GDT: Kracken at your Buffalo Sabres—4pm Eastern—MSG, ESPN+, and WGR 550

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Crusader1969 said:

good analysis except I think you are being kind to Gilbert on that first goal.  Fed it into the slot, perfect pass to the Kraken forward

on the 3rd goal it didn't bounce off Bryson, he put it into his own net.  The wheels completely fell off at this point 

I get a lot of us want to see the Sabres add to their forwards but I REALLY think a RHD to play with Power is critical    (then again it's been an urgent for the last 3 years and nothing has been done by Adams) 

you can probably get away with dressing one of Bryson, Jokiharju and Gilbert but not all 3 in the same game 

 

 

 

Jokiharju and Byram can go

[Crusader1969]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

Jokiharju and Byram can go

100%.  When it's not Byram killing you it's Jokiharju.   Both need to be gone 

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Jokiharju and Byram can go

I’m ok with that and they can take Bryson, Gilbert and Clifton with them. 

 

[Crusader1969]

55 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

This season he definitely has had a bunch of multiple goals-within-two-minute spots. When they need him to staunch the bleeding, he's gone and slashed the artery.

The goal that Bryson scored on him must have been in his head 

I can understand it.  I would be like "what the actual ***** Bryson!"  And would  be pissed off too but he has to be better than me and zone in and not let the 4th one i. 

4 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

100%.  When it's not Byram killing you it's Jokiharju.   Both need to be gone 

Wait? Byram - I meant Bryson. 
 

 

[mjd1001]

Just now, Crusader1969 said:

good analysis except I think you are being kind to Gilbert on that first goal.  Fed it into the slot, perfect pass to the Kraken forward

on the 3rd goal it didn't bounce off Bryson, he put it into his own net.  The wheels completely fell off at this point 

I get a lot of us want to see the Sabres add to their forwards but I REALLY think a RHD to play with Power is critical    (then again it's been an urgent for the last 3 years and nothing has been done by Adams) 

you can probably get away with dressing one of Bryson, Jokiharju and Gilbert but not all 3 in the same game 

 

 

 

If I feel up to it, I'll look at the replays again and check more on Gilbert. I usually just look at 2 angles on the replay, then the goal visualizer...go forward and back a bit on the replay. Sometimes I miss things.  

I just looked at it again, Yeah, bad play by Gilbert. But Cozens play still drives me nuts and I think if Cozens didn't show up in the corner the goal does't get scored.

I just think Cozens shouldn't have even been there.  Him being there caused a chain reaction of things that led to the goal. Cozens goes in deep when Gilbert was already there...so Zucker has to go cover the slot, leaving his side open. No one was there to cover Evans who scored, because that was Zuckers guy/area.

Maybe Gilbert would have lost the puck and he did not control it well, but the goal was scored because Cozens went too deep, into a CORNER where if any help is needed it shoudl be a winger.  

[Jorcus]

15 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I thought Dahlin played well.  TNT, so-so. Bryram had is worst game in the past 2 weeks.  Zucker wasn't awful, but he was out of position more than usual. Cozens pretty bad.  I think some of Zucker looking out of position may have been on the fact he was covering for Cozens, who positionally, was as bad as any game I have seen from him in a month (back to his old ways).  

I'm sorry for those who like him, but Cozens just doesn't make mistakes, he makes mistakes that cause his line-mates to be out of position and look bad. If he has ANY value at all, he needs to go.   Is it any surprise that TNT and Zucker were such big 'minus' players this game, more than they have been the rest of the year...when playing with Cozens?  Cozens poisons whatever players you put on a line with him. 

Its game after game with him (at least 75% of games played) where he goes in too deep with no chance of getting the puck, he goes into a coner to 'help' a d-man leaving his spot wide open. He goes in deep in the offensive zone into a corner when his winger is already there, leading to odd man rushes against.  He's bad, really really bad.

Just because of the negative plays, it is no longer an exaggeration, I really REALLY think this team is better with McLeod and Krebs at 2c and 3c and removing Cozens totally. Cozens has more upside scoring, but the negatives are just WAY too much.

I don't think Dahlin played well at all. Early in the first period did he really have to flip the puck out of the zone? Maybe, he did but he does it way to often and it just kills any chance of clean breakouts. His zone entries on the power play are a mystery to me. Power and Byram are way better at getting the puck in the zone on the PP. We don't see Byram enough on the PP but he made great move to gain zone entry. Then there was the tripping call after the back to back scores in the third which lead to the fifth goal. When he get frustrated he some how finds a way to hurt this team. 

[EM88]

6 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I just think Cozens shouldn't have even been there.  Him being there caused a chain reaction of things that led to the goal. Cozens goes in deep when Gilbert was already there...so Zucker has to go cover the slot, leaving his side open. No one was there to cover Evans who scored, because that was Zuckers guy/area.

Maybe Gilbert would have lost the puck and he did not control it well, but the goal was scored because Cozens went too deep, into a CORNER where if any help is needed it shoudl be a winger.  

I see the point.

I do realize the NHL is a much more complicated league than much lower levels of hockey.  But one of the fundamentals I was coached as a kid playing hockey, as well as through my teenage years, is that the center in the defensive zone covers the slot / front of the net. If a D-man is in the corner with the puck, you trust him to make a play or the winger comes down the boards to help him if he is outnumbered. Before a center leaves the slot and goes into the corner, we were instructed to turn our head to make sure our opposite side winger was behind us so no opposing players are left uncovered in the slot. If you have no help behind you, or you can't turn your head to look, then you do not leave the slot.

It is almost like teams scout the Sabres and know when Cozens it out there they can sucker him out of position and lead to easy chances. He falls for it often. 

Edited Sunday at 12:38 AM by EM88

[OverPowerYou]

32 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

At least your kids still have a chance at a happy life. My 22 year old son...born and raised in Virginia...is a diehard Sabres fan. I have failed him as a parent.

Wow. So he was 5 when the Sabres last won a playoff series? How did you get so lucky 

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, EM88 said:

I see the point.

I do realize the NHL is a much more complicated league than much lower levels of hockey.  But one of the fundamentals I was coached as a kid playing hockey, as well as through my teenage years, is that the center in the defensive zone covers the slot / front of the net. If a D-man is in the corner with the puck, you trust him to make a play or the winger comes down the boards to help him if he is outnumbered. Before a center leaves the slot and goes into the corner, we were instructed to turn our head to make sure our opposite side winger was behind us so no opposing players are left uncovered in the slot. If you have no help behind you, or you can't turn your head to look, then you do not leave the slot.

It is almost like teams scout the Sabres and know when Cozens it out there they can sucker him out of position and lead to easy chances. He falls for it often. 

Cozens is the forward equivalent of Ristolainen 

[Mr Peabody]

I checked out early in the 3rd.  Did Terry hear any boos?

[Jorcus]

Just now, Mr Peabody said:

I checked out early in the 3rd.  Did Terry hear any boos?

Yes

[mjd1001]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Cozens is the forward equivalent of Ristolainen 

It is so obvious. Lindy HAS to see it. The guys that break down film HAVE to see it. Adams played hockey, he actually was a pretty good defensive forward, he HAS to see it.  

Cozens taking himself out of the play or leaving his spot on the ice wide open happens so often, it can't be ignored by the coaches and staff.  As bad as they are, this is simple stuff anyone can see.

This is a guess, but there is nothing else that makes sense. The ONLY reason I can see he keeps getting ice time, doesn't get benched, and hasn't been moved and traded to ANY team that wants to take a chance on him..it has to be Pegula.  He has to be one of "Pegula's favorites"  Nothing else makes sense.  He's bad, but the coach can't bench him, the GM can't trade him, because he might be the owner's favorite.

We are fans. We all have had our 'favorite players' that weren't good but we didn't want to admit it. We have their jersey, we 'called' them as a great pick when they were drafted.  Fans often have blinders on when it comes to evaluating their favorite player.  My fear is Cozens is Terry's favorite in this way.

Edited Sunday at 12:48 AM by mjd1001

[HumanSlinky39]

Been watching the NFL playoffs all day, so skipped this. Looks like I chose wisely. 

This organization is such a ***** mess.

[Mr Peabody]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Cozens is the forward equivalent of Ristolainen 

So we’ll get a 1st, 2nd and a player?

[HumanSlinky39]

Was there at least ample boos, or better yet "FIRE ADAMS" chants?

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

So we’ll get a 1st, 2nd and a player?

Think we only got a 1st for Risto

2 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Was there at least ample boos, or better yet "FIRE ADAMS" chants?

Uhhh... on kids day, not really

Of course I left after goal 4 cuz I'm smart

[EM88]

5 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

So we’ll get a 1st, 2nd and a player?

I would take a mid level pick at this point for Cozens. He actively hurts whatever line he is on.

I do not want to take credit for this as another posted put this up here a few weeks ago, but last year when he got hurt against Philadelphia, the Sabres were struggling on the PP.  In the 3 or 4 games before his injury, Cozens was on the powerplay and the Sabres didn't score a single PP goal. He got hurt and missed 2 or 3 games and while he was out the Sabres scored a PP goal in every game he missed.  As soon as he came back into the lineup he went right back onto every powerplay and the team then failed to score a PP goal for the next 3-4 games, with him on the PP unit for all of them.

How does he get over 2 minutes of Powerplay ice time per game over the last 4 seasons. How is he out on the 1st or 2nd Powerplay unit almost every single game without fail for going on 4 seasons?  Yet in 282 games played over that time, he has only 10 powerplay goals.  Less than 1 goal every 28 games despite being on almost every single powerplay.

As mentioned above, he must be a Terry Pegula favorite and thus is not allowed to be benched or removed from the Powerplay.

Edited Sunday at 12:56 AM by EM88

[HumanSlinky39]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Think we only got a 1st for Risto

Uhhh... on kids day, not really

Kids chanting would be icing on the doodie cake.

[SwampD]

Gahd Dammit!!!! I really thought they were going to win today.

Was busy today so turned it off at 2-0 at first intermission. Turned the tv back on right as they made it 2-2. Then didn’t see the rest. That is an epic collapse, yet again. *****!

This sucks.

 

[inkman]

42 minutes ago, SabresBillsFan said:

And once Cozens is moved he will thrive just like all players that leave this dreaded organization!

 

40 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Even if true, the real question is will he thrive here? Answer is no. Every line he leaves gets better. 

Yeah who ***** cares if he turns into Wayne ***** Gretzky elsewhere if he’s ***** Keith Gretzky here 

[Marty]

3 hours ago, Marty said:

Man, give me 120 more periods just like that!

We only fell short by 120…

[inkman]

3 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Gahd Dammit!!!! I really thought they were going to win today.

Was busy today so turned it off at 2-0 at first intermission. Turned the tv back on right as they made it 2-2. Then didn’t see the rest. That is an epic collapse, yet again. *****!

This sucks.

 

They need to weed out the guys that are wilting under pressure.   Cozens?  For sure.  Tuch, most likely.  Tage?  Maybe. Dahlin?  👀 Power?  Easily.  I find it hard to find a player that has ice in his veins.  Instead we have a bunch of poopey pants children that barf all over themselves when anything at all is expected of them.  Get rid of the smelly diapers.  They are killing this team.

[mjd1001]

5 minutes ago, inkman said:

They need to weed out the guys that are wilting under pressure.   Cozens?  For sure.  Tuch, most likely.  Tage?  Maybe. Dahlin?  👀 Power?  Easily.  I find it hard to find a player that has ice in his veins.  Instead we have a bunch of poopey pants children that barf all over themselves when anything at all is expected of them.  Get rid of the smelly diapers.  They are killing this team.

It is no secret how much I dislike Cozens. So I would start by removing him from the lineup....trade, long term benching...whatever.

See how that goes first. I really REALLY think he hurts this team so much the team is better if he doesn't play.  After you get a couple weeks without Cozens, if things aren't better go onto the next thing.

But you have to start someplace.  You have to make a first move before you make a 2nd.  Lets get that first move, if other teams are calling about Cozens according to rumors, lets go!

Maybe I have a blind eye for other problems on this team. I really REALLY like Thompson and he probably has more 'off' games than I care to admit. But I do not see Thompson and Tuch actively hurting the team like I do Cozens.

And as far as 'under pressure', there are not the stats that tell the whole story, but consider this over the past 3.5 seasons:

Game winning goals: Tuch 17 (in 40 less games than Cozens), Thompson 15, Cozens 4

Powerplay goals: Thompson 43, Tuch 12 (in 40 less games than Cozens), Cozens 10

Cozens is the single worst forward I have every seen without the puck, and he scores a powerplay goal 1 out of every 28 games, and he scores a game winner 1 out of ever 70 games. 

Edited Sunday at 01:08 AM by mjd1001

[Indabuff]

Missed it.  We suck again?

[thewookie1]

Part of me thinks Dahlin’s temper this year is going nuts because he is the captain now and his ship more or less goes askew at the slightest bump. If I passionately tried to rally my teammates in the locker room and then they go and do whatever the hell that 2nd and 3rd were I too would completely lose it eventually. 
 

Frankly he’s also probably a bit torn simultaneously since he’s great friends with most of, if not, the entire team and any action he might take in requesting assistance would cost players he’s played with for almost 6 years to be moved.