expecting:

• Byram Dahlin
• Power Kesselring
• Samuelsson Timmins

Something Adams said about helping Power makes me wonder if we could see:

• Byram Dahlin
• Samuelsson Kesselring
• Power Timmins

Four reasons:

• Adams says he wants a simple puck-touch, low-risk type playing with Power, that's Timmins game and he played his best hockey being that guy with Karlsson
• This set-up allows you to shelter Power somewhat at even-strength and rebuild his confidence against lesser opponents
• Kesselring's attitude may bring out some of that from Mule and help him play more like the concept of Mule
• The size/range of the second pair is such that maybe you can lean on them in defensive situations

If Samuelsson gets top 4 minutes, just fold the franchise.  Clifton was better FFS.  JBD was better.  Kale freaking Clague may have been better. Everyone who has played D for the Sabres since Samuelsson’s arrival has been better minus Jacob Bryson. 

Edited July 3 by inkman

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, inkman said:

If Samuelsson gets top 4 minutes, just fold the franchise.  Clifton was better FFS.  JBD was better.  Kale freaking Clague may have been better. Everyone who has played D for the Sabres since Samuelsson’s arrival has been better minus Jacob Bryson. 

Samuelsson: 14pts... 14 entire points. -12.3relCF%, -11.6xgf% and yet they start him in the defense zone 73% of the time, even though he's not good at defense. He might be average or so but woof. 

[darksabre]

On 6/29/2025 at 2:45 PM, Turbo44 said:

He's correct in that there doesn't seem to be any semblance of a plan in mind

Two things can be correct at once. The team is incompetent and Chad is obnoxious. 

[shrader]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

If Samuelsson gets top 4 minutes, just fold the franchise.  Clifton was better FFS.  JBD was better.  Kale freaking Clague may have been better. Everyone who has played D for the Sabres since Samuelsson’s arrival has been better minus Jacob Bryson. 

I do wonder how different he could look if he's consistently getting 3rd pair minutes.

[dudacek]

On 7/3/2025 at 8:21 AM, dudacek said:

Probably premature because I don't expect Byram here, but aren't most people expecting:

• Byram Dahlin
• Power Kesselring
• Samuelsson Timmins

Something Adams said about helping Power makes me wonder if we could see:

• Byram Dahlin
• Samuelsson Kesselring
• Power Timmins

Four reasons:

• Adams says he wants a simple puck-touch, low-risk type playing with Power, that's Timmins game and he played his best hockey being that guy with Karlsson
• This set-up allows you to shelter Power somewhat at even-strength and rebuild his confidence against lesser opponents
• Kesselring's attitude may bring out some of that from Mule and help him play more like the concept of Mule
• The size/range of the second pair is such that maybe you can lean on them in defensive situations

 

Following up on this.

I see Adams in his post-July 1 presser saying something like "If you but Bo and Dahlin together maybe Lindy wants to go with a big shutdown pair".

So Samuelsson/Kesselring is something that is on the table.

[Archie Lee]

13 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

Following up on this.

I see Adams in his post-July 1 presser saying something like "If you but Bo and Dahlin together maybe Lindy wants to go with a big shutdown pair".

So Samuelsson/Kesselring is something that is on the table.

I think this is true.  I don't think they are as down on Samuelsson as the fanbase is.  If Byram is dealt and a top 4D does not come back, then I think the top-4 is likely just Dahlin, Power, Kesselring, and Samuelsson, in some configuration.

[PerreaultForever]

Conor Clifton on the Tage Thompson hit incident, the trade and other stuff. His comments on the Tage incident starts around 29 minutes. I'd start there unless you like to listen to John Scott. 

 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Conor Clifton on the Tage Thompson hit incident, the trade and other stuff. His comments on the Tage incident starts around 29 minutes. I'd start there unless you like to listen to John Scott. 

 

 

Thanks for posting.

Going to have to give it a more thorough listen, but in the two minutes I heard the statement that dropped my jaw was this:

Clifton called this Sabres team the most talented he's ever played for; this from a man who was a regular on a 135-point President's Trophy winner.

What a damning callout of the coaching staff and/or the talent itself.

[Weave]

6 minutes ago, dudacek said:

 

Thanks for posting.

Going to have to give it a more thorough listen, but in the two minutes I heard the statement that dropped my jaw was this:

Clifton called this Sabres team the most talented he's ever played for; this from a man who was a regular on a 135-point President's Trophy winner.

What a damning callout of the coaching staff and/or the talent itself.

JFC

I got nothing else. JFC

And I am listening to the portion related to the Tage hit.  Again, JFC

Gilbert didn’t get a shift after the Thompson hit?  How does that happen?

[LGR4GM]

They need to fire the entire coaching staff. 

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

They need to fire the entire coaching staff. 

The enormity of talent squandered by this organization...

Pegula's influence is a perpetual raincloud and I'm reminded of the failures of Kevyn Adams every day I spend on here.

But the terrible job Lindy and his crew did last year was kinda fading since they stopped playing.

Thanks John Scott.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Conor Clifton on the Tage Thompson hit incident, the trade and other stuff. His comments on the Tage incident starts around 29 minutes. I'd start there unless you like to listen to John Scott. 

 

 

Interesting points:

1.  When Clifton got to Buffalo he was culture shocked, he was struggling playing on the left side playing with EJ, and he admits he struggled and did not understand the system (Granato).   He figured it out after 25 games and had a decent finish.  

2.  Clifton was scratched in the game that Tage got hit.  Scratched in a game with 7 defensemen dressed.  Gilbert never saw the ice after Tage got hit. 

WTF Lindy!!!  Do you want a tougher team or not.  

3.  Sabres are one of the most highly skilled teams he ever played on.  

4.  Was not surprised he was moved.  Was not getting much ice in the end of the season

5.  Scott sounded like a guy that never played for the Sabres.  

6.  Questions on Peterka were interesting.  Clifton was very careful answering these.  

7.  Cliffy has an Mechanical Engineering degree - another reason to like him  🙂

Clifton is a stand up guy and I wish him the best.  He made no excuses, was accountable for his play, he said nothing inflammatory.   I sense he  and Lindy were not on the same page. 

2nd bottom line - John Scott is kind of an azz.   Asking questions about what was said in the locker room is taboo and an ex-player should know that.  Asking what his best hit was, and on who, and who he wanted to light up, was also bad form.  

 

[thewookie1]

43 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

 

Interesting points:

1.  When Clifton got to Buffalo he was culture shocked, he was struggling playing on the left side playing with EJ, and he admits he struggled and did not understand the system (Granato).   He figured it out after 25 games and had a decent finish.  

2.  Clifton was scratched in the game that Tage got hit.  Scratched in a game with 7 defensemen dressed.  Gilbert never saw the ice after Tage got hit. 

WTF Lindy!!!  Do you want a tougher team or not.  

3.  Sabres are one of the most highly skilled teams he ever played on.  

4.  Was not surprised he was moved.  Was not getting much ice in the end of the season

5.  Scott sounded like a guy that never played for the Sabres.  

6.  Questions on Peterka were interesting.  Clifton was very careful answering these.  

7.  Cliffy has an Mechanical Engineering degree - another reason to like him  🙂

Clifton is a stand up guy and I wish him the best.  He made no excuses, was accountable for his play, he said nothing inflammatory.   I sense he  and Lindy were not on the same page. 

2nd bottom line - John Scott is kind of an azz.   Asking questions about what was said in the locker room is taboo and an ex-player should know that.  Asking what his best hit was, and on who, and who he wanted to light up, was also bad form.  

 

Frankly I’m not surprised by the skill point, the last couple years we’ve had off the chart levels of talent but it’s typically squandered in numerous ways. Part of me feels some players just don’t desire to buy in regardless of the coaching. Peterka possibly being one of those guys in possibly seeing their way as better than the overall strategy. And with the current situation we have I can’t blame them for letting those doubts creep up but they need to lock down.

Clifton also brought up a commonly noticed attribute of the team in how it will play great against solid to great teams then turn around and play piss poor against lower end teams. The worrisome part is Clifton seemed perplexed by the issue in his own right. He put genuine effort into giving the most accurate answer he could and corrected himself about preparation. It boils down to the same issue that lingered with a Cozens interview early on last year where he referred to the team almost taking weaker teams for granted. Almost making me imagine the roster as a whole has a strange tendency to see themselves as far better than their record entails. Or, possibly some players see weaker teams as possible cash cows for easy offensive production and thus don’t play the 200ft game they are supposed to.

[dudacek]

There’s a real theme in there about respecting opponents, which might be an outgrowth of all the high-pick pedigree on the roster?

[Weave]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

There’s a real theme in there about respecting opponents, which might be an outgrowth of all the high-pick pedigree on the roster?

It certainly seems to implicate leadership in general.

Edited 11 hours ago by Weave

[Taro T]

22 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Frankly I’m not surprised by the skill point, the last couple years we’ve had off the chart levels of talent but it’s typically squandered in numerous ways. Part of me feels some players just don’t desire to buy in regardless of the coaching. Peterka possibly being one of those guys in possibly seeing their way as better than the overall strategy. And with the current situation we have I can’t blame them for letting those doubts creep up but they need to lock down.

Clifton also brought up a commonly noticed attribute of the team in how it will play great against solid to great teams then turn around and play piss poor against lower end teams. The worrisome part is Clifton seemed perplexed by the issue in his own right. He put genuine effort into giving the most accurate answer he could and corrected himself about preparation. It boils down to the same issue that lingered with a Cozens interview early on last year where he referred to the team almost taking weaker teams for granted. Almost making me imagine the roster as a whole has a strange tendency to see themselves as far better than their record entails. Or, possibly some players see weaker teams as possible cash cows for easy offensive production and thus don’t play the 200ft game they are supposed to.

IMHO, it is simply (to an overwhelming degree) an issue of maturity.  They come ready to play (under Ruff, not so much under Granato) and they score 1st way more often that a below 0.500 team should.  But when the other team starts punching back and getting into the flow, they can't get ramp their own intensity back up.

When they play a weaker team, they can't convince themselves that they have to work hard to win.  And they don't know how to structure their play to let them force the other team to play a game better than what they have to beat them.

Under Granato, they rarely were ready to play, but when the other team took their foot off the gas, the offensive 1st (or only) nature of the Sabres game allowed them to come back more often than a below 0.500 team should.

Having NHL caliber coaching could do wonders for this team.  Right now, if it weren't for the fact that none of the assistants have a clue about the X's and O's of the game, would say that this team really could use a Nolan as the HC.  Maybe Peca would be the ideal guy for this team.  He knows the X's and O's of the game very well and he was a fierce competitor and leader.  Checks the "former Sabre" box too.  Not sure that Kekalainen is the right GM to get him the players he'd need but wouldn't be opposed to seeing him in that role.  Say Peca, because there's no f'n way a Gallant will be brought in.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

JFC

I got nothing else. JFC

And I am listening to the portion related to the Tage hit.  Again, JFC

Gilbert didn’t get a shift after the Thompson hit?  How does that happen?

The Sabres were up by 2 and going to the powerplay as a result of the major penalty. So the plans to retaliate were made. Then, the Sabres gave up a shorthanded goal during the major, so they were only up by 1. Gilbert can't play protecting a mere 1-goal lead or risk going on the PK. FWIW, the Sabres did hang on to win 4-3.

(Nevermind that the season was already over barring some 8-game winning streak.)

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

5.  Scott sounded like a guy that never played for the Sabres.  

Scott saying that Lindy would have wanted blood after the Tage hit hasn't been watching Ruff behind the bench the last few years. Young Ruff is in the past.

[DarthEbriate]

41 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Clifton also brought up a commonly noticed attribute of the team in how it will play great against solid to great teams then turn around and play piss poor against lower end teams. The worrisome part is Clifton seemed perplexed by the issue in his own right. He put genuine effort into giving the most accurate answer he could and corrected himself about preparation. It boils down to the same issue that lingered with a Cozens interview early on last year where he referred to the team almost taking weaker teams for granted. Almost making me imagine the roster as a whole has a strange tendency to see themselves as far better than their record entails. Or, possibly some players see weaker teams as possible cash cows for easy offensive production and thus don’t play the 200ft game they are supposed to.

More teams, even great teams, play down to their opponent than we realize. How else do you explain so many Sabres victories since the tank began? It's natural in an 82-game season to not be able to generate the same intensity each and every night. Teams come out flat in a simple 16-game (17) NFL season, let alone soon to by 84 NHL games.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

Thanks for posting.

Going to have to give it a more thorough listen, but in the two minutes I heard the statement that dropped my jaw was this:

Clifton called this Sabres team the most talented he's ever played for; this from a man who was a regular on a 135-point President's Trophy winner.

What a damning callout of the coaching staff and/or the talent itself.

Listen to what he says about Peterka. (and Scott's reply)

[Thorny]

4 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

More teams, even great teams, play down to their opponent than we realize. How else do you explain so many Sabres victories since the tank began? It's natural in an 82-game season to not be able to generate the same intensity each and every night. Teams come out flat in a simple 16-game (17) NFL season, let alone soon to by 84 NHL games.

Right on - and these issues are only exacerbated by being such a young team prone to mental lapses.

I can’t help but chuckle at the, “maybe with maturity they’ll learn to respect their opponent” stuff. I mean - ya - we were the youngest team in hockey *by choice* for 5 years. The Sabres are performing as can only have been expected 

- - - 

on a slight tangent - it’s rather (see:very) insane that we have been bad forever and have precisely 1 top 10 pick F in the *entirety* of our system, including on roster. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Thorny