JohnC

Marty Biron was on WGR for a 15 min segment. He gave fast paced responses to Howard and Jeremy's questions. He talked about Cozens, Risto etc and concluded with a brief summary of how he thought the other divisions would play out. Marty is a good nature fellow that belies his detailed knowledge of the NHL. And in my view he has a good insight into the Sabres. Howard And Jeremy | RADIO.COM

Not completely misused but handled with a little more flexibility. When you have an asset that doesn't quite fit your preferred mold a little more forbearance might be appropriate.

There isn't a player who is more willing to go to the net (dirty area) and absorb a pummeling than Reinhart. One of the noticeable deficiencies last year was the lack of net presence. It's a little better this year but there is still a need for more of it. As a general observation Reinhart is one of our tougher and grittier players. It's not as noticeable as some of the bigger more open ice hitters but it is very much there.

You eloquently captured the essence of of what I'm attempting to say on this issue. Thank you. 🍺

The highlighted area is my point. The point I'm making is that being more flexible in how Skinner is used benefits the team. I would like to see him on the second line and periodically moved to the first line in order to alter the dynamics of a stalled line. When you have an asset you should use it even if in doing so you are bending your philosophy a tad. As I stated in a prior post Skinner is putting in the effort and is taming his roaming game, somewhat. I just think that the other side of the of the equation needs to yield a little more.

I have never heard anyone say that Skinner is a malcontent or is defiant toward the coach and what he is espousing. There is no question that Skinner doesn't fit the Krueger model of the type of two way player he prefers. Skinner is an offensive player who roams and doesn't strictly play within the coach's tighter lanes. Not only is he's not that type of player but never has been. I agree that Skinner is not a fit within the Krueger system. But because of his contract it is unlikely that he can be dealt. I see Skinner putting in the effort to better conform to what the coach wants. I also believe that the coach should be a little more flexible in utilizing this former scoring dynamo. When you have an asset why not try to find a way to take advantage of it?

She is astute and perspicacious. 🤡

The issue isn't pampering a particular player. The issue is putting the player in a position to succeed. There are things that Skinner does well and things that he doesn't do well. The coach's job is to accentuate the player's assets and do his best to minimize his liabilities. If you have a player who previously scored 40 goals in a season and is now in a drought that measures zero there needs to be an adjustment made. Skinner is a player who is not slacking off or sulking at his role. If you watched him it is evident that he is putting in the effort. The coach needs to be more flexible and change the way he has handled Skinner. It's not working!

If your psychologist daughter says to you: "daddy you are acting crazy" ----do you consider it a typical daughter comment or a professional judgment? 😛

I'm a minimalist with a less than delusionary expectation to be great. What I'm looking for is to steadily get better and move up the ranks. My theory why the Sabres for the past recent years have started off like of ball of fire and then predictably flamed out is that the roster was thin to begin with not having much margin of error to work with. As the season would advance and the rigors of it took its toll from injuries and players not playing to expectation there wasn't a reservoir of talent to draw from. Hopefully, the difference this season is that the talent base has increased and credible replacements are more available.

Ullmark has had a consistent pattern where whatever level he starts off at he at first struggles and then once he gets acclimated he solidifies his position and then moves up to the next rank. He then repeats the same struggle to getting better pattern. The point is that there an expectation that he does get better.

It's a fair description to consider it being hard headed about this issue. 😛 Bighorn Rams Head Butting - Bing video

If you look at the other contracts given out such as to Reinhart and the other players that were brought on in general they were for short term deals. Ullmark is still in a show-me status for the big long-term deal as with Reinhart. That's not to suggest that they don't like these players but they are not going to be caught up with a Skinner type deal for players that they are not sure are good to very good. The point I was emphasizing with Ullmark is that the organization is comfortable with him as their #1 goalie this year and the near future. But when you are investing in a longer and richer term deal then prudence is the way to go. And on the Ullmark side of the equation he doing well in an interim deal makes him more appealing on the market when it gets to that point.

It's the money issue as much as the talent issue that will have the organization seek alternative options, assuming that they are seriously looking for options for our #2, and not our #1 goalie. My opinion is that the organization is more than satisfied with Ullmark as their #1 and heavy dute goalie.

How much salary would you be willing to be responsible for if he were to be acquired?

I'm not saying you are wrong because we are talking hypotheticals and opinions but I just don't envision the organization signing MAF to be the #1 goalie. If there is a trade for a goalie it would be to replace Hutton as our #2. My sense is the organization is invested in Ullmark and is comfortable with him being the #1. Maybe I'm being too stubborn on the goalie issue but I don't believe the organization is as troubled with Hutton being the backup as the fanbase is.

I agree with you that a certain amount of skepticism is warranted. Given the team's history anyone who didn't have some skepticism is simply naive and unaware of how this organization has functioned for a long time. But the eye test indicates (at least to me) that although some of the stats don't justify a positive response, such as ES goals, the difference between conversion and not is miniscule. That is what I am relying on to look beyond the numbers although in general the stats are very positive as @dudacek noted. There is just too much offensive talent for players such as Jack, Hall and to a lesser extent Skinner to continue on with their scoring struggles. That's the source of my upside perspective. Pivoting away from this subject I still believe that the most important factor determining success for this team is the play of its goaltenders, most notably Ullmark.

@Kelly the Dog accurately described Skinner's lone ranger style of play that Krueger is not enamored with. He wants to construct balanced lines where the players' roles complement one another. His unity philosophy is not too difficult to understand. I just wish he would be more flexible trying to accommodate the individualistic style of Skinner who has demonstrated that he can be a prolific goal scorer. If Skinner is not going to be assigned a higher line role I wish he could be intermittently assigned to the higher lines during the games just to afford him more scoring opportunities. In watching the games I have to give Skinner credit because he continues to play hard despite his mounting frustration and his secondary role. Overall, I'm satisfied how this team has been playing. But I find it troubling that an asset is being squandered because of the attachment to the system. Yielding a little sometimes is better than being unyielding.

The players playing on the first line who are not converting are the same players on the first PP unit who are converting. A goal is a goal and counts the same whether it is an ES goal or not. What is encouraging is that although the first and to a lesser extent the second line haven't been prolific scoring goals they have created many chances that have resulted in near misses. As @Taro T has cogently stated there is too much fire power, primarily on the first line, for their ES drought to continue. The player that I am ardently rooting for to break the ice is Skinner. If he can return to some semblance of his old form then this team will be in a better position. To his credit Skinner has continued to play hard although the cloud of frustration is hovering over him.

I thought our play was a little loose. That's not Krueger's preferred style of play. I'm not complaining because a win is a win. The Risto/McCabe combo are our best pairing. Risto has seemed to simplify and tame his game. McCabe has been the most consistent player on the team. He's not flashy but always solid. Like everyone else I like Cozens. I thought Irwin was solid. Skinner is giving effort and working hard in his defensive zone. Eventually he is going to put the puck in the net. I hope very soon the top line loosens up and convert their chances. After Jack scored his goal you can see him exhale. We need to keep adding points so that we will be in contention right to the end of the season. NHL Hockey Standings | NHL.com

One of the neighborhood guys I grew up with on the west side owned a pizza place that did very well. He was a regular at the hockey games. He used to bring boxes of pizza to the game and give it to the police working traffic control who would then make sure that he had a quality parking space even if his arrival was late. He showed his appreciation toward the men in blue and they reciprocated with a choice free parking spot. Some people bribe the authorities with $$$$ and some people bribe the authorities with high caloric dough.

All I am saying with my responses toward you is that I don't understand why your perception of this year's team is so negative at this point. If the team was playing as they did in the first game I would understand such negativity. But in general their play since the inaugural game has been solid against good teams. You can have whatever view you want. We all have our views and interpretation of how this team is playing.

Especially with the first line although it is not scoring they are getting plenty of chances. So I'm not worrying about our top line. I think you are too fixated on the lower lines. Where you and I do intersect is that the both of us want to see Skinner moved up to the second and sometimes even the first line for a change of pace to get him going. How he has dealt with him has been exasperating. On the Skinner issue the coach has been very stubborn. I wish he would be more flexible in the way he has handled him.

Coach Krueger was on WGR with Howard and Jeremy. This is an approximately 13 min segment. No great revelations but Krueger being Krueger. Howard And Jeremy | RADIO.COM