B-U-F-F-A-L-O

Wait till you’re 60+…. All your finger injuries from the past cause your fingers and thumbs to lock up, ache, throb and generally become a nuisance… It’s pretty funny, a lot of 30 year olds talk of falling apart and/or 40 year olds…. Then you why old people are so weak, frozen and feeble…. My recommendation for everyone is to quit sports and take up social dancing and/or any other kind of non-dangerous Dancing… It is a win, win, win hobby with no negatives. I kinda always wanted to do that but never got around it…. Now I am not healthy enough…. I’ve got frisbee, walking and swimming left in my bag….Wondering if I can be gentle enough to reclaim stretching and yoga but not today I’ll tell ya that. Probably one of the biggest reasons I never started dancing was my hatred of most country music… I am a progressive rock lover and I’ll die a progressive rock lover…. Though I love many other types of music and even like Johnny cash, John Denver and probably others related to country music…. Though single or with a girl, look into dance to keep moving, appreciate music, be social, etc….

I have to stick with my beliefs on this team and Ruff…. Yes. We do have the talent, the grit and the desire to make the playoffs this year. They are doing a reverse Bills… Though they are doing to good of a job so far….Showing none of the 3 key points from above…. You can stop it now! Everyone is completely fooled….

No one knows. Ditto. Ditto. But what we do know - We have a lot of good vet leaders in: TNT, Dahlin, Tuch, Cozens, Zucker, McLeod, Greenie, Malenstyn, Lafferty, Kube, Clifton, UPL, Gilbert and Joker…. I really like that list! Isn’t it something that we have a vet team now? All of a sudden? We also happen to have many arriving great, young players ready to make their mark: JJP, Quinn, Bennie, Sammy, Byram, Krebs, OP, Levi, Plus, we have several players ready to make the jump to the big leagues, these kids could provide exceptional depth this year: Kulich, Rosen, Östlund, RYJO and Novikov….. Plus several who are one step behind those players: Helenius, Walberg, Neuchev, Poltapov, Komarov….. Am I missing someone? I know the Sabres are in one enviable spot right now…..We WILL have to trade players for picks very soon. I don’t think we want the big trade. One, because we don’t need it. All our lines are where they’re supposed to be that is our first line is a first line, etc…. And two, we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket by getting a star. We want to destroy teams with our relentless attack of four excellent lines….. I really think we make the playoff this year plus actually win at least one round,,,, KA did exactly what he said he would. Build a team through the draft and trades the long, sure way. We are loaded, men, enjoy the good times. They are here and are staying a long time as we are set up for years and years, imho…. Just gotta keep both KA and Forton. (And Ruff too, I think….I don’t know how much he was responsible for adding all the grit this offseason but they did such a great job. Every single one of their signings was gold! And almost everyone had grit. The one that didn’t is a shutdown center with blazing speed, so I’ll forgive them for that.) I think we look for more size and grit from here on out though…. Not like crazy, just more than we have been. We’re ready.

Have we though? I don’t know….Maybe in a lot of fans minds…. I really think this is the year. We actually have a real winning, HOF HC for the first time in ages. We are actually old enough as a team for the first time in ages. We actually have a complete team for the first time in ages. With four solid lines all knowing their roles and three stud pairs of D-men actually old enough to commit to the D. We have a unified team for the first time in ages. We actually have some depth for the first time in ages in Krebs, Gilbert and Bryson. And Rochester has more just about ready for the first time in ages in RYJO, Rosen, Kulich and Novikov….. We have an exciting goalie tandem for the first time in ages…. Looks good to me…. Go Sabres!

Tell me gets hurt and who doesn’t, then I’ll tell you….

They are absolutely on pK one…. But this is disturbing. This is supposed to pro hockey and that should never happen, not even once…Makes me think it is all just a show….

Yes. And he is absolutely going to remove all doubt this year. Getting JJP on his line will send JJP - TNT - Tuch over the top and will definitely be a top 15 line as well. Fans might like the #2 line more this year but it will be the #1 line taking the pressure off the #2 line….

Just to finish up about the bottom six….the bottom line…. I think they outscore who they are playing against. That’s winning hockey.

I think the 3rd line could be something not listed above. A great energy line that plays great defense and really frustrates the opposition and scores timely goals. A line that energizes the top two lines. I feel the same way about the fourth line. I think both lines take the majority of defensive F/Os and takes the “sail out of the wind.” - Hank Bullough We shouldn’t underestimate strong defensive play especially when it is also physical and fast. I think the Sabres will be one of the better defensive teams this year while the the first two lines score in bunches… But so much is riding on fixing that PP…. We simply have to fix it. If there is a big hole in the what we we did this offseason, it could be not fixing the PP…. I’m really hoping Quinn and JJ become stars this year. I think they both have it, especially Quinn. I fully expect TNT, Tuch and Cozens to return to form as well and a lot is riding on Benny to up his game too…. Not really worried about 5 x 5 ….Its the PP! Gotta fix the PP to at least the middle of the pack but if we can get even better than that, great things are going to happen.

I just completely and totally disagree with you. I think we got this. We have the players. I don’t see how no one thinks JJ and Jack can’t make huge jumps when Cozens, TNT and Tuch already did it. When you have much better linemates like JJ and Jack have now, it just makes a huge difference. When you are in a winning system with a proven winning coach, it makes just such a huge difference. When you have a complete team, like we have now with four good lines, Three good pairs, solid goalies and solid depth, with everyone working towards the same goal, it just makes a huge difference. I’m telling ya, they are going to bleed for eachother this year and they are going to make us all very proud. Go Sabres!

It is going to be a ton of fun starting this year…. You could add: Power, Byram, Benny, Quinn, Peterka and maybe even Cozens…. Lord knows we are young and we are on the rise! Go Sabres!

Yeah, I think RYJO probably has the highest probability of playing but I voted Rosen for two reasons. I think fans underestimate his game and I like the underdogs….and two, If he is real hot why wouldn’t we turn to Rosen (or Kulich) who project to the top six if they look like they could do it? PS - I’m hoping we see Gilbert some and that he brings some serious attitude with him…

The most important trade we can make is no trade. We absolutely have to wait for the right play, end of story. Also, we really might not need to make a trade at all. The kids are almost there; really and truthfully. If JJ, TNT and Tuch stay healthy we already have the #1 line we need. If Quinn can stay healthy and Benson improve in year two, I think we have the #2 line we need. I’m asking Benson for: 15g, 32a…. I think he can do it. I think Cozens could really rise, it’s really on the whole second line growing together which it should. It is also, of course, dependent on the first line being a successful 1st line. I think there is no telling how many goals Quinn might get if Benson takes a step forward, Cozens plays his game and if those two answer the call, they will make it way easier for Benson. Our top six has all hard working, two way players that will excel under Lindy Ruff. As far as Casey goes, I think how good he was grows by the day on this board. Sometimes he played really well, other times he’d frustrate the hell out of you. He’s afraid to take it downtown. He’s afraid to shoot which is maddening because he has a great shot and I can’t stand how you can set your watch knowing he’s gonna pull up and go to boards hoping someone comes along to do what he just passed down. I know hardly nothing about his replacement but I have a ton of faith in Lindy Ruff. Pretty sure he knows what he wants and if he wants McLeod get him McLeod. I was Sabre fan that posted over and over again that we need a lot of forwards and that we need a way better bottom six that can help support our skill in a lot of ways and that’s exactly what we’ve done. I feel certain the whole team is going to buy into what Lindy Ruff is selling and that our bottom six’s grit will be contagious. We are going to call ourselves the hardest working team in the NHL again this year and that’s what is going to turn this team around. i don’t think it was any one thing in particular, what it is is the perfect storm. 1. LR hired. 2. Rebuilt strong, fast gritty bottom six. 3. Nearly our entire getting old to really contribute sort of at once. Dahlin is probably old enough now to take over as captain. He is also old enough for his game to really mature and hit his prime. Power and Byram have enough experience now to take a big step. Plus they have Ruff and his vastly superior systems. They all know eachother finally. Everyone is integrated. We have real depth for the first time in RYJO, Gilbert and Bryson. We have very good partners for our three defensive stars in Joker, Sammy and CC…. Im telling you you can go thru the whole roster like this connecting it all and we never had close to this years and years…. From TNT to Krebs, Rousek, Rosen and Kulich on offense….

F*** Jeff Skinner. The guy is a hockey team poison. Benson, Rosen and Kulich are right at the cusp of taking his job anyway. It was an incredibly stupid signing by JBOT….. It’s time for KA’s kids to take over….We are going to play, smart, two-way hockey that wins in the NHL….

You tell us the 3rd line is a complete mystery then tell us what you think the 3rd line is… which is it? Krebs is part of depth. You’re not supposed to have zero depth like so many past Sabre configurations. Our depth could be the difference we need in making the playoffs this year. RYJO has a pro year under his belt. Gilbert is going to help and help us stand up for ourselves, Bryson just had his best year….Our defense is going to be super this year….We’ve never rally had depth on D…. On O we have the aforementioned Peyton Krebs who might be ready to help on O… I think this will be the 1st year that both Rosen and Kulich will be called up and ready to play. Ready to help the team win. Having both of them ready might be the key, we’ll see…. We also have Rousek who should hopefully be able to keep the bottom six going when injuries occur. Maybe even Helenius gets a taste? I think we are going to have real depth for the first time in forever…. The suffering is finally over…. We’re doin’ it! Go Sabres!