With respect to Tage, Sabres should be looking to either:
A) trade him before his value pluments any further
B) send him to Rochester for serious development
It is very obvious what ever this current Development Plan playing on the "3rd line" for 11 minutes in the NHL is, well it isn't working...in fact it is working against him.
He has serious work to do before he busts out.


He has now played roughly 100 games, and looks like he needs 2 seasons of grooming in the AHL for his game to come around.
-Yes, he is young ... many, many fine players are young. He is not improving.
-No, he hasn't played with the best players. He hasn't earned it, period. His game reflects his skills...very raw and requires significant refinement, development.
-Yes, he is big, and you can't coach 6'5" size...who gives a crap if a 6'5" player cant use the natural guft he was hiven...he plays like Bambi...shows absolutely zero natural inclination to mix it up, to use an attribute to his advantage...a sin really.
-Yes he has a hell of a shot...and the boards get punished as a result of his incredible inaccuracy
-Yes, he is fast...skates well in a straight line...then gets list when the opposition changes direction, his skating needs incredible work.

This experiment of trying to develop him in the NHL should end now, or trade him.
- IonSabres

Seriously, aside from the trade deadline passing a few days ago, which team is gonna give the Sabres anything for him?

He will be part of the Rochester playoffs.
Gain some experience and work on his game

He makes very little money.

It's hard to be patient.

Seriously, aside from the trade deadline passing a few days ago, which team is gonna give the Sabres anything for him?

He will be part of the Rochester playoffs.
Gain some experience and work on his game

He makes very little money.

It's hard to be patient.
- Boss34

I think he'd get a 2nd easily, but I don't see why they'd give up on him so quickly.

Seriously, aside from the trade deadline passing a few days ago, which team is gonna give the Sabres anything for him?

He will be part of the Rochester playoffs.
Gain some experience and work on his game

He makes very little money.

It's hard to be patient.
- Boss34

100 nhl games is more than being patient.
Honestly, the AHL might be too good for him right now...

Need to see if he can play in the NHL. Top 6 still seems ambitious.
- Lunaion

Gonna be 24 this summer, he's a goal scorer, if capable he can fill 2nd line LW next year, Sheary can slot into the 3rd line

For all those desiring to have Alex Nylander called up...
1-4-5
Stats for last 15 games he has played in, in the AHL.
Does that honestly sound like a guy who is going to make a difference?
Does that sound like a guy who has earned a shot in the big league.
Nope, me neither.

One thing is for certain with Tage, nothing is certain. He could dominate next game. He's done it before.

Also, we have no RW depth. Anyone excited for pending-UFA Danny O'Regan?
- Lunaion

When did Tage ever "dominate?"

I have seen many here say, and I agree with them, that he has "shown flashes." But "dominate?"

For all those desiring to have Alex Nylander called up...
1-4-5
Stats for last 15 games he has played in, in the AHL.
Does that honestly sound like a guy who is going to make a difference?
Does that sound like a guy who has earned a shot in the big league.
Nope, me neither.
- IonSabres

Writing was on the wall for him last season imo. I posted the PPG of U21 players in the AHL at one point and am too lazy to do it again. To make a long story short he was far down the list.

Gonna be 24 this summer, he's a goal scorer, if capable he can fill 2nd line LW next year, Sheary can slot into the 3rd line
- mattmoulson

We have no clue if he can score in the NHL or has any kind of two-way game. Curious to find out. I'm just keeping my expectations on the low side.

Gonna be 24 this summer, he's a goal scorer, if capable he can fill 2nd line LW next year, Sheary can slot into the 3rd line
- mattmoulson

Olofsson has a shot at top 6 but needs to dominate the AHL like he did his first 20 games.

Asplund can be the future 3rd or 4th line C.

Smith to me is an average 3rd liner and might
just be a really good 4th line player if he can add PK to his arsenal.

Malone I like but he’s always injured and I haven’t monitored him in the AHL this year, MHP might have a better idea then I do as he watches Rochester closely.

Borgen, Dougherty, Hickey have potential to be NHLers even if they are just 6 or 7 that can play on the cheap.

When did Tage ever "dominate?"

I have seen many here say, and I agree with them, that he has "shown flashes." But "dominate?"
- Der Kaiser

Pick whatever word works for you. He had a week where he was a difference maker, not coincidentally when he had better linemates.

Pick whatever word works for you. He had a week where he was a difference maker, not coincidentally when he had better linemates.
- Lunaion

Remember when he played extremely well and was put up with Eichel for 7 minutes and it didn’t work out so he was moved right back to playing with Sobotka?

Pick whatever word works for you. He had a week where he was a difference maker, not coincidentally when he had better linemates.
- Lunaion

well, let's take that apart.

He scored 4 of his seven goals in a six game span at the tail end of the streak, in November. During that span, the Sabres scored a total of 24 goals. so he made a pretty good contribution during that time, but was he a "difference maker?".

During that time he was averaging about 13:20TOI, And if the lines held to morning skates as reported by Twitter or the BN, he played on the third line, opposite Sam, and they were both being centered by Sobotka.

He got hot for a while, as the whole team did. And then the league started paying attention to him, learned about the toe drag move, and it has all gone away.

well, let's take that apart.

He scored 4 of his seven goals in a six game span at the tail end of the streak, in November. During that span, the Sabres scored a total of 24 goals. so he made a pretty good contribution during that time, but was he a "difference maker?".

During that time he was averaging about 13:20TOI, And if the lines held to morning skates as reported by Twitter or the BN, he played on the third line, opposite Sam, and they were both being centered by Sobotka.

He got hot for a while, as the whole team did. And then the league started paying attention to him, learned about the toe drag move, and it has all gone away.
- Der Kaiser

Again, use whatever word you want.

Remember when he played extremely well and was put up with Eichel for 7 minutes and it didn’t work out so he was moved right back to playing with Sobotka?
- sbroads24

That's about what ERod got there last night. Phil is always just looking for a reason to go back to Sam.

That's about what ERod got there last night. Phil is always just looking for a reason to go back to Sam.
- Lunaion

That's true.

For the tank supporters, Oilers up on leafs 1-0. Draisatil with an end to end beauty.
- Pegullaville

What does this even mean? The Oilers suck and they've tanked more than anyone in the last 13 years. The Leafs are up 5-1 now, so if anything that would show that you should only tank for about 2 years, get 2 great players and then take off.

Edit: 6-1

I know Botts stayed it touch with him I guess I just wonder why wouldn't they have kept him and got him the help he needed? why did he have to go someplace else to get help... it really water under the bridge at this point, like I said I understand why they moved on....

I cant really blame the fans that felt like that, he was horrible, NOW after he was let go we found out why... how do you blame the fans??? .. sorry don't agree with you on that...

If we known before he left... and felt like that sure, what kind of human being would wish that on someone else (A low life IMHO) but not knowing he had issues and he sucked the fans just figured he wasn't any good.
- gordong

I think it's a pretty simple reason, actually. His qualifying offer was $4M, and the results weren't there (for his entire career) to justify that regardless of any personal issues he had.

The Isles signed him to a 1-year, $1.5M deal. The Sabres probably would've kept him if they had that option.

I think it's a pretty simple reason, actually. His qualifying offer was $4M, and the results weren't there (for his entire career) to justify that regardless of any personal issues he had.

The Isles signed him to a 1-year, $1.5M deal. The Sabres probably would've kept him if they had that option.
- JetpackJesus

With the way he played. Regardless of his issues I don’t know we would have signed him to that deal. I’m glad for himself he turned things around but he just needed to move on. The isles took a gamble. I am shocked they paid more than league minimum

What does this even mean? The Oilers suck and they've tanked more than anyone in the last 13 years. The Leafs are up 5-1 now, so if anything that would show that you should only tank for about 2 years, get 2 great players and then take off.

Edit: 6-1
- Wetbandit1

It means that the oilers are behind the sabres in the standings and were at one point leading the hockey game ? For the Sabres to move downwards in the standings they need teams behind them to win ?

We have no clue if he can score in the NHL or has any kind of two-way game. Curious to find out. I'm just keeping my expectations on the low side.
- Lunaion

I agree that's why it would be super beneficial to find out

100 nhl games is more than being patient.
Honestly, the AHL might be too good for him right now...
- IonSabres

54 games in a Sabres uniform

All coached by Phil

95 total games in the nhl

Little bit early to give up on him.
Rochester playoff run will help hopefully

Tage has been very slow and tall

well, let's take that apart.

He scored 4 of his seven goals in a six game span at the tail end of the streak, in November. During that span, the Sabres scored a total of 24 goals. so he made a pretty good contribution during that time, but was he a "difference maker?".

During that time he was averaging about 13:20TOI, And if the lines held to morning skates as reported by Twitter or the BN, he played on the third line, opposite Sam, and they were both being centered by Sobotka.

He got hot for a while, as the whole team did. And then the league started paying attention to him, learned about the toe drag move, and it has all gone away.
- Der Kaiser

You’re putting way too much effort into this.

He was atrocious for the first 15 games, very, very good for another 15-20, and trending back towards bad since.

I think playing with other good players could’ve prevented him from losing all confidence. We will never know

well, let's take that apart.

He scored 4 of his seven goals in a six game span at the tail end of the streak, in November. During that span, the Sabres scored a total of 24 goals. so he made a pretty good contribution during that time, but was he a "difference maker?".

During that time he was averaging about 13:20TOI, And if the lines held to morning skates as reported by Twitter or the BN, he played on the third line, opposite Sam, and they were both being centered by Sobotka.

He got hot for a while, as the whole team did. And then the league started paying attention to him, learned about the toe drag move, and it has all gone away.
- Der Kaiser

Maybe he also was upset with the way the "swedish" god father was treated.


Tage looked good at times early-mid season. Surprised people forgot?

You’re putting way too much effort into this.

He was atrocious for the first 15 games, very, very good for another 15-20, and trending back towards bad since.

I think playing with other good players could’ve prevented him from losing all confidence. We will never know
- sbroads24

Stats are only worthwhile when the support the sbroads narrative.

ERod has 8 goals - one more than Tage - 4 of them in one week in January - and playing primarily with the same players.

What does this even mean? The Oilers suck and they've tanked more than anyone in the last 13 years. The Leafs are up 5-1 now, so if anything that would show that you should only tank for about 2 years, get 2 great players and then take off.

Edit: 6-1
- Wetbandit1

I'm guessing pegulaville wants the Oilers to acquire more points and eventually pass us in the standings.

Thus giving the buffalo Sabres a better draft position/ odds for the lottery

#racetothebottom