Who will save the Sabres POLL

[JP51]

So, we are in the dog days... nothing going on... so.. if this team were to be turned around, who is your one guy that you think will either inject new life and skill, or show a massive production and leadership leap that propels us...   So I didnt include established core guys  Tuch, Thompson, Dahlin, Power, Byram etc... but really a newer person with maybe major upside...  that said there is an "other" category if you feel one of the core players will up their game significantly and ride in on a white horse and save us...  interested in your thoughts. 

Edited 12 hours ago by JP51

[kas23]

I answered Quinn. Could be Norris as well. It needs to be a player that will need to step up his play significantly. I think Quinn is potentially that person. 

[JP51]

Just now, kas23 said:

I answered Quinn. Could be Norris as well. It needs to be a player that will need to step up his play significantly. I think Quinn is potentially that person. 

We could sure use him to get back to Pre Achilles form and then progress... if he becomes a producer like Peterka with a bit better 2 way game... that would be huge. 

[Mr Peabody]

Voted for Norris but feel Tage could make the biggest impact by adding defense and a bit of snarl to his game.  Lead by example and others will follow.  

[JP51]

3 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

Voted for Norris but feel Tage could make the biggest impact by adding defense and a bit of snarl to his game.  Lead by example and others will follow.  

If he could take that role and make people question why he isnt that Captain over Dahlin and not Tuch, that would be a great problem to have. 

[French Collection]

I voted Benson. He already has a defensive game and grit, which many young players have to grow to acquire.

His offensive game will take a jump, especially in the playmaking category. He is a dog on a bone that will drag others into the fight.

[JP51]

8 minutes ago, French Collection said:

I voted Benson. He already has a defensive game and grit, which many young players have to grow to acquire.

His offensive game will take a jump, especially in the playmaking category. He is a dog on a bone that will drag others into the fight.

I waffled between him and Doan... I think my Doan is wishful thinking to an extent, but he does have the size to make the difference in the fight...  but Benson may be the more likely candidate. 

[DarthEbriate]

Tuch: I'm Tuch Icewalker. I'm here to rescue you. I've brought your R2-D6 and I'm here with the Son of Ben. And I just signed a new long-term extension.... now let's get you out of your AHL cell so you can...

Levi: Somebody has to save our skins!

[Ctaeth]

If you really want the Sabres to make a run at the playoffs, I feel like you would have to hang your hat on UPL having a much better season this year... regardless of what the rest of the team does.  

(or levi stepping in)

Edited 10 hours ago by Ctaeth

[dudacek]

Kevyn Adams.

Imagine that moment in April when he smirks into the camera and says "I told you so."

😈

[JP51]

8 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

If you really want the Sabres to make a run at the playoffs, I feel like you would have to hang your hat on UPL having a much better season this year... regardless of what the rest of the team does.  

(or levi stepping in)

I mean if I had to rank the most problematic position Goalie would be pretty high up there...  

[JP51]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Kevyn Adams.

Imagine that moment in April when he smirks into the camera and says "I told you so."

😈

LOL I am also imagining myself dunking on a 10 foot net with Jennifer Lawrence cheering me on... so there is that LOL... 

[Taro T]

If we're simply talking 1 player and not incremental (or better) improvement from several, it has to be the team's best player.  Dahlin continuing to play at a Norris Trophy level is necessary.  It isn't sufficient, but it's necessary.

Honorable mention would be to whatever goalie decides to actually play like one of the league's 10 best.

Both of those happening would go a long way towards allowing the improvements of the others to be that straw that breaks the back of the camel that is the 14 year playoff drought.

[Pimlach]

There is no player that could save them.  
 

The problem is at the TOP.  They need an exceptional executive running the team.   Someone that Terry trusts enough to only provide token support to.  Like he does with the Bills.  Until that happens we have Terry running Hockey Ops and they will continue to struggle.  

[kas23]

6 minutes ago, Taro T said:

If we're simply talking 1 player and not incremental (or better) improvement from several, it has to be the team's best player.  Dahlin continuing to play at a Norris Trophy level is necessary.  It isn't sufficient, but it's necessary.

Honorable mention would be to whatever goalie decides to actually play like one of the league's 10 best.

Both of those happening would go a long way towards allowing the improvements of the others to be that straw that breaks the back of the camel that is the 14 year playoff drought.

Yeah, but we have had excellent/elite play from Dahlin and Tage. I expect this to continue. However, given their already elite play and yet we are still not a playoff team, the push to make it into the playoffs is going to have to come from someone else. So, the question is really, outside of the play we already received last year and the year before, who is going to have to emerge to push us into the playoffs. 

[Night Train]

Other

The Roofers ! 

https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/watch-piece-of-keybank-center-roof-comes-crashing-down-in-leak/

[dudacek]

We're talking the kinda leap that doesn't happen too often right?

A player stepping into the upper echelon of the league and leading a notable improvement in results and/or hope?

Like Tage in 23, Briere in 06, Hasek in 94?

I don' think anyone on the roster has that in him, but I guess that's built in to the question.

I kinda expect Power, Benson and Quinn taking leaps, but not to that high a level.

Best bet is Levi.

[CallawaySabres]

Trade for a top 5 goalie - not going to happen

Trade for a Number center - not going to happen

So I guess, nobody can save them. Looking at this roster on paper, I think being 5 points out of 8th on March 1st would be a miracle.

[JP51]

1 hour ago, kas23 said:

Yeah, but we have had excellent/elite play from Dahlin and Tage. I expect this to continue. However, given their already elite play and yet we are still not a playoff team, the push to make it into the playoffs is going to have to come from someone else. So, the question is really, outside of the play we already received last year and the year before, who is going to have to emerge to push us into the playoffs. 

I mean I dont disagree with either, Dahlin comes out and wins the Norris trophy then hey... maybe... but if not, then I am looking for an off or offish the radar player to either come in or take his game to a new level... but of all the players in the front 5 Dahlin is the most capable of doing it. 

[jad1]

Other -- the next GM and luck.

[pi2000]

Until they're no longer in the bottom 3rd of youngest teams, they'll continue to struggle.... there's not a single player or group of players that can save them, other than perhaps UPL or Levi or whoever standing on their head for an entire season.

[Archie Lee]

I think it remains that the Sabres are collectively (not individually) too young and inexperienced. Their three best players, are not though.  Dahlin, Thompson, and Tuch, are keys.  I don't think they all need to have career years, but they need to be the elite players that they are.  I think it is possible those three are talented enough to drag a team into the playoffs. 

[JP51]

2 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:

Trade for a top 5 goalie - not going to happen

Trade for a Number center - not going to happen

So I guess, nobody can save them. Looking at this roster on paper, I think being 5 points out of 8th on March 1st would be a miracle.

Honestly being in the conversation reasonably in 2026 I think is unlikely... I see us really out or on a miracle fringe after the New Year....  

[dudacek]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I think it remains that the Sabres are collectively (not individually) too young and inexperienced. Their three best players, are not though.  Dahlin, Thompson, and Tuch, are keys.  I don't think they all need to have career years, but they need to be the elite players that they are.  I think it is possible those three are talented enough to drag a team into the playoffs. 

I hope this matters:

the 23/24 Sabres had

• 7 players in their first 3 seasons (Quinn, Peterka, Power, Samuelsson, Luukkonen, Krebs, Benson)
• and 5 players in their prime (Tuch (27), Greenway (26), Clifton (28), Girgensons (29), Thompson (25))

getting regular minutes

The 25/26 Sabres have

• 3 players in their first 3 seasons (Benson, Doan, Kulich)
• and 8 players in their prime (Tuch (29), Greenway (28), Dahlin (25), Thompson (27), Norris (26), Luukkonen (26), Samuelsson (25), McLeod (25))

expected to get regular minutes. (Kesslering at 25 and in his 3rd year could be classified either way)*

The average age is still too low, but the maturity of the key players should be improved.

Edited 3 hours ago by dudacek

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I hope this matters:

the 23/24 Sabres had

• 7 players in their first 3 seasons (Quinn, Peterka, Power, Samuelsson, Luukkonen, Krebs, Benson)
• and 5 players in their prime (Tuch (27), Greenway (26), Clifton (28), Girgensons (29), Thompson (25))

getting regular minutes

The 25/26 Sabres have

• 3 players in their first 3 seasons (Benson, Doan, Kulich)
• and 8 players in their prime (Tuch (29), Greenway (28), Dahlin (25), Thompson (27), Norris (26), Luukkonen (26), Samuelsson (25), McLeod (25))

expected to get regular minutes. (Kesslering at 25 and in his 3rd year could be classified either way)*

The average age is still too low, but the maturity of the key players should be improved.

And again, had they simply replaced the coaching staff (or significant parts of it) would be very bullish on the team's chances to have turned the corner.  But they've played such a fundamentally flawed game the past 2 years when they theoretically were going to play NHL defense, just have a hard time believing the improved maturity will overcome the rest of what they're dealing with.