He’s made some great plays recently, but I’ve never seen a fan base so quiet when a “key” player is bad or just plain invisible like he can be.
- sbroads24

Have you not seen the absurd criticism of Jack lately?

Further to this, Housley said in post game that once they (sabres) got the lead, they thought it would be easy. Is it not up to the coach to do something about that attitude.
- sabreadvocate1

To an extent, but it's still on the players to listen. Some players play however they want to no matter who the coach is.

perfect time to trade for a second line center, IMO

send casey down to rochester for a stretch
- homiedclown

Sure to the former, no to the latter*. He's a rookie, he'll be fine.


*as long as they actually give him ice time. If they continue to give him 11 minutes, then it's probably best to send him down.

The more I think about this the more I really think they screwed this up... Mitts should be in Rochester... Hopefully this won't have any long term repercussions.
- gordong

I agree with you.

Sure to the former, no to the latter*. He's a rookie, he'll be fine.


*as long as they actually give him ice time. If they continue to give him 11 minutes, then it's probably best to send him down.
- Wetbandit1

He needs guys around him who can create some space.

Like Eichel (I’m not saying he’s remotely as good) guys swarm him when he has the puck.

I seriously can’t believe how bad Murray (frank)ed us.

The lack of depth on the wing is unreal

UB made easy work of St. Bonaventure, so there's that.

Sure to the former, no to the latter*. He's a rookie, he'll be fine.


*as long as they actually give him ice time. If they continue to give him 11 minutes, then it's probably best to send him down.
- Wetbandit1

right now we would be better off with adam mair as our second line center, it's that bad


I am ok keeping casey as the 3rd line center, but if they are going to make the playoffs the second line needs to score at least a goal every other game IMO

I seriously can’t believe how bad Murray (frank)ed us.

The lack of depth on the wing is unreal
- sbroads24

and D

2 of our best 4 d men right now are rookies

right now we would be better off with adam mair as our second line center, it's that bad


I am ok keeping casey as the 3rd line center, but if they are going to make the playoffs the second line needs to score at least a goal every other game IMO
- homiedclown

Botts probably does nothing but resigns Skinner. If we make the playoffs it’s a win. If we miss the playoffs we potentially have two picks in the top 15 of this years draft. We are a solid top 6 player away from being a legit threat (assuming Mittelstadt and Thompson grow into the top 6 players I think they can be).

This team misses the playoffs. Guaranteed.
- ImThatGuy

I'll take that bet.

Or our you going to deny you posted this?

He’s made some great plays recently, but I’ve never seen a fan base so quiet when a “key” player is bad or just plain invisible like he can be.
- sbroads24

Broads - it's only here on hockeybuzz

Sam's the best!

Every:
Friend, Nephew, cousin. hockey dad , guy's I talk to in the intermission and other season ticket holder cant stand sam.

Even the guy wearing the reinhart Jersey in front of us was trying to cover it up. Sorta jokingly.

Sam's demographic is teenage girls and hockey wives.


I actually think Sam's played really well and has made some passes that other nhl players cant make.

I just really do not like him on the top line.
Eichel needs a shooter.
Sam needs to play with a shooter. Maybe tage or pommer.

He has been playing well. Maybe not today

The more I think about this the more I really think they screwed this up... Mitts should be in Rochester... Hopefully this won't have any long term repercussions.
- gordong

The same was being said about Thompson. Casey is too good for Rochester, just like Thompson was/is. They're bringing him around slowly, managing his minutes, and letting him develop with the big team, where he belongs. He's drawing tough assignments and he's in a little over his head, but he'll be fine

Reinhart is a solid player, but that's all he is. If you're in a cap bind, though, he is a player you can move on from and won't miss much of a beat if you're smart about it. Committing to him long term is far from a necessity.

Time to make some roster moves
- sbroads24

This.

We are at a pivotal moment. The team needs to know that there is a price to be paid when the team decides it can slack the hell off.

UB made easy work of St. Bonaventure, so there's that.
- buffalofan19

Syracuse should be a good matchup. 6-2 this year, beat Ohio State.

Coots out for Philly.

Eichel line about to have a field day
- sbroads24

This post was the Sabres downfall.

Broads - it's only here on hockeybuzz

Sam's the best!

Every:
Friend, Nephew, cousin. hockey dad , guy's I talk to in the intermission and other season ticket holder cant stand sam.

Even the guy wearing the reinhart Jersey in front of us was trying to cover it up. Sorta jokingly.

Sam's demographic is teenage girls and hockey wives.


I actually think Sam's played really well and has made some passes that other nhl players cant make.

I just really do not like him on the top line.
Eichel needs a shooter.
Sam needs to play with a shooter. Maybe tage or pommer.

He has been playing well. Maybe not today
- Boss34

Why? He's among the league leaders in SOG. They tried Kane, who does nothing BUT shoot and it worked for a few games at a time, but quickly got stale. He needs finishers. Which Skinner is.

right now we would be better off with adam mair as our second line center, it's that bad


I am ok keeping casey as the 3rd line center, but if they are going to make the playoffs the second line needs to score at least a goal every other game IMO
- homiedclown

I was fine with Casey when it was Jack/ROR/Mitts, but he's not ready for 2nd line center duty. I guess that was supposed to be Berglund or Sobotka's job, but they couldn't hack it either.

This post was the Sabres downfall.
- Woderwick

He wasn't wrong. Eichel did have 2 goals. Too bad the other lines missed the memo about the field day.

Toronto Boston getting really ugly.... Boston up 6-2.... Two different fights last min.

Hyman LATE hit on McAvoy.... Should be suspended a couple games.

Why? He's among the league leaders in SOG. They tried Kane, who does nothing BUT shoot and it worked for a few games at a time, but quickly got stale. He needs finishers. Which Skinner is.
- Wetbandit1

Shooter= finisher

Sam = not a finisher

Sam= good passer

Shooter= finisher

Sam = not a finisher

Sam= good passer
- Boss34

Is it? I disagree. Sam is the ultimate finisher. What was the last goal he scored from more than 5 feet out?

I'm not saying Sam is the finisher Jack needs. Most of Kane's goals are scored similarly, he just shoots, and misses, a lot more.

Jack needs someone to cash in the chances. So far, recent cold streak notwithstanding, Skinner is that. Jack is the distributor, whether that's a shot and Skinner or Sam cleans up the rebound, or he makes a backdoor pass to either one. Plus he shoots an absolute ton.

Is it? I disagree. Sam is the ultimate finisher. What was the last goal he scored from more than 5 feet out?

I'm not saying Sam is the finisher Jack needs. Most of Kane's goals are scored similarly, he just shoots, and misses, a lot more.

Jack needs someone to cash in the chances. So far, recent cold streak notwithstanding, Skinner is that. Jack is the distributor, whether that's a shot and Skinner or Sam cleans up the rebound, or he makes a backdoor pass to either one. Plus he shoots an absolute ton.
- Wetbandit1

One of Reinhart or Skinner has to come off that line. Can’t have all of our horses on one line. Mittelstadt needs to figure it out. Sheary, Okposo, Pominville, Berglund, Sobotka are all in huge scoring slumps. Tough to fathom that CJ Smith and Nylander couldn’t bring some spark to the team. Doubt Botts wants to mess with anything on the farm just yet though.

One of Reinhart or Skinner has to come off that line. Can’t have all of our horses on one line. Mittelstadt needs to figure it out. Sheary, Okposo, Pominville, Berglund, Sobotka are all in huge scoring slumps. Tough to fathom that CJ Smith and Nylander couldn’t bring some spark to the team. Doubt Botts wants to mess with anything on the farm just yet though.
- Pegullaville

53-9-72
43-37-23
10-71-29
28-17-21

Don't play Tennyson call up Guhle, Borgen, Hickey, MacWilliam I don't care

Is it? I disagree. Sam is the ultimate finisher. What was the last goal he scored from more than 5 feet out?

I'm not saying Sam is the finisher Jack needs. Most of Kane's goals are scored similarly, he just shoots, and misses, a lot more.

Jack needs someone to cash in the chances. So far, recent cold streak notwithstanding, Skinner is that. Jack is the distributor, whether that's a shot and Skinner or Sam cleans up the rebound, or he makes a backdoor pass to either one. Plus he shoots an absolute ton.
- Wetbandit1

Yes
Shooter = finisher is kinda what I meant.
They are different. Maybe a "non passer" or shoot first mentality.

Ultimate finisher would be patrick laine.
Sam is not even close.
If anything, Sam's a playmaker right?

Again, I'm not trying to criticize sam, he's been a big part of the winning.
I just think we can find a shoot first type guy, and use Sam's playmaking on a different line.

Jack makes everyone look good.