JohnC

Your assessments of your listed players is fair. And even if the three young players you listed play this year in the NHL they are for the most part pieces for next year. (As you stated.) I believe that those three players (Quinn, JJ and Krebs) are second-line caliber players. But it is still going to take another year or so before they play at that level of expectation. I have felt that it is going to take three years before this team becomes a serious team. I consider this the first year in this post-Jack rebuilding process. Next year there is going to be an infusion of maybe half a dozen young players. It's still going to take time for that talent to marinate. What's required is patience and fortitude to stick to the plan. There's no other way to do this. What I find encouraging is the play of UPL. If he materializes as a #1 goalie (as his recent play indicates) then I will be even more optimistic about the prospects of this team.

What you are saying makes sense. There is still much for him to work on in his game. But I'm starting to lean the opposite way. Assuming he is going to get adequate playing time he seems like a player who can learn while playing in the higher NHL league. He's got terrific vision with his ability to let the play develop before making the right pass at the right time to put his teammates in a good scoring situation. In contrast to Peterka he has a good sense of knowing how to play at the higher level. He should stay, or at least kept a little bit longer. Krebs, JJ, Quinn, Samuelsson will in the not too distant future be called up. It might be a good approach to stagger their entry. And as you point out in your post this regime has been adept in their judgments on players. So, like you, I will be receptive to however it decides to handle these youngsters.

With the exception of the OT goal I thought UPL played well. He was the better goalie in this game with less support. He was composed and didn't give up many juicy rebounds. Krebs still is in the embryonic stage as an NHL player but you can see his vision and set-up talents that will make him a good player in time. With the exception of our first d-pairing in Dahlin and Joki our defense is overmatched. I'm not worried about how many points the Sabres are going to garner this season. However, I do worry that the psychology of losing infecting our young players. If it is determined that UPL can be a #1 goalie then that is a major brick in the rebuild. It's going to take time.

I don't believe that the Sabres will make the playoffs next year. I do believe that assuming that the goalie position is solidified I do have playoff expectations for 2024.

Your assessment that the Sabrbes are at least another full season away is a fair judgment. What's apparent is that this roster is going to have close to 40-50% turnover by next season from the roster that started this season. What's encouraging is that the players who will moved up will be players who are already in the system and are ready to make the step up. That is not to say that they will be close to being finished products when moved up. There is still much development to take place. But putting things in perspective the rate of turnover and transition to a more balanced roster is faster than most of us could have expected. And if our goalie play is stabilized the process will be less painful. Put me in the guarded optimism camp.

As a Sabre fan these call ups make the team a more compelling team to follow. Getting a sooner than expected glimpse of these young prospects allows each of us to make our own judgment as to what the future prospect is for this franchise. If these players play well enough it will be an interesting argument as to whether it would be better for them to go back down when the roster players return or to keep them up based on their play. And as @K-9pointed out if R-2 shows that he can play at the NHL level it would be such a bonus for the present and near future. The pieces are in place for this team to become a competitive team. The question is how long will it take?

Good for you! I attached a link about David Kindred, a HOF sportswriter, who has covered some of the top sports stories in his illustrious career. I thought you might like it. He is also drawing a salary. He is getting paid a box of Milk Duds for every game he covers. https://www.insideedition.com/5-takeaways-on-award-winning-sports-writer-dave-kindreds-decision-to-cover-high-school-girls-65812

The irony is that the current owners are now running the franchise in a manner that those calling for new ownership would hope a new ownership group would run it. KA has put together a quality front office staff, and also a good coaching staff under Granato. Why risk having a new ownership group who might make changes in the hockey staff simply because it is his prerogative to do so? Why would anyone advocate for such a change after what this organization has already gone through? It took the Pegulas a few years to finally figure out how to put the right staff in place for the Buffalo Bills. After a number of hiring mistakes they got it right with McDermott/Beane. In my opinion I believe that the owners have finally figured it out on the hockey side of their sports empire, as they have done with the football side of the business. The best approach to take is to stay the course.

As you suggest the wise course to take when evaluating goaltenders is to be patient before coming to a conclusion. It's not an unusual occurrence that when you get to the point where you believe you are on the verge of coming to a conclusion an unexpected crash happens that upends everything. The all-star fireball that is currently in your crease can quickly turn into a flame-out. The best attitude to take is to be humble when judging the position. Everyone agrees that this is still a very incomplete team that has many needs. However, what has been demonstrated over the past half-dozen games is that when you get quality goaltending you can be competitive, even against the best teams in the league.

Of course, the owners should be criticized for the way they have run this franchise. Their record is their record. I didn't say otherwise. What I did say is that as owners who have deservedly earned the criticisms in the way in which they managed the operation and combined with the loss of millions $$$ it would be understandable why they would consider selling. (I'm not saying they are interested in selling because I don't know.) But it wouldn't be too difficult to understand why they would consider washing their hands and moving on from this public business. With respect to giving credit to Krueger for hiring Granato, he is not getting it from me. First, we don't know if he was the person who hired him. And second, as soon as Granato took over he pivoted and did the opposite of what Krueger was espousing with much better results. Based on Krueger's record he failed miserably. And with respect to the second highlighted line I didn't say things are rosy. I did say that the situation is trending in a positive direction, and that if the organization stays the course the outcome looks promising. Right now, under the Pegulas, I know the direction of this franchise. With a new owner, I don't.

I would hate to see the Pegulas sell the team. Shortly after taking control a new owner would most likely want to install a new management team. For an organization that for years has undergone staff churning, it would be a disaster. The Pegulas have made a number of mistakes. That's an easy conclusion to come to. However, it just seems that now, after a number of setbacks, a quality staff is in place, and a blueprint for rebuilding the team is steadily being implemented. Not only are some of the young players on the Sabres emerging, in addition, there is a group of young players in Rochester who are near ready to make the roster. The near future looks bright. Compare the situation now to when to when Krueger was the coach? That was only a year ago! When the Pegulas bought the Bills they made a number of mistakes in their effort to make a splash. It didn't work. They finally installed a quality staff that has done a sterling job. It is evident for everyone to see every Sunday. The Buffalo Bills are not only a contending team, but they are also one of the most entertaining teams in the NFL. If the Pegulas follow the same strategy, as they appear to be doing (belatedly) with the Sabres, then the future looks bright. None of us know for sure what the Pegulas' intentions are. Being owners of a perennially losing franchise and the target of fan frustrations can't be enjoyable. And losing money while being subjected to such vilification isn't very pleasant. I just hope that the owners stay in place and allow this rebuilding process to run its course. It's not a steady progressive line but it's trending in the right direction. Let's stay the course.

Do you think Pegula as a majority owner would write a contract in which a minority owner can make a consequential decision that he would disagree with? It's not inconceivable but it is very unlikely.

Why have an investor come in to run the financial operation when the owner can do that by hiring staff with expertise in the finance area? I'm sure the financial specialists are already in the company. And unless there was an option to buy the franchise or purchase a majority stake in the future (as you noted) why would a potential minority owner pay a substantial amount of money for a minority stake in which there is little authority? I'm not saying that there isn't a possibility that the owner would accept some minority ownership. But I just don't see him (a self-made entrepreneur) giving up his authority to make decisions for the franchise. I want to make clear that what you are saying is conceivable. Without question it comes down to how the partial purchase contract is written up. I just don't see the Pegulas relinquishing their authority to have the final say unless they have made a decision to get out of the hockey business down the road.

Why would a minority owner invest $250 M and not have any significant say in how the organization is run because the majority owner has all the authority? How many people would be interested in investing in a business with the expectation that they would help/required to pay for costly needed costly facility upgrades as impotent minority owner when it comes to making decisions for the franchise? Unless there is a future option to buy it would make little sense for a new investor. This reminds me of the situation with the Washington Football Team, formerly named the Redskins. The two major minority owners didn't want to be associated with the scuzzy majority owner, Dan Snyder. They wanted out because they had no say, as minority owners, to influence how the franchise was operated. They were bought out at below market cost per share because the minority shares were not equal value to the majority shares. My point is why would someone want to buy into a franchise at a high cost if there wasn't an expectation/agreement to buy in as a majority owner in the future?

Thank you for the data. For most normal people, when the evidence is so overwhelming it is a decisive factor in influencing how they respond. What is frightening is that there is a sizeable faction that when facts and evidence are presented it still cannot penetrate their illusionary world. I don't wish anyone ill-will. Even those who are congenitally obtuse. However, my bucket of empathy for those who can't be reasoned with is nearly empty. My problem with them is not what they do to themselves but that they endanger others who act responsibly. They are a menace to society.

Your perspective is the right perspective not only as it applies to this inaugural Tuch game but also to this team's future prospects. In the Jack era this team's fortunes revolved around a special player who had little support. Now the design of this team revolves around a fuller team that is not primarily reliant on a player or particular line. The roster is steadily being thickened with more solid to good players who as you describe will push some of the JAGs out of the lineup. Next season, that process should be accelerated with the addition of young players coming from our AHL farm club. The plan is in place; the plan is being executed. Don't be surprised if a topic arises here as to whether we have enough vets on the roster to guide the swollen group of young players! I don't want to be boringly repetitive but the success of the plan still is underpinned by the play of our goalies. Without it, all the good deeds will be diminished.

Condolences.

Anyone who underrates the severity of this virus is not facing the reality of the situation. My nephew and his wife refused to get vaccinated. She got covid and is on life-support. She is going to die. No one in the family is allowed to visit her in the hospital. She is going to die with no family member by her bedside. My nephew ended up in the hospital with covid. He told me he thought he was going to die. He is now home and slowly recovering. The other members of his family, two sons and daughter, also got infected. I just spoke with my nephew who is in Arizona. He has already belatedly scheduled himself and the rest of his family members to get vaccinated when it is the appropriate time. I had repeatedly told him prior to his infection that he needed to get the shots. He was a life-long weight-lifter who could lift more than 300 lbs, and was very fit. He told me that if he got infected he could handle it. He now knows that he was wrong; his life has been tragically altered.

Excellent post. The system is being restocked with young players who will be given the time to develop. How they rank will be determined on how they play. Internal competition at all levels will make the players betters and accelerate their development. What has enlarged the pool of young players is the return on our traded players, that included not only some good prospects but also draft assets that will keep the pipeline flowing. KA and his staff are in the process of rebuilding this roster. As a number of posters have pointed out it is mostly going to be an in-house rebuild that will not rely on expensive outside acquisitions. Not only is that occurring now but it is the wisest and most self-sustaining approach to take. As this franchise has already demonstrated taking short cuts with patchwork acquisitions ends up making the road to respectability more circuitous and longer. The plan is set; and the plan is being executed.

Dahlin is not a lockdown defenseman. He will never be because that type of defensive play is not who he is as a player. He is more of an offensive-minded player who moves the puck and creates offensive opportunities for others. And he is a player who can skate and move the puck out of his zone quickly. That in itself helps the team go on the offense but also helps the team defensively by forcing the team out of the offensive zone and putting them in a defensive posture. The mistake I believe you and others are making in evaluating him is in how you are characterizing him as a player. Dahlin has tremendous skating and offensive skills. He's not a banger or much of a clear-out net player. That's not his game. When you have a player with certain exceptional attributes you have to put him in a position where his talents are accentuated, and his limitations are minimized.

As others have pointed out over the past half dozen games against high quality opponents (actually better teams) the Sabres have looked qualitatively better. The sensation that is being repeated by the observers is that: They look like a real NHL team. That's what the eye-test indicates. The dramatic change clearly revolves around the elevated play of the goaltenders. And because of that it seems that it has influenced the play of the rest of the players on the ice who are determined to play a more defensive style of game. The players are noticeably playing a tighter brand of hockey with less loss of coverage, especially around the net. This is more akin to playoff hockey than regular season hockey. I was really proud of how the Sabres played in Winnipeg. This game made me even more proud because of the added challenges of having to play a back to back and travel game against a well rested team that is on a hot streak. It was obvious to me that the Penguins were the rested team with the fresh legs. But the Sabres continued to grind even when they were behind. That showed a lot of character and tough-mindedness. As others noted I was impressed with the play of Fitzgerald. He played tough, smart and within himself. He played as if he belonged. And if the goalie play continues to be stellar and that position gets secured for us the rebuilding process will be accelerated with players in the pipeline not far off from moving up. I don't want to get carried away but it's so refreshing to have positive thoughts about this team instead of the negative thoughts that have been around for so long.

The Sabres have had their ups and downs this season, obviously so. But throughout this season there has been no player who has been as consistently good as he has been. In good and bad games he is always working and grinding. And as you indicate his offense has increased much of it due to his effort. It appears that his style of play has positively influenced Cozens. Okposo's stats don't reveal how important he is to this team.

I'm glad that you mentioned Joki as one of the players who played well in this game. He's been playing with confidence and more authority than before. I know that a lot of people don't like him paired with Dahling but they are playing well together.

No. He should play Subban tomorrow. If there was a day off after this game I would say stay with the big young goalie. As you pointed out what was impressive about his play is that he didn't allow goals against him to fester in his mind. Big body and strong mind! From an overview perspective the Sabres have played upper tier teams over the past 4 or 5 games. In each game they played the opposition toe to toe. When this team gets the caliber of goaltending that it is getting with UPL it elevates the players playing in front of him. Even if the Sabres would have lost in a shootout I would have been really proud of this team.

The way I look at the Tuck and Krebs addition from the Jack trade is not from an individual talent aspect. I view it more from a broader perspective with the hope that in the near future the talent base on this team is broadened. Jack is a special talent. And no player added to this roster is going to be individually better than he is, or come close to it. But by adding a number of pieces to compensate for the loss of a sterling piece the team will be better. As you accurately describe Tuch is a solid to good player, not a special player. But with more talent around him he will become an effective player for us. He is the type of player that our young players will benefit from because of how professionally he approaches the game. He is a step forward.