This situation is toxic...

[JohnC]

This organization needs to clear its arse!

 

[Thorner]

29 minutes ago, JP51 said:

am I to assume you remember the song LOL 

Technically another of theirs but yes haha 

26 minutes ago, JohnC said:

This organization needs to clear its arse!

 

This is a good post 

[zow2]

Take a deep breath.  The bar is set low for me so while I'm disappointed over blowing a 4-0 lead and losing 4 straight, I don't expect them to be a playoff team this season.  I believe they are woefully average or below.   For whatever reason, these guys go too many games without scoring and/or the D just stinks.  Some nights when they do score and the D is serviceable, the goalie lets them down.  They are still mentally weak, they don't have enough playoff proven guys that are leading the way.  It's just a lot of names that have never been there or done it...so they don't really know how to do it.  I thought Tuch would be a massive infusion of playoff leadership and Cozens would unlock his scoring potential. But in this environment in Buffalo they are just nothing special.

[HumanSlinky39]

There is something very toxic baked into the core of this team. We have some good players individually who are underachieving right now, but the sum of the parts does not add up to a good hockey team. The roster needs a shake up. The way I view it (not that it matters) is this:

Keep: 

Tuch (solid, not spectacular player on a reasonable contract), TNT (very good offensive player, should be a consistent 40 goal guy if he can stay healthy, reasonable contract), Dahlin (not perfect, but a legitimate #1 defenseman), Benson (most heart of anyone on the roster and just 19, skill will continue to improve), Peterka (on ELC and has shown excellent offensive skills), Krebs (reasonable contract and plays his ass off, valuable for a bottom 6 guy), McLeod (good 2-way player on a reasonable contract, fast as hell, good penalty killer), Kulich (ELC and has shown solid potential), UPL (Has been excellent the past 2 seasons)

Expendable:

Zucker (love what he's added this year, but he's not a part of any long term plans and could bring something back from a contender looking for a productive middle 6 F), Byram (he's been solid at times, but he doesn't look like a blue liner that you NEED to keep around), Cozens (the way he's fallen off a cliff is alarming and some team might offer a decent return if they think they can get him back on track), Greenway (Like what he adds, but he has injury issues and probably isn't necessary for any longer term plans), Quinn (Looks lost, the toxicity here may just be dragging him down, has shown potential and that might be attractive to someone), Samuelsson (Doubt anybody would take on his contract, but he's too fragile and hasn't shown much over the last 12 months), Clifton (Meh defenseman, may be attractive to a contender looking to add a second or bottom pairing dman with some toughness), Jokiharju (have never been overly impressed with him, similar to Clifton minus the toughness), Malenstyn (I like him as a 4th liner, but don't see him as necessary to any kind of long term plans, may be appealing to a contender looking to add some toughness to their 4th line). Levi (UPL has emerged as a legit #1 goalie making Levi expendable in my mind. Wouldn't mind keeping him around as a future partner if he can develop, but if somebody is willing to give you something useful, take it).

Guys like NAK, Lafferty, Bryson, etc are expendable obviously if anybody would want them. There shouldn't be a single prospect in the system that is untouchable. 

I'm not saying to trade everyone I listed as expendable, but you should 100% see what you can get for any of them if anyone is interested.

Edited December 4 by HumanSlinky39

[JP51]

16 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Take a deep breath.  The bar is set low for me so while I'm disappointed over blowing a 4-0 lead and losing 4 straight, I don't expect them to be a playoff team this season.  I believe they are woefully average or below.   For whatever reason, these guys go too many games without scoring and/or the D just stinks.  Some nights when they do score and the D is serviceable, the goalie lets them down.  They are still mentally weak, they don't have enough playoff proven guys that are leading the way.  It's just a lot of names that have never been there or done it...so they don't really know how to do it.  I thought Tuch would be a massive infusion of playoff leadership and Cozens would unlock his scoring potential. But in this environment in Buffalo they are just nothing special.

I think initially they trended like that until the general toxicity turned them into complete apathetic eunuchs

[JP51]

17 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

There is something very toxic baked into the core of this team. We have some good players individually who are underachieving right now, but the sum of the parts does not add up to a good hockey team. The roster needs a shake up. The way I view it (not that it matters) is this:

Keep: 

Tuch (solid, not spectacular player on a reasonable contract), TNT (very good offensive player, should be a consistent 40 goal guy if he can stay healthy, reasonable contract), Dahlin (not perfect, but a legitimate #1 defenseman), Benson (most heart of anyone on the roster and just 19, skill will continue to improve), Peterka (on ELC and has shown excellent offensive skills), Krebs (reasonable contract and plays his ass off, valuable for a bottom 6 guy), McLeod (good 2-way player on a reasonable contract, fast as hell, good penalty killer), Kulich (ELC and has shown solid potential), UPL (Has been excellent the past 2 seasons)

Expendable:

Zucker (love what he's added this year, but he's not a part of any long term plans and could bring something back from a contender looking for a productive middle 6 F), Byram (he's been solid at times, but he doesn't look like a blue liner that you NEED to keep around), Cozens (the way he's fallen off a cliff is alarming and some team might offer a decent return if they think they can get him back on track), Greenway (Like what he adds, but he has injury issues and probably isn't necessary for any longer term plans), Quinn (Looks lost, the toxicity here may just be dragging him down, has shown potential and that might be attractive to someone), Samuelsson (Doubt anybody would take on his contract, but he's too fragile and hasn't shown much over the last 12 months), Clifton (Meh defenseman, may be attractive to a contender looking to add a second or bottom pairing dman with some toughness), Jokiharju (have never been overly impressed with him, similar to Clifton minus the toughness), Malenstyn (I like him as a 4th liner, but don't see him as necessary to any kind of long term plans, may be appealing to a contender looking to add some toughness to their 4th line). Levi (UPL has emerged as a legit #1 goalie making Levi expendable in my mind. Wouldn't mind keeping him around as a future partner if he can develop, but if somebody is willing to give you something useful, take it).

Guys like NAK, Lafferty, Bryson, etc are expendable obviously if anybody would want them. There shouldn't be a single prospect in the system that is untouchable. 

I'm not saying to trade everyone I listed as expendable, but you should 100% see what you can get for any of them if anyone is interested.

Fair assessment.. one caveat... the last person on want executing on this is Adams... 

[HumanSlinky39]

4 minutes ago, JP51 said:

Fair assessment.. one caveat... the last person on want executing on this is Adams... 

Agreed on that. But I fear that's what we will get. I cannot see Terry firing his boy into the sun midseason. If they start making moves, grab your socks and hope for the best.

[JP51]

4 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Agreed on that. But I fear that's what we will get. I cannot see Terry firing his boy into the sun midseason. If they start making moves, grab your socks and hope for the best.

or ankles LOL 😆

[GoPuckYourself]

It’s pretty obvious, deal the ones who are weighing us down. I don’t want to hear this “everyone will refuse to play here”, didn’t Ehlers say he’d come here? Why is he still on Winnipeg? We didn’t even spend to the cap. Why would anyone go to a game when this organization clearly doesn’t care about its fans. This team still lacks motivation and heart some after spending 3-4 seasons with each other now.

[Cranky old man]

We need to trade some of our poodles for some good old mutts. 

[inkman]

21 hours ago, JP51 said:

or ankles LOL 😆

What the difference between grabbing your socks and grabbing you ankles?  Isn’t the net result the same.  Bent over exposing your hole?  

[JP51]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

What the difference between grabbing your socks and grabbing you ankles?  Isn’t the net result the same.  Bent over exposing your hole?  

I was just teasing... different play on words... 

[LTS]

6 hours ago, inkman said:

What the difference between grabbing your socks and grabbing you ankles?  Isn’t the net result the same.  Bent over exposing your hole?  

If you wear ankle socks sure, but what if you wear a sock that goes up over the knee? 🙂
BOHICA!

[inkman]

41 minutes ago, LTS said:

If you wear ankle socks sure, but what if you wear a sock that goes up over the knee? 🙂
BOHICA!

Are you a clone?  I haven’t listened in years.  

[Gatorman0519]

Team has no superstar players. I’m not sure we have even one star player. It’s debatable. There simply is no talent on this team. All that stating and there is nobody standing out. 

[mjd1001]

43 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Team has no superstar players. I’m not sure we have even one star player. It’s debatable. There simply is no talent on this team. All that stating and there is nobody standing out. 

No one standing out? No stars?

Tage is top 10 in the league in goals even with missing more games than those above him.

3 seasons ago he scored at a 40 goal per 82 pace.

2 seasons ago he scored at a 49.5 goal per 82 pace.

Last year while playing a good portion of the year injured he scored at a 34 goal per 82 pace.

This year he is playing at a 55 goal per 82 pace.

He has 128 goals in the last 3 seasons (almost 40 more than 2nd on the team over that time) with 15 game winning goals.  11th in the LEAGUE in goals per game over that time (out of over 700 players who played more than a full season of games in that period)

3rd in the entire league in even strength goals per 60 (which many view as the BEST stat to show how good of a goal scorer you are), ahead of guys named MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Reinhart, Point, Ovechkin, McDavid, Kaprizov, and obviously everyone else except for 2 guys. 3rd out of over 700 players in the league.

You may or may not think he is a great player, but to say hes not a star, bordering on a superstar?  At least a star there should be no debate.

Edited December 6 by mjd1001

[EM88]

8 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

No one standing out? No stars?

Tage is top 10 in the league in goals even with missing more games than those above him.

3 seasons ago he scored at a 40 goal per 82 pace.

2 seasons ago he scored at a 49.5 goal per 82 pace.

Last year while playing a good portion of the year injured he scored at a 34 goal per 82 pace.

This year he is playing at a 55 goal per 82 pace.

He has 128 goals in the last 3 seasons (almost 40 more than 2nd on the team over that time) with 15 game winning goals.  11th in the LEAGUE in goals per game over that time (out of nearly 700 players who play significant games each year)

3rd in the entire league in even strength goals per 60 (which many view as the BEST stat to show how good of a goal scorer you are), ahead of guys named MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Reinhart, Point, Ovechkin, McDavid, Kaprizov, and obviously everyone else except for 2 guys.

You may or may not think he is a great player, but to say hes not a star, bordering on a superstar?  At least a star there should be no debate.

I do notice that when you listen to national broadcasts or even see highlights with the out of town announcers, they often seem to have little respect for the Sabres as a team, but Tage Thompson is someone they go out of their way to single out as a player on the Sabres to fear.

My impression is that around the league, Thompson is regarded as close to a superstar player that is stuck on an irrelevant team in Buffalo.

Edited December 6 by EM88

[JP51]

13 hours ago, LTS said:

If you wear ankle socks sure, but what if you wear a sock that goes up over the knee? 🙂
BOHICA!

LOL this is devolving quickly... we are clearly all in a bad way 😆 but I am enjoying the laughs... gotta have humor!

[JP51]

9 hours ago, EM88 said:

I do notice that when you listen to national broadcasts or even see highlights with the out of town announcers, they often seem to have little respect for the Sabres as a team, but Tage Thompson is someone they go out of their way to single out as a player on the Sabres to fear.

My impression is that around the league, Thompson is regarded as close to a superstar player that is stuck on an irrelevant team in Buffalo.

This I would agree with, Certainly when healthy Tage can be afforded star status.. but the point that the poster is making that is reasonating with me is... our drafting has been horrific... literally if you go back 15 years and look we have literally drafted less than a handful of players that I would consider game changers. And those that we did draft, Say Eichel, Reinhardt, Dahlin... have been either the 1 or 2 picks... and of course we have traded 2 of them away... for all of the hype over our prospects... where are they... I keep waiting for the next one to step in and infuse the team.... but it just isnt happening... maybe it will but i am not seeing it.... Benson is as close as you get, but he is not changing games... he may... but not today... the players and the types of players we are drafting to build our team are just not good enough...  the competence in this area is hideous.

[FrenchConnection44]

The good news is we are only 2 points out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. Albeit to the Rangers who also have 2 games in hand and are clearly a better team and franchise. 
 

The bad news is we are only 2 points out of last place in the East and only 2-3 teams clearly worse. 
 

But really, this team is a disaster. They don’t know how to win. And it’s a bad culture that is unlikely to change. Apparently as long as the Bills win people will give Pegula a pass. But what happens if Josh Allen goes down? He’s the franchise. He needs to sell the Sabres but isn’t likely to do so. And the buy might move them. My one hope is that he actually puts money, energy, and effort into the team after the new stadium is finished. Won’t be holding my breath, tho.  

[JP51]

35 minutes ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

The good news is we are only 2 points out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. Albeit to the Rangers who also have 2 games in hand and are clearly a better team and franchise. 
 

The bad news is we are only 2 points out of last place in the East and only 2-3 teams clearly worse. 
 

But really, this team is a disaster. They don’t know how to win. And it’s a bad culture that is unlikely to change. Apparently as long as the Bills win people will give Pegula a pass. But what happens if Josh Allen goes down? He’s the franchise. He needs to sell the Sabres but isn’t likely to do so. And the buy might move them. My one hope is that he actually puts money, energy, and effort into the team after the new stadium is finished. Won’t be holding my breath, tho.  

I agree especially with the point that the team isnt built to win... the culture is toxic... I will say this and no slam at you... its sad that our focus is playoffs... I get it.. but geez... aspiring to mediocrity is so sad... there needs to be an entire overhaul.... that may mean a lot of the core goes... 

[bunomatic]

11 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

No one standing out? No stars?

Tage is top 10 in the league in goals even with missing more games than those above him.

3 seasons ago he scored at a 40 goal per 82 pace.

2 seasons ago he scored at a 49.5 goal per 82 pace.

Last year while playing a good portion of the year injured he scored at a 34 goal per 82 pace.

This year he is playing at a 55 goal per 82 pace.

He has 128 goals in the last 3 seasons (almost 40 more than 2nd on the team over that time) with 15 game winning goals.  11th in the LEAGUE in goals per game over that time (out of over 700 players who played more than a full season of games in that period)

3rd in the entire league in even strength goals per 60 (which many view as the BEST stat to show how good of a goal scorer you are), ahead of guys named MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Reinhart, Point, Ovechkin, McDavid, Kaprizov, and obviously everyone else except for 2 guys. 3rd out of over 700 players in the league.

You may or may not think he is a great player, but to say hes not a star, bordering on a superstar?  At least a star there should be no debate.

Ok ok we have one star.

😉

[JP51]

1 hour ago, bunomatic said:

Ok ok we have one star.

😉

I think your overall point was legit... too many draft misses ... too many of the same player... too little balance to compete in a game that requires more than skill and is very much a will , mental and physical toughness required game. 

[LabattBlue]

4 hours ago, bunomatic said:

Ok ok we have one star.

😉

Don’t forget Dahlin is magically going to become a Norris Trophy winning defenseman any day now. 

[Warriorspikes51]

11 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Don’t forget Dahlin is magically going to become a Norris Trophy winning defenseman any day now. 

He has been HORRIFIC this season