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Of course, unless one of the 'out of shape' guys was UPL and he was really, REALLY bad with it. And who were the players who came in 'out of shape' and it hurt the team early on? -Tage had 10 goals in his first 15 games and was a +6. Doesn't seem like he was dragging out there. -Dahlin was playing through an injury in the first few games, but once he worked through that, he had 13 points in 14 games in November and was a positive player also. -Peterka has 7 goals in his first 15 games. -Tuch had 4 goals and 12 points in his first 15. A SLIGHTLY slow start from him, but I don't think he looked slow out there or lacking effort. -Zucker or Greenway? Aren't those the 2 veteran guys that know better? -Mcleod had 4 goals in his first 15 games. He wasn't getting much ice time early in the year, was the because he was one of the guys 'out of shape'? He just came from the team that was in the cup finals. Through Thanksgiving the first month and a half of the season, this team had a winning record, they were in a playoff spot, They had 23 points in 21 games, a 90 point pace. If they were out of shape, why did they start the season 'relatively' good and then fall part NOT at the beginning of the season, but 2 months into it? I mean, you lost 5 of your first 6, but that was only 6 games and you recovered from that, things got bad much later. I'm not saying for sure they weren't out of shape, but I'm not 100% buying it...I think its more of an excuse to throw out there. And another thing, why the heck am I up at 4:30 in the morning posting this?

Addition by subtraction! They are actually going with that as the message, as the plan. look in the mirror: ask not what the sabres can do for you but what you can do for the sabres Or you are gone. i hope they are prepared for fan base crossover on that point

Come back in shape? Is that an acknowledgement that they showed up this year out of shape? So isn't that on Ruff? Where was the boot camp then to get them into shape? Blame it on Europe? It just sounds like similar bs to every other year. Lazy, spoiled bunch of losers. 14 years worth and counting.

Nothing better to do since no playoffs? You really think the Achilles explains everything with Quinn? I don't. Never have. First game I saw him in a Sabres uniform I thought I don't know about this guy. Seems like a lightweight afraid of contact. Can skate and shoot but he doesn't have the grit needed to be a good top 6 scorer. But whatever. He might still get it one day. He is young and could change, but right now I can't stand him. To me he represents everything wrong with this franchise.

I wouldn't sleep on Tage next season. I bet he comes out flying.

They pretty much can’t even suggest offseason workouts.

Look in the mirror. I heard from many players. A few Should be gone in a month.

Especially his reaction to the question about how was it to come to the "Oh Woe Is Me Buffalo Sabres" and he basically said to stop yer whinin'.

In large part they will run it back. But they CAN'T (they really can't, right?) be planning on having a team that if everything goes right then they could sneak into the playoffs; so they can't just run it back. Goaltending has to be set. It's possible that UPL will regain a year ago's January form; but even Adams doesn't seem to expect that. In that GR interview he said he really believes UPL CAN BE a top 15 goalie. Top 15 isn't where he was there (it was actually better than that; he was like top 5 when he was in his all too brief grove); but it seems telling that the GM views that as the ceiling he's willing to expect publicly. It's possible that Reimer can do what he did down the stretch; but expect the odds are better that some regular from this board ends up winning the Sabres alumni's 50-50 draw opening night. Levi still is likely the future, but can't believe Ruff will go along with gifting him the starter's role heading into camp. So, they pretty much have to either spend player/prospect capital on a guy that has been a top 15 (or more ideally top 10); or spend capspace on a FA that'll be more of a crapshoot. Personally would trade UPL in either a different deal or in the deal for that guy that is reasonably proven and bring in a Reimer to back him up with Levi biding his time 1 more year; or would trade Levi in that package (that one would hurt, personally) and pencil in UPL as the backup. Would do what it takes to get another top 6F in house (ideally a C, but a W can do) and would also bring in another Greenway caliber player. Would also finally get a partner to play with Power. They may see Bernard-Docker as that guy; but personally would rather see more of a vet for that role. Expect Byram and Peterka will be pieces going out the door to make some of these other moves that are necesary; but not happy about losing either (Byram because Power will probably take 1/2 a season to get even to where he was and it likely means that Samuelsson is back with Dahlin next year; and Peterka because he's fun to watch). Lines would be something like: Kulich - New Guy - Thompson Zucker - McLeod - Tuch Benson - Krebs - New Guy 2 Malenstyn - Lafferty - Kozak Spares - Norris (when in, bumps Kulich to 2nd Line and McLeod and Krebs each down 1 line with Lafferty or Kozak odd man out) and Greenway who bumps New Guy 2 to 4th line and Lafferty or Kozak out of the lineup) and because one of those 2 will almost always be out, normal spare is Quinn or a kid called up from Ra-cha-cha. Samuelsson - Dahlin Power - New Guy Bernard-Docker - Clifton Spare - Bryson (yuck) Maybe give New Guy to Dahlin and slide B-D to 2nd pairing and Muel to Clifton pairing with bottom 2 pairings effectively 2/3 interchangeably New Guy 3 Luukkonnen With all new assistant coaches who can actually implement a defensive system and run a PP that isn't bottom 5; is that enough to get into the dance?

WHEN HEALTHY, sure, it'd be fine to have Norris on the top line. You know, we know, Adams knows, and Ruff knows they can expect to have him for ~50 games but can't EXPECT him available for 1 game more than that. So, they need to enter the season with a guy they aren't just hopeful that he can be adequate in that role when Norris is out but expect that he can actually be good in that role when Norris is out. (And notice, not IF Norris is out, but WHEN Norris is out.) They'll probably get close to 120 games out of Norris and Greenway combined; but they HAVE to build a roster that doesn't NEED either of them in it to be effective. It'll be a challenge because those 2 combine for a lot of salary cap; but it isn't impossible. They'll have Benson, Kulich, and Krebs in the 12 and none of them will be making much and they'll also still have Malenstyn in the bottom 6 along with Lafferty (he can't be as bad next season as he was the 1st 75 this year, right?) and somebody else not making much money. And courtesy of Norris' 30 or so missed games and Greenway's 20+ missed there'll be a lot of opportunity to tap into LTIR should the need arise. Trade Byram for a top 6W or trade some package for a top 6C and then either sliding Thompson to C when Norris is out or having some combination of Kulich/McLeod the 2C when Norris is out and you'd likely be able to still have an effective F group as you'd have Tuch and Zucker also in your top 6 and sliding Benson into the 2nd line for 30-40 games should still leave you OK in the top 6 and other guys could slide into there for a couple of games (maybe you'll even get lucky and have Greenway available when Norris isn't available). Don't really want to trade Byram (especially with Power's early season quality of play in question) but they can't go into the season with Norris pencilled in as the 1C for 76 or so games. Past history says he won't get close to that many games in. Bring in another vet for the middle 6 via FA or via trade of a 2nd round pick and then figure out what to do with the last bottom 6 slot those games that Greenway will be out or somebody else is out and your're ok there.

Run it back but really anyone who thinks splurging on names makes a difference- look at Nashville. It ain’t. Let the kids grow

Low spending isn’t exactly correct to be honest; he does sign big contracts. That being said he isn’t exactly breaking out the bank either so I’m not entirely sure how to interpret it. Like a cheap owner is more akin to the Pirates in baseball who will trade away anyone looking for money and only signs cheap players and brings up youth. Pegula sort of falls in an odd category of being willing to spend on players but not always willing to go that extra step to make sure there’s success

Gotta say i like Zucker interview

Would be perfectly fine with giving Peca a shot on this staff if Ruff wants him here. He CAN'T be any worse than the bozos they've had working for Granato and Ruff the past 4 years. Would REALLY like to see them add 3 or 4 highly rated younger coaches with them knowing that one of them will be Ruff's replacement after the season. (And yes, know THAT won't happen; but they should be able to find at least one and likely 2 that would be significantly better than "heir apparent" Seth friggin' Appert.) Hoping they clean house. Believe it's possible they'll clean house. Will believe it'll actually happen when they tell us they've actually cleaned house. (And Adams has shown a willingness to do so in the past. Granted, it wasn't of staff he'd had a hand in bringing in; but he's been the architect of a rather deep house cleaning already. And personally, don't see Adams getting punted this off-season. But what a rush it would be if that expectation isn't correct.)

Because then it can’t be used as an excuse at season’s end get out of here with your iron-clad logic It can't be team mandated under the NHLPA contract, can it? They can voluntarily work out on their own but the team can't mandate it?

3 Questions: Is Robertson worth 10 to 12mil per, after next season? What were his contracts for the two UFAs Why was he dumb enough to have UPL and Levi as our goalies again when we’ve already seen that doesn’t work

But what players were 21 or 22 finesse players?

How about everybody but Tuch, Tucker, Dahlin, Malenstyn, McLeod, Peterka, Clifton, and Benson. Greenway, when he plays. I might be generous here with McLeod and Peterka. And Clifton and Greenway aren't anything special as players.

I don't believe the out of shape narrative. They have a crappy defense and bad goaltending. Being in shape isn't fixing that.

I'm old now, and forgetful, but I feel like something major happened that would change our Jack Quinn outlook. Ah well, my memory is my Achilles heel these days. Anyways, since they have nothing to do with taking Mrtka at 7 and drafting only D, not sure what point you're making here. Buffalo has drafted more D than F in the last few years. They've taken a goalie every year for 3yrs, they should again. They can take a D at 7, Smith is a good option. Idk what were even arguing about.

Just saw the Spin Doctors at the Seneca Casino in the Falls. Outstanding show. First saw them 34 years ago. Sound was perfect.

If your players don't feel the need to be in shape then you need new players. Period they are losers. Adams constructed this. Camps, check ins , chaperones, whatever... if the player doesn't care enough about his team, career and profession to come to work prepared. I can't help them... this excuse is the most damning indictment of this lazy country club.

Definitely the low spending is a significant contributor but I just don't think we've had someone in FA we have the opportunity to pay and I think we're way done over paying. For me this may be the best team we've had since the drought. Id have to give that more thought, to say definitively. Yet we suck. The youth part is just something we just know is there and I don't think it's crazy bad, because I've wanted mostly all of them to play for the Sabres.

5 minutes to go, still 2-0 TOR. Amerks 0-3 on the PP. ENG makes it 3-0 TOR with 1:50 left.

Honestly I no longer give a flying f**k who they draft but for the record I'm not overly thrilled with what they've done and how they draft in general. That grouping up there, despite the number of higher picks, is not filled with future NHLers imo. Now before you say I don't know what I'm talking about (you can go back and look) I said right away in the Kulich draft that he was the one that I liked the best and thought had real NHL potential. You also scoffed when I said 2 years ago I thought Peterka would be better than Quinn. I could go on but there's no point as you think you know everything about the draft. I draft a goalie EVERY year. EVERY single year at least one. You get too many good ones you trade them. It's just a process and a logic I subscribe to. You need that position to be solidified and strong or the rest is pointless. Trade for D now? Yes, absolutely, and I've said that many times. I want more Savoie/McLeod type deals not less. Veteran defensive D is a priority. Has been since we drafted Dahlin but we haven't done it. Just tinkered with bottom level guys like Clifton. But I also want that situation to end for the future. Defensemen generally take longer to develop and late bloomers are frequent and I want a flood of defensive prospects in that pool. We can score goals. We need defense. I personally like Mrtka better than Smith but if they went with you and chose Smith I wouldn't be unhappy either.