The Current Situation

[mjd1001]

23 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Getting pp goals makes you stronger in rest of your game. But not scoring ANY PP goals is just death 

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.

 

Edited October 11 by mjd1001

[bob_sauve28]

3 minutes 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.

 

Lindy needs to start promoting and demoting on PP, find players that work.

 

ZERO PP goals so far. Wow! 

 

It's just unbelievable 

[pi2000]

14 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

No it’s six points. 

the oilers won 2 games in october last year

[mjd1001]

12 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Lindy needs to start promoting and demoting on PP, find players that work.

 

ZERO PP goals so far. Wow! 

 

It's just unbelievable 

One other thing about the PP....I haven't been as high on Benson as others, but this year he does look like he is controlling the puck well when it is on his stick. The Sabres did not respond to being pressured on the PP tonight, and not against NJ either. I think Peterka when he comes back, and Benson, they may have to play a bigger roll on the power play. Maybe try to run the PP through them on the walls? They both seem to have quicker hands for both getting off quick shots and/or handling the puck in tight when pressured.

Dahlin is off. He isn't himself handlilng the puck back there. Byram looks a little more confident with the puck. If, IF there is something going on with Dahlin, make him your #2 point guy and give a little more ice time on the PP to Byram until Dahlin sorts out whatever it is he is going through.

Edited October 11 by mjd1001

[bob_sauve28]

4 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

One other thing about the PP....I haven't been as high on Benson as others, but this year he does look like he is controlling the puck well when it is on his stick. The Sabres did not respond to being pressured on the PP tonight, and not against NJ either. I think Peterka when he comes back, and Benson, they may have to play a bigger roll on the power play. Maybe try to run the PP through them on the walls? They both seem to have quicker hands for both getting off quick shots and/or handling the puck in tight when pressured.

Dahlin is off. He isn't himself handlilng the puck back there. Byram looks a little more confident with the puck. If, IF there is something going on with Dahlin, make him your #2 point guy and give a little more ice time on the PP to Benson until Dahlin sorts out whatever it is he is going through.

He's been almost invisible. Quinn, too. 

 

They have to try something. It's a disaster 

[ASlugAbove]

We just look flat out dead. No drive. No direction. Just like last year. The game starts and it’s like they didn’t even realize they’re in an nhl game. They announce the players at the HOME OPENER and NOBODY looks excited. Probably because they know we’re about to boo. And ya know what? It’s deserved. They have no heart. No leadership. Our captain is 24 and has never won here. We’re broken and I’m afraid we’re staring down the barrel of 0-4. 

[SABRES 0311]

15 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

the oilers won 2 games in october last year

Sabres are not the Oilers. Not even close 😂 

[Thorner]

15 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Sabres are not the Oilers. Not even close 😂 

Those comps don’t really serve the argument, I agree. Not if the personnel isn’t comparable. It’s not as if we can just like, ya know, steal their league leading power play design and voilà. Pretty sure the artists are responsible for the created art, and I don’t see a spare McDavid lying around, let me know if you do.

Biggest (see: only) avenue to substantially addressing notable issues like even strength scoring, our PP deficiencies, etc is to properly build and supplement the roster.  The PP remaining bad isn’t very surprising when you remember who the key offseason additions were, after an inept PP last year. We chose to supplement the 4th line, ok. I’m shocked that without more talented players we aren’t finding more success within the area of the game talented players  shine the most 

we are hoping right now on a sorely needed in-season move from the GM (don’t laugh) or the first three games to be proven a very unlucky statistical anomaly, wherein we really do have a good top 6, in which case goal scoring in all facets should fix itself. Ie: if Adams built a good roster, it’ll simply bear out 

Edited October 11 by Thorner

[SABRES 0311]

15 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Those comps don’t really serve the argument, I agree. Not if the personnel isn’t comparable. It’s not as if we can just like, ya know, steal their league leading power play design and voilà. Pretty sure the artists are responsible for the created art, and I don’t see a spare McDavid lying around, let me know if you do.

Biggest (see: only) avenue to substantially addressing notable issues like even strength scoring, our PP deficiencies, etc is to properly build and supplement the roster.  The PP remaining bad isn’t very surprising when you remember who the key offseason additions were, after an inept PP last year. We chose to supplement the 4th line, ok. I’m shocked that without more talented players we aren’t finding more success within the area of the game talented players  shine the most 

we are hoping right now on a sorely needed in-season move from the GM (don’t laugh) or the first three games to be proven a very unlucky statistical anomaly, wherein we really do have a good top 6, in which case goal scoring in all facets should fix itself. Ie: if Adams built a good roster, it’ll simply bear out 

Agree with everything here. I don’t see a trade happening though. I do think we got a little flash in the pan with Cozens and TT. Not saying they’re bad, just not what we want them to be exactly.

Line shuffling of the top six is where I’d start. Switch Quinn and Tuch. Switch McLeod and Cozens. Try it in practice and a game or two.

[HOUSE]

7 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

The Sabres have dropped six out of six points. They’re 0-3 to start a win now season. Big guys aren’t producing and are borderline liabilities.

How to fix it?

Fix what?

[Scottysabres]

Two 1st over all drafted defenseman, that where our elite talent is supposedly.

[Night Train]

During practice, place a soccer net on the ice and see if any of our forwards can actually hit it. 

[Ravenking32]

Acceptance. This current Roster is not good enough. This  start is what I expected given what Adam’s put together. Need a top line center and a top 4 D and until they are here we’re spinning our wheels at best. 

[HOUSE]

49 minutes ago, Ravenking32 said:

Acceptance. This current Roster is not good enough. This  start is what I expected given what Adam’s put together. Need a top line center and a top 4 D and until they are here we’re spinning our wheels at best. 

This team needs nothing but to find the will or desire to win hockey games . It's the same old story, the team is set to cruise control till January

Making more changes will accomplish absolutely nothing but more of the same...we are still dealing with a culture problem, new players fix nothing but aggravate the fan base.

Its Mid October and not a single point 😑 

Edited October 11 by Shoot da Puck

[Cascade Youth]

8 hours ago, pi2000 said:

pump the brakes

it's 3 games in with a new head coach, enough of this "instant gratification" mentality... you're like little kids in the back seat "are we there yet? are ae there yet?" 30min into a 2hr drive

it's gonna take 20-25 games before we start to even scratch the surface of what this team is gonna look like under Lindy

"how to fix it?" they outplayed the Kings and deserved a better result but that's hockey... man the ***** up and move on to the next game

At first I seriously thought this was @PAsabresFan doing one of his bits 🤣🤣

[mjd1001]

55 minutes ago, Ravenking32 said:

Acceptance. This current Roster is not good enough. This  start is what I expected given what Adam’s put together. Need a top line center and a top 4 D and until they are here we’re spinning our wheels at best. 

A top 2 center yeah, that would solve a lot as I have said in my previous posts. Where to find one though...

Top 4 D?  I'm not there yet. Other than a handful of bad plays (which just about every D-group makes on occasion), I think  they have played very well.  Power, Dahlin, and Samuelsson all have had one horrendous pass or giveaway, but beyond that I haven't seen anything glaringly bad. 

Power and Bryam (overall) are playing like a borderline first pair, they have been better than I expected.

Dahlin is off, but that doesn't mean he's bad, it means that he just need to elevate more. Jokiharju has played pretty well, I haven't seen much to say "I need him out of there"

Samuelsson and Clifton are giving what you need from #5 and #6 guys.  And if they start not too, I'm "OK" with Bryson and/or Johnson subbing into those roles.

As of this moment, I don't see a top 4 Dman (You aren't getting Hughes or Makar or Josi so by a 'top 4' we are really saying a '3/4' guy)...I don't see getting of of those guys make a significant improvement over what they have.  Its the huge, gaping hole they have in production from Center that is the issue these first 3 games.

[zow2]

Ruff was brought here to get them in the playoffs this year, Now.  He's not here to have a slow build up.  We have two of the best goalies in the league.  The forwards and their inability to finish has really sunk this club.  The Maple Leafs only had 22 shots on Markstrom last night and scored 4 goals.  You can't fall this far behind the playoff line this fast and have a realistic chance.  They need to beat Florida.

[HOUSE]

It's great here in last place, no pressure. The team  can't go any lower 

Edited October 11 by Shoot da Puck

[LGR4GM]

They should bump Cozens to wing and put Mitts at center... wait wait

Uhhh McLeod between Quinn and Cozens.

[Goldseatsaud]

1 hour ago, Night Train said:

During practice, place a soccer net on the ice and see if any of our forwards can actually hit it. 

Worst shooting team in the league

[Scottysabres]

34 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Ruff was brought here to get them in the playoffs this year, Now.  He's not here to have a slow build up.  We have two of the best goalies in the league.  The forwards and their inability to finish has really sunk this club.  The Maple Leafs only had 22 shots on Markstrom last night and scored 4 goals.  You can't fall this far behind the playoff line this fast and have a realistic chance.  They need to beat Florida.

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.

[nucci]

4 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.

unless they can get out in time and go elsewhere

[bob_sauve28]

27 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.

Strangers things have happened, but would not surprise me if they got blown where tires fall off half way through game 

[Sidc3000]

9 hours ago, pi2000 said:

it's gonna take 20-25 games before we start to even scratch the surface of what this team is gonna look like under Lindy

So where do these numbers come from? 

[GoPuckYourself]

It has to be talent at this point, how many missed shots on net did Tage and Tuch miss yesterday? all last season? It continues to be the same problems so I'm sticking to my guns and saying that Thompson and Tuch are asked to carry us as top liners but are probably more suited as 2nd line complimentary players. Cozens looks like part of the problem also, he just looks completely lost at this pont and I'm not sure he's salvageable. I don't think it's as easy as just sayin "let's fix the power play" and everything will be fine, I feel like it's deeper than that which brings me back to talent on the roster and how we may have overestimated it. I hope I'm wrong but Dahlin also, he continues to suck in big moments with yet another giveaway and again a part of the problem. Even UPL looked good but not the UPL of last year yet standing on his head.

If it's not talent what can it possibly be at this point?