I'm not going to jump on the rookie goalie. I don't expect him to be great...in fact having him reaching average SV % and xGA would be great to me in his rookie year.
I will jump on the over-use by the Coach and GM.


I will also jump on the mental lapses by the D.
- IonSabres

Its the fact that he doesn't need to be here if he isn't one of the two best options, but our GM is yet again unwilling or unable to make a decision. Its not even a difficult one. Adams is pathetic and 100% the reason we are in this situation

Get him to Rochester and let him play. UPL has been better this year, comrie struggled early last night but made some big saves to keep us in it.

In 10 games if that isn't the case anymore and he is playing well in Rochester call him back up

Its the fact that he doesn't need to be here if he isn't one of the two best options, but our GM is yet again unwilling or unable to make a decision. Its not even a difficult one. Adams is pathetic and 100% the reason we are in this situation

Get him to Rochester and let him play. UPL has been better this year, comrie struggled early last night but made some big saves to keep us in it.

In 10 games if that isn't the case anymore and he is playing well in Rochester call him back up
- ieetbred

Sensible isn't allowed here

If you want your Stud Goalie to turn into that Phenom without a learning Curve. Then you better build a solid overall Team around him to give him the support he needs on the ice. Looks to me they brought back the Titanic and threw it on Levi's lap with hope it doesn't sink.
- Buff36

100% with ya.

I am, and know you are too, supporting the team D concept. The implementation has been rough, coupled with injuries resulting in substandard play.
Good teams have learned the value of 5 man units not 2-3. IMO, it is required for the team to reach the ultimate success.

I also agree that the roster composition requires work. I am alarmed by work-effort / compete issues apparent this season. It isn't right and the FO needs to ship out the passengers.

Time to upgrade the motto of People who want to be here to Players committed to winning the SC, period. Talk nicely is for pussies. Taking accountability is for winners. Where is the leadership from within 5he player group towards achieving excellence?
It left when he lost his love of the game.

Like, where is the C who is going to step up and challenge the other C's and a few W's to stay late and work on winning faceoffs to build that into a strong competence?
Where is the Dman to challenge the other D's on working on neutralizing net front opponents
Where is the winger who is going to challenge other forwards to work on effectively building their 2 way game into excellence?
Where is the never ending committment to winning...not being nice.?

100% with ya.

I am, and know you are too, supporting the team D concept. The implementation has been rough, coupled with injuries resulting in substandard play.
Good teams have learned the value of 5 man units not 2-3. IMO, it is required for the team to reach the ultimate success.

I also agree that the roster composition requires work. I am alarmed by work-effort / compete issues apparent this season. It isn't right and the FO needs to ship out the passengers.

Time to upgrade the motto of People who want to be here to Players committed to winning the SC, period. Talk nicely is for pussies. Taking accountability is for winners. Where is the leadership from within 5he player group towards achieving excellence?
It left when he lost his love of the game.

Like, where is the C who is going to step up and challenge the other C's and a few W's to stay late and work on winning faceoffs to build that into a strong competence?
Where is the Dman to challenge the other D's on working on neutralizing net front opponents
Where is the winger who is going to challenge other forwards to work on effectively building their 2 way game into excellence?
Where is the never ending committment to winning...not being nice.?
- IonSabres

Leadership isn't there, the word "Compete" and young team should not be used together. I have said it for a few years losing breeds losing and that's all are supposed Leadership knows. It's time for a different direction. You know who showed Leadership last night Dahlin. Basically played the whole 3rd period.

Its the fact that he doesn't need to be here if he isn't one of the two best options, but our GM is yet again unwilling or unable to make a decision. Its not even a difficult one. Adams is pathetic and 100% the reason we are in this situation

Get him to Rochester and let him play. UPL has been better this year, comrie struggled early last night but made some big saves to keep us in it.

In 10 games if that isn't the case anymore and he is playing well in Rochester call him back up
- ieetbred

I'd be fine with sending him down and getting him playing most games there.
I'm fine with keeping him up, but not starting 4 games in a row.
Rotate him in.

- TheSabresTaco

Sucks to lose a game when you played like that.

The fact that we are so inconsistent still boils down to coaching for me.

PP structure falls on coaching.

LOG line is cooked unfortunately and is getting overplayed, that’s on coaching.

Team is taking too many penalties, that also falls on coaching as at this point enough is enough.

IIRC we are off to almost the carbon copy start after 17 games that we were off to last year.

There is still ample time to turn this around, but I don’t think the guys who are behind the bench will be able to get all the juice out of the orange.

Time to upgrade the motto of People who want to be here to Players committed to winning the SC, period. Talk nicely is for pussies. Taking accountability is for winners. Where is the leadership from within 5he player group towards achieving excellence?
It left when he lost his love of the game.
- IonSabres

Yep we need this teams version of chris Drury to come in and rip the happy good feelings posters off the wall and put up a picture of the cup and demand excellence from his peers

Again, that would require adams to identify and acquire a player that carries that type of weight in a locker room and has the skill to back it up.

Round and round we go

Sucks to lose a game when you played like that.

The fact that we are so inconsistent still boils down to coaching for me.

PP structure falls on coaching.

LOG line is cooked unfortunately and is getting overplayed, that’s on coaching.

Team is taking too many penalties, that also falls on coaching as at this point enough is enough.

IIRC we are off to almost the carbon copy start after 17 games that we were off to last year.

There is still ample time to turn this around, but I don’t think the guys who are behind the bench will be able to get all the juice out of the orange.
- Swedish_Jesus

The effort they put into the 3rd period that escapes this team half the time on the road and 80% of the time at home is at some point an internal problem for the players

I agree coaching has been suspect at best but if donny has to yell at them to get them going and perhaps yell at them to keep them going then where is the on ice leadership

Sucks to lose a game when you played like that.

The fact that we are so inconsistent still boils down to coaching for me.

PP structure falls on coaching.

LOG line is cooked unfortunately and is getting overplayed, that’s on coaching.

Team is taking too many penalties, that also falls on coaching as at this point enough is enough.

IIRC we are off to almost the carbon copy start after 17 games that we were off to last year.

There is still ample time to turn this around, but I don’t think the guys who are behind the bench will be able to get all the juice out of the orange.
- Swedish_Jesus

After 17 games this season, 7-9-1, 48 goals scored, 55 allowed.

After 17 games of the 22-23 season, 7-10, 61 goals scored, 61 allowed.

They've only allowed 6 less goals so far, while scoring 13 less.

The scoring drop is a considerable concern.

Note they were also about to exit an 8 game losing streak at game 18 last season.

The effort they put into the 3rd period that escapes this team half the time on the road and 80% of the time at home is at some point an internal problem for the players

I agree coaching has been suspect at best but if donny has to yell at them to get them going and perhaps yell at them to keep them going then where is the on ice leadership
- ieetbred

What more can Girgensons and Okposo Teach, I mean it's great they can show them how to be proud there Buffalo Sabres and to be good Teammates. But that's really about it, they haven't done any winning.

What more can Girgensons and Okposo Teach, I mean it's great they can show them how to be proud there Buffalo Sabres and to be good Teammates. But that's really about it, they haven't done any winning.
- Buff36

It's one thing to teach players about proper preparation in terms of working out and being a professional off the ice, but what the team needs are a couple of quality veterans who have been through the wars and know about sacrificing everything on the ice to get a win.

They are sorely lacking that everything and anything it takes to win leadership, and they're clearly going to need to go outside the org. to find it.

Wonder if we could pluck Blackenburg or Ceulemans from Columbus
- Buff36

I would like to pluck a few young goalies for the minor league teams and deep 6 houser and tokarski

Leadership isn't there, the word "Compete" and young team should not be used together. I have said it for a few years losing breeds losing and that's all are supposed Leadership knows. It's time for a different direction. You know who showed Leadership last night Dahlin. Basically played the whole 3rd period.
- Buff36

Ahhh well, for 53 seasons been the same crap...wait til next year.

I haven't watched much this season tbh...bits and pieces. I just can't buy into the poop show from top to bottom...
-FO has their heads up their asses with having Olo, Bryson, Girgensons, Okposo on the roster and bring in $6.6m of EJ and Cliffy
-Coaching staff, especially the assistants blow ass...all but the PK are pretty substandard.
-players compete level now a major concern...the necey-n8ce talk isn’t working apparently.

Was at a frien'ds house last night...both of us Sabres/Bills fans...didn't watch ... didn't care to watch.
53 years of watching relative futility, sans probably 10 good seasons.

Yep we need this teams version of chris Drury to come in and rip the happy good feelings posters off the wall and put up a picture of the cup and demand excellence from his peers

Again, that would require adams to identify and acquire a player that carries that type of weight in a locker room and has the skill to back it up.

Round and round we go
- ieetbred

Therein lies the problem.

Therein lies the problem.
- IonSabres

you would expect the youngest team in the nhl to put in consistent effort

After 17 games this season, 7-9-1, 48 goals scored, 55 allowed.

After 17 games of the 22-23 season, 7-10, 61 goals scored, 61 allowed.

They've only allowed 6 less goals so far, while scoring 13 less.

The scoring drop is a considerable concern.

Note they were also about to exit an 8 game losing streak at game 18 last season.
- kingcong39

I look at it as the GA is the major concern.
Yes scoring more would be great too, but it is time for the boys to put their big boy pants on and stop with the half ass play and mental lapses.
At 5v5:
-aGF is +6 over league average
-aGA is +6 over league average

Comparing yoy to a top 3 aGF and 28th aGA team isn't the way to go.

Time to send Levi down and let him be the man in Rochester.

UPL and Comrie wont be the ones keeping the sabres from the playoffs.

Time to end this 3 goalie clown show.

What does each staff member under Don actually do?

Head Coach Don Granato
Assistant Coach Mike Bales
Assistant Coach Jason Christie
Assistant Coach Matt Ellis
Assistant Coach Marty Wilford
- kingcong39

https://buffalonews.com/s...ee-80b7-d748b8f4cb6a.html

How much of an impact do assistant coaches have on a team?


Lysowski: I’m always careful with questions about the coaching staff because I’m not behind the scenes. No one on the outside can know how meetings are run or what’s said in interactions with players. We do know each coach’s general responsibility. Marty Wilford oversees the defense and penalty kill, with assistance from longtime NHL defenseman Dan Girardi, who doesn’t travel with the team. Matt Ellis leads the forwards and power play, with Granato overseeing both aspects because those are his areas of expertise. Jason Christie coaches the centers on faceoffs, and Mike Bales is the goaltending coach.

Assistant coaches don’t influence a team’s 5-on-5 strategy. The system you see the Sabres following in those situations is the one chosen and installed by Granato, and he’s made subtle tweaks to their even-strength approach as they’ve become a more talented, deep team. Generally, assistant coaches must help with skill development, as well. They’re typically on the ice early to help individual players work through specific situations.

Time to send Levi down and let him be the man in Rochester.

UPL and Comrie wont be the ones keeping the sabres from the playoffs.

Time to end this 3 goalie clown show.
- sabresfan69

https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nhl/sabres/buffalo-sabres-mailbag-tage-thompson-owen-powert-matt-savoie-jiri-kulich-devon-levi-nhl/article_e0da287e-8488-11ee-80b7-d748b8f4cb6a.html

How much of an impact do assistant coaches have on a team?


Lysowski: I’m always careful with questions about the coaching staff because I’m not behind the scenes. No one on the outside can know how meetings are run or what’s said in interactions with players. We do know each coach’s general responsibility. Marty Wilford oversees the defense and penalty kill, with assistance from longtime NHL defenseman Dan Girardi, who doesn’t travel with the team. Matt Ellis leads the forwards and power play, with Granato overseeing both aspects because those are his areas of expertise. Jason Christie coaches the centers on faceoffs, and Mike Bales is the goaltending coach.

Assistant coaches don’t influence a team’s 5-on-5 strategy. The system you see the Sabres following in those situations is the one chosen and installed by Granato, and he’s made subtle tweaks to their even-strength approach as they’ve become a more talented, deep team. Generally, assistant coaches must help with skill development, as well. They’re typically on the ice early to help individual players work through specific situations.
- Frizzlefry

How does Jason Christie still have a job?

How does Jason Christie still have a job?
- homiedclown

Right? It seems like coaches generally don't upgrade their assistants. They have their guys and they stick with them.

Right? It seems like coaches generally don't upgrade their assistants. They have their guys and they stick with them.
- Frizzlefry

Well, we know this to be true in Buffalo from the Peca situation .
Major failure IMO.

It's one thing to teach players about proper preparation in terms of working out and being a professional off the ice, but what the team needs are a couple of quality veterans who have been through the wars and know about sacrificing everything on the ice to get a win.

They are sorely lacking that everything and anything it takes to win leadership, and they're clearly going to need to go outside the org. to find it.
- kingcong39

They need to identify and target whoever is the closest to a Patric Hornqvist type of player/leader.

All of this nonsense about improving and trying win is not a priority.

Jeff Skinner’s 1,000 game is 51 games away. The organization needs all hands on deck to prepare for this celebration.

949 340 297 637 -132 421 | PLAYOFFS - - - - - -

They need to identify and target whoever is the closest to a Patric Hornqvist type of player/leader.
- Ratsreign

Yes, and preferably bring in more then one player like that.