mjd1001

I have not been to Vegas or Nashville in the arena. I have been to Little Ceasars in Detroit, and over the past decade most recently in Columbus, Boston, and Pittsburgh and they all blow away the KBC. In Buffalo, I go to my seats and thats it, when the game is over leave. In those other arenas, its an experience. I have fun in the arena, I want to see what is going on outside them, I could just walk around and look at the different levels and viewpoints. So Yes, KBC does its job for being a place to watch hocky. But as I said above, if I am ONLY interested in the game....I get the best viewing experience at home. I go to the arena for the game, and a night out, and to see the game and enjoy other things...and KBC is seriously lacking compared to other places around the league.

An outside owner from a big city with deep pockets doesn't care about a $2b stadium in Buffalo. Especially when a market that might be 5 to 10 times the size that will builid a $5B stadium to lure them away is waiting.

And Ovechkin with 2 more tonight. 5 goals in the last 2 days. Leading the league. 15 goals in 18 games. Thats nearly a 70 goal pace. I know he's not going to keep up that pace, but its really beyond understanding how he is doing it at 39 years old (and looks like he's closing in on 50)

If I like Hockey, i'm watching it at home. I get access to my computer, better replays, High def gives me a better view of the game than most seats in the arena. As a pure 'fan', I can watch, analyze, and enjoy 'the game' better at home. I can go to NHL.com and watch the replay of every goal minutes after it was scored, from numerous angles, and go frame-by-frame if I want. I would primarily go to the Arena over watching the game at home for the Arena experience and atmosphere.. Just as a hockey fan, only caring about the game, I get the better experience at home. The only way you drag me to the Arena is for the extras, the amenities, etc. Its not like 20+ years ago when the TV broadcast had a total of 4 cameras (maybe), low-def, and many of we were watching it on 27 inch or less TV screens, while the older Arenas in the league had you sit CLOSER to the ice than the current ones.

Yeah, the common theme is "but they have a new stadium, they aren't going anywhere". Maybe for a bit, and we aren't worried about the next 5-10 years... But a $2billion dollar stadium in a metro area with 1 million people isn't going to anchor a team here. We already have had $5+ billion dollar stadiums (Sofi) and Allegiant field in Vegas would probably cost $3-$4B today if it was started. If Toronto had an opportunity for a team, I don't think I would put it by anyone to build a $5-$6Billion dollar stadium that would generate the owners and the NFL so much revenue, plus the region has about 5-7 times the population, and probably 20 times the wealth. I'm not trying to start a doom-and-gloom thread here....the hopful scenario is that the team stays in the Pegula family for the next generation. But that new stadium won't do much to keep the team in WNY beyond 10 years past its opening. The good news about the story above is that it says its investors with ties to the STATE of NY (doesn't necessarily mean NY city money). State of NY could be people with ties to upstate/WNY.

I think Rosen as an NHL'er is more of a 3rd,4th line guy. Kulich has the potential if all things go correctly to be a top 2 liner. Rosen, while not a big, physical bruiser, I think plays a 'smarter' game. If anyone wants him to be a 20-30 goal scorer, I don't think that is how he gets to the NHL. I think what he may end up being, if he turns into an NHL guy, is a 10-15 goal, 30-40 point potential guy that plays a hell of a defensive game (positionally). Maybe a different look/style on the ice, but end result, I think Rosen's ceiling for results is something like Hecht was 2 decades ago.

I don't think its really about being a backup, but he needs to learn to just be plain better.. The speed of the game is something that I don't think practice can prepare you for. And watching Levi play, a few things came to mind on some goals he allowed recently (or almost allowed): -The NHL players are a LOT better than what he has played against (obviously). I'm not saying he can't make the save, but he may have been able to make saves in the past in ways he cannot now. He is small, but in college, he may never had to come out of the net all that far because guys weren't picking corners over the shoulder on him. He needs game reps to see just how far he needs to come out, and when he does leave the crease to know how far he CAN come out of the net and still recover. -Reading his D-men. 2 or 3 times in this season he didn't 'face up' to the shooter and the winger coming in on him during 2 on 1s and 2 on 2s, because it was almost like he was preparing for a move to the other direction if needed, but there was either no one in that other direction, or he had a teammate/D-man there to cover that side. You have a better chance of not getting beat with a great shot from the left if you aren't worried about someone trailing from the right...and if your D has the right covered, come out and challenge to the left. -He also isn't tracking the puck behind the net well. 2 times in the last 3 or 4 games, an opposing player had the puck behind the net, faked to one side and went to the other, Levi fell for the fake and almost didn't get back to cover the side the puck was going to. Again, to me that means he needs to 'adjust' to the speed of the pro game. He needs to try out what he can and can't do in games and I'd MUCH rather have him push his limits to see what he's capable of doing while with the Amerks vs with the Sabres. It just seems to me there is a lot more to playing goalie than 'making the save'. its reading the play. Its recognizing attack patterns opposing teams have. Its knowing where your D-men are, how to communicate with them and recognizing when to challenge a shooter or not based on the location of your D-men. You are learning that with in-game experience, and with watching video after games of what you did correctly, and what you did wrong. NHL or AHL, there will be more 'in game' video for him to watch and analyze if he plays games. Something you can't have him doing a lot with the big club right now.

And the hat trick. What is wrong with 'kids' these days? 39 year old Alex Ovechkin leading the league in goals (tied with 2 others but Ovi has done it in less games). I guess it must be true what they say, anyone under 35 is just lazy.😁

And another later in the game. He really wants Gretzky's record this season.

At this point I have to say yes. I still think occasionally....Bruce Smith. I think DE just isn't as important as QB so that pushes things in Allen's favor. But, Bruce, I feel was probably in the top 5 DE's of all time. Allen? I'm not sure I'd put him yet as one of the top 5 QB's of all time. Again though, position importance matters.

Ovechkin scores again, now has at least 1 goal in 9 of the last 14 games.

For most teams, and certainly fans, the way to do things is 1.) spend money on a good players and staff. 2.) your team gets better. 3.) fans want to see your team, you raise ticket prices and make a ton of money when they fill the arena. 4.) you get richer. Pegula no longer wants to even take that chance. He wants to 1.) stay rich. 2.) have the team get better 'just because'. 3.) won't spend the money until the fans prove they will pay money so he won't take any kind of loss. Its like some strange version of an Episode of the Simpons from 20+ years ago....If Pegula could spend $1 to make the team better, he just might think he would be happier WITH that $1 instead. Plus, I think the Bills being good right now is bad for the Sabres. If he owned ONLY the Sabres, he might be more interested in the ONE professional sports team he would won not being a total embarrassment. But as long as the Bills are good, he can ignore the Sabres and just 'look the other way' at his 'nicer' toy.

Pegula won't fire Adams until he finds someone else who will take order from him, let Terry play 'gm behind the curtain' and take the blame when things go wrong.

Quinn is playing in some kind of fog. I know he didin't have a concussion, but he seems like someone who had a major concussion and came back way too early. Cozens is just a bad hockey player right now, he hurts more than he helps. He IS usually good at generating his own shots (sometimes good shots) but he is bad at shooting accuracy, bad at neutral zone and defensive zone positioning, bad at faceoffs, bad at setting up his line-mates well and making those on the ice better around him. Right now he's not 'just not performing to expectations', he is actually, legitimately bad.

So, more than enough room to sign Peterka, pay for Skinner's increased cap buyout coming up, probably sign Byrum....AND...is it too late to get ANYTHING of value back for Cozens if you trade him and retain a bit? Also, prepare to overpay for a 2nd line winger if Quinn doesn't snap out of whatever he is in right now.

Its also time for UPL to be healthy and Levi to get some time in Rochester. Since last year and including this year: UPL: 2.62 GAA, .909 save %, team plays at a 91 point pace (not good enough most years but WOULD be in a playoff position this year) Levi: 3.29 GAA, .893 save %, team plays at a 79 point pace.

As of this morning, 8th place in the conference is still only .500 in terms of point percentage. Sabres are at .472. A win last night WOULD have put them at .527 (in sole possession of a playoff spot) They are only 1 point back. After last nights game if feels a lot worse than that. They need Tage and UPL back healthy.

I love doing scoring paces per 82! Jeff Skinner: 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, -32, 13:42 ice time per game Dylan Cozens: 14 goals, 18 assists, 32 points, -32, 17:48 ice time per game Jack Quinn: 5 goals (All empty netters!), 19 assists, 24 points, -29, 15:06 ice time per game. Some others: Tage: 56 goals, 36 assists, 92 points, +36, 18:19 ice time per game Tuch: 23 goals, 55 assists, 78 points, +36, 20:01 ice time per game (he kills penalties a lot now too)) Peterka: 36 goals, 46 assists, 82 points, +15, 18:05 ice timer per game McLeod: 27 goals, 27 assists, 54 points, +32, 15:58 ice time per game Zucker: 14 goals, 41 assists, 55 points, +9, 15:08 ice timer per game It is obvious to me the Sabres have a legit 1st line. Now like any other first line in the league they aren't going to score EVERY game, but when they are together, they are playing great. The 3rd line also. Extremely legit 3rd line so far. Many winning teams would be happy with that 3rd line. The issue is the Cozens/Quinn Benson(whoever else) line but especially Cozens and Quinn. When your first line doesn't produce, you can still win games if your 2nd and/or 3rd line step up. You need your 2nd line to get you at least 60 goals, probably more. They aren't even getting half that from their 2nd line. IF the 2nd line would just be meeting their career averages in production, this team might have a few more wins. But its not just their production, that line is also making more defensive mistakes, turning the puck over, and making bad decisions in the neutral zone, probably more than any of the other lines also. "thinking" on ice is not Cozens strong suit...for a week or so he got better, but the last few games he is reverting back to what he normally is, and that isn't good. Last night was Cozens night to step up. Tage is out. You are playing an 'average' team. You are an "A" on this team, supposedly the highest ranking Center without Tage. You are the $7m guy. And what did we get? Barely a whimper. Yeah, the team has a few problems. I'm ready to drive Levi down to Rochester myself and keep him there until the calendar hits 2025, but with UPL hurt, what do you do? But think of it this way: Suppose the Cozens line makes just one less dumb neutral zone or D-zone play every 3-4 games that results in a goal against. That saves you at least 3-4 goals this year so far. Now pretend they are both on mid-20 goal paces (not 30+, just mid 20). That gets you at about 6 more goals (maybe more depending on their linemate) Sprinkle in 6+ goals and take away 3-4 allowed over the course of the season, and you have an extra 1-3 wins likely and are in a lot better shape in the playoff race.

Of course the question is, if who he sold them to would keep them here. That is the key. But if there was another owner that would keep them hear, of course yes, sell them, 100%. He has been the worst owner overseeing the worst stretch by any of the 4 major sports teams in North American in modern history.

Quinn and Cozens so far this year...2 guys that I think most thought of would give you 20+ goals and decent hopes for 30. At least 50+ goals between them was a decent expectation going into the season.... Between both of them combined: 35 games played. 4 goals (one being an empty netter) 78 shots. That is a 5.1% shooting percentage. -13.

This game just reinforces that the only two potential difference makers on this team seem to be Tage and UPL... And that's when UPL isn't having a bad game. Levi isn't ready. It's not just tonight's game but he hasn't made many good saves all year. I'm trying to hold on to the hope that Cozens is just very streaky, but he doesn't seem to be any kind of a difference maker at all for what he's getting paid. It's hard to comprehend how him and Tage could be getting paid basically the same thing.

good point, but with Skinner and a little hindsight, maybe its not just him: -Brindamour took over in Carolina coaching in 2018, it was the offseason he took over that Carolina decided to trade him to Buffalo. It looks like Brindamour wanted nothing to do with Skinner. -After ONE good season with Housley, Krueger took over and he wanted nothing to do with Skinnner as we all know. -Skinner did pretty good under Granato, then Ruff took over and the Sabres (possibly with input from Ruff) wanted nothing to do with Skinner, to the extent of an expensive buyout. -He goes to Edmonton. It took to the 4th game of the season for his ice time to be cut below 15 minutes per game and have him mostly off the first 2 lines. The last 2 games he's averaged right around 10 minutes (or under) of ice time. It appears over most of his career, many of his coaches have a VERY short leash with him and are quick to cut his ice time down, or downright want him no-where near their team. Krueger didn't want him at all on his team, nor Brindamour, Nor Ruff, and after 1 month in Edmonton he's getting the same treatment there.

They may have seen the first part of that cliff: -0 goals in his last 13 games for the Sabres last year (really bad for a guy whos only job is to score goals.) -no goals in 32 of his last 36 games with the Sabres. I would have been good with them giving him another year at the time of the buyout....Looks like the team was correct and I was wrong on that one.

Thats interesting, I don't have facebook so nothing loads, but is it a current pictures? Is he taking a trip with the team?

I got flooded on Bluesky this morning with a bunch of Buffalo Bills posts directly from them. Sabres have an account, but still nothing from them. Kinda odd that the Bills are posting a lot on there but zero from the Sabres.