GDT-Sabres @ Seattle Kraken, Dec 14 2025, 8pm MSG, ESPN+, WGR 550

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

Replaced by JK(K?) with all the slugs slotted up a notch? Not sure. I think they need a JOLT.

I would bet the players have a bigger issue with their fossilized coach.

Interesting question tho. Is the mini winning streak relief that change is coming, did the rumor provide a jolt of its own, did they feel bad about possibly costing someone his job, are they playing to save his job, or are they just a bunch of unthinking jocks who went and played three games and happened to win them?

I don't know.

[Taro T]

6 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Have they been elite the last 15 games? They've secured 60% of points. 100 points left on the table. 32+60=92. Maybe enough?

Last Dec. 15 the Sabres were 11-16-4 and in the midst of their losing streak. Also six points out, it felt insurmountable.

The record this year, the trend line, offer a bit more hope. A bit.

They haven't been elite.  They've been good, though the ugliness of the losses even in this good stretch  kind of obscures that.  IF they could stay good, it MIGHT be enough.  Problem is, we know that they'll have a couple more slumps along the way.  (And that's being optimistic.)  They need to find a reasonably long stretch of getting elite results - stretch this current 3 game streak to 7+ or if it ends this week, have a 5+ game win streak fairly soon.   Get to a point where you only need to stay consistent and find maybe another 4 game W streak or 2 to offset the couple more 3-4 game losing streaks they surely still have in them.

[Captain Caveman]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

like it's about ***** time?

[shrader]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

Whatever is going on, the players already know.  I don't know that there's any emotional response when it officially happens.

[PonyBoy2]

Not that I put money on it, but I called the road trip 3-3.

Said they would keep stringing us along. ✓

[Weave]

30 minutes ago, Taro T said:

They haven't been elite.  They've been good, though the ugliness of the losses even in this good stretch  kind of obscures that.  IF they could stay good, it MIGHT be enough.  Problem is, we know that they'll have a couple more slumps along the way.  (And that's being optimistic.)  They need to find a reasonably long stretch of getting elite results - stretch this current 3 game streak to 7+ or if it ends this week, have a 5+ game win streak fairly soon.   Get to a point where you only need to stay consistent and find maybe another 4 game W streak or 2 to offset the couple more 3-4 game losing streaks they surely still have in them.

And they need to do this as play around the league gets tighter and more intense.

This team has shown season after season that it can put up good performances for short stretches when there is no pressure, but never seems to rise up in pressure situations.  Its the hallmark of a skilled, but not very good team (if that makes sense).

Show me. I’m from Missouri.

[PickaPecaPickles]

A Litmus Test up next with the Flyers: will the Sabres let them out skate and out work them again?

[PASabreFan]

25 minutes ago, Weave said:

And they need to do this as play around the league gets tighter and more intense.

This team has shown season after season that it can put up good performances for short stretches when there is no pressure, but never seems to rise up in pressure situations.  Its the hallmark of a skilled, but not very good team (if that makes sense).

Show me. I’m from Missouri.

"This team" didn't exist before this season.

This is fun.

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

Have they been elite the last 15 games? They've secured 60% of points. 100 points left on the table. 32+60=92. Maybe enough?

Last Dec. 15 the Sabres were 11-16-4 and in the midst of their losing streak. Also six points out, it felt insurmountable.

The record this year, the trend line, offer a bit more hope. A bit.

Last year the Canadians were 11-16-3 on this date. They started the climb to the playoffs by routing us 6-1 in the next game. On the bright side it can be done, on the other hand we are still the same old Sabres until something changes. January is a very interesting month. All teams have compressed schedules. No time for practice or IR recovery. There will be movement in the standings because of it. Just hoping we are on the right side of it pre Olympic break.

[Jorcus]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

Depends on the player. Some of them got more from Adams than they were going to get anywhere else. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

They haven't been elite.  They've been good, though the ugliness of the losses even in this good stretch  kind of obscures that.  IF they could stay good, it MIGHT be enough.  Problem is, we know that they'll have a couple more slumps along the way.  (And that's being optimistic.)  They need to find a reasonably long stretch of getting elite results - stretch this current 3 game streak to 7+ or if it ends this week, have a 5+ game win streak fairly soon.   Get to a point where you only need to stay consistent and find maybe another 4 game W streak or 2 to offset the couple more 3-4 game losing streaks they surely still have in them.

 

36 minutes ago, Weave said:

And they need to do this as play around the league gets tighter and more intense.

This team has shown season after season that it can put up good performances for short stretches when there is no pressure, but never seems to rise up in pressure situations.  Its the hallmark of a skilled, but not very good team (if that makes sense).

Show me. I’m from Missouri.

One difference this year is no extended losing streaks. They have exactly 50 games left. .600 pace of play from here earns them 92 points, which might be enough. Win three (or 2-1-2) of every five is the pace.

[quill]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

If the GM gets ousted I doubt if there will be strong feelings either way. Maybe the players who hate it here will hope the new GM moves them. OTOH, if the coach gets ousted, I think some of them will jump for joy, while others will hate to see him go.

[RangerDave]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

If Adams gets moved out how do you think the players will feel?  

 

 

It depends on the player.  Some will be hopeful that things will turn around and the team will get better.  Some will be (should be) scared that they will be leaving town.  OTOH, maybe those players will be glad that they are leaving town?  Does a marginal player care about being on a winning team or not?

[Doohickie]

1 hour ago, Captain Caveman said:

like it's about ***** time?

It depends really.  He was the guy who selected these guys, either through draft, trade or signing.  Especially for the younger guys, he gave them their shot at the NHL.  They may be frustrated with the team's level of success, but do you think they blame Adams?  (It's not a rhetorical question; I really don't know.)  For some, they may have nothing but positive things to say about him; for others there may be frustration.  For instance, the goalies would have good reason to be frustrated.  The players shuffling up and down between the Sabres and Amerks might be okay with the NHL exposure they're getting, or are possibly frustrated they're not seeing more.  

I'm not sure it's a universal sentiment either way.

56 minutes ago, Weave said:

I’m from Missouri.

Why the heck are you hanging around a Sabres forum then?  😉 

[Taro T]

11 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

One difference this year is no extended losing streaks. They have exactly 50 games left. .600 pace of play from here earns them 92 points, which might be enough. Win three (or 2-1-2) of every five is the pace.

3 games, 3 games, 5 games, and 3 games.  Now, in that 2nd stretch they did pick up 3 points and in the 3rd they picked up 1.  But to have had 14 losses in only 32 games come in 4 bunches indicates that they are suffering frequent losing streaks.  

And they've only had 1 winning streak longer than 2 games and that's the one they're currently on.  Though that 3 game streak where they consistenly lost in OT WAS part of a 7 game point streak.

The margin for error for them is just so darn slim.  If Adams really is on his way out, that's why.  He never put together a team that didn't need a whole lot of things to go better than should likely be expected to happen.  

They aren't out.  And hopefully Adams getting ousted isn't the only thing that happens near term.

[Captain Caveman]

Any player that has a real problem with a GM who hasn't sniffed success in 6 years on the job probably shouldn't be here.

[Doohickie]

26 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

On the bright side it can be done

Cue up the Rich Strike Kentucky Derby clip....

The Sabres are here

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Captain Caveman said:

Any player that has a real problem with a GM who hasn't sniffed success in 6 years on the job probably shouldn't be here.

I have the opposite take. Any player who blames the GM when their own play leads to losses, is just shifting blame.

Edited 10 minutes ago by PromoTheRobot