Who will save the Sabres POLL

[LGR4GM]

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.

Still the least experienced group in the league, regardless of age. 

[Slack_in_MA]

Nope, not gonna hang my hat on any single player to improve the overall team. If we had landed a bonafide star in the off-season, that person would probably have gotten my vote.

[JP51]

13 hours ago, Taro T said:

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.

To be honest I do not expect someone or their improved performance to come in and magically save the day.. still the 2nd youngest team, still yet to see them gel in a way that is conducive to winning hockey, lots of perimeter guys, soft D and Bad goaltending... that combination is simply not conducive to playoffs and or and even worse playoff hockey ... I feel like we are counting on a couple of really unknown players like Kesselring, Doan and Danforth to come in an change the direction of a culture... not confident that these new young players are going to do that...  maybe they have more of an impact than Lafferty, Malenstyn and Kubel but I think we get pretty much same old same old... so I am with you... I don't see a white knight nor a level of experience that changes this course...  In fact I see at least an equal likelihood that not only do we not make the playoffs... but that there is a push for exodus from our core star players like Dahlin, Tage, and Tuch... time will tell, new players new hope.. but it feels a bit like an unfounded wish while we are whistling by the graveyard.... 

Edited August 21 by JP51

[spndnchz]

Too much poll. I may a few minutes 

[GoPuckYourself]

Unless Levi turns into Hasek this season there is no savior, we've had scoring but we've never had it with solid defensive play. Just adding Kesselring isn't going to improve the defense so much that it puts us over the top imo. We needed to go big or go home defensively and we ***** the bed again! It's more doom and gloom in my eyes unfortunately, I'll watch until it's unwatchable once again which seems to be the life of a Sabres fan.

[Sabres73]

I think this year all of our returning players will have incremental improvement that comes with another year in the books. Kesselring will solidify our D, which will be very good this year. But my vote for the player to "save" them is Norris, who will play to his potential. If we get average goaltending, we're in the playoffs in my opinion.

[PerreaultForever]

There's nobody on this roster that will "save" them. They need several of the guys listed to have good seasons just to compete and not be complete basement dwellers. 

[mjd1001]

The easiest single 'change' from last year would be to get better play from the goalie(s).

In terms of 'saving' the team, the non-goalie that can have the greatest impace on improving the team would be Norris.

Sure, he could get hurt and not play much. But he also has the ability to give you 10-20 more goals AND Better defensive play that you got from Cozens in a similar position/role.

[Mango]

Where is Daddy Danny Wegman? 

[Drag0nDan]

On 8/20/2025 at 1:40 PM, pi2000 said:

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.

I voted Levi because i think he's more capable of doing that, but i don't think ruff/adams would pull the trigger on a change there even if he looks ready.  I'm pretty out on UPL, happy to be proven wrong but i think he is another mediocre big dude.  I assume they'll roll with him because of the mistake on the contract, but he's just not good.  

On 8/22/2025 at 1:17 PM, mjd1001 said:

The easiest single 'change' from last year would be to get better play from the goalie(s).

In terms of 'saving' the team, the non-goalie that can have the greatest impace on improving the team would be Norris.

Sure, he could get hurt and not play much. But he also has the ability to give you 10-20 more goals AND Better defensive play that you got from Cozens in a similar position/role.

The high slot defense has been so bad for so long, i'm excited to see if he's better there.  If you can get the puck back one step before they get the puck to the side of the net, its just as important as defensemen marking their guys more effectively.  

[Broken Ankles]

‘Who will save you goals’ by Jewel
 

People living their lives watching you on TV,

They say Bostons better than you, and you agree.

He says we’ve got a center spine, defense too,

but between the pipes we havent got a clue

Another penalty, a tap in rebound, another failure to clear,

You know you love them, if you watch them this year.

 

.. who will save your goals, 

when your netminder folds?

And who will save your goals, 

when the defense can’t hold?

Now Who will save your goals…

If you won’t save your own

 

… We try to check 'em, try to hack 'em, try to snipe 'em

The fans want someone to cheer down on Seymour Knox avenue

Another draft, another miss, another cheap UFA, another banner

Went up where the uneducated have their homes

So we pray that Uppie can steal the show

But we call religion our friend,

We're so worried about savin' our goals

Afraid that an injury will take its toll and the doubt creeps back in, but

 

But.. who will save your goals, 

when your netminder folds?

And who will save your goals, 

when the defense can’t hold?

Now Who will save your goals…

If you won’t save your own