Mark Pino: Skinner Saga

Krueger must be a cat person.

Worst coach this team has ever had.

Worst coach this team has ever had.
- SABRES 89

That’s a pretty bold statement-

I have no idea how a team that has JE and Dahlin and some other nice pieces cannot for the life of themselves find a decent goalie.. who I think would solve a lot of their issues.

That’s a pretty bold statement-

I have no idea how a team that has JE and Dahlin and some other nice pieces cannot for the life of themselves find a decent goalie.. who I think would solve a lot of their issues.
- dozerD10

Ullmark hasn’t been the problem.

between just Hall and Skinner you have $17 Million worth of scoring wingers not playing on Eichel's line

Garth, this is just a terribly constructed team. You over rate your boy Samson, Hall and Skinner have always been players who disappear and the sabres are the ONLY team that would pay big money for them. The skinner contract is probably the worst contract in sports (due to cap) and will handcuff this team for years!

Garth, this is just a terribly constructed team. You over rate your boy Samson, Hall and Skinner have always been players who disappear and the sabres are the ONLY team that would pay big money for them. The skinner contract is probably the worst contract in sports (due to cap) and will handcuff this team for years!
- jaggerleaf

Love it

I agree this contract is terrible but listen to these stats and tell me how on earth you can justify playing Olofsson on the top line and bury Skinner on the 4th line.

These are their Even Strength Point totals

2021 Season:

Olofsson (16GP) 1G 1A while playing 18 Minutes per game with Eichel

Skinner (14GP) 0G 1A while playing 13 Minutes per game bottom 6

2020 Season:

Olofsson (54GP) 9G Even Strength while playing with Eichel for the whole season

Skinner (59GP) 14G Even Strength while playing with Johansson, Sobatka as his top linemates

2019 Season:

Olofsson (6GP) 0G at even strength

Skinner (82GP) 32G Even Strength playing with Eichel most of the season


Moving Olofsson off the top line and into the bottom 6 wont affect his even strength goal scoring. But moving Skinner to the top line will obviously produce more 5v5 goal scoring for that top line. The facts are there. Again he's not worth his contract but he is far more valuable 5v5 on the top line then Victor is simple as that

Seems like Skinner's dip in productivity coincided with Ralph Krueger being named HC.

Perhaps the blame here should be directed primarily at the HC given that Skinner is not the only high profile player currently on the Sabres under producing this year.

That being said, Skinner's contract obviously precludes him from getting traded elsewhere, at least this season, so getting back into the Sabres line up at this point is really up to Skinner.

Why hasn’t Adams commented on the 5 on 5 productivity of this team? During his first interview he stated how accessible he would be to the fans and media but we haven’t heard a word since the off season.

Then again, he wasn’t much of an offensively minded player.

I agree this contract is terrible but listen to these stats and tell me how on earth you can justify playing Olofsson on the top line and bury Skinner on the 4th line.

These are their Even Strength Point totals

2021 Season:

Olofsson (16GP) 1G 1A while playing 18 Minutes per game with Eichel

Skinner (14GP) 0G 1A while playing 13 Minutes per game bottom 6

2020 Season:

Olofsson (54GP) 9G Even Strength while playing with Eichel for the whole season

Skinner (59GP) 14G Even Strength while playing with Johansson, Sobatka as his top linemates

2019 Season:

Olofsson (6GP) 0G at even strength

Skinner (82GP) 32G Even Strength playing with Eichel most of the season


Moving Olofsson off the top line and into the bottom 6 wont affect his even strength goal scoring. But moving Skinner to the top line will obviously produce more 5v5 goal scoring for that top line. The facts are there. Again he's not worth his contract but he is far more valuable 5v5 on the top line then Victor is simple as that
- Prospy1493

This reads eerily like common sense. Tread carefully here.

Erie-ly. Bean and McDermott are a great fit in Buffalo, both explain the way they structured the team and motivated their players to perform at their projected o above levels.

When you look at the Adams and Krueger tandem, they just don’t mesh. Krueger speaks well, but it often seems like he his backing himself into a corner and spinning around and around by his idioms and unrealistic optimism. He would be better suited as a sport psychologist then a hockey coach.

Ralphy says “Jack can’t go tonight, let’s put Shehan in his spot. He has some offensive upside....”. Skinner says, “I’m ready coach!” Ralphy says naw, “Shehan has more upside than you and has played more defensively responsible this year, inspire if Girgenson wasn’t injured he wouldn’t have even made an NHL roster, but I like his attitude and demeanor”. (frank) off Ralphy. Your a tool.

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Hall-Staal-Olofson
Mitts-Cozens-Thompson
Lazar-Eakin-Okposo

This reads eerily like common sense. Tread carefully here.
- mes418

Sorry what was I thinking lmao I'll never let it happen again with this franchise

Ralphy’s projected post game presser: “well you know I think the guys showed up and played hard. It’s not easy to be forced into a game without you captain but I think their compete level was at an all time high. They are continuing to progress and with the given adversity, they are able to rise to the challenge. I’m expecting big things from this team in the coming games. I really believe they are rounding the curve and trending upwards. I expect sunny days are up ahead.”

Paul Hamilton, “Ralph, did you guys win or lose?

Krueger, “It doesn’t really matter. What matter is these guys are working together as a team. That they believe in my belief and that we continue to progress. And I feel we did this tonight. So it’s a win in the grand scheme of hockey life as a fake coach.”

See, anybody can coach like Ralphy.