Sabres Training Camp 2025

[Sabres73]

49 minutes ago, rickshaw said:

If Mrtka goes back to Seattle, I could be seeing him Nov 7. They play Penticton and my buddy got tix for it already. 

Happy to see Penticton get promoted to the big league. Good for them.

[JohnC]

11 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think a large portion of the hockey media spent exactly this amount of time on the Sabres.

1. Pretty bad last year.

2. Long history of being bad.

3. Didn't do much except trade one of their most exciting young players for two guys I don't know much about.

4 Next team please.

Doesn't mean they're wrong: many of us have come to a similar conclusion knowing the entire roster inside and out.

But they didn't do the work.

It shouldn’t be s surprise that a long-term middling team that doesn’t do anything compelling in the offseason to change that perception doesn’t attract much scrutiny entering the season. Why bother? What the Pittsburgh Pirates are to baseball the Sabres are to the hockey world i.e. an afterthought. It’s a shame and self-inflicted.

[PromoTheRobot]

11 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think a large portion of the hockey media spent exactly this amount of time on the Sabres.

1. Pretty bad last year.

2. Long history of being bad.

3. Didn't do much except trade one of their most exciting young players for two guys I don't know much about.

4 Next team please.

Doesn't mean they're wrong: many of us have come to a similar conclusion knowing the entire roster inside and out.

But they didn't do the work.

It's always a surprise when bad teams become good. Especially to national writers. They can't follow every team close enough to know what's going on. 

 

[DarthEbriate]

59 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

It's always a surprise when bad teams become good. Especially to national writers. They can't follow every team close enough to know what's going on. 

But it makes a good story when they do. Chicago, Colorado, Edmonton, Florida as examples.

[rickshaw]

10 hours ago, Sabres73 said:

Happy to see Penticton get promoted to the big league. Good for them.

I live within a 2 minute walk to the Memorial Cup hosts this year, Kelowna, and my buddy is 50’ drive away in Penticton. I typically don’t go to games, Rockets have been shyte lately, but maybe I will take in a few more as they’ll be gearing up their squad to make a run for the Cup.

[Brawndo]

Owen Power not on the ice this AM

Kulich has returned 

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Owen Power not on the ice this AM

Kulich has returned 

I can haz Novikov in Buffalo?

[LGR4GM]

 

 

[DarthEbriate]

57 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I can haz Novikov in Buffalo?

HC Ruff says you will get Geertsen and you will like it.

 

Such a versatile Geertsen. VersatGeertsen!
Stop trying to make VersatGeertsen happen!

[Brawndo]

https://bsky.app/profile/joeyerdon.bsky.social/post/3m22uhmtgjs2n

Power day to day

UPL starts tomorrow 

[Flashsabre]

21 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

https://bsky.app/profile/joeyerdon.bsky.social/post/3m22uhmtgjs2n

Power day to day

UPL starts tomorrow 

Where is Byram?

[K-9]

5 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Where is Byram?

Kicking and screaming inside Mrtka’s equipment bag. 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I can haz Novikov in Buffalo?

Nope. It’s that sissy Komorov in his place.  Guy literally got his face broken last season in a fight. This is the guy they want to get a look at?  Sigh. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Dahlin-Kesselring

Johnson-Timmins

Bryson-Mrtka

 

Can you imagine if this is the opening night D group?  I feel for the goalies.  

[LabattBlue]

6 hours ago, inkman said:

Nope. It’s that sissy Komorov in his place.  Guy literally got his face broken last season in a fight. This is the guy they want to get a look at?  Sigh. 

…and when Novikov goes back across the pond at some point, they will make excuses as to why he never got a chance. 

[shrader]

3 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

…and when Novikov goes back across the pond at some point, they will make excuses as to why he never got a chance. 

He’s 22 and has been here 2 years. We don’t need to rush everyone. 

[LGR4GM]

41 minutes ago, shrader said:

He’s 22 and has been here 2 years. We don’t need to rush everyone. 

Novikov spent 2yrs in the KHL and the last 2 in Rochester. He's got 4 years of pro hockey under his belt. He'll be a RFA after this season ends. 3 full ahl years with no look and the KHL easily within reach, hard to say what he'll do. 

[JoeSchmoe]

44 minutes ago, shrader said:

He’s 22 and has been here 2 years. We don’t need to rush everyone. 

He's earned a look. 

Last year he was a +28- best on the team by far. Next closest D was Metsa at +15. Komorov was +7.

In his first year he was also first on the team at +20. Metsa was next again at +15. Johnson was +5.

If I'm him, I'm at the very least questioning my future in the org, given lesser players seem to be getting chances over me. 

Edited 11 hours ago by JoeSchmoe

[shrader]

15 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Novikov spent 2yrs in the KHL and the last 2 in Rochester. He's got 4 years of pro hockey under his belt. He'll be a RFA after this season ends. 3 full ahl years with no look and the KHL easily within reach, hard to say what he'll do. 

There’s a lot of hockey to come this year. If he keeps on track, he’ll see time this year. Again, he’s 22 and we’ve rushed far too many players in recent years. Let him lead that Rochester team for a bit and then give him his time. 

[Taro T]

8 hours ago, shrader said:

There’s a lot of hockey to come this year. If he keeps on track, he’ll see time this year. Again, he’s 22 and we’ve rushed far too many players in recent years. Let him lead that Rochester team for a bit and then give him his time. 

14 years in the desert and 4 or so "non-blocking" years have skewed our perspectives.  (The Peterka kerfuffle doesn't help matters either.)

He'll be fine starting in Ra-cha-cha and will get a legit look before this season is over.

His playing the same side and role Samuelsson is supposed to play will almost guarantee it.

We're really close to seeing only 1-2 rookies starting the year in Buffalo As they finally have a full lineup of NHL caliber players with only 1-2 teens on the roster, they don't have to rush players up.  Though w/ 3 D injured, Mrtka might still end up being rushed up.  Hopefully he's the last of the guys rushed up.

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, shrader said:

There’s a lot of hockey to come this year. If he keeps on track, he’ll see time this year. Again, he’s 22 and we’ve rushed far too many players in recent years. Let him lead that Rochester team for a bit and then give him his time. 

We haven't, it's just a boring narrative ppl use. It's this fake thing tossed into arguments because you think it helps make your point even though it's not true. 

Novikov can play the year in Rochester, I'm fine with that, but playing in Buffalo isn't rushing him. 

50 minutes ago, Taro T said:

14 years in the desert and 4 or so "non-blocking" years have skewed our perspectives.  (The Peterka kerfuffle doesn't help matters either.)

He'll be fine starting in Ra-cha-cha and will get a legit look before this season is over.

His playing the same side and role Samuelsson is supposed to play will almost guarantee it.

We're really close to seeing only 1-2 rookies starting the year in Buffalo As they finally have a full lineup of NHL caliber players with only 1-2 teens on the roster, they don't have to rush players up.  Though w/ 3 D injured, Mrtka might still end up being rushed up.  Hopefully he's the last of the guys rushed up.

Yes, you all think we rush everybody even though there's no evidence to support it. 

[LGR4GM]

It's kinda hilarious that the "Mrtka should start in Buffalo and then go to Rochester!" Crowd is the same as "well Novikov with his 4 years playing pro is being rushed"

Again though, I'm just saying they should give Novikov a game here and there so they know where he's at. Maybe he's not an nhl guy but let's find out before his deal ends. 

Edited 1 hour ago by LGR4GM

[Taro T]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's kinda hilarious that the "Mrtka should start in Buffalo and then go to Rochester!" Crowd is the same as "well Novikov with his 4 years playing pro is being rushed"

Again though, I'm just saying they should give Novikov a game here and there so they know where he's at. Maybe he's not an nhl guy but let's find out before his deal ends. 

It's kinda hilarious that the "Mrtka must go to Seattle" crowd is the same as "Novikov is gonna get the sads and run back to Russia if he isn't in the lineup against the Rags" crowd.  😉 

See how silly hyperbolizing peoples positions come off?  "(y)ou all think we rush EVERYBODY."  (emphasis added)  No, nobody has said that.  And it's disingenuous to make that claim.

To the bolded, the people that aren't overly concerned that Novikov isn't getting his chance NOW have the EXACT SAME POSITION you have on this issue.  He should get a look this year.  And, he WILL get a look this year.  Likely an extended look as his game is exactly what the guy that seemingly is always broken for ~40 games per year is supposed to be.  When he's in his prime, he slots perfectly into the concept of Samuelsson or what Muel is supposed to be.

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, Taro T said:

It's kinda hilarious that the "Mrtka must go to Seattle" crowd is the same as "Novikov is gonna get the sads and run back to Russia if he isn't in the lineup against the Rags" crowd.  😉 

See how silly hyperbolizing peoples positions come off?  "(y)ou all think we rush EVERYBODY."  (emphasis added)  No, nobody has said that.  And it's disingenuous to make that claim.

To the bolded, the people that aren't overly concerned that Novikov isn't getting his chance NOW have the EXACT SAME POSITION you have on this issue.  He should get a look this year.  And, he WILL get a look this year.  Likely an extended look as his game is exactly what the guy that seemingly is always broken for ~40 games per year is supposed to be.  When he's in his prime, he slots perfectly into the concept of Samuelsson or what Muel is supposed to be.

I don't think Mrtka "must" go to Seattle. I think he should but I'm not gonna lose sleep over him in Rochester. 

[shrader]

10 minutes ago, Taro T said:

It's kinda hilarious that the "Mrtka must go to Seattle" crowd is the same as "Novikov is gonna get the sads and run back to Russia if he isn't in the lineup against the Rags" crowd.  😉 

See how silly hyperbolizing peoples positions come off?  "(y)ou all think we rush EVERYBODY."  (emphasis added)  No, nobody has said that.  And it's disingenuous to make that claim.

To the bolded, the people that aren't overly concerned that Novikov isn't getting his chance NOW have the EXACT SAME POSITION you have on this issue.  He should get a look this year.  And, he WILL get a look this year.  Likely an extended look as his game is exactly what the guy that seemingly is always broken for ~40 games per year is supposed to be.  When he's in his prime, he slots perfectly into the concept of Samuelsson or what Muel is supposed to be.

I just wish I had made that exact point about Novikov getting some time in the NHL this year. Oh right, I did. Arguing just for the sake of argument sure is fun. I love the internet.