mjd1001

I don't have a huge problem with the play of Power and Dahlin and any of the D-men right now. Sure for $11m per year I want Dahlin to score more but they aren't the reason this team is losing their games. Quinn, Cozens, the lack of production lately from Peterka and Thompson....that is where the problem lies right now.

$7m per year is NO WHERE near elite pay. There are about 100 contracts in the NHL right now at $7m per year or more...so that means there are probably 90-100 guys getting paid more than Tage. He hasn't scored in a few games, but to say he doesn't produce to his contract is just garbage. Hes not getting paid a lot in the grand scheme of the league. He probably out-produces/scores goals a $7 per year deal.

Tuch is 28 and has had 4 playoff runs and 66 (SIXTY SIX!) playoff games played. (Cup finals and 7th games) Zucker is almost 33, had been in the playoffs 9 different seasons with 52 games played. McLeod is 25, has played in 4 playoff seasons with 56 games played (Cup finals and 7th games) Greenway is almost 28 and has been in the playoffs 4 different times. Clifton is 29, 5 different years in the playoffs, a deep cup finals run and 44 career playoff games. Malenstyn and Kubel have been in the playoffs (Kubel with 30 career playoff games). They have vets who have been through the playoffs. They have guys who have experienced the playoff runs. The younger guys (now not-so-young for many of them) need to produce. At this point 'youth' and 'lack of veterans' really isn't an excuse anymore.

Cozens just isn't a good shooter. He had the one-timer lined up, and he's not able to pick corners. He pretty much shot it right toward the center of the net and almost into the goaltender.

This team isn't playing bad defensively today. I can't find an major errors in any of the goals allowed. Its just their scoring has totally vanished (almost totally). 12 goals in 7 games (including tonight) just doesn't cut it. Nor does it make for entertaining hockey for the fans to watch.

Adams in trouble? Wishful thinking at this moment. And yeah, who replaces him? likely someone gets promoted, and you get more of the same. Or an outside hire that Pegula only approves if that outside hire will defer to him....and again more of the same.

Agree. I posted very little in the GDT yesterday. Normally I'll post 10-15 times, but I logged off because it was just too negative for me. As for the game, yeah, any NHL team can beat any other on any night, but this Sabres team is better than the Islanders. They have more points, and even then a lot of the Isles points are "OT loser points". The Sabres are positive in goal differential, while the Isles are tied for 4th worse at -12. If the Sabres lose its not the end of their playoff chances at all, but by every measure this is a 'should win' if you want to be considered a semi-serious team at this point in the season. Get it done.

They are 'fine' scoring right now. Do we want them to be better? Sure, but they aren't bad. They are 15th in the league in scoring, even after being shut out last night, even with Tage missing some games. Do we want them to be better? Sure, but its not a 'problem' now. Cozens scoring, Quinn scoring (or lack of) is a problem, but the whole team is decent for now. It DIDN'T happen, but if they would have scored 3 goals last night, they would be in the top 10 in the league in scoring. Again, it didn't, but if/when they have one good game scoring, things will look better. If they score 4 total goals or less in their next 3 games, then maybe I'll be saying something different. But for now, I want more goals, but I don't think its a problem in need of addressing right now.

A Peterka goal would be nice. Hot start, but only 1 goal in his last 9 games (including tonight so far).

They are different players, different positions, different teammates, but there ARE some similarities: Reinhart's worst statistical year with the Sabres was in 2016-17, the 3rd season after he was drafted. Going into Thanksgiving that year, Reinhart had 3 goals and 6 assists through 20 games. Quinn, this year is going into Thanksgiving has 1 goal and 4 assists through 20 games. So a bit worse than Reinhart, but in the same ballpark. FYI, in the 15 games following Thanksgiving that year, Reinhart had 5 goals and 7 assists in those next 15 games. It would be nice if Quinn could have as much of a turnaround in production.

I agreed with everyone you said until you said Joki plus Rosen. I wouldn't even do that. NOT because I over-rate them, but because I think you can get something better than an aging Kreider for those 2 if you wait a bit.

I'd hope not but you never know. Like usual, I want a trade to be done when its a good trade. After 2 losses in a row when people are screaming on here to make a trade I don't want one forced. On the other hand, if a good one presents itself I don't want it NOT to be made just because people feel good about a 3 game winning streak. I believe you make a trade when its a good trade. Not when its forced.

Hedman's development curve was brought up a few years ago on here when discussing Dahlin. I do not remember the every exact detail of the conversation, but I do know that for the first 4-5 YEARS of his career, he was given a lot of ice time but there were questions of "is he really ever going to good enough to justify the 2nd overall pick?" If you look at the awards he has one...NHL All star, 2nd team all star, Norris Trophy, the earliest ANY of that happened was in his 27-28 year old season. If I'm mistaken he wasn't even nominated for the Norris until he was 26-27. So yeah, Hedman is going to the HOF. Maybe Power will never get to be close to that good, but with MOST D-mean, development takes time. They are very, VERY often not even close to the same D-men that they are at age 28 as they are at age 23 or even 24. There are other examples (Karlsson, Charra among others in the past decade or two that were considered almost at the 'bust' level until they were in the league for 4-5 years. Karlsson put up points but he was so bad defensively at first I remember some of the 'insiders' on HNIC saying he was almost unplayable at defense and he needed to be moved to forward.)

Earlier this year I remember him doing an interview talking about criticism where he said something like "I have wide shoulders, I can take it" and then he went on and on after that complaining about all the criticism. No surprise with pro athletes, but to say you can take the criticism and then right away just complain about it....I thought that cleared up any doubt (for me) whether he was a help, or hurt the locker room.

Agree with most of what you said. I don't want to make a move now just because its available. I'd rather wait for the 'right' move rather than the 'right now' move. There WILL be other guys on the market, there are every year.

A chance to look up more stats, I like it: Penalties drawn vs taken so far this year: Best on Sabres: Greenway +4, Kulich +4 (in limited games/ice time), Quinn +3, Peterka +3. Worst so far: Clifton -6, Zucker -5, Cozens -4, Byram -3.

The Owen Power thread has turned into a Bryam thread it seems. After reading through the last few pages, and of course watching the games, right now I think this: Byram is a good D-man, Really good. We can find advanced stats that show he is a good D-man (Dudacek above). There are also some that would show he isn't (GASabresIUFAN). So why do I think he is on the good side of that ledger? -I like advanced stats to add some "depth" or "color" to things, but I think many times the 'eye test' and 'simple stats' are thrown out in favor of the advance stats. Well, simple stats: Hes on pace for 12 goals and 50+ points. He has the best +/- of all D-men. -Next, as i mentioned above, He has been leading the team in even strength ice time over the last 10 games, and he is playing now in all situations. Some may debate whether Lindy Ruff was the best pick to coach this team, but I am sure he knows hockey. And he is choosing to play Bryam more than anyone in the past few weeks and in all situations. -My personal eye test. I don't see him making costly giveaways in the D-zone to cost the team goals. He doesn't blow people up all the time, but he does get to pucks that some slower guys (Samuelsson) doesn't get to, so negates the need to 'blow up' the other guy with the puck. -He's a pretty fast skater. (NHL edge has him clocked at over 23.5 mph skating on the ice in the past year or two, that make him one of the top 30 fasted skaters in the league) He can carry the puck through the D-zone and through the neutral zone without turning it over. Not making bad passes in the neutral zone or not turning the puck over when skating in the neutral zone can sometimes be BETTER for your team defensively than your metrics in your own zone. (not sure if there is a 'fancy stat' to measure that, but from what I see, he's good at it)

Kreider might be good for a year or so, but yeah, I'd not trade anything of substance for him. -33, going to be 34 years old by the end of the year. -Unless he has an injury, it Looks like he hit the same age-related wall Skinner hit last year for sure. If you look at his metrics, he was one of the fastest/best skaters in the league. Last year his numbers skating were down (top speed and 'speed burts'). This year they are way down even from last year, and as a result he is not getting off as many shots. He has zero assists and is getting off 10% less shots than last year. -He's been a 'plus' player by quite a but over the last few years. This year he is a 'minus' player on a plus team. If the Rangers are looking to trade him, I'd be wary. Just like the Sabres had first hand knowledge of Jeff Skinner 'hitting the wall' last year, because they saw him in practice every day, the Rangers have the same visibility on Kreider. Did I mention he is turning 34 later this year, and is signed for 2 more years AFTER this year at $6.5 per? Again, put him on this team and he probably helps the team, but he isn't the player he was...and I think if you are patient, you can find a better fit that won't cost you as much for the next 2 years where that contract is going to be an anchor (you already have Skinner you are paying for, and remember his buyout accelerates to a higher number coming up) I understand the desire to bring in veterans that can help the team now, but I really don't want anymore 'Skinner' type contracts. I'm happy with a guy like Zucker. Wait until the deadline and get another rental like him (or maybe better if you have the assets to trade.) In the mean time, keep looking for a 'hockey' trade where you can get a really good, veteran player closer to his prime even if it means more assets.

Hopefully a sellout, full house. If that happens and they win, putting up at least 4 goals, wow, that will be a fun night.

Out of town scoreboard tonight: -Philly playing Vegas. Flyers just 3 points behind the Sabres with the same games played. Can pull within 1 with a win. -Islanders playing Detroit. Red wings 5 behind the Sabres but with game in hand. Can pull to within 3 with a win. Isles? 2 behind the Sabres. If they win they'll be tied in points (Buf will have one game in hand.) -Senators hosting the Flames. Senators win brings them to within 4 points of Buffalo (same games played after tonight) No one else close to the Sabres playing tonight...But Minnesota is playing the Jets. The current #1 and #2 teams in the league facing off. Kaprizov didn't play last game, but he was practicing full this morning. Last I heard was game time decision. But if he plays and is close to 100%, I'd love to watch this game.

Bryam: -First 11 games average ice time 20:41 per game. 4 times below 19 minutes (17-18m range) -Last 10 games average ice time 24:26 per game. Has not been below 21.5 minutes in any game. One game with 27.5 minutes, one game with 32.5 minutes. He is playing in all situations: end of game, powerplay, penalty killing. In the past 10 games he even has passed Dahlin and now leads the team in even strength time on ice over the last 10 games. Some of us like him, some of us don't. But its pretty obvious Lindy likes him, likes him in all situations and recently in games put him out there more often/more ice time than even Dahlin and Power.

Not directly related to the topic, but I'm looking forward to the game Wed night for a 'nostalgic' reason.... As a kid growing up, a teenager, and even a young adult, I always LOVED 2 games each year. When they had home games the day before Thanksgiving and the old 'Pucks and Tux' or was it "tux and pucks' night on new years eve. If those were exciting games and they played well, It just made the holiday the next day so much better (fun to talk to relatives, cousins about the game the night before when you see them on the holiday)

Sometimes you give up defense to get offense. Sometimes a player giving you 2-3 breakout passes or rushes out of the zone that result in good scoring chances for you are worth 4-5 times you didn't move someone off the puck in the D-zone but none of those resulted in a goal against. I like Bryams game a lot this year, and I think Power is a tad over-rated by some, but hes overall (offense and defense) moved into being a top 100 D-man in the league and I expect him to keep getting batter.

I agree. Right now, at this moment, I'm not in a hurry to force a trade (talk to me again after the next 2 game losing streak and I might tell you something different.) That doesn't mean that this team should not be on the lookout for any moves, and they likely should be making some move between now and the deadline. But...you are 'adding' Tage and Greenway back to the lineup soon, and I'm ok with letting the current roster simmer, gel, (whatever word you want to use)....to see who steps up, continues to step up, or to see who you where relying on but fails to do so. If there is a guy you targeted as a fit for this team and he becomes available and Lindy wants him, then go get him. But I'm not in a hurry to force something now if its not there.

Ultimately, I want the best player to be my backup goalie. If Levi is going to allow one less goal than Reimer, give me Levi most of the time. But I how much it matters in the NHL today having the 'veteran backup'. The Craig Anderson effect. With being in the league so long, are there things he's seen or situations has been in that he can convey to UPL that Levi wouldn't? Knowing he isn't ever going to be a #1 goalie for the rest of his career, is he content in the role he is in and can he even give you 10% of that 'coach on the ice/in the room' that is beneficial? I really don't know. I would hope he can bring some of that.