The Game Discussion Thread! December 7th, 2024--Utah Hockey Team @ Buffalo Sabres! 1 pm Faceoff--TV, Radio, internet :)

[EM88]

55 minutes ago, OverPowerYou said:

Is anyone else starting to really dislike Tuch? 

Not really. It is a matter or expectations.

If you think he is a legit 1st liner who you expect 30-35 goals out of who comes through in clutch situations as much as anyone, I can see you would be upset.

But I think of him as a very good 2nd liner who is adequate on a first line.  Someone who is very good on the forcheck. Someone who doesn't disappear in clutch situations but also just isn't good enough to be relied on to carry your team. He will have some big moments but then fade away for multiple game streaks.

If your expectation is the first one, yes, you might be upset with him.

I think of him more of the 2nd. I am not thinking he is a problem with this team.

This team is out of the playoffs because of the game played by Quinn and Cozens. Because UPL is less consistent than last year. Because Dahlin is out and when he wasn't out was playing hurt. Those are much bigger issues to me than Tuch.

[Turbo44]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

And now, knuckleheads want to get rid of Dahlin and Power. 

I don’t want to get rid of Dahlin. If by trading power we get back a top 6 forward and:or a non-p^ssy defenseman I’m all for it

[EM88]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

I don’t think the draft picks that are the problem.  I think it’s the program and the culture, lots of Sabres picks are thriving on other teams.  Too many. 

I agree with you. I looked at the hockey database site and looked at where the Sabres picked, who they selected, and who they could have selected in the next 5picks over the last decade.

You know what? They missed on some guys, but more often there wasn't anyone else picked close to where they were and they didn't select all that poorly.

They for sure are not the best drafting team in the league, but they are probably middle of the road. 

I feel the issue is not drafting the wrong players. It is a little bit their development, and a lot of the roster mix, meaning who you pair those guys with when they are breaking into the NHL.

I have read many others saying it is OK to have a lot of young players on your team, but you should pair them with vets, preferably good ones.  Before you start a year pairing Quinn and Cozens and Peterka (LAST year) and expecting them to excel, how about overpaying for a veteran to put on the line with them?  I say overpaying because you might overpay for the production that vet gives you, but its not the production you are paying for. You are paying for some production in addition to him being a settling influence with the young guys.

[JoeSchmoe]

We should've just let Eichel had the damn surgery.

[SabresBillsFan]

15 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

We should've just let Eichel had the damn surgery.

I see him daily here in Vegas and he’s a much better all around player under much better coaching out here in Vegas. But Buffalo has players it’s coaching and the culture that’s killing the organization.

Edited December 8 by SabresBillsFan

[kas23]

2 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

We should've just let Eichel had the damn surgery.

Normally, I would say he said he wanted to leave prior to the injury. Imagine him with Reinhart on the team? I mean, we probably wouldn’t have Dahlin, but still fun to think about. 

[SabresBillsFan]

11 minutes ago, kas23 said:

Normally, I would say he said he wanted to leave prior to the injury. Imagine him with Reinhart on the team? I mean, we probably wouldn’t have Dahlin, but still fun to think about. 

Not sure how he would be. Here in Vegas we have always had solid coaching and other strong leaders in that dressing room. 

[kas23]

11 minutes ago, SabresBillsFan said:

Not sure how he would be. Here in Vegas we have always had solid coaching and other strong leaders in that dressing room. 

I agree. Funny how we constantly have the wrong players. ROR, didn’t want to be here, gone. Eichel, didn’t want to be here, gone. Sammy, don’t want to be here, gone. Mitts, who knows if he wanted to stay, but Cozens, so gone. Lots of horrible players we had to get rid of. 

[HumanSlinky39]

Nothing really to say anymore. Glad I missed this turd. 

Apathy is setting in.

 

[JustOneParade]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I don’t think the draft picks that are the problem.  I think it’s the program and the culture, lots of Sabres picks are thriving on other teams.  Too many. 

Yep. Players leave and suddenly get better. Players come in and suddenly get worse. It’s not a coincidence.

[Mango]

5 hours ago, EM88 said:

Not really. It is a matter or expectations.

If you think he is a legit 1st liner who you expect 30-35 goals out of who comes through in clutch situations as much as anyone, I can see you would be upset.

But I think of him as a very good 2nd liner who is adequate on a first line.  Someone who is very good on the forcheck. Someone who doesn't disappear in clutch situations but also just isn't good enough to be relied on to carry your team. He will have some big moments but then fade away for multiple game streaks.

If your expectation is the first one, yes, you might be upset with him.

I think of him more of the 2nd. I am not thinking he is a problem with this team.

This team is out of the playoffs because of the game played by Quinn and Cozens. Because UPL is less consistent than last year. Because Dahlin is out and when he wasn't out was playing hurt. Those are much bigger issues to me than Tuch.

This!

If we could clone Thompson, Tuch, and Greenway we would be in a waaay better spot. (Defense be damned)

Top 6 would have Thompson and Tuch on both lines and the bottom 6 would have Greenway on both lines. 
 

At that point I think we’d be a playoff team and 2 defensemen away from being real competitors. 

[PerreaultForever]

In all fairness to this hockey team I don't think it's reasonable to think we can compete with a preferred destination team like Utah. Especially when they are on a long road trip so let's be reasonable with our expectations. 

[gilbert11]

16 hours ago, steveoath said:

Seems like a good goal unfortunately. One nil down and going to the pk. 

As I said recently, a 2 minute penalty for an unsuccessful challenge is too much of a punishment and just plain stupid.  For the NFL & NBA they just lose a timeout.

MLB gives no punishment.