It's a bar discussion. I personally feel you can see that he's vastly improved many areas on and off the ice. You hear individual players praise him. You see a ton of guys that were just listed having overall their best seasons. Ristolainen said he's the best coach he's ever had (probably not saying that much). His structure, when implemented, is extremely sound, as it was last night. It's up to the players on the ice to do it consistently. Which they don't.

Is Bruce Boudreau a bad coach because half his roster is 3 years from a retirement facility? Is Craig Berube a bad coach because he failed in Philly but now a good coach because STL won the cup? Is Peter Laviolette finally a bad coach after being a great coach for years?
- TheSabresTaco

that's just it, the bar has been so low over the years for this team


players love him, but for so many years, the lack of work ethic in game has been a huge issue with this team and still is

the games are more fun to watch so there is that


but under no circumstance should dahlin be playing under 20 minutes a night in year 2

Oh boy!
Lol.
I mentioned this 2 weeks ago and got absolutely poop on.

And for clarification, I agree. I wouldn't be willing to add a whole hell of alot though...especially if Sam settles in at 70-75 pts.
- IonSabres

I'm going to step up to the plate with this one.

If I'm making this trade, I do Sam Reinhart and a 1st for Kuznetsov or a 2nd for Horvat. That's simply the value I apply to the players, it's not what I'd expect to be accepted by the opposing GMs.

that's just it, the bar has been so low over the years for this team


players love him, but for so many years, the lack of work ethic in game has been a huge issue with this team and still is

the games are more fun to watch so there is that


but under no circumstance should dahlin be playing under 20 minutes a night in year 2
- homiedclown

I think most fans probably share this opinion. But I found this a bit interesting this morning:



“Rasmus is one of the players that has the biggest upside in our group,” Krueger said, “so it’s exciting.”

Because Dahlin means so much to the Sabres’ future, he gets extra attention from assistant coach Steve Smith. Dahlin embraces the talks.

“Steve Smith’s working with him daily, whether it’s coaching him with video or just having chalk talks,” Krueger said. “Rasmus’ interest in understanding why things sometimes go right and why they go wrong is very high, his interest level. Because of that, he will get better. He will grow and he will learn.”

Krueger is allowing him to learn at a slower pace. While Dahlin will one day be a minute-hogging defenseman, he’s skating just 19:02 a night — down from 21:09 last year. The coach is also sheltering him a little more, starting Dahlin in the offensive zone 62.3 percent of the time, compared to 59.8 last season.

“You’ve got to play hard to get your minutes out there,” Dahlin said, “and you’ve got to play hard defensively.”

Dahlin, who technically skates on the third pair at times, is getting it done at five-on-five. He has been on the ice for 25 goals by the Sabres and 19 by the opponents, a goals-for percentage of 56.82 that ranks first among Buffalo blueliners. Overall, he was minus-13 last season and is at minus-2 this year.

Dahlin had obvious shortcomings coming out of the draft, and everyone knows it. He's being deployed differently because the team focus is defense.

Housley had a 'do your best to score as many goals as you can because i don't know how to teach structure' kind of team. The kind of team that leaves Dahlin out there to do his thing and play like Housley did.

Now that Ralph is teaching the defender to be a defender, he plays when the team has a lead in the third because he's still learning to become an elite defender in his own end.

No one has to like it, but it's understandable.

Lazar....Stopgap 2C?
- Bufsaints8

Interesting thought.

jack has played like a generational player this season

the effort he has put in this season to be a complete player is so obvious
- homiedclown

Krueger has done a masterful job in getting Jack there, simply amazing...and that takes nothing away from Jack doing the hard work to get it done.

I want to bump this for relevance.
___________________________________________________________
Sabres powerplay is 3rd in the league at 6-16 in the month of January.

Ranks per month are as follows.

2nd in October
31st in November
23rd in December
3rd in January

Records per month are as follows.

9-4 in October - 69% w%
3-11 in November - 21% w%
5-9 in December - 36% w%
4-2 in January - 67% w%

Quality of competition is obviously a factor as well, but by simply cherrypicking PP stats per month, they directly correlate with team w% per month.

Do special teams matter? They need to matter with this team.
_________________________________________________________

My question is, if the powerplay is top 5 all season, just the power play improves, nothing else.. does this win Krueger the Jack Adams?

players within 3 points of reinhart this season

laine
boeser
kopitar
stinklander
stone
tavares
schenn
horvat
wheeler
ror
couturier
aho
point
bergeron
brazal
hall
gaudreau
tkachuk
ehlers
backstrom



to name a few
- homiedclown

He has continued to elevate his game. Excited to see where he ends up.

Krueger has done a masterful job in getting Jack there, simply amazing...and that takes nothing away from Jack doing the hard work to get it done.
- IonSabres

His entire system is predicated on defensive work=offensive success. Jack does the work on the ice, but there's no way Freddie doesn't get a little credit here. So many players are individually having their best seasons to date. The ingredients are all there within the individuals, it's a matter of combining them and executing. The execution is and has been inconsistent.

Would also be nice if Botts did his (frank)ing job.

He has continued to elevate his game. Excited to see where he ends up.
- IonSabres

I've heard rumors that some will never be satisfied until he goes face/off with Leon Draisaitl.

Point is, just because the team is inconsistent doesn't make him a bad coach. Individually, a lot of them are playing a whole lot better. They still struggle with team consistency. And that's going to take time, not one Sabres fan wants to hear.
- TheSabresTaco

Deligate X&O's to the AC's
Lead boys to become men
Right the ship as needed, course correction

Skinner should be back after the ASG. So that's fun
- TheSabresTaco

And presumably on the first line? I hope so. I'd like to see him having fun again.

kruger had a good week

he had a bad week the week before


consistency is the key
- homiedclown

I would feel a lot better if we beat the Canucks. The blues loss I can accept. [url]

I’d rather be the defensive team then the team that is loose. Idc what sport it is, defence wins.

The Blues and Bruins suffocated their opponents last year and were the last 2 teams left.

The Sabres are trying to be the team they beat last night, and Dallas did some damage in the playoffs last year.

The isles don’t score many goals, but they win a lot of games.
- Pegullaville

Please God, don't let the Sabres embrace that style...I'll be asleep in the recliner by 7:15 each game night.

And presumably on the first line? I hope so. I'd like to see him having fun again.
- Angler

Ralph will put him in roch when he comes back healthy.



But in all seriousness. I hope so.

And presumably on the first line? I hope so. I'd like to see him having fun again.
- Angler

I really don't know. Ralph is a hard liner when it comes to spreading the wealth.

Do not be the least bit surprised if guys like Vesey or Girgensons continue to play there.

I very much want Skinner up there to get him going.

As a side note, I'm also glad we get a bye week to get Skins and VO another week to get healthy.

I would feel a lot better if we beat the Canucks. The blues loss I can accept.
- Sabretooth9[url]

The team took a giant poop and smeared it all over each other in the third period. Rarely does this team play 3 whole periods. And that was an atrocity of a third.

His entire system is predicated on defensive work=offensive success. Jack does the work on the ice, but there's no way Freddie doesn't get a little credit here. So many players are individually having their best seasons to date. The ingredients are all there within the individuals, it's a matter of combining them and executing. The execution is and has been inconsistent.

Would also be nice if Botts did his (frank)ing job.
- TheSabresTaco

It's hard, there are 30 very good GM's over there.
I'm pleased with my work ethic and effort.
I'm working hard enough to win some trades

Please God, don't let the Sabres embrace that style...I'll be asleep in the recliner by 7:15 each game night.
- IonSabres

The Islanders are just a better coached version of the Sabres, with less offensive talent.

It's hard, there are 30 very good GM's over there.
I'm pleased with my work ethic and effort.
I'm working hard enough to win some trades
- IonSabres

This will never not be funny

At least he won Joker.

I want to bump this for relevance.
___________________________________________________________
Sabres powerplay is 3rd in the league at 6-16 in the month of January.

Ranks per month are as follows.

2nd in October
31st in November
23rd in December
3rd in January

Records per month are as follows.

9-4 in October - 69% w%
3-11 in November - 21% w%
5-9 in December - 36% w%
4-2 in January - 67% w%

Quality of competition is obviously a factor as well, but by simply cherrypicking PP stats per month, they directly correlate with team w% per month.

Do special teams matter? They need to matter with this team.
_________________________________________________________

My question is, if the powerplay is top 5 all season, just the power play improves, nothing else.. does this win Krueger the Jack Adams?
- TheSabresTaco

If our PK is 15th instead of 28th like it has been for most of the season I feel that would be just as important.

I would feel a lot better if we beat the Canucks. The blues loss I can accept.
- Sabretooth9[url]

I would have felt better if we showed up for 60 minutes in both of those games

Please God, don't let the Sabres embrace that style...I'll be asleep in the recliner by 7:15 each game night.
- IonSabres

The Sabres are eerily similar to Pittsburgh. Only difference being the obvious fact they have a little more fire power up front.

Both teams limit high danger chances in the top percentile in the league, the Penguins goaltenders though have saved more of those said HD chances against them Ullmark/Hutton have.

Probably explains why Pittsburgh had the best record in the league from the time Crosby went down till now.

I think offence is created on player talent and intuitiveness for the most part, it’s team defence that is harder to preach and deploy.

If they can continue to play team defence at this rate, acquire a goaltender that can split starts with Ullmark, and get an above average 2C in here to give an uptick in secondary scoring, the sky is the limit for this club.

If our PK is 15th instead of 28th like it has been for most of the season I feel that would be just as important.
- Pegullaville

You're right.

I would have felt better if we showed up for 60 minutes in both of those games
- homiedclown

You're right, too.