GDT: Avalanche @ Sabres, 12:30pm Oct. 13, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[DarthEbriate]

2 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

No, not like them at all. Well maybe a little bit like the reputation housley had. 

I'm talking about finding a team that's very successful... Looking at the assistant coaches.. And not just as a fan but as somebody close to hockey... Identifying and assisting coach who is exposed to a winning culture... And who has a reputation for working well with players, being a rising star, maybe instrumental in running one of the best penalty killing or power plays.

I don't know who that is... But you have 60 to 100 assistant coaches out there to choose from. Identify one, throw some money at them. 

I'm not a big fan of "old man hockey". If the team is going to fail, I'd rather have them fail looking toward what the game might be in the future, not trying to play how it was played 5 to 10 years ago.

I'm not sure you can hire another team's assistant coach in-season while under contract. There are probably some tampering issues with that. You probably could trade for them, though.

[Pimlach]

14 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Shouldn't the Sabres have the deepest roster depth out there in the minor leagues?  What/who have they been drafting in the top10 over the past 14 seasons or whatever.  Our minor league system should be overflowing with talent.  I don't even know what to say.  Florida has probably been trading their prospects for established NHL'ers for a few years now.

If only it worked that way.   Only a small percentage of players drafted by the NHL ever play a game. 

No, the Sabres AHL team is not filled with great prospects, but there are a few good ones.  Of the forwards Helenius and Östlund might be able to play middle 6 or even top 6 in the NHL someday.   

Most teams have several players (tweeners) in the AHL that they can call up, but how many make an impact?   So far the Sabers have called up Kozak and Dunne - they did ok on the 4th line but but we are looking for top 6.   Last season they called up Rosen and he had 1 assist and was -3 in 8 games and did not make any impact.  Kulich looked promising last season with 15 goals but so far has zero points.  

My point with Florida is that they signed Marchand or depth, and now with Barkov and Tkachuk out they will need him.  Name a similar move that the Sabres made under Adams?  

How many of Adams top picks are panning out?  Some are still to young, some look like they won't be impact players.  

[Phil Goyette]

Is Ken Hitchcock still alive?

 

How about Joel Quenneville?

[Night Train]

9 minutes ago, Phil Goyette said:

Is Ken Hitchcock still alive?

 

How about Joel Quenneville?

Phil Goyette !  I have that card ! 

Edited 3 hours ago by Night Train

[eman]

15 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

No, not like them at all. Well maybe a little bit like the reputation housley had. 

I'm talking about finding a team that's very successful... Looking at the assistant coaches.. And not just as a fan but as somebody close to hockey... Identifying and assisting coach who is exposed to a winning culture... And who has a reputation for working well with players, being a rising star, maybe instrumental in running one of the best penalty killing or power plays.

I don't know who that is... But you have 60 to 100 assistant coaches out there to choose from. Identify one, throw some money at them. 

I'm not a big fan of "old man hockey". If the team is going to fail, I'd rather have them fail looking toward what the game might be in the future, not trying to play how it was played 5 to 10 years ago.

and then there's Paul Maurice........ old school!

[mjd1001]

11 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I'm not sure you can hire another team's assistant coach in-season while under contract. There are probably some tampering issues with that. You probably could trade for them, though.

Then you trade for them or you wait until the off season. 

If that is the best thing to do long-term... In my opinion is that's the way I would go, I'm not going to pass up that just because I have to wait a few months.

[jad1]

9 minutes ago, Phil Goyette said:

Is Ken Hitchcock still alive?

 

How about Joel Quenneville?

Quenneville is coaching the Ducks.

I haven't heard from Hitchcock since he played the evil cop on Peaky Blinders.

[mjd1001]

2 minutes ago, eman said:

and then there's Paul Maurice........ old school!

With a lot of other advantages in Florida that do not exist in Buffalo.

2 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Then you trade for them or you wait until the off season. 

If that is the best thing to do long-term... In my opinion is that's the way I would go, I'm not going to pass up that just because I have to wait a few months.

Not all... For many of the mistakes his franchises made since pegula has taken over was because of shortcuts... Rushing things... Doing things for nostalgic reasons... Doing things because they're cheap... Or convenient. 

Most failed moves had at least one of those qualities... If not multiple ones.

[Sidc3000]

Tage can go ***** himself with this comment. 
 

 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I don't see the point. Just fire Ruff again. Fire Adams. Promote Jarmo and either Appert or Leone. Name Prospal HC in Rochester. They have to do something soon.

In a well run franchise? Sure, move on from Ruff.

In a Pegula lead franchise? Somebody needs to have have Terry's trust.

Pegula isn't throwing the keys to the car to a stranger. My $0.02 is that if you don't put somebody Terry trusts between him and the GM you're going to get a Forton/Appert pairing.

Ruff moving to Pegulas side is this teams best chance of turning this around (without selling the team).

Edit: Also, bring in Deboers.

Edited 3 hours ago by Mango

[Rasmus_]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

The problem is not just losing Peterka, it’s not replacing him.  

What we are seeing is a depleted top 6 over the past few years and now they can’t score   

When Skinner was released we didn’t replace his production.  When Quinn was hurt two years ago they didn’t replace his production, and when he came back he disappointed and looks like a shadow of what he was.   Cozens was replaced by Norris, until he wasn’t.  Peterka had not been replaced. 

Getting Benson back will help but even if he can score  20-23 goals it won’t replace all the losses.  
 

Contrast this with Florida.  They added Marchand.  Barkov is out, Tkachuk is out.  They are utilizing superior roster depth by playing Lundell and Bennett up one line AND they have Marchand.  They also have prospects to bring up and play in a winning environment, not in a desperate environment.   Marchand will prove to be a smart move.  
 

Adam’s has been consistently bad at evaluating his roster and adding veteran depth.  

3-1

Well said Pim, completely true.  We're doomed as long as we have the "trust the process" memento in place.  We're off to the races again.

[Night Train]

Oct. 13 and the season already looks like a wash. 

 

[Sidc3000]

Just now, Night Train said:

Oct. 13 and the season already looks like a wash. 

 

I’m done except for a planned trip to Raleigh and the year game my son takes me to in DC. 

[JP51]

Look let's face it i love the concept of fantasies for competent FO but what is gonna really happen.... the team will continue to lose its clear they are the same old lost uninspired lazy golfers that we have know for years... exactly like Adams and Pegula like it. They built it. Either Ruff will get fired first as the sacrificial lamb in the season or Adams and Ruff will go together towards the end or after as players start wanting trades out of here. Adams will make his horrible trades devoid us of talent and then he and Ruff will be gone. Adams will get promoted to POHO Ruff will hang with TP in his golf cart. Jarmo will be GM and Appert will be HC after going 2 for 256 on the PP... lol 😆  after an exhaustive search... and if you think what we are seeing sucks just wait until Dahlin, Tuch, Thompson etc... start demanding to leave and do so and we get pretty much fleeced... we have not seen the bottom yet folks 

[Scottysabres]

I had to look at the schedule again. There is a very real possibility the Sabres go 3 wins 24 loses for the first 3rd of the season. I see no reason to have any faith they can do better than 3 wins.

[Eleven]

24 minutes ago, Phil Goyette said:

Is Ken Hitchcock still alive?

 

How about Joel Quenneville?

 

16 minutes ago, Night Train said:

Phil Goyette !  I have that card ! 

 

Oh, the way Glenn Miller played,

Songs that made the Hit Parade,

Gee, oh George we had it made,

Those were the days....

 

The Sabres have tried younger coaches and GMs (on the latter count, right now).  I propose building a giant pyre at center ice, and setting everyone from the owner on down to the littlest arena mouse upon it.  Light it.  

[Porous Five Hole]

10 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

Tage can go ***** himself with this comment. 
 

 

He can go ***** himself? Bad take. Your best player (the only guy who scored today and the only C who would win a face off other than Danforth) is trying to stay positive…and that’s a bad thing?

Hey, I get it that we are all frustrated, but I’m not pissed he’s trying to keep it positive to the media. 

[Archie Lee]

52 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Not me. I don't want any of the retreads that aren't good enough to have a current job despite history. 

Find me someone up and coming again. I know housley kind of had that reputation but... This team needs a total blowing up and starting over and I want someone who's at least interesting... If not innovative and keeping up with League trends as a coach.

DeBoer will be back in the NHL when he wants to be. 

[Scottysabres]

17 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

Tage can go ***** himself with this comment. 
 

 

One of the responses on that post was hilarious, “philosophize winning” signed by a dead horse 😂

you can’t make this ***** up, it’s beyond comical at this point.

[SabresBillsFan]

15 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

I had to look at the schedule again. There is a very real possibility the Sabres go 3 wins 24 loses for the first 3rd of the season. I see no reason to have any faith they can do better than 3 wins.

If they don’t beat Ottawa next game I see their only chance is beating Columbus

[PASabreFan]

13 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

He can go ***** himself? Bad take. Your best player (the only guy who scored today and the only C who would win a face off other than Danforth) is trying to stay positive…and that’s a bad thing?

Hey, I get it that we are all frustrated, but I’m not pissed he’s trying to keep it positive to the media. 

He wasn't positive. He was a dick in that interview.

[JP51]

19 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

He can go ***** himself? Bad take. Your best player (the only guy who scored today and the only C who would win a face off other than Danforth) is trying to stay positive…and that’s a bad thing?

Hey, I get it that we are all frustrated, but I’m not pissed he’s trying to keep it positive to the media. 

As pissed as I am i agree... I dont want to see him caving after 3 games 

[darksabre]

32 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

Tage can go ***** himself with this comment. 
 

 

I've ventured this opinion previously, but I think there's a pervasive attitude among younger NHL players that as long as they show up, put up good stats, hit the gym, eat right, and do all of the other things that come with their job of being an NHL player, the games are only a small part of it and don't really matter that much. 

No point in getting upset about winning or losing. It's only about 20 hours worth of work...

[PromoTheRobot]

37 minutes ago, Mango said:

In a well run franchise? Sure, move on from Ruff.

In a Pegula lead franchise? Somebody needs to have have Terry's trust.

Pegula isn't throwing the keys to the car to a stranger. My $0.02 is that if you don't put somebody Terry trusts between him and the GM you're going to get a Forton/Appert pairing.

Ruff moving to Pegulas side is this teams best chance of turning this around (without selling the team).

Edit: Also, bring in Deboers.

Do you really think Mr. Let's-start-Geersten has a grip on rebuilding the Sabres? I'm not sure.

[Porous Five Hole]

11 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

He wasn't positive. He was a dick in that interview.

negativity breeds negativity