PerreaultForever

Well that's fine, and it's not wrong, but if Ruff keeps trying the same things that aren't working it's empty words. Second line just doesn't work.

It's simpler than that. If a GM builds a team that steadily improves and wins he did a decent job. If his team fails to win and keeps missing the playoffs without progressing he did a bad job and his moves can all be critiqued. Adams has been here long enough to put him into that latter category unless they win and make the playoffs this year. Now if he trades Byram, then I can only think the cheapo owner doesn't care about winning. It's not that I like Byram, if anyone's read me they know I don't and I think that was a bad trade, but if you trade one guy away because you don't want to pay him and then trade the guy you got the next year because his contract is coming up then it starts to look like you just don't want to pay anybody. idk, it seems obvious to me. Our projected second line scorers aren't getting the job done and you have cap room and trade capital so you go get a winger to try to fix that hole. Not doing anything with that problem pisses away another season. Can't imagine any GM (experienced or inexperienced) can't see that so unless he is being prevented from doing it by the owner, he needs to fix it or be fired for not fixing it. Simple as that.

Beatable. Can't afford to toss these games away. Key to the game is net front on both ends imo.

I don't remember him but did he ever play D for them? If not he doesn't qualify 🙂 I'm thinking Val James might have been a D man who played wing as well but I'm not sure. I think Lee Fogolin had some wing time as well, much like Lindy was used. Lindy was actually a pretty bad D man when he started, which is why he was put on the wing to hit people as he had a lot of raw skill and size.

It's not ideal but if you don't have any decent forwards to sub in........... Personally I think it only works if you have a bruising D man who you can throw onto the 4th line wing for some shifts. There was probably a more recent example of a Sabres D man playing wing but the last time I remember that clearly was when that D man was named.................wait for it.................Lindy Ruff.

So if Thompson's out there actually is no spare forward. They can run with 7 D but otherwise it's Abe-Kubel onto the 4th line, Lafferty over to center, Krebs up to the 3rd and McLeod up to the first. Quinn gets to play no matter how much he sucks. Yay.

Their PP did look decent so I'd worry about that a little. Maybe we get the back up goalie?

I want a situation where he has to start to realize he needs to earn it and not just be handed it. Quinn just lacks all effort. He needs a wake up call. Problem is Abe-Kubel is a 4th liner fringe player so you end up putting Krebs higher and that doesn't fix a whole lot. We're a good forward short. The much heralded 4th line hasn't really impressed me either.

Should have traded him to Philly. How he played this year was one of the question marks for how this season would go so not good. D is thin now to say the least.

Ottawa looked good, but Toronto looked bad. Boston played one good period and that's all they needed so that tells you the Blues can be beaten with a little effort.

Yes, because they are too stupid to add a forward so that they can sit Quinn in the press box where he belongs. But yes, it'll be 3 goalies and then who knows.

Fair enough. They seem set on playing Quinn so that's why I named him (and Benson was hurt at the time) with Cozens but I'd like to see Quinn bumped out of the starting line up for sure.

"big" to me implies moving one or two of our name players and bringing in something different but who knows. Personally I want a rugged winger to play beside Cozens so that Quinn can be sat until he gets his game together. A fast scorer would be fine but a solid veteran all the same. I still think they should target Trent Frederic. Bruins aren't happy with his play this year and he's a UFA. Price shouldn't be that high and he'd be a good add here.

impatient? ffs, Cozens got a big contract and Quinn isn't exactly a rookie. Sabres are already way too patient with Quinn. I simply don't see how you say you are setting a standard and having accountability and then he's still in the line up. He needs a big sit down. Power could use a sit down too. Both Quinn and Power strike me as guys more concerned with messing up their hair than breaking a sweat.

My own view is we do not factor that into our drafting analytics. Or it's not weighted heavily or accurately. So it doesn't take many, it just takes a few, but if a guy sees another guy not working he comes to think why should I work if he's not? It's contagious. Lack of good veteran leadership to set the standard is the problem imo.

It was both today. UPL played deep in the net, let some soft ones in. Levi leaves a lot of net open. This was the fear with his size and it's a reality. I suspect he'd be better if he could play further out but this D makes both goalies reluctant to be aggressive.

I don't actually hate what Cozens said. It's a bit nonchalant but he does acknowledge that they had a bad effort. I've heard worse from players in past years. In fairness he did say "unacceptable". and it was.

I don't want late game penalties myself. I enjoy late game mayhem when teams dig down. It starts to look like playoffs in a good game. Refs should stay out of that imo. The 30 second thing isn't a bad idea. I'd also let the refs have some discretion if a guy is slightly off side but not involved in the play. Sometime the guy streaking in goes to the goal or scores and it's waived off cause the guy way across the ice is an inch over. Seems like that could be allowed much like the glove today at the line. It hit the glove but they decided it wasn't directed so it was fine. Less challenges, less goals waived off overall is better. There's too many goalie interference calls as well imo.

They might, but he might not want to stay and he is getting older. I think he was brought in as a place holder while young guys develop but they might decide to keep him. You never know.

Except, they could have spent that money this year in order to get into the playoffs and not worried about it. For example, if you trade away Samuelsson you have tons of cap room on D. Then Byram can get 6 or 7 easily with no impact. (I don't think he's worth that, but if they want to they can). You let Jokiharju walk if you haven't traded him that's 3 million to give to Gilbert and whoever. So, no need to hold cap space there at all. Peterka, sure, he gets a big raise. he gets Zucker's money plus his own. Zucker is replaced by Kulich on an entry level deal. Quinn? He's earned nothing so he gets a lowball offer like Krebs or a bridge at best. Either way little effect. Then you need to re-sign or replace Greenway and his 3 million plus Aube-Kubel who is easily replaced by any bottom 6er. So you don't need that money for these contracts at all. Remember also, cap likely to go up annually. There's plenty of room to add a top 6 winger and keep everything relatively intact. It's a choice that isn't committed to winning.

DeBrusk wasn't replaced and that's a factor, but a small one. Zacha's actually been pretty good. The failure is mostly in their few prospects not stepping up. If Lysell had even been Kulich level they might be okay but he's just not NHL ready (if ever). Korpisalo's been better than Swayman so it's not on the goalie tandem. It's a combination of many things ending or going wrong at the same time. Zadorov ya, big disappointment there. I was wrong on him too. After watching him in the playoffs last year I thought he'd finally got it but no, he's just a big dumb guy.

Oh hell no. The game would be nothing more than your ability to make a long stretch pass. The 2 line off side being removed already led to long passes but all the way into the O zone that'd be crazy. Would also mean no icings as your guy would be down there first. Think of it. Our strategy last year would have been "Skinner, you just stay down by the goal and we will try to get the puck to you quickly. You don't back check anyway, so just stay there." No way, it'd kill the game.

Yes, if there was no penalty it would become a tactic. Under pressure? Just fire it into the crowd, problem solved. The one thing I'd change there is the one where they blow the whistle if it goes off the netting. If it falls back into the ice surface why not play on? Sure, there'd be a few crazy bounces but that would just add to it imo. Coaches would use challenges as a tactic as well if they weren't penalties. It's an extra time out to give your team time to rest and regroup. I personally hate off side challenges. Some guy who maybe had nothing to do with the play is a micromillimeter over the line and a goal is disallowed after a 5 minute "what's going on" review. It's garbage. Just play. I'd make it so that only a clear and definite off side could reverse a call. Like maybe a guy is a foot over or more. Anything less and I'd allow it.

It was an ironic hipster sign. Keep it. What they need is a torn taped up paper sign Ted Lasso style. Maybe signed in blood.

Sabres are better than the Bruins right now. That might be the first time I've said that in about 15 years but it's definitely true. You want a stat, Bruins had ZERO shots on goal against Ottawa in the third period last game. ZERO. They are an offensive disaster. Unless they've just quit on Monty and they want him fired or some bs and there's some weird flip I think it's finally over. They're currently only better than maybe Montreal in the division.