JohnC

Don't fret. There are still options to choose from. The problem isn't what you want to sell so much as who wants to buy? 🤡

Risto was one of the most criticized players on this board. I don't recall many people believing that he would be a player who by himself would get a proven 2C in return. Usually a Risto trade proposal included a high pick or other players to get the 2C return. I'm not saying what you thought about Risto was right or wrong. I am commenting on the prevailing view that he was a player that many were willing to dispatch because his level of play wasn't ever going to be as high as hoped for.

Players work on the breakaway in practice. The players who are the best at it are usually the ones who are called on. The priority list can change. It doesn't matter what position the player plays. And sometimes the coach calls on a player because his gut tells him to pick that particular player.

I agree with much of your observations drawn from the highlights but they don't give a full picture unless you watched the game. Ullmark did give up a couple of weak goals. But if you watched the whole game he made a number of tough saves where on balance he played he was a major factor in us getting the win. (My opinion.) Your observation about Risto demonstrates that you have a keen eye. This season Risto is playing a more controlled and disciplined game. By simplifying his game he has played a smarter game. When he tries to do to much he makes glaring mistakes. And even his hitting is much more judicious and purposeful compared to prior seasons. McCabe is a good partner who enhances Risto's game. It also helps that the forwards are more conscious in fulfilling their defensive responsibilities. Your Stall observation is spot on. He has been steadily getting better as he becomes familiar with his new teammates . Staal's style of play has little flash. He is the epitome of substance over style. He is the perfect model for Cozens to follow. Reinhart is an underappreciated player.

I was one of the people who thought TT could score 15-20 goals (pro-rated for full season). So far it appears that I am way off the mark. He is much stronger on the puck, battling his man and willing to go in the corners but there is a lack of quickness that hinders him on offense. Krueger is not reluctant to give players opportunities; he's also not reluctant to pull the plug on a player and move them down to a lower line when a demotion is warranted. I'm not giving up on him but unless there is an upswing in his performance he is at best a second-tier and lower line player. @GASabresIUFAN there is a flip side to your response. Who was the player that a majority of people clamored to be dealt? Without question it was Risto. His play has been superb. He provides an element of toughness and much to my surprise for the most part (not always) intelligent presence in the backend. He and McCabe our our best pairing. side note: I am again predicting that Skinner will score in this game. I will not stop predicting him to score a goal until he does so.

You just listed two deficiencies that have plagued this team and now appear to be upgraded. Improving team defense isn't easy to attain. It takes a collective belief and buy in that it is a priority. Last year, we had one of the worst PK units in the league. How many points did this team lose because of its ineptness on that unit? It was an issue that was addressed in the offseason. And so far the people who were brought in have fulfilled their roles. As far as opponents playing with substitute players I'm not sympathetic to that argument. Injuries are an inescapable part of the game. You just deal with it as best you can. Whether you win or lose with a full or depleted roster a win is a win and a loss is a loss. In the end the points get tabulated with no excuses attached the the end number.

He didn't play it perfectly but it still was a fortuitous shot that bounced off his arm. But even so the difference in this game from a goalie standpoint was the number of excellent saves that factored in to the win. The goalie played well enough to earn 2 points. A win is a win. I'll take it.

A win is a win. I'll take it. The goal off his arm was a fluke goal. He made a number of high end stops in this game that contributed to a win. Overall, he was a major if not the primary reason why the Sabres won this game. We are in the mix. We are consistently earning points. And that is a good sign. NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com

Cozens is not a dazzling player. He is the epitome of substance over style. You make a good comparison between Cozesn and Reinhart/Staal. You don't appreciate the instincts and subtleties unless you watch them over an extended period of time. From his first game and on I have never gotten the sense that this young rookie is out of place. With Staal you can see him steadily getting better as he gets more familiar with his mates.

The eye test tells me something is amiss here. Eichel, Hall and Dahlin just seem to be out of sink. It's not so much that they are playing poorly but these are the players you expect to be driving the play. They are not. I'm not going to be dismissive over earning two points and staying in the division mix. But somethings seem off kilter.

He did give up two soft goals. The goal off his arm when he was tight on the net was a fluke. However, his sterling stops more than make up for the bad goals. Right now he may be the best shoot out goalie in the league. I'm more than happy with his overall performances.

@GASabresIUFAN is a tough nut but a great guy. When dealing with a former Yankee who has become a devotee of southern grits and gravy it is a challenge to alter their hard headed thinking. But I will continue to chip away until he relents. 🤡

@GASabresIUFANI'm not making excuses because the challenges the Sabres are facing are the same challenges that opponents are also contending with. It has to be considered that because this is an altered season that includes a lot of back to back games it is really tough beating the same team in consecutive games. If you look at the standings it shouldn't be surprising that so many teams are bunched together. Where I disagree with you is on the issue of effort. I don't see the level of lassitude that you do. I do see uneven play and I do see line disjointedness but that shouldn't be surprising with so many new additions and a lot of juggling of lines. An example of that would be the play of Hall. When he is on the Jack line he just seems out of sync with him. I just think once he grows more familiar with his line mates (whoever they are) his production will increase. What I recommend is a little more patience before solidifying your opinion on this team. It's not as dire as you make it out to be. (My opinion.)

I am going to predict that Skinner will score a goal this game. I will also continue to predict that he will score a goal in a game until he does. Once he breaks the no goal barrier I will stop predicting that he will score a goal but will graciously take credit for the goal when he does finally light the lamp. 🤡

You make a couple of keen observations. VO is showing a more well rounded game. His passing and skating are quite good. Staal is not standing out but he is steadily getting better. At this late stage in his career he is not going shine as much be a solid and steadying type player. It seems that he is more comfortable in his new setting than when he first started with us.

I'm wishing you the best. Did you go to the doctor and get any treatments or are you just riding it out and letting the infection run its course?

Attached is the standings after yesterday's game. Link taken from NHL.com. NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com

Paul Hamilton talked about the Ranger game on WGR. This is a 16 min. segment. His observations correspond to the posted observations. He noted that the play of Hall has declined. He made an interesting observation that teams are starting to keep Eichel from carrying the puck in on the PP and forcing Hall to handle the puck because he has a tendency to give the puck up. Howard And Jeremy | RADIO.COM

After this passionless game I understand your run them to the ground sentiment. But in this type of season with a compressed schedule with the less recovery time you are more likely to get more sluggish performances and an increase of injuries. Especially in this altered season you have to be smart and more scientific about how you approach handling your team. RK has a different and more potent way of handling poor play: He apportions playing time and sits players who are not meeting his expectation.

The Rangers dominated this game. They were a desperate team, and they played like it. The Sabres squeaked out a point that they didn't deserve. As others have noted the most positive takeaway was the exceptional play of Ullmark. The score could have been 6-2 without his many sterling stops. If the score would have been predicated on domination it could have been 8-2. What was disappointing about this game beyond the not winning is that there seemed to be no spark on the Sabre side. In comparison the Rangers had it in spades. If the team didn't have energy in the front side of the season how much energy is there going to be in the later stages of a compressed scheduled season when the injuries, bruises and fatigue will be more evident? The consolation is that the Sabres garnered a point. In a loaded division the Sabres don't have much of margin of error to earn a playoff spot. Again, this game was disappointing.

As @Curt and you point out it was widely reported that Vegas was aggressively trying to trade him this past offseason with the primary motivation being financial/cap considerations. I'm just pointing out that the circumstance has changed due to their team standing and also due to MAF playing so well. In my opinion it would be a mistake for them to take the risk of trading him this season because he is outplaying the #1 goalie, Lehner, and also Lehner is injury prone so there is a need for a high quality backup that would be able to keep them in the cup hunt.

Why would a serious cup contending team like Vegas trade one of their goalies and put themselves in a vulnerable position if their #1 goalie, Lehner, gets hurt? And it should be noted that MAF is outperforming the #1 goalie. (As you noted.) With the compressed schedule it is important to have two high functioning goalies. If Vegas wasn't a serious team I could see them doing what they needed to do to move him. However, being in the competitive position that they are in it wouldn't make sense to deal him off. Vegas Golden Knights Stats | 2020-2021 | Vegas Golden Knights (nhl.com)

Contract and cap considerations are important considerations for deciding whether to retain or dispatch a player. Carolina knew that in the not too distant that they weren't going to pay him the prevailing rate for his talent and scoring prowess. You are oversimplifying the situation. I disagree with you that he is not coachable. He has a style of play that is difficult to mesh in a regimented system. I'm not criticizing the team or the player. He is what he is. And when the Sabres acquired him they got who and what he was. The former GM signed him to a rich and long term contract that is nearly impossible to shed. This is a case where both the player and the coach need to bend a little to utilize his scoring talents.

Attach is a link from NHL.com from a article by Dan Rosen. He put together a power ranking from a number of hockey writers. What's notable about it is that the cumulative rankings place 6 teams from our division in the top 16. The Sabres have a challenge but not insurmountable to qualify for the playoffs. Super 16: Golden Knights take over No. 1 in NHL.com power rankings

Many have been clamoring for a goalie upgrade mostly directed toward the backup position. I don't see it happening. That disappoints a lot of people here.