some people are saying Devin Cooley is in a battle for #2
- TheSabresTaco

Luckily, those people are wrong.

of course they do. that's not the point though. people need to stop pretending that we were in the playoffs if it weren't for the existence of those two, when in reality, what they are paid to do, they did their jobs.

This writeup by Shayna Goldman pretty much just puts a stamp on it.

https://theathletic.com/4...res-big-question-2023-24/
- TheSabresTaco

What language is this in, kitchen speak?

of course they do. that's not the point though. people need to stop pretending that we were in the playoffs if it weren't for the existence of those two, when in reality, what they are paid to do, they did their jobs.

This writeup by Shayna Goldman pretty much just puts a stamp on it.

https://theathletic.com/4...res-big-question-2023-24/
- TheSabresTaco

Buf36 and I have been pretty vocal throughout the offseason on the need for Granato to implement a Defensively aware/sound system...to cut HDC's and GA while maintaining a top 10 offense.

you can find something to blame on every single player.

The biggest reason, by far, was the team defense was so poor that one of the best offenses in the league couldn't will themselves to the 8 seed in the east.

Those guys, Dad and Trippy Magoo, were some of the only guys providing that positive team defensive factor.
- TheSabresTaco

They are not the solution to the problem that has plagued the team every season that said players have been on the roster, yet now their position is justified because they play better defense than players still on their ELC's.

Individual defensive stats on a losing team are meaningless, using them as justification to bring them back with the plan that all will be better when last year is the best you're going to get out of them is wrong.

No michelin star for OOOooooooopie this year.
- washedup20

ive been praying every night for an ooopie/toki combo so I can finally take a 1 way trip to the inside of a volcano.

They are not the solution to the problem that has plagued the team every season that said players have been on the roster, yet now their position is justified because they play better defense than players still on their ELC's.

Individual defensive stats on a losing team are meaningless, using them as justification to bring them back with the plan that all will be better when last year is the best you're going to get out of them is wrong.
- washedup20

All I'm saying is, is the team defense was atrocious, absolutely the largest reason we missed the playoffs (degraded shaky goaltending), and those two were some of the few preventing the constant breakdowns. That's all. Anything beyond that, such as most of what you just posted, I'm pretty open to.

Buf36 and I have been pretty vocal throughout the offseason on the need for Granato to implement a Defensively aware/sound system...to cut HDC's and GA while maintaining a top 10 offense.
- IonSabres

With the Sabres skating, and not saying it will be easy cause players have to buy in. The Sabres should be able to implement a puck Pressure D system that should help, and they have to take away some of those slot chances. Change your Rectangle up a bit with your Forward group. Bring your D in tighter to the Bottom of the Face Off Circles.

Ok, but hear me out:

Skinner - Thompson - Benson
Peterka - Cozens - Tuch
Jost - Mittelstadt - Greenway
Girgensons - Krebs - Okposo/Olofsson

https://twitter.com/TheSa...wrVnytr1Wg8w4-FK_zEw&s=19
- kingcong39

If Benson makes the team…..

Skinner-Tage-Benson
Peterka-Cuz-Tuch
Player-Kreb-Greenway
Girgs-Jost/Rousek-Okposo

I would trade Mitts and prospect for a Vet Top9. Someone that plays like Tuch. Hard to come by but Top5GM can do it. Mitts and Savoiy?

Would be to young of a top9 if Benson makes the team. Once Quinn comes back Move greenway to the 4th.

https://www.expectedbuffa...g-skillset-versus-system/

little narrative on greenway for those interested.

All I'm saying is, is the team defense was atrocious, absolutely the largest reason we missed the playoffs (degraded shaky goaltending), and those two were some of the few preventing the constant breakdowns. That's all. Anything beyond that, such as most of what you just posted, I'm pretty open to.
- TheSabresTaco

I still think the reason we missed the playoffs was goaltending.

James Cook is quietly the 3rd leading rusher in the NFL through 3 weeks.

I still think the reason we missed the playoffs was goaltending.
- Jet Jaguar BD

you know how there's teams that take average goalies and make them awesome

well here's a place where we take below average goalies and make them a whole lotta (frank)ing bad

I still think the reason we missed the playoffs was goaltending.
- Jet Jaguar BD

The two went hand-in-hand. Goaltending was nowhere near at a desirable level, but when the team in front of you is so bad defensively that it ends up giving up playing it altogether, it's a terrible place to be.

Murray was the worst guy on the ice last night.

Slow clodhopper , non nhl player.

Probably be pushed out of Rochester this year as well.

Murray was the worst guy on the ice last night.

Slow clodhopper , non nhl player.

Probably be pushed out of Rochester this year as well.
- Boss34

Yeah, sad to say but he's done. The feet never got quicker in all the years he was here. Nadeau played a bit better, still not great, and was more impactful at 20yo.

I still think the reason we missed the playoffs was goaltending.
- Jet Jaguar BD

Not to rehash an old argument, but I believe we were bottom 5 in almost every statistical category on defense. Did our goalies have a chance?

I still think the reason we missed the playoffs was goaltending.
- Jet Jaguar BD

It is.

The GSAA stat bear that out.

Team defense was also bad but it was more the goalie

Yeah, sad to say but he's done. The feet never got quicker in all the years he was here. Nadeau played a bit better, still not great, and was more impactful at 20yo.
- QuinnFan

Someone needs to give Nadeau a smack and tell him to wake up, this is not the player I watched a bunch of times.

Murray was the worst guy on the ice last night.

Slow clodhopper , non nhl player.

Probably be pushed out of Rochester this year as well.
- Boss34

Well atleast he didn't trip over the Blueline 3 times and the red line twice!

Yeah, sad to say but he's done. The feet never got quicker in all the years he was here. Nadeau played a bit better, still not great, and was more impactful at 20yo.
- QuinnFan

All he did:

- was cover the front of the net for Skinners goal
- Control the puck down low during the 2nd period setting up multiple scoring chances/drew a penatly
- Drove the net to open the lane for the 3rd goal
- Broke up a play in the defensive zone and got an apple on the empty netter

Sabres don't need a 6' 5" bottom 6 guy doing things like that when you could have Girgs and his stellar individual defensive play.

Yeah, sad to say but he's done. The feet never got quicker in all the years he was here. Nadeau played a bit better, still not great, and was more impactful at 20yo.
- QuinnFan

Yeah, looks like Murray" aged" out.

Probably gonna be waived and finally be gone....

The two went hand-in-hand. Goaltending was nowhere near at a desirable level, but when the team in front of you is so bad defensively that it ends up giving up playing it altogether, it's a terrible place to be.
- buffalofan19

Someone needs to give Nadeau a smack and tell him to wake up, this is not the player I watched a bunch of times.
- Buff36

Agreed. I thought he played better yesterday, less giveaways, but still left a lot to be desired. We need him to play like the heavyweight he is.

Murray was the worst guy on the ice last night.

Slow clodhopper , non nhl player.

Probably be pushed out of Rochester this year as well.
- Boss34

I tried to tell everyone this for over a year and I was harassed

Well atleast he didn't trip over the Blueline 3 times and the red line twice!
- Buff36

Murray wasnt skating fast enough to trip over the blueline.

Girgensons is a speed demon in comparison.
Always been a good skater with stone hands.