In December and your team is failing - Adams Do Something Substantive Already!

[Mango]

I am coming to terms with staying put. 

Our problems are more than a coach and a move. 

We have an issue with roster construction and a GM trying to save face. Those two things combined means we’ll overpay for minimal improvement. 

I think the team is close to imploding for the year. Just clean house in the spring and have somebody who knows what they’re doing piece this thing together with as much ammo as possible. 

[SwampD]

48 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

No they were not. Jack Quinn destroyed the AHL, was 21, and proved himself very capable last year. Peterka took a big jump this year and was okay last year. 

No they were not rushed. Focus on actual problems. Quinn and Peterka aren't that. 

Good teams have those same guys in the AHL and leave them there to marinate. We rush them in because we have no alternative.

[thewookie1]

24 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Good teams have those same guys in the AHL and leave them there to marinate. We rush them in because we have no alternative.

Not to that degree anymore barring your literally winning the Cup

Most high-end prospects are either in the NHL, being traded by teams on Cup runs or trapped in Jrs. 

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

They weren't. 

They were but they handed it with sheltering. Rosen and Kulich are not as ready, they are younger.
 

 

[thewookie1]

Trade Krebs, Östlund and our 2nd for Boone Jenner

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

Trade Krebs, Östlund and our 2nd for Boone Jenner

I doubt CBJ would trade their Capt, but I’d love to have him.

[Berg]

15 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Issues:

1) Continued bad goaltending - 12 goals allowed in the last two games.  The combo of Comrie and Levi allowed 7 goals 4 games ago against NJ helping Levi earn his demotion to the AHL.

2) Failing forward group - Yes there are a couple of injuries, but only one relevant one and that's to TNT.  The truth is the group with few exceptions (Mitts and Tuch) don't back check.  The team, outside of the Rangers game, isn't attacking with speed like they did last year.  This team's forward depth is also a problem.  The effective 4th line from last year has been awful all year.  Jost adds nothing.  VO has had 4 good games, the rest not to much.  Greenway looks distracted and uninterested.    All this has sent the forward depth into the crapper.  Adding an undersized and physically lacking 18 year old is not adding quality depth at this point even if he occasionally makes a spectacular play.

3) Coaching - The message has been lost on the players since they aren't executing what they did well last year (Scoring and PP) and aren't improving on what they did poorly last year (Back checking).  

How do you start to fix this mess?  It's going to take at least 3 acquisitions

1) Go get a legit 2 way 3rd line center.  

2) Get another physical forward for the energy line

3) Get a real goalie

While the goalie need is obvious, the center need is less apparent.  TNT and Mitts are the top 2 centers.  Cozens is having a terrible time recovering his game after his injury and has become a liability in the middle.  Get a center who can win a draw, contribute some offense and allow Cozens to move to wing and we'll be much better off. 

The lineup could eventually look like with

Skinner TNT Quinn

JJP Mitts Tuch

Benson ???? Cozens

Greenway Krebs ???? (KO)

Two center ideas - Adam Henrique and Sean Monahan - both are pending UFAs, both are vets, both are good in the PF circle and both can still add some O. Ana would have to eat 40% of Henrique's contract. I also think some like Cal Clutterbuck would be a good depth option.   

The only goalie options I see aren't great in Reimar and Allen, and both are in division.  

 

100% true. I want you to be Sabres GM. Who was this genius who thought that we can get playoffs with Levi, UPL and without true NHL goalie.

[PerreaultForever]

34 minutes ago, Berg said:

100% true. I want you to be Sabres GM. Who was this genius who thought that we can get playoffs with Levi, UPL and without true NHL goalie.

Were you here when half this board proclaimed Levi the second coming and insisted that "Patrick Roy did it so why not Levi?" Every off season there are quite a few people that drink the kool-aid  but I think the number is decreasing year by year. 

[SABRES 0311]

Goaltending: Trading a couple prospects and future picks in a package for a real 1A has to happen. Levi doesn’t appear like he will be ready as quickly as we hoped. Levi and UPL take turns as backup. Levi goes between Roch/Buffalo.

KO and Girgs. Last season with the organization. KO can retire with a Sabre send off or he can be traded along with Girgs.

Comrie/VO: Trade/Package

Cozens: Could be a real good 3C with ability to play in the top six, secondary scoring.

Greenway/Krebs: Greenway is a bottom six guy. Unless Krebs takes a huge step, he replaces Girgs permanently as 4C.

Benson: Did good with Mitts. He looked good with JJP. Put them together. A Skinner in the making.

Skinner TT Tuch

JJP Mitts Benson

TBD Cozens Quinn

Greenway Krebs TBD

Acquire a real top four stay at home defenseman. OP either goes third pair with EJ or Muel pairs with OP on second pairing.

Dahlin TBD

Power Muel

EJ/RJ

Bottom line is we need:

-A real 1A (Priority 1)

-Middle six forward (Priority 3)

-Top four defensive defenseman (Priority 2)

Aside from EJ and Skinner most of the above roster is young enough where expending currency now shouldn’t screw up any window. Their replacements can be cultivated in house. Just need to draft wisely going forward.

Currency: Future picks, VO, Greenway, Krebs, Clifton, Comrie, Girgs, KO?, UPL, Savoie, Rosen, Rousek, Biro. If absolutely necessary for a real 1A on term, Power or Cozens.

If OP catches fire, how long will he want to play second fiddle to Dahlin as a 1st overall.

[SABRES 0311]

Here are the goaltending tandems for each team. I would target a team with a three headed monster first. If that fails I’d talk to BOS and VGK. Those two have good tandems and good teams in front of the goalie to soften the blow.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ranking-every-nhl-goalie-tandem-for-2023-24/amp

[Spoonman]

Worry not Sabres Spacers. A win guaranteed.

1/11/24 v OTT - Goat Head Jerseys 

As to the 16 games between now and then.....

[nucci]

13 hours ago, Goldseatsaud said:

Pegula process 

Pegulaville

[Believer]

4 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Goaltending: Trading a couple prospects and future picks in a package for a real 1A has to happen. Levi doesn’t appear like he will be ready as quickly as we hoped. Levi and UPL take turns as backup. Levi goes between Roch/Buffalo.

KO and Girgs. Last season with the organization. KO can retire with a Sabre send off or he can be traded along with Girgs.

Comrie/VO: Trade/Package

Cozens: Could be a real good 3C with ability to play in the top six, secondary scoring.

Greenway/Krebs: Greenway is a bottom six guy. Unless Krebs takes a huge step, he replaces Girgs permanently as 4C.

Benson: Did good with Mitts. He looked good with JJP. Put them together. A Skinner in the making.

Skinner TT Tuch

JJP Mitts Benson

TBD Cozens Quinn

Greenway Krebs TBD

Acquire a real top four stay at home defenseman. OP either goes third pair with EJ or Muel pairs with OP on second pairing.

Dahlin TBD

Power Muel

EJ/RJ

Bottom line is we need:

-A real 1A (Priority 1)

-Middle six forward (Priority 3)

-Top four defensive defenseman (Priority 2)

Aside from EJ and Skinner most of the above roster is young enough where expending currency now shouldn’t screw up any window. Their replacements can be cultivated in house. Just need to draft wisely going forward.

Currency: Future picks, VO, Greenway, Krebs, Clifton, Comrie, Girgs, KO?, UPL, Savoie, Rosen, Rousek, Biro. If absolutely necessary for a real 1A on term, Power or Cozens.

If OP catches fire, how long will he want to play second fiddle to Dahlin as a 1st overall.

Good post… Do like many of your ideas… Have to disagree with you about Power and Samuelson, though…

Power has low compete and no grit… Not gonna change, imo… Samuelson is inconsistent and injury prone… Can only get worse… Trade both while their value is high…

Would package them with a F prospect, and G prospect Cooley… in return for a legit NHL Goalie, a top 6 F, and proven top 4 D tandem… All with grit… All with playoff experience.

Giving up a lot of promise… Getting a lot of today in return…

Imagine it would take a 3 team, 3 GM deal…

Get creative, Adams… It’s your job.

 

[PromoTheRobot]

23 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Issues:

1) Continued bad goaltending - 12 goals allowed in the last two games.  The combo of Comrie and Levi allowed 7 goals 4 games ago against NJ helping Levi earn his demotion to the AHL.

2) Failing forward group - Yes there are a couple of injuries, but only one relevant one and that's to TNT.  The truth is the group with few exceptions (Mitts and Tuch) don't back check.  The team, outside of the Rangers game, isn't attacking with speed like they did last year.  This team's forward depth is also a problem.  The effective 4th line from last year has been awful all year.  Jost adds nothing.  VO has had 4 good games, the rest not to much.  Greenway looks distracted and uninterested.    All this has sent the forward depth into the crapper.  Adding an undersized and physically lacking 18 year old is not adding quality depth at this point even if he occasionally makes a spectacular play.

3) Coaching - The message has been lost on the players since they aren't executing what they did well last year (Scoring and PP) and aren't improving on what they did poorly last year (Back checking).  

How do you start to fix this mess?  It's going to take at least 3 acquisitions

1) Go get a legit 2 way 3rd line center.  

2) Get another physical forward for the energy line

3) Get a real goalie

While the goalie need is obvious, the center need is less apparent.  TNT and Mitts are the top 2 centers.  Cozens is having a terrible time recovering his game after his injury and has become a liability in the middle.  Get a center who can win a draw, contribute some offense and allow Cozens to move to wing and we'll be much better off. 

The lineup could eventually look like with

Skinner TNT Quinn

JJP Mitts Tuch

Benson ???? Cozens

Greenway Krebs ???? (KO)

Two center ideas - Adam Henrique and Sean Monahan - both are pending UFAs, both are vets, both are good in the PF circle and both can still add some O. Ana would have to eat 40% of Henrique's contract. I also think some like Cal Clutterbuck would be a good depth option.   

The only goalie options I see aren't great in Reimar and Allen, and both are in division.  

 

I know this is your thing. The dead horse you like to beat on. But goaltending has been pretty decent this year, especially UPL.

[Marvin]

11 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I know this is your thing. The dead horse you like to beat on. But goaltending has been pretty decent this year, especially UPL.

Actually, league-wide goalkeeping has regressed to the point that we are not far from average.

Having said that...

The problem with the ensemble defence is an overall lack of positional discipline and situational awareness.  Those can be corrected, but they take time.

[GASabresIUFAN]

19 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I know this is your thing. The dead horse you like to beat on. But goaltending has been pretty decent this year, especially UPL.

People keep saying the goaltending has been decent.  That simply isn’t supported by the stats.  UPL has been ok, but has had 3 horrific games.  Overall the goaltending has not been good.  

Sabres 5 on 5 save % is .904 - league average .919.  Sabres overall save % is .886 - league average . 899.  We are clearly receiving significantly below average goaltending most nights. In fact, Comrie and Levi have been two of the top 5 worst goalies in the NHL this season.

Comrie’s GAA is 3.99 and Save % .864. These are terrible numbers.  Of goalies with 5 or more games this season Comrie’s save % is 64th of 65, and his GAA is 63rd of 65.  

Levi’s GAA is 3.73 and Save % .876.  These are also terrible. He ranks 60th in GAA and 61st in save%.  

Let’s not celebrate UPL either.  His .907 save % is 27th of 65 and his 2.81 GAA is 23rd.  That’s makes him a below average No.1 goalie.  

 

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by GASabresIUFAN

[Crusader1969]

Looking back, the season was lost before it even began by Adams 

1) should have brought in a vet goalkeeper to pair with either Levi / UPL

2) should have found a replacement for Quinn in the off-season

3) should have filled the spots on the 4th line by signing the best available physical forecheckers available in UFA market.  Would have been great to get someone who they could rely on to win a faceoff too.  Hathaway was a UFA that he could have signed as an example 

4) KO could have been signed as the 13th forward not regular 

Adams , like a lot of us, were blinded by last seasons results.   I can openly admit I was wrong about this team   I hope that Adams can admit it as well and make necessary changes today! 

[LGR4GM]

53 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I know this is your thing. The dead horse you like to beat on. But goaltending has been pretty decent this year, especially UPL.

No it hasn't. Levi and Comrie were awful and UPL is average. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

People keep saying the goaltending has been decent.  That simply isn’t supported by the stats.  UPL has been ok, but has had 3 horrific games.  Overall the goaltending has not been good.  

Sabres 5 on 5 save % is .904 - league average .919.  Sabres overall save % is .886 - league average . 899.  We are clearly receiving significantly below average goaltending most nights. In fact, Comrie and Levi have been two of the top 5 worst goalies in the NHL this season.

Comrie’s GAA is 3.99 and Save % .864. These are terrible numbers.  Of goalies with 5 or more games this season Comrie’s save % is 64th of 65, and his GAA is 63rd of 65.  

Levi’s GAA is 3.73 and Save % .876.  These are also terrible. He ranks 60th in GAA and 61st in save%.  

Let’s not celebrate UPL either.  His .907 save % is 27th of 65 and his 2.81 GAA is 23rd.  That’s makes him a below average No.1 goalie.  

 

 

You rely on stats. I rely on what I see. 

29 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

No it hasn't. Levi and Comrie were awful and UPL is average. 

The rank is definitely 3) Comrie 2) Levi. 1) UPL. But I think UPL has played above average.

[Pimlach]

10 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Trade Krebs, Östlund and our 2nd for Boone Jenner

Why do people think we have to trade 3 pieces for 1?

Jenner is on the wrong side of 30 right now.  He is a good player but if Columbus is rebuilding then Östlund and a second should be enough. 

It is probably best to wait until the season ends and then build  from there. Besides, he probably has a NMC and says no to Buffalo.  

 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Crusader1969 said:

Looking back, the season was lost before it even began by Adams 

1) should have brought in a vet goalkeeper to pair with either Levi / UPL

2) should have found a replacement for Quinn in the off-season

3) should have filled the spots on the 4th line by signing the best available physical forecheckers available in UFA market.  Would have been great to get someone who they could rely on to win a faceoff too.  Hathaway was a UFA that he could have signed as an example 

4) KO could have been signed as the 13th forward not regular 

Adams , like a lot of us, were blinded by last seasons results.   I can openly admit I was wrong about this team   I hope that Adams can admit it as well and make necessary changes today! 

Many here stated all of this before the season started. 

Hockey is a business.  KO is here for sentimental reasons.  A bad move given the way they handled (1) thru (3).  The offseason was the time to improve the roster for TODAY.   Adams is still thinking about the long term, still worried about the players relationships, still playing the den mother.  The Leadership has to come from within.  

I still feel they handled the preseason like one big tryout for prospects with no chance of making it.   The real team was unprepared to go to work from the very start of the season and how many of these nagging injuries (Tuch, Comrie, Greenway, and Cozens) are because of that?  These four have had availability problems all season.  

[Believer]

Yep… Blown offseason… Blown preseason… All on KA and DG…

Team needs a roster and coaching reset… Requires cajones KA likely doesn’t have… Expect another lost season… and more of the same next year if KA is still in charge.

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Why do people think we have to trade 3 pieces for 1?

Jenner is on the wrong side of 30 right now.  He is a good player but if Columbus is rebuilding then Östlund and a second should be enough. 

It is probably best to wait until the season ends and then build  from there. Besides, he probably has a NMC and says no to Buffalo.  

 

Columbus isn't exactly a resort town.

[Thorner]

3 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I know this is your thing. The dead horse you like to beat on. But goaltending has been pretty decent this year, especially UPL.

It’s been below average 

hang a banner 

3 hours ago, Marvin said:

Actually, league-wide goalkeeping has regressed to the point that we are not far from average.

Having said that...

The problem with the ensemble defence is an overall lack of positional discipline and situational awareness.  Those can be corrected, but they take time.

Not far from average. Hang a banner 

man are expectations ever disgustingly low

Only in f*cking Buffalo is “below average” “pretty decent”. 

[Thorner]

3 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

Looking back, the season was lost before it even began by Adams 

1) should have brought in a vet goalkeeper to pair with either Levi / UPL

2) should have found a replacement for Quinn in the off-season

3) should have filled the spots on the 4th line by signing the best available physical forecheckers available in UFA market.  Would have been great to get someone who they could rely on to win a faceoff too.  Hathaway was a UFA that he could have signed as an example 

4) KO could have been signed as the 13th forward not regular 

Adams , like a lot of us, were blinded by last seasons results.   I can openly admit I was wrong about this team   I hope that Adams can admit it as well and make necessary changes today! 

Good man.