SABRES 0311

Not Ullmark’s fault they couldn’t score. Ullmark has a winning record. Hutton does not. Hutton let in four against Columbus to Ulmark’s one in Dallas. I don’t get Phil’s problem. To get the win Ullmark would’ve had to get his third shutout. How many does Hutton have and compare who has had more opportunities (games played).

Someone should tell him performance in the CBJ win was not as good as the performance in the Dallas loss.

LW C RW ZACH PARISE Rating: 76.4#26 LW MIKKO KOIVU Rating: 74.2#60 C CHARLIE COYLE Rating: 73.2#60 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 74.64#28 FL1 JASON ZUCKER Rating: 76.5#25 LW ERIC STAAL Rating: 81.3#15 C MIKAEL GRANLUND Rating: 77.2#39 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 78.31#1 FL2 JORDAN GREENWAY Rating: 71.9#84 LW VICTOR RASK Rating: 71.0#145 C MARCUS FOLIGNO Rating: 70.4#106 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.10#28 FL3 MATT HENDRICKS Rating: 69.5#126 LW ERIC FEHR Rating: 69.5#111 C J.T. BROWN Rating: 69.3#115 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 69.44#30 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS RYAN SUTER Rating: 80.1#5 LD JARED SPURGEON Rating: 79.1#14 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 79.55#2 DL1 JONAS BRODIN Rating: 73.2#50 LD GREG PATERYN Rating: 71.7#75 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 72.46#23 DL2 NICK SEELER Rating: 70.7#102 LD BRAD HUNT Rating: 75.1#31 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 72.88#8 DL3 I’m not adding that garbage Phil had during practice. Anyway. Sabres are still in 9th with Carolina and Philly coming in hot. Minnesota is 7th in the West with a 13-13-0 away record. Dumba and some guy named Aberg are injured. Dubnyk has a .914 SV% and 2.55 GAA. Stalock is at .892 with 3.00 GAA. We all want Ullmark and Phil will likely put the goalie coach in net.

This GDT has more effort than Phil put into the lineup.

Pretty sure Phil doesn't want to be here anymore.

Wo wo wo. No need to get testy. I thought your mention of the deadline inferred calling up and rotating prospects to see if they would entice trade packages.

Ok ok. Ryan Reeves has a warm body with skates.

Ok don’t shoot the messenger on this. Tom Wilson has 14 goals in 33 games, 24 years old, signed through 2023/2024 at over 5 mil. Dirty but tough or tough but dirty depending how you look at it.

I don’t know if this a deadline tryout. Although they have been testing the fan’s patience, they are not mathematically elininated yet. We also put Ellie on waivers and I think Larry is still hurt. Either way Phil needs to ice the best team possible and CJ has some experience over the other prospects. I think his callup is normal. Trying to use him as trade bait defeats what JBott wants to do, develop through the system and not sacrifice future the now. But I could be wrong.

Umm what do you mean? Hulkamania brother!!

Vulture reports around Brady. Someone thought it would be a good idea to put a tiny woman in all that. Funny thing is he did one interview and the vultures all got the same pictures. Could’ve taken a screen shot off the TV.

If by move on you mean actively shop him then no. If you mean we target another player for a trade then yes. This only works if said player is either: 1. More talented at the same position. 2. Equally talented at the same position with a more appealing contract. 3. Fills a position that is more important than 1RW. Such as a legitimate 2C. If the return is picks and prospects and JBott accepts I will sue for emotional damages.

It would be cool if there was a Sabrespace podcast.

Maybe there is a closed door deal where if Skinner hits a certain goal mark he gets a certain salary. Both sides agree he will stay for the long haul but if he hits 40 goals he gets 7 mil. If he hits 45 it’s 7.5 mil. Something like that.

Well in that case. 1. Trade Sam for a 2C. 2. Try Nylander on Jack’s wing 3. Sign Skinner 8x8 4. Package KO with Girgensons for picks 5. Replace the above two with CJ and another prospect deserving of a shot 6. Trade Scandella for a #4 dman in need of a change of scenery Im Tim Murray and I approve this message.

I mean I want him resigned for the long haul so in terms worse case scenario I’d be cool with a real 2C and a prospect with legitimate potential. Maybe Nylander or Olof could compliment Jack and Sam. Then again I’m not a GM so I may be over or under valuing all of them.

Morgan Freeman agrees. Check out some of his interviews.

If the Sabres trade Skinner who would be the likely team and what would the return we hope for be? Im guessing a top six plus a prospect. Not sure which team. Really hope we don’t just get a bunch of picks.

Hence conspiracy theory kid. As I’ve said. This was nothing more than a fun fan conspiracy theory. I have nothing real to back it up in fact JBott likely cares very much about the Sabres.

This is why we have emojis next to posts. Just give his next post a beer emoji if you like it. This way you feel good, he feels good, everyone wins.

I agree Phil will not be fired and that there are holes in the roster. However I have a slightly different theory. If JBott fires Phil that only leaves himself to get the axe next. Instead JBott will try to fill those holes and then let Phil show what he can do. Thing is Phil will fail with “upgrades” added because, well, not everyone is destined to be a head coach. JBott knows this. After not showing any major improvements (missing the playoffs) next year, Phil gets replaced. The new HC/GM tandem then get a year to show the highers they have everything under control. This makes the 2020/2021 season a sink or swim period for JBott. If the Sabres make the playoffs he is safe. If not he gets fired but JBott still benefits. 1. He will have had four years experience as a GM. 2. His tactic will have secured his job for the next two years following the 2018/2019 season. 3. Executing multiple trades, drafting, and developing successfully (debatable?) provide positive optics. 4. The team has performed better than under GMTM. I know this is debatable to some people. So what is the point? JBott will not lose sleep over inability to take the Sabres to the playoffs. This is his first time as the head honcho and at the same time trying to make a horrible team into a playoff team. He stole Skinner, lured an assistant coach from a successful team to be his HC, made some improvements resulting in said horrible team to become middle of the pack. He also got a franchise player to extend full term, greatly enhanced goaltending and will add to his accomplishments during the offseason. JBott knows he is on the clock so he is doing his job for two reasons. Try to make the playoffs but build his resume for when the inevitable happens. I guess what I’m saying in this essay of a post is JBott is setting the stage for himself as much as he is the franchise. Therefore he is/has/will do things which may help the team but more importantly prolong his stay in order to build said resume. Problem for the fans is he will likely go the safe route on moves with no big waves because the big risk may result in his firing before he can solidify his appeal to other teams. As much as I hate to say it. This is theatre we are watching. If Skinner had cost more than what we gave do you think JBott would have executed the trade? Say Sam for Skinner. I think not because that would’ve been higher risk and if Skinner didn’t light it up like he is we would be even worse in the standings. JBott will then have failed in coach department and big move department. I do apologize for the length and am just having some fun with this conspiracy theory.

I would love to see what a couple Sabres in an Uber ride say.

Maybe his wife told him she is pregnant again. That always did it to me.

Just watched the game. Disgusting.

Nothing bad can come of that. In Phil we trust.