GDT: Sabres @ Senators, April 1, 2025 - 7:00PM, MSG 📺, WGR550 📻 🎙

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, Jorcus said:

According to Paul Hamilton The head coach designs the power play and the assistant coach implements it. Does Appert get to say who is on the power play? He may have input but the power play issue starts with Ruff. Appert might stink but Ruff is the one I would hold accountable fore the issue. Same as Granato last year. Now if someone higher up is telling Ruff who to play when that would be different. I can't see Ruff standing for that at this point in his life.   

We aren't allowed to blame Lindy for anything.

[LGR4GM]

59 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Adams has done the same thing with goalies as he has done with other positions.   We should not forget that he waived Reimer and lost him to Anaheim. There was no guarantee we would get him back. We could have Felix Sandstrom backing up UPL (that’s not a stretch).  

Adams rolled into the year with UPL and Levi as his goalies the same as he rolled into the year with Power/Byram/Samuelsson/Jokiharju on D and Cozens/Quinn/Benson as the 2nd line. His methods have failed multiple players. Some of those players might be just not good enough, but I think some have also been positioned to fail by a demonstrably awful GM. 

And the problem is all indications are that Adams is going to run it back again with the same players in the same positions. We might even have the same assistant coaches. Adams lacks imagination and the will to make the hard choices. That is why he has this decision by committee thing, sure he makes the final call but he feels built up to make that. It is like he needs a lot of outside justification and then he can do the obvious thing. I also firmly believe that it helps him offset blame when things don't work, "we all agreed and it just didn't work out" seems to be his mantra. He's not a leader. 

21 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

We aren't allowed to blame Lindy for anything.

Lindy and the entire coaching staff should be removed. They aren't good enough. Marty Wilford still having a job is just mind-bogglingly bad and the only excuse is Terry needs that Yacht money and Wilford was under contract. 

[SwampD]

There is nothing to take away from these games other than the immediate satisfaction of having won the individual game we watched. Period.

Anyone making assessments for next year really need to take a step back. Imo.

Until Quinn made that play behind the net on the Dahlin goal, I have questioned whether his recent surge was real or yet another artifact of meaningless late season games. I really hope that that type of play continues, but his defense on Ottawa’s first goal was just awful. That goal was on him.

 

[inkman]

34 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

According to Paul Hamilton The head coach designs the power play and the assistant coach implements it. Does Appert get to say who is on the power play? He may have input but the power play issue starts with Ruff. Appert might stink but Ruff is the one I would hold accountable for the issue. Same as Granato last year. Now if someone higher up is telling Ruff who to play when that would be different. I can't see Ruff standing for that at this point in his life.   

Alpert is garbage.  Please fire him and his perfectly quaffed hair. 

[quill]

16 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

And the problem is all indications are that Adams is going to run it back again with the same players in the same positions. We might even have the same assistant coaches. Adams lacks imagination and the will to make the hard choices. That is why he has this decision by committee thing, sure he makes the final call but he feels built up to make that. It is like he needs a lot of outside justification and then he can do the obvious thing. I also firmly believe that it helps him offset blame when things don't work, "we all agreed and it just didn't work out" seems to be his mantra. He's not a leader. 

Lindy and the entire coaching staff should be removed. They aren't good enough. Marty Wilford still having a job is just mind-bogglingly bad and the only excuse is Terry needs that Yacht money and Wilford was under contract. 

I don't know if Lindy should stay or not, I like him, but I do think that there isn't a head coach in the NHL who could've worked miracles with a team that has no goalie.

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, quill said:

I don't know if Lindy should stay or not, I like him, but I do think that there isn't a head coach in the NHL who could've worked miracles with a team that has no goalie.

If Pegula wants to fire Adams and make Ruff his POHO while finding a legit GM and a legit coaching staff, I am all for it. I think Ruff has limits and it took him months longer than needed to figure out Cozens shouldn't be on the PP and McLeod was playing better. The goaltending seems to struggle under ruffs system in multiple places now, idk if that is on him or bad goalies but I would guess a combination there-of. At minimum, Ruff can't build a system that protects goalies. 

[LGR4GM]

The Sabres went from 2.98goals per game to 3.26gpg and still were no-where close to the playoffs. This team has a major issue on defense and goaltending that need aggressive changes, and that is something Adams is not. He is slow and plodding, he doesn't seize or create opportunities. 

[Drag0nDan]

12 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

God if only we were a bit closer, we are getting that late season surge with absurd goaltending

December was something else though, killed the entire season before 2025 even started.  

[Archie Lee]

49 minutes ago, JohnC said:

This team certainly has a number of weaknesses. Few are saying otherwise, especially not I. However, what I am saying is that even with the glaring deficiencies if we had the type of goaltending that Reimer has recently been displaying, this team would be in the middle of contention for a playoff spot. The 13 game non-winning streak is a non-erasable part of the season. Does that happen to such a season sabotaging extent with solid goaltending? I don't believe so. 

 

You are right, but I think you are overlooking factors that led to UPL's performance cratering.  UPL's performance began to suffer during the worst stretch of the Sabre season. During the 13 game losing streak, Reimer played 3 games and was 0-3 with a .865 save %.  How would Reimer's season have gone had he been required to start 52 games for this team without respite? Reimer started only 10 games for the Sabres from Oct - Feb. I'm not saying that there are no goalies who could have done better than UPL (unequivocally, UPL has been bad and needs to be better), but it is one thing to start 10 games over 4 months for a bad defensive hockey team, and quite another to start 52. We are not likely to bring in an elite netminder in the off-season.  Swapping in a couple of goalies who are largely available because they have lacked consistency in their career (that is who will be available), without addressing the other root causes of why we give up so many chances and goals, will not likely result in a positive outcome. 

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, Archie Lee said:

You are right, but I think you are overlooking factors that led to UPL's performance cratering.  UPL's performance began to suffer during the worst stretch of the Sabre season. During the 13 game losing streak, Reimer played 3 games and was 0-3 with a .865 save %.  How would Reimer's season have gone had he been required to start 52 games for this team without respite? Reimer started only 10 games for the Sabres from Oct - Feb. I'm not saying that there are no goalies who could have done better than UPL (unequivocally, UPL has been bad and needs to be better), but it is one thing to start 10 games over 4 months for a bad defensive hockey team, and quite another to start 52. We are not likely to bring in an elite netminder in the off-season.  Swapping in a couple of goalies who are largely available because they have lacked consistency in their career (that is who will be available), without addressing the other root causes of why we give up so many chances and goals, will not likely result in a positive outcome. 

I just don't know why they kept riding UPL.  Levi struggled out of the gate in a backup role, they got reimer back and sent levi down (i think he spot started somewhere during the losing streak).  But as the season wore on and you were pretty much getting consistent AHL goaltending at the NHL level, they never felt like trying something different?  Reimer or even Levi for that matter.  

Reimer finishes back to back games during the losing streak after UPL gets pulled.  Obviously gets the 3rd start on the back to back with the starter essentially melting down.  Reimer then starts 3 games in january and february - and puts up a greater than .900 sv% in all 4 appearances (UPL was pulled against carolina).  UPL started 15 games - 9 of which his sv% was under .900%.  The team went  9-6-1 during these starts but every time they lost they gave up 5 or more goals.  UPL is 3-7 in december.

His fall-off from November through the rest of the year is just... brutal (https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/luukkuk01/splits/2025).  It's impossible to win with these numbers.  Consistently inconsistent.  

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

Adams has done the same thing with goalies as he has done with other positions.   We should not forget that he waived Reimer and lost him to Anaheim. There was no guarantee we would get him back. We could have Felix Sandstrom backing up UPL (that’s not a stretch).   

This. On the goaltending side, GMKA hasn’t been “right” yet. And then he backtracked on a solid plan (Reimer for 25-35 games of .900 sv% just like he’s done for SJS and DET) by waiving him immediately. Now, he might still get to 25 games, but that’s because UPL has been burned out and benched. You built a tandem in the offseason: use the tandem!

If Levi had had a preseason shutout and a shutout in Czechia then maybe you waive Reimer, but why? 

This leads to my question. At what point is Levi subject to waivers next season? Automatically at the start? Or will there be a games played # still in play despite age and seasons accrued?

[Night Train]

That was a heck of an assist by Cozens on the Krebs goal. Nice feed. 

[Drag0nDan]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

This. On the goaltending side, GMKA hasn’t been “right” yet. And then he backtracked on a solid plan (Reimer for 25-35 games of .900 sv% just like he’s done for SJS and DET) by waiving him immediately. Now, he might still get to 25 games, but that’s because UPL has been burned out and benched. You built a tandem in the offseason: use the tandem!

If Levi had had a preseason shutout and a shutout in Czechia then maybe you waive Reimer, but why? 

This leads to my question. At what point is Levi subject to waivers next season? Automatically at the start? Or will there be a games played # still in play despite age and seasons accrued?

Good question... He'll be 23 and he signed and played in 22-23.  His entry-level 3 year deal is expired.  He's played fewer than 60 NHL games, so i think he has one more year of waiver exemption.  

https://puckpedia.com/salary-cap/waivers

• Once a player 20+ Age plays 1 Professional Game, that is considered the first year (Levi was 21)
• The chart on there says he signed at 21, and has not exceeded 60 NHL starts, so by that measure he should be exempt for 4 years.  

[Crusader1969]

10 hours ago, Thorner said:

And I don’t understand the fascination with squinting at every stat we see until we convince ourselves playoffs *could* happen. The “forwards are fine” because we are mid pack in even strength differential stuff drives me nuts. We just stop there? Why don’t we aim to create a team that SHOULD make the playoffs rather than one that sort of has the chance to? Doesn’t the fan base deserve that sort of effort after 14 years? This is all so pathetic 

Like ya maybe if we elimate injuries for only us, with Dahlin we are pacing for high 80s. So below average. But we’d be “in the hunt” this year because the line is so unusually low, so we aren’t what our record says?

why? I don’t understand what’s going on anymore 

I think you missed the part where I said you can not rely on 1 player to make or break your season  

 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

There is nothing to take away from these games other than the immediate satisfaction of having won the individual game we watched. Period.

Anyone making assessments for next year really need to take a step back. Imo.

Until Quinn made that play behind the net on the Dahlin goal, I have questioned whether his recent surge was real or yet another artifact of meaningless late season games. I really hope that that type of play continues, but his defense on Ottawa’s first goal was just awful. That goal was on him.

 

I've come full circle to the point where this is pretty much all I'm invested in.

I mean I'm interested in the stuff away from the games, but I'm not letting myself get invested in the big picture until it actually changes.

Even things that I want to see happen — Adams fired, winning the draft lottery — there's no point. We've done things like that before.

32 times happy, 42 not this year — one game at a time, that's how I cope.

Edited yesterday at 03:37 PM by dudacek

[mjd1001]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

I'm surprised with your negative view of Quinn, especially since his recent good play. (Not going to disagree with your jaundiced view of Cozens. His departure seemed to open up opportunities for other players who are taking advantage of it.) There were two plays in this game that demonstrated to me that Quinn could be a good NHL player. The first was with him battling behind the net to retrieve the puck that an Ottawa player had, then pass it out to Dahlin who then scored from the outside. The second play was another play where he battled another Ottawa player along the back wall, got it back and passed it to JJP who had a good scoring chance near the net. Both of these physical plays were the type of plays that were lacking in his game. More attention is being paid to his increased point scoring but substantively what I find most encouraging is his greater willingness to be more physical and battle for the puck.

KA is placing a bet on this young fellow, and it seems that he is winning that bet. Quinn is a keeper, and so is JJP and Kulich. 

I'm not in the "get rid of Quinn" mode like I was with Cozens. But as of even the last few weeks, I still see huge holes in his game.

What my eyes tell me (still even up to now) is in the offensive zone he really doesn't make his own shot all that much.  In the neutral zone and Defensive zone, he's practically invisible.  I don't expect amazing things, but he might be the forward on this team that engages on the boards and comes away with the loose puck or wins battles less than any other forward.

Then, that is what my eyes see, do the numbers back it up?  I think so.  The last 5 games he has been put with McLeod as his center, who has some of the best defensive numbres on the team. McLeod has not brought up Quinns analytics, in fact Quinn has brought down McLeods numbers.

Just looking back over the last 5 games, Quinn's line has 16 'scoring chances' generated even strength, while allowing 36 (and this is in less than 60 minutes of ice time).

So again, to repeat myself, I don't see him generating his own shot, I don't see him gaining possession of the puck or winning any battles.  And almost all the analytics (not just scoring chances, but Fenwick, Corsi, High danger chances...etc) are still way negative. Which on their own doesn't mean much, but it supports what I see.

16 scoring chances generated and 36 allowed in under 60 minutes of even strenght ice time...that is really really bad, Based on what I see, I would expect THOSE numbers to continue, and not his 40% shooting percentage over those 4 games.

If he is scoring, that is great, that is what he needs to do. But when he doesn't score, he hurts the team.

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm not in the "get rid of Quinn" mode like I was with Cozens. But as of even the last few weeks, I still see huge holes in his game.

What my eyes tell me (still even up to now) is in the offensive zone he really doesn't make his own shot all that much.  In the neutral zone and Defensive zone, he's practically invisible.  I don't expect amazing things, but he might be the forward on this team that engages on the boards and comes away with the loose puck or wins battles less than any other forward.

Then, that is what my eyes see, do the numbers back it up?  I think so.  The last 5 games he has been put with McLeod as his center, who has some of the best defensive numbres on the team. McLeod has not brought up Quinns analytics, in fact Quinn has brought down McLeods numbers.

Just looking back over the last 5 games, Quinn's line has 16 'scoring chances' generated even strength, while allowing 36 (and this is in less than 60 minutes of ice time).

So again, to repeat myself, I don't see him generating his own shot, I don't see him gaining possession of the puck or winning any battles.  And almost all the analytics (not just scoring chances, but Fenwick, Corsi, High danger chances...etc) are still way negative. Which on their own doesn't mean much, but it supports what I see.

16 scoring chances generated and 36 allowed in under 60 minutes of even strenght ice time...that is really really bad, Based on what I see, I would expect THOSE numbers to continue, and not his 40% shooting percentage over those 4 games.

If he is scoring, that is great, that is what he needs to do. But when he doesn't score, he hurts the team.

I think that Quinn's game has stagnated, which is probably a lesson I will remember, and that we must now seriously consider moving him this offseason. The best thing might be for him to continue to score, pumping up stats and raising his value. I keep asking myself if he is the type of player I want. Last year I felt the answer was yes because his 200ft game was coming along and he had so much offensive skills that he was breaking even. Now, I doubt that. Is it worth giving him the summer to get right and hoping he's an improved player next year? If we do that, how long do we wait to find out? Will it tank our season if we are wrong? The defense is the main issue in my eyes still but Quinn being penciled into the top 9 is something that needs serious thought. 

[Crusader1969]

1 hour ago, Crusader1969 said:

I think you missed the part where I said you can not rely on 1 player to make or break your season  

 

If the Sabres had the Capitals offseason and added Chychrun and Roy and moved on from Samuelsson and Jokiharju.  Would they be a playoff team? 

[JohnC]

43 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm not in the "get rid of Quinn" mode like I was with Cozens. But as of even the last few weeks, I still see huge holes in his game.

What my eyes tell me (still even up to now) is in the offensive zone he really doesn't make his own shot all that much.  In the neutral zone and Defensive zone, he's practically invisible.  I don't expect amazing things, but he might be the forward on this team that engages on the boards and comes away with the loose puck or wins battles less than any other forward.

Then, that is what my eyes see, do the numbers back it up?  I think so.  The last 5 games he has been put with McLeod as his center, who has some of the best defensive numbres on the team. McLeod has not brought up Quinns analytics, in fact Quinn has brought down McLeods numbers.

Just looking back over the last 5 games, Quinn's line has 16 'scoring chances' generated even strength, while allowing 36 (and this is in less than 60 minutes of ice time).

So again, to repeat myself, I don't see him generating his own shot, I don't see him gaining possession of the puck or winning any battles.  And almost all the analytics (not just scoring chances, but Fenwick, Corsi, High danger chances...etc) are still way negative. Which on their own doesn't mean much, but it supports what I see.

16 scoring chances generated and 36 allowed in under 60 minutes of even strenght ice time...that is really really bad, Based on what I see, I would expect THOSE numbers to continue, and not his 40% shooting percentage over those 4 games.

If he is scoring, that is great, that is what he needs to do. But when he doesn't score, he hurts the team.

I'm more upbeat on Quinn than you are. Sometimes you have to accept who the player is instead of trying to fit him in the mold you prefer him to be in. I agree with you that he is not the type of player who excels at generating his own shots. He's more of the type of player who needs to be set up. His main asset is his shot. And that is not an attribute that I'm going to lightly dismiss. He's another young player that we have to be a little more patient with and see how things unfold. As long as he is willing to put effort on the other side of the game, I'm more willing to be more patient with him. Without getting too entangled with the analytics, which sometimes doesn't give you an accurate picture, my eyes tell me that his recent play has improved. While I'm not saying your assessment is wrong, I am saying that based on his recent play he deserves more time before drawing a hardened conclusion.

[dudacek]

35 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Quinn being penciled into the top 9 is something that needs serious thought. 

This is something that the board still hasn’t quite wrapped its collective head around.

None of Quinn, Cozens, Benson and Kulich performed like good top 9 performers this year or provided good value for their role. I know I’ll get pushback on this, but generally speaking, their contributions have been roughly on a tier with those of Peyton Krebs. Look at the numbers.

We’ve replaced one of them.

Sure they’re young enough to get better, but how many of them, and by how much?

Are you willing to take that bet? Again?

After this year, I can’t fathom the number of Sabrespacers who seem OK with our forwards.

 

Edited yesterday at 05:13 PM by dudacek

[JohnC]

8 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

If the Sabres had the Capitals offseason and added Chychrun and Roy and moved on from Samuelsson and Jokiharju.  Would they be a playoff team? 

The Capitals's front office has decisively outperformed our piddling front office. Over the past two to three years they have reconstituted their lineup and invigorated it by adding a number of complementary pieces. The most impactful action that their front office made was adding two goaltenders, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, for a miniscule price. Based on performance, our GM is a pigmy compared to their GM. 

[mjd1001]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

This is something that the board still hasn’t quite wrapped its collective head around.

None of Quinn, Cozens, Benson and Kulich performed like good top 9 performers this year. I know I’ll get pushback on this, but generally speaking, their contributions have been roughly on a tier with those of Peyton Krebs. Look at the numbers.

Sure they’re young enough to get better, but how many of them, and by how much?

Are you willing to take that bet? Again?

We’ve replaced one of them. After this year, I can’t fathom the number of Sabrespacers who seem OK with our forwards. 

 

I'm going to agree with you on most, but I'd say Kulich is the one I am most encouraged by.

Cozens and Quinn have actually hurt the team when they are on the ice....Benson might be very good eventually, but I think this board (in general) drastically over-rates his play.

Kulich....For a first year NHL player, he is scoring goals at a better than 1 game in 4 pace.  Now, will he improve on that? I don't know. But this year, among all the guys you listed (Even Cozens) I think he has clearly been the best overall player to me.

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

This is something that the board still hasn’t quite wrapped its collective head around.

None of Quinn, Cozens, Benson and Kulich performed like good top 9 performers this year or provided good value for their role. I know I’ll get pushback on this, but generally speaking, their contributions have been roughly on a tier with those of Peyton Krebs. Look at the numbers.

Sure they’re young enough to get better, but how many of them, and by how much?

Are you willing to take that bet? Again?

We’ve replaced one of them. After this year, I can’t fathom the number of Sabrespacers who seem OK with our forwards.

 

I think the reason ppl are okay with the forwards is because overall the team has produced enough offense to be a playoff team. I don't disagree with what you wrote about but Cozens is gone and Norris is in his place. Kulich and Benson getting better is highly likely just because of their ages, personally I want them to be better defensively as again, there is enough team offense. You are right though, Krebs, Benson, and Kulich are all similar in offense but that is what a 3rd line looks like even on a playoff team. It is probably a bit low as those guys should be in that 35pt range but that's what a 3rd line does. Ottawa's 10-12th scorers at forward are in that range for example. 

Again, my issue isn't we need to find more scoring, it is that we allow too many goals and chances against. I could see an argument where we don't produce enough chances for but the problem comes down to sloppy defense and bad goaltending. I need Kulich, Benson, Norris, and Quinn to be good defensively for this to go anywhere. I am fully open to replacing one of them with a more proven commodity. 

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

This is something that the board still hasn’t quite wrapped its collective head around.

None of Quinn, Cozens, Benson and Kulich performed like good top 9 performers this year or provided good value for their role. I know I’ll get pushback on this, but generally speaking, their contributions have been roughly on a tier with those of Peyton Krebs. Look at the numbers.

We’ve replaced one of them.

Sure they’re young enough to get better, but how many of them, and by how much?

Are you willing to take that bet? Again?

After this year, I can’t fathom the number of Sabrespacers who seem OK with our forwards.

 

I would certainly take the bet on young players such as Quinn, Benson, Kulich, JJP and Powers. Do I know for sure that all these players will become good players? I do think so but am smart enough to say that I'm not sure. I'm willing to be more patient than most here. If you ask me if I'm willing to place a bet on UPL, my response would be a no. My position on him is that I'm willing to be a bit more patient but I want an acceptable option in place because I'm not fully counting on him.

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm going to agree with you on most, but I'd say Kulich is the one I am most encouraged by.

Cozens and Quinn have actually hurt the team when they are on the ice....Benson might be very good eventually, but I think this board (in general) drastically over-rates his play.

Kulich....For a first year NHL player, he is scoring goals at a better than 1 game in 4 pace.  Now, will he improve on that? I don't know. But this year, among all the guys you listed (Even Cozens) I think he has clearly been the best overall player to me.

This is not correct. He has been the best goal scorer which is not the same as best overall player. That distinction would fall to Benson. 

Kulich is running a -5.1 xGF and is primarily using his excellent shot while being, mediocre defensively. He scores at 1.1gp/60 and 1.6pt/60

Benson is running a +1.5xGF and is primarily being shuffled all over the lineup and into different roles while being above average defensively. He scores at .6gp/60 and 1.5pt/60.

So you get less goals but about the same offense with Benson while getting better overall play driving metrics. You are drastically overrating Kulich based on his great shot while missing out on his otherwise "just ok" play outside of that shot. 

That said, both Benson and Kulich will have to be better in all facets of the game. 

Edited yesterday at 05:25 PM by LGR4GM