I would like to have a civil discussion about Sam.

A play that bothered me last night was the ot goal.

He was slow to get back, lacked some effort as well.
When risto scores, sam is just coasting again.
Then no emotion in the celebration.
Watch the replay.

Sam had a couple nice plays as well. He worked well with erod at center. He was noticable last night.

I like him on the pp, with the 1 time pass in front.

I'm trying to be respectful and not start a war
- Boss34

Agree with you wholeheartedly. Last night was the good Sam, made a few nice neutral zone passes to spring 2 on 1's.

He looked bad on the PP. Let's face it, that pass to the front of the net is simple to defend and isn't there with any consistency.

18 year old Kotkaniemi out battled him several times.

On the OT goal, he made a bad read and his speed was completely exposed.

Even his good game was very polarizing.

Every player "floats," from time to time.
I think Jack is more guilty of "floating" more than Samson for sure.

I have no issue with Sam because I know what he is as a player.

But hey, I respect your point of view too.
- Over50

Vanek was Pennywise's right hand man

If I may?
Why the never ending hate for Samson from some here it seems?

I think that some may expect too much from him?

I like Samson's game but maybe that's because of where I sit at the games?
- Over50

Because some people are just so hung up on where we drafted him... you know 4 years ago. If they just took the approach that the draft is just a mean's of acquiring Talent... instead of a right to get the best player I think most would be much happier.

Is it Sam's fault he was drafted 2nd over all or is it the Dipstick that actually drafted him??? Hmmmm. I'll take door number 2. He's a good winger... better then average passing skill, Happy he's on the team, do I wish he was Jack 2.0 sure, but he not, Like ALMOST the other draft picks we have had in the last X years.

ironic they are both struggling in the NHL, like most players not picked in the top 10 of a draft
- homiedclown

But i heard we should be excited about the mid-late 1st round picks we got...

But i heard we should be excited about the mid-late 1st round picks we got...
- jdfitz77

ship them both for a plug and play 22 minute d man to play with dahlin long term

his agent visits hockeybuzz everyday and he understands that even if he gets 2 points in a hockey game, 3-8 sabres posters will bash him the next day
- homiedclown

I laughed.

I feel the 3 biggest issues at rw right now


1. okposo's salary
2. thompson not cutting it again in the nhl
3. is casey a center? or a winger?


crazy, if we sign skinner, we can focus on the biggest issues with the roster which is a few d men and just keep developing the prospects

it's amazing how much better this organization is top to bottom after removing GMTM 16 months ago
- homiedclown

But i heard he got a “raw deal”

Every player "floats," from time to time.
I think Jack is more guilty of "floating" more than Samson for sure.

I have no issue with Sam because I know what he is as a player.

But hey, I respect your point of view too.
- Over50

🤝

ship them both for a plug and play 22 minute d man to play with dahlin long term
- homiedclown

I could be on board for that

Because some people are just so hung up on where we drafted him... you know 4 years ago. If they just took the approach that the draft is just a mean's of acquiring Talent... instead of a right to get the best player I think most would be much happier.

Is it Sam's fault he was drafted 2nd over all or is it the Dipstick that actually drafted him??? Hmmmm. I'll take door number 2. He's a good winger... better then average passing skill, Happy he's on the team, do I wish he was Jack 2.0 sure, but he not, Like ALMOST the other draft picks we have had in the last X years.
- gordong

I am happy that we have Sam on this roster as well.

For me anyway, he is worth every dime.

Because some people are just so hung up on where we drafted him... you know 4 years ago. If they just took the approach that the draft is just a mean's of acquiring Talent... instead of a right to get the best player I think most would be much happier.

Is it Sam's fault he was drafted 2nd over all or is it the Dipstick that actually drafted him??? Hmmmm. I'll take door number 2. He's a good winger... better then average passing skill, Happy he's on the team, do I wish he was Jack 2.0 sure, but he not, Like ALMOST the other draft picks we have had in the last X years.
- gordong

Well from a season ticket holders perspective:

I spent alot of money watching the 2014 Sabres secure the top pick. Expectations were really high.

He hasn't lived up to those expectations.

Can't blame sam?
He definitely could hit the gym a bit more. Maybe skate a bit harder. That's not on gmtm.

Sam clearly has some God given talent.


*yes, nobody forced me to buy tickets.
As a fan, I think it's ok to expect more out of the 2nd pick overall. Fair or not to the player

Because some people are just so hung up on where we drafted him... you know 4 years ago. If they just took the approach that the draft is just a mean's of acquiring Talent... instead of a right to get the best player I think most would be much happier.

Is it Sam's fault he was drafted 2nd over all or is it the Dipstick that actually drafted him??? Hmmmm. I'll take door number 2. He's a good winger... better then average passing skill, Happy he's on the team, do I wish he was Jack 2.0 sure, but he not, Like ALMOST the other draft picks we have had in the last X years.
- gordong

OMG YES!!!!!! Never blame the player on draft position or salary made, They sure as hell don't draft themselves and their agents and the GM work out the money, if anything blame the Dumb ass GM's

Phil - should be getting some credit.

22-10-28 line is a +5
53-9-29 leading the nhl over the past 9 games
2 games above. 500 with 9 new faces
Defense has 7 goals already
Pk has been good
Averaging 40 shots a game recently


Great move pulling ullmark and putting in hutton

Well from a season ticket holders perspective:

I spent alot of money watching the 2014 Sabres secure the top pick. Expectations were really high.

He hasn't lived up to those expectations.

Can't blame sam?
He definitely could hit the gym a bit more. Maybe skate a bit harder. That's not on gmtm.

Sam clearly has some God given talent.


*yes, nobody forced me to buy tickets.
As a fan, I think it's ok to expect more out of the 2nd pick overall. Fair or not to the player
- Boss34

Sure it's fine to expect it, but 4 years later you have what you have. and you spending money got nothing to do with sam, EVERYONE knew it was a weak draft class. Maybe this is why Im not all stupid over sam... I never expected him to be Jack....ever.
To be honest I figured we would be getting an Adam Oates type of player someone with a lot more assists than goals. And I still think his best year are ahead of him... Hell we JUST found a player for Jack... just keep filling in the holes... you can't have a team of all Jack Eichel's.

Well from a season ticket holders perspective:

I spent alot of money watching the 2014 Sabres secure the top pick. Expectations were really high.

He hasn't lived up to those expectations.

Can't blame sam?
He definitely could hit the gym a bit more. Maybe skate a bit harder. That's not on gmtm.

Sam clearly has some God given talent.


*yes, nobody forced me to buy tickets.
As a fan, I think it's ok to expect more out of the 2nd pick overall. Fair or not to the player
- Boss34

that is just it you're a FAN. Fan's expectations are not worth a squirt of pee... Sam has NEVER been a flashy player even in the juniors, never very fast, what he had going for him was great vision and Hockey IQ, all things that I still see in him today.

I feel the 3 biggest issues at rw right now


1. okposo's salary
2. thompson not cutting it again in the nhl
3. is casey a center? or a winger?


crazy, if we sign skinner, we can focus on the biggest issues with the roster which is a few d men and just keep developing the prospects

it's amazing how much better this organization is top to bottom after removing GMTM 16 months ago
- homiedclown

1.) Hopefully there's something in Botterill's MBA books to help him out with that. No clue.
2.) No, he's not.
3.) I think he's a center - but I think it circles back to point 1

Mittelstadt is no speedster himself, and neither are Reinhart and Okposo (watching Okposo struggle on the transition is hard to watch) Maybe Nylander or Olofsson can shift to the right,or maybe they can make a splash in FA. The RW position looks fairly bleak right now - when a soon-to-be 36 year old is the best one, that's bad. But, we all knew the LW position sucked when the summer started, and Botterill fixed that. So idk, in Botterill I trust

Sure it's fine to expect it, but 4 years later you have what you have. and you spending money got nothing to do with sam, EVERYONE knew it was a weak draft class. Maybe this is why Im not all stupid over sam... I never er expected him to be Jack....ever.
To be honest I figured we would be getting an Adam Oates type of player someone with a lot more assists than goals
- gordong

I agree:

Expectations are the key

Oates had 1400 in 1300 games.

That's tough for anyone to live up too.

that is just it you're a FAN. Fan's expectations are not worth a squirt of pee... Sam has NEVER been a flashy player even in the juniors, never very fast, what he had going for him was great vision and Hockey IQ, all things that I still see in him today.
- hehateme

Ability to take over a game?
Kinda like the world juniors.

I agree:

Expectations are the key

Oates had 1400 in 1300 games.

That's tough for anyone to live up too.
- Boss34

I said Adam Oates type player... more assists than goals, think Oates from 1995-2004


and those 1400 points 1000 (1087) where assists and that was a different era... 100 point season for good players was pretty common

Sure it's fine to expect it, but 4 years later you have what you have. and you spending money got nothing to do with sam, EVERYONE knew it was a weak draft class. Maybe this is why Im not all stupid over sam... I never expected him to be Jack....ever.
To be honest I figured we would be getting an Adam Oates type of player someone with a lot more assists than goals. And I still think his best year are ahead of him... Hell we JUST found a player for Jack... just keep filling in the holes... you can't have a team of all Jack Eichel's.
- gordong

Well said my friend.👍

that is just it you're a FAN. Fan's expectations are not worth a squirt of pee... Sam has NEVER been a flashy player even in the juniors, never very fast, what he had going for him was great vision and Hockey IQ, all things that I still see in him today.
- hehateme

Correct

Maybe he wants the stability to be able to stay here and keep his children in nice suburban Clarence public schools so they dont have to go to the rift raft of another city
- hubie

And you were doing so well.

Ability to take over a game?
Kinda like the world juniors.
- Boss34

That was a an ALLSTAR team not the franking last place team in the NHL...

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=145375&page=7
- Sabresfan-365

A lot of it is optics. Hard working players, who are tough on the forecheck are fan favorites. Sam is the opposite.....slow and finds a way to lose every battle.
- Lunaion

Except for the ones he wins, like the 4 or 5 last night, 2 of which led directly to goals, and one to a grade A chance.