mjd1001

I don't know myself, Its interesting, but I'd have to see one in person and it would depend on how good it is and what the cost is. Buffalo/WNY is probably pretty far down the list of getting one. Can you imagine if the Sabres were really good, having sellout games and one of these right near the Arena? (I suppose they could put one near the new Bills stadium. Sold out game? Tailgate with everyone and then watch the game at one of these attached to the stadium.)

Not who is better long term, not who do you like better.... Simply this year's current team...which staff would have them higher in the standings? Ruff and the current staff? Granato and last year's staff (if they were still here with the exact same roster that Ruff has now)? Not sure if this will go anywhere but i'm curious. I know a lot of people will say "no difference" or "it doesn't matter" or "about the same"...but if you had to pick one, which would you rather have?

Everyone is different. Yes, there are some guys that want year round warm weather, clubs, a nice downtown skyline to look at. But...thati s not for everyone. If you put together a strong winning franchise, that will supercede most of the above for many players. And then there are guys that just don't like the above. In my early 20's I left WNY, moved and lived in Boston and for years in Florida. We are back in WNY and when my relatives talk about living in Florida as a 'paradise', I'm like WTH are you talking about, its awful. Everyone is different. Some love those things, and thats fine. But don't make the mistake of thinking everyone does, its not true....maybe more guys, espeically the younger ones want Vegas, Miami, New York.....but not everyone. But if you put together a winning team, most of those worries will fade.

I think he is GOOD on the PK most of the time. He has the height and reach to be able to disrupt things a bit without getting too out of position. So, if he can be your #1 or #2 D-man on the PK, and give you 12 minutes of ice time on the 3rd pair, I don't think that is the worst thing. His contract in a year or two will actually not be bad compared to the cap. The issue, as you say, is durability. You can have a defined, useful role on the team, but if you can't play 25%+ of the games each year, then you become a liability just for that.

On the other hand, Eliott Friedman said shortly after he was signed that he talked to another current GM in the league and they said something like "In a few years, that Buffalo Defense is going to be scary for other teams to play against with Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson"

Mitts seemed like a laid-back kinda guy, personality wise. It might not mesh well with McKinnon. Lots of stories over the years about McKinnon being so intense and direct with some teammates, that it can cause certain guys to shut down. He doesn't let up, and he rips into teammates at practice even, and some guys just don't like that. https://coloradohockeynow.com/2021/08/03/former-avalanche-reveals-intense-details-about-what-its-like-being-teammates-with-nathan-mackinnon/ Zadorov said in a recent interview with a Russian publication. “He can be a jerk to his teammates. You need to accept that and it would improve you as a hockey player as a result. “If you miss a pass in practice, he would skate over and literally scream at you,” he told the Russian reporter. “If the puck ends up in his skates—not even his skates—if it misses his stick by a tiny bit, like 15 centimeters in front of the blade of his stick, he doesn’t move his stick to catch the puck. He stops everything, turns around and slaps the puck back at you. He is not going to try and catch any puck he doesn’t like during practice—just to show you that you made a ***** pass.” Two years ago, MacKinnon apparently got rid of all soda and desserts from the dressing room, and kiboshed “white sauce” and replaced regular pasta with chickpea pasta, because it’s higher in protein. “He says, ‘Guys, if you want to eat that crap, you have the offseason for that. “If you can’t accept it, well, you’re off the team.” That might work for some guys, but I can see others, maybe some pretty good players, not wanting to be part of that. I get the sense that Mitts may not function well in that environment long term...just a guess.

That is a tough one I probably agree with you, but Mitts is not playing well at all there, production or defensively, he's not fitting in. I think Cozens at wing is better than Mitts at center, which is better than Cozens at center. So long term, my thinking is comparing them, the best player is Cozens playing wing. But as we have gone over and over that isn't happening. Fantasy world here, but if the trade were on the table I'd make it. We do know Mitts was fitting in fairly well at Center on this team in the past, and his contract is less than Cozens, so that would sway me to making the deal. Both players though, not good this year.

I agree. Its not a good contract right now, but its not something that is preventing you from making other moves. You keep the contract, and if you can't trade him you keep the player. You have an overplay for basically a 3rd pair D-man or even a 7th D-man if it doesn't work out that well.

That one I don't know...hopefully someone else will be able to answer that. Most of the analytics I even look at are more about positioning, shots, locations, etc.

I'll admit I do not like analytics all that much. There is value to it, but to me it just takes a truth you already know (or should know) and breaks it down to smaller parts. Personally, i'm good with basic stats like Plus-minus, goals, assists, add to that the eye test and use a little common sense and you are 75% of the way there. The analytics, I DO like the goals for and goals against. To me its kinda like taking the expected goals for and against that a lot of people like, but not disregarding shooting percentage. I'll say something that I have said before and I KNOW that poeple will disagree with me. It has to be coming from above, Adams or Pegula (I personally think more Pegula, but it could be either) that is overriding the analytics. Its something like this...Analytics dept: "Look Cozens is causing more harm than good. His goals against are bad. In every aspect we can measure his game, the team is better with him off the ice than with him on"....then....Pegula and/or Adams: "Great, I dont' care thoughI like Cozens so keep on playing him, I make the decisions/pay the bills". There are two things that, in the limited view of the deeper analytics I have seen for sure: Almost EVERYONE has better numbers when Dahlin is on the ice with them....and almost EVERYONE has worse numbers when Cozens is on the ice with them.

Oh, I have been pleasantly surprised with Krebs play this year. He's not a top 6 guy, but I honestly think all year long he has performed better then Cozens when taking everything into consideration. Last year, there were 2 players I thought were awful and wanted gone. Krebs and Cozens. I probably actually complained about Krebs more than Cozens last year. I thought both of them brought little positive to the team, and when they were on the ice the negatives made the team worse. I did not want Krebs re-signed, and if he was brought back I said as long as it's only for 1 year at the minimum contract AND he would likely spend time in Rochester. I thought I saw enough of Krebs and didn't see any signs of him getting better. Well, I was wrong on him. I agree he's not going to be a guy that gets you 60 points and anchors your 2nd line for years to come. But I think he has found a role on this team and has more good games than bad ones. And as far as the 99 problems...well, yeah, they aren't perfect. But I think there are only 3-4 problems keeping this team out of the playoffs this year: 1.) Cozens and Quinn's play (the single biggest problem), 2.)UPL having a bad start to the year, and 3.) the lack of a well-balanced veteran D-man for 2nd pair minutes. As of this moment, if those above 3 things did not exist this year (or were 'fixed'), I think the play of the rest of the team is good enough to have them in a playoff spot right now, and with a somewhat weaker division, maybe even some fans eyeing more than just a 'wildcard' spot.

I THINK they have $58m+ already committed for next year. But that is with 11 or 12 guys not signed on the current roster, so they would need to fill those positions. Zucker, Greenway, McLeod, Peterka, Quinn, Kozak (if they are going to bring him back), Byrum, Jokiharju, Gilbert, Bryson. If they bring back all those forwards and just Byrum on D, that may cost them $30m+ right there. And then you would still need to fill 3 more defensive spots and a goalie (do you re-sign Reimer again or is it Levi?)

I showed Cozens for 2 reasons: He is accepted by some as, without Tage, the defacto 'best' center on the team (or should be based on his salary and the "A") 2nd, I could swear watching the game that all of Krebs ice time was not at center. He was out there for a few shifts (at least) with McLeod and Krebs to me was obviously playing wing based on both of their positioning on the ice.

I know the stats have been mentioned before, but they are quite remarkable. -Sabres have scored 60 goals in the first period...tops in the entire league. -They are a +21 in goal differential in the 1st, tied for best in the league. -They have scored the first goal of the game 34 times, again best in the league. In the 3rd period it gets a LOT worse -50 goals scored, 5th worst in the league -Negative 19 in goal differential, 3rd worst in the league If the games only lasted 20 minutes, this team would be in the running for the Presidents trophy right now.

That goals for vs goals allowed in there is telling and disappointing. Whenever neither of them are on the ice the team is a plus 15 in goal differential. When either of them or both of them, are on the ice they are a negative 10. Basically, the team without Cozens and Quinn is actually pretty good. The moment either of them hit the ice they start 'losing'. Defensively it is the most apparent. If you break down the stats per minute...the team is allowing 25% more goals per minute 5 on 5 and scoring 20% less 5 on 5 with either of them on the ice vs when anyone else is out there. And this isn't a small sample size, this is for the entire year. Last year I think the numbers weren't as bad as this year, but still similar. When either of those 2 were on the ice the team had close to an even goal differential...when both were off the ice they were a positive 15.

I thought Krebs played a pretty good game through the first half of the game, but then his line was pretty bad in the 2nd half. If pushed I'd probably have to agree with you that Cozens looked slightly better with those 2 guys. But I don't want to have to put Cozens with probably your two more responsible/experienced wingers for him to just look decent for one game.

If you can't force him to drop the gloves, then you do it anyway and let him turtle. If that is too harsh, then you follow through on the checks, even if that means its borderline illegal. You might have to take an extra penalty but you hit, 'abuse' their stars one way or the other.

I think Cozens CAN work at wing. I'd be very happy to see them try it. The issue is, they don't want to do it. Its been through 2 different coaches, several different assistants, they just keep putting him out there at center on this roster. Is the order coming from above? Adams? Pegula? I don't know My guess is that Cozens, in the long run, is about a 10% shooter. He might have a year slightly above or slightly below that, but hes going to average close to 10%. He also shows an ability to go to slot to get shots off, to the tune of about 200 shots per year. 10% of 200 shots gives you 20 goals. From what I see of his game, 2 things would turn Cozens from a negative player that hurts this team into, as you said, possibly a positive one. Move him to wing (2nd or 3rd line, not first). Get rid of his D-zone and neutral zone responsibilities in the center of the ice, and let him go deep into the corners or bang on the walls/chase pucks in the offensive zone. That is what he wants to do. He doesn't want to hang around the slot and play 'zone' defense in the D-zone so he just doesn't do it. Put him at a position where he doesn't have to. 2nd, take him off the Power play. I don't care if you don't think you have a more skilled option, all the stats, the regular stats, the advance stats, they all point to him not only being a non-factor producing on the powerplay, the the powerplay functions BETTER and is more productive when he isn't out there. If the Sabres do move him and the acquiring team puts him at wing, I think he will succeed there. I'd like to see it done here, but they just won't do it. As you know, I have said that I think the Sabres with Thompson/Kulich, Krebs, McLeod at center are not ideal for a contending team, but that makes them better than having Cozens out there at Center.

Who is the #1 center on this team at the moment? Tonight's game: Cozens 15:15 ice time Kulich 17:31 ice time McLeod: 22:19 ice time It'll be interesting to see if this trend continues on Saturday. I still rank Cozens ahead of Quinn. (they were supposed to be part of a dangerous 2nd line, right?) Biggest issues/reasons why this team is out of the playoffs? Cozens #1, Quinn #2. Everything/everyone else (Power included), way down the list.

for $7 a year, he is supposed to be, and I still want him to reach that standard (despite my complaining). And he is treated like one with all the PP time and overall ice time he usually gets. As far as the game so far... its only through 2 periods...but so far, this is how you SHOULD look when you are a bit shorthanded with injuries, but the other team is WAY worse.

Obviously Tuch, but I think Krebs, Mcleod and Zucker having really good games up front. I won't say Gilbert is carrying the blue line, but it might be his best all around game of the year so far through 2.

With Tage out, you want one of your other 'stars' to step up and score. Tuch, Cozens, Peterka, or Quinn. Tonight is Tuch's night.

McLeod for all intents and purposes playing the role of 1C tonight 14 minutes of ice time with almost 2 minutes left in the 2nd. Cozens only 9:20. Kulich 10:55.

I haven't followed him every shift but decent. Hasn't made any great plays that I have seen but no glaring mistakes.

Benson now tied for 14th in the entire LEAGUE in penalties drawn. And doing it with less ice time than about 10 of the guys ahead of him.