GDT: Sabres @ Avalanche, 9:00pm Nov. 13, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

Interesting to me, to see Dave Hakstol (two-time NHL HC, with 3 playoff seasons) as an assistant behind the Colorado bench. Hakstol did not coach last year after being fired by the Kraken. The Avalanche, coming off a one hundred point season, decided to upgrade their coaching staff.   

It’s not any one thing and it certainly isn’t the players in general. It’s the cumulative effect of dozens of poor decisions and choices that put the Sabres where they are. Competence is the only path out. 

You have to start at the top.  Adams has to go and the next guy needs to have full autonomy to run NHL hockey operations. 

Last night they were just completely outmanned.  Colorado has an elite team featuring several of the best players in the NHL against a bottom feeder that was forced to play minor league players. 

Lyon gave up 2 goals on 3 shots  and so did UPL, but luckily UPL's 3rd goal against was disallowed or that game was over after 1 period. The difference in how the teams play was obvious.  

It was good to see the Sabres claw back and tie it up at 3-3, only see UPL give up a very soft goal put put the Avs ahead to stay.  Colorado really dominated play in the 3rd period, it was just a matter of time.   

The Sabres Power Play not only failed them but it was a momentum killer. 

Why is Appert behind the bench?   Why does Ruff want this job?  Why did he agree to coach with this staff?   

How bad will it get?  The owner needs to do something, a major rebuild is upon us.  

Tuch is looking like the smartest man in the room.  

 

 

[Night Train]

5 wins. 

 

What a disgrace. 

[Broken Ankles]

9 hours ago, KC Scouts said:

When does it stop?……  My wife told me to turn it off 52 seconds into the game. She said “This is your signal that the game isn’t going to go well, turn it off or you’ll get upset” Why don’t I listen to her?

 

Because like all wives she’s wrong most of the time.  Start pretending you can’t hear.  Might frustrate her enough to stop offering constructive criticism. 

[DarthEbriate]

9 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

1-4-4 in their last 10.

What will be the result of the next 10 games?

Hey! That's not 10.

2-4-4 in their last 10. One win in their last nine.

3 hours ago, Shoot da Puck said:

I was watching Gunsmoke,  Festus was running the town while Matt is out doinking some broad named Mike. Matt has no memory cause he got hit in the head but his memory comes back later.

 

. 

Did Matt's memory return by being struck in the head a second time?

[DarthEbriate]

55 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

How bad will it get?  The owner needs to do something, a major rebuild is upon us.  

Tuch is looking like the smartest man in the room.  

Jarmo teaching Adams to play hardball with solid, if unspectacular, players would be a start. Rather than Okposo 1x3 and Girgensons 3x2.2 (not terrible) and 1x2.5 (bad -- he wasn't improving), Greenway for 4, etc.. It's an Adams Tax, not a Palm Trees and Taxes Tax.

The real question to me now are the prized RFAs: Benson, Doan. (Kesselring TBD). The former 2 are guys you can include in a long-term core and benefit greatly from. Still need the 1C and 1G, but they're worth paying. But will they want to be here or will they JJP their way free and get traded for 2027 RFAs?

 

Now, watch Tuch re-sign for 8x$7M once his agent is able to kick the signing bonus cash portion of the contract up a little higher to be a bit more buyout proof.

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Jarmo teaching Adams to play hardball with solid, if unspectacular, players would be a start. Rather than Okposo 1x3 and Girgensons 3x2.2 (not terrible) and 1x2.5 (bad -- he wasn't improving), Greenway for 4, etc.. It's an Adams Tax, not a Palm Trees and Taxes Tax.

The real question to me now are the prized RFAs: Benson, Doan. (Kesselring TBD). The former 2 are guys you can include in a long-term core and benefit greatly from. Still need the 1C and 1G, but they're worth paying. But will they want to be here or will they JJP their way free and get traded for 2027 RFAs?

 

Now, watch Tuch re-sign for 8x$7M once his agent is able to kick the signing bonus cash portion of the contract up a little higher to be a bit more buyout proof.

god no. 

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

You have to start at the top.  Adams has to go and the next guy needs to have full autonomy to run NHL hockey operations. 

Last night they were just completely outmanned.  Colorado has an elite team featuring several of the best players in the NHL against a bottom feeder that was forced to play minor league players. 

 

Outmanned.  Anyone 30 years old or under should still be in their prime.  That takes you back to the 2013 draft (13 drafts).  From that draft on, that should be the prime of your roster to make sure you aren't 'outmanned'.

Since then, the Sabres have had:

-2 #1 overall picks.

-4 total top #2 overall picks (including the 2 above)

-11 top 10 overall picks

-18 overall first round picks.

On top of that, 18 additional 2nd round picks, many of them at the top of the round.

How can you be outmanned against ANYONE with that opportunity, with that many 'kicks at the can'. 

 

How about the 13 years before that, when they made the playoffs often and that was with a team with unstable ownership that hardly ever spent any money?  The 13 years before that when they were much, much more successful they had:

-0 #1 overall picks.

-0 total top #2 overall picks

-1 top 10 overall picks (Vanek at #5)

-15 overall first round picks (many of them in the bottom half of the first round)

-Only 12 2nd round picks, very few at the top of the 2nd round.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by mjd1001

[clink]

8 hours ago, pi2000 said:

they need Benson, Norris and Zucker back

they're not deep enough to sniff .500 hockey missing arguably 2/3 of their their first line and half of their top 6

...and their captain 

Norris? Who's that 😁

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Pegula treats the Sabres as a tax write off.

Shades of that LA Clippers owner during their $hit years of the 1990s 

[Shoot da Puck]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

Hey! That's not 10.

2-4-4 in their last 10. One win in their last nine.

Did Matt's memory return by being struck in the head a second time?

No, he remembered he was sheriff and was sorry for the doinking and left

[Believer]

8 hours ago, pi2000 said:

they need Benson, Norris and Zucker back

they're not deep enough to sniff .500 hockey missing arguably 2/3 of their their first line and half of their top 6

...and their captain 

Norris is a bust.

[Believer]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

Outmanned.  Anyone 30 years old or under should still be in their prime.  That takes you back to the 2013 draft (13 drafts).  From that draft on, that should be the prime of your roster to make sure you aren't 'outmanned'.

Since then, the Sabres have had:

-2 #1 overall picks.

-4 total top #2 overall picks (including the 2 above)

-11 top 10 overall picks

-18 overall first round picks.

On top of that, 18 additional 2nd round picks, many of them at the top of the round.

How can you be outmanned against ANYONE with that opportunity, with that many 'kicks at the can'. 

 

How about the 13 years before that, when they made the playoffs often and that was with a team with unstable ownership that hardly ever spent any money?  The 13 years before that when they were much, much more successful they had:

-0 #1 overall picks.

-0 total top #2 overall picks

-1 top 10 overall picks (Vanek at #5)

-15 overall first round picks (many of them in the bottom half of the first round)

-Only 12 2nd round picks, very few at the top of the 2nd round.

 

Fire Adams, Pegula. You slug.

You disrespect your players and fans.

[Believer]

Stats last night tell the story.

Not winning Face offs, so not controlling the puck and missing opportunities to rush the O-zone or the net.

Not shooting the puck. Too many passes. Looking for pretty play. Can’t get rebounds if we don’t shoot.

Perimeter shooting instead of driving to the net. 

This is coaching failure. Game plan, PP, and in-game adjustments.

Ruff?? Appert??

 

[Crusader1969]

9 hours ago, pi2000 said:

they need Benson, Norris and Zucker back

they're not deep enough to sniff .500 hockey missing arguably 2/3 of their their first line and half of their top 6

...and their captain 

But if they are a .500 team at full strength is that good enough? 
 

 

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

Outmanned.  Anyone 30 years old or under should still be in their prime.  That takes you back to the 2013 draft (13 drafts).  From that draft on, that should be the prime of your roster to make sure you aren't 'outmanned'.

Since then, the Sabres have had:

-2 #1 overall picks.

-4 total top #2 overall picks (including the 2 above)

-11 top 10 overall picks

-18 overall first round picks.

On top of that, 18 additional 2nd round picks, many of them at the top of the round.

How can you be outmanned against ANYONE with that opportunity, with that many 'kicks at the can'. 

 

How about the 13 years before that, when they made the playoffs often and that was with a team with unstable ownership that hardly ever spent any money?  The 13 years before that when they were much, much more successful they had:

-0 #1 overall picks.

-0 total top #2 overall picks

-1 top 10 overall picks (Vanek at #5)

-15 overall first round picks (many of them in the bottom half of the first round)

-Only 12 2nd round picks, very few at the top of the 2nd round.

 

But no Stanley cups    At the end of the day, that's what's it's really about  

[msw2112]

This was another game that was mysteriously missing from my ESPN+ feed.  I was able to find, on ESPN+, the 1 1/2 minute highlight reel, and decided to watch that in lieu of watching the game.  Once again, they did me a favor.

[JP51]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

You have to start at the top.  Adams has to go and the next guy needs to have full autonomy to run NHL hockey operations. 

Last night they were just completely outmanned.  Colorado has an elite team featuring several of the best players in the NHL against a bottom feeder that was forced to play minor league players. 

Lyon gave up 2 goals on 3 shots  and so did UPL, but luckily UPL's 3rd goal against was disallowed or that game was over after 1 period. The difference in how the teams play was obvious.  

It was good to see the Sabres claw back and tie it up at 3-3, only see UPL give up a very soft goal put put the Avs ahead to stay.  Colorado really dominated play in the 3rd period, it was just a matter of time.   

The Sabres Power Play not only failed them but it was a momentum killer. 

Why is Appert behind the bench?   Why does Ruff want this job?  Why did he agree to coach with this staff?   

How bad will it get?  The owner needs to do something, a major rebuild is upon us.  

Tuch is looking like the smartest man in the room.  

 

 

Major rebuild... Thompson, Dahlin, Tuch, Power are not going to all stand for this much longer... there is no way out... our star players are going to defect, we will be unable to procure equal assets because of NMCs and we will get young players/prospect and picks... but no one who will immediately come in and make this team measurably better... there is no white knight only more pain... and starting over aaaaaaaaaagain.... 

[mjd1001]

9 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

 

But no Stanley cups    At the end of the day, that's what's it's really about  

That is the ultimate goal, but I can live without any cups.  For me sports are an entertainment product.....what I don't NEED is a cup...what I DO need is more nights where I am happy watching the team than I am upset, along with the thought that on any given year there is a CHANCE for a cup.

[JP51]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

Outmanned.  Anyone 30 years old or under should still be in their prime.  That takes you back to the 2013 draft (13 drafts).  From that draft on, that should be the prime of your roster to make sure you aren't 'outmanned'.

Since then, the Sabres have had:

-2 #1 overall picks.

-4 total top #2 overall picks (including the 2 above)

-11 top 10 overall picks

-18 overall first round picks.

On top of that, 18 additional 2nd round picks, many of them at the top of the round.

How can you be outmanned against ANYONE with that opportunity, with that many 'kicks at the can'. 

 

How about the 13 years before that, when they made the playoffs often and that was with a team with unstable ownership that hardly ever spent any money?  The 13 years before that when they were much, much more successful they had:

-0 #1 overall picks.

-0 total top #2 overall picks

-1 top 10 overall picks (Vanek at #5)

-15 overall first round picks (many of them in the bottom half of the first round)

-Only 12 2nd round picks, very few at the top of the 2nd round.

 

The abject ineptitude of this management is literally unparralleled... the they make the federal Government look like the bastion of practicality and efficiency... 

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, Believer said:

Fire Adams, Pegula. You slug.

You disrespect your players and fans.

There are few good explanations for Terry's inaction. Maybe the best one I can come up with is he's paying the fans back for booing him and Kim on RJ Night.

[Crusader1969]

40 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

That is the ultimate goal, but I can live without any cups.  For me sports are an entertainment product.....what I don't NEED is a cup...what I DO need is more nights where I am happy watching the team than I am upset, along with the thought that on any given year there is a CHANCE for a cup.

I think this is just where we are in the cycle.

It’s like being a Bills fan. During the 18-year drought, all we wanted was playoff football. When it finally happened, it felt amazing. But fast-forward to 2025, and now the expectation is the Super Bowl. Once you’ve had a taste of it, anything less feels like a disappointment.

It’s the same for Leafs fans—simply making the playoffs isn’t enough anymore. They need playoff wins. Eventually, hopefully, we’ll reach a point where the only thing that really matters is winning the Cup.

[Believer]

8 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

There are few good explanations for Terry's inaction. Maybe the best one I can come up with is he's paying the fans back for booing him and Kim on RJ Night.

Hmm. Punish the players and fans for a perceived personal slight? Geez, hope not. 

That would be an indictment on the Pegulas, especially given the Sabres focus on character.

More likely Pegula turned it over to Adams and his staff to build a contender six years ago, and is letting it play out given their contracts.

At least, I hope so. Adams and staff need to go.

[Spoonman]

4 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

Because like all wives she’s wrong most of the time.  Start pretending you can’t hear.  Might frustrate her enough to stop offering constructive criticism. 

No they tell you to go get hearing checked! 

[mjd1001]

19 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I think this is just where we are in the cycle.

It’s like being a Bills fan. During the 18-year drought, all we wanted was playoff football. When it finally happened, it felt amazing. But fast-forward to 2025, and now the expectation is the Super Bowl. Once you’ve had a taste of it, anything less feels like a disappointment.

It’s the same for Leafs fans—simply making the playoffs isn’t enough anymore. They need playoff wins. Eventually, hopefully, we’ll reach a point where the only thing that really matters is winning the Cup.

Good point.

I have always thought there are 2 ways to enjoy a season by one of your 'teams'.

1.) Win the championship.

2.) exceed expectations.

Falling short of expectations is very frustrating and not fun.  For me (and many other fans), a 95 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the first round) in a season you weren't expected to be in the playoffs....can be MUCH more enjoyable than a 105 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the 2nd round) when you were going into the season thinking you were a cup contender.