Forecheck

Stamkos will be looking to sign with a contender, not Buffalo. He’s made plenty of money in his career, big bucks here won’t sway him. I’m guessing he’s pretty used to winning after his years in Tampa, he will be looking at a chance for the cup. If for some reason, none of the top 10 teams in the league want him, maybe at that point we’d have a slight chance, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that no matter what we offer. Buffalo would have had a better chance at Kane than Stamkos you’d think, and Kane shunned us two years in a row to sign with Detroit. If Kane doesn’t want to be here, I have a very hard time believing Stamkos would be interested at all.

Yep. I’ve been happy for all the guys that escape this organization and actually get to play meaningful hockey. Except maybe Okposo this year.

Playoff hockey, the Florida game last night and tonight’s Rangers game 10000x better than any of the crap we’ve suffered through the past 13 years. God I miss real hockey.

Watching a game like this just reminds us all just how far away the Sabres are from ever being a dominant, successful playoff team. They may make the playoffs next year or year after, but to actually be tough and succeed in the playoffs I just don’t see it with the makeup of most of the roster.

Islanders are done. You blow a game like that, they will be golfing after game 4

Lol Crosby is golfing because his GM decided to be a seller at the deadline over Crosby’s objections. And Crosby was the Pens best player the final six weeks. So not sure your point.

Well I’d agree that even a Drury type player won’t change the culture in Buffalo anymore. In the past 13 years there have been several iteration's of rosters or mini eras and none of them knew how to win. So I’m not expecting any savior to come in and save this franchise at this point. The product on the ice the past 13 years is FAR more than the quality of players on the roster. We’ve had talent here and it hasn’t mattered. The real change needs to come from above from the head coach, GM etc Maybe one of these days we will find the right combination. Done holding my breath waiting on it though. Will be happy whenever it finally happens.

None of your “leaders” mentioned know how to win, Tuch with some experience with Vegas. I strongly believe they need a vet or two with winning experience that can actually contribute to the product on the ice. Erik Johnson wasn’t that guy. We have plenty of guys with experience now. We don’t have enough guys with experience winning games. There is a difference. Chris Drury changed the culture in the locker room years ago, THATS the kind of leader they need to bring in. But with no move clauses being what they are these days, I don’t think there is another Drury type that will ever agree to a trade to Buffalo sadly.

It is more than plausible that both the GM and the head coach sucked this past year. Granted, Adams didn’t do much to help Granato this past year other than running it back with mostly the same roster. But also according to almost every player exit interview, Granato wasn’t doing nearly enough. I’m glad Granato is gone, would be pleased if they moved on from Adams, but that’s not happening apparently. Adams has one more season to save his butt or he will follow Granato out the door in 12 months.

He’s definitely my top choice. I wouldn’t mind Berube, but I’m hopeful we can nab Gallant. Wanted him years ago too when we had one of our numerous openings.

Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch all mentioned the players needed to be pushed more, more accountability etc. Those are three of the biggest “leaders” on this team now and going forward all admitting motivation and accountability wasn’t there this year. Something a lot of posters all mentioned and complained about frequently. Quite an indictment of the players and coaching staff indeed. Certainly sounds like a disciplinarian coach is incoming and is sorely needed.

Agreed. I like Berube and what he would bring, but kind of a small sample size with his coaching career. I’d put him in my top 5-6 for head coach wish list, but definitely there are others I’d prefer. If we are going experienced, I’d like to see a coach who has won in multiple organizations, that way you know it wasn’t a fluke.

Hoppe was right!! He must have had a good secret source he didn’t want to name.

You know what, you’re absolutely right. Good call. Major brain fart on my part.

Don’t know how much it’ll mean, but Hoppe goes WAY back with Pegula. Knew him decades ago and has kept close with Terry over the years. He doesn’t trumpet it often, but he’s mentioned it before. So the article could be conjecture on his part, but he also may have spoken to Pegula and Pegula asked him not to attribute anything to him directly. We will all know soon enough if this article is accurate or not.

Funnier still the ones that brag about it here

lol excellent use of a timeout here meathead

A lot of the forwards on this team had career years last year and now this year regressed to the mean. Everybody thought the offense was figured out. It wasn’t. Now this year people think the goaltending problem is solved because UPL has had half a great season. He absolutely could regress back to the mean. There is no guarantee this is who he is going forward consistently. In fact, I’d highly bet against that. Would love to be wrong. Lesson to be learned is there was pretty much zero carry over from last years team to this years team, even though it was essentially the same group of players. All they have proven is they are inconsistent. Adams, if he’s still in charge in a few weeks, should not remotely think about standing pat. Always look to improve the roster. Hopefully there will be at least 3-4 new faces in the lineup next year, and preferably 5-6.

You can pronounce them dead every Thanksgiving and you won’t be wrong. I know I did.

If Adams accomplishes 10% of your list, I’ll be SHOCKED.

There will still be a couple stragglers guaranteed.

My guess is UPL will want 5x5 Sabres would prefer 3x3 Most likely it’ll end up somewhere in the middle. I’ll say 4x4.25

They will miss by 3 points

Yep hence my good win statement for the reading comprehension impaired amongst us.

Pretty sad when you can’t score into an empty net for a full four minutes. Only Buffalo. Decent second half of the game and good win tonight.