Pimlach

I would hardly call that top 6 pretty fine. Happy to see Tuch back though and I hope Benson can do something to help us.

True too. But Denver played a defensive game designed to stop Allen's big play ability, make him be a patient QB, and hope that they could get a few turnovers - just like everybody does now. It should have been our plan to run enough make them change defenses and bring the safeties up, and then throw on then. We took the ball first which is rare, only to pass and then fumble deep in our territory. We look like a poorly coached team as evidence by turnovers, penalties, and mostly be letting the opponent dictate their game to us.

I have not answered the OP yet. Levi - I might give Levi another game or two, we kind of have to with Comrie still out. If Levi struggles, which he most likely will, then he needs to go down to Rochester for awhile, play a lot, and rebuild his confidence and sharpen his game. No doubt that Adams and DG can talk to him and keep his head on straight. No shame in that either. Any normal team would already have him in their minor league system right now anyway. Forwards - I wanted a few veteran additions, especially when Quinn went down. Really need a two way center that can play NHL hockey, and a tough winger to help with the inevitable nasty stuff. Can't have Cozens and Tuch doing that. We just don't have the right diversity of skills at forward. Power play - Last year it was deadly for awhile, teams figured it out and now they have regressed even further. No one really knows who coaches this unit either, at least I don't. Not sure they are teetering on oblivion, see how they react without Tage. Maybe someone steps up. They just need to stay at .500 until the injuries subside. I do not blame Granato for the injuries or the glaring roster weaknesses, but he has not had them ready to play very often - they have played maybe 2 really good games. It looks like they cannot score often enough when they try to play a defensive system. I will never understand why he is taking 3 years to put in a system that includes team defense. Some of his problems are injuries and the fact that the bottom 6 is playing much worse this year. Laviolette installed his system in one off season. Hmmm, what an idea! Right now the Rangers are on a 10 game streak without a loss. They have a +16 scoring diff. Good thing Mike Peca is there learning from a Cup winner. Granato gets evaluated on Jan 1. Adams is the guy that is most responsible for the current situation.

Correct on the bold. When Ulmark left you really could sense that. Eichel wanted out, Reinhart and Montour had their talks with Adams and they preferred to leave as well. They were not living through another rebuild in Buffalo. Why would Tage, Dahlin, and Tuch, feel any different? I like Gallant. We could use him. He was a pain in the ass to play against and as a coach he has a history of run-ins with management. Many NHL coaches do. They know their shelf life is short so they want things their way. I think he would relate to our players and get them going. Even if if he lasts 3 years, his proven track record is enough to help us get to the next level, a playoff team that looks and acts like a playoff team. Why is that so hard?

True, because Denver stayed in their stop the pass defense. You have to run, it cannot all be Allen. Team have figured the Bills out - that is the flaw in the analysis - the same thing never works for very long.

When we were kids we watched Sunday night Bills highlights on channels 2, 4 and 7. I used to switch through them all. Then of course there was "halftime highlights" on MNF were you got to see the league highlights from Howard Cosell. That was a thrill and a treat. Later ESPN came along and that started the snowball down the mountain of sports coverage excessiveness. Now they have sports gambling channels and websites - that cannot be good for the sport.

Probably not. This coach is the management. He reports directly to TP. He does not report to Beane. I cannot see a player going to TP about their coach, even Allen would not do that. This is an organizational problem. Terry has to fire McD himself and he better first sell it Beane if he wants Beane to stay. Assuming that happens, TP should let Beane hire the next coach and have that coach should report to Beane. No one overcomplicates an organization like Terry Pegula.

Nashville would take that. That is too rich. UPL might turn out to be good, then you are adding 3 equivalent firsts. Boone Jenner is a fine player that has played his best hockey already, but he is still better than half of the forwards in our lineup.

They are already are playing a more conservative system that focuses more on defense. Isn’t that the plan, to teach defense this year? Isn’t that byproduct the lower GF? Losing Tage, Tuch and Quinn is like losing the first line, the PP, and part of the PK. What is the best roster with only five decent forwards? Mitts, Skinner, Peterka, Cozens , Greenway …. that’s it. Maybe Benson helps if he can . Maybe a checking line with either Krebs or Jost centering Girgs and Rousek. After that you have Kyle and VO centered by Krebs or Jost to get some filler minutes Adam’s did it again. He overrated his players once again.

My Weakness

Peca could coach the Sabres someday, that’s an obvious possibility. But these conversations you refer in bold are all conjecture your part.

Muscle Weight

I give the kid another game but yeah, he should go down and play a lot.

MUSCLE WEIGHT

Not me. I didn't do it with the Braves, not gonna ever do it. If the Buffalo Sabres move to another city forget them - and expect that city to do a complete name and jersey makeover. The Buffalo emblem can only be for The City of Buffalo.

Paille played in 150+ AHL games. Krebs played in 25. We can't just let him be if he should be in Rochester. Not if we want be better and to make the playoffs. Krebs is not contributing this season. He might be a good bottom 6 guy someday, but not right now. Unfortunately, he has to clear waivers to get to Rochester. I put him in the "rushed" category along with Tage and Mitts. When you are constantly adding young players you are bound to rush some of them. This is a cycle of its own and part of the reason you don't trade all your vets, sell your soul for a single generational player, and lose - by design - on purpose to do it.

True. Of Course. If he sells, we have to want it to an entity with strong Buffalo ties.

I want him to sell the Sabres. I really do.

Please stop. 12 years. That’s all you need to know.

Gallant is legit. But he will tell Adams what needs to done.

I have little doubt that the brain trust in Boston or Tampa or Vegas could come in, trade a few prospects and strengthen this roster out today. That would include hiring a proven coach that could install an NHL system that adapts to changing game situations. Is Adams the guy to do that? His reluctance to make even minor trades concerns me. I said I will evaluate them at the Holidays. I will back off and wait until January. I want to see more of UPL and Comrie - and I cannot believe that I just said that. I just want them to be good enough to allow Levi to spend two months in Rochester, let him develop the right way, before the league writes the book on him. But right now I am very concerned with the team. Mostly their demeanor, and the lack of urgency to win a home game. Last night was unacceptable.

I don't see any traces of last years team in terms of energy and effort and spirit. Nothing excites this group anymore. Another turd of a game in front of the home crowd. The core players were not ready to go from the start of the season - we spent the preseason auditioning prospects and the real team came out flat and not ready and somehow dinged up. The injuries are a problem too because we have so little NHL ready depth. Example: retain VO to replace Quinn, but then find out he cannot beat out 18 year old Benson, who is also not ready. I think we are better with the 7 defenseman we have this year over last year. Not that this is a great group, but better than last year, sure. I think the 3 goalies, while a very stupid plan, could maybe play better than last year. I would be sending Levi to Rochester as soon as Comrie is ready. It didn't hurt Ryan Miller to play there. This year its the forwards. The group is 12 is overall below average. Tage, Tuch, Mitts, Cozens, Peterka, Greenway, Skinner and Quinn are a good start. They need help. Krebs, KO, Girgs, Jost, VO, and Rousek/Biro are garbage. We wont win much with more than 3 of them in the lineup. Girgensons is the only one worth keeping of that bunch. Kulich might get called up for Tage. We shall see if he can play in the big time. I don't want to hear the names Savoie and Benson until next year, they are teenagers that will not help us get to the playoffs.

And people here talk about adding 2 or 3 more rookies next year. We have little cap space left to add vets in their prime with tread on their tires. We are not helping our top players to take the next step. We could do to this core what we did to the last. It’s very possible.

How many teams have rebuilt or retooled in the past 12 ? Boston just retooled on the fly. We helped them with Ulmark. Sure they miss Bergeron and Krechji but you don’t see it in the standings. Expectations have not changed there.