Pimlach

If W is What, I don’t get the question. If W is Why, good question. I would say the big club is finally getting good enough to win.

Grew up a Yankees fan. My Dad and many Uncles were all die hard Yankee fans. Then I added a NL team in the early 70’s, the Pittsburgh Pirates, because of the Robert Clemente & Willie Stargell era.

It was interesting. Winning is also important. Develop your prospects on a team that wins games so they can start a winning mindset. The AHL vets have to be capable players and leaders. Looks like Appert finds the right balance and does a good job in Rochester.

What about Minnesota? That market that the Stars came from? The top hockey market in the US, no? St Louis has a rabid fan base that will argue with you all day on that statement. Go to a Blues game and it is non stop noise, knowledgeable fans, and all games are at or near capacity. Look into how many NHL players are from the St Louis area and/or played youth hockey there. Remember the 2016 draft? Matthew Tkachuk (No. 6 - Calgary Flames), Clayton Keller (No. 7 - Arizona Coyotes), Logan Brown (No. 11 - Ottawa Senators), Luke Kunin (No. 15 - Minnesota Wild) and Trent Frederic (No. 28 - Boston Bruins) all are from St Louis. They know hockey there. Rangers and Chicago are original 6 and they do alright. Pittsburgh has a rabid fan base that even fills Buffalo's arena.

You suggest breaking up one of the best lines in the NHL and putting Savoie on the 2nd line without even seeing him play in the NHL? The top 6 might work someday down the road, maybe, but a lot depends on a 19 year old and a 22 year old for it to work next at the start of the season. I hoped we were past relying on rookies? (See past errors with Mitts and Thompson being pushed into top 6 when they were very young). I think this bottom 6 will struggle against good teams, especially on the road when the opponent gets the last change. Look at how much DG had to shelter Quinn and Peterka in the 3rd period. Expect the same for this crop of rookies only now they are scattered on 3 lines, not 1. So all the lines will be shuffled almost every game. Some say that is good thing, I don't think that is true when 6 of the forwards in this line up are still kids. Mitts was playing very well centering two veterans (Tuch and Skinner) but now he is centering two kids on a 3rd line that is very likely going to get limited minutes. I doubt this is his best utilization. There is no line that is proven to shut down an opponents top line. I guess that is going to be Rousek/Krebs/Greenway? What has Rousek done to earn that position and all the tough minutes that go with it? Krebs handled it ok but he had more NHL experience than Rousek has and they simplified his game last season when he was paired with KO and Girgs, now he has to lead this new 4th line. No one is added that can win faceoffs consistently unless one of the rookies can? We had a bad PK last year. We can blame the goalie and the defense but the PK is a team effort. Not sure who plays the PK with both KO and Girgs gone and Jost in the press box. Greenway and Krebs probably, but then who else? Tuch and Cozens both get PP minutes so how much can they help the PK when they both have 2nd line duty? I really think we will need at least one more solid two-way forward with some snarl and with some PK ability if we lose both KO and Girgs. Three more rookie forwards to absorb (Savioe, Kulich, and Rousek) is not something I want to see to start the season. None of the playoff teams are anywhere near this young. Playoffs should be the top priority. I don't know how Adams handles all the youth, he has to find places to play them to continue their development. We can and might have to play them in the NHL sooner than normal but this practice cannot go on every year. The fan base and the Core players want and need PLAYOFFS right now.

Your point is taken, Adams did not trade Savoie or Kulich for Chyckrun who had term, so why would he trade either one of them for Hellebyuck and no term. Beside we have Levi. At most he will look for a stop gap proven vet that can be a 1B/2 (that was supposed to be Comrie), or he sticks with UPL. Improving the blueline will help the goaltending, but only to a point.

Barbashev is an intriguing guy to add, especially of Girgs is not retained. Orlov was good with Boston but not sure he is the right guy for a young team. What do you know about him to think he will work mentor prospects in Rochester when he is in playing in Buffalo?

The early days of the Sabres in the Aud featured frozen cardboard pizza and boiled hot dogs on a smushed roll. Sometimes the popcorn was warm and fresh if you catch them at the right time. It was smart to buy a bag of “Buffalo’s Best Peanuts” from the vendor outside the main entrance.

Growing up up Buffalo in the pre-Sabre Bisons days I have a different view. I watched Canadian TV since the 60’s so some early influences were formed. Buffalo in the pre cable, pre satellite, pre streaming era had a cool thing. In Buffalo, if you had a good roof top TV antenna, one that was rotary, then you could watch Canadian TV and get 3 more channels, even if sometimes a bit snowy. So HNIC and Jr Hockey (Hamilton Red Wings) was something I liked to watch at a young age. I don’t like the Leaves but I have a soft spot for the Habs. I would like to see a Canadian city (but not Toronto) get a Cup, just not against us.

Lots of ex-Sabres if that happens. Montour has really impressed me. It’s looks like he has physically matured and now he plays a strong game. He had a gear we didn’t see. I wish Granato (and not Krueger) could have had him longer. He would still be a Sabre and our top 4 defensemen would be controlling games. Oh well …

I don't like any of the teams or any of the fan bases. I don't like seeing teams that have not ever won a Cup get one before the Sabres, that is my number 1 pet peeve. The least of all four evils to me is Dallas, they already have a cup. They beat us once but that is over now. I have family there too. The 2nd least of all four evils is Carolina. Similar to Dallas, they already have a cup. They beat us due to injuries but that is in the past. My wife has family there too. The 3rd least of all four evils is Florida. I do not want to see them get a Cup before Buffalo. Miami is not a hockey town and it is a $hitty sports town. The most evil is Vegas. I do not want that team getting a Cup before Buffalo. I do not like Jack Eichel. I don't go out of my way to bash him but I just don't care for the guy. No Vegas please!

Probably not.

@PASabreFan in boot camp.

Promotions to retain your staff. Why do we need a GM and an Asst GM?

Yup, hired a worse coach than Ron Rolston.

So this is glizzy?!

They already contacted me just in case. I’m retired. 😂 Seriously now, I want Karmanos to stay.

So far. We need to hit big on Levi and Östlund to really benefit and tip the scales.

Savioe is still too young for the AHL (yes, silly rule) so he is either with Buffalo, back to Jrs, or in Europe (doubt that happens). Nothing wrong with bringing in vets accept they will keep the rookies in Rochester log jam to look at Kulich, Rousek, Rosen, Östlund, and others. We have a ton of prospects. It will really test Adams to determine the right mix. Playoffs are a must for the core group (Dahlin, Thompson, Cozens, Power, Tuch, etc.) they are ready to start winning NOW and the GM has to enable that.

VO is definitely tradeable, that would be one opening. ---> Probably Savioe if he shows enough, otherwise they have to find a place for him to play. Okposo needs 16 games and 8 points to hit those milestones. I don't see him playing a partial season just to reach personal goals, if he plays it will be with the intent of completing a a season and helping the team make the playoffs. I think Adams will be more lenient with Kyle because of his stature on the team. Girgs is TBD. I think we need a player like him but I could see him leaving because we dont offer enough money. Jost and Hinostroza have a fight on their hands to make the 23 man roster, Jost has the edge as the spare forward that plays both C/W. Vinnie will probably leave and go to a rebuilding team that offers more minutes. Last year we had two freshman - Samuelsson and Krebs. Plus three rookies - Power, Quinn, Peterka. Then we added a 4th in UPL. That is quite a youth movement. This coming season the talk of adding Levi and three more rookies Savoie, Kulich, and maybe Rousek is going to be a challenge if this team is serious about the playoffs. Add these guys and take away Anderson, VO, Comrie, Kyle/Girgs, and Vinnie and we are actually younger next season than this past season. We may be better someday down the road but the lack of experience will be a big hurdle to overcome once we get to Jan/Feb/March and are battling for a playoff spot. The year after that there is Rosen and Östlund coming on. I guess I am concerned with so much youth to look at. It is time to start winning. Certainly a good problem to have but the fear is we stay with homegrown youth and miss another opportunity to be a playoff team.

I might like it, you have to see them play to know, but some of the opponents 3rd pairings may do some feasting too.

So what forwards do you purge from the current roster? You need 3 slots to take on 3 rookies and if the rookie is not playing many minutes then he might be better off in Rochester (Savioe excluded).

I love Buffalo but so many people from there, typically the ones that have never been away, think that good things are exclusive to Buffalo. That may be normal and apply to other places too. Gord says so in Wheat Kings.