GDT: Penguins @ Sabres, 7:00pm Oct. 1, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[Jorcus]

56 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The game was the first time I was able to watch the Sabres. You can’t take too much from a preseason game . However, what bothered me about it was a general flatness. I have been an advocate for Quinn for a while. What I found disturbing about his game last night was the lack of spark in his play. He’s one player that needs to play with desperation. He just seemed to be so pedestrian on the ice.

I’m also bothered by UPL’s lack of durability. I’m aware that in the preseason you have to be cautious with players who are nicked up. But his ability to be available is ridiculously low. 
 

Assuming that Norris stays healthy, the trade for him was a good deal.

 

Believe it or not Quinn was actually a bit more active than the last time he played. That is not saying much, he is just a high ice drifter waiting for someone to give him the puck. At one point last night, I'm not sure who it was but they were streaking down the wing Quinn was at center ice doing his tap tap tap on the ice for a pass and the  skater just kept going into the zone because he had a clear path. I have seen this before where Quinn raps his stick on the ice and players ignore him. The only thing we would miss if he goes is that he is really good in shootouts. 

I think we all expect growth in players when they come back from off season. What bothers me is that sometimes players are who they are and if they don't improve you just have to unload them for something different. For the most part our returning players are exactly the same as they were when they skated off the ice last year.   

Edited 1 hour ago by Jorcus

[JohnC]

28 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

Believe it or not Quinn was actually a bit more active than the last time he played. That is not saying much, he is just a high ice drifter waiting for someone to give him the puck. At one point last night, I'm not sure who it was but they were streaking down the wing Quinn was at center ice doing his tap tap tap on the ice for a pass and the  skater just kept going into the zone because he had a clear path. I have seen this before where Quinn raps his stick on the ice and players ignore him. The only thing we would miss if he goes is that he is really good in shootouts. 

I think we all expect growth in players when they come back from off season. What bothers me is that sometimes players are who they are and if they don't improve you just have to unload them for something different. For the most part our returning players are exactly the same as they were when they skated off the ice last year.   

The way preseason is structured with incomplete rosters it is a challenge to make judgments on players. I'm going to be cautious in making player judgments before the season even starts. My preliminary disappointment is that I expected him after being plagued with injuries the past couple of seasons to show more spark even in the preseason. The real season starts soon so we should have a better grasp of what the real state of affairs is for this team. The unanswered question is whether the Sabres have reached the upswing stage yet. I simply don't know? That in itself is troubling.