Forecheck

I definitely don’t blame fans who thought this year would maybe finally be our breakthrough year after last seasons results. But I still blame KA for not doing enough to upgrade the team in the offseason and being satisfied way too easily. I was uneasy back in July when it was apparent we weren’t adding anyone meaningful to the roster. I started dreading this exact season coming. Where the next step wasn’t taken and it shouldn’t have been assumed by Adams that it would. He had the cap space and assets to do whatever he wanted. He chose to basically stand pat and count on progression of the youngsters.

Yeah I mean that’s been the problem the last couple times around. That’s how we ended up with Ralph and then Granato. No real coaches were interested in coming here. I have no doubt Pegula would really have to offer a huge salary and apparently even that wasn’t enough in the past to get Babcock years ago.

I’m hoping an 0-3 west coast trip would be the final nail in Granato’s coffin, wishful thinking I know. But if they were to lose all three and then have 9-10 days off before their next game, there will never be a more perfect time to make a coaching change. Just food for thought. Although I’m sure even going 0-3 on this trip won’t result in any changes. But maybe now Pegula will have more time to pay attention to his lesser toy and actually get embarrassed enough to call for a change.

I would really really love to see the arena empty on Monday. Between the storm recovery and the Bills game at 4:30, there is a perfect chance for Sabres fans to embarrass Pegula and legitimately refuse to show up for Monday’s game. I’d give anything to see it. But I know there are still too many Sabres fans that are gluttons for punishment and keep going to these games. Pegula won’t change anything until he is embarrassed enough to where he feels he must make a change. Please stop going to these games.

Rob Ray “this could have been the best game the Sabres have played this season”. Just when you think he can’t get any more stupid. When we inevitably fire Granato and Adams, can they take Razor with them??

With the two points, Vancouver has now moved into first place overall in the league. Impressive improvement for a team that last year was brave enough to make a needed coaching change. Sometimes coaching changes work. Not for us really, but we can always hope the next one will work out.

I mean Demko is pretty good. But as an overall statement you are correct. The Sabres almost always make opposing goalies look great.

He coaches circles around anyone that’s behind the Buffalo bench for years. WGAF how he’s dressed?

Well my New Year’s partying is commencing full tilt now. Getting these losers off my tv. Be safe tonight everyone.

That they can’t consistently play winning hockey.

The Sabres special. If they don’t give up the dreaded early goal, they excel at giving up goals late in periods as well. Always completely demoralizing goals at terrible times.

Once he goes down, that’s it. He has zero lateral movement or quickness to recover. Always been an issue.

Glad to see EJ finally contributing to the 2023-24 season.

Many think this team will change and turn the corner and that theyve had their wake up call when they beat a good team. It happens every week or two around here. They played great tonight. But that all it was. Tonight. One game. There is ZERO chance of this team having a 10 game unbeaten streak. I think there is zero chance of them having a five game unbeaten streak. Just too inconsistent for any kind of prolonged streak sadly.

Yep. This coaching staff has no answers on how to fix this. So now in desperation they are going to revert to, “well we are going back to playing run and gun like last year and figure out defense whenever”. I don’t doubt they may start winning more than they have been this season with this approach, but it still smacks of desperation and of a coaching staff that has no clue on how to properly coach this team.

Exactly. I’m not trying to pile on Donny or be a downer after a huge win. I’m dead serious when I say you see just how amazing this club can be at their best. Just imagine them under a coaching staff that actually has the ability to bring this out of them far more often and enough to be a winning, playoff caliber team. This current staff has proven they can’t get this type of consistent play out of this team. It’s going to continue to be one step forward, one step back. And that will not get Buffalo into the playoffs.

Exactly. Now just imagine them under a real coaching staff. The sky would be the limit. Too bad we will never see it.

All I know is, IF Kevyn Adams could ever be shown the door, and the Sabres brought in a real, experienced NHL GM, I’m betting one of the very first things he would do is find an actual good veteran competent goaltender. And if he had to part with some prospects or a roster player or two to accomplish this, it would be done immediately.

Agree with your first sentiment. Okposo is a terrible captain right now for what this team needs. He’s never been a winner, so I have zero idea how he is supposed to “teach” the kids how to win, when he himself has never done so. And yes he is wayyy too nice to be effective as captain. I will disagree with your last comment though because Peca was late 90s captain and was great. But Chris Drury came after Peca and was a very legit captain and was a major reason the Sabres were amazing from 2005-2007. A Drury type of captain on this team could do wonders. Thats my hesitancy with Dahlin getting the C, I have serious doubts he would get in people’s faces, but maybe he would prove me wrong.

Pegula was just in Buffalo not even two days ago for the Bills game. In fact, Terry Pegula attends EVERY Bills game home and away. So the Florida excuse holds no water. The Bills are his favorite toy and it’s not even close. It’s also understandable, they are a winning franchise and worth a hell of a lot more than the Sabres. I believe once the football season ends each year, then Terry pays more attention to the Sabres, but not from August-January and he never has nor ever will attend every Sabres game. The Sabres are his hobby, the Bills are his life.

Smart players who actually want to win in this league are the ones who stay away from this franchise. The ones who want to be here you now have to question.

Lol it only took being down by a million. He’s a genius. I stopped listening to Razor years ago, everyone should. Can’t remember the last time when something useful actually came out of his mouth.

Not in Buffalo. Normal franchises, yes.

Completely agree. I haven’t gone in person in three years and at this rate, it’ll be at least another three years before I feel confident enough to spend money on this sh*tshow of a franchise.

Unless and until Pegula gets pissed off enough to demand a change, nothing will happen sadly. And between it A) being the holidays B) Granato’s brother with cancer C) Bills finishing their season and hopefully heading into the playoffs, Pegula has enough significant distractions going on that he won’t pull the trigger on Granato.