They aren't a good team yet. But their identity, based on the roster composition, should be a fast paced, hard forechecking, quick transitioning team. I think you hit the nail on the head about dead weight with this. We got rid of Okposo and EJ, two of our slowest players, and Mitts, an edges vs straight line speed guy. We swapped Mitts for a guy who has the jets to help push the pace...a step in the right direction.

Here is my Homie apology message. He was right about Byram. I didn't think the kid was anywhere near this good.
- QuinnFan

They might not be good yet, but I would think that the top teams would rather play Detroit, Washington and maybe even the Islanders rather than us. Our ceiling is higher than those teams.

I think a lot of people were wrong about Byram. I was surprised to hear that he has played almost the exact same number of games that Power has played. It is an absolute joy to watch him play.

yeah but maybe Buffalo will actually be an NHL team by the time this happens
- gordong

What do we have if we don't have hope??

Oh, who you kidding Frizzy? You're going to be here until we put you 6 feet deep.
- QuinnFan

I've been here long enough. Why give up now?

I dumped enough on the organization the other day, so I thought I would return with a theoretical question.

Is it possible that this team is actually "good" right now? That is NOT to say that there isn't work to be done in the offseason. I am saying that this team was searching for the middle ground between playing firewagon hockey (last year) and stand-on-the-perimeter (this year).

The team's turnaround seems to have started with them starting to move their legs and be creative - this has been especially true on the power play. But bringing in Byram really seems to have taken things to another level. They look like they want to always be on the attack. They smell blood in the water.

Of course, it helps to have stellar goaltending and to lose a few dead weights off of the roster. That said, I think this team has found its groove. I've always said that the team needed to try to tilt the ice in the other direction, and it seems like they are doing just that.
- Slump Buster

It remains to be seen if they can be good when it counts. They're still pretty much out of it. If they win the next two in regulation and firmly jump back into the race it'll be interesting. It just feels like if they had a "win-and-get-in" game against the Coyotes, they would lose 7-1 while barfing all over themselves. They've done that for years now

Let’s get crazy!
Expand and Time to go soccer style. Worst NHL team get relegated To the ahl. Top AHL team promoted. AHL team gets the top draft pick.
- Gr8daygo

Hmm, I kinda like it. Gives some major incentive to not suck.

It remains to be seen if they can be good when it counts. They're still pretty much out of it. If they win the next two in regulation and firmly jump back into the race it'll be interesting. It just feels like if they had a "win-and-get-in" game against the Coyotes, they would lose 7-1 while barfing all over themselves. They've done that for years now
- Hank Balling

I disagree with this. Their records down the stretch the last 2 years were excellent. The problems in both years were the first half. They might go 12 and 5 down the stretch and people will point to one or two of the losses as proof that they can't win the big one, which seems illogical.

I disagree with this. Their records down the stretch the last 2 years were excellent. The problems in both years were the first half. They might go 12 and 5 down the stretch and people will point to one or two of the losses as proof that they can't win the big one, which seems illogical.
- Slump Buster

https://www.statmuse.com/...s+record+by+month+2023%5C

5-7-3 last March is what killed them. They were in great position and felt like they lost every big game.

They never got to a good position this year.

I disagree with this. Their records down the stretch the last 2 years were excellent. The problems in both years were the first half. They might go 12 and 5 down the stretch and people will point to one or two of the losses as proof that they can't win the big one, which seems illogical.
- Slump Buster

Yeah but those are the only ones that matter. All of these games until that point are irrelevant. If they win a bunch of games and then finish 3 points out again, what's the lesson? And I don't mean that as a rhetorical question; I'm genuinely asking because they did that last year and it didn't mean anything going into this year, so do we just assume that whatever lessons they didn't learn 12 months ago they will learn this year?

Maybe. They came into this year with expectations and immediately wilted. It could definitely happen again

https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask?q=buffalo+sabres+record+by+month+2023%5C

5-7-3 last March is what killed them. They were in great position and felt like they lost every big game.

They never got to a good position this year.
- Lunaion

Didnt they have like a 10 game losing streak in November?

And they go on to lose a game to the Island in March where the player legitimately kicked the puck in the net and it was allowed. Win that game its an even March with that extra pt to get into the p-offs.

Do the islanders still trap like the 90s devils?

If so. We struggle with that.

No bueno

Do the islanders still trap like the 90s devils?

If so. We struggle with that.

No bueno
- Sabretooth9

Thats on coaching

Yeah but those are the only ones that matter. All of these games until that point are irrelevant. If they win a bunch of games and then finish 3 points out again, what's the lesson? And I don't mean that as a rhetorical question; I'm genuinely asking because they did that last year and it didn't mean anything going into this year, so do we just assume that whatever lessons they didn't learn 12 months ago they will learn this year?

Maybe. They came into this year with expectations and immediately wilted. It could definitely happen again
- Hank Balling

They went 6-2 in April with the season on the line. With a rookie goalie. Came up just short. Not a win by any means but they showed they could play when it counts. Arguably they cant play when it doesnt count. They dont care till its to late. How many games in the first half were they absolutely no shows. Especially to start games.

Fvck I stopped watching for a while this year they were so abysmal to watch.

They over thought the end of the year last year, didn't improve the roster(arguably made it worse), came in with the mindset that they needed to throw the offense to the side and focus on defense, and then didnt re-adjust their terrible plan till what December? Had they gone back to what works for them earlier its a different discussion here most likely.

They might not be good yet, but I would think that the top teams would rather play Detroit, Washington and maybe even the Islanders rather than us. Our ceiling is higher than those teams.

I think a lot of people were wrong about Byram. I was surprised to hear that he has played almost the exact same number of games that Power has played. It is an absolute joy to watch him play.
- Slump Buster

Agreed with the first part, as we can kind of hang with anyone on our best day. Washington is a shell of their formal selves, Detroit are in free fall...the Isles could be trouble, so I'd say it's close there.

And yeah, we got a real one for sure.

They went 6-2 in April with the season on the line. With a rookie goalie. Came up just short. Not a win by any means but they showed they could play when it counts. Arguably they cant play when it doesnt count. They dont care till its to late. How many games in the first half were they absolutely no shows. Especially to start games.

Fvck I stopped watching for a while this year they were so abysmal to watch.

They over thought the end of the year last year, didn't improve the roster(arguably made it worse), came in with the mindset that they needed to throw the offense to the side and focus on defense, and then didnt re-adjust their terrible plan till what December? Had they gone back to what works for them earlier its a different discussion here most likely.
- DirtyDan

The season was on the line well before April last year, and they choked.

cuck is jumping on wgr to talk about dumb poop and jerking off over girgensons and okposo with his tears.

They went 6-2 in April with the season on the line. With a rookie goalie. Came up just short. Not a win by any means but they showed they could play when it counts. Arguably they cant play when it doesnt count. They dont care till its to late. How many games in the first half were they absolutely no shows. Especially to start games.

Fvck I stopped watching for a while this year they were so abysmal to watch.

They over thought the end of the year last year, didn't improve the roster(arguably made it worse), came in with the mindset that they needed to throw the offense to the side and focus on defense, and then didnt re-adjust their terrible plan till what December? Had they gone back to what works for them earlier its a different discussion here most likely.
- DirtyDan

So what's the lesson of this season, then, assuming they go on another miraculous run to 9th and narrowly miss again?

That they definitely turned a corner this time? I don't see how you can trust that.

cuck is jumping on wgr to talk about dumb poop and jerking off over girgensons and okposo with his tears.
- TheSabresTaco

Does he watch from the side of the bed or did he build a custom loft to get the GM perspective?

cuck is jumping on wgr to talk about dumb poop and jerking off over girgensons and okposo with his tears.
- TheSabresTaco

Please let them make the playoffs after jettisoning the "leadership" group. It would be a top-5 Sabres moment of all time if he tried to give up on the season and inadvertently saved it.

So what's the lesson of this season, then, assuming they go on another miraculous run to 9th and narrowly miss again?

That they definitely turned a corner this time? I don't see how you can trust that.
- Hank Balling

You have been preaching this for months, correctly. Hope is the enemy

Does he watch from the side of the bed or did he build a custom loft to get the GM perspective?
- washedup20

Just a chair in the corner, like Jerry Falwell

So what's the lesson of this season, then, assuming they go on another miraculous run to 9th and narrowly miss again?

That they definitely turned a corner this time? I don't see how you can trust that.
- Hank Balling

Only been doing it on and off since Eichel, sh!tty hockey the first 3 months and then the race to 10th.

Please let them make the playoffs after jettisoning the "leadership" group. It would be a top-5 Sabres moment of all time if he tried to give up on the season and inadvertently saved it.
- Hank Balling

It would just be "Zemgus really stepped up"

Just a chair in the corner, like Jerry Falwell
- Wetbandit1

😆 😂 touché

It would just be "Zemgus really stepped up"
- Wetbandit1

5 years, $2,828,280 per imo

You are an absolute someone who is attracted to the opposite sex DirtyDan lmao call me soft and then cry to get me banned for calling you a someone who is attracted to the opposite sex, well, guess what, someone who is attracted to the opposite sex?

You’re gay.