GASabresIUFAN

.... and Power hasn't been much better. I said the Byram Power pair was a mistake in camp and I'm not surprised that it failed miserably. When Cozens, Power, Byram and Quinn are your worst players, your team is in trouble. Power and Cozen are grossly overpaid at 15 mill. Combine them with Byram and Quinn is a huge problem for this team as they are central players to Adams rebuild. Quinn and Byram, two other high draft picks, are at least playing their way into cheaper contracts. To bad Casey only has 13 points (6 goals) in 10 games. No way the Sabres could use a player like that.

This was my first instinct as well and wrote earlier that I doubted whether Lindy would change things when he had 2 lines working. However, Cozens and Quinn are too talented to not get anything from them and they are not working as linemates. Unfortunately to try to get them going means changing up the lines. The other issue is what is the highest and best use of Dylan Cozens. I think his best position is as a winger. I remember that moving Casey to the wing got him going, helped him gain confidence and he was able to migrate back to center and remain effective. McLeod as also played so well, that it couldn't hurt to try him with scoring wingers like Cozens and Tuch.

Dear Lindy, Please try Cozen’s on the wing! Please! I know Quinn hasn’t earned the job, but I’d like to see how the following looks JJP TNT Quinn Cozens McLeod Tuch Zucker Benson/Krebs/Kulich Greenway Whomever Lafferty Whomever

So after watching the Panthers game, it’s pretty clear TNT has the O skills to be an elite center. Sadly, nearly everything else is lacking. Watching him vs Barkov is pretty clear which one does everything for his team and which one doesn’t.

Bad defense. Power was trash again today, but so were most of partners in crime. I don’t blame UPL tonight. He was hung out to dry by a team unwilling or unable to play good defense.

It feels like we are a 500 team like everyone else. The good news is that they are a 500 team that has won 3 in a row for the first time in who knows how long.

One issue that must be worked out is how to handle prospects drafted from the CHL that sign with a US College after a few season in the CHL. Does the NHL team retain that player's rights when the move to college or do the rights expire like any other CHL player? If an NHL team does retain the rights, how long are they retained for? Would it be a 4 year max between the two leagues or up to 4 more years once they enter college? Also what about ELC slides? If you sign a CHL player to an ELC, but then that player goes to college, how long would the ELC slide. I'm assuming since college athletes are really no longer "amateurs" that a kid can sign an ELC and still go to college. Maybe not, but that seems more logical given the current NIL environment.

I like the 3rd goalie idea. The only issue is that aren't enough good goalies to go around now. I'd like to see a change to the PP and Penalty Shot rules. 1). If awarded a penalty shot, a team can elect to take the 2 minutes instead and/or in the alternative a team that take's a PS and misses is still awarded a 1 min PP. 2) I'd like to see PPs broken up by a period ending, the team on the PP, if they are in the O-zone when the period expires, get the faceoff at the start of the next period in the O-zone.

Nice win today and a fine job by the Sabres to bounce back from 0-3 to NHL 500 at 4-4-1. Beating a division rival in regulation is always a good thing and it was nice to see Dahlin playing better and to watch Thompson continue his fine play. It was pretty clear that TNT's line was the best line on the ice for either team. I also liked that despite another significant lull in their play mid-game, they rebounded after the tying goal to retake the lead. The PP remains a huge issue. Despite their 1st PP goal of the year, continued bad decision making with the puck cost the team a shortie and helped get Det back into the game. On the last 2 PPs for the Sabres they recorded a single shot while surrendering 2 shots and a goal. I also noticed that they continue to try to set up TNT for the one timer. I don't know why they expect better results if they are basically running the same failed PP as last season.

I think I now understand the issues with the PP. They just make bad decisions with the puck. I counted 5 before the shortie. They had 3 opportunities to get the puck deep in the zone and didn’t. They actually make better decisions when they just play naturally instead in a half court type offense on the PP.

Yeah a PP goal.

The Sabres are 3-1-1 in their last 5 and their 5 on 5 offense has come alive. Nearly all the offense has come from TNT's line and McLeod's line. Ruff has rewarded McLeod's "3rd" line with additional ice time and has been rewarded for that trust. As of this post our goal leaders are TNT (5), McLeod (4), JJP (4), Tuch (3) and Greenway (2). Our assists leaders are Tuch (6) and Zucker (5). Notice what's missing? How about the entire "2nd" line. This isn't just a Cozens issue. Cozens, Quinn, and Benson have played 21 games between and have generated a stat line of 0g - 3a and a -10. Only injury fill-in Kulich has scored and he has 1g & 0a in 6 games. With Benson now hurt and Quinn likely headed to the pressbox, our former 2nd line is, for at least the next game, Cozens, Kulich and Krebs. Who saw that coming during camp? For this team to compete for a playoff spot, Cozens and Quinn must produce. Asking McLeod, Zucker and Greenway to carry the load of depth scoring is asking to much. Remember, Greenway has never had more than 12 goals in season across 7 NHL seasons and McLeod career high is 12 as well over 3 NHL seasons. Zucker, 32, who has been a solid scorer through his career, has yet to score, but instead seems to be the playmaker for the line (5 assists), despite never really playing that role over 11 seasons. The point being, the McLeod line hot streak is going to end at some point and we need someone else to step up and that has to be Cozens and Co. The question is how does Lindy get the line moving without f-ing up the chemistry of the TNT and McLeod lines? With Krebs on the line, will Lindy finally try Cozens on the RW?

So you are saying he is Drew Stafford.

It may be a decade before we can adequately evaluate this trade. Does McLeod keep up the scoring this season and beyond? Will he be re-signed this off-season and if so how long does he last with the Sabres? When (if?) does Savoie make the NHL? What’s his production? How long does he last with the Oilers? What impact does either guy have on their new teams? The trade perception will also be affected by how our other prospects do relative to Savoie. It may not be fair since we don’t know who Edm asked for or whom Adams refused to part with, but the comparisons will be made; such as why did we keep Kulich and Östlund over Savoie.

While there is some truth in your comment, for many players you kind of know what they are by 22. They may not be fully physically mature, but their games are pretty close to what we should expect. Take Eichel for example. He has yet to top his pt total from age 22 or his goal total from age 23. He is basically a pt a fame player who, if he plays a full season, will score 25-30 and add about 50-60 assists. The problem with Cozens is regression. Injuries are a factor, but also I think his game has slipped. He broke out at 21, regressed last year at 22 from 68 pts to 47 and now at 23 he has 2 pts in 8 games (20 pts pace). This is terrible production from the 2nd line center.

So we are congratulating the PP for not completely sucking for a change but still not scoring. Wow! Last I looked this is a results oriented business. No excuses. For a team that is clearly finding their game 5 on 5 to not score on the PP is a coaching problem.

I’m thrilled with what I’ve seen from McLeod so far. However 7 games does not a season make nor is it adequate to evaluate a trade. So far so good is all we can say and hope it continues all season. I am glad that Lindy is increasing the PT for the “3rd” line as they have earned the PT with their play. Hopefully, their fine play will take the pressure off the Cozens line and allow them to play more relaxed.

Last was probably the best overall game I’ve seen from Krebs as a Sabres. That said, I agree with you that the jury is still out on Krebs and I don’t see the long-term fit.

No. McLeod’s play so far this season has been a huge bonus for the team. The instant chemistry between Greenway Zucker and McLeod has been a huge help to the team so far and has bought time for the failing 2nd line to find their games. If McLeod plays like this all season, the trade will go down as KA’s best trade since the tear down. Of course, McLeod is in a contract year.

He isn’t one of the best D in the league. He’s not even close. I’m not asking him to rip peoples’ heads off. I just need him to use his size to knock people off the puck, clear the crease etc…. Ruff wants this as well. I’m glad he is picking it up offensively, but of he is going to become a top D, he must be better in the D zone (as the Althetic’s Fairburn pointed out today) and be more physical. Truthfully it’s not asking to much of a guy getting paid as a top D to play like one.

A mediocre overpaid defenseman who isn't physical despite his size and is average defensively?

The Good: UPL, Krebs, McLeod The Bad: The 3rd period once Dallas pulled the goalie. The Ugly: The PP, the 2nd line primarily Cozens and Quinn. Serious Dylan, can’t you even hit an open net? Lots of positives in this game, but we serious need new ideas on both special teams. The 6 on 5 play was terrible.

0-22 and counting.

That eliminated most of the Sabres forwards.

Since none of those 3 have been good or even decent so far this season, it’s really telling how bad Dahlin’s been.