Straight Talk: 1st Line: what do Sabres really have on this roster?

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

It's a funny thing but there are always lots of good stats on Sabres teams but there we are, last place with the lowest win percentage in the east. 

It takes more than some improvement on defense to change the team.  Why are we still are the bottom? 
1. Terrible goaltending.  Below average save % overall and 5 in 5 illustrates that despite the improved defense, the goalies are allowing to many goals.  

2.  The offense is down year over year.  Last season we scored 3.28 goals per game, now we are at 2.96.  Injuries are a factor, but our shooting % has fallen from nearly 12% down to just over 10%.  

Our differential last season was -20 for the season.  We are already at -10 for 25 games.   With the goaltending worse and scoring down, this is a worse team than last year despite an incremental improvement on defense.  1 step forward two steps back.  

 

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Adams doesn't add to the top 6, he just switches it up. Cozens out for Norris. Peterka out for Doan. Even if these players are upgrades (no Norris jokes please) how much can 1 guy really do when we aren't talking about McDavid or MacKinnon? The one trade Kevyn Adams cannot and has not completed is trading X, Y, Z for an established top 6 player. Closest we have is Savoie for McLeod.

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

It takes more than some improvement on defense to change the team.  Why are we still are the bottom? 
1. Terrible goaltending.  Below average save % overall and 5 in 5 illustrates that despite the improved defense, the goalies are allowing to many goals.  

2.  The offense is down year over year.  Last season we scored 3.28 goals per game, now we are at 2.96.  Injuries are a factor, but our shooting % has fallen from nearly 12% down to just over 10%.  

Our differential last season was -20 for the season.  We are already at -10 for 25 games.   With the goaltending worse and scoring down, this is a worse team than last year despite an incremental improvement on defense.  1 step forward two steps back.  

 

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

Stats will never give you the answer. 

The difference between winning and losing always comes down to effort at key moment, discipline, good coaching decisions (and a good system), leadership to rise to the occasion, attention to detail so you don't make mistakes, and just the will to give it your all and get it done. None of that will show up in stats on zone time or shooting percentage or goals for or whatever. Those are just interesting overall assessments. What really matters is effort, and effort at key moments. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

18 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Stats will never give you the answer. 

The difference between winning and losing always comes down to effort at key moment, discipline, good coaching decisions (and a good system), leadership to rise to the occasion, attention to detail so you don't make mistakes, and just the will to give it your all and get it done. None of that will show up in stats on zone time or shooting percentage or goals for or whatever. Those are just interesting overall assessments. What really matters is effort, and effort at key moments. 

I think the stats are telling the story pretty well.  This team remains at the bottom of the standings because they don’t score enough and give up to many bad goals.  There are many factors that play into those stats such as coaching and roster construction, but in the end these stats are a reflection of our 3 mediocre goalies and the forwards lack of playmaking skills to create offense.   

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I think the stats are telling the story pretty well.  This team remains at the bottom of the standings because they don’t score enough and give up to many bad goals.  There are many factors that play into those stats such as coaching and roster construction, but in the end these stats are a reflection of our 3 mediocre goalies and the forwards lack of playmaking skills to create offense.   

Everything is interconnected though right? We scored a lot of goals one year there for Granato. Weren't we like 3rd or something? Anyway, they were a bad team. They can score in bunches but generally when they have done that it's wide open hockey with bad D. You have them playing D first the goal scoring goes down. That's pretty normal aside from the very very elite who can do both (and then win the cup). 

Would you not agree that for the first time in a long time the roster has the shape of a typical successful team? It is more balanced than it has been with more clearly defined roles. Far from perfect yet and I still think too many puck movers on D and not enough defenders but it's looking more and more like a real hockey team.

The thing that bugs me though is Adams is just content to let this evolve and take as long as it takes. The wealth of young forwards and extra bodies has me thinking armchair GM you can make a 2 for 1 move(s) to make this team even better and make it a real run for the playoffs. If he sits pat I see the real likelihood of another wasted opportunity. 

[LGR4GM]

22 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Stats will never give you the answer. 

The difference between winning and losing always comes down to effort at key moment, discipline, good coaching decisions (and a good system), leadership to rise to the occasion, attention to detail so you don't make mistakes, and just the will to give it your all and get it done. None of that will show up in stats on zone time or shooting percentage or goals for or whatever. Those are just interesting overall assessments. What really matters is effort, and effort at key moments. 

I mean, you didn't even list like 90% of the stats or what they do. There's a fundamental misunderstanding and a deliberate downplaying of what stats are for, by you. 

[JohnC]

On 11/29/2025 at 9:21 PM, Spoonman said:

So, what has KA put together for his NHL roster? 
 

Who would you keep & on what line (if we were a legitimate NHL club)?

I’ll start w 1st liners on this team: 

Forward:

1/ Tage

1/ Norris (if he ever gets & stays healthy?)

Defence:

1/ Dahls

Goal: 

1/ none

Thoughts? 

 

Samuelsson is play at a first pairing level. I would rather have Tage and Norris playing as centers. I don't care which is first or second line center. 

I consider Tuch more of a second line forward but acceptable playing on the first line. Benson is capable of playing as a first line forward. He will get better.

[Ctaeth]

22 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Stats will never give you the answer. 

Wild assertion.  Stats are literally numbers representing how the players performed on the ice 🤦