JohnC

This is a comprehensive and excellent analysis. But from an overview standpoint I disagree with it. Like you, I am disappointed from a record standpoint at how this season has started off. But with the exception of the first game the Sabres have on balance played evenly with the opposition. The outcomes didn't translate into wins but the difference between the competing teams were nearly indistinguishable. If that is an accurate description of the situation then why would you want to blow up the organization when the competitive differences as exhibited so far are rather miniscule. Make no mistake what I'm saying here. This roster has deficiencies that need to be addressed. But the solution is not to dramatically teardown in order to restart the extended period of rebuilding again. In my view, and certainly not in your view, we are beyond the major reconstruction stage. Without question there still needs to be some reshuffling of players but not to the extent that you are proposing. My suggestion to you is to be a little more patient and see how things play out. Another suggestion I have is to stay away from open windows in tall buildings . You might become so exasperated with this team that you might be tempted to do something irrational in order forever end this self-induced pain. One issue that I strenuously disagree with you is your recommendation to trade Hall at the deadline. What do you expect to get for him when he will be an UFA next year? It's still early in the season but from what I have already seen from him I believe he has a lot to offer. My leanings are more @tom websterthan toward your dour inclinations.

Was that thin pizza or Chicago pan pizza? More specificity in describing the meal would be more palatable! 🤡

I watched the Washington crew cover the game. I got the same sensation as you did with the Buffalo tandem that they were not focused on the game but were simply two guys chatting and not concentrating on the game. Because this is such an odd hockey year without the fans I'm fine with the looseness of coverage.

I apologize for repeating what I said in a prior post. You are right that the Sabres with the exception of the first game (as you noted) haven't played poorly. But that's not the standard this year. Because of the covid induced reconfigured conference and the shortened and compressed schedule the standard has changed. As in soccer you can't play the same or a little better when the team moves up to a higher league. That's what essentially happened in this new virus era. Everything is elevated and heightened. The lackadaisical study habits that you employed in high school and still got straight A grades aren't sufficient to do well in a pre-med program in college. In this year if you dig yourself into an early hole it will be more difficult than ever to string together victories against better teams in back to back games. The Washington game was very disappointing. The opposition had a number of their prime players sidelines because of the covid protocol, including their HOF player, Ovechin. And we still couldn't eke out a win. And because of the death of our goalie's father this team should have been hyper motivated to rally around him. It didn't. The Sabres still earned a point with this OT loss, and another 2 points can be earned with a win Sunday. But watching the Sabres what is so far evident is something is missing. I just don't see the urgency in play for a team that should have it.

This is an irregular year compared to the typical 82 game season with games distributed throughout the league. And the specially designed conference is loaded with good teams. So it is unlikely that the Sabres are going to have extended winning streaks that include feasting on weak teams. That will make it even more difficult to catch up if this team falls behind as it is now doing. You point out that the underlying numbers are in our favor. Those numbers mean little if they are not translated into wins and earning points. Under this year's format if a team falls behind with a schedule of back to back games with the same team it is difficult to sweep games and make up points. This situation is not good. It may not be dire but it is getting close to that point.

Are you into grits? Yankees are required to adapt.

My eye test corresponded to your eye test. I thought they were an excellent fit. At times I find him befuddling when he puts together and then changes the pieces around.

He won't go to Georgia because the Redneck tomato sauce doesn't meet his high standards. 😛

I am baffled as to why Montour was taken off of the pairing with Dahlin? What was the reasoning?

Montreal probably has the most to offer with some high end young talent. Although they are reluctant to give up a talent like Suzuki plus a lot more they can get a deal done if they are willing to pay the steep price.

Tony Soprano's relatives want to have a social meeting with you at one of their family owned garbage dump sites. Your scurrilous comment about the beloved home state will not go unanswered. It is suggested that you have an enjoyable meal before the gathering because it is very likely that it will be your last. ☠️

Could you add Skinner to your list? It would wonders for not only him but the team? 🙂

When watching TT's games this season I didn't see him being out of place. That's not to say that his play was very noteworthy. Because it wasn't. But as you noted not being a drag on the ice and being an active participant is in itself a step (not leap) forward. If with playing time his play doesn't show improvement then that status quo performance will indicate that what he is is what he is and not what was hoped for. I'm cautiously optimistic about him. In comparison, I'm incautiously optimistic about Cozens. It's not difficult to believe that he is going to steadily get better as the season advances and become a contributing player in his rookie year.

Let's take a look at the Buffalo Bills's staff. Beane, McDermott, DC Frazier and OC Daboll. Top tier staffing with top tier results. It took some time for the new owner to get it right but after he signed McDermott as the HC and empowered him what followed led to the team's rapid rise.

I don't want to come off as a tiresome scold but again I severely disagree with your Hall take and the possible repercussions that followed that acquisition. In my view the Hall acquisition has/had little to do with how it impacted Skinner and where it placed him. I say that because I believe, as you do, that Skinner should be placed on the second line regardless who ended up centering for him and played on the opposite wing. I was open to the erudite coach placing Reinhart on the second line but my first preference was keeping him on the first line with Jack and Hall. That is a golden first line that should have been assembled right from the start. To the coach's credit he quickly restored Reinhart to the Jack line where although it hasn't converted its chances it has dominated play when it was on the ice. If you have a Rolex watch you get your return on your investment by wearing it, not by burying it in the drawer where it does you no good. There were plenty of fantasy goalie upgrades that were promoted this offseason by the fans. But the reality is all along this new front office was invested in Ullmark as our #1 goalie. So the issue was who was going to be a replacement for Hutton? I believe the GM considered the options out there; and it's apparent that he and Krueger didn't believe that they were worth jettisoning Hutton for. I have repeatedly stated that the biggest factor determining success or failure for this team is the play of Ullmark. I still believe that even though the majority of the audience is focused on Hutton, the backup. So going back to your Hall question and the options that could have been taken without signing him I unequivocally contend that acquiring Hall was a bonanza acquisition that trumps all other options.

Let me start off with where I severely disagree with you. From what I have seen from Hall it is apparent to me that he has regained his elite form. Even with this small sample I will go so far as to say that he is an upper tier player in the league. When you have a gift horse opportunity you seize it. Was the salary cost high? Of course it was! When you want top tier talent you pay for talent. I'm not going to criticize the coaching staff for not immediately playing Cozens at the center position. As I have stated before the model to follow is the Blackhawk method that was used last year for their precocious rookie, Kirby Dach. The staff started him at wing and as the season advanced and he got acclimated to the league he was elevated to a center role. I wouldn't be surprised if Cozens ends up playing center sometime this year. In my opinion the manner in which Arttu is being handled is proper and smart. He played in Europe on a bigger surface. Just as the AHL orientation worked out well for Olofsson I'm hoping that same type of handling will work out for R-2. With Mitts the onus is on him. My preference is to have him play heavy minutes in Rochester instead of throwing him into the big league mix when he hasn't earned a spot. I haven't given up on him but he is not entitled to playing time until he earns it. I'm aware that this is a shortened and compressed schedule against tougher teams. So there is a greater urgency than with a standard season. But it's too soon to panic. With the exception of the first game in general the Sabres have played well against good teams. So let's wait a little longer to see how this plays out before acting out of desperation that in the long term usually causes more problems than solves.

I respectfully but strenuously disagree with your take on the Johansson for Staal trade. The clamor after last year's season was that the 2C position needed to be addressed. And the necessity of a deal for a 2C was indisputable. Staal is an end of the line veteran who may or may not have a year or two left in his hockey lifespan. (That factor and risk was considered when the deal was made.) The rational for his procurement was that he was a reasonable short term (year or so) placeholder for Cozens. Considering what was given up for him it was a deal in foresight and hindsight that was worth making. The Staal for Johansson trade calculation went beyond talent for talent. There was another layer to it. It revolved around the necessity of addressing a major need and better balancing the roster. Staal has not played well. Few people would say otherwise. It's not so much that he has been bad as much he has not been good. In order to be competitive you need both of your top two centers to play above mediocre levels to be competitive. Staal currently falls under the standard. But let's not just yet jump to a conclusion about him. It's still early in the season. And it has to be acknowledged that he is playing for a new team with unfamiliar and changing line mates. Not having a normal training camp and preseason certainly has to be factored in when evaluating him at this point.(Marty Biron brought this point up in a WGR appearance.) What I basically saying here is let's give it more time before the lamenting is unleashed.

The offense was shut out but the offense was able to generate 40 shots that included somewhere around 10-12 high quality chances. The opportunities were there but the shooters missed them. Skinner had multiple golden opportunities and Oloffson also had a couple of those same enticing openings to shoot at. Overall, this was another loss but the team for the most part played well.

What's remarkable and even admirable is that even though the organization and even some members of the press know what the issue is for Ullmark it hasn't so far to my knowledge been leaked.

Old time video. Keith Magnuson TKO's Carol Vadnais - Round 1-3 - YouTube

The best message he can send to Aube and the Flyers is to contribute to a win by scoring, assisting and good play. The Sabres have a history of being one of the worst penalty killers in the league. Why put your team a man short with a pay back hit that in the end is more likely to hurt your team? Play hard, clean and win. That's the best form of justice. I didn't see the hit so I can't say if it was a dirty or intentional hit. The league reviewed and did not find it to be problematic.

I'm really excited about him. I'm hoping he follows the Chicago Kirby Dach model where the more he plays the better he gets and the more responsibility he is given. Their styles of play are certainly different but both youngsters are so much more advanced beyond their peer group. I'm also optimistic about Tage. It's not so much that he is shining on the ice as it is that he doesn't look out of place. As he has gained physical maturity its obvious that he is not in over his head. From what I have seen so far I'm more positive that his potential is likely to be realized. The moral of the story is that it takes time to develop.

The attached link is a five minute recap of the game. The link came from NHL.com. Recap: BUF 6, PHI 1 | NHL.com

In last night's game it would be an exaggeration to say that Thompson and/or Cozens stood out. On the other hand it is fair to say that both players played at a level that showed that they belonged. So the hope is that there is plenty of room for growth without subjecting the team to damaging lapses while undergoing the expected uneven growth process.

You are right. In the first game he didn't look sharp. The best one can say that he was adequate and couldn't rise to the occasion. But the team in front of him was grossly sloppy and disjointed. That shouldn't have been surprising for a team that hadn't played in almost a year. Although the Sabres lost the second game to the Capitals they played much better, and in my opinion at worst matched the Capitals or at best outplayed them in a losing effort. I don't want to get carried away from the first game in Philly because that dominating game against them might not translate into meaning anything other than beating an opponent that wasn't ready to play when the puck was dropped. As you well know those clunker games happen to all teams. I thought Hutton played well yesterday. He was solid in a very non-challenging game. I'm not as down on him as most are. As I have stated before if he is used judiciously he will be more than adequate as a #2 goalie. If he is used as a heavy duty goalie, even as a #2 backup, then the organization has something to worry about. Needless to say it is still very early in the season, a very unique season with a challenging compressed schedule in a newly created tough conference. Although we have only won one game out of three the Sabres did play well in two of those games. What's my takeaway? I don't know!