Cozens played on the wing on the 2nd line with Byfield and Hayton at practice yesterday. Looks like that's his spot for the tourney.

Sabres
- tied for 19th - 21st with 2 teams at 41 pts; 10th in East, 4th in Atlantic
- 17th in GF with 117, League Avg = 112
- 19th in GA with 119, League Avg = 112

Team still has glaring holes up and down the roster, predominantly in the middle 6, more specifically at 2C, 2RW, 3RW, 1st RhD.

IMO, after the new year, games begin to get tougher and the points will become harder to earn. Coupled with the fact that the Sabres are a 1 line team, and Ottawa may have shown the league how to slow down Eichel with a tough, in-your-face "spy" on him at all times (Brady Tkachuk), it will take some extra fine coaching to keep the team in the hunt ... or, a couple of suitable player additions ... probably both.

Fun facts

Our old friend Vaclav Varada is the HC for team Czech

Sabres have 4 prospects in tournament, LA Kings have the most with 9 followed by Arizona with 8.

My prediction- Canada has too much fire power not to win but not in love with their goaltending but should still get gold. Germany is my sleeper team.

Sabres
- tied for 19th - 21st with 2 teams at 41 pts; 10th in East, 4th in Atlantic
- 17th in GF with 117, League Avg = 112
- 19th in GA with 119, League Avg = 112

Team still has glaring holes up and down the roster, predominantly in the middle 6, more specifically at 2C, 2RW, 3RW, 1st RhD.

IMO, after the new year, games begin to get tougher and the points will become harder to earn. Coupled with the fact that the Sabres are a 1 line team, and Ottawa may have shown the league how to slow down Eichel with a tough, in-your-face "spy" on him at all times (Brady Tkachuk), it will take some extra fine coaching to keep the team in the hunt ... or, a couple of suitable player additions ... probably both.
- IonSabres

I'd list our holes, in order

1. 2 center
2. 2 rw
3. 3 center
4. goalie to go with ullmarl
5. pp coach
6. defensive coach to get 6 d men to play as a unit


it's hard to get the d men to play as a unit when you dont know from day to day if 6 or 7 are playing and you have 1 of your starters with 1 foot out the door

Sabres
- tied for 19th - 21st with 2 teams at 41 pts; 10th in East, 4th in Atlantic
- 17th in GF with 117, League Avg = 112
- 19th in GA with 119, League Avg = 112

Team still has glaring holes up and down the roster, predominantly in the middle 6, more specifically at 2C, 2RW, 3RW, 1st RhD.

IMO, after the new year, games begin to get tougher and the points will become harder to earn. Coupled with the fact that the Sabres are a 1 line team, and Ottawa may have shown the league how to slow down Eichel with a tough, in-your-face "spy" on him at all times (Brady Tkachuk), it will take some extra fine coaching to keep the team in the hunt ... or, a couple of suitable player additions ... probably both.
- IonSabres

Eichel keeps them a .500 team throughout the rest of the season unless Bottcoin makes some serious hockey trades quick.

Eichel keeps them a .500 team throughout the rest of the season unless Bottcoin makes some serious hockey trades quick.
- mhp

And there is nothing, NOTHING, that indicates anything is going to change.

Botts is smarter than all of us, just ask him.

And there is nothing, NOTHING, that indicates anything is going to change.

Botts is smarter than all of us, just ask him.
- ThundernLightning

I said it a few days ago he won't do anything till the deadline. The trades we want him to make won't happen.

I'd list our holes, in order

1. 2 center
2. 2 rw
3. 3 center
4. goalie to go with ullmarl
5. pp coach
6. defensive coach to get 6 d men to play as a unit


it's hard to get the d men to play as a unit when you dont know from day to day if 6 or 7 are playing and you have 1 of your starters with 1 foot out the door
- homiedclown

Get a legit 2C and that honestly upgrades 3 forward positions. The question though is who is offering one ?

Get a legit 2C and that honestly upgrades 3 forward positions. The question though is who is offering one ?
- Pegullaville

The only one you're going to get at this point is most likely a rental. You run the risk of letting him walk at that point. The question becomes: is it worth it?

The only one you're going to get at this point is most likely a rental. You run the risk of letting him walk at that point. The question becomes: is it worth it?
- buffalofan19

if you dont get one, wasting year 5 of eichel and year 2 of skinner

if you dont get one, wasting year 5 of eichel and year 2 of skinner
- homiedclown

Even if you get one, you're probably squeaking into the playoffs at best.

I am not saying they should or shouldn't do it. As frustrating as this team is, fixing its biggest hole still doesn't put them anywhere near a Cup contender. Maybe getting a rental that walks in July just so that the fanbase feels good for an extra 20 minutes is a good business decision. I don't know the answer to that.

if you dont get one, wasting year 5 of eichel and year 2 of skinner
- homiedclown

Not if you draft well. Hopefully Mittelstadt figures it out down in Roch and can become a fixture in the middle 6 or used as trade bait to find one. Those other "wasted" years resulted in Dahlin, Jokiharju and Cozens.

Late... But Merry Xmas! you whiny female genitalias.

Even if you get one, you're probably squeaking into the playoffs at best.

I am not saying they should or shouldn't do it. As frustrating as this team is, fixing its biggest hole still doesn't put them anywhere near a Cup contender. Maybe getting a rental that walks in July just so that the fanbase feels good for an extra 20 minutes is a good business decision. I don't know the answer to that.
- buffalofan19

Yeah that's why I was advocating for bottoming out for Cozens last year.

Yeah that's why I was advocating for bottoming out for Cozens last year.
- Pegullaville

At some point, though, you have to show your fanbase you are looking to win. Most of the fanbase was on board with, or at least understanding of, tanking in 2014 and 2015 for top end players. That was five years ago.

Every move they made in the offseason tells me that becoming good was not priority #1 for the 2019-2020 season. I'm not sure I am on board with that anymore.

Pekar our there kneeing people.

At some point, though, you have to show your fanbase you are looking to win. Most of the fanbase was on board with, or at least understanding of, tanking in 2014 and 2015 for top end players. That was five years ago.

Every move they made in the offseason tells me that becoming good was not priority #1 for the 2019-2020 season. I'm not sure I am on board with that anymore.
- buffalofan19

Botts knows he's done if he doesn't make it next year, I expect him to make moves at the deadline/offseason this year to ensure that happens.

Pekar our there kneeing people.
- ImThatGuy

Living up to the English pronunciation of his name?

I wouldn’t put NYR, CBJ, or SJS there just yet.
- Pegullaville

I agree on Columbus, but if the Sabres are hanging on by a thread, what makes you think that the Rangers, who are 8 points out of a playoff spot (having to catch teams that are between +14 to +26), or the Sharks, who are a -32 in differential, have any real chance to rally?

Get a legit 2C and that honestly upgrades 3 forward positions. The question though is who is offering one ?
- Pegullaville

Probably no one, if Botts "is taking calls" rathervthan aggressively making them and offering enough to entice a rebuilding team.

Sabres
- tied for 19th - 21st with 2 teams at 41 pts; 10th in East, 4th in Atlantic
- 17th in GF with 117, League Avg = 112
- 19th in GA with 119, League Avg = 112

Team still has glaring holes up and down the roster, predominantly in the middle 6, more specifically at 2C, 2RW, 3RW, 1st RhD.

IMO, after the new year, games begin to get tougher and the points will become harder to earn. Coupled with the fact that the Sabres are a 1 line team, and Ottawa may have shown the league how to slow down Eichel with a tough, in-your-face "spy" on him at all times (Brady Tkachuk), it will take some extra fine coaching to keep the team in the hunt ... or, a couple of suitable player additions ... probably both.
- IonSabres

I watched that game again, and Tkachuk was far less of some fantastic factor then you are trying to make him out to be.

Fun facts

Our old friend Vaclav Varada is the HC for team Czech

Sabres have 4 prospects in tournament, LA Kings have the most with 9 followed by Arizona with 8.

My prediction- Canada has too much fire power not to win but not in love with their goaltending but should still get gold. Germany is my sleeper team.
- mhp

ausgezeichnet.

Made a giant ham yesterday so today I've got a big pot of ham and white bean chowder simmering.

Don't @ me about ham. I'm a boomer and it aint Christmas without ham.

ausgezeichnet.

Made a giant ham yesterday so today I've got a big pot of ham and white bean chowder simmering.

Don't @ me about ham. I'm a boomer and it aint Christmas without ham.
- Der Kaiser

I am not a boomer and I agree.

ausgezeichnet.

Made a giant ham yesterday so today I've got a big pot of ham and white bean chowder simmering.

Don't @ me about ham. I'm a boomer and it aint Christmas without ham.
- Der Kaiser

On the bright side, Tim Stützle is a realistic possibility for us if we keep going at this rate.

Probably no one, if Botts "is taking calls" rathervthan aggressively making them and offering enough to entice a rebuilding team.
- IonSabres

Like I've said before, they need to decide who they like more between Montour and Risto and that is one that needs to start be offered around the league in order to improve the top 6 forward ranks of the club.

Joker looks great for someone who is only 20 years old, Miller has proven to be a good 5/6 and has term left and we have Borgen waiting in the wings.