Beat them 7-3 a few days prior so I think they felt bad
- Swedish_Jesus

Member that time last year where you said “no excuses summer” then about 12 seconds into the offseason started making excuses and then never stopped.

Are we going to get another “no excuses sunmer” this year as well?


At the end of the day you are gloating about being the last person to recognize/realize the Sabres failures, so congrats, I guess?

Sabres can still win the cup...defy all odds, place that damn bet..$50k down on the possibility and you can buy a castle in Toronto!

I mean really, what is the difference between, 0.01% and 86%? It is still possible!
- IonSabres

I put my last $2 in my betting account on it.

YOLO.

I am supposed to believe the Red Wings had a 73% chance of making the playoffs as of December 1st ?

Anybody watch them play hockey the last few months?

They were outshot 39-23 today despite having a +5 penalty differential.

Complete joke they were even awarded a point today.
- Swedish_Jesus

You keep bringing other Teams into this, why does it matter. Only thing that matters is the Sabres didn’t do it when it counted. All it says is the Sabres got some help and crawled back into this thing because those teams Faltered. It's the "Same Sh!t Different Day" plan for the last bunch of years.

Member that time last year where you said “no excuses summer” then about 12 seconds into the offseason started making excuses and then never stopped.

Are we going to get another “no excuses sunmer” this year as well?


At the end of the day you are gloating about being the last person to recognize/realize the Sabres failures, so congrats, I guess?
- ImThatGuy

All I’m saying was the season ended 5 games ago not in November.

poop they may be 4 points out by the end of the night ffs.

This was the season of no excuses, and if it were up to me the whole coaching staff would have been shot to the sun in November.

I stopped giving the benefit of the doubt to anyone in this organization 4 months ago

Beat them 7-3 a few days prior so I think they felt bad
- Swedish_Jesus

maybe if we were meant to be a playoff team we would have beat them up 2 weeks ago instead of losing to them


bottom line, at best the team limped into the playoffs, and this season thanks to the coach and gm was never going to have a team with the sabres logo competing for a cup

which is the biggest reason sabres are missing the playoffs?


1. Roster
2. Coach
3. 6K
4. Levi was not ready
5. no replacement for Quinn
6. refs
7. lack of loser points
8. lack of 5 on 5 scoring
9. pp
10 defense
11 owners
12 fans not showing up
13 overachieved last year and came back down to earth
- homiedclown

I'm kind of all over the place, in relation to your list, but my two cents...

Definitely not #3. UPL is their MVP this year. And thank goodness a goalie finally stepped up.

5. Not having a Quinn replacement definitely hurt, and that's on management, so partly roster/Quinn.

2. Granato has taken them as far as he can, I think. Good developmental coach, but unless they really load the roster up with at least two more really good middle 6 players, the only way they make the playoffs next year will be in spite of him (or maybe if they bring in assistants worth a damn?).

Levi not being ready is NOT on him. That's on Adams and his (frank)ing stubbornness to force feed the kid into the NHL before spending any significant time in the minors. I've read before where the general rule of thumb (and every player develops differently, so please people, don't take this too literally) is 50 games for a goalie and 100 games for a skater in the minors as proper time for development (which really isn't that long, in the grand scheme of things. We're talking a season and a half, and not even that long).

I don't think Tage has been completely healthy for at least half the year, for various reasons/ailments. And I think Tuch and Skinner suffered because of that. Tage has been a different player for the past month.

All that being said, Adams deserves his share of blame and so do the coaches.

Next year, before any trades or big/decent free agent signing(s):

77/72/89
53/24/22
9/?/?
28/19/12 (let's face it, 28 is coming back 🤮)

4/26
25/10
33/23 (or 75, when Mattias ultimately gets hurt)

I suppose Joker and Krebs are trade bait. Maybe Clifton.

I love the idea of trying to pry Boone Jenner out of Columbus. He's a perfect middle 6 C. That probably costs you your first rounder +. He is their captain and a helluva player.

Or trying to sign Elias Lindholm or your idea, Chandler Stephenson.

I'm kind of all over the place, in relation to your list, but my two cents...

Definitely not #3. UPL is their MVP this year. And thank goodness a goalie finally stepped up.

5. Not having a Quinn replacement definitely hurt, and that's on management, so partly roster/Quinn.

2. Granato has taken them as far as he can, I think. Good developmental coach, but unless they really load the roster up with at least two more really good middle 6 players, the only way they make the playoffs next year will be in spite of him (or maybe if they bring in assistants worth a damn?).

Levi not being ready is NOT on him. That's on Adams and his (frank)ing stubbornness to force feed the kid into the NHL before spending any significant time in the minors. I've read before where the general rule of thumb (and every player develops differently, so please people, don't take this too literally) is 50 games for a goalie and 100 games for a skater in the minors as proper time for development (which really isn't that long, in the grand scheme of things. We're talking a season and a half, and not even that long).

I don't think Tage has been completely healthy for at least half the year, for various reasons/ailments. And I think Tuch and Skinner suffered because of that. Tage has been a different player for the past month.

All that being said, Adams deserves his share of blame and so do the coaches.

Next year, before any trades or big/decent free agent signing(s):

77/72/89
53/24/22
9/?/?
28/19/12 (let's face it, 28 is coming back 🤮)

4/26
25/10
33/23 (or 75, when Mattias ultimately gets hurt)

I suppose Joker and Krebs are trade bait. Maybe Clifton.

I love the idea of trying to pry Boone Jenner out of Columbus. He's a perfect middle 6 C. That probably costs you your first rounder +. He is their captain and a helluva player.

Or trying to sign Elias Lindholm or your idea, Chandler Stephenson.
- Powerslave

Good Post

Good Post
- Buff36

Thank you

Tuch crying about the fans after the game last night. He keeps bringing up the tact that the crowd influences how they play, good and bad. Cozens had mentioned it previously.

Mentally fragile players. As if the fans should just cheer, cheer, cheer away irrespective of the team's play.

Hey, Alex you dumb ass, you're in the entertainment business. People pay to watch the team's performance, it isn't free. The team has had the same issues for the last six months you friggin dolt. Blame it on the fans, sure. You have to be a complete moron...great leadership there.

Right, and there was nothing to suggest Nashville would go on an 18 game heater and here we are lol
- Swedish_Jesus

I do not care about Nashville. The only time I watch them is when they play the sabres

And I guess you will keep choosing to ignore the other win streaks Nashville put together before their heater but whatever. Again I dont give poop about Nashville or what they do

Idc about the age of the player. Put your best 23 skaters on the ice.

The roster may be young by age, but not by experience.

Savoie and Kulich are going to push hard for a roster spot. Too early to tell what will happen there.

Adams admitted himself he was in the market for a Veteran C at the deadline and will continue to look in the offseason.

There isn’t enough room for everyone, everyone including our front office knows that
- Swedish_Jesus

Well for as much as you love underlyings and stats your takes sure contradict the numbers.

Average age of cup winning teams is what 28 or something?

Well for as much as you love underlyings and stats your takes sure contradict the numbers.

Average age of cup winning teams is what 28 or something?
- ieetbred

We need some skilled vets, for sure. Let the kids play in the AHL for at least a year, maybe two.

the mindset all offseason was to go from 9th to 8th in the east and end the draught

the mindset should have been to improve on last season and try to go from 9th in the east to a cup contender


everyone sets the bar low for this franchise and time's up
- homiedclown

Absolutely they whiffed on the offseason and they whiffed all last season when the team was primed for an upgrade to push them into the playoffs

I'm kind of all over the place, in relation to your list, but my two cents...

Definitely not #3. UPL is their MVP this year. And thank goodness a goalie finally stepped up.

5. Not having a Quinn replacement definitely hurt, and that's on management, so partly roster/Quinn.

2. Granato has taken them as far as he can, I think. Good developmental coach, but unless they really load the roster up with at least two more really good middle 6 players, the only way they make the playoffs next year will be in spite of him (or maybe if they bring in assistants worth a damn?).

Levi not being ready is NOT on him. That's on Adams and his (frank)ing stubbornness to force feed the kid into the NHL before spending any significant time in the minors. I've read before where the general rule of thumb (and every player develops differently, so please people, don't take this too literally) is 50 games for a goalie and 100 games for a skater in the minors as proper time for development (which really isn't that long, in the grand scheme of things. We're talking a season and a half, and not even that long).

I don't think Tage has been completely healthy for at least half the year, for various reasons/ailments. And I think Tuch and Skinner suffered because of that. Tage has been a different player for the past month.

All that being said, Adams deserves his share of blame and so do the coaches.

Next year, before any trades or big/decent free agent signing(s):

77/72/89
53/24/22
9/?/?
28/19/12 (let's face it, 28 is coming back 🤮)

4/26
25/10
33/23 (or 75, when Mattias ultimately gets hurt)

I suppose Joker and Krebs are trade bait. Maybe Clifton.

I love the idea of trying to pry Boone Jenner out of Columbus. He's a perfect middle 6 C. That probably costs you your first rounder +. He is their captain and a helluva player.

Or trying to sign Elias Lindholm or your idea, Chandler Stephenson.
- Powerslave

good post

We need some skilled vets, for sure. Let the kids play in the AHL for at least a year, maybe two.
- Powerslave

I do like the slow play with the kids. It doesn't really bother me. I've seen enough of them come through here before they were ready in the last 13 years

When does it become a concern? im not sure, I won't be upset if 1 or more is used in a deal make the team better now

Well for as much as you love underlyings and stats your takes sure contradict the numbers.

Average age of cup winning teams is what 28 or something?
- ieetbred

27.4 over the last 20 years.

Avs were 26.2 and they were on the younger side

27.4 over the last 20 years.

Avs were 26.2 and they were on the younger side
- Swedish_Jesus

Im done waiting for or expecting rookies to save us and we have a great example why right here this year

As good as Benson has been for an undersized 18 year old he has not made a big enough impact. Not blaming him it just is what it is

Watching Edmonton its like they play another sport than the sabres do

Granted its Anaheim

Rochester won 4-3 in OT
Weissbach with 2
Kulich with 1
Davies overtime winner

Im done waiting for or expecting rookies to save us and we have a great example why right here this year

As good as Benson has been for an undersized 18 year old he has not made a big enough impact. Not blaming him it just is what it is
- ieetbred

It's all relative.
He has had a great year for a 13th OA, especially at age 18. Furthermore, relative to his draft class he is one of 3 playing regularly in the NHL. Historically, those 24 pts is at the level of a 2-OA.
Yet, I get that his 24 pts isn't moving the needle much as far as the team needs go this season.

I'm all for using prospects in packages to improve the Top 6 / Top 4...swing big or stay home. The Bottom 6 can be rounded out by a combination of youth and savy FA signings.

Just some thoughts...

Sabres UFA's
•Olofsson - bye, bye
•Jost -13th F at league Vet Minimum
•Girgenson - Sabres agree when he return in a different uni to refrain from showing video clips of him falling down
•Robinson - thanks, but no thanks
•Comrie - c-ya

Sabres RFA's
•Joker - trade bait in a package
•Bryson - 7th D at league Vet Minimum
•UPL - bridge deal, 2 x ~$3.5m

FA Targets:
•1C - Stamkos, alert - there are no others, go friggin get him.
•4C - Blueger, resign Krebs
•3C - Lindholm, Stephenson, Domi?
•2RhD - Tanev, DeMelo, Hanahan

Im done waiting for or expecting rookies to save us and we have a great example why right here this year

As good as Benson has been for an undersized 18 year old he has not made a big enough impact. Not blaming him it just is what it is
- ieetbred

The rookies shouldn't be viewed as saviors, rather as adds to the roster, they need to prove their worth.

Tuch crying about the fans after the game last night. He keeps bringing up the tact that the crowd influences how they play, good and bad. Cozens had mentioned it previously.

Mentally fragile players. As if the fans should just cheer, cheer, cheer away irrespective of the team's play.

Hey, Alex you dumb ass, you're in the entertainment business. People pay to watch the team's performance, it isn't free. The team has had the same issues for the last six months you friggin dolt. Blame it on the fans, sure. You have to be a complete moron...great leadership there.
- IonSabres

Just Play Consistent Hockey, give a Good Hard Effort and leave it on the ice and you probably don't here those Boos as much win or loose. Half A$$ it and you get what you get.

It's all relative.
He has had a great year for a 13th OA, especially at age 18. Furthermore, relative to his draft class he is one of 3 playing regularly in the NHL. Historically, those 24 pts is at the level of a 2-OA.
Yet, I get that his 24 pts isn't moving the needle much as far as the team needs go this season.

I'm all for using prospects in packages to improve the Top 6 / Top 4...swing big or stay home. The Bottom 6 can be rounded out by a combination of youth and savy FA signings.

Just some thoughts...

Sabres UFA's
•Olofsson - bye, bye
•Jost -13th F at league Vet Minimum
•Girgenson - Sabres agree when he return in a different uni to refrain from showing video clips of him falling down
•Robinson - thanks, but no thanks
•Comrie - c-ya

Sabres RFA's
•Joker - trade bait in a package
•Bryson - 7th D at league Vet Minimum
•UPL - bridge deal, 2 x ~$3.5m

FA Targets:
•1C - Stamkos, alert - there are no others, go friggin get him.
•4C - Blueger, resign Krebs
•3C - Lindholm, Stephenson, Domi?
•2RhD - Tanev, DeMelo, Hanahan
- IonSabres

Good post.

Even if they trade Joker, I can't see them going for a D if Bryson is brought back.

Nice play by Bosh!

lol UPL that was pathetic