FrenchConnection44

This team could not clear or carry the puck out of their own zone if their mom’s life depended on it. It’s uncanny. Something needs to change - systemically. Granato needs to look at himself and scout some other teams to see what the deal is and what he needs to change. So does Adams.

This team is toast. Losing to the Flyers is irritating. Very frustrating. That said, the blasting of the team is absurd. It’s improved in leaps and bounds from last year. Youth is not an “excuse.” It’s a fact. Reality. The vast majority of the team is not yet in their prime; not close. Most are 2-3 years away. But they do have a good deal of talent. They are in serious need of a strong, top 2, top 4 defenseman. And a two-way forward. I don’t know that that will be out there after the trade deadline deals unfortunately.

Love watching him play. Hope he becomes a star. Give it a year. Sadly, he will miss the playoffs this year.

Bummer of a loss. Just not tough enough mentally or physically at this point. They all have to grow and grow stronger. Maybe we will get a wildly lucky draw and get into the top 5! Lol. And I plan to win the lottery.

This team is much improved. Still very young. Lots of potential. But lacks depth. Goaltending. And needs another solid defenseman. Bonafide starter. So I am positive. But they are not a playoff caliber team. Even if they got lucky to get in. Clearly. Need some improvement by the players and a couple of new free agents. Big off-season for Adams if he is going to build a winner.

I put this in the prospects thread but probably could go here. He is considered the top college free agent on this site ideal size. I think it’s a no brainer to pursue and sign not as a solution but who knows? Worth a shot imo: https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/8042640-nhl-college-free-agents-jake-livingstone-leads-list-of-top-available-ufas Jake Livingstone, RHD, Minnesota State A 23-year-old defenseman who has been pursued by NHL teams for each of the last three seasons, Livingstone is a strong offensive performer with size and good mobility. He’s second on his team in scoring with 30 points. He defends well on top of producing, and can be a weapon in transition. The right-shot defenseman comes in at 6-foot-3, 205, so he has the size NHL teams are interested in. On top of that, he's got some track record with two 30-plus point seasons in college hockey and good numbers from his junior days in the BCHL. He likely tops out as a bottom-pairing defenseman, but there's a lot to like in his game.

This is not a Sabres prospect but couldn’t find another place to put this. https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/8042640-nhl-college-free-agents-jake-livingstone-leads-list-of-top-available-ufas While he’s no sure thing He’s rated the top college free agent on this site and a Defenseman with size. I see no reason not to pursue this guy. Jake Livingstone, RHD, Minnesota State A 23-year-old defenseman who has been pursued by NHL teams for each of the last three seasons, Livingstone is a strong offensive performer with size and good mobility. He’s second on his team in scoring with 30 points. He defends well on top of producing, and can be a weapon in transition. The right-shot defenseman comes in at 6-foot-3, 205, so he has the size NHL teams are interested in. On top of that, he's got some track record with two 30-plus point seasons in college hockey and good numbers from his junior days in the BCHL. He likely tops out as a bottom-pairing defenseman, but there's a lot to like in his game.

Leaving aside the bad goal, the inability of the Sabres to check inside their own zone is disturbing. In 5 on 5 if the other team gets the puck and all five players in the zone it’s almost as if they have a power play. They seemed not to understand what teams are doing to them or how to defend around the net. The Islanders run a kind of triangle in front of the net and it was as if the Sabres were not prepared to defend it. Or had no clue what to do to stop it at times.

Of course it is inconsistent and sometimes very bad. No doubt. In ev Ty sport. I think the problem here is that it was not just a missed call on the ice but instant replay; and they should be able to get that right. No reason to have replay if they can’t get it correct. He obviously kicked his leg at the puck and sent it into the net. The replay officials at least need to know the rules. One can argue it should not be a rule. But that doesn’t change that it is now.

I agree except I do give him credit for trying to trade for Chychrun. Wasn’t on him but from all appearances on Arizona. Last viable defenseman drafted was 2019 - Rian Johnson. He’s still playing college hockey and who knows that situation. Or how good he will be. Not a huge force imo. It’s a problem he has to solve but won’t happen this year. If he doesn’t land a top 4 defender this off season it’s a problem.

And if they start to get into the question of “what was in the player’s head” that becomes absurd. Every player will then say, “I wasn’t intentionally trying to score, just trying to stop the puck to shoot,” and who is to dispute what is in a player’s mind? No one. If there is movement toward the goal it has to be disallowed as intentional. Unbelievable.

It’s clearly not a goal. From Buffalo News piece. Any nonsense that he was not intentionally redirecting the puck is nonsense. He clearly was kicking his leg out toward the goal.

I just don’t see it enough from Casey. Only on occasion. Not in the consistent way Cozens brings it. But that’s why the next 20 games are more pivotal for him imo, in how we perceive and evaluate his season (not that that means anything but just as fans).

It is a big game. But we have them again and we also have other tough games coming up in which we will need to scrape out points. But it could go a long way to building momentum for a playoff run.

Reading all the comments I think we want to see Casey continue to play alongside Cozens and see what he does the next 20 games. Good points made about his improved play. If he keeps up the recent trend he could be a player for us. I do think he still needs to be more physical. He’s not as weak as he was with contact. But still could add five+ more lbs of muscle/strength (as is the case to varying degrees with several players) and also become a bit more aggressive. Cozens can’t be the only non-finesse-only player on that line. If it’s Cozens-Quinn-Mitts, then Mitts has to be more aggressive with his speed, balance and physical play. It has improved, but still must continue. I want someone with Cozens who doesn’t just pass but creates some degree of physical intimidation. You want times to not be happy when the Cozens line comes on. Dylan is great in that way but he can’t be the only thorn in the side of defenders.

Gotta go with Comrie. Huge game with playoff ramifications. Good to see Jost is coming back. Would be great to get Tillman, and Samuelson back. At least one to get Bryson off. The lineup I’d like to see ASAP (while Tuch is out): Skinner-Thompson-Quinn Mitts-Cozens-Hinostroza Greenway-Krebs-Peterka/VO Girgs-Jost-Okposo Dahlin-Samuelsson Power-Joki Tillman-Lyubushkin I don’t have a lot of confidence in VO. Too much of a liability defensively. But perhaps he could be better if Greenway and Krebs were both out there? The worst thing that happened last night was having Bryson and Olafsson on ice at the same time. They are the only two double digit negatives in plus/minus on the team. And -21, -20 at that! Have to avoid that if possible. But when one considers that Peterka has 21 points with a -9 +/-, Olafsson has 32 points and a -21, the sieve-like defense of Olafsson is even more apparent.

Gotta go with Comrie. Huge game with playoff ramifications. Agree on Greenway with Krebs. Would be great to get Jost, Tillman, and Samuelson back. The lineup I’d like to see ASAP: Skinner-Thompson-Quinn Mitts-Cozens-Hinostroza Greenway-Krebs-Peterka/VO Girgs-Jost-Okposo Dahlin-Samuelsson Power-Joki Tillman-Lyubushkin When Tuch gets back I’d still put him back with Thompson. And drop Quinn back to Cozens. Might swap those two on occasion to mix things up and match up with other teams. I don’t have a lot of confidence in VO. Too much of a liability defensively. But perhaps he could be better if Greenway and Krebs were both out there? The worst thing that happened last night was having Bryson and Olafsson on ice at the same time. They are the only two double digit negatives in plus/minus on the team. And -21, -20 at that! Have to avoid that if possible. Peterka has cooled off a lot and is suffering the rookie funk; but I feel like he’d at least put up more of a fight if he were with Krebs and Greenway and if Granato lit a fire under him. May not get much scoring so I see why VO might be needed. But when one considers that Peterka has 21 points with a -9 +/-, Olafsson has a -21 with 32 points, the sieve-like defense of Olafsson is even more apparent.

Now we learn the true cause of the loss. So now it’s 0-8.

Still wait and see for me. I do appreciate his assists. He has made some really solid passes. And has good speed. But is -9 +/- and only has 10 goals. If the right deal came along I would trade him. But it depends also on who we sign in free agency and who in the farm system seems ready to emerge and make the team. He is not a player I am ready to sign to a long term deal or keep as a key cog in a championship team.

The difference is, the Sabres don’t have the depth of other playoff caliber teams. So injuries do matter for them because the depth of talent level is not there. When Bryson is your option on D (and he was bad on two goals) it’s gonna be a problem. It’s a liability. That said, we did have a lot of chances and didn’t capitalize on them.

Don’t forget Stillman was also out. And that could have been a difference maker had he been able to play in place of Bryson. Bryson played awful defense at times. -2 for the night and just seemed to flounder. Nothing against him personally. Sure he is trying. But he can’t be a regular and Buffalo go anywhere. Terrible season. In 49 games he’s -20 on a team that is +11 in goal differential this year. Last year, when the team was -58 in goal differential, Bryson was -9 in 73 games. Def hurts not having those players. Still it was a tight game and the Sabres had as many good chances if not more than the Oilers. Just couldn’t score on a lot of close opportunities. Several times felt like we went right into the body of Skinner who had a really good game tonight. Great goaltending can win a ton of games.

It's going to be a tough road to the playoffs. But, it should be a fair test. We play the Islanders, with whom we are in the battle, twice. And Ottawa once. Both teams made big upgrades. Nothing I would love more than to see both lose out on the playoffs! Have long hated the Isles and now hate the Sens for that Chychrun deal. if we make it we will surely have earned it. We have a shot at either the 7th or 8th seed. Either one of those seeds will be brutal, imo, as its either Boston or Carolina. But just getting in the playoffs would be a huge deal, imo. Even if we were slammed. It would give us a taste. Let's Go Buffalo!!!!

I've been following his games. He's really been maturing and coming on. So has Savoie. Lots of talent potential in those two.