Porous Five Hole

Not sure if I should pin this on Granato or Adams. But I am puzzled and annoyed about tonight’s lineup. Granato is playing 7 D again tonight because the Sabres don’t have any extra forwards. Kulich is one hour away. So stupid. The Sabres could’ve sent Levi down and he wouldn’t even have to go…Just a paper transaction. I don’t get it. Instead, we are going to get eleven minutes of Erik Johnson and jumbled partners of forwards and defensemen everywhere.

One team has hall of famers and one team has teenagers. I think I’ll sit the rest of this one out. Good luck gents ⚔️

Vasy back for the Lightning tonight. The Bolts went 9-6-5 with Jonas Johansson and someone worse than that. I was really hoping to have a little cushion once I knew Vasy was going to miss 25% of the season. Unfortunately the opposite has happened.

I am coming around to your line of thinking. Levi may get sent down. But Levi is also not hurting the Sabres. The Sabres are hurting all goalies by continuing to give up a ton of high danger shots to opponents. The Sabres are not giving up the same GA at this point in the season compared to last year, but they’re still not taking good care of their goalies. Im not saying 2023-24 is another development year, but Buffalo needs to decide where it is best to develop Levi (Buff or Roc) and soon. Giving each goalie a week between starts isn’t doing any of them any favors.

Is it time to waive Bryson and get a forward like Kulich in the mix? Or can the protected minutes of RJ be a little less protected? It’s only a few games, but is it time to lean on Ryan more than Meatballs has so far?

Hall gone, Perry scratched... they're really just leaving Bedard out there by himself

Three time Cup winner. And never been in trouble like hometown boy.

Sign Phil Kessel. Probably has as much in the tank that P Kane would have on one hip.

This has been another real life example of why citing their work or getting your information from them is so problematic. I hope you find new places to read the news.

So we agree. 🍻

To be honest, I think the blame for this slow start should be targeted toward roster construction (i.e.the GM). It was criminal to set the expectation of the playoffs given the youngest team in the league (youngest team in the league for the second season in a row BTW—and no one in the crease had 50 GP life to date). The coach only works with what he’s been given. Either the fanbase needs to reset expectations to align with the GM’s timeline of success—or hold the GM accountable. To me, the issues of this team are not within the coaches control.

Man, I am going to feel dirty in the morning when I revisit this (given UPL’s issues with rebound control), but I think his size saved one of these GA. The first one was a deflection that length might have gotten to? This is a guess, but Levi looked inadequate. Willing to let it go either way. The second goal was a juicy rebound. Hard to argue UPL would have swallowed given his history, but it was bad nonetheless. The third goal is on the defense and not the goalie. The OT goal was a 2 on 1, but if the goalie has the shooter…it was a poor effort by the goalie. I cannot claim UPL would have been better, but he would not have been worse. It’s time to re-evaluate the plan to develop Levi in the NHL.

This is a comment I can get behind. With that said, some clarifications: GMKA was hired in June 2020, so he’s only been around for three seasons leading up to this year. Granato was hired in interim in March 2021. Due to the Krueger effect and due to how much time left in the season (a few weeks at most), I’m willing to absolve the rest of 2021 from his record. That means he’s had 2+ years on a team that everyone knew was in another rebuild (Nov 2021 was the Eichel trade/reset). So he has been handed the youngest team in the league in back to back years. But that’s two years and not four years as you said. To your specifics (thank you), we suck at face offs. Is that a coaching issue or an issue with drafting and development? Personally, I don’t hold this against the head coach. The PP. This can potentially be pinned on coaching, but the Sabres were top five last year. It has only been six weeks and it’s a long season. It’s too early to pin this on coaching, and oh by the way…the PK has dramatically improved from last year. That should be taken into account. Compete level of defenders? Sounds like roster construction over coaching. Compete level forwards? My first instinct is to point out that the GM iced the youngest team in the league (again). Can you really tie this to coaching? Perhaps, but I’m not willing to assume DG is only a developmental coach because he has been given a bunch of guys who legally can’t drink and aren’t succeeding against veteran teams. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🦃🦃

I want to have a meaningful conversation about this. My reaction to what you said is if we are firing coaches for what I outlined and you agreed, that’s kind of silly. Is a different guy behind the bench going to make Girgs and Cozens be better in those specific moments? I don’t believe so. If someone wants blood/fall guy, then sure. Bosses are ultimately responsible for their direct reports. But the impactful moments of the last min of the third and OT don’t fall on the coach to me.

I mean, maybe? Reading through the thread is a whole lot of anger at the Sabres not being higher up in the standings. What specifically can the head coach be blamed for? The reason we lost tonight was not 11F & 7D. Is Meatballs to blame for Girgs not tying up his man on the game tying goal and Cozens not hustling back on the GWG? Genuinely curious.

please outline the rationale. I want to talk about this.

UPL should have been given the crease tonight. 🤷‍♂️ I think the result would have been different if he started over Levi.

Yes, it seems like it. Please check this time stamp and reference it to other news outlets and their stories:

Okay, but facts matter. WGRZ had an eyewitness account within an hour on video. The witness of the event clearly indicated the scenario was not what was initially reported by the national outlets. We should expect better than what we got from the large and national networks. So yes, it was surprising. And we are not at a “final investigation” phase.

Are you assuming VO has value on the open market? Because he does not. It was widely reported VO expected a trade during the offseason. The fact that he was not moved indicates he has no value at his salary. It is what it is. The Sabres are on the hook for a deal that has aged poorly. Giving him away for “nothing” was never an option.

Ouch lol

This is wrong. More recent info has come out. Please delete.

The Sabres need scoring, veteran leadership, and people who know what it takes to win a cup. We all know who the Sabres need to bring in. And that is Phil Kessel.

This times a million. The Sabres are sitting on soooo much F depth and there’s more bodies than spots in a future lineup. It’s time to make some developmental decisions and part with potential to help this team now. Rosen, Kulich, Benson & probably Savoie have a lot of value. Time to focus on 2023. To reinforce the point, the trajectory for each of the above is top six forward soon. But the Sabres already have Tage, Cozens, Skinner, Tuch, Peterka, and Quinn penciled in for the foreseeable future. This doesn’t even mention Mitts who will likely be part of the equation. It is time for the Sabres to be bold.

I think you’re right, but I expect the Bills to use high draft capital on WR2 next year (or bring a FA in as the cap allows). Diggs will be turning 30 and his window will soon close. He’s also been remarkably durable considering his Viks tenure. I’m all for 12 personnel, but the Bills will need another weapon and Davis ain’t it. This will be a big six games for Shakir to prove himself.