mjd1001

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.

Another issue with Cozens game. He has taken 7 more penalties than he has drawn...worst among forwards. Benson has taken more penalties (17 to Cozens's 14) but Benson has drawn a LOT more than Cozens (19 to 7) FYI, Greenway, Malenstyn, and Krebs are the best on the team in terms of drawing penalties to put the team on the PP without taking many to put them SH.

Ice time first period: McLeod leading, 11 shifts (most among forwards) and 8:06 minutes (most among forwards) Benson only 4:35 (6 shifts), Quinn 4:11, Malenstyn 4:01 Among D-men, Dahlin and Byrum up top 8:37 and 7:10. Power suprising quite a bit behind them at only 5:42

That is true. Even strength he is a +11 playing with Dahlin, a -5 playing with everyone else combined. His Corsi, Fenwich, expected goals for and against...many of those advanced stats all better with Dahlin than without, some by a wide margin.

Would he take a bridge deal, if so at what cost? -Best plus-minus among all D-men on the team (and a positive player on a negative team) -Top 5 pick in his draft, only 23 years old -Cup winner, playoff experience -getting 1st pair minutes, 2nd on the entire team in ice time -his advanced stats skating metrics off the charts (almost) for a D-man (83rd percentile among all players in top speed, 90th in speed burts...everyting near the top of the league in those metrics) -salary cap going WAY up the next few years.

Might be one of the more interesting stories of the offseason...what does he get paid here, and what term length.

I'm not saying the never have, I'm saying its been a long, long time.

Yep, I'm sure New Jersey really cares about this.

LOTS of empty seats from the looks of it on TV.

When was the last time the Sabres had a player that when they got in a fight, you actually thought they would win more than they would lose?

I remember a lot of similar talk in baseball like that. I'm sure it happens a lot (don't watch baseball anymore) but it was a big deal in the early 2000's Yankees-Red Sox games. You throw at our guy, it doesn't matter if I can't throw at you because you are a pitcher..I'll throw at YOUR best player. Not sure if it worked, but the logic is, the BEST way to prevent cheap shots taken at your team is to take a shot back...not at the offending guy (who often is likely not going to be missed much) but at one of THEIR best players. If the Sabres had the reputation of responding to cheap shots by taking them at the other teams top guys....you may have the coach of the other team tell them to lay off more than by doing anything else.

I'd be happy with either first or the 2nd. Do the first. If you don't, do the 2nd. I slightly favor the 2nd (takign a shot at one of their top guys). Dropping the gloves with Noesen...does that really do anything to prevent this from happening again? I don't think so. Taking a shot at Hughes every chance you get...THAT will get noticed more. Honestly the more I write this and think about it....if an enforcer for the other team was on the ice and took a shot at one of my players..I'd rather NOT challenge him but right away find who is the most skilled player on the ice for the team and go drop the gloves with him...and when that fight is done on the way to the box yell at the enforcer guy that started it something like "how do you like that response".

I know this gets brough up all the time and I get shot down for bringing it up (probably appropriately)....but, can a 'new' vesion of Empire sports network work, with Pegula owning the Sabres, Bills and Bandits (and Amerks?) They can offer it on cable and/or a subscription app. (could probably make a good $$$ on people from out of town signing up for a few dollars a month) The Sabres and Bills radio shows that are already broadcast on MSG Sabres games. Some Amerks games (if allowed). Bandits games. Do stuff on the new Stadium where Maddy Glab just walks around the job site and shows pictures of beams and concrete, I"m sure people would watch that. Replays of those games, and to fill time "classic" games or any other affordable (cheap) team related proggramming the can do (Broadcast the stuff they have on Youtube). I'm not sure if it can be profitable, but they sure would have access to programming. And it might be a good way to 'advertise" for their teams in the local area too.

What is his definition of a #1 D-man? If he gets the money he wants...and if he gets the ice time (he's over 23 minutes per game now) He's right around 30th in the league in ice time. 2nd on the Sabres in overall ice time, and he gets used both PK and PP. Yeah, in the media he will be #2 to Dahlin, but if he gets used as much as a #1 guy, and gets paid what he wants...isn't that good enough? I don't know, just wondering...

I still don't know if the fight did much to change him. Most things about him were the same before the fight and after: Shots per game, high danger chances, ice time, clutch scoring (or lack of it), hits, usage (PK and PP), his stats on skating speed, 'speed burts'...so many things are the same, or very close before the fight and after the fight. Only one single thing changed in a meaningful way from the year before...his shooting percentage. I mean, is it possible that the fight impacted just his ability to shoot accurately and nothing else? I guess, maybe? Its strange that would be the only measurable impacted: Cozens shooting percentage 2022-23: 14.7% (81 games)) Cozens shooting pre-fight 2023-23: 14.3% (11 games) Cozens shooting post fight: 8.4% (120 games)

A team that is currently in playoff position....the Sabres A team that finished last in the conference the last 2 seasons and now moved up quite a bit vs....the Sabres An improving team with the MOST cap space in the league vs....the Sabres A team that has their defense corp in their prime (top 4 averageng 28 years of age) vs....the Sabres A team whos turnaround is so drastic they went from a -63 goal differential last year, and are positive this year vs...the Sabres Basically, a team that, at least for the moment, looks like they are doing a rebuild textbook perfect vs....the Sabres

I used to think there was some carry-over from the way you finished one season to the beginning of the other. Of course, it would depend on what you did in the offseason, but I THOUGHT if you finished strong at the end of one season, it was at least a sign that your team had turned some kind of corner. This team the last few years though....nope. Prove it to me. I'll even take it one step further...this team during the drought has had GOOD starts and then faded and missed the playoffs. I'm not going to beleilve anything with this team until they can complete a 95+ point, in the playoff season.