mjd1001

I still dont' understand why Ryan Johnson isn't used. He doesn't have much time, but to my eyes, he certainly has performed better than a typical 3rd pair D-man in the time he has here His analytics, again VERY limited time this season, support that. When he has been on the ice, the team has only allowed 1 goal every 26 minutes. (its one goal every 15 minutes for Dahlin and Power, every 14.7 minutes for Byram). He is the only D-man on the team with a positive number in expected goals for vs allowed. I know, he has very limited time, but I never really thought he was bad out there.

Nope. I'm saying the goal was to get to 95 points. They needed about 16 points in an 'average' month to get there. Because of how they played so far, now they need about 17 points per month to get to 95 (with a month based on 14 games per month.)

How well they have to play the rest of the season can be parsed to make it look really good or really bad. When there's no break, the team plays 14 to 15 games per month. Let's go with 14 for argument's sake. To play at a 95 point Pace, every month, a team would have to... In those 14 games... Get 16.2 points per month. With the hole the team has dug, to get to 95 points in that same 14 games. They now have to get about 17.2 points per month. If you look at it that way... A crew about one more point per month than what you thought you needed going into the season.. It doesn't look that bad. Of course, like most people, that's if you were playing at a 95 point Pace. This team hasn't shown the ability to even do that.

When a fan base doesn't like something, the urge is there to place blame. If when you think about something logically and there is no blame to be placed, the fan base will find the easiest place, the path of least resistance. Blame must be placed.

What is the record for the most manned lost games in a season by players who are projected to be regulars? I'm guessing at some point there was some team that went through crazy injuries that has an unreal number... But this sabers team might be approaching the top 10 of that list.

Timmons I can take a bad game from, he's not one of your top guys, but Byram? I have yet to see much from him in all the games hes played to think he is anything other than a below average 2nd pair guy.

It can be both, in the worst ways. He doesn't put the time in with the team, he spends way more time with the Bills, etc, etc. But yet, he wants to be informed of and have his input in the decisions with the Sabres. Basically, he might not spend much time and effort with the Sabres at all....but on the very few occasions he shows up he wants his voice heard and makes decisions.

it might have been the best period I have seen this year from Power and Kesserling. Power had that one puck that I saw that he fumbled but other than that, they were both in position, both either skated or moved the puck out quickly, no big neutral zone mistakes. I missed about 5 minutes of the period, but from what I saw, they both had a really good period.

I think Dreger was the one just a few days ago on an inteview in Calgary (brought up buffalo) that said no one would be interested in owning the Sabres with their 'building' being as bad as it is.

My whole point is that they shouldn't be outmanned. It has nothing to do with getting a grip. People like you who tell others to 'get a grip' on a message board are probably the ones that actually do need to get a grip. This is a message board, a place to vent, to complain, to cheer (when its appropriate). Some of us don't take it any more seriously than that. Someone that feels the need to tell others to not be so negative on a message board...that is the prson that needs to breathe and relax. For the rest of us (at least me), venting/talking/complaining on here is cathartic.

I agree with you. I know we all want a downtown arena, but I agree with the above comments. The only issue is, the Sabres players fly in and out a lot more than the Bills players do, and access to the airport would be more important for not only the players, but the coaches, equipment, etc. Someplace in the Northtowns would make more sense for that reason.

It's not basketball and football. I'm not sure why you're not reading my post. The ones I know about are Florida, salt lake City, and Seattle that I posted videos for. I don't have the link of it but the CNBC money in ports special talked about all sports and they said that all owners, including NHL owners, are looking to put more money into this in the future. I'm not saying winning. Doesn't matter, but Buffalo trails those other cities in winning... And weather... And market size.... So if you want to be successful this is one area that you would think they actually can exploit and not fall behind. Darren draeger was just on a appearance in Canada.. yesterday I believe and he mentioned the sabers building... I assume the key Bank center.. is becoming a liability. Facilities aren't everything, but they matter. The sabers training facilities, and the arena where they play are becoming a liability. Is it a small liability? Maybe, but this franchise can't fall any further behind... Especially when you have a multi-billionaire owner.

Good point. I have always thought there are 2 ways to enjoy a season by one of your 'teams'. 1.) Win the championship. 2.) exceed expectations. Falling short of expectations is very frustrating and not fun. For me (and many other fans), a 95 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the first round) in a season you weren't expected to be in the playoffs....can be MUCH more enjoyable than a 105 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the 2nd round) when you were going into the season thinking you were a cup contender.

If you check out youtube, there are videos on 'practice facilities' showing a lot of this. -Florida, Salt Lake, Seattle. https://www.nhl.com/news/utah-arena-practice-facility-crazy-nice There are spacious locker, training, equipment and meeting rooms, of course. There is natural light in the rinks, and there are glass walls and collaborative spaces in the offices. The flow creates what Tourigny calls "constant collisions," people naturally running into each other, coming together. There is a recovery lounge, including massage chairs, an infrared bed and a sensory deprivation room. There is a hydrotherapy area, including a pool with reverse currents and an underwater treadmill. Guenther said he has used it -- not for rehab, just to try it out. Apparently, the guys, being guys, have had swim meets. The weight room alone is 8,000 square feet. It's so big, Chris Armstrong said, a player asked, "What other team are we sharing this with?" It has a strip of black artificial turf long enough to run 40-yard dashes. Just off the weight room is a barber shop. That's right. A barber shop. There are two barber chairs, and the team will bring in a barber a couple of days a week. "I was visiting another team, and they had one in their facility, and it was just another great point of camaraderie," Chris Armstrong said. "You've got a guy in the chair, a couple guys waiting, a couple guys in the doorway, and they're shooting the [bull]. Hey, this is another congregating point, another reason to stay here longer and be more invested in what we're all doing." CNBC did the segment a couple months ago saying how pro sports teams all over the world are adding these things (pools, Massage areas, private parking facilities with services to take care of your car as you take a golf cart to practice) Its not all hockey facilities that have them, some colleges (Nebraska), and some Europen league soccer teams. Its all in an effort to attract the best players and coaches. Seattle has multiple videos of theirs where it is open Kraken family members, and even some public events. As for the pools, Utah has a smaller one. The Lakers along with other NBA teams have ones that are larger. The Lakers even have the facilities open for community events. This is what new, rich, (generally) younger owners are doing. If you watch enough of the below videos, Youtube AI should figure out you are watching this stuff and recommend a lot more like them.