mjd1001

I don't think Kim and Terry are good owners, lots of mistakes, other issues I'm not a fan of. However, I hope they don't sell and have long term plans for the team and Arena. If they DO sell however, all that matters is that it is to someone with long term plans in Buffalo. Sabres get sold and move = Bad. ANYTHING else that doesn't involve moving = Good and I honestly don't care about many details beyond that (of course, other than being the new owner just wants to play fantasy hockey himself with a real life team and wants to do it on the lowest payroll in the league.)

Hopefully the 'curve' of spreading goes down as quickly as it goes up. Right now it may be going through our Family. A few members had not gotten anything over the last 2 years, fully vaxxed, wear masks indoors even when vaxxed etc. I don't know if it was Sheas for Hamilton, but a few family members were there last week. Over the weekend a couple of them got sick with the symptoms, now there are 5 family members all showing symptoms. Not hospital level, but still not comfortable for most of them. We'll see, 2 had covid tests already and are awaiting results. Again, hopefully this is one of those things that goes down as quickly as it goes up. Some early data out of South Africa is hopefull that is the case.

That isn't honestly that impressive. His 'point pace' based on points per game is about 3.5 points per 82 games over his career average, and I'll take the years where he actually put the puck in the net over this year where he has just 5 assists. Also, I think he also had more points per game in 2016-2017

When I think of Tuch, I don't think of the comparison to Foligno at all. Honestly, I never had in my mind a player I would compare him to. Maybe, MAYBE if you make me think about it, I would think a younger/Healthy Okposo level influence on this team, but still with a different skillset. What I want from him is to be a player that gives consistent production in the offensive zone that outpaces any liabilities in the D-zone, is a high energy player, doesn't look like he ever takes a day off, and is an Okposo/Girgensons type leader. Basically not a star or a superstar but that type of player that EVERY team would want and can slot into almost any roll needed. Too high of expectations? Maybe....but that is the ceiling I am looking for.

1 and 1a are the Rangers and Leafs 2 is Pittsburgh, but they are way far back. -NY fans are the worst and I can say that as soeone who spent some time living in Boston. The most arrogant fans, entitled fans, some of them are as dumb as bricks but you can't have a discussion with them because they think they are Mensa level sports savants. Sure, there are fans like that everywhere, but it seems to center on the NY/Tri-state area. I want that team to lose so much not because of the players, but the fans in the area I cannot stand. The media covering NY teams isn't far behind the fans either. -Toronto Fans are very very close second. Arrogant, think they city is entitled to something. Want to be called "the hockey capital of the world" or at least "the hockey capital of Canada", when personally I still think that is Montreal over Toronto. They just think everything about them is better than it is. They think their star player is ALWAYS better than anyone elses star player. Their management is ALWAYS better than everyone elses. If they lose, it is because of something random, bad luck, or because of one single person they choose to blame....but once that person is gone, the overall excellence of their team over all others MUST and WILL be shown 'next' season. One thing that puts them a step behind the Rangers is, as PEOPLE (everything other than sports fans), they tend to be nice people that you can talk to about anything else. I can't say that for many New Yorkers I have run into, especially the big time fans Too many arrogant and dumb NY sports fans have their lives centered around sports. BTW, as a kid I was a life long Yankees fan, might have been my 2nd or 3rd favorite team in any sport. I follow them now out of force of habit, but I have been exposed to their fans and sportswriters garbage for so long I now longer really care about them. -Pittsburgh. Nothing really against the City, but they just got so lucky. Probably ended up with the Best player drafted first overall in the modern hockey Era (Lemieux), they they luck into Crosby, and not only that but have an unreal number of to 5 picks to go along with that.

This is the first year I really don't care if anyone is moved or not and for what. If there is a guy who WANTS to move, who you decided you don't want here next year, AND someone is willing to give a pick for, go ahead. 7th or 6th rounders? Not really interested. There are only so many contracts you can have signed long term...you aren't the penguins so there is no need to bring in any young guy you can. Package a 6th or a 7th WITH a guy somone wants for depth and get a 4th rounder or sooner? Sure, go ahead.

I'm happy with just 2 things being different next year: Total overhaul of the OL...somehow find 3-4 new starters that are better than what you have, and then an update on the WR's (I think Beasly is going to be done by the end of next year)

This is Awesome.

From everything I have seen, the 2026-2027 season is going to be a problem as far as Skinner's contract. No matter what year you buy him out before, there is a big hit that year. Whether he is on the team or not, the Roster is going to have to allocate $6-$7 Million dollars toward him during that season

He has never been the same player since his Knee Surgery in 2018. Maybe his knee has permanent damage? Maybe its a mental thing, but that really was the turning point in his level of production. He is now entering his 5th season since that injury. In those last 5 years, per 82 games, his production is about 18goals and 39 assists per 82. (57 points) In the prior 5 seasons to him hurting his knee and needing surgery, per 82 gamer about 29 goals and 46 assists. (75 points) Might some of that be age? Maybe, but he still should have been in his prime scoring years in the past 5 seasons. Might it be the team he plays for? Possibly, but those Oiler teams he was on weren't much better than what he has been on lately. The Big issue for me is I have heard a few times form 'national' broadcast guys (mostly on 590 in Toronto) that since his surgery, he just doesn't look as fast as he used to be. I do know this, he is a slightly different type of player than Skinner, but his production seems to ebb and flow and has fallen off at a similar rate of the last couple years as Skinner.

Stephen A Smith. I rarely watch ESPN anymore, but it seems like a good portion of the time I turn it on, he is on, and he is ALWAYS YELLING. Its exhausting to watch him for even 30 seconds. And it doesn't matter what it is about, he at best raises his voice and at worst yells. Maybe it gets ratings? I just want to turn on ESPN every once in a while and not be blasted away by someone who has an opinion about everything and has to use a megaphone voice into a microphone to get his opinion out there.

The "eye test" to me says that when you put Okposo and Girgensons on the same line as wingers, no matter who the center is they are the one line that can pin the opponent into their own zone and keep the puck there for some time. I almost would like an experiment of putting a Center with Finishing ability (Tage?) between them and see if anything comes of it. KO and Girgs keep the puck in the zone, battle along the boards, and Tage could hopefully get some chances in the center out of it.

I think the Sabres are a LOT more willing to 'stick to their plan' than to trade for a goalie to get a handful more wins that might, MIGHT lead to an increase in attendance toward the end of the season.

I agree with you. I truly do. If I never saw a fight in a hockey game again, and barely saw any hitting BUT I saw a lot of scoring chances and goals with end to end rushes, I'd be 100% happy with this sport. But with that said, different people like different things. Just as much as I like skating and scoring and don't even care about seeing big hits.....there are other people that I understand could care less about a smooth skating forward compared to seeing a 6'3" tall 230lb guy who will drop hits all over the ice and drop the gloves a couple times a month. A lot of fans started liking hockey when it was a lot 'tougher' and that is probably a large part of why they liked it to begin with. To be honest, I don't want my D-men to be the hitters on my team. I want my forward to be the hitters. To me the key to D-zone play is positioning. Most times when a D-man makes a hit, he is risking taking himself out of the play, leading to chaos in your own end. I want the D-men to be on their skates, reading the play, ready to react the instant they can get to a loose puck or break up a pass and get the puck out of my own end. The one exception is I want one true huge Ogre of a D-man who can move anyone out from the front of the net when shorthanded. He can be my short handed specialist, but can be on my 3rd pair otherwise. My forwards? THOSE are the guys I want to hit, to create chaos in the Offensive zone. Look at the past 2-3 seasons the Okposo and Girgensons (when he is playing) line. They play physical and hit along the board in the O-zone, and often times THAT is the thing that keeps the puck in the zone. Give me 1 or 2 physical hitting wingers on my forward line with a sniper (or at least someone with good hands) to go near the net, and I think you have a winning line.

Exactly. He doesn't have to become Pronger or Chelios or even a Mike Ramsey level lock down D-man to be the most valuable guy on the roster in his own zone. With experience he will/should learn to anticipate the play better. His quickness should allow him to get to a lot of loose pucks, and then there might not be anyone in recent memory better at getting it out of the zone than him. He doesn't need to eliminate mistakes, just cut down on them...and then pair him with a partner who IS rock solid positionally, and Dahlin could be more valuable to this team than anyone because the best way to play Defense is to make sure you get the puck out of your zone, which he looks to be very good at and is getting better.

I am happy with just about everything that is happening this season, of course with the exception of the results of the games the last few weeks. I don't know what "the plan" is exactly, but I am very happy with how Kevin Adams is handling things. -Get a respectable return for an Injured Eichel who didn't want to be here, for Sam who didn't want to be here, and for Risto who very few people wanted here. I am very happy with the overall returns for them. -Keep most of the young guys in the minors, resist the urge to call them up until they have a lot of time in Rochester. Good so far on that. -See some progress from players we didn't expect much out of last year. Thompson, Cozens and Asplund are progressing, Bryson has shown flashes...Okposo Skinner and Girgensons appear to be more productive than most thought they would be. Most of the rest of the guys on the roster are on a 'try out' for 1 or 2 spots next year. -Dahlin. He has mad some very bad plays for sure, but overall I am happy with his offensive production and they are sticking with him. One thing I think most people don't realize is, his Value in the D-zone isn't limited to some young/boneheaded mistakes he makes..but he actually does a GOOD job in the D-zone by carrying or passing the puck out of the zone better than just about anyone on the D-unit we have seen here in a long time. Yes, he has to stop making mistakes, but if that comes with time I am encouraged with everything else in his game. -Goalies. They need Tokarski to keep playing like he has AND someone up to step up as well. Medium term they need someone better than Tokarski for 1-2 years. This is an issue right now, but I'm not sure if there is an immediate solution. Overall though, I'm happy with about 95% of what Adams has done/is doing, in my mind SO FAR into his GM career he is the best GM the sabres have had since Darcy.

All Bandits game are on ESPN plus? Didn't know that, I guess when I have some free time I'll be watching a lot more Bandits this year.

That doesn't make sense at all. 30 to 40 percent better than what? BEtter than he is NOW? how good is he now? 30 to 40 percent better than when he was fully healthy? What, did they insert some bionic parts so he will be part superhuman cyborg now? I'd expect more from Shannon, but this seems like a fluff tweet that does nothing but sound silly with its point to be to pump up expectations by Jack..and even then I don't get it.

Agreed. And what would firing him accomplish? What is the goal? Bring someone in here who is going to do their best to bring in talent that will make this team average to above average? And to get to THAT level you would have to give up some young talent/future talent. What would the point be?

Remember the reason for that not being allowed is they don't want the scrums around the net with loose pucks to turn into a kicking contest, where players (goalies and others) are often on the ice...with shark skate blades flying around in a kicking motion. A re-direct by a skate I can see counting, but I wouldn't want things to turn into a soccer match with loose pucks around the net.

Because while none of this will happen for sure, the theoretical has to do with building the team. The owners and the cities are constants.....I'm talking about everything else that is in the day-to-day aspect of the team. Buffalo and Seattle will exist as cities...The ownership group would not change....but if you could, would you swap every other aspect of the team? If you want to get rid of Kim and Terry, that can be a separate conversation (that has indeed been had a few times on this very forum)

sorry if this has been mentioned already but... I'm watching the SEC championship game...and right before half on the Alabama sidelines...there is someone holding a big sign...or a folding table...with a HUGE bills logo on it. If you watch the Alabama sidelines from 2:00-half time, you will see it on almost ever play. Anyone know anything about this?

The past 2 weeks they have gone from looking like one of the bottom 2-3 teams in the league to an actual good team. Here is the question, would you trade franchises with them right now (Coaches, roster, prospects, draft picks....pretty much everything but the city and owners?)

I agree. I never think of the owners of any team at all unless the media brings them up or they show their face on the broadcast. I do understand they ARE the owners of the team, but I watch the team for the game and the players, I care 0% about the owners. To me there isn't much good they can do, they can only mess things up.

I would like Power to spend a little time in Rochester...maybe 1/4 of the season..just to get a taste of that and prove/dominate at a lower level. Of course, that may not be possible. I'm sure as the first overall pick when it comes time for the Sabres to sign him this coming spring...his camp might make it a condition that he is with the big club all the time.