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

[LabattBlue]

16 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

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

Are you a Sabres employee, or relative of a player?

There is optimism and then there is ridiculousness. 

[Idemo Buffalo]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

Are you a Sabres employee, or relative of a player?

There is optimism and then there is ridiculousness. 

No. There is nothing ridiculous about thinking this team is going to get really good in the second half of the season and get on a run in the playoffs. They are a relatively young team in a new system and have looked brilliant at times like yesterday's 2nd period. The consistency will come. This team is going to score a lot of goals and the defense is going to tighten up. I honestly think they have looked even better than I thought they would under the new system.  This is a good hockey team. 

[LTS]

53 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Are you a Sabres employee, or relative of a player?

There is optimism and then there is ridiculousness. 

I get that the Idemo's postings are incredibly optimistic, but I don't think we need to call it all ridiculous. Let them be of that opinion, I wish I could be.

We get a new poster in here who comes in with a bright view point and we want them to dim the lights, why?  Let's accept that positivity and hope it translates. Let's not push them away just because they are optimistic.

[LabattBlue]

29 minutes ago, LTS said:

Let's not push them away just because they are optimistic.

Who is pushing them away? What am I supposed to do…just smile and agree?  What a great forum that would be. 

[Idemo Buffalo]

21 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Who is pushing them away? What am I supposed to do…just smile and agree?  What a great forum that would be. 

That is ok. I don't feel pushed away. We all know I will be vindicated in the end anyway. 

[mjd1001]

Part of me would like to see a poll just to see how wildly the results swing game to game. I get the impression they results of the poll would swing more after a single win or a single loss than they would be over the longer term actual moves in the standings.

[Archie Lee]

Nothing through the first 10 games has changed my view that we are too young and inexperienced and that too many things need to happen that have not consistently happened before, for there to be a realistic expectation that we will make the playoffs.  Therefore, my prediction is a finish somewhere between where we finished the last two years (85-90 points, 10-11th in the conference). As with current election polling, I acknowledge that this could be wrong in either direction by 4-5 points and 2-3 positions in the standings.

The Panther GDT includes, understandably, a lament about the loss of Reinhart and about what he could mean to our team. Has there ever been a team that in the span of 6 seasons traded 4 star players (I'll call Mitts a star for this purpose), average age 25 (O'Reilly the oldest at 27), for younger or future assets (Tuch being the exception)?  Regardless of whether it has been done before, we did it.  But we are now the team that needs to acquire a top veteran player or two.

This is why, when we have so many young talented players and prospects, we should not be afraid to move some of them for experienced talent.  If we cling to our young players and prospects while they sort themselves out, because we are afraid we will trade the kid who breaks out, we risk what is happening this year, with Quinn, Benson, and Kulich combining for 3 points in 22 games. We have positioned ourselves where we won't trade the kids when they are meeting expectations because we need and love them, and we can't trade the kids who are struggling because their value is low.

Teams like St. Louis (O'Reilly), Vegas (Eichel), Florida (Reinhart), and Colorado (Mittelstadt), are not afraid to give up meaningful young or future assets to address weaknesses that prevent them from reaching their goals. We seem paralyzed in fear of a mistake.

[GoPuckYourself]

I just don't think this group is good enough. The only way I see us making it is a trade for a top 6 (Travis Konecny- PHI would be my target), upgrade D Henri Jokiharju (not sure who would be a target right now but a rugged defensive Dman) and some sort of a fighter, doesn't have to be Hathaway but someone that other teams fear because this team doesn't have that guy imo.

[HumanSlinky39]

As of today, I think they end up the last team in.

We're 3 games into a 22 game stretch that includes 15 home games. When this stretch ends on 12/11, I think we'll have a good idea how serious a contender this team is.

[Pimlach]

33 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Part of me would like to see a poll just to see how wildly the results swing game to game. I get the impression they results of the poll would swing more after a single win or a single loss than they would be over the longer term actual moves in the standings.

I voted they make the playoffs in all three polls.  The only caveat I now have after 10 games is that I believe it’s obvious that they will have to improve the top 6 to make the playoffs.  

They started the season with a team goal of playoffs.  They went with Cozens and Quinn in the top 6, which is looking like a mistake right now.   Maybe that changes?  Maybe they both come around in time?   Maybe one of them does?  

All I’m wanting is to make Adams accountable for this season.  He better not settle like he did last season when he admitted things were not right from the start of the season   

So if the current players and coaches cannot get the job done and we start slipping in the standings,  then Adams has to go out and find the player(s) that we need to get there.   

Thats all.  That is his job after all. 

Edited October 29 by Pimlach

[jad1]

1 minute ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

As of today, I think they end up the last team in.

We're 3 games into a 22 game stretch that includes 15 home games. When this stretch ends on 12/11, I think we'll have a good idea how serious a contender this team is.

They're not the last team in at this point.

They've played 10 games, and are 4-5-1 for 9 points. They are tied with 5 other teams with 9 points, but all of those 5 teams have at least one game-in-hand.

With tie breakers, they are 7th in the division, 12th in the conference, and 23rd in the league. They are on pace for 73.8 points this season.

So at the 10 game mark, they are on par with where they finished last year, in terms of playoff positioning, and behind the pace of last season's 84 points.

 

[SwampD]

I don’t think they make any kind of noise after they make it in, but I think they get in.

Baby steps.

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I don’t think they make any kind of noise after they make it in, but I think they get in.

Baby steps.

Depends on opponent, should they get in.  Get FLA or a Metro Div Winner and they're almost definitely toast.  Get the Loafs who love to exit in the 1st round or the Bolts and maybe they could sneak out a series win.

[Wyldnwoody44]

Goaltending still a big question mark.

2nd line, completely lost. 

D men still having a pairing that isn't up to par. 

 

Now the bottom 6 are better and the 1st line is coming on lately;but those first few things mentioned are certainly fatal flaws. 

 

So I vote, sadly... No. 

[PerreaultForever]

The good news for making the playoffs. Unless things change drastically I do not see the current Bruins team even getting close to making the playoffs this year.

The bad news for making the playoffs. Ottawa looks like they are putting it together. Unlike ours, their PP is deadly. They play fast AND physical. They want to be Florida, that seems to be their design. 

[HumanSlinky39]

On 10/29/2024 at 3:31 PM, jad1 said:

They're not the last team in at this point.

They've played 10 games, and are 4-5-1 for 9 points. They are tied with 5 other teams with 9 points, but all of those 5 teams have at least one game-in-hand.

With tie breakers, they are 7th in the division, 12th in the conference, and 23rd in the league. They are on pace for 73.8 points this season.

So at the 10 game mark, they are on par with where they finished last year, in terms of playoff positioning, and behind the pace of last season's 84 points.

 

No, I meant my thinking as of today is that they end up the last team in come April.

Edited October 31 by HumanSlinky39

[Idemo Buffalo]

I am not longing thinking Wild Card. I think we have a real shot at 1 of the top spots in the Atlantic. I think the Sabres will finish with more points than Toronto.

[Pimlach]

18 minutes ago, Idemo Buffalo said:

I am not longing thinking Wild Card. I think we have a real shot at 1 of the top spots in the Atlantic. I think the Sabres will finish with more points than Toronto.