Now, do we believe?!

[PickaPecaPickles]

On 1/24/2026 at 8:57 AM, Taro T said:

The goaltending SHOULD be ok.  Yes, it could regress, and in '23 UPL turned back into a pumpkin after having looked very good for a significant period of time.  BUT this time they have 2 fallbacks, either of which could pick up slack, Ellis and Levi.  Should Lyon break or UPL break/falter; the other guy is still there and they have reasonable options to take the games that other guy needs to have a day off.

There's only about 4 more weeks of games to be played before they reach the trade deadline.  There won't be roster stress to trade Ellis the 1st 2 of those weeks, though there could be the final 2 that will be after the Olympic break.  Was convinced when Kekalainen got the promotion that the 3 headed monster would be gone by now; but injuries and success put the kibosh on that for now.  Could see the 3 headed monster remain all season and not get resolved until the off-season; especially because Ellis could always get sent down for a conditioning assignment in late March if he hasn't gotten any action by then letting the team run the very end of the stretch run with just 2 goalies and keeping him (and Levi) both ready to be the 2 if something makes that necessary.

The wildcard in that being, if Thomas does actually come here, would expect almost definitely expect Ellis to be part of the package going the other way.

We're all so tentative about GT given the history, but maybe the improved team D is helping stabilize it too? They are now tied for 6th in save % as a team at .906. Even Ellis is almost at 0.9.  It's a fairly solid group now, and as you note, even Levi getting ready.  

[DarthEbriate]

7 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Believe that's Davies; but wouldn't put money on it.

Found it.

It's 1/1/2022 - Skinner scores to make it 2-1 Sabres. Tuch would add a powerplay marker for the 3-1 lead going into the third. (And then Boston got Foligno, Hall, and Coyle with the OT winner). Sabres fell to 10-17-6 in the midst of a 6-game losing streak.

Which makes this #4... one Will Butcher. He gave the Sabres 2-6-8, -10, 16:29 min/game that season.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Yes.

/thread

[Taro T]

7 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Found it.

It's 1/1/2022 - Skinner scores to make it 2-1 Sabres. Tuch would add a powerplay marker for the 3-1 lead going into the third. (And then Boston got Foligno, Hall, and Coyle with the OT winner). Sabres fell to 10-17-6 in the midst of a 6-game losing streak.

Which makes this #4... one Will Butcher. He gave the Sabres 2-6-8, -10, 16:29 min/game that season.

50-50 shot.  D'oh!!!!

🍺

[ska-T Chitown]

13 hours ago, Sabres73 said:

Quinn has been playing pretty solid lately, particularly with some veteran support on his line. Sometimes young players develop at different paces. It would be a huge, huge mistake to trade this young, talented player at this point, and to mess with the team chemistry when we're on a historic roll. Bryson is depth and can stay in that roll or be part of a trade, I don't care either way.

I don't think anyone that still thinks this is the "same old Quinn" is watching the games. He is winning 50/50 board battles, controlling the puck on offense. He is back checking hard and playing his spot on D. He is on pace (knock on wood) to play all 82 games this year and score nearly 50 pts. Ditching a 50 pts winger that is beginning to find a decent resemblance to a two-way game at 24 years old for draft picks is preposterous and would show the rest of the team that effort and improvement is not rewarded. 

It is the interwebs, so I expect people to talk out of both sides of their mouths (keyboards?) (for the record, not you, 73), but the "we need less youth" people also tend to be the "trade Quinn and Greenway for picks!" people. Any game lately Quinn has probably shown more defense than JJP did all of last year (and I love me some JJP, was sad to see him go, and have eaten full crow over how awesome Doan is), maybe it is unfair to JJP since he never got to play with this group? But why trade a player that has bought in to the system, plays hard, and scores? From a team that has gone 18-3-1 in the last 22? Sillytown.

[Doohickie]

On 1/23/2026 at 8:38 AM, Spoonman said:

Now, do we believe?!

Believe?  No.  It will take more than what I've seen thus far.  Now, do I suspect?  Yes.  I suspect they might be a good team.

[Doohickie]

I looked at a few sites.  The Sabres have a 75-80% chance of making the playoffs.  If any team can lean into that 20-25%, it's the Buffalo Sabres.

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

I looked at a few sites.  The Sabres have a 75-80% chance of making the playoffs.  If any team can lean into that 20-25%, it's the Buffalo Sabres.

That team's gone already, chief.

[LGR4GM]

"Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded."

[Dr. Who]

2 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said:

I don't think anyone that still thinks this is the "same old Quinn" is watching the games. He is winning 50/50 board battles, controlling the puck on offense. He is back checking hard and playing his spot on D. He is on pace (knock on wood) to play all 82 games this year and score nearly 50 pts. Ditching a 50 pts winger that is beginning to find a decent resemblance to a two-way game at 24 years old for draft picks is preposterous and would show the rest of the team that effort and improvement is not rewarded. 

It is the interwebs, so I expect people to talk out of both sides of their mouths (keyboards?) (for the record, not you, 73), but the "we need less youth" people also tend to be the "trade Quinn and Greenway for picks!" people. Any game lately Quinn has probably shown more defense than JJP did all of last year (and I love me some JJP, was sad to see him go, and have eaten full crow over how awesome Doan is), maybe it is unfair to JJP since he never got to play with this group? But why trade a player that has bought in to the system, plays hard, and scores? From a team that has gone 18-3-1 in the last 22? Sillytown.

I'm only trading Quinn if he's a piece that brings back Robert Thomas.

[Spoonman]

On 1/23/2026 at 10:22 AM, LGR4GM said:

If Kekäläinen adds a substantial piece, I'll believe.

Off topic & Tech challenged:

How do you get the umlots on your phone!? 

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, Spoonman said:

Off topic & Tech challenged:

How do you get the umlots on your phone!? 

Just type Östlund like you normally would and the website autocorrects it to the fancy version.

[LGR4GM]

27 minutes ago, Spoonman said:

Off topic & Tech challenged:

How do you get the umlots on your phone!? 

Hold down the 'O' on your phone and it should give you a bunch of options. 

[Big Guava]

Got a hellacious schedule coming up for the next month and a half that will tell us exactly how real they are.

I'm guessing they pass the test.

[Shoot da Puck]

Maybe yes,maybe no

[GASabresIUFAN]

Someone mentioned up thread how well they have played in recent 10 game segments.  With 51 games  in the books here is how the entire season looks so far in those 10 game blocks.

1. 4-4-2 10pts

2. 3-5-2. 8 pts

3. 5-5-0 10pts

4. 9-1-0 18 pts

5. 7-2-1 15 pts

6. 1-0-0 2 pts

While the first 3 blocks weren’t great they weren’t putrid either.  The Sabres were basically playing hockey 500 level hockey.  The issue was the rest of the East was hot leaving the Sabres in a huge hole that they have managed to climb out of.  

To reach 100 pts they’ll have to go approximately 6-4 or 6-3-1 each of the 3 remaining 10 game blocks. 

Edited January 26 by GASabresIUFAN

[Archie Lee]

4 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Someone mentioned up thread how well they have played in recent 10 game segments.  With 51 games  in the books here is how the entire season looks so far in those 10 game blocks.

1. 4-4-2 10pts

2. 3-5-2. 8 pts

3. 5-5-0 10pts

4. 9-1-0 18 pts

5. 7-2-1 15 pts

6. 1-0-0 2 pts

While the first 3 blocks were great they weren’t putrid either.  The Sabres were basically playing hockey 500 level hockey.  The issue was the rest of the East was hot leaving the Sabres in a huge hole that they have managed to climb out of.  

To reach 100 pts they’ll have to go approximately 6-4 or 6-3-1 each of the 3 remaining 10 game blocks. 

I guess we could quibble over the word putrid. Through 30 games the Sabres were playing to a .466 points %, which would put them 15th in the current East standings and 27th overall. I guess we could say that they were not so putrid that a 10 game winning streak wouldn’t be enough to pull them into playoff contention. 

Edited January 26 by Archie Lee

[Doohickie]

20 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

That team's gone already, chief.

I want to believe you.  I do.

12 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Hold down the 'O' on your phone and it should give you a bunch of options. 

Or in Kekäläinen's case, the 'A'

[JP51]

Believe... No.  but it is better not to suck than to suck... it is better to be in contention than in the basement... but most of all it is better watch entertaining hockey than what we have seen for the past over decade...  gonna take a long while for me to shake that "the roof is gonna cave in" feeling... but I am certainly enjoying the ride post Adams... 

[Spoonman]

Now? Do we? 

[ska-T Chitown]

Now? Like right meow?

[Doohickie]

You ever hear to story about how long it took to take a wagon train across the continent that by the time you got there, none of the original people who set out were alive; it was a whole other generation that finally made it?

The Sabres rebuild has been like that.

[PerreaultForever]

On 1/26/2026 at 10:25 AM, JP51 said:

Believe... No.  but it is better not to suck than to suck... it is better to be in contention than in the basement... but most of all it is better watch entertaining hockey than what we have seen for the past over decade...  gonna take a long while for me to shake that "the roof is gonna cave in" feeling... but I am certainly enjoying the ride post Adams... 

Indeed. It's very simple. Winning is fun. Seeing a team play good winning hockey is even more fun. That's it. 

[Ogelthorpe]

29 games is an eternity when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres and unfortunately the whole division is on a heater. Not yet. 

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, Ogelthorpe said:

29 games is an eternity when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres and unfortunately the whole division is on a heater. Not yet. 

have to see if anybody gives up and becomes a seller. Things are looking grim for Toronto and Ottawa. They might both sell and drop off. Boston who knows. I couldn't figure them out at the start of the year and still can't. They could buy or sell. or both. Florida is there but the gap is pretty big. They will have to go on a serious run and they might not have that desire in them. Tampa, Detroit, Montreal all definitely in it so we have to beat them and keep winning to take one of those top 3 spots and thus not worry about the Metro wild card issues.