The Current Situation

[zow2]

41 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

They aren't beating Florida. The high scoring a couple seasons ago was the anomaly, and sadly, contracts were given based off of that. This team has no leadership, no accountability. If they had, they would have been more than ready game 1 of the regular seadon. Instead, 3 games in, the reality is on display for all to see. There is a void of real NHL high end talent as well.

Buffalo, where NHL players careers come to die, that's the actual truth as unfortunate as it is.

 

I wouldn't bet on the Sabres but does everything ALWAYS have to go bad for Buffalo and good for Florida?  It sure seems that way but at some point the Sabres are going to bounce a couple pucks in off opponents skates.  They have good goaltending, they just need a little something from the offense, 

[matter2003]

They need to stop actively trying to not score goals and fix their PP.  Scoring 1 goal is going to lose 95% of the time in the NHL.

[Derrico]

This sucks 

[The Jokeman]

3 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

They need to stop actively trying to not score goals and fix their PP.  Scoring 1 goal is going to lose 95% of the time in the NHL.

One way that may fix that is take Krebs off the top line and replace him with Zucker. 

[Jorcus]

I will say this about the Power play at least they are trying different things with different players. They are not going to sit on the same 5 guys passing the puck around the outside like last year. They still need more net front presence. They need to set up the screens better. I saw Benson setting a screen on a 5 on 5 but the trouble is the goalie could see over the top of him. Greenway is probably the answer for that. 

[LETSTUCHINGO]

Greenway played an excellent game last night!

[Kristian]

Close the franchise down?

[Archie Lee]

10 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

Ok, well I don't now how to 'fix the PP', I am not good with analyzing NHL play in the offensive zone.

Cozens has quickly become my whipping boy but it is well deserved.  He has zero touch shooting the puck at all.

Maybe start by removing Cozens from the PP. (He has the 2nd most PP ice time on the team). Replace him with who?  Greenway?  Big guy with reach, just have him stand in front of the net, take a beating, provide a screen, make the opposing players collapse closer to the net because he is standing there, and give the rest of the unit more time to work on the perimeter (Greenway has only 17 seconds of PP time per game, to Cozens nearly 4 minutes per game). 

If there are any rebounds just have Greenway whack away at the puck in front of the net...he may not have the best hands but he can't do much worse than what they have now.

I want the likes of Peterka, Benson, Quinn, Thompson, and Tuch getting the shots on the PP from the wings and the slot, not Cozens.  I have more faith that those other guys are likely to come out of a shooting slump.

 

I'm not full-on defending Cozens.  He is as much responsible as any player.  While we are a mere 3 games in, it should be noted that not a single "core" player is producing offensively at a level needed.  Cozens is not alone in this. I see no reason to scapegoat any individual players, when it is still this early and they have collectively been so bad.

That said, this marks the 3rd year in a row where Cozens's has been given linemates less experienced and younger than he is.  Last night, with Peterka out and Benson promoted to line one, Cozens was given...wait for it...the rookie.  Nothing against Kulich.

Pegula and Adams own this.  All of it:

- The poor team performance on the ice;

- The emotional despondency and/or immaturity and/or frustration that their young core players are showing; and 

- The understandable fan vitriol that we are now seeing directed at a player like Cozens, who we know would be thriving on most other NHL teams.   

 

 

[Scottysabres]

50 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

I wouldn't bet on the Sabres but does everything ALWAYS have to go bad for Buffalo and good for Florida?  It sure seems that way but at some point the Sabres are going to bounce a couple pucks in off opponents skates.  They have good goaltending, they just need a little something from the offense, 

It wasn't always this way. And bright times at some point and time lay ahead I am sure. But as of now, given the decisions made from the ownership on down to the plays on the ice, it would appear we'll have to wait awhile longer. It's always been tough to be a Buffalo sports fan. For those that stay faithful, you learn to develop an extremely thick sports skin.

This doesn't mean it will always be this way though.

[mjd1001]

23 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I'm not full-on defending Cozens.  He is as much responsible as any player.  While we are a mere 3 games in, it should be noted that not a single "core" player is producing offensively at a level needed.  Cozens is not alone in this. I see no reason to scapegoat any individual players, when it is still this early and they have collectively been so bad.

That said, this marks the 3rd year in a row where Cozens's has been given linemates less experienced and younger than he is.  Last night, with Peterka out and Benson promoted to line one, Cozens was given...wait for it...the rookie.  Nothing against Kulich.

Pegula and Adams own this.  All of it:

- The poor team performance on the ice;

- The emotional despondency and/or immaturity and/or frustration that their young core players are showing; and 

- The understandable fan vitriol that we are now seeing directed at a player like Cozens, who we know would be thriving on most other NHL teams.   

 

 

I do understand your sentiment, but my issues with Cozens are 2 things that are un-related to who he plays with.

1.)  He HAS gotten better in this way, but he has been awful positionally in the Defensive zone. Again, he's better the last 6 months, but he want from 'awful' to 'average'.

2.)  Regardless of his teammates, he is getting shots, taking shots, getting shots from prime areas of the ice, and he simply isn't converting. When you are taking the majority of your shots from the center of the ice, top of the circle in....and for all of last year and into this year, you are shooting 8%...that is on him. He's just not good at shooting.  Give him better teammates, older guys, and what changes? He gets more chances? He is still shooting at a poor rate when he has those prime chances.

You want to throw Cozens on a line with Tuch and Peterka for a couple weeks, at this point have at it....I mean, how much more can it hurt? Give it a try I guess. But I think ultimately there has to be someone better, a better producer, a better shooter than him in the top 6.

Edited October 12 by mjd1001

[bob_sauve28]

5 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I do understand your sentiment, but my issues with Cozens are 2 things that are un-related to who he plays with.

1.)  He HAS gotten better in this way, but he has been awful positionally in the Defensive zone. Again, he's better the last 6 months, but he want from 'awful' to 'average'.

2.)  Regardless of his teammates, he is getting shots, taking shots, getting shots from prime areas of the ice, and he simply isn't converting. When you are taking the majority of your shots from the center of the ice, top of the circle in....and for all of last year and into this year, you are shooting 8%...that is on him. He's just not good at shooting.  Give him better teammates, older guys, and what changes? He gets more chances? He is still shooting at a poor rate when he has those prime chances.

You want to throw Cozens on a line with Tuch and Peterka for a couple weeks, at this point have at it....I mean, how much more can it hurt? Give it a try I guess. But I think ultimately there has to be someone better, a better produce, a better shooter than him in the top 6.

He really does need to come off top PP, though. Time to give someone else a chance 

[mjd1001]

6 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

He really does need to come off top PP, though. Time to give someone else a chance 

On the PP last year and the first 3 games this year among forwards with 50 minutes or more ice time on the PP, look at shooting percentage on the power play:

 

-Greenway, 25% (limited opportunities, but still have him stand in front of the net!) 

-Skinner, 15%

-Thompson, 14% 

-Okposo, 13.3% 

-Mitts 11.7% 

-Quinn, 11.1%

-VO, 11.1%

-Peterka, 10%

-Tuch, 7.2%

 

-Cozens.........5.5% (and under 10% for his entire career on the PP, even including his 'good' year)

2 goals on 36 shots 

 

 

[Gatorman0519]

Ultimately Ruff will have them playing better, but like mentioned earlier, it’s going to take 1/3 of the season and it will be too late. This team simply does not have the talent or experience to compete for a playoff spot. Grossly mismanaged way too long. The Mitts trade was the dagger in my view, as we stripped our center spine, coupled with not replacing Skinners production. 

[Stoner]

Adams let Botterill and RaKru hang themselves. You gotta wonder if Lindy is letting the rope out. Of course that means HCSA.

[rickshaw]

The team needs some pieces moved and that is tough. 
Tage and Dylan are good players but maybe this isn’t the place for them. We don’t have enough skilled toughness either. Krebs fighting again? It’s sad.

I didn’t see game until end and obviously Sammy should be presse boxed. If he can be moved for anything I’d do it. It’s great they all like each other but I’d rather have a JT Miller who could care less if you like him or not. He played to win, every single night. 
 

Can’t wait 25 games unfortunately 

[rickshaw]

11 hours ago, pi2000 said:

the oilers won 2 games in october last year

The Oilers have the two best players on the planet. Kinda helps.

[jt0143]

Adams has to go. Bring someone  who knows  players.  Same old team, out of the playoffs again.

[SabreFinn]

What I saw, they played well enough last night to give it a game or two before I would make any big changes.

On the other hand, the powerplay has not been good for a long time, and there has not been acquired players that help to fix it. As I see it, the only player in the organisation, except from some of them we already try, that has skills that might get our PP going, is Östlund. So why not put him on the team? Keep him in a role that minimize mistakes.

Cozens is good enough on faceoffs to stay on the first pp unit. But he should be used more for net presence than shooting and puckmoving.

[mjd1001]

5 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

What I saw, they played well enough last night to give it a game or two before I would make any big changes.

On the other hand, the powerplay has not been good for a long time, and there has not been acquired players that help to fix it. As I see it, the only player in the organisation, except from some of them we already try, that has skills that might get our PP going, is Östlund. So why not put him on the team? Keep him in a role that minimize mistakes.

Cozens is good enough on faceoffs to stay on the first pp unit. But he should be used more for net presence than shooting and puckmoving.

There you go. One unit you have Cozens just park himself in front of the net, the other unit Greenway does it. Take a beating, provide screens, whack away at rebounds.

[SabreFinn]

7 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

There you go. One unit you have Cozens just park himself in front of the net, the other unit Greenway does it. Take a beating, provide screens, whack away at rebounds.

Yep, just try to keep the D-men busy enough to give the rest of the unit a quarter of a second more time to create chances. 

[Sidc3000]

12 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I do think we got a little flash in the pan with Cozens and TT.

Was it a flash in the pan or was it an anomaly that can’t be recreated? I don’t know if these players are nearly as good as they showed in that season. They all went from way over preforming to way under performing the next season. 
 

 

[LGR4GM]

We go live to the current situation:

 

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, rickshaw said:

The team needs some pieces moved and that is tough. 
Tage and Dylan are good players but maybe this isn’t the place for them. We don’t have enough skilled toughness either. Krebs fighting again? It’s sad.

I didn’t see game until end and obviously Sammy should be presse boxed. If he can be moved for anything I’d do it. It’s great they all like each other but I’d rather have a JT Miller who could care less if you like him or not. He played to win, every single night. 
 

Can’t wait 25 games unfortunately 

We should start looking to make a big trade like Florida did a few years ago

[LETSTUCHINGO]

6 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

We should start looking to make a big trade like Florida did a few years ago

Oh God how I wish!

[SabreFinn]

3 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

We should start looking to make a big trade like Florida did a few years ago

I did that the other night, I looked thrue daily faceoffs projected line-ups and puckpedia, and I have to say I got a little bit depressed. Finding players that would give us a decent top line was hard to find. Players either seemed like part of teams long time plans, or has horrible contracts, or NTC. Ehlers was the only one I found, and he was well known already.