What about Okposo, Sobotka, and Scandella exude any of the following qualities: skill, hockey sense, talent? Nothing is the answer.
- kingcong39

Scandella can (frank) right off.

Slob last year can (frank) right off, but, believe it or not, and try to chew slowly, he's been better, this preseason.

Okposo, to me, is the guy who most deserves the boot.

I’m betting you get your wish. They didn’t resign Girgs and Larry to send them to Rochester. They signed them to give the young guys and opportunity to develop and add depth.
I am leaning toward the haters and want them gone, Asplund and Lazar on the 4th but I know that’s not going to happen
- lulags

I couldn't give two (frank)s about who stays and who goes. My wish is that they make the right decisions and this is a watchable (frank)ing hockey team.

Krueger is being handed a bag o' poop from Botts. If it's about the 23 best players being iced by the Sabres based on their performance in training camp and the preseason, then the following should be on the team...

Cozens
Asplund
Thompson
Lazar
Gilmour
Joker

And the following guys should not be on the team....

Okposo
Girgs
Larsson (has he even played?)
Scandella (brutal as always)
Nelson

Like many others, I feel like i have been suckered in again. The team was crap last year but somehow vets like Okposo, Scandella etc get put on this team ahead of young, hungry guys that actually play the way the GM and coach supposedly want the team to play (re: up tempo, fast, aggressive forecheck). What's the point of even having a training camp and pre-season if they already have the players penciled into their positions.

We (the loyal fans) are being taken to the cleaners again by the organization. If i was a Sabres season ticket holder, i would be pissed. The only way to get the organization's attention is to stop showing up for games. Period. Buffalo should become the Florida Panthers of the North in terms of fan attendance.

Scandella can (frank) right off.

Slob last year can (frank) right off, but, believe it or not, and try to chew slowly, he's been better, this preseason.

Okposo, to me, is the guy who most deserves the boot.
- TheSabresTaco

I watched Sobotka where he's supposedly looked better. He has not IMO. He still acts like the offensive zone gives him nightmares and the puck is a hand grenade on his stick.

Somebody tell me what Cozens is going to learn by wasting another year in Lethbridge playing against 16 and 17-year olds? Why wouldn't they at least give him 9 games?

Okposo for defenseive purposes? That cannot be serious.
- kingcong39

It is, because that's the only thing left he can do.

Give this a read, it's fair and analytical.

https://www.diebytheblade...ls-a-role-for-the-defense

I watched Sobotka where he's supposedly looked better. He has not IMO. He still acts like the offensive zone gives him nightmares and the puck is a hand grenade on his stick.
- kingcong39

The one game he got the puck at the high circle and dumped it into the far corner like he was afraid he might actually have to try to do something offensively. It's absurd

Somebody tell me what Cozens is going to learn by wasting another year in Lethbridge playing against 16 and 17-year olds? Why wouldn't they at least give him 9 games?
- SabreWest

It sure seems like they are punting on this season unless the new coach walks on water.

It is, because that's the only thing left he can do.

Give this a read, it's fair and analytical.

https://www.diebytheblade...ls-a-role-for-the-defense
- TheSabresTaco

No mention of his 18 minor penalties for stupid stick infractions because he's too slow to actually get the puck legally

I watched Sobotka where he's supposedly looked better. He has not IMO. He still acts like the offensive zone gives him nightmares and the puck is a hand grenade on his stick.
- kingcong39

I agree about the Ozone. But he's done some decent things in his own end that are an improvement from last year.

Look, I'm not telling you these guys are good, or even average. All I'm saying is, I haven't seen proof that they should be supplanted by anyone gunning for their respective roles, except for maybe Okposo, who doesn't have the benefit of being a center, is slow and washed up. I would sincerely consider keeping Lazar over him. I really would. As long as Lazar can play a quality defensive role.

If Scandella makes the team at LD and they waive Gilmour who gets claimed by another team, that will be the biggest Eff up of them all.

Scandella is pure garbage and Gilmour has really played well.

The one game he got the puck at the high circle and dumped it into the far corner like he was afraid he might actually have to try to do something offensively. It's absurd
- jcragcrumple

That was a highlight, but my favorite was when he made a nice stick check on a Dman coming out of the opposing D zone, and when the puck was sitting in the open, on a silver platter waiting to be picked up and brought into the offensive zone, Sobotka skated hard...the other (frank)ing way LOL

Lazar > Okposo, Girgs, Larsson, Sobotka

That is a low bar but that is reality.

It sure seems like they are punting on this season unless the new coach walks on water.
- kingcong39

I'm punting on this conversation. Let's just see where the chips fall then we can get back to complaining about already being out of the playoffs on October 1st.

If Scandella makes the team at LD and they waive Gilmour who gets claimed by another team, that will be the biggest Eff up of them all.

Scandella is pure garbage and Gilmour has really played well.
- SabreWest

They like him on the PK. But, overall, I agree with the statement.

I agree about the Ozone. But he's done some decent things in his own end that are an improvement from last year.

Look, I'm not telling you these guys are good, or even average. All I'm saying is, I haven't seen proof that they should be supplanted by anyone gunning for their respective roles, except for maybe Okposo, who doesn't have the benefit of being a center, is slow and washed up. I would sincerely consider keeping Lazar over him. I really would. As long as Lazar can play a quality defensive role.
- TheSabresTaco

So basically, you think none of Asplund, Lazar, and Gilmour have looked good this preseason?

Let's cut the poop. Is his all around game better than our dumpster vets? No one has yet to prove that it is.
- TheSabresTaco

ok lets

last season, they made a point of playing asplund with olofsson on the pk together and on the pp together to prepare both of them for the nhl

as a unit, the 2 way outperformed our pk guys, the scrubs

asplund can play on the second team pp, the second team pk and is a center

he has a greater potential for nhl production, by far, then sobotka, girgens, larsson for the next 5 years

you can make a real case, once cozens was sent down, asplund became our second best nhl center, and he is getting sent down due to the synergy that sobotka, girgens, larsson, okposo and probably wilson bring

So basically, you think none of Asplund, Lazar, and Gilmour have looked good this preseason?
- kingcong39

?

I thought Gilmour earned a spot over Scandella.

As Crag says, I like watching Lazar but he's like a faster version of Girgensons.

Asplund, I really just don't know. Does he need another year to be good at PK, dzone play and faceoffs? I don't know. If he gets sent down, the answer is yes. Does he have higher scoring potential than Lockport? Absolutely.

Somebody tell me what Cozens is going to learn by wasting another year in Lethbridge playing against 16 and 17-year olds? Why wouldn't they at least give him 9 games?
- SabreWest

Add more weight, dominate a league and further develop confidence and puck skills, have the responsibility of carrying a team on his back. Not to mention the WJC tournament is a good measuring stick and an opportunity to represent Canada and take a further step in his development.

I am absolutely not selling that.

My point of contention is, does Asplund exceed those players in a defensive role, one in which he's undoubtedly going to start in the NHL with? I have not seen proof of that.
- TheSabresTaco

rochester has season tickets on sale

go get all the proof you need

The definition of insanity is saying the same thing over and over again on this website and expecting a different result.
- homiedclown

Ftfy.

ok lets

last season, they made a point of playing asplund with olofsson on the pk together and on the pp together to prepare both of them for the nhl

as a unit, the 2 way outperformed our pk guys, the scrubs

asplund can play on the second team pp, the second team pk and is a center

he has a greater potential for nhl production, by far, then sobotka, girgens, larsson for the next 5 years

you can make a real case, once cozens was sent down, asplund became our second best nhl center, and he is getting sent down due to the synergy that sobotka, girgens, larsson, okposo and probably wilson bring
- homiedclown

I don't know what else to say here man. I'm just posturing a question. A question that will get answered when the final roster comes out. I'm sure something will be said or written about Asplund one way or the other. I'm not saying you or anyone else is right or wrong. All I know is, they won't send him down if he's clearly the better player.

I don't know what else to say here man. I'm just posturing a question. A question that will get answered when the final roster comes out. I'm sure something will be said or written about Asplund one way or the other. I'm not saying you or anyone else is right or wrong. All I know is, they won't send him down if he's clearly the better player.
- TheSabresTaco

Absolutely false

They'll send him down because they can

Somebody tell me what Cozens is going to learn by wasting another year in Lethbridge playing against 16 and 17-year olds? Why wouldn't they at least give him 9 games?
- SabreWest

when they refused to give him 9 games, with casey struggling

I knew then and there it would be vet central this fall

I don't know what else to say here man. I'm just posturing a question. A question that will get answered when the final roster comes out. I'm sure something will be said or written about Asplund one way or the other. I'm not saying you or anyone else is right or wrong. All I know is, they won't send him down if he's clearly the better player.
- TheSabresTaco

cozens already got sent down, he was one of our 9 best up front

the best 21 skaters for the sabres , under contract will not make the roster

my guess is 4 or 5 will be removed, 1 already has