Final Roster - Any Surprises ?

[Weave]

It would appear that, once again, hope is a strategy in Buffalo.

[clink]

On 10/1/2025 at 9:56 AM, Drag0nDan said:

If you got 3 goalies, you don't have any goalies.  

Is that some Eastern thing? 😁

[DarthEbriate]

I'm surprised Kozak hasn't been waived to Rochester yet. He's not a guy that should get claimed because every team has 1-2 Kozaks. But if a team is dealing with injuries, I could see it being 50/50 of losing him. He's not going to score but he does the little things right and is positionally sound. We saw how much calmer the bottom 6 looked when he was in the lineup last year vs., say, Lafferty.

[dudacek]

7 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I'm surprised Kozak hasn't been waived to Rochester yet. He's not a guy that should get claimed because every team has 1-2 Kozaks. But if a team is dealing with injuries, I could see it being 50/50 of losing him. He's not going to score but he does the little things right and is positionally sound. We saw how much calmer the bottom 6 looked when he was in the lineup last year vs., say, Lafferty.

He’s the next shoe to drop. Probably as soon as Thursday when Power is cleared to play.

The next one is the interesting piece; Who goes first when Greenway or Kesselring is ready: the 3rd goalie or the 8th defenceman?

Edited 14 hours ago by dudacek

[DarthEbriate]

10 minutes ago, dudacek said:

He’s the next shoe to drop. Probably as soon as Thursday when Power is cleared to play.

The next one is the interesting piece; Who goes first when Greenway or Kesselring is ready: the 3rd goalie or the 8th defenceman?

The eye test says both: Bryson and Georgiev can go. Johnson won the #7 and personally, I'd keep Kozak as he can give you better, more versatile forward minutes as center or wing -- he's a Danforth type.

I know Ruff loves Geertsen, but ... you have to dress him every game to actually be able to use him as a deterrent, and that's hardly likely because a 5-minute forward is almost useless in today's regular season games. (Florida/Tampa's silly exhibition over the weekend was exactly that -- an exhibition. They'll be civil in all the games that matter where their top lines are dressed.) Plus, Geertsen is hardly a deterrent -- Noesen won't be intimidated by him. They'll do a faceoff-based fight this season and that'll be the end of it.

[dudacek]

49 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

The eye test says both: Bryson and Georgiev can go. Johnson won the #7 and personally, I'd keep Kozak as he can give you better, more versatile forward minutes as center or wing -- he's a Danforth type.

I know Ruff loves Geertsen, but ... you have to dress him every game to actually be able to use him as a deterrent, and that's hardly likely because a 5-minute forward is almost useless in today's regular season games. (Florida/Tampa's silly exhibition over the weekend was exactly that -- an exhibition. They'll be civil in all the games that matter where their top lines are dressed.) Plus, Geertsen is hardly a deterrent -- Noesen won't be intimidated by him. They'll do a faceoff-based fight this season and that'll be the end of it.

I don’t disagree with you.

But I’m pretty sure Lindy Ruff does.

I said in the summer that Geertsen was targeted - by Lindy - to be used in this specific role, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind.

This is a coach who has already got - from his own mouth - three Swiss Army knives on the roster (Danforth, Krebs and McLeod).

It’s a coach who likes to roll his top 9 hard and use his 4th liners situationally.

And it’s a coach who sat Andrew Peters on the bench for 55 minutes a game, and played him 55 games a year.

I’d say it’s less deterrent than it is response, but Geertsen is getting the final roster spot.

Edited 13 hours ago by dudacek

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

I don’t disagree with you.

But I’m pretty sure Lindy Ruff does.

I said in the summer that Geertsen was targeted - by Lindy - to be used in this specific role, I’ve seen nothing to change my mind.

This is a coach who has already got - from his own mouth - three Swiss Army knives on the roster (Danforth, Krebs and McLeod).

It’s a coach who likes to roll his top 9 hard and use his 4th liners situationally.

And it’s a coach who sat Andrew Peters on the bench for 55 minutes a game, and played him 55 games a year.

I’d say it’s less deterrent than it is response, but Geertsen is getting the final roster spot.

Well, at least Dahls, Tucky, and Tommer won’t have to fight if we are carrying Gertie.  

[SabresBillsFan]

I watched Geertsen a lot last season on the Silver Knights and I’m totally shocked he made the Sabres. He never stood out in any way. Yes, he will drop the gloves but other than that he’s not gonna do anything.

[LGR4GM]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Well, at least Dahls, Tucky, and Tommer won’t have to fight if we are carrying Gertie.  

I think that's a problem. If you aren't willing to defend yourself or you teammates because Gertie is sitting on the bench, your team is going to be weaker not stronger. Not saying that's what will happen but toughness is a team effort. 

[JP51]

16 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

One can only hope.

But someone still needs to be Pegula's yes-man next year. Adams POHO, Ruff Senior Consultant, Jarmo or Forton as GM. Appert as HC. It's all the same. Naturally, you then extend the assistant coaches for continuity. And because they're the cheapest coaching staff in the league. All this after a very thorough search and interview process at each position.

Yeah, disheartening isnt it...   Pegula is either gonna get it or he isnt.... I think as long as the Stadium is number 1 he isnt gonna get it....  my only hope is that he is not absolutely Tommy "the pinball wizard" (IYKYK lol)  and will turn some attention after this thing is done... but if you ask me to bet... we are gonna see this as long as he owns the team... 

[French Collection]

32 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think that's a problem. If you aren't willing to defend yourself or you teammates because Gertie is sitting on the bench, your team is going to be weaker not stronger. Not saying that's what will happen but toughness is a team effort. 

Correct.

Everyone on the team has to toughen up and have a pack mentality. There aren’t many “staged” fights anymore because most teams don’t want the hassle of carrying someone who is a liability and only gives you 5 minutes. They would rather pay a semi tough guy who can play 10 minutes in another role and hold his own if things get out of hand. Ryan Reaves did not help the Leafs last year.