JohnC

@LGR4GMalso quickly came around with the Power selection. To his credit he was open-minded and willing to adjust his position.

Quick thoughts on game: My first star would go to Tuch. My second star would go to Jersey's Hughes. He can freaking shoot. If the Jersey replacement goalie would have started this game the outcome would have been different. What a relief to see Tage back on the ice after going to the locker room. Jersey and Buffalo have a similar style: Skating and emphasis on offense. I thought Lyubushkin had a solid game. The Quinn/Cozens/JJ line played well. This line has so much upside to it. The pass of the game was Quinn's blind pass from the sideboards to Cozens for a score. UPL made a number of quality stops. He limited the rebounds. I still get so nervous when he is backstopping. There are similarities to how these teams are constructed. My guess is that they are a year ahead of us in progression. I never felt that the Sabres never got deflated when the Devils scored or were pushing hard. The Sabres just kept playing their game. A win is a win. It's good to get a win at home. The fans deserve it.

We don't know what the behind the scenes negotiating was. But if memory serves me right it was widely reported that St. Louis had two non-touch prospects that they weren't go to deal. So the Sabres got the third ranked prospect in their system. I don't believe anyone thought (St.Louis or Buffalo) that Tage was going to turn out to be as good as he is. The problems that the Sabres were facing went beyond the team. There was systemic organizational chaos that kept this franchise sunk for a long time. I believe that those sabotaging problems have been resolved since the installation of Kevin Adams. I attribute most of the tumult to the owner.

I'm not up to date on this issue but wasn't there a recent controversy in Chicago where some of the players didn't want to be part of the ceremony?

Didn't the Sabres have a Pride Night last year? Are you more worried about player or fan reaction?

Very often the issue isn't winning or losing an argument as it is presenting a different perspective.

You and I simply reside on different planets. That's okay.

I don't understand the Dahlin relevancy on this issue. Do you really believe that I subscribed to the irrational and delusional notion that the Pegula stewardship was enlightened? Of course I don't. But what I can say is since KA took over this organization seems to be on the right track. When Pegula took over the organization was in a state of constant turmoil. As I said before I blame the owner for that. That's evident to everyone. I don't believe that's the case now.

Is there a sarcasm emoji? It would have great utility on this site.

Let's go back to when ROR was here. He wanted out. He was in a state of malaise. The owner instructed his staff to get him out of town before his bonus kicked in. So the Sabres traded the disgruntled (understandably so) player for a trade that included Tage and a first round pick that turned into (hopefully) Ryan Johnson. Did the Sabres believe that Tage was going to turn into a star? Of course not. That's why I said to @Thornyin hindsight. Looking back on this deal it has worked out really well for us because of the surprising development of Tage. There is no question that at that time the Sabres were in a state of turbulence. I mostly blame the owner for creating it. However, given where we are at now, I still comfortably come to the conclusion that this deal has worked out marvelously well for us. Even if it was due to unforeseen good fortune, I gladly accept it.

I'm sorry to say that your reasoning is beyond my ability to comprehend. We're simply two different ships passing in the night in the middle of the ocean. That's okay.

Saros isn't the only option who would represent a significant upgrade on net for us. If Vancouver decides to go the rebuild route, then a goalie such as Demko might be available. And the price should be more reasonable.

With respect to the highlighted segment, I respectfully and strenuously disagree with your assessment. A superficial analysis clearly indicates that in hindsight the ROR trade that resulted in the acquisition of Tage has turned out to be an exceptional deal for the Sabres. And if Ryan Johnson signs and becomes a lower pairing defenseman for us in the near future, the deal becomes even better. This is not a close call judgment as it is overwhelmingly apparent.

Of course, the Bruins not only have wide disparity in talent/s in net but they also have a fuller roster. When players go down for us, a team that lacks depth, it has a cascading negative effect on the team. The injury to Samuelsson demonstrates that. The difference between Buffalo and Boston is talent. Their willingness to engage in fisticuffs compared to our willingness is a trivial and inconsequential issue as to why one team is better than the other.

Greenway is hurt. So don't expect him to be your designated gladiator. Fighting is very limited in the playoffs. The playoffs are noted for hard and tough play. Hooligans and goons are not getting ice time because there is too much at stake. The main problem with the Sabres has little to do with having enough tough guys. The undercutting problem relates to having enough talent, especially in net and on the blue line. That's a reality that too many people don't want to face. To many people want to create this mirage (falsehood) that this team is too weak. It's not. It's the lack of talent at critical positions.

I agree with your general view and big picture perspective. The reason why Quinn and Peterka were playing with the Sabres rather down in Rochester is that a determination was made by the staff that both of these prospects' development would be better served playing with the big club. There was a conversation on the radio with their Rochester coach who said in effect that they both got to the point where both players outgrew the level of competition in this lower league. There isn't any surprise to the staff that moving up was going to be a major adjustment for each player. So it shouldn't be a surprise that although they have intermittently sparkled this season, there were interludes where they struggled, especially Peterka. In the longer view (as you are astutely making), playing in the NHL this year will serve them well next year compared to playing them in Rochester this year and moving them up next year.

Attached is a mailbag column by Lance Lysowski from the Buffalo News. It discusses topics associated with the current and future lineups and the moves that could be made. This question/answer column is similar to what we discuss here. https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-mailbag-how-should-gm-kevyn-adams-react-to-the-recent-struggles/article_f62e13ec-c986-11ed-8ebb-3721855fda92.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Do you want to know the primary reason why Boston has had a sterling seaon while the Sabres are now plummeting? Their goalie tandem is Ullmark and Swayman while our goalie unit is composed of Anderson, Comrie and UPL. There is no question that the Sabres can and should play a tighter and tougher brand of hockey. But the main problem centers around the talent base in net and the blueline. That's the heart of the problem.

I'm in sync with you. I would be very reluctant to include one of our top two prospects. Your Rosen and draft pick deal is where I would like to be at. However, there is a realization that acquiring an upper tier goalie immediately changes the dynamic of this team. I have little doubt that if the the Sabres had Saros this year, we would already be talking playoff matchups. I would also go so far to say that if we had an Ullmark caliber goalie, not necessarily him, the Sabres would be participating in post season games.

This is simply speculation on my: If the Sabres had Saros they would be in the playoffs this year.

I agree with you that most goalies don't garner a first round pick or high end prospect. That is not to say that a goalie who is in the upper echelon category wouldn't be worth it for a team where his addition would be the difference of being a playoff team or not. Then the question would be which prospect would you give up if that is what the other team wanted?

Individual players often get days off during the season whether required to or not. There is nothing unusual about that. Some players get it due to being banged up and some get it to refreshen their legs. You are right not everything associated with the past is archaic. But there are attitudes associated with the dictatorial past that are no longer tolerated by organizations that have a modern attitude toward players and the best way to handle them during a long season. The hockey and sports world in general have very much changed from the past practices.

Attached is a WGR link from the Shoop and the Bulldog Show. There is a 20 min segments where Travis Yost talks about the Sabres and the goalie situation. You only need to listen to the first 12 minutes or so for this particular discussion. His general conclusion on this topic is that even if you can't get a top tier goalie, you still have to get a goalie who is capable of giving you a level of netminding that will allow your team to be competitive. He noted that Comrie never showed that he was that caliber of goalie. He cited the Capitals and their acquisition of Kuemper as a good example to follow. Much of it is a reprise of what we discuss here. The full segment is worth listening to. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/schopp-and-bulldog

It Nashville proposed a trade of Saros for Kulich and our first round pick, would you make the deal? Or if Nashville proposed a trade of Saros for Savoie and our first round pick would you make the trade. If you had to choose between either of the options, which one would you make?

I don't find it strange at all that players get days off. Whether this was league mandated because of union contract stipulations or periodic days offs to freshen the legs or give players a break from the grinding routine there is nothing wrong with judicious decisions not to practice. The neanderthal era of coaching and handling players is in the past, the very long past.