mjd1001

LOTS of empty seats. At least watching on TV. As many on the sides as I can remember seeing recently.

I know they have tried, but how about just getting into, and staying in, a playoff spot the entire season. They don't need to be fighting for a presidents trophy. Just be in the top 12-14 in the league (yeah, you can even hover in that 10-14 spot) and never more than that...and that would be enough to get people to come to the games. They can't do it, but it would seem to be SO much easier than the emails to season ticket holders, private events, press conferences...etc.

I, among others, have brought this up in great depth in other posts over the last few weeks. To give a very, very quick summary of what I have written: -The Sabres roster and coaching staff (entire operation) is smaller than the Bills. There is less 'separation' between him and the team, therefore much more easy to get involved in a short bursts. -Pegula has admitted he thinks he knows more about hockey than football. Upon taking over the Sabres, he wanted to be actively involved in selecting players, roster construction, etc. The Ville Leino, Erhoff contracts are one example. Also it may have been partly a covid/business side of things, or a player input, but we also know, with quotes from the Pegula's themselves, they fired Botts because they weren't 'being heard' by him regarding their input. An example of smoke if not direct 'fire'. Pegula speaks how he admires Cozens game, how he plays. At the heritage classic, Cozens gets ejected in the third. and ends up watching the game from beside the rink, Pegula walks up to him and talks to him for most of the rest of the game. Pegula doesn't talk much, but there was a report on Twitter from one of the Sabres beat guys that Pegula singled out in a conversation how much HE liked Dylan Cozens. A few months later, Cozens gets a $7m contract extension. Does it PROVE anything? No, that is 'smoke' as I said and not 'fire' but it still leads some of us to think he has an outsized input into roster and contract discussion. -With the Bills, he is around, but he seems to be more of a 'fan'. If you watch the videos of him, he is around the players as much as the coaches and management. He is watching practice often from a distance. With the Sabres, he is frequently next to Adams during games and even practices. We know he frequently attends pre-draft and even draft day meetings and there are witness accounts and some video if him giving his input. I think the Bills management has learned how to massage Terry's ego just enough to keep him at a distance and out of every single decision. He seems, for whatever reason, to have more input into the Sabres.

There is a difference, USUALLY, between "media availability" and a "press conference". I take media availability as someone will be there ready to take questions. A "press conference" is where you are going to announce something. Maybe the Sabres aren't that formal with their definition of things though?

Karmanos as gm...I have a question: How would things be different? We have heard over and over that decisions on roster and players are not made by one person, but are more of a 'group think' exercise. Its like a bunch of guys sit around the table, and its more of a consensus with one or two dissenting opions. Now, Adams has said that is how it works. Pegula I think has said it. We have video of the 'behind the scenes' over the last few years on draft day and preparing for the draft that SHOWS us that is how it works with this team. As much as Adams may or may not be the problem wouldn't you need to change the process, how this team makes roster decisions, before any GM change can really mean much? So, if Adams is fired, wouldn't Pegula probably have the room 'without Adams' as gm operate the same way? Even if he didn't, was Karmanos part of the decision making group that was making the decisions that got us here? And finally, if Adams is 'bumped up' to a different position but is still in that room....wouldn't the ONLY 2 things that change would be who picks up the phone to make the final phone calls and the title on the nameplate on the desk or door? I know people want Adams gone, but how are things any different unless Adams is TOTALLY out of the organization, AND most or all of that entire decision making group (including Karmaos) are gone, AND Pegula declares the new guy has autonomy and the old way of 'consensus making' is done in his building?

It is not a fact for EVERY situation. How can you say something is a fact, just because you want it to be? I have personally found that when I evaluate a player on a team, when using plus-minus with a little 'common sense eye test', it works better than the expected goals that people throw out on this forum. But hey, I guess the definition of what a 'fact' is has to run through you now? Um..nope.

I guess we disagree on that one. When comparing players on the same team, I think expected goals is much worse. They are different stats, they measure different things. But just as plus-minus can get something totally wrong, so can expected goals. A few times over the past few years expected goals was used to say how bad of a game Bryam had or how good of a game Cozens had, and It was obvious to many of us on this board it was way off base.

That is my problem with the xGF% and related stats. It measures where the shots are taken from if I am correct, but are the 'good shots'? I shot that you have time to set up for, maybe there is a screen in front of the net but is from a typical 'bad' area will be rated higher than a shot that is taken from a supposed better area but has no screen or is rushed. Also, as others have said, it doesn't measure a particular players shooting percentage. Tage is, has been, and will always likely be a much better shooter than Cozens, yet some of the advanced stats will not show that. So it takes me back to plus-minus. Yeah, there are flaws and exceptions with it. But on this forum goals expected and other advanced stats that are similar are used often as the end-all-to-be-all to judge a player, and they can be just as flawed as plus-minus. At least plus-minus measures something that actually HAS happened, not something that could happen. If there was only a single stat that somehow incorporated plus-minus, weight that plus-minus with relation to where you were on the ice, and merge that with expected goals for AND shooting percentage.

That is what a message board is for, talking about things and if more than 1 person wants to keep talking about it, than it is a converstation. If we discussed something in the past, should it be off limits to ever talk about it again? Who are you to decide if its a 'failure' because others want to talk about something that YOU PERSONALLY don't want to or need to hear? Geez.

He made Pegula feel comfortable. He wouldn't talk back to Pegula. He wouldn't say "no" to Pegula. Basically, its not that Pegula "Trusted" him....its more that Pegula "Trusted adams to do what Terry wants".

Ok, I'll start out with saying its not perfect. Its had to compare plus-minus of a player from one team to another. It is not a perfect stat. But, it is what it is. It is a measure (not counting special teams) that shows how many goals for you were on the ice for vs how many goals against you were on the ice for. Its useful in some, maybe many ways. It doesn't tell the whole story, but it can be a starting point to look at certain players and ask "why"? With that said, look at the Sabres currently. Who are the best plus-minus players on the team? Tuch +11, Bryam +7, McLeod +6, Thompson +4, Dahlin +4, Zucker +3, Greenway +3. Who are the worst? Quinn -11, Peterka -5, Bryson -4, Cozens -4. The positive guys are ones who produce offensively AND are not a consistent source of awful defensive plays. The negative guys (Quinn, Cozens, and Bryson to a lesser extent) are guys who play either a defensively unaware game, or at worst a selfish game. I guess my point is if I looked at the team play BEFORE looking at the stats, who helps the team the most without hurting it? I'd put Thompson, Dahlin and Tuch at the top of the list (maybe greenway before he got hurt). And if I said, who is constantly hurting the team, who makes plays that ACTIVELY makes this team worse? I'd put Quinn and Cozens up there. So, plus-minus is not perfect, but to me it tells more of a picture than many people who have discarded it as a state say.

I posted this elsewhere in much more detail, but in response and affirmation of what you said, look at the replay of the first goal allowed. Kulich played in the defensive end like a veteran (or at least how you would think a coach would want you to). It was Quinn that messed up. If you follow the puck around the 2 D-men (Clifton and I forgot who else) did what they should. They covered the front of the net and when the puck went to the boards, Clifton went to the boards to engage. Malenstyn or Mcleod (one of the new guys with an "M") had the high slot covered shading toward the goalies left. The Sabres didn't have the puck, but they were in position. As soon as the puck goes to the boards and Clifton gets near it, Quinn shoots out of the ice and leaves the D-zone. Not only was the puck not out of the zone yet, Clifton got his stick on it but certainly didn't have full control, and the biggest issue is, Quinn was the ONLY one covering the area where McKinnon was. Once Quinn left the defensive zone, there was NO coverage on McKinnon and the puck was on that side of the ice. What happened? The puck went to McKinnon, he carried it for a second or two pretty much uncontested, took the shot and beat UPL for the first Colorado goal. Maybe you are attempting to be aggressive and make the game 5-0....but even if you are playing aggressive, how are you the ONLY one near Nate McKinnon in your own zone, and you leave him in that zone, take yourself out of the play, when the puck is contested on the boards and McKinnon is only about 5-6 feet away from it? Kulich was on the ice and played his position (rather well to my eyes). Quinn did not. One of the most dangerous players in the LEAGUE is on the ice and you are the closest one to him. To leave him to try to get a scoring chance for yourself, that is lacking situational awareness at the minimum, bordering on just being selfish. Quinn for sure was channeling his inner "Cozens" on that one. Quinn had I think was his lowest ice time of the year. I hope its because Lindy saw that play and stapled him to the bench for most of the rest of the game.

I have very little ability to know exactly what certain D-men are 'assigned' to do in the modern NHL, so it is hard to evaluate them, especially outside of the top 2-3 on your team. With that said, I didn't have much of a problem with Johnson's game last year. If we look at him as having a ceiling at most as a 2nd pair guy, then I'm not looking at how many goals he scores or can he QB the PP. Instead, does he not make mistakes and is he at least competent in most aspects of the game. For those 2 thing when we watched him last year, I think he was fine in those areas. Look, He's not going to replace Dahlin, but eventually, does he/can he make guys like Jokiharju and/or Samuelsson expendable or at least not needed as much? My hope is yes. If you are moving on from Jokiharju, lets see if Johnson can take that role and perform just as well for less money, and as he gets experience maybe gets the same money but is a bit better/more reliable.

There is another issue related to the above that I don't think is addressed enough. Getting the games off of a cable-only TV package and/or making them easier and cheaper to watch. I will speak of 5 people I know all between the age of 20-30. 2 nieces that I used to watch hockey games with when they were younger baby-sittting them, our daughter, her boyfriends, and a 2nd cousin. None of them are now Sabres fans, and all used to be at least to a small extent. Why? They do not have cable. They only have streaming, and they are not going to get a cable package. The problem is, when people can't SEE your product, they grow away from your product. They do not buy merchandise, They do not go to games...if they lose exposure to your product, they withdraw from it and stop caring. Most of them are still Bills fans. Our daughter's boyfriend goes to his parents house to watch the Bills game every week (its only 15-20 times per year and usually on a weekend, much easier than the Sabres). My 2nd cousin watches every Bills game via an antenna. I think my two nieces do a combination of both. I know this isn't the case with everyone. But for a lot of younger people who are new to being out on their own, an expensive cable package or a buggy, glitchy, expensive, streaming service that can't even keep the same name for a few years...that isn't a solution.

I'm fine with having him around or insurance, but please lets not get him on the field in place of Hamlin or anyone else currently healthy. The last couple of seaons, it was already obvious Hyde and Poyer lost so much quickness and speed they were liabilities out there. Even if Hamlin doesn't read the offense/plays as well, his edge in athleticism over 'another year older' hyde more than makes up for that to me.

Good. Lafferty isn't playing much. He isn't playing well. He is not a key member or the Roster. But he has been in some locker rooms a lot better than the Sabres...at least he's seen more success. It may not mean much, but I'll be happy to see some players voicing, or showing some signs like this.

Cozens very first shift of the very first preseason game this year everyone on the ice was in position but he was running around all over the ice, was out of position....and the Sabres allowed a goal that was 100% on him. I remember because I posted about it...and I was called out a bit by people telling me basically to settle down, its preseason. Fair enough. Since then nothing has changed. Now I obviously have never coached in the NHL or been in a NHL level film room...I would have no idea just how in depth the coaching and strategy is there. But with my participation in lower level hockey, I think I know the basics. Since that preseason game, I had posted screenshots and diagrams on just how bad he is. He does bad things that no-one else on the roster does and its obvious and it hurts the team. Its gotten to the point that I don't often post it anymore...not because he doesn't do it, but it happens so much its a lot of work and I don't think there are many people left on this forum....that actually still THINK he is a good 2 way player. Right now hes not a good on way player, as you said he is a total liability on the ice in almost every aspect. I bring this up a lot, but the most baffling thing about this team is HOW does he keep getting ice time? How does he get all the offensive zone starts? How he is aloud to play outside of the system that everyone else on the team seems to play and when Cozens deviates from it..it is so obvious and it causes problems for the whole team? How does he still lead ALL FORWARDS on this team in Power play ice time, when he is shooting about 7% this year and has a total of TWO powerplay goals last year and ONE this year? Its not like he is setting up anyone on the PP, He has one PP assist only also. Does Terry think of Cozens so fondly like a long lost son? Is Adams showcasing him so much to the detriment of the team? Does Ruff look at the raw skill (with no execution) and think he will be the coach to 'get through to him' so he has patience with him? Has Cozens family blackmailed the entire front office? I have zero clue how he keeps getting his ice time. And yeah, He must be rubbing off on Quinn. Next to Cozens, I think Quinn is the forward now on the team making the most mistakes causing defensive problems. With both of those guys we are getting the 'double threat'...Little to no production with tons of opportunity, AND the worse players on the ice without the puck.

Florida came into the league as cup champions. As like boxing, the first team that beats them becomes reigning champ (I think it was Ottawa). They are champ until someone beats them and so on and so on. There is a guy on SM that tracks this every year, and right now San Jose is that reigning champion. As for Bedard, I wonder if he is impacted by the couple of minor...but possibly nagging...injuries he has had so far? He looks like a good player, especially for his age (I think 19), but he doesn't seem to have taken that step from last year to this year you would expect with someone of his pedigree.

I think there is a middle ground on the Rex Ryan hiring. I think Brandon may have wanted him, but ultimately it didn't take much convincing for Kim and Terry to go with it. The hiring was on all of them. But I agree with just about everything else you said. Terry is not a good owner. He is somewhere between "A thin skinned boss, not a leader, who takes any criticism personally" and a "owner/fan who treats his team like a 14 year old middle school boy would."

If hockey worked more like boxing, San Jose would be the current champions.

Back then when that whole situation went down, I put it on Lafontaine. Pegula was still rather new here, he told us about hockey heaven, he told us he would do what was needed, spend the money to make the Sabres a winner. If there was friction, well, it wasn't because of our glorious new wonderful owner, could it be? No way! After years have gone by, I look at that as possibly a little bit different.

When you have a 'soft and sensative' owner, you have to be careful. Rip the team, or even question the owner too much (or even a little) and you might have a phone call to your employer asking/tellin you to stop, and if you don't, your press pass (or whatever they call it today) being pulled and only being re-issued to someone in your organization who will not offend Terry so much. Now, I'm not exactly sure how that works in the NHL, but I do know that I would not put that beyond Pegula.

Maybe. The problem is you need an OWNER who also wants a team in Buffalo. If the NHL approves someone new to be an owner, they are going to want someone pretty 'rich' that likes and wants to make money for themself and the other owners. How does Buffalo get a team 'back' when that would likely be in a 30+ year old arena that needs a lot of work, in a city with so many less people and money....versus other massive cities with a ton more money, that probably would be willing to help build a brand new, state of the art arena that simply could not be done in Buffalo (especially with the region and state just giving money to a new stadium for the Bills). Even IF the league wanted a team in Buffalo even more than those other cities (not sure I think that is the case but even if it was true), what multi-Billionaire is going to step forward and choose Buffalo (and the Arena here) as the place they will make even more money vs those other cities?

We are for sure on the same page with your post, you and I. Its just after last nights game, it is very hard to try to convince myself of the above, to be positive, even knowing it may be true. I want Cozens and Quinn 1,000 miles away from this team. I want Lindy to hold a press conference spewing fire and brimstone, calling out names. What you are saying in your above posts makes the most sense, but being a fan is emotional, and its hard to side with the logical side of things right now. I woke up this morning and said I'm going to step away from the team for a while, its not worth it anymore. Yet I am positing as much this morning as any other morning I can remember, at least maybe that is a good thing?

I'm not sure if you are more disappointed in practice being canceled or disappointed in no media availablity. I'd be happy with Lindy talking to the media and calling out names. Just lay into people. Would it help the team play better? Maybe not, but I know Lindy has that in him and I'd just be happy to hear it at this point (make me feel SOMETHING about the team).