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

Everything you say is true but at the same time Mario Lemieux isn’t Mario Lemieux if he isn’t 6’4” 235#…. You have to draft considering so much but fight in the dog is more important than size but ideally you come up with a few guys on your team that have both. I still remember one playoff matchup with Lemieux and we just could not keep him from doing what he does. He made our kind of tough, kind of big D-men look like little kids. It was so embarrassing….😳….. Jay McKee ran him (Warrener was already out hurt) to blindside him and McKee tripped on the way to him, fell awkwardly and on his way down, glanced Mario’s jersey with his stick and Mario turns around, looks, sees McKee on the ground, looks quizzical, then skates away…. Im really liking what the Sabres have done this year with: Free Agency, the draft, and especially knowing all of very young player are now one year older, a little stronger and a little more experienced. I’m very happy to be a Sabres fan at this time. I think the suffering is over and we crawl out of the basement this year and stay there. I really do. However, I’m still waiting for Buffalo’s Mario Lemieux…. On the plus side, I really do believe that should a great forward become available, there’s a real good chance Buffalo gets him. Although if Ottawa gets rid of Tkachuk we may be already out the running just by being in the same division. But we are definitely trying and ready to pull off a four or three for one trade I think. Maybe even a two for one…. Say Power and Kulich for a truly great forward to make our #1 line truly elite. But it could be their looking to trade three forwards for one? Perhaps Kulich, Rosen and Helenius for a top premium forward in his prime? If there’s one worth it, I don’t even know….Anybody in the West out there maybe on the block soon that might be worth it?

Yes, but it looks like he is definitely listening to Ruff…. And this draft the top two forwards taken (Helenius and Zeimer) are known as fighters for the puck and players that go to the net (ie - they play with grit) Plus the rebuilt bottom lines are going to help immensely…. I sure hope the author of this post is right about Benson and Quinn. They are extremely key players for us this season. I think Quinn needs to get stronger as to avoid injuries better as does Benson as he becomes better at everything. It sez right here if both players do fine this year, the Sabres are in the playoffs. Both have tremendous skill. One is very young. The other is young and needs to not get injured. If Benson grows his game and Quinn stays healthy I see Quinn approaching 40 goals. I see Benson getting 15g and 32a….easy. Cozens will, of course, also have a great season and a bounce back season as a result… I have faith in the first line. The third and 4th lines to do their jobs. I love what the D could be this year. With the D making a nice jump, the 3rd and 4th lines doing the yeoman’s work, I see our goalies really exploding onto the scene. But that very young 3rd line must prove to be scorers and solid two-way players with a healthy degree of consistency for everything to click together…. It all really works together. Everyone has to do their job. And I’d it’s Kulich and Rosen’s job this year (if no trades are made) to back up that top six….So they have to gain some real muscle and find more consistency (but it is also around time they did just that) so I think they have a really decent shot at doing just that… Because there will be injuries…. It’s part of learning process this season too…. Learning to play thru injuries in every respect. To play and play well with pain. And if they can’t go, the kids come in expecting to score and to not bring down the line. Plus the linemates playing must not letdown with someone out. Do their jobs. I think Lindy will make things clearer and clearer for everyone as the year goes on. i think we’re ready to learn a lot this year and will. I think we have a playoff team right now (if Benny and Jack can make those leaps!) For me, I see it all coming together…

But I really think it is over now….. Either the Sabres are going to be part of massive trade that lands the Sabres another first liner who can lead and push us to the top or our kids simply take over and we become a deep, relentless team. Right now we have: a legit first line. A legit second line if Benson can answer the call. A legit third line. A legit fourth line. The top six will return to form because they will be able to concentrate on offense taking much more offensive F/Os and much less defensive F/Os. Plus they be concentrating on the PP and the PK. This will give them way more energy for offense plus the back six will support them in many ways and they never had that before. The defense is another year older, Dahlin could become a superstar this year while both Power and Byram could bloom. Sammy might stay healthy and our depth is way better than ever before. This is also the first year the goaltending looks extremely bright. It also looks very deep. We have a HOF HC for the first time since LR left. I don’t know why fans cannot see all of this. The writing is on the wall. All we need is health and a little luck and we are in the playoffs this year. And we are locked and loaded and just waiting to pull off a huge deal. Just waiting for it to become available. I think it happens, maybe as early as this summer. Certainly by next year around this time. Health and a pinch of luck, that’s it…. I think Benson stands a good chance of raising his game considerably because A) we have a lot of talent all over this team not only to help him but also take away any teams thought of taking him out. B) He has really good linemates to work with. This is also just huge. And I think two big goal scorers like Cozens and Quinn are the perfect compliments to his game. All three will absolutely buy into LR’s game plan and play two-way hockey. Again, getting two brand new bottom lines is exactly what we needed. Much needed grit to bond this team together is also huge. The D-man and the goalie are going to have their moments as well…And all the new players are going to rub off on our new team along with their new coach. Can’t you see it???

36g - 35a = 71 pts…. Plus 9 on the season*. * - If the line of: Benson - Cozens - Quinn stays relatively healthy** ** - If the line of: JJ - TNT - Tuch stays relatively healthy*** *** - Or Kulich and/or Rosen matures this year, ie gains muscle, and they can show in Rochester that their ready to fill in and do just that**** ****- I can’t help it, it’s all connected…But that’s your winning top six right there***** *****- And: Zucker - McLeod is a NHL winning 3rd line****** ****** - And: Malenstyn - Lafferty - Kube - Is a winning 4th line.******* ******* - Blah, blah, blah, our defense kicks ass.******** ********- Our goaltending too…. We’re in the playoffs, baby!

I think there’s a good chance to hit all of them…. Re: the 3 or 4 wingers, I think IF the top stays healthy they hit it. I guess that’s a big if though… but I think it is the only things stopping JJ, TNT, Tuch, Cozens and Quinn from crossing the 25g barrier; injuries. I might add that Benson must also stay healthy or at least Benson and Zucker together but I like Benson better in that #2 LW role….I guess Kulich or Rosen could really mature between the end of the Amerks season and say.… November, and they might be ready to help quite a bit, IDK though…. The last one is tough, but if the kids are working out hard and getting stronger, their odds of getting an injury go down…. I hope they are….But the point I wanted to make is that we are in our prime or haven’t hit it on everybody but Zucker I guess. So our odds of getting hurt should be better than most teams we are facing. Though young guys tend to get hurt it seems… Or, at least, our young guys? LOL! IDK? I do know that Quinn is a big deal for the Sabres. He stays healthy and we are a way better team, imho….. I even think it’s possible, if everyone stays healthy, that Quinn ends leading the team in 5 x 5 play. He might even lead the team period, if he makes the PP1 squad. We’ll see if they give him a look. If they do, he stands a good chance of staying I think. He really can score from a lot of places I think. He’s definitely a goal scorer…a big time one I think. If Benson can take a nice little jump and he starts creating from that LW spot, both Cozens and Quinn will benefit greatly. I like 15g and 30a for Benny this year if the top six stays healthy…. That is no one misses a lot of games… I think if the Sabres in general stay relatively healthy we make it. One team is going to falter, I sure hope it is not us…

And I believe the Sabres have the best collection of D-men in the NHL and none of them is old or even close to it. It is unheard of to have two #1 D-men on the same team and we have three. All under 24! That’s nuts. But the talent doesn’t end there, no! We have a solid six starters lined up for this season ad even have a decent 7th. But that’s only the beginning! We have: RYJO , Novikov, Komarov, McCarthy, Strbak and so many others. I can’t recall a time when the Sabres ever had a group like this, this deep and I’m not even the seven on the Sabres. We have excellent defensive depth. And then there’s goalie! We happen to have three solid goaltenders under contract right now and one of them has just entered his peak years and another is not far behind. We have an excellent goaltender room right now. But wait! There’s more! We have four more drafted goalies developing in our system. I cannot recall a time where the Sabres were this deep at goalie. And going back to forward, this is our first year of the rebuild being over, year #1. We have all 12 forward spots filled. We have a decent 13 F in Krebs. Rosen and Kulich are right behind Benson as speak. On top of that, I’m positive KA is on the prowl looking to upgrade the top 12, why? Because we are still a little young. Not because we’re too short on talent. Though I think KA is looking for an all-star level talent as we speak. Why? Because we can. Because we have too many prospects to hold to. What do you do? You trade several kids for a Star! I think if one comes available, especially if he plays in the west, that the Sabres go out and get him. And maybe even that vet, gritty, stay at home D-man to boot. Why? Because this roster is ready and we have the assets. Imagine if we got a true allstar LW….Lord, we’d be very, very good and we’d even have definite top six depth…. We’d have to figure out where to play Benson unless we traded him… I think our lines and pairs are pretty solid right now and I think by mid-fall both Rosen and Kulich could be ready to fill in on the top six when injuries appear…. I really like our lines. It is going to be totally different this year with having the ability to play two outstanding defensive lines with grit…. This, plus Ruff, are going to change everything. To let our top six focus way more on scoring goals. And not having to come up with the defensive stops too. Not worry about the PK, not have to block shots all the time, to play less minutes as well. It is going to make such a huge difference for the top six. Right now, the wildcards are Benson, Rosen and Kulich because they are still very young and inexperienced. And Benson, Rosen and Kulich (hopefully they’re working on their muscle mass as I type) need to gain more muscle all over….I do wonder about training techniques as I think Rosen should probably be stronger by now yet doesn’t appear to be… I mean, where’s the isometric excercise and high protein diet? The cross-training plan? Hopefully all three are at least five #s heavier than they were in April. All muscle too..

I think it is just as dumb to call prospects Rosen, Östlund and Nyberg bottom slicers as it is to say they are absolutely top sixers. We just don’t know yet. Any one of those three could turn out to be the best player since LaFontaine….

Who do you envision taking his spot? We really don’t have a suitable #2 or 3 LW to replace him right now. I think if the Sabres pull off the huge trade for an excellent top 6 benson’s Ive time plummets, if we don’t, I think our best injury replacements for top 6 players are Rosen and Kulich. They are also young unknowns but perhaps they have a great summer and an even better fall and we have ourselves some depth? We’ll find out this fall… if we’re lucky, trade or no trade, the Sabres gel ths year and become a great team. I think it CAN happen either way though probably the best bet is a huge trade where add Tkachuk and a mean, defensive RHD for Joker, Benson, Kulich, Helenius and draft picks….and then we win the cup in Lindy’s first year….

I’m hoping for 15g and 30a…. He is a major lynchpin for this team, imho…. If KA can’t pull the trigger on a major upgrade in the top 6 the guy who is most unknown, youngest and least experienced is the guy I’m hoping wins the #2 LW job. It’s important imho, the cozens line needs an elite passer and assist man and Benson is it. They need his two-way play too. In addition, the third line could use a scorer, enter Zucker. I think it’s the 30a that is the key number. If he play good two-way and get those assists, it means to me that that line is doing well and blending and Benson himself is adjusting to the NHL and his new linemates. I think if the line is playing well, the goals will come. 15 isn’t unreadable for such a talented line. If Quinn and Casey staye healthy they will be excellent linemates for Benson, it really is up to Zach to take that line to a new level, imho (if Benson wins the job). I hope he does….

Do you think McLeod is temporary or moved to the 4th line? I know we have assets but that doesn’t mean you spend them foolishly. I think they really like him. I sure hope we all like him. Then again, if TNT and Cozens stick, where else do Helenius and Östlund go? we just don’t have that many winger spots. Quinn and JJ look like excellent wingers. I really like Tuch if he plays with more consistency. That leaves one spot for Walberg, Kulich, Rosen and all the other lower picks. Maybe a couple of those are great picks? Unless we have to let Tuch go due to financial constraints…. Then there’s two spots…. i think next year after the first pick, we really should look at and draft those that project to the third and fourth lines….good ones!

We had no 3C, now we do. That’s intense, man! We did f-fen something! There are now six new Buffalo Sabres! It’s possible yet another trade is coming. i was calling for new third and fourth lines, and they F-fen did it! We are way grittier now, way tougher to play! The top lines have support for the first time since they turned around their games. TNT doesn’t have to do everything himself anymore! He will not be manning the PK nor double shifting as much. I say his goals go up from playing less. I’d like that seventh new Sabre, a top six LW…. It would give us certain depth at the skill areas. It would give us an impressive lineup throughout. I hope we get him. It would be intense if we did…. If not, it still will be exciting. If we don’t get one I think we need Benny to make a big jump this fall. If he could fill that #2 LW spot we’ll be fine. In fact, Benny is the perfect player to have there with Cozens and Quinn. They are both goal scorers, I’d call Cozens a natural the way he skates in the zone shoots and scores, naturally. I’d call Quinn an elite scorer. If he gains the muscle mass needed to be stronger on his skates and the muscle needed to stay healthy, he’ll surpass 30 Gs easy (if his linemates also remain healthy). Benson is perfect for them. Said to have tremendous vision and able to see the play, he can act as the offensive center setting up both and knocking in some rebounds. Healthy, if Benson can really play way above his age, we’ll be fine. so, all the pressure is on: JJ, TNT, Tuch, Benson, Cozens and Quinn. They have to score a lot of goals. Though I think we have a real 3rd line that can support the team in many ways. Zucker is a two-way player and supplies the 3rd line with a scorer. McLeod offers a ton of skills as we have seen above. He should get more ice time but he has to learn his new mates. Hopefully, Greenie is excited and ready to rock, and they play real tough two way hockey and knock some in. The great hope for the fourth line is that they supply energy to the whole team and can help to rest the top two lines without a let down. I’d love to see the boards waving from heavy forechecks and to see the other look confused, readjusting their helmets, wanting to just get off the ice and letting in a few goals…. To hear the crowd go nuts. To see the 1st line return with vigor! Thanks guys, we’ve got it now! If this is the finished roster, All the sabres kids need to get stronger. To not get easily bumped or flustered. To be faster and quicker. Especially Quinn and JJ but at some point we are going to look at Kulich and Rosen for major support because we’re playing f-fen hockey and players miss time. Maybe Helenius shocks the Sabres this fall? They have to make that sixth top six player with the guys they do have, I think they can. If everyone works their ***** off….

Why?!!! Why the f*** would we send a prospect for a sort player? Why would Lindy do this? GAaaaaaaa! I’m not going to like this if he isn’t good at D . Isn’t a good 3C…. Avoids greasy areas… Like. That’s the opposite of what we need….. You gotta play two-way and you gotta go to the net….

5th…..

Even hating the 3rd line like I do, I do like the five new Sabres we added though two of them should have more skill…. What I’m trying to say is, I had my doubts about the Sabres actually getting harder to play against this year. I was worried they would only get one guy, the D-man from Buffalo, and that’s it. We needed at least four imho, and beat it by one One thing Lindy definitely has to do is hammer home that these vets aren’t here to protect them really,they are hear to show us how you have to play in the NHL… Everyone, the whole team! I’d say everyday and twice on Sundays…. Gain muscle! Go get the puck and win it! Then go to the net and smash it in that goal! etc….

The third line continued. I definitely think we absolutely should have gotten someone better for 3C. We needed a tough and talented player there. Not only for the C job and his points but to help the 3rd line wingers more. That line really lacks talent right now. But not only that none of them can really play up either. Third line is just a huge weakness for this team, imho… If we end playing the first two more more because of this you risk injury and burnout…. I think we only have top six forwards at this time. A good team, I think has at least seven, more like eight top six players or at least a very good third line that they can at least fill in without dragging the line down right away…

What do your lines look like? Players on the third line probably go down to a lack of minutes and talent. Injuries WILL be devastating as we cannot really cover the top nine. Bad chain reactions will occur to top six players getting injured. Your numbers seem reasonable though…. I could see Power and Greenie’s goals go up and Quinn’s going way up. I think if the Sabres can give him a great line, 40+ Gs is possible if the line stays healthy. The trouble is I am already giving Benson too big of a jump. He has the potential but is still too weak to compete with men and still has a lot to learn and adjust to… but….in the future…. Benson - Cozens - Quinn could be a very talented and balanced line and a 2nd line that can win. I’d also like Quinn to add a lot of muscle yet too….But Jack’s got mean skills already…. Great draft for Sabres - Quinn -JJ…. Let’s hope the even younger kids: Rosen, Savoie, Östlund, Kulich and Helenius look like those two very soon….

You’re right, I exaggerated, but I’m talking about tough guys that can check hard, get the puck and go the net. I gues they all, someday, will gain weight hopefully…I think about Rochester in the playoffs last year. How many prospects were on that team and we couldn’t even muster two goals… I truly hope benson can be a Marchand lite….I hope I’m dead wrong….and I do wish we had bigger, grittier players. More like the guys we just signed…Or better yet, a big gritty player with higher end skill…. Note: Most of my favorite Sabres of all-time are small. I always wished, for about 45 years, that we had some bigger, tougher guys… please accept my apology, I’m just so sick of losing and feel we’re doing it yet again….

No. But I go to Colton once per month…

No. The narrative started with the Peyton Krebs acquisition. Don’t forget him. He was supposed to be a huge piece of the Jack Eichel trade. So there is six first rounders in a row we acquired using tremendous resources and all six are similar players that aren’t going to the net and shoving the puck in there. Plus! The Sabres drafted zero tough to play against forwards in any spot of the last five drafts. They are all skill players. None drafted to be hard to play against. That’s about 90 players drafted over that span. You can say Walberg last year but we’ll see if he has any grit to his game. This year we finally drafted one player that is known to go into the corners to get the damn puck. And the kicker is of: Krebs - Rosen - Savoie - Östlund - Kulich and Benson that it is very possible that no combination of any of those players could create an effective line in the NHL…. This could very well be wrong but we’ll see…. Rochester was such a disappointment last season losing to weak Syracuse team aside from them being men. I think they might need players to go do the dirty work for them but we have no one like that…. Walberg and Zeimer over the last five drafts, Two freakin’ players out of 90… and zero #1 picks. i liked the Helenius pick but it looks like Buffalo was idiotic once again trading down too early….and I’ll be watching what pick #15 does in his career too…

Our drafting is just not as good as generally believed. We still have no one ready. From Krebs (who was a major acquisition) to Benson. There are no NHLers there. Krebs, Rosen, Savoie, Östlund, Kulich and Benson…. None are ready to help an NHL team win although they are all #1 draft picks. I think they are way too similar as well. They have differences, but they too much similarity. KA is banking on these kids to play top roles but I think there is a chance that any combination of the above players could make a successful line in the NHL and that is poor drafting. We have drafted zero forecheckers in the last five years as well. That must be around 90 picks. That is unforgivable as well…. It really is….

Buying out Skinner WAS the correct move but we HAD to replace him! LOL, KA is terrible. We absolutely had to replace Mitts too. We did not.

KA’s press conference was laughable if not delusional… yes, we badly needed the tougher players. But we also badly needed tougher and better players… We’re two short by my count and the poll above…. #2LW and 3C…. We need GOOD players here.

But we need so much more…. We not only need a 3C, we need a real good 3C…. We need a 2LW too… we are going to go with KA’s little guys in Rochester that couldn’t score vs. Syracuse… it is going to be embarrassing…

Actually, we need both. There were four holes at forward alone: #2LW, #3C, #3RW, #4C…..

C’mon Buffalo! Do something, Darcy!