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 11 hours 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. 

[Pimlach]

14 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Wasn't Korab playing as a forward when we got him from Chicago?  Big heavy player really came into his own as a Sabre. Mean too. 

In more recent times Dustin Byfuglien reminded me of King Kong Korab. And wasn't it Rick Dudley that wanted him back on defense for Winnipeg? I think so but I might be remembering it wrong. If it was, maybe he was thinking of Korab as well. 

We don't need a Bryson. We could really use a Korab. 

Yes.  He was both D and F.  With the Sabres he pretty much played D and was paired with Schoeny. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Pimlach

[Goldseatsaud]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Yes.  He was both D and F.  With yge Sabres he pretty much played D and paired with Schoeny. 

I liked the pairing of #4 and 6 back in its day. The boards in the Aud were loud

[dudacek]

I thought overall a lot of the vets looked flat and the PK made Wilkes-Barre look like an NHL team.

But being preseason, I was mostly interested in what the new guys did.

Georgiev scares me. He looked like he’s thinking more about where his body parts should be than stopping the puck, if that makes any sense? Focused on process as opposed to the game.

Mrtka showed his age. His size and skill belongs, and his engagement seems excellent, but his ability to keep up mentally has declined as the speed of the game has increased toward NHL levels.

Timmins looked blandly competent. I think he’ll be a better 6 than Clifton, at least for this group.

I liked Johnson. Always loved his feet, but his battle was noticeably above his peers. He might be earning his shot. If one of the 6 is injured, playing Bryson ahead of him at this juncture makes no sense to me.

Kesselring’s a player. He wants to make a difference and he can.

Geertsen can keep up, which is important in his role. Don’t see anything else there yet so I hope he can actually chuck ‘em.

Not sure what else he brings, but Danforth seems like a tough little bastard for his size.

Looked to me like Doan got benched for the shift after his early penalty. He hunts pucks, locks into his man on the backcheck and moves the puck smartly. Type of guy you like on your line.

Norris isn’t really a perimeter guy but he’s kinda flowing through the cracks all the time, more purpose than passion maybe? Got some smarts and some skill. He seems a lot more competent than Cozens.

Edited 1 hour ago by dudacek