GDT: Panthers @ Sabres October 18 2025 @ 1PM, MSG-B, ESPN+, Fubo

[Dryballs]

I still say they need to trade Power. Hate to be negative after a win but passion can’t be done without!  I’m sure Owen is a nice boy and a very skilled athlete but look at the reaction after his goal. His teammates congratulate him but barely. This is because he plays with zero intensity! Trade his ass for a top 6 forward who loves the game too much not to have a bit of a snarl. We finally have a team that shows (Benson, Doan, Tucker among others) fire! … Trade him. He doesn’t belong. … 

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

You brought up Kozak. A few other post brought him up also.

Is there a growing opinion that he should be a permanent member of this team, and any chance anyone thinks he is anything other than a 4th liner?

When Kozak came up last year I thought it was a situation of convenience because he was waivers exempt at that time. Although he did not play that many games what impressed me was his NHL edge stats. He is a fast skater and a hard shooter. It's rare that you could find 7th round picks with that much raw ability. He certainly can get up and down the ice and will play in front of either goal. He is can be wreckless with his body which shows effort but also can lead to injury. He had a board crash today. He has not shown much offensive ability in any league so far but between injury and player roll it's still possible that its in there someplace. I like him quite a bit but there is a fair chance we may lose him if he goes back. I am not sure why he is not still waiver exempt. If he sticks around he might be a Krebs replacement next year. If everyone is healthy someone has to go, it will probably be him.

[inkman]

12 minutes ago, Dryballs said:

I still say they need to trade Power. Hate to be negative after a win but passion can’t be done without!  I’m sure Owen is a nice boy and a very skilled athlete but look at the reaction after his goal. His teammates congratulate him but barely. This is because he plays with zero intensity! Trade his ass for a top 6 forward who loves the game too much not to have a bit of a snarl. We finally have a team that shows (Benson, Doan, Tucker among others) fire! … Trade him. He doesn’t belong. … 

Weird timing. I have advocated trading him forever but he literally just played his most intense engaged game since joining the team. You just straight up don’t like him because he’s 6’6” and isn’t overly physical.  

[Goldseatsaud]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Injuries.  Tkachuk and Barkov for starters. 

Their still good

[bob_sauve28]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Doan is better than I expected.  He's doing pretty well for himself and that helps the team.  Benson, though, is the heart of the team right now.  I'm already looking ahead in my mind to the Sabres moving Tuch if he won't sign a long term deal, and maybe trading one or to of their other stars to shore up the build that's going on right now with Kulich, Benson, Doan, Krebs, Kozak, etc.

Looking at the D, I think once Kesselring is back, the defense will be largely set going forward for the next little bit.

But on the offense, watch for people like Tuch and Thompson to get moved.  When I watch the team it almost feels like they're outsiders now.

 

[Wyldnwoody44]

String maybe 4 of 5 games like these and that arena will come to life. There were definitely glimpses of it today, you can feel that we wanted to just erupt and get into it.. Cmon buffalo, you don't know what you have here. 

[thewookie1]

3 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

lol, you can't be serious equating Norris and Kesselring to Barkov and Tkachuk in terms of importance/value are you? You have to be joking.

It wouldn't be 1 for 1 but in regards to team impact we both lost our 1C. They lost a 1W we lost our 3/4D 

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Doan is better than I expected.  He's doing pretty well for himself and that helps the team.  Benson, though, is the heart of the team right now.  I'm already looking ahead in my mind to the Sabres moving Tuch if he won't sign a long term deal, and maybe trading one or to of their other stars to shore up the build that's going on right now with Kulich, Benson, Doan, Krebs, Kozak, etc.

Looking at the D, I think once Kesselring is back, the defense will be largely set going forward for the next little bit.

But on the offense, watch for people like Tuch and Thompson to get moved.  When I watch the team it almost feels like they're outsiders now.

Tuch hasn't been world beating but he has been improving since Game 1

Thompson always takes time to get going with goals; he was very active today and even threw his body around a few times. I'm concerned on Tuch's contractual future but to me Thompson isn't someone you touch, great contract and a great player.  

[Believer]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

Weird timing. I have advocated trading him forever but he literally just played his most intense engaged game since joining the team. You just straight up don’t like him because he’s 6’6” and isn’t overly physical.  

Power played physical today and with emotion.

Had a Panthers in a headlock from behind defending a teammate and was giving the Ref some lip leaving the ice between periods. Played a strong net game today clearing out bodies.

Been down on Power myself since he got here, but he showed me what kind of game he is capable of. 

Maybe he shed a skin and has grown his confidence and his game.

I want to see more of this guy who earned a Star today.

[Crusader1969]

Glad to see Power getting some accolades or at least not getting dumped on.  
much more confident and engaged this season.  
 

[Crusader1969]

2 hours ago, Dryballs said:

I still say they need to trade Power. Hate to be negative after a win but passion can’t be done without!  I’m sure Owen is a nice boy and a very skilled athlete but look at the reaction after his goal. His teammates congratulate him but barely. This is because he plays with zero intensity! Trade his ass for a top 6 forward who loves the game too much not to have a bit of a snarl. We finally have a team that shows (Benson, Doan, Tucker among others) fire! … Trade him. He doesn’t belong. … 

Oops.  Didn't see this post 

not sure how you finish watching this game and come away with that opinion 

 

[rickshaw]

5 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I haven't watched either of the last 2 games live. (saw most of last game on replay, haven't seen any of today's game yet)

But I'm looking for opinions here. Since Benson has been back, does anyone have a preference for who has been better....Benson or Doan?

When reading comments, I seem to read a lot of similar positives for both. Despite the stats, who appears to be better on the ice?

Benson. He’s so tenacious and sound in his own end. Also goes to the greasy areas. I love the kid. But Doan is such a likeable player and I prefer him to JJ. He’s interested, works hard as well and isn’t a soft perimeter player. Also, I like when a guy “seems” happy when he scores. JJ never seems to care too much. 

[DarthEbriate]

5 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Dahlin: I don't even know how we played those first three games. This is how we play from now on rest of season

What is UPL is ready? 

Personally, I send him down for an AHL conditioning assignment. He lasted one period in the preseason.

[triumph_communes]

Give Bensen a letter

[Huckleberry]

2 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

String maybe 4 of 5 games like these and that arena will come to life. There were definitely glimpses of it today, you can feel that we wanted to just erupt and get into it.. Cmon buffalo, you don't know what you have here. 

It came alive a bit today, also Lyon looks good guys, we are in the toughest division, but this team has more  heart and so do we

[Marty]

So many positives to take away from today’s game, such a pleasant shock!

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Dahlin doesn’t kill penalties 

That explains the lower minutes.  

5 hours ago, ExWNYer said:

He kills Brad Marchand's pride...

I thought it was fantastic.  Dahlin drills Marchand.  Marchand retaliates and get suckered into a minor penalty.  Then the helmet antics.  We score on the PP for the coup de gras.

In the post game interview I thought Dahlin answered questions on Marchand and this scrum with class and respect.   

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/rasmus-dahlin-postgame-vs-fla-6382981612112

He said this is the way they are going to play going forward.  

[Darryl Shannon's +/-]

1 hour ago, rickshaw said:

Benson. He’s so tenacious and sound in his own end. Also goes to the greasy areas. I love the kid. But Doan is such a likeable player and I prefer him to JJ. He’s interested, works hard as well and isn’t a soft perimeter player. Also, I like when a guy “seems” happy when he scores. JJ never seems to care too much. 

Benson seems to slow the game down when he has the puck and doan is an upgrade with 2 way and physical play.  If kesselring is legit, that's a nice haul 

Edited 4 hours ago by Darryl Shannon's +/-

[PromoTheRobot]

As of now Sabres have the 4th best power play and the #1 penalty kill in the NHL.

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Doan is better than I expected.  He's doing pretty well for himself and that helps the team.  Benson, though, is the heart of the team right now.  I'm already looking ahead in my mind to the Sabres moving Tuch if he won't sign a long term deal, and maybe trading one or to of their other stars to shore up the build that's going on right now with Kulich, Benson, Doan, Krebs, Kozak, etc.

Looking at the D, I think once Kesselring is back, the defense will be largely set going forward for the next little bit.

But on the offense, watch for people like Tuch and Thompson to get moved.  When I watch the team it almost feels like they're outsiders now.

Doan has been good and shows a lot of promise, lots of hockey left too.  Benson could emerge as a scorer this year.  He is creating, soon we will see more finishing.  

The Sabres should not move Tuch for not singing long term, they should prefer that add 3 or 4 years.  Tuch is a good player.  

The season is 5 games old and Thompson and Tuch are not outsiders.  

[PromoTheRobot]

Greenway is close to coming back. Kesselring is skating on his own. Norris was reported as 8 weeks out.  

[DarthEbriate]

6 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Doan is better than I expected.  He's doing pretty well for himself and that helps the team.  Benson, though, is the heart of the team right now.  I'm already looking ahead in my mind to the Sabres moving Tuch if he won't sign a long term deal, and maybe trading one or to of their other stars to shore up the build that's going on right now with Kulich, Benson, Doan, Krebs, Kozak, etc.

Looking at the D, I think once Kesselring is back, the defense will be largely set going forward for the next little bit.

But on the offense, watch for people like Tuch and Thompson to get moved.  When I watch the team it almost feels like they're outsiders now.

They finally got some hard-nosed two-way players (Benson, Zucker, and now Doan) to support the established top six scorers, including the only skater on the team capable of 45+ goals, and we're already looking to move on from the scorers already?

Do we want another perpetual rebuild?

[DarthEbriate]

7 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

They should bring up Rosen and stop this Geertsen crap. 

If you bring up Rosen you can bench Quinn. But I think 5 games is a little quick for a hook on a kid, give him 10 before you put him in the suite. We've seen Rosen in the NHL and... nothing. 

Geertsen didn't scare anyone today except the refs. And the status of the game -- close score, Florida constantly getting PPs -- they weren't going to entertain any fights from him. Maybe if it had gotten out of hand, but they're a savvy, well-coached team. Only Marchand ever lost his cool. But Greenway will take his spot on line 4 soon enough.

[GASabresIUFAN]

5 games in and we are all feeling better about the start.  0-3 w a -8 after 3 games has given way to 2-3 w a -1 after 5 games.  Benson coupled with Doan seems to have raised the team’s competitiveness.  Lyon is hanging in there in goal, the PK has been improved since game 1, while the PP was executed the last two games after a terrible start.  
 

I’m glad the team is showing some backbone and climbing out of the pit of despair.  Now go 4-1 in the next 5 and prove to the fans there is some there there.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

It wouldn't be 1 for 1 but in regards to team impact we both lost our 1C. They lost a 1W we lost our 3/4D 

Oh hell no. Barkov is the best 2 way center in the league. You don't replace that and they are not anywhere near the same team without him. 

Norris? Well it's hard to comment since he can't finish a game. He's basically just dead cap.