GDT: Colorado at Buffalo, Dec. 1, 2022, 7pm, MSG, WGR

[NAF]

Sucks that they lost but they hung in there with the defending cup champs the whole game. My only real notes are:

- Mittelstadt needs to be fired into the sun

- UPL not good

- Penalties are killing them

[SabresVet]

15 minutes ago, mphs mike said:

Don't know, but Barasso went straight from HS to the Aud

NHL has changed considerably in the last 40 years.  Not an environment suitable for the overwhelming majority of 18-19 year olds, skaters included, to succeed. 

[matter2003]

2 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

 

Problem is outside Anderson, our goaltending hasn't even been replacement level.  They are capable of letting in 5 to pretty much anyone no matter how bad the team is.

[bob_sauve28]

15 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Problem is outside Anderson, our goaltending hasn't even been replacement level.  They are capable of letting in 5 to pretty much anyone no matter how bad the team is.

Well, maybe we can win a few 7-6 games 🙂 

[matter2003]

5 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Well, maybe we can win a few 7-6 games 🙂 

Remind me of the Oilers a few years ago when they would score 4 or 5 every game but allow 5-7 to the opponent and lose a lot of them.

[bob_sauve28]

8 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Remind me of the Oilers a few years ago when they would score 4 or 5 every game but allow 5-7 to the opponent and lose a lot of them.

Which is an improvement in the entertainment value over our teams of the past that could not score. But ya, hope they win, though 

[matter2003]

4 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Which is an improvement in the entertainment value over our teams of the past that could not score. But ya, hope they win, though 

Oh for sure...this team is super fun to watch and oozing with skill from an offensive standpoint.  Just need to be a LOT better in goal and a little better situationally on D.  They have really cut down on the constant 2 on 1 and breakaways given up lately so that is a step in the right direction.  Need to be a little better recognizing high slot players tho.  That being said, they need better from the goaltending...too often they are straight up getting beat with clear views of the puck.  It's really unacceptable for the NHL for it to be that frequent.

[Pimlach]

Hello Teammates, 

Sounds like another “same as it ever was “ game. 
 

Just throwing a better goalie in helps a bit for sure but they must improve the defensive system - the way they play.  
 

Better 200 foot play from forwards.  More defensive zone face off wins that lead to breakouts. 

They can add a Top 4 veteran defensive defender, push 10 and 46 to the 3rd pairing.  This would improve them but they still need the forwards buying in to defensive responsibilities.  Need the coach to put this into the team DNA.  

[Sidc3000]

24 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

Oh for sure...this team is super fun to watch and oozing with skill from an offensive standpoint.  Just need to be a LOT better in goal and a little better situationally on D.  They have really cut down on the constant 2 on 1 and breakaways given up lately so that is a step in the right direction.  Need to be a little better recognizing high slot players tho.  That being said, they need better from the goaltending...too often they are straight up getting beat with clear views of the puck.  It's really unacceptable for the NHL for it to be that frequent.

Isn’t that what the NHL wants, a crap ton of goals? I think Adams is content with mediocre to average goaltending for the foreseeable future until a prospect like Levi is ready for the NHL. Whenever (I should also add IF) that happens. They will certainly win some games by scoring a lot. 

[LabattBlue]

44 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Hello Teammates, 

Sounds like another “same as it ever was “ game. 
 

Just throwing a better goalie in helps a bit for sure but they must improve the defensive system - the way they play.  
 

Better 200 foot play from forwards.  More defensive zone face off wins that lead to breakouts. 

They can add a Top 4 veteran defensive defender, push 10 and 46 to the 3rd pairing.  This would improve them but they still need the forwards buying in to defensive responsibilities.  Need the coach to put this into the team DNA.  

So maybe hiring another HC with no NHL HC experience was not a good idea?

 

[thewookie1]

13 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

So maybe hiring another HC with no NHL HC experience was not a good idea?

 

Vet coaches are far more likely to not use young players because of their defensive faults and instead play guys like Okposo and GIrgensons as the 2nd line every game.

[Taro T]

Considering they were playing the defending Stanley Cup champs and doing so w/ 1 hand tied behind their backs (UPL), thought they played a very good game.  Too bad the schedule makers didn't bother to check what else might be going on last night as there were a lot of STHers disguised ad empty seats.  Guessing there were 5-6k in the building, but would believe any estimate from 4,500-7,500.

They had chances, Olofsson hit a post in the 1st on the PP & Tuch had a glorious chance alone in the slot in the 2nd.  There were other close calls, but those were their 2 best besides the ones they actually buried.

All 4 lines, even the 4th line in limited usage (call the Okposo line the 4th if you want, but they're getting 2nd/3rd line ice time & taking 1/2 the shifts against the McKinnon line - so that checking line is the 3rd line at present), were playing well.  Granato was definitely line matching more than earlier in the year.  There were many TV timeouts that Mitts line hopped over the boards but then went back to the bench when the Avs put their 5 out for the faceoff. 

But figured we were in for a bumpy ride in net when UPL gave up the entire top of the net expecting Compher to move across the crease on their PP early.  He probably would've but saw what he was given & took it.  UPLs NHL days will be severely limited if he doesn't get the high shots back under control.  A disturbing # of goals went in high.

Don't know what they can do about the penalties.  At least 2, if not 3, seemed imaginary, but the officials are looking for them & the Sabres PK (Tuesday night noted) is not anywhere close to good enough to give up more than at most 3-4 chances/game.  They really need to clean the penalties up.

Curious who drew up the play to start the 3rd.  They had to have seen something on film to decide to try that.  Unconventional, but it worked.  Too bad they couldn't build on that momentum.

Could go on about things they need to be better at, but they are cleaning stuff up.  Frustrating as it might be, they are a work in progress.  They're young and they were playing a superior team.  They were in this.  Clean up the penalties or put an NHLer between the pipes & they might have won.  Do both & they likely would've.  They knew they were playing the defending champs & played hard.

 

[LabattBlue]

1 minute ago, thewookie1 said:

Vet coaches are far more likely to not use young players because of their defensive faults and instead play guys like Okposo and GIrgensons as the 2nd line every game.

So better to let young players develop bad habits such as “don’t worry about play in your own end”?  Let’s see them break these bad habits as their careers progress. 

[thewookie1]

3 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

So better to let young players develop bad habits such as “don’t worry about play in your own end”?  Let’s see them break these bad habits as their careers progress. 

Well that's where you end up in the Catch-22. You don't want them to develop bad habits but you also need to see them play loose in order to see what you have. 

It's the enigma that plagues the Sabres and any younger team. A more vet coach is going to want to win every game (to keep their job) and barring the youngster being incredible out of the gate; a vet coach is going to lean heavily on the veteran players regardless if they good or bad. More often than not because vet players tend to be more responsible in their own end, in theory. The Sabres certainly need to improve their defensive coverage but they have to balance that with continuing to have aggressive offensively biased pushes. 

[Buffalonill]

Question is when are we going to be good ? 2025

[Doohicksie]

13 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

Certainly. The silver lining is that if the offense keeps this up, they'll storm through SJ, CLB, the PIT home and home, and LA before a rematch with Colorado. Beat the bads, try to stay even with the goods. That's where we're at.

They need NHL level goaltending, that's where we're at.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

So maybe hiring another HC with no NHL HC experience was not a good idea?

 

Not saying that but implying that he needs to start expecting them to play a better 200-foot game.  I can't say he is teaching that when I hear his press conferences.  It sounds more like, "we are young", we just need to "go for it and play our game".    There are several strategies that can be employed within the game.  

The PK should be getting more work at a minimum.  

[jad1]

7 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

They need NHL level goaltending, that's where we're at.

They also need a veteren version of Samuelsson and a veteren 3rd line center.  

The list isn't long.  There is no reason that winning shouldn't be expected this season.  The rookies are contributing.  The vets (Tuch, Thompson, Skinner, Dahlin) are playing playoff-caliber hockey and deserve the chance to legimately compete.

Rather than burning the season to see if Mitts, Krebs, and Bryson can break thru, Adams needs to add a couple/few vet pieces and Granato needs to tighten up the defensive zone play.

Goaltending will continue to be an issue, but the train left that station when Adams refused to pay Ulmark, so they need to figure out how to work around the deficit at goalie.

It's time to rally around the new core.  There are lessons in losing, but those lessons are limited.

There are better lessons to be taught in winning.  It's time to focus on helping this core of players learn those lessons.

[NAF]

47 minutes ago, jad1 said:

They also need a veteren version of Samuelsson and a veteren 3rd line center.  

The list isn't long.  There is no reason that winning shouldn't be expected this season.  The rookies are contributing.  The vets (Tuch, Thompson, Skinner, Dahlin) are playing playoff-caliber hockey and deserve the chance to legimately compete.

Rather than burning the season to see if Mitts, Krebs, and Bryson can break thru, Adams needs to add a couple/few vet pieces and Granato needs to tighten up the defensive zone play.

Goaltending will continue to be an issue, but the train left that station when Adams refused to pay Ulmark, so they need to figure out how to work around the deficit at goalie.

It's time to rally around the new core.  There are lessons in losing, but those lessons are limited.

There are better lessons to be taught in winning.  It's time to focus on helping this core of players learn those lessons.

What veterans do you propose bringing in and for what price? I'll agree with you that a solid veteran addition in the middle 6 would probably do wonders for the team, but those players aren't generally available at this point in the season. Additionally, to get a player that fits that bill would probably cost a decent sum.

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

So maybe hiring another HC with no NHL HC experience was not a good idea?

 

The problem isn't the coaching. He's working with the roster he has. The roster is starting to fill out. Our two top lines are good, and the second line will get even better. We have two good defensive pairings with Dahlin and Power anchoring each pair, and who will be top tier defensemen in the league. Dahlin already is in that top tier category. As is constantly repeated we need significant upgrades in net, another defenseman or two and a recasting of the third line. The GM could have done more this past offseason, he chose not to. 

[Cityo'Rasmii]

Or because of imposed budget limitations KA had little to no choice in the matter.

[Radar]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The problem isn't the coaching. He's working with the roster he has. The roster is starting to fill out. Our two top lines are good, and the second line will get even better. We have two good defensive pairings with Dahlin and Power anchoring each pair, and who will be top tier defensemen in the league. Dahlin already is in that top tier category. As is constantly repeated we need significant upgrades in net, another defenseman or two and a recasting of the third line. The GM could have done more this past offseason, he chose not to. 

Agree except I don't dismiss coaching being a factor. Not sure I agree with LabattBlue that it's because of not having NHL experience though.

[JohnC]

51 minutes ago, Radar said:

Agree except I don't dismiss coaching being a factor. Not sure I agree with LabattBlue that it's because of not having NHL experience though.

I don't believe that DG is an issue. Although he wasn't a HC prior to being elevated, he has had a long history of coaching and scouting involvement in the league. In the NHL you can't hide your deficiencies. You do your best to minimize/cover them but in the end with the talent in the league your weaknesses will get exploited. (As you well know last night's game was evident of that.) 

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Radar said:

Agree except I don't dismiss coaching being a factor. Not sure I agree with LabattBlue that it's because of not having NHL experience though.

I fully disagree that the guy with 20 years of coaching experience is somehow not smart enough to understand the NHL because he wasn't a head coach specifically in the NHL before. 

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

So maybe hiring another HC with no NHL HC experience was not a good idea?

Yea those other 20 years of coaching experience are just useless, didn't teach Don anything. No way could he be an NHL head coach after being a head coach at just about every other level (College, ECHL, AHL, USHL, USDP) and being an assistant for multiple years in the NHL. Poor guy.