Sabres recall Noah Ostund and Zac Jones

[That Aud Smell]

23 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's so important to point out that Geertsen is useless and one of Ruffs mistakes. 

there are mistakes -- and then there's rostering an ECHL-skill-level meathead who other teams' tough guys mostly laugh at. when the guy dresses, the Sabres functionally lack a 4th line.

[Drag0nDan]

16 hours ago, inkman said:

Krebs would be my choice.  

Agreed.  I feel like thats probably where he should fit, a 4th line player with enough skill to play up the lineup in a pinch.  Not sure who's projecting to kill penalties on the 2nd pair either, but it might end up being him and Kozak. Considering - Greenway, Malenstyn, Danforth, hell even norris are all out.  

The fact that it was Östlund not Rosen to me indicates that they wanted a center.  We'll see though, wouldn't shock me in the slightest to see him as a wing on a line with Geertson and Kozak.  

[inkman]

37 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

Agreed.  I feel like thats probably where he should fit, a 4th line player with enough skill to play up the lineup in a pinch.  Not sure who's projecting to kill penalties on the 2nd pair either, but it might end up being him and Kozak. Considering - Greenway, Malenstyn, Danforth, hell even norris are all out.  

The fact that it was Östlund not Rosen to me indicates that they wanted a center.  We'll see though, wouldn't shock me in the slightest to see him as a wing on a line with Geertson and Kozak.  

I’m not a big Isak fan but you gotta feel for the dude. He’s put in the time, he’s lighting up the AHL.  Maybe they’ve seen enough to know he’s not what they need.  

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, inkman said:

I’m not a big Isak fan but you gotta feel for the dude. He’s put in the time, he’s lighting up the AHL.  Maybe they’ve seen enough to know he’s not what they need.  

Then they should package and trade him. It's another Adams can't GM thing. 

Here's a question though... would Rosen give them more than Quinn on the ice? What's Quinns trade value?

Edited 4 hours ago by LGR4GM

[tom webster]

A couple of things in Rosen.

 

1) all his points are on the power play

2) history is full off AHL stars who couldn’t translate it to the NHL. If he can mimic VO and turn his defensive game into an asset, he has a shot, otherwise he’s Jody Gage.

3) do you really think the coaches would purposefully keep a player down if they thought that player would help them win?

[Ctaeth]

19 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Then they should package and trade him. It's another Adams can't GM thing. 

Here's a question though... would Rosen give them more than Quinn on the ice? What's Quinns trade value?

Rosen has never been worth much as a trade chip.  He has developed slowly but steadily, which really doesn't amount to excitement/trade value.  If he is actually breaking out this year (tbd), I would argue that management actually played this right by never moving him. Chances are if they traded him... they would have gotten back a similar poorly performing prospect that wouldn't have amounted to much.  Or he would've just been a throw in for a larger trade.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

24 minutes ago, tom webster said:

3) do you really think the coaches would purposefully keep a player down if they thought that player would help them win?

1st your assuming this organization is trying to win. They aren’t.  If they were, we’d have better goaltending, better D and guys like Danforth, Geertsen, Malenstyn, Bryson, Johnson, and UPL and Georgiev wouldn’t be on or near the NHL roster.

GMs often leave “better” players in the A in favor of more experienced players.  GMs invest in players, such as Quinn, and then have a hard time admitting they were wrong.  Do you really feel like Byrson is the 7th best D in this organization?  I’d take Jones, Novikov, Komoarov, Johnson and Metsa over Bryson, yet somehow Bryson remains a Sabre.  

Sometimes waivers exemption keep players up or down as well.  Is Ellis the 2nd or 3rd best goalie in the organization? Possibly, but he’s never played an NHL game but since he is not waiver exempt he remains in Buffalo as Adams is afraid they’ll lose him if sent down.  Levi is waiver exempt and was sent down without being given a real shot at the roster. 

I think your real question is are the Sabres leaving guys in Rochester right now would could help the Sabres win now and if so, why? 

Edited 3 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[tom webster]

3 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

1st your assuming this organization is trying to win. They aren’t.  If they were, we’d have better goaltending, better D and guys like Danforth, Geertsen, Malenstyn, Bryson, Johnson, and UPL and Georgiev wouldn’t be on or near the NHL roster.

GMs often leave “better” players in the A in favor of more experienced players.  GMs invest in players, such as Quinn, and then have a hard time admitting they were wrong.  Do you really feel like Byrson is the 7th best D in this organization?  I’d take Jones, Novikov, Komoarov, Johnson and Metsa over Bryson, yet somehow Bryson remains a Sabre.  

Sometimes waivers exemption keep players up or down as well.  Is Ellis the 2nd or 3rd best goalie in the organization? Possibly, but he’s never played an NHL game but since he is not waiver exempt he remains in Buffalo as Adams is afraid they’ll lose him if sent down.  Levi is waiver exempt and was sent down without being given a real shot at the roster. 

I never said best players, I said players that can help them win and you gave all the reasons I would for why Rosen isn’t up. 

They aren’t building a fantasy team. Rosen only helps if he’s good enough to crack the top 6.

As for Bryson, while I think a couple of those guys might be better, there is no proof of that. I like Johnson but he hasn’t played better when given the chance. The others are all maybes and the two Russians are definitely better off waiting to find out.
 

Waiver exemptions or not, if the team thought any player would help them win over another, that player would be up.

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

there are mistakes -- and then there's rostering an ECHL-skill-level meathead who other teams' tough guys mostly laugh at. when the guy dresses, the Sabres functionally lack a 4th line.

Injuries aside, between Krebs or Kozak and Malenstyn/Greenway/Danforth they can make a good enough fourth line.  

The first and second lines are the ones that are suspect.  

Edited 3 hours ago by Pimlach

[DarthEbriate]

3 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Between Krebs or Kozak and Malenstyn/Greenway/Danforth they can make a good enough fourth line.  

The issue being that only Krebs and Kozak are currently healthy (unless Greenway dresses tonight).

[GASabresIUFAN]

3 minutes ago, tom webster said:

I never said best players, I said players that can help them win and you gave all the reasons I would for why Rosen isn’t up. 

They aren’t building a fantasy team. Rosen only helps if he’s good enough to crack the top 6.

As for Bryson, while I think a couple of those guys might be better, there is no proof of that. I like Johnson but he hasn’t played better when given the chance. The others are all maybes and the two Russians are definitely better off waiting to find out.
 

Waiver exemptions or not, if the team thought any player would help them win over another, that player would be up.

The problem is if you don’t give Komarov and Novikov a chance in the NHL, you’ll never know if they can hack it.  I think both should be given a shot sooner then later.  They add attributes that could help us win over Bryson, who know will never help us win. 
 

As to Rosen, I think he can help in the top 9.  I disagree that he has to be played in the top 6, especially if he is responsible defensively.  

[DarthEbriate]

7 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

Malenstyn on IR per Puckpedia.com 

Blergh. He's been good on the PK with Kozak.

[inkman]

On 10/18/2025 at 4:08 PM, PerreaultForever said:

I know some people are going to scoff at this, but I think Geertson has to stay in the line up. At least for now. It's not that he's any good. He isn't. He's a big dummy. But he's our big dummy and the philosophy holds true in that other players play bigger and more aggressive knowing he is there. Probably the best I've seen Malentstyn be since he got here. Initiating and throwing his weight. I am sure he is more comfortable doing that knowing he doesn't have to match up with the heavy weight should things go that way. Everybody played bigger, and it matters, a lot. In time, as they learn they can all be this all the time they might no longer need him every night, but for now, it matters.

Doan plays net front the right way and is something we have also been missing so perhaps that's an integral ingredient going forward as well. 

Obviously, if Lyon isn't playing this way and the PK isn't as good as it was this game could have been very different but that just illustrates the historical flaw of not emphasizing goaltending as a priority. If the goaltending holds up like this there is hope. Kitties aren't the team they were at the moment and they took full advantage of that. Not being intimidated and fighting through anything kitties tried. Watching Marchand lose his s**t is always hilarious.

Overall this was real hockey. Complete hockey. Balanced offensive and defensive hockey and thus winning hockey. I'm not going to jump on a bandwagon because I've seen these moments before and seen them disappear as well so we shall watch and see, but if they keep playing like this they might just turn this around.

Only downside to this would be it means Adams will get an extension rather than the pink slip he deserves. 

 

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

It's so important to point out that Geertsen is useless and one of Ruffs mistakes. 

 

2 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

there are mistakes -- and then there's rostering an ECHL-skill-level meathead who other teams' tough guys mostly laugh at. when the guy dresses, the Sabres functionally lack a 4th line.

It’s probably coincidence and not causation but the boys played tough Saturday. Maybe it had nothing to do with Geertsen but I’d like to see if it’s a thing. He’s not good at hockey buts he’s a big boy that knows his role.  Maybe it makes the Quinn’s and Power’s of the lineup more confident to stand up for themselves and their teammates. Something is different. Not sure if it’s Doan, Timmons or some of the other new guys but they are sticking up for each other like we haven’t seen in a long time.  

[tom webster]

8 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The problem is if you don’t give Komarov and Novikov a chance in the NHL, you’ll never know if they can hack it.  I think both should be given a shot sooner then later.  They add attributes that could help us win over Bryson, who know will never help us win. 
 

As to Rosen, I think he can help in the top 9.  I disagree that he has to be played in the top 6, especially if he is responsible defensively.  

I agree with the second paragraph with that caveat. 

[LGR4GM]

20 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

 

It’s probably coincidence and not causation but the boys played tough Saturday. Maybe it had nothing to do with Geertsen but I’d like to see if it’s a thing. He’s not good at hockey buts he’s a big boy that knows his role.  Maybe it makes the Quinn’s and Power’s of the lineup more confident to stand up for themselves and their teammates. Something is different. Not sure if it’s Doan, Timmons or some of the other new guys but they are sticking up for each other like we haven’t seen in a long time.  

It's not a thing. He was a useless plug with no ice time who Florida ignored. He has no role, he's a joke. 

[DarthEbriate]

13 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's not a thing. He was a useless plug with no ice time who Florida ignored. He has no role, he's a joke. 

Maybe he gives them some sort of placebo effect. But yes, against Florida it was meaningless because it was a close game they were trying to get back into.

Where he could be of use is in Rochester so Mrtka doesn't have to take cheapshots from guys 5 years older than him just because he's tall.

[Dryballs]

18 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's not a thing. He was a useless plug with no ice time who Florida ignored. He has no role, he's a joke. 

For several seasons, we have watched the Sabres be intimidated, pushed around and abused. It’s been pretty hard to watch at times. Any component they can add to prevent this and help change the “soft” persona, has to be added regardless of skill level. If Geertsen plays only four minutes and it toughens up the entire teams mindset, do it!

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, Dryballs said:

For several seasons, we have watched the Sabres be intimidated, pushed around and abused. It’s been pretty hard to watch at times. Any component they can add to prevent this and help change the “soft” persona, has to be added regardless of skill level. If Geertsen plays only four minutes and it toughens up the entire teams mindset, do it!

He doesn't. This theory is nonsense. 

No one and I mean NO ONE, is afraid of Geertsen. 

[inkman]

15 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

He doesn't. This theory is nonsense. 

No one and I mean NO ONE, is afraid of Geertsen. 

I mostly agree with everything you are saying but the boys are playing different. Not sure what the reason is. 

[Dryballs]

22 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

He doesn't. This theory is nonsense. 

No one and I mean NO ONE, is afraid of Geertsen. 

I’m not saying that opponents are afraid of Geertsen but  I do feel that he contributes to the collective psyche of a team that has needed some balls for a long time. Guys like him are important to have in your room. Helps other guys play tougher. Sports psyc 101. Call it “nonsense” if you wanna but it’s not. 

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, inkman said:

I mostly agree with everything you are saying but the boys are playing different. Not sure what the reason is. 

Zach Benson. Alex Lyon. Josh Doan.

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Dryballs said:

I’m not saying that opponents are afraid of Geertsen but  I do feel that he contributes to the collective psyche of a team that has needed some balls for a long time. Guys like him are important to have in your room. Helps other guys play tougher. Sports psyc 101. Call it “nonsense” if you wanna but it’s not. 

It's nonsense. Benson and Doan are the ones. 

Geertsen is the Kassian, Scott, Dalton Smith of 2025. You could cut him immediately and it wouldn't matter. 

[Jorcus]

23 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It's nonsense. Benson and Doan are the ones. 

Geertsen is the Kassian, Scott, Dalton Smith of 2025. You could cut him immediately and it wouldn't matter. 

Who gets to fight Xhekaj if the need comes up?

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Jorcus said:

Who gets to fight Xhekaj if the need comes up?

Östlund. Throw a few wild punches, then go for the turtle hug and let the linemen jump in. It'll be fine.