JohnC

The turn outs have been quite impressive. It's obvious that there is a big market for the woman's game.

https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/pwhls-fleet-sirens-give-buffalo-hockey-fans-an-exciting-show-at-keybank-center/article_106690c0-f222-11ef-96f8-330a291f640f.html#tracking-source=home-top-story I don't know if this link can be read because of the pay wall. But in this article the attendance for these exhibitions in a variety of cities has been quite impressive.

The one thing that the Sabres don't need is adding a floater to one of your two top lines. That particular attribute is exactly the opposite of what you want to add to this team. Watching a player with high skill levels is aesthetically appealing. But when you are trying to instill a tougher and more responsible two-way play to your team, he doesn't add to that feature. You also pointed out a trait that makes him not only less appealing but someone whom I want to avoid i.e. he uses it (skill) at times. I'll always take the less talented player who consistently plays hard over the more naturally talented player who turns it off and on. He's a bad fit for what this organization is trying to do.

The Sabres are losing because of the way they play and correspondingly winning because of the way they play. I'm critical just like everyone else when defensively they don't cover well and lose. But on the other hand, when they play consistently hard and responsibly and win, then they should be given credit. In general, their play has recently improved. I'm not making excuses because your record is your record and can't run away from it. However, if you take away that ugly 13 non-winning interlude, this team would be ranked where many of us expected them to be.

@PromoTheRobot is the person in the know on that issue.

He’s been better than I first thought. Buffalo is a good place for him because here he is getting a bigger role than in prior years.

Buffalo certainly would be a good market if the product is worthy, entertaining and reasonably priced. The Bandits demonstrate that. The arena is usually filled with a raucous crowd supporting their competitive team. I'm hoping that in the not-too-distant future the arena will be filled with avid hockey fans rooting on a serious team. I'm hoping that Terry P recognizes that and demonstrates more urgency with his hockey franchise. My understanding is that last night's game was at capacity. That's a positive sign.

Why are they playing this game in Buffalo? Promote the women's league? Is Buffalo going to get a team?

The mocking was so subtle that only the special people could detect it. I'm very fortunate that when I get mocked it is so apparent that even a dullard like me can recognize it. 😁

Pervasive negativity can turn into a neurosis if left unchecked.😄

Those are reasonable suggestions. On the other hand, I do like the Zucker, McCleud and Tuch line. That is a manly line that can also score. That line also embodies a tougher brand of play that this team needs more of on a consistent basis. A few smart moves can reverberate positively throughout the lineup. That was evident with the return of Greenway last night.

I agree with you that we don't currently have the center to properly place Cozens. That's one of the reasons why I had reservations about the Mitts deal. (However, I do like Byram.) Our roster is miscast. My recommendation would be to deal Byram plus assets (draft picks and prospects) and get the caliber of center to move Cozens to the wing. How do you do that when your GM is a dullard and lacks the imagination to make such a deal?

I agree that our views are mostly in sync. I slightly disagree with you in that I have a higher estimation of his play as a winger. He's has more of a grittier makeup than a visual player that a center should have. Or another way of saying it is that he's the type of physical player that many people are screaming for to add to this roster. I don't need this organization to declare that Cozens will be moved to the wing where he is more suited. What we need is bringing a suitable 2C center so that he can be moved to the wing position. I believe that Sabres do have an asset in Cozens that is being squandered because this organization lacks the wisdom and imagination to fit players in the right position to maximize their talents. Powers is a no touch/trade player for me. However, although I like Byram, if we could get the caliber of center we need to move Cozens to the wing, then I would make that trade. My sense is that Cozens is going to be dealt; and my sense is that he will thrive in a better managed organization.

As I have stated in other posts, Cozens is being mishandled. He should be playing wing instead of center. In the international tournaments, when placed on wing with talented centers, he has thrived. You make an excellent point and observation that Cozens is putting too much pressure on himself. You can see it in his play and reactions to mishaps. My recommendation is to put him on wing where there is more basic play and less thinking.

I have made the point (and so have many others) that making a few more judicial moves in the offseason that brought it would have made a significant difference that would have sustained this team when facing turbulence. Instead of losing confidence when facing adversity, as they did in that ignominious non-winning streak, the team would have had enough maturity to deal with setbacks. The GM felt that the youngster laden roster was on an upward trajectory. So he was complacent in addressing the roster misconstruction. What is well known in all sports is that there is not always a smooth and even trajectory for young players. There are advances and setbacks. That's the norm. Was it a money consideration or miscalculation on his part? Probably both factors came into play. And what irritates me to no end is that what was needed to be added was very attainable and manageable to do. separate note: I have a much different view on Cozens than you do. There is a good chance that he will be dealt. And it wouldn't surprise me that when wearing another uniform he would perform much better. He needs to be on the wing with a good center. He's being mishandled here.

Others have astutely brought up the issue of the repeated squandering of leads that has tarnished the season. I don't want to overstate the effect of one player but having a more veteran presence, as exemplified by the return of Greenway, does make a difference in withstanding the predictable onslaught from the losing team when the tide turns against you in a game. I strongly believe that if the GM would have added another one or two Zucker or Greenway-like veterans to this youngish roster, it would have made a big difference. I'm confident that if that roster maturity deficiency would have been addressed, this team would not have had a 13-game winless streak that from a playoff standpoint has sunk the season.

Bown is a terrific name. It's somewhat unique yet not so exotic that a bearer of that name will have to be subjected to school yard ridicule. What makes it appealing is that there is a meaningful cultural history behind it. That's in contrast to my name John whose history relates to a toilet and excrement. 😄

Some quick thoughts on this game: I thought Greenway changed the dynamic of his line and influenced the game. Not a dynamic player but strong, tough and smart. He was a factor on his line and in Cozens having a good game. The two big plays in this game was Greenway hanging on to the puck and moving to an open area and scoring early in the game. The second big play in this game is when Dahlin cleared the puck out of the goal area when UPL last sight of it behind him. There was a Ranger ready to pounce on the puck but Dahlin reacted first. Tage had a big game. His most impressive goal was when he was in tight quarters and muscled his way towards the net to score. I paid close attention to the Power/Samuel pairing. They weren't noticed because they were fundamentally doing their jobs. Samuelsson was solid. The defensive play of our forwards was excellent. On the broadcast it was mentioned that there were a number of scouts in the arena. My suspicion was the main center of attention was Cozens. I don't want him traded. If dealt, he will be another young Sabre player playing well for another team. I hope Tuch is not hurt too bad. The Zucker, McCleud and Tuch line is a tough manly line that can also give you some scoring. Dahlin is our best player and an elite defenseman. He deserves to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs. This was a good win in front of a capacity crowd. The Sabres have won 5 out of 6 games. That 13 game winless streak sunk this season. The Sabres should have had around 10 more points. What the return of Greenway demonstrated is that a veteran presence is invaluable. One game at a time. Let's go for 6 wins out of 7.

Is Samuelsson expected to play?

We are where we are because we continue to do what we do. And so the cycle of futility keeps on keeping on.

I have not suggested that we should trade to get Mitts back. That ship has sailed. My primary point about that deal is that from a roster construction standpoint it was not a beneficial deal. What I do believe is that it would make a lot of sense to add a 2C to this roster and move Cozens to the wing where I believe he is more suited. I have said it a number of times (so I apologize for the repetition): KA is a checkers player trying to play chess. He's simply overmatched.

I like Byram a lot. In general, his play has been more than solid. However, from a roster standpoint, I thought that it made more sense to keep Mitts and put him at 2C. That would have allowed Cozens to move to the wing where I believe he is better suited. Is it likely that we get Mitts back? No. Our GM simply lacks the insight and vision to smartly assemble a better-balanced roster. It is an imperative that our GM procure an experienced player to play 2C. I like Kulich a lot but I don't believe that he is ready for that role.

If a credible 2C can be added to the roster it would reverberate positively for multiple players. What becomes apparent is that our ill-equipped GM is deficient in assessing his own roster. A properly built team goes beyond just adding players. It requires more thought.

A hard no to drafting Marner instead of Jack. We took the second best player in that draft. And at least for me, that rating of players was clearly right. The Jack saga was really about an indictment of a failed organization than it was about the disgruntlement of a particular player. And I'm not diminishing Marner's talents. He's a terrific player. I would love to have him. The problem is that he would not allow himself to be exiled to this imprisoning franchise.

Put Cozens on wing where he is more suited. He doesn't have the required center instincts. I'm resolute in my position that Power is going to be a top tier defenseman in this league. Patience is required. With respect to Quinn, I don't know what happened to him. Not long ago, I thought that he was a better prospect than JJP. He seems to have lost his confidence and has become subsumed in a losing environment. The systemic dysfunction in this wretched organization has infected a number of players. That angers me more than the underperformance of any one player. This stultifying environment breeds failure. What happens when Dahlin says I have had enough? I don't want to be stuck in thin sinkhole while I watch my peers have success. Get me the f......k out of here!