Do the Sabres make the playoffs this season (third edition)

[#freejame]

Third edition of the poll. Previous results below:

1st Edition: 0-0-0, 77.5% Yes (38/49), 22.5% No (11/49)

2nd Edition: 0-2-0, 23.2% Yes (13/56), 76.8% No (43/56)

Sabres currently sit at 4-5-1 after ten games. 

Edited October 29 by #freejame

[#freejame]

My brain says no. My heart says yes. My eyes say maybe. 

[SHAAAUGHT!!!]

Bubble team all season but they lock it up in the last week

[Big Guava]

If their goaltending stops sucking ass then yes.

[PerreaultForever]

Unlikely. If Adams makes a deal for a top 6 winger maybe. 

[Porous Five Hole]

13 minutes ago, #freejame said:

Third edition of the poll. Previous results below:

1st Edition: 0-0-0, 77.5% Yes (38/49), 22.5% No (11/49)

2nd Edition: 0-2-0, 23.2% Yes (13/56), 76.8% No (43/56)

Sabres currently sit at 4-6-1 after ten games. 

4-5-1 my friend

[LGR4GM]

Idk

[Pimlach]

Yes if they bring in the right help.  

[Carmel Corn]

No, too many missing pieces still.

[zow2]

The only way they get in is if FL, TB, TOR or Boston falls flat and regresses… and i doubt that’s happening.  Plus Buf would have to beat out the other WC contenders.  We just don’t look good enough to supplant someone else.

[Doohicksie]

So going into last night's game they were 3rd place in their division.  With the loss to Florida they dropped to 7th in the division, 12th in the conference.  Does that affect anyone's view of whether they make the playoffs?

I think they make it.  I think Sabres will continue to grow as the season plays out.  A team like the Panthers is already mature, knows there system, and the handful of new guys are just following along.  The fact that they couldn't close the deal after hanging with the Panthers for two periods doesn't concern me that much.

[Weave]

48 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

So going into last night's game they were 3rd place in their division.  With the loss to Florida they dropped to 7th in the division, 12th in the conference.  Does that affect anyone's view of whether they make the playoffs?

I think they make it.  I think Sabres will continue to grow as the season plays out.  A team like the Panthers is already mature, knows there system, and the handful of new guys are just following along.  The fact that they couldn't close the deal after hanging with the Panthers for two periods doesn't concern me that much.

The next few games should start to set the pecking order.  They need to demonstrate that they are the best of the bottom half teams as I expect struggling to close out against the established playoff teams will be the norm as the season tightens up.

[Mr Peabody]

I see us middle of the pack in the bottom 8 of the east.  To make playoffs need 60+ goals from the Cozens line and more physical play from the top 6 - a faster Greenway type in top 6.  Goal tending will have to “steal” some games for us.  

[Carmel Corn]

Part of me hopes they don’t make it….I cannot stand the thought of GMKA in charge of this team any longer.

[Idemo Buffalo]

Sabres will make the playoffs. AT TIMES, they play like a playoff team that can actually make a deep run in the playoffs.

The team will get more consistent during the season. The 2nd period yesterday was the play of an elite hockey team. 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Doohicksie said:

So going into last night's game they were 3rd place in their division.  With the loss to Florida they dropped to 7th in the division, 12th in the conference.  Does that affect anyone's view of whether they make the playoffs?

I think they make it.  I think Sabres will continue to grow as the season plays out.  A team like the Panthers is already mature, knows there system, and the handful of new guys are just following along.  The fact that they couldn't close the deal after hanging with the Panthers for two periods doesn't concern me that much.

10 games in, you will have jumping around in the standings for awhile. 

They need to play ~20-25 games to see where they fit.  The next 15 games are very important.  They need to continue to pull together.  This Core group will have to reach a level it has not reached before, and unfortunately several of them are not contributing much so far.    

Right now my quick summary after 10 games:  

First line - doing well, Tage is looking healthy and better this year, JJP is solid, Tuch is more of a 2nd/3rd line guy but he is playing well overall. 

Second line - is simply not playoff caliber and so far they are not even a productive 3rd line in the NHL.  Cozens can't score so far, Quinn is not playing well and deserves to sit out for a bit, Benson is hurt and he is needed, Kulich is a rookie that is learning.  

Third line is doing well.   McLoed, Greenway, and Zucker are meeting expectations and so far they look like a solid 3rd line that will have to be a  2nd line on this team. 

Fourth line - KAB, Lafferty, Malenstyn, and Krebs -  the are fast and they hit, but they don't score or generate much offense.  I don't see a real fighter here either but they are at least tougher to play against.   They did not contribute as much as Florida's 4th line did last night but overall they are doing ok.  

Defense is doing ok but showing some warts.  Dahlin is having a slow start but Power is picking up some scoring slack.   Byram and Joker are on and off players.  Clifton and Muel are a decent 3rd pair so far. 

Goaltending - average so far.  Some good moments and some not so good.  Need one of them to get hot.  UPL won 3 of last 4 but has not reached last seasons level yet.  Levi has been good and bad in only 3 appearances.  

PP - probably the worst in the league and is costing us points in the standings.  The bad power play correlates directly to the talent level of the top 6.  

PK - Goes from good to average.   Need more consistent play here, especially from the defense which struggles on the physical part of the game.  

Overall - they look like a collection of new guys with a new coach.  I think they can stay in the race all season but the top 6 should be addressed if they want to contend.    

[Bangarang]

Magic 8 ball says probably not. This team still has too many mental lapses.

[R_Dudley]

Hocous, Pocous, this team goes in and out of focus if I say yes, I fear they smoke us. 

They will tease us all season but confidence in this group is lacking, I fear the result, hence close but no cigar unless we replace the Czar (KA).

[JP51]

As the team stands now. No.

[Night Train]

Yes after every win

No after every loss

 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

10 games in, you will have jumping around in the standings for awhile. 

They need to play ~20-25 games to see where they fit.  The next 15 games are very important.  They need to continue to pull together.  This Core group will have to reach a level it has not reached before, and unfortunately several of them are not contributing much so far.    

Right now my quick summary after 10 games:  

First line - doing well, Tage is looking healthy and better this year, JJP is solid, Tuch is more of a 2nd/3rd line guy but he is playing well overall. 

Second line - is simply not playoff caliber and so far they are not even a productive 3rd line in the NHL.  Cozens can't score so far, Quinn is not playing well and deserves to sit out for a bit, Benson is hurt and he is needed, Kulich is a rookie that is learning.  

Third line is doing well.   McLoed, Greenway, and Zucker are meeting expectations and so far they look like a solid 3rd line that will have to be a  2nd line on this team. 

Fourth line - KAB, Lafferty, Malenstyn, and Krebs -  the are fast and they hit, but they don't score or generate much offense.  I don't see a real fighter here either but they are at least tougher to play against.   They did not contribute as much as Florida's 4th line did last night but overall they are doing ok.  

Defense is doing ok but showing some warts.  Dahlin is having a slow start but Power is picking up some scoring slack.   Byram and Joker are on and off players.  Clifton and Muel are a decent 3rd pair so far. 

Goaltending - average so far.  Some good moments and some not so good.  Need one of them to get hot.  UPL won 3 of last 4 but has not reached last seasons level yet.  Levi has been good and bad in only 3 appearances.  

PP - probably the worst in the league and is costing us points in the standings.  The bad power play correlates directly to the talent level of the top 6.  

PK - Goes from good to average.   Need more consistent play here, especially from the defense which struggles on the physical part of the game.  

Overall - they look like a collection of new guys with a new coach.  I think they can stay in the race all season but the top 6 should be addressed if they want to contend.    

Nice summary.

Only 2 MINOR quibbles are, personally see Tuch as a true 2nd liner that has some chemistry with both Thompson and Peterka so he belongs on that top line.  Remember, the Legion of Dorks had Rennberg working the corners for them.  He was nowhere near the offensive player nor finisher of Lindros nor LeClair but he was a key cog in that line.  That is Tuch's role on this roster.

And, still say the PP is dreadful because of the coaching; not so much the personnel.  The entries are still ridiculously bad and Cozens, the guy that LITERALLY can't put a puck into an unguarded net given multiple opportunities, is the bumper on that 1st unit.  Won't even go into the minutia of what they do on the rare occassion they actually surprisingly gain control of the puck in the offensive zone.  But entries and who mans the PP units are 100% on coaching.

[Mustache of God]

Still too early. I need to see a few more 3+ win streaks between now and the new year. 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Nice summary.

Only 2 MINOR quibbles are, personally see Tuch as a true 2nd liner that has some chemistry with both Thompson and Peterka so he belongs on that top line.  Remember, the Legion of Dorks had Rennberg working the corners for them.  He was nowhere near the offensive player nor finisher of Lindros nor LeClair but he was a key cog in that line.  That is Tuch's role on this roster.

And, still say the PP is dreadful because of the coaching; not so much the personnel.  The entries are still ridiculously bad and Cozens, the guy that LITERALLY can't put a puck into an unguarded net given multiple opportunities, is the bumper on that 1st unit.  Won't even go into the minutia of what they do on the rare occassion they actually surprisingly gain control of the puck in the offensive zone.  But entries and who mans the PP units are 100% on coaching.

Ok I can live with Tuch as a 2nd liner on this team, or on the first line if we get a power forward for the second line.  
 

I like Tuch, he is not a problem and contributes in a number of ways.  

[LabattBlue]

3 hours ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

Sabres will make the playoffs. AT TIMES, they play like a playoff team that can actually make a deep run in the playoffs.

Too funny. 😂 

[Idemo Buffalo]

1 minute ago, LabattBlue said:

Too funny. 😂 

The Dallas Stars and the defending Stanley Cup Champions are 1-2 vs the Buffalo Sabres this year.  1-2.