Listening to the WGR morning show and they had a quote from Sean McDermott on his day one press conference where he said in so many words, "I'm part of the team now, so I own the 17 year playoff drought"

Meanwhile captain Kyle has been here for 8 of 13 and won't own it.

Burtal.
- Hank Balling

I said it before and I’ll say it again Kyle Okposo as the leader of this team is a (frank)ing joke and is the reason this team is in the spot it’s in.

Fragile leaders create fragile teams

Kind of day where UPL wants 2 back. He wasn't sharp today.

The D breakdowns and turnovers were bad and ended up in the net.

They didn't play bad overall and should have gotten points out of it.
- Lunaion

Unfortunately been a common theme since the started playing better hockey from mid December on.

They are cooked at this point though.

How many more games can we use that excuse ? He’s only had one game since he’s been back in which he didn’t get caved in at 5v5.

At least Tage has been showing a pulse.

In regard to the second point, Benson also hasn’t been saddled with Girgensons and Okposo all year.

But hey, Krebs gets two games with decent linemates and has two great games at 5v5.

Meanwhile the 4th line has been caved in the two games Krebs has moved up.

Good underlyings lead to points.
- Swedish_Jesus

No, not always. Will he get a few more with a stud like Peterka as opposed to 28/21? Of course, but he just isn’t a good offensive player and I’m honestly tired of the begging for him to be put in a position he’s not meant to be in.

Keep him there for now, sure. But he’s either a 4C on this team going forward or probably somewhere else

I said it before and I’ll say it again Kyle Okposo as the leader of this team is a (frank)ing joke and is the reason this team is in the spot it’s in.

Fragile leaders create fragile teams
- ImThatGuy

He's a feel-good story and a failed captain. It's like if the Damar Hamlin Chiefs fake punt play happened for an entire season. I'm genuinely happy you have persevered, but I don't need to see that anymore. This isn't working.

Unfortunately been a common theme since the started playing better hockey from mid December on.

They are cooked at this point though.
- Swedish_Jesus

They've been cooked since December.

I agree that they haven't been playing terrible, but there's something missing. Lots of shots, lacking high danger and shooting poorly all season.

I said it before and I’ll say it again Kyle Okposo as the leader of this team is a (frank)ing joke and is the reason this team is in the spot it’s in.

Fragile leaders create fragile teams
- ImThatGuy

Been saying it for a Couple Years! All I got back is there perfect 4th liners. "Losing Breeds Losing"

Not sure why everyone is so riled up on this board about the Sabres. They are close. Give them another 5 or 6 years, and they should be seriously challenging to make the playoffs.

Watch out for a prime 24 year old Benson, along with a 28 year old Levi and 36 year Girgensons, to lead the team to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010/2011 season. Feeling good about this prediction.

No, not always. Will he get a few more with a stud like Peterka as opposed to 28/21? Of course, but he just isn’t a good offensive player and I’m honestly tired of the begging for him to be put in a position he’s not meant to be in.

Keep him there for now, sure. But he’s either a 4C on this team going forward or probably somewhere else
- sbroads24

If they've given up on the season, feels like they want to see him at 3C to feel comfortable moving Mitts. Trying it right before the deadline doesn't feel like a coincidence to me.

These lines are not about winning games. 2 straight games they've gotten wrecked by top lines and had no matchup to handle them.

Bet they get some calls on Greenway now too.

Not sure why everyone is so riled up on this board about the Sabres. They are close. Give them another 5 or 6 years, and they should be seriously challenging to make the playoffs.

Watch out for a prime 24 year old Benson, along with a 28 year old Levi and 36 year Girgensons, to lead the team to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010/2011 season. Feeling good about this prediction.
- SabreWest

Agreed. The fans are just being mean

Anyone else noticed Skinner?
Either have I.
Since he got steamrolled by McKinnon, he has been a constant negative
- Cory1

I’ve been saying this for weeks

Funny! Austin Matthews has more Hat tricks this year than a bunch of Forwards have goals.
Few Sabres on that list

They've been cooked since December.

I agree that they haven't been playing terrible, but there's something missing. Lots of shots, lacking high danger and shooting poorly all season.
- Lunaion

They are cooked because they went 2-4 to start this month.

Had they gone 4-2 we’d be singing a much different tune

I think what kills me most about the state of this franchise is how many people are complicit in what the Sabres have become.

Harrington noted the Sabres no longer salute home fans after wins. Players ignoring kids looking for fist bumps on kids day? If I’m ownership I’m kicking down the god dam lockeroom door demanding answers. I want to know what players agreed to this nonsense and I want them held accountable. I’m assuming this isn’t young guys like UPl and Benson. This needs to be stopped before it ruins these young guys.

And where’s the Alumni speaking up? I can’t stand Razor in these broadcasts anymore. “Well they just need to work a little harder”. No, they need to work a lot harder. This franchise is literally going under and the players are openly punishing the fans. Where’s all the big name Alumni speaking up about this? I’d like to believe the guys who played from 1970-2010 held themselves and the fans of Buffalo in a much higher regard. Enough of this “It’s not my place to say” stuff. That’s Bullpoop. The fans of Buffalo are getting (frank)ed big time.

If they've given up on the season, feels like they want to see him at 3C to feel comfortable moving Mitts. Trying it right before the deadline doesn't feel like a coincidence to me.

These lines are not about winning games. 2 straight games they've gotten wrecked by top lines and had no matchup to handle them.

Bet they get some calls on Greenway now too.
- Lunaion

They've been getting calls on Tuch, and the response has been that's a non-starter.

They are cooked because they went 2-4 to start this month.

Had they gone 4-2 we’d be singing a much different tune
- Swedish_Jesus

You would. Most of us wouldn't.

This was the easiest game remaining. They now have the toughest remaining SoS.

I said it before and I’ll say it again Kyle Okposo as the leader of this team is a (frank)ing joke and is the reason this team is in the spot it’s in.

Fragile leaders create fragile teams
- ImThatGuy

He’s a grifter. Sad because this team has had much worse in terms of grifters(Leino, Moulson). But being better than the worst of all time doesn’t make it okay.

I think what kills me most about the state of this franchise is how many people are complicit in what the Sabres have become.

Harrington noted the Sabres no longer salute home fans after wins. Players ignoring kids looking for fist bumps on kids day? If I’m ownership I’m kicking down the god dam lockeroom door demanding answers. I want to know what players agreed to this nonsense and I want them held accountable. I’m assuming this isn’t young guys like UPl and Benson. This needs to be stopped before it ruins these young guys.

And where’s the Alumni speaking up? I can’t stand Razor in these broadcasts anymore. “Well they just need to work a little harder”. No, they need to work a lot harder. This franchise is literally going under and the players are openly punishing the fans. Where’s all the big name Alumni speaking up about this? I’d like to believe the guys who played from 1970-2010 held themselves and the fans of Buffalo in a much higher regard. Enough of this “It’s not my place to say” stuff. That’s Bullpoop. The fans of Buffalo are getting (frank)ed big time.
- Buffalo--Sabres

As for Rayzor, do you expect him to bite the hand that feeds him? He needs to put food on the table, too. The job prospects for a 50 something ex-NHL enforcer with no college can't be very good. He's not nearly polished enough to catch on on a national broadcast either here or in Canada. Sure, he'll occasionally go a bit further on the radio, but he's still not going to outright trash them.

If they've given up on the season, feels like they want to see him at 3C to feel comfortable moving Mitts. Trying it right before the deadline doesn't feel like a coincidence to me.

These lines are not about winning games. 2 straight games they've gotten wrecked by top lines and had no matchup to handle them.

Bet they get some calls on Greenway now too.
- Lunaion

Wonder how closely Donnie has been telling Krebs the below in relation to Krebs frustration with his role leaking to the public.

https://theathletic.com/5...ource=user-shared-article

2. Behind the scenes, Granato has been telling Peyton Krebs he is not a fourth-line player.

To this point, though, that’s been his role. Krebs has been on Buffalo’s fourth line for the majority of the last two seasons. His most common linemates are Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo, staples of the Sabres’ fourth line who are counted on to play a simple and direct game and be responsible defensively.

Krebs, a 2019 first-round pick and one of the pieces the Sabres got in the Jack Eichel trade, has more offensive potential than his role has allowed him to show. In his first season with the Sabres, Krebs had 22 points in 48 games. His per-game production dropped last season when he had 26 points in 74 games played. And it’s dropped again this season as he has just 10 points in 51 games.

This is a move that has been on Granato’s mind for a while. He wanted Krebs to improve the details of his game and understand the nuances of being consistent in the NHL away from the puck before putting him in a bigger role. In recent games, Krebs has shown the offensive skill that made Granato want to see what he can do with better linemates.

“Even nights he got skipped over in the third period, I would text him or talk to him and reassure him that, ‘This may be the situation you’re in today, but I know your future is different,’” Granato said.

If they've given up on the season, feels like they want to see him at 3C to feel comfortable moving Mitts. Trying it right before the deadline doesn't feel like a coincidence to me.

These lines are not about winning games. 2 straight games they've gotten wrecked by top lines and had no matchup to handle them.

Bet they get some calls on Greenway now too.
- Lunaion

Greenway-Mitts-Cozens and Benson-Krebs-Peterka have more than held their weight.

Skinner and Tage are abysmal at 5v5 for a while, playing injured or not they have been brutal.

The fact that getting Tuch back up there hasn’t seem to make a difference doesn’t suggest to me that they were not trying to win the last few games

I think what kills me most about the state of this franchise is how many people are complicit in what the Sabres have become.

Harrington noted the Sabres no longer salute home fans after wins. Players ignoring kids looking for fist bumps on kids day? If I’m ownership I’m kicking down the god dam lockeroom door demanding answers. I want to know what players agreed to this nonsense and I want them held accountable. I’m assuming this isn’t young guys like UPl and Benson. This needs to be stopped before it ruins these young guys.

And where’s the Alumni speaking up? I can’t stand Razor in these broadcasts anymore. “Well they just need to work a little harder”. No, they need to work a lot harder. This franchise is literally going under and the players are openly punishing the fans. Where’s all the big name Alumni speaking up about this? I’d like to believe the guys who played from 1970-2010 held themselves and the fans of Buffalo in a much higher regard. Enough of this “It’s not my place to say” stuff. That’s Bullpoop. The fans of Buffalo are getting (frank)ed big time.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Zero pride at any level.

It's honestly sad that fans are the only stakeholders with standards and the so-called leaders of this team are feuding with the paying customers because the team is garbage juice.

A complete organizational failure of leadership. Just a total joke

As for Rayzor, do you expect him to bite the hand that feeds him? He needs to put food on the table, too. The job prospects for a 50 something ex-NHL enforcer with no college can't be very good. He's not nearly polished enough to catch on on a national broadcast either here or in Canada. Sure, he'll occasionally go a bit further on the radio, but he's still not going to outright trash them.
- Wetbandit1

Sure but his employer is losing tens of millions a year due to incompetence. The Sabres are likely to be sold and the nhl is looking to put teams in new markets. We’re at a point where this could really happen and the egoistical, rich owner could easily blame it on “The economic conditions” of Buffalo. If this really goes down will Rob just be happy he had his hand in the cookie jar like everyone else?

Sure but his employer is losing tens of millions a year due to incompetence. The Sabres are likely to be sold and the nhl is looking to put teams in new markets. We’re at a point where this could really happen and the egoistical, rich owner could easily blame it on “The economic conditions” of Buffalo. If this really goes down will Rob just be happy he had his hand in the cookie jar like everyone else?
- Buffalo--Sabres

I understand the frustration... hell I want ownerships head after 6 years of no Dance...

But there is simply no way the Sabres will ever not be in Buffalo... None.

Wonder how closely Donnie has been telling Krebs the below in relation to Krebs frustration with his role leaking to the public.

https://theathletic.com/5...ource=user-shared-article

2. Behind the scenes, Granato has been telling Peyton Krebs he is not a fourth-line player.

To this point, though, that’s been his role. Krebs has been on Buffalo’s fourth line for the majority of the last two seasons. His most common linemates are Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo, staples of the Sabres’ fourth line who are counted on to play a simple and direct game and be responsible defensively.

Krebs, a 2019 first-round pick and one of the pieces the Sabres got in the Jack Eichel trade, has more offensive potential than his role has allowed him to show. In his first season with the Sabres, Krebs had 22 points in 48 games. His per-game production dropped last season when he had 26 points in 74 games played. And it’s dropped again this season as he has just 10 points in 51 games.

This is a move that has been on Granato’s mind for a while. He wanted Krebs to improve the details of his game and understand the nuances of being consistent in the NHL away from the puck before putting him in a bigger role. In recent games, Krebs has shown the offensive skill that made Granato want to see what he can do with better linemates.

“Even nights he got skipped over in the third period, I would text him or talk to him and reassure him that, ‘This may be the situation you’re in today, but I know your future is different,’” Granato said.
- kingcong39

Easy to believe this has boiled over after years of the same message.

Somethings gotta change....I'd hope. Can't run this back next year.

Zero pride at any level.

It's honestly sad that fans are the only stakeholders with standards and the so-called leaders of this team are feuding with the paying customers because the team is garbage juice.

A complete organizational failure of leadership. Just a total joke
- Hank Balling

100%


I used to scoff at the idea that the Pegula’s only cared about the Bills since buying them. I just thought it was sour grapes from the non-football Sabres fans. But it’s true. To let it go this far is so insulting.

Greenway-Mitts-Cozens and Benson-Krebs-Peterka have more than held their weight.

Skinner and Tage are abysmal at 5v5 for a while, playing injured or not they have been brutal.

The fact that getting Tuch back up there hasn’t seem to make a difference doesn’t suggest to me that they were not trying to win the last few games
- Swedish_Jesus

Kreb's line got crushed Saturday and was strong today.

Cozen's is their best line.

Girg's was -3 today. He's a miserable C.

Tage's line is problem #1 all season.