Here comes more crying.

Agreed. I will not pre-judge this team simply because of our second line right wing.

I am cautiously optimistic based on: Krueger, Eichel's and Rhino's continued development, Dahlin's continued development, the two-four new defensemen in the line-up, and the additions of VO, Johansson, and Vessey.

Most importantly, I am looking forward to watching some meaningful hockey.

It’s not just one person. It’s most outlets, betting odds, bookies. Etc.

Very few have the Sabres finishing above 10th worst.
- ImThatGuy

And as Chris Berman says, "that's why they play the games"

It’s not just one person. It’s most outlets, betting odds, bookies. Etc.

Very few have the Sabres finishing above 10th worst.
- ImThatGuy

Last year Carolina and the Islanders had the same preseason rankings the Sabres did. I guess they should have forfeited the season because the "experts" said they were going to be bad.

Agreed. I will not pre-judge this team simply because of our second line right wing.

I am cautiously optimistic based on: Krueger, Eichel's and Rhino's continued development, Dahlin's continued development, the two-four new defensemen in the line-up, and the additions of VO, Johansson, and Vessey.

Most importantly, I am looking forward to watching some meaningful hockey.
- Angler

I will say this about coaching. Every coach we have brought in was going to right the ship.

Coaching does not make bad players good. Coaches are overrated mostly. It’s very evident now with Babcock and how he was supposedly the best and now most in Toronto hate.

Yes I am excited for VO and Johansson. Vesey I am meh on.

I am concerned about Johansson at 2C.

I will say this about coaching. Every coach we have brought in was going to right the ship.

Coaching does not make bad players good. Coaches are overrated mostly. It’s very evident now with Babcock and how he was supposedly the best and now most in Toronto hate.

Yes I am excited for VO and Johansson. Vesey I am meh on.

I am concerned about Johansson at 2C.
- ImThatGuy

What baffles me is how Kreugs of all people is the savant coach that will save the franchise. Bylsma had won a cup. Housley is a sabres legend, and Nashville had an exhilarating defense. The traps were there to think the coach was going to fix it all.

But this guy? He wasn't even in hockey. No one wanted him. He coached one season and missed the playoffs. Sure, he sounds like a good hire, but anyone banking on him being one of the five best coaches in the league is just silly.

He should be better than housley, because housley is the worst. But to think he's going to have some magic touch with every reject we have on the roster is a pipe dream.

Really great write up Pach. Thanks for all your high quality content.

I am glad the roster is improving. I am glad it looks like we'll be more competitive this year. I am glad my favorite team is about to start playing real games again.

I hope we surprise people.

What baffles me is how Kreugs of all people is the savant coach that will save the franchise. Bylsma had won a cup. Housley is a sabres legend, and Nashville had an exhilarating defense. The traps were there to think the coach was going to fix it all.

But this guy? He wasn't even in hockey. No one wanted him. He coached one season and missed the playoffs. Sure, he sounds like a good hire, but anyone banking on him being one of the five best coaches in the league is just silly.

He should be better than housley, because housley is the worst. But to think he's going to have some magic touch with every reject we have on the roster is a pipe dream.
- matty12345

I beg to differ.

Per Edmonton Sun:

He talked informally to Sabres general manager Jason Botterill in the summer of 2017 – Botterill’s dad Cal, a sports psychologist, and Krueger have been long-time friends – but wouldn’t leave his soccer commitment. Same story in 2014, when Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford wanted him as head coach, but Krueger declined and Mike Johnston got it.

“I don’t think this is a huge gamble at all, the reward could be huge for Buffalo. He’ll get people to buy in and get excited. I don’t know what it is, but he gets you believing,” said former Oilers defenceman Jason Strudwick, who was with Krueger when he was Renney’s right-hand man.

Strudwick says the Sabres players will love the interaction with their eclectic new coach.

Lines:
Rodrigues-Eichel-Reinhart,
Skinner-Johansson-Sobotka,
Vesey-Mittelstadt-Sheary,
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

Defense:
McCabe-Ristolainen,
Dahlin-Miller,
Scandella-Gilmour

And you can question and you can move on.
- TC4145

can i cry and curl up in the fetal position?

Lines:
Rodrigues-Eichel-Reinhart,
Skinner-Johansson-Sobotka,
Vesey-Mittelstadt-Sheary,
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

Defense:
McCabe-Ristolainen,
Dahlin-Miller,
Scandella-Gilmour
- adambuffalo

That's only because that haven't officially recalled VO

Lines:
Rodrigues-Eichel-Reinhart,
Skinner-Johansson-Sobotka,
Vesey-Mittelstadt-Sheary,
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo

Defense:
McCabe-Ristolainen,
Dahlin-Miller,
Scandella-Gilmour
- adambuffalo

This makes me want to vomit. Understanding VO is not there.
It just looks, awful

To explain the quandary about bottom 6 frustration:

As MP said in the blog, once teams figured out how to stop the Eichel line, we were sunk.

That's why when we see better players being subtracted in favor of washed up vets, it's beyond frustrating.

That's only because that haven't officially recalled VO
- Powerslave

does that put Erod as the extra forward?

I beg to differ.

Per Edmonton Sun:

He talked informally to Sabres general manager Jason Botterill in the summer of 2017 – Botterill’s dad Cal, a sports psychologist, and Krueger have been long-time friends – but wouldn’t leave his soccer commitment. Same story in 2014, when Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford wanted him as head coach, but Krueger declined and Mike Johnston got it.

“I don’t think this is a huge gamble at all, the reward could be huge for Buffalo. He’ll get people to buy in and get excited. I don’t know what it is, but he gets you believing,” said former Oilers defenceman Jason Strudwick, who was with Krueger when he was Renney’s right-hand man.

Strudwick says the Sabres players will love the interaction with their eclectic new coach.
- Powerslave

The biggest thing Krueger can offer is a consistent, clear message and an understandable system for the players.

Disco got caught up in the Xs and Os, and Housley, well, yeah, if he had a plan, it was clear as mud and his man-on-man system sucked.

I think Krueger can deliver on that as well as the motivation part

does that put Erod as the extra forward?
- SabresFaninIndiana

I have no idea.

Someone said that was the case yesterday, I think

The biggest thing Krueger can offer is a consistent, clear message and an understandable system for the players.

Disco got caught up in the Xs and Os, and Housley, well, yeah, if he had a plan, it was clear as mud and his man-on-man system sucked.

I think Krueger can deliver on that as well as the motivation part
- jcragcrumple

Time will tell.
But I think we can say pretty safely he can't be a downgrade to Housley.

To explain the quandary about bottom 6 frustration:

As MP said in the blog, once teams figured out how to stop the Eichel line, we were sunk.

That's why when we see better players being subtracted in favor of washed up vets, it's beyond frustrating.
- RhinoFan

You added Johansson, Vesey, Miller and VO.

Those are hardly "washed up vets". If nothing, the talent added is spread out a bit more.

I beg to differ.

Per Edmonton Sun:

He talked informally to Sabres general manager Jason Botterill in the summer of 2017 – Botterill’s dad Cal, a sports psychologist, and Krueger have been long-time friends – but wouldn’t leave his soccer commitment. Same story in 2014, when Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford wanted him as head coach, but Krueger declined and Mike Johnston got it.

“I don’t think this is a huge gamble at all, the reward could be huge for Buffalo. He’ll get people to buy in and get excited. I don’t know what it is, but he gets you believing,” said former Oilers defenceman Jason Strudwick, who was with Krueger when he was Renney’s right-hand man.

Strudwick says the Sabres players will love the interaction with their eclectic new coach.
- Powerslave

People in general in life place way too much value on anecdotes. Every coach ever hired had people who said great things about him.

This makes me want to vomit. Understanding VO is not there.
It just looks, awful
- ImThatGuy

Top line may or may not be as good depending on Olofsson.
2nd line is better
3rd line is better
4th line is the same

I don’t get why sending olofsson and pilut down ... and calling up dea lazar etc.

How does that save cap space?

Anyways. They can’t practice today due to what ever rule bending we are trying to pull off

Top line may or may not be as good depending on Olofsson.
2nd line is better
3rd line is better
4th line is the same
- adambuffalo

Olofsson will be good, I think.

Skinner will have some regression on the 2nd line. Tough to see him scoring 40 without Eichel

People in general in life place way too much value on anecdotes. Every coach ever hired had people who said great things about him.
- matty12345

Yes every coach has had something good said about them.

But I guess I like what HAS been said about Krueger. Disco felt like he was living off that cup from the best one-two punch at center, and Housley was the supposed best hire at the time... Except he tried running the same system with obvious worse players.

Krueger seems to be a motivator like Nolen with an actual understanding of the game and systems. These players that haven't sniffed the playoffs need motivation, not another systems guy. So call me cautiously optimistic.

People in general in life place way too much value on anecdotes. Every coach ever hired had people who said great things about him.
- matty12345

Show me the ones who say great things about Housley

You added Johansson, Vesey, Miller and VO.

Those are hardly "washed up vets". If nothing, the talent added is spread out a bit more.
- Powerslave

Doesn't change the fact that they should have been replacing guys like Gus, Okposo and Sobotka, not Tage, Lazar and E-Rod.

He made some additions then screwed the pooch in putting the roster together in the end.