SABRES 0311

The Avs skate with purpose. They are very motivated and deliberate. The Sabres are passive and have little confidence.

This is a hell of a goaltending duel.🤺

This is an unfortunate season.

You know it’s bad when we are clinging to a small hope this team barely makes the playoffs. Even if they do then what? You know there wouldn’t be many changes for next season since TP and crew think the answer is in the room. Making the playoffs by the skin of their teeth would make TP feel vindicated and the team would stagnate. The prospects besides Mrtka show some promise but there aren’t any indications any of them will be game changers. OP, Quinn, Tuch, Norris, Greenway, Krebs, Kulich, and UPL need to be traded for roster players. It needs to happen by the end of November so those new guys can integrate before the New Year. Im sorry but none of them have a future in Buffalo and Buffalo does not have a future with them. IMO you use those players to get an actual 1C, a 2C, defensive 3W, and a physical third pair dman. Benson-New Guy-Thompson Doan-New Guy-Rosen Zucker-McLeod-New Guy (physical) Makenstyn-Kozak-Dunne Helenius/Östlund Dahlin Byram Kesserling Muel Timmins New Guy Johnson Lyon Ellis Levi

Upgrades needed: Quinn, Greenway, Power, UPL Replaced by similar player(s): Kulich, Levi Keep but accept: Norris has an unreliable presence, Benson isn’t a first liner on many teams, McLeod is a 3C on most teams, Krebs is a 4C on every team nothing more. Accepting this is important to fixing because you can’t target what you need if you don’t know what you actually need. TBD - TBD - Thompson Benson - Norris - Tuch Zucker - McLeod - Rosen Dunne - Krebs/Kozak - Malenstyn Dahlin Muel Kesselring Byram Timmins TBD Lyon TBD All TBDs need to be veteran, established players. Maybe Johnson with Timmins. I have a hard time believing Power + Kulich can’t land a legit 1LW or add a draft pick to it for a 1C. Quinn + Greenway has to get you a power forward that doesn’t have stone hands and an injury liability. UPL one for one on a backup possibility. As far as prospects go, what use is learning to win in the AHL if they’re going to learn to lose in the NHL. Not everyone is a future Sabre. Some are just currency so spend it.

Tuch almost had a nice assist on a CAR goal after missing the net….. again.

The fact our biggest contract concern is for a second liner that can’t hit the net. Our top forward is really a one trick pony with his *****. Our 1LW is probably a 2LW quality player and should probably be in his rookie season. Just my opinion.

Even when healthy we have mediocre offensive talent. Then again so does CAR.

Again.

They have improved on small things like bodies and sticks in passing lanes, sticking up for each other, and physicality. They still lack offensive talent and have only improved a bit on overall team defense.

Are they being told to do the drop pass or are they just kind of……..dumb? UPL taking a tripping penalty after giving up two in just 13 shots solidified my opinion on him. We have two legitimate top six forwards and neither are game changers.

I kind of want to see what happens if Doan plays with Rosen and Östlund. That line with Quinn has been playing well so no reason to change I guess.

Yeah and Norris’ injury susceptibility means you need another top end guy.

They’re staying disciplined and not chasing the puck carrier. They’re getting bodies and sticks in lanes.

At some point these guys have to man up or figure out how to play smart.