JohnC

I don't care if Kulich scores 30+ goals. If the GM would have added a second line winger to the roster, this team would be a deeper team with more line flexibility. The GM has this cruising along approach to his job and is resistant to making consequential moves. As you point out, with the dispatching of Skinner, the organization had the wherewithal $$$ to improve this team and excite the fanbase. There is little creativity and an unwillingness to demonstrate a degree of urgency from the front office. This is a dull franchise being run by mediocre people.

Pesce and Markstrom were two excellent pickups for this team. Their GM outplayed our GM this offseason. We had room to bring in an impact player for our second line that would have also had the effect of improving our third line. Our GM didn't act with urgency while another organization's GM did. I can see New Jersey being an under the radar SC contender.

We don't need a brawl in the worst way. (Your words.) What we mostly need is for our top two lines to play like top two lines that can more reliably score goals when the opportunities exist. The Sabres were clearly outplayed in the Prague games. However, what was disturbing in those two games is that there were opportunities for the top lines to score. The shooters simply missed the net when golden opportunities existed. That pattern of misfiring has plagued this team for two long. I agree with you that one of the best features of hockey (regular and playoff games) is the changing ebb and flow of a game. I didn't see much of that in the two European games. We were by far the slower and sluggish team in those games. I'm hoping that in our first home stand that this team plays with more energy and urgency. I'm really getting tired of watching the Sabres play as if they are fatigued. I'm not enamored with watching thuggery. I prefer watching a fast-paced and hardnosed style of play. That leads to more winning.

No, he is not. That doesn't mean that there isn't a role for him on this team, but I don't see it on either of the two top lines.

You and I are riding the same bus. KA was a cheap and non-threatening hire for the owner. The owner got what he wanted with KA's hire, a congenial person he extracted from the business side of the operation. That in itself tells you a lot about the owner's hockey adroitness. I like you thought this GM's aversion to Mitts was peculiar. Here was a versatile player who was developed in the system and could play center or forward on our top two lines. The player's agent let it be known that the organization never even made an offer. To put it mildly, perplexing. With respect to your frightening question of what happens to this roster if it can't be made to congeal into a competitive team? Fan fatigue and apathy and plenty of empty seats in the arena. That would be so sad. It is the accumulation of a lot of bad personnel decisions that has weighed this franchise down into the muck of mediocrity. As you point out, we actually had the talent to build a serious roster. It was the organization's dysfunction that resulted in our own talent fleeing out of here. And inarguably it benefited all the players who thrived in the better situations they went to.

There isn't anything in your catalogue of bad decisions that I disagree with. I agree with you that the process of hiring LIndy was a sham. He was the designated hire that was made before the season ended last year. I did at the time criticize the phoniness of the search because there wasn't a real search. I agree with you that there were good coaches to consider. But it was a mirage that fooled no one but the most naive. I believe that Lindy was a good hire. He was an experienced veteran coach who would be more demanding in holding players accountable. That's what we were looking for, and what we got. Other than the phony hiring process that added to this organization and owner's severely diminished creditability it was a reasonable hire. (I'm aware that you are not saying otherwise.) The Sabres lost two games on this foreign road trip to a more cohesive and better team. It's certainly disappointing but I'm not going to panic just yet. Let's just wait for at least 12 games or so to be played before we judge how good or bad this team is. Understandably, it's difficult to be patient with this team because of the history of this ignominious era. Too many people are already getting on the ledge and are jumping off. It's not popular to say here but let's be a little more patient before wanting to blow things up again. Why are you suggesting that the coach is the problem after two games?

If he offers an opinion that is reasonable, then it shouldn't automatically be dismissed. If he says something that is outlandish in order to be provocative, then I wouldn't give it much credibility. Simply making a judgment on a case-by-case basis.

The Sabres finished last season with a record of 39-37-6 for 84 points. Is it unreasonable to believe that this team can win four more games and increase their loser points from 6 to 10? That would give us 96 points. That is not out of the realm of possibility. As @dudacek notes Craig Rivet's analysis of this roster it is a very reasonable prediction of this team's prospects.

If you are looking for precision in internet postings, you are looking in the wrong places. It's like going to the butcher shop looking for a surgeon. A lot of blood in the shop that makes you want to look away.

Just do the opposite!

Thanks for your response. I thought that Hamilton periodically substitutes calling games???

Doesn't Paul Hamilton periodically do Rochester games?

For this particular team, the revamping of the lower lines is going to have a consequential impact not only on its effectiveness in its role but also will have a positive effect on the top two lines. Over the past few years, there's no question that the young players were going to be given an outsized role compared to most teams. Those inexperienced players now have enough experience to be more effective and still have more potential to tap into. Due to the players that the GM brought in this offseason (with the influence of Ruff) this roster is demonstrably better balanced. The critical issue that you note is whether our goaltending will consistently be at a level that regularly give us a chance to win every night. UPL showed in the second half of last season that he can play well enough for extended periods of time. (In fact, his league ranking was in the upper echelon.) In general, I'm optimistic about our playoff prospects. That's really not a high bar for many teams but for us it is reasonable hope. It's really important that this team starts off well and remains in the playoff picture throughout the season. A slow start will be a crushing blow, especially for the exhausted fans.

You are right that we haven't seen this new line against NHL players and in real game situations. However, what is apparent (even as an early judgment) is that this line is fast and tenacious. I won't be surprised that this so-called lower line will have a positive cascading effect on the other three lines. In general, the GM did a good job in subtracting players and adding players to better balance out this roster.

Levi may be better than UPL or UPL may be better than Levi. If we can get quality tandem goaltending for a full season, regardless how the workload is distributed, this team will be demonstrable better than last year's team. If you add in the fact that our fourth line is better constructed, and there is expectation that our scorers should be better compared to last year, then there is realistic expectation that this team will be a playoff team. And if you include the fact that the improved roster will be better coached, then the elevated expectations should be attainable.

A month or so ago I took the subway to go for my annual eye checkup. I was amused by the fact that I was the only person on the train who was reading a newspaper. Everyone else was immersed in their devices. I do use my computer and iphone for news, but my preference is still to read the paper. I'm a dinosaur who has no problem being outdated. Get he helll off my lawn!

Reconstructing the lower line has better balanced out the lineup. One beneficiary of that new line will be the top line because it will be less burdened by defending against the other team's top line, especially at home when they make the last line change.

What did you want him to say in that setting? Dahlin is more of an understated and mellow person. That doesn't mean that he isn't an intense competitor. What you want from your leaders is authenticity, not phony showmanship. As Lindy stated in that same clip what is most important in exhibiting leadership is leading by example. If Dahlin or any of the other assistant captains act out of character, their teammates will instantly recognize that. It's not about talking---it's about setting the example and exhibiting leadership through one's play. At least for me, Dahlin's short and simple comment after the designation was the right response at that particular moment.

Lindy is the right coach at the right time. Granato specialized is developing young players while Lindy is more capable of coaching a team to compete in the NHL.

I'm confused by your post. What are you talking about and suggesting? Some grand media conspiracy? The Sabres didn't bring in their broadcasters on this European trip. You can reasonably agree or disagree with that lack of hometown coverage, but too much is being made of it. My position is that the local broadcasters should have been included in the trip.

I have a different perspective on the line composition that includes Quinn and Benson and centered by Cozens that you are hesitant about. I don't want to get ahead of myself in judging young players but my expectation is that Quinn is going to have a successful season that is worthy of a good second line player. Just as JJP made a leap last year on the top line, I see the same leap forward with a healthy Quinn. I still maintain the view that if I had a choice of keeping either JJP or Quinn, I would take Quinn. That expectation is not a knock on JJP as it is my high expectation for Quinn this season. In addition, I also expect Benson to be a worthy second line player who has the vision and grit to round out that line.

What's NAK?

Yes. The roster and line combos are most likely almost set. The first, second and fourth line will probably be the same as the first preseason game. The players on the blueline are set, while the combos still have to be determined. Ruff appears determined to establish player cohesion as soon as possible. And it is a priority that this team starts off well when the season starts. It's about the now. He's wise in taking this approach. Are preseason games discounted in price or are the tickets priced at regular season rates?

I simply can't see Clifton in a second pairing role. (Aware you conditioned your projection.) I see him slotted as either a third or fourth pairing player.

The Sabres played their roster players while the Penquins mostly played their AHL players. So it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from this game. Taking that into consideration, I thought that there was more offensive net presence than usual. That's a major plus. I thought our newly formed fourth line played very well. This line is fast and tenacious. This is a big upgrade from last year. I also like the fact that our blueline players were more willing to shoot the puck. I thought Joki was most noticeable on this aspect of the game. And as others have noted, Benson's tenacious style of play stood out. He's going to be fan favorite. In general, you can see the Ruff influence of emphasizing getting the puck quickly out of the zone and pushing the play. This was a good start that hopefully indicates better things to come. TBD.