I'm not going to rant about last night. I don't think they were that bad. They generated a ton of high quality chances, and gave up a bunch.

The one things that bugs me is that Donnie keeps doing this to his goalies. Pull the kid before it gets ugly.
- Lunaion

Accidentally flagged

It is very strange how meatball almost always refuses to switch goalies. Last night they managed to come back and tie it but promptly gave it right back

looked clean to me
- homiedclown

Agreed

Accidentally flagged

It is very strange how meatball almost always refuses to switch goalies. Last night they managed to come back and tie it but promptly gave it right back
- ieetbred

serious question

how do you guys hit the flag by accident?

tiger dialed in today

I would've figured after watching Levi play 4 straight, get hurt and come back slower would've been sufficient warning.
- QuinnFan

Continued lessons to learn from.

I'm not going to rant about last night. I don't think they were that bad. They generated a ton of high quality chances, and gave up a bunch.

The one things that bugs me is that Donnie keeps doing this to his goalies. Pull the kid before it gets ugly.
- Lunaion

no I don't want to rail on last night either. He likes keeping Levi/UPL in the games when they struggle, to experience that struggle. It's annoying.

serious question

how do you guys hit the flag by accident?
- homiedclown

I've done it either by accidentally hitting it when meaning to hit quote, or the cursor was sitting on the flag button and I accidentally clicked it when I hit the touchpad.

no. The inconsistencies of this team is by far the biggest issue here. Way more than the talent level. Which could stand to lose some dead weight.

When this team obliterates one of, if not the best team in the league, you know they have that in them. But it's every other game they bring that intensity. Last night was like, half between good and bad, with a bunch of bad defense and shoddy/inadequate goalie play.

I will remain concerned about coaching until they can show otherwise.
- TheSabresTaco

Yeah, not saying this isn't true to a degree, but every team has games where they are the clear better team *that night*.

Were just way too entirely used to being like one of the worst three teams in hockey.

We've entered into the mediocre team category

It was a piss poor attempt to say Cozens almost getting 70 points in a season where the team doesn't make the playoffs is irrelevant.

Cozens imploding during the season of embracing expectations (injury didn't help but he wasn't elite before it) should be a concern. This is not a funk, this is a failed season for him, for a number of reasons.

The main issue is Mitts and Cozens are the same caliber of player who excel in the same role. They have played together for 3 or 4 seasons now and it hasn't worked. So moving on from one of them, as they both would yield a good return, balances the roster and removes the liability of putting one of them in position to fail to allow the other to succeed.

Also Murray should be Captain of the Sabres.
- washedup20

I still have no idea who the (frank) you're talking about

He had two days off in between games. He shouldn't be tired. I don't blame him for most of the goals yesterday, btw.
- Frizzlefry

It's less about that and more about the frequency of play but I get where you're coming from. If he wants to be a starter, he needs to be ready for a large load. At the same point, he basically went from playing once a month, at most, to playing six times in nineteen days and twelve in five weeks. I just think the yo-yo treatment he's gotten isn't helping things.

Yeah, not saying this isn't true to a degree, but every team has games where they are the clear better team *that night*.

Were just way too entirely used to being like one of the worst three teams in hockey.

We've entered into the mediocre team category
- sbroads24

It doesn't need to be this way and I don't see a more fixable reason than coaching, whether that's replacing the men or the philosophies.

He's looked awful since the injury, but we're giving up on Cozo already? Or is this just a give to get situation?
- QuinnFan

Give to get. I understand trading Cozens is a big price to pay based on his potential, but the Sabres have too many “guys with potential”… he proved his worth last season, maybe getting tuned up by Hathaway has set him back a bit… he’s also been misused often with constant new linemates. I would gladly give up two young talents like Cozens and Savoie to get the steady play of Lindholm and Andersson. I would offer a draft pick if needed (not a 1st )

Give to get. I understand trading Cozens is a big price to pay based on his potential, but the Sabres have too many “guys with potential”… he proved his worth last season, maybe getting tuned up by Hathaway has set him back a bit… he’s also been misused often with constant new linemates. I would gladly give up two young talents like Cozens and Savoie to get the steady play of Lindholm and Andersson. I would offer a draft pick if needed (not a 1st )
- Cory1

It's happening with Samuelsson, Levi and Ryan Johnson as well. Moved Mitts to the top 6 and he blossoms, the cost was throw Cozens to the wolves. Get used to this when they try to infuse:

- Rosen
- Kulich
- Savoie

All guys with (the same) potential, which will only continue the annual failure of bringing in the right players to balance the team.

It's happening with Samuelsson, Levi and Ryan Johnson as well. Moved Mitts to the top 6 and he blossoms, the cost was throw Cozens to the wolves. Get used to this when they try to infuse:

- Rosen
- Kulich
- Savoie

All guys with (the same) potential, which will only continue the annual failure of bringing in the right players to balance the team.
- washedup20

You'd think bringing back so much of the same team from last year would have meant some consistency. I don't think he's ever shuffled lines so much.

It's happening with Samuelsson, Levi and Ryan Johnson as well. Moved Mitts to the top 6 and he blossoms, the cost was throw Cozens to the wolves. Get used to this when they try to infuse:

- Rosen
- Kulich
- Savoie

All guys with (the same) potential, which will only continue the annual failure of bringing in the right players to balance the team.
- washedup20

That’s why I am willing to part with Cozens and whatever else it takes… anything except Benson, Kulich, Rosen… center position would have TT, Lindholm and Casey… not necessarily in that order.

You'd think bringing back so much of the same team from last year would have meant some consistency. I don't think he's ever shuffled lines so much.
- Lunaion

His messaging continues to fail, they haven't improved let alone played with any consistency, they have regressed back into a team with no identity...how is this guy going to be different in 2024? Who is managing him? The collective is too comfortable and it trickles down into the locker room and it shows at the beginning of each game.

It's less about that and more about the frequency of play but I get where you're coming from. If he wants to be a starter, he needs to be ready for a large load. At the same point, he basically went from playing once a month, at most, to playing six times in nineteen days and twelve in five weeks. I just think the yo-yo treatment he's gotten isn't helping things.
- QuinnFan

Yes, the handling of our goalies has been, shall we say, questionable.

Give to get. I understand trading Cozens is a big price to pay based on his potential, but the Sabres have too many “guys with potential”… he proved his worth last season, maybe getting tuned up by Hathaway has set him back a bit… he’s also been misused often with constant new linemates. I would gladly give up two young talents like Cozens and Savoie to get the steady play of Lindholm and Andersson. I would offer a draft pick if needed (not a 1st )
- Cory1

I'd like to find good linemates for him and let him run with them on a consistent basis. At 22, if he can return to his productivity of last year or better, on regular basis Sabres have their 2C for the next 6 , 7 years.
Why take away, why not augment..resulting in kind of a 2 for 1 deal.

I'd like to find good linemates for him and let him run with them on a consistent basis. At 22, if he can return to his productivity of last year or better, on regular basis Sabres have their 2C for the next 6 , 7 years.
Why take away, why not augment..resulting in kind of a 2 for 1 deal.
- IonSabres

Tage, Cozens, Mitts, Krebs + Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund about ready to break in. C is a big organizational strength.

Yes, the handling of our goalies has been, shall we say, questionable.
- Frizzlefry

and our goaltending has been questionable - lovely combination. Expected goals says we should have won last night 7-3

Give to get. I understand trading Cozens is a big price to pay based on his potential, but the Sabres have too many “guys with potential”… he proved his worth last season, maybe getting tuned up by Hathaway has set him back a bit… he’s also been misused often with constant new linemates. I would gladly give up two young talents like Cozens and Savoie to get the steady play of Lindholm and Andersson. I would offer a draft pick if needed (not a 1st )
- Cory1

Makes sense. I'd love to keep him, but we would be getting two proven, consistent talents back as well. Feels like a bit much to give up personally, but I get it.

and our goaltending has been questionable - lovely combination. Expected goals says we should have won last night 7-3
- turbo044

I believe EH's model even has the expected goals lower than that, like 2.8. But out of curiosity, which three goals do you think UPL caused? I assume Hayes is one, what's the other two?

Unfortunately, expected goals is a pretty broken stat tbh. Without being able to account for the previous pass, any deflection or the presence of a screen, the data is severely lacking.

well, ok, but this doesn't have to do with booting out a 70 point, 22 year old center because you didnt like his game lately.
- TheSabresTaco

These same people didn't want Ullmark or Reinhart.

Look at them now. Begging for Reinhart to come back and to have a goalie half as capable as Linus is.

Tage, Cozens, Mitts, Krebs + Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund about ready to break in. C is a big organizational strength.
- Lunaion

Yup, not all will end up as C's...but in general I agree with you.
I would like to see Benson and Savoie with Mitts, while Cozens stays with Peterka and Quinn. That is a fast, dog-on-a-bone middle six.

Yup, not all will end up as C's...but in general I agree with you.
I would like to see Benson and Savoie with Mitts, while Cozens stays with Peterka and Quinn. That is a fast, dog-on-a-bone middle six.
- IonSabres

Skinner Tage Tuch
Peterka Cozens Quinn
Savoie Mitts Benson
Greenway Krebs UFA

Is this a good enough forward unit to make the playoffs?