Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Chainshot]

Last year, yeah. This year? Not really. I'd love for them to be playing the way they did last year. If they had this edition of UPL in net last year they would've comfortably made the playoffs.

I wonder where the team that ended last year went. It was as though they finally started to figure it out.

This year? More spin-spin-pass-pass-oh-we-don't-need-to-go-to-the-net crap on offense and a lack of support on defense.

 

[TehDoak]

The latest episode of Tim Graham's podcast is an interesting listen

- Noted that Granato will mention injuries in every press conference. But when looking at Man Games Lost WAR buffalo is right in the middle of the pack:
- Went down a list of lack of 'foresight' shown by the current front office

• Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with
• Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury
• Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs
• Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

He wondered out loud why the team hasn't made a single move to improve the team, if they were 'handcuffed' in someway (alluding to possible budgetary restrictions, and noted everyone in the front office talks about ample 'resources' at every opportunity) of if they are simply waiting to get out of 'development' mode and flip a switch.

The other person on the podcast is much more towing the Sabres company line and counters and even says they are still 'evaluating' and TG asks how long of an evaluation period do you need.

 

[sabremike]

The latest episode of Tim Graham's podcast is an interesting listen

- Noted that Granato will mention injuries in every press conference. But when looking at Man Games Lost WAR buffalo is right in the middle of the pack:
- Went down a list of lack of 'foresight' shown by the current front office

• Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with
• Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury
• Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs
• Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

He wondered out loud why the team hasn't made a single move to improve the team, if they were 'handcuffed' in someway (alluding to possible budgetary restrictions, and noted everyone in the front office talks about ample 'resources' at every opportunity) of if they are simply waiting to get out of 'development' mode and flip a switch.

The other person on the podcast is much more towing the Sabres company line and counters and even says they are still 'evaluating' and TG asks how long of an evaluation period do you need.

TG is one of the few honest people left in the entire Buffalo sports media.

 

[Der Jaeger]

The latest episode of Tim Graham's podcast is an interesting listen

- Noted that Granato will mention injuries in every press conference. But when looking at Man Games Lost WAR buffalo is right in the middle of the pack:
- Went down a list of lack of 'foresight' shown by the current front office

• Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with
• Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury
• Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs
• Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

He wondered out loud why the team hasn't made a single move to improve the team, if they were 'handcuffed' in someway (alluding to possible budgetary restrictions, and noted everyone in the front office talks about ample 'resources' at every opportunity) of if they are simply waiting to get out of 'development' mode and flip a switch.

The other person on the podcast is much more towing the Sabres company line and counters and even says they are still 'evaluating' and TG asks how long of an evaluation period do you need.

I think Adams and Granato do not think they are out of the development time frame. Whether that identification of where the team is at is correct is up for debate. But I think the moves they made and didn't make, and the lack of urgency seem to trend in that direction.

 

[thewookie1]

The latest episode of Tim Graham's podcast is an interesting listen

- Noted that Granato will mention injuries in every press conference. But when looking at Man Games Lost WAR buffalo is right in the middle of the pack:
- Went down a list of lack of 'foresight' shown by the current front office

• Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with
• Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury
• Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs
• Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

He wondered out loud why the team hasn't made a single move to improve the team, if they were 'handcuffed' in someway (alluding to possible budgetary restrictions, and noted everyone in the front office talks about ample 'resources' at every opportunity) of if they are simply waiting to get out of 'development' mode and flip a switch.

The other person on the podcast is much more towing the Sabres company line and counters and even says they are still 'evaluating' and TG asks how long of an evaluation period do you need.

TG both has some fair points and some of the typical BS complaints.

Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with

• They assumed Comrie could be that and they had given Levi assurances he'd get a shot in the NHL - Comrie was a flop however Levi was given his shot and faltered and thus is fine with being in Rochester. (Assuring Levi a shot isn't a great thing but sometimes its the only way to assure his signing)

Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury

• Definitely suspect. I'd guess the inability to trade Olofsson played a part in it and the fact most vets would expect to play all year which had the potential of causing issues when Quinn returned for his roster spot. Definitely shortsighted but I can understand some of the issue.

Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs

• A bad decision altogether; however I'm unsure if Adams or Granato are to blame.

Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

• They added Greenway and Stillman as well as tried to get Chychrun. He makes it sound like they sat on their hands and did literally nothing. Also Adams' comment is meaningless to me; no matter what he said he would of been ridiculed.

I don't believe Pegula is restraining spending literally but I could see him giving off an aura of not to just outright waste it.

The development mode comment though is spot on; I don't know if they know how to flip the switch.

 

[TageGod]

I think Adams and Granato do not think they are out of the development time frame. Whether that identification of where the team is at is correct is up for debate. But I think the moves they made and didn't make, and the lack of urgency seem to trend in that direction.

Partially, and some of it is FA and players with NMC wont come here.

The latest episode of Tim Graham's podcast is an interesting listen

- Noted that Granato will mention injuries in every press conference. But when looking at Man Games Lost WAR buffalo is right in the middle of the pack:
- Went down a list of lack of 'foresight' shown by the current front office

• Trying to force Levi to be a starter and not getting a competent NHL goalie to pair him or UPL with
• Not trying to address the loss of Jack Quinn despite being known the extent of his injury
• Not having a single coach on the staff who has been to the NHL playoffs
• Not adding a piece at the deadline last year and laughed off calling missing the playoffs by a point a 'missed opportunity'

He wondered out loud why the team hasn't made a single move to improve the team, if they were 'handcuffed' in someway (alluding to possible budgetary restrictions, and noted everyone in the front office talks about ample 'resources' at every opportunity) of if they are simply waiting to get out of 'development' mode and flip a switch.

The other person on the podcast is much more towing the Sabres company line and counters and even says they are still 'evaluating' and TG asks how long of an evaluation period do you need.

The injury is a bit misleading. Classic stat watching without context. Top two centers missed some time, one of our top 4 D (supposedly) missed a ton and is now done for the year, Quinn as a top 6W missed a ton. Man games doesn't paint the picture its quality of players injured. Sabre's can't overcome that kind of injuries. Boston VGK etc. can.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think Adams and Granato do not think they are out of the development time frame. Whether that identification of where the team is at is correct is up for debate. But I think the moves they made and didn't make, and the lack of urgency seem to trend in that direction.

Bingo. You know this is true because it literally explains everything.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think Adams and Granato do not think they are out of the development time frame. Whether that identification of where the team is at is correct is up for debate. But I think the moves they made and didn't make, and the lack of urgency seem to trend in that direction.

Having the youngest roster in the NHL last season and an even younger roster this season does not seem like a move from developing to competing to me.

 

[Beerz]

I think Adams and Granato do not think they are out of the development time frame. Whether that identification of where the team is at is correct is up for debate. But I think the moves they made and didn't make, and the lack of urgency seem to trend in that direction.

He sure signs contracts like we're out of the developmental stage.

 

[Chainshot]

Partially, and some of it is FA and players with NMC wont come here.

The injury is a bit misleading. Classic stat watching without context. Top two centers missed some time, one of our top 4 D (supposedly) missed a ton and is now done for the year, Quinn as a top 6W missed a ton. Man games doesn't paint the picture its quality of players injured. Sabre's can't overcome that kind of injuries. Boston VGK etc. can.

They are still middle of the league in injury WAR. It is not an excuse.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

TG is one of the few honest people left in the entire Buffalo sports media.

Yep, Graham refuses to be an apologist for the team. A key point rarely mentioned is the missed opportunity last year. The monkey could have been off the Sabres back, but what we saw was a team with a ton of cap room playing AHL d men on the third pair even though key players were banged up.

People want to say that wasn't about money. I mean c'mon. They are way under the cap, even putting aside money for bonuses. They won't spend beyond a certain level. It's obvious. My guess is cap retentions will be limited at the deadline, and they would make players like Oloffson, Comrie, and Girgensons more appealing. (The spending constraints are not helped by reckless contracts that include $7 M for Okposo/Jost/Girgensons and an extension for Granato.)

The team is an absolute mess, and a Buffalo News columnist suggesting bad luck and injuries give this team a mulligan for 2023-24 reads like some statement management made him write. I'm not saying they did, but it is just so absolutely clueless; my mouth was just gaping when I read it.

If this team had considered a coaching change (even a new assistant for PP) or different players for an AVERAGE PP, they would be in the mix. They have scored 20 goals with the man advantage but given up a league-leading 8 shorties. This has been massive.

Was this a Stanley Cup team? Hell no. Could it be in a playoff race? Yes.

 

[TageGod]

They are still middle of the league in injury WAR. It is not an excuse.

Sabres all struggled out of the gate, their injuries are not valued high because their current performance was low. You are just stat watching. Why would you ever expect this current lineup to make the playoffs with Thompson, Cozens, Skinner, Tuch, and Quinn missing games/playing hurt. This team needed a healthy roster all year to even compete. There is not depth to overcome injuries. Middle of the pack on a bubble team might as well be a tank year.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Merek said on his show yesterday that Mittelstadt is being shopped. I'm sure Kevyn's ask is unreasonable so it probably will result in nothing, but worth mentioning. Looking at the other teams and their rosters, and cap, etc., I don't really see many good fits.

He mentioned it while talking about Boston's needs at the deadline, so that's the only team I can think of. I can see Mitts going there and having a lot of success, like every other center does there.

 

[EichHart]

Partially, and some of it is FA and players with NMC wont come here.

The injury is a bit misleading. Classic stat watching without context. Top two centers missed some time, one of our top 4 D (supposedly) missed a ton and is now done for the year, Quinn as a top 6W missed a ton. Man games doesn't paint the picture its quality of players injured. Sabre's can't overcome that kind of injuries. Boston VGK etc. can.

Boston lost their top 2 centers and somehow are still the top team in the eastern conference...Adams and Granato are not the answer. Who is running the sabres powerplay? They've done nothing all season to change it.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Having the youngest roster in the NHL last season and an even younger roster this season does not seem like a move from developing to competing to me.

We will likely have an even younger team next year, which gives even more of a clue on Adams’ timeline.

 

[Chainshot]

Sabres all struggled out of the gate, their injuries are not valued high because their current performance was low. You are just stat watching. Why would you ever expect this current lineup to make the playoffs with Thompson, Cozens, Skinner, Tuch, and Quinn missing games/playing hurt. This team needed a healthy roster all year to even compete. There is not depth to overcome injuries. Middle of the pack on a bubble team might as well be a tank year.

Telling me I am just stay watching? Heh.

The point is someone in charge did nothing even knowing the needed to replace at least Quinn. The indictment is of who built the roster and how little has been done to help it.

 

[TageGod]

Boston lost their top 2 centers and somehow are still the top team in the eastern conference...Adams and Granato are not the answer. Who is running the sabres powerplay? They've done nothing all season to change it.

That is my point, the whole cast is good around those centers. They have margin for injuries. If KA signs/trades for 3 of Top 6 C, top 4 D, solid winger that goes to the net, solid depth D; is he still a bad GM or was he just more patient than you wanted?

Telling me I am just stay watching? Heh.

The point is someone in charge did nothing even knowing the needed to replace at least Quinn. The indictment is of who built the roster and how limitless has been done to help it.

When your response about stats being misleading and vary based on situations is more stats, yeah.

We know Adams does identify needs and try to make trades, he just has a value and wont overpay so that is likely your answer to the replacing Quinn part.

 

[thewookie1]

Merek said on his show yesterday that Mittelstadt is being shopped. I'm sure Kevyn's ask is unreasonable so it probably will result in nothing, but worth mentioning. Looking at the other teams and their rosters, and cap, etc., I don't really see many good fits.

He mentioned it while talking about Boston's needs at the deadline, so that's the only team I can think of. I can see Mitts going there and having a lot of success, like every other center does there.

I highly doubt we are shopping him; especially in the division. I can certainly see other teams calling on him however.

 

[TageGod]

Merek said on his show yesterday that Mittelstadt is being shopped. I'm sure Kevyn's ask is unreasonable so it probably will result in nothing, but worth mentioning. Looking at the other teams and their rosters, and cap, etc., I don't really see many good fits.

He mentioned it while talking about Boston's needs at the deadline, so that's the only team I can think of. I can see Mitts going there and having a lot of success, like every other center does there.

He is RFA, not being shopped, but taking calls. He even said he wants to resign here so doubt it.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I wonder where the team that ended last year went. It was as though they finally started to figure it out.

This year? More spin-spin-pass-pass-oh-we-don't-need-to-go-to-the-net crap on offense and a lack of support on defense.

I was so hyped for this season with how they finished last season. I think that's why I'm so annoyed with the team this year. They found an extra gear the last 15 games or so. It seemed like they were transitioning into a team that was learning how to win.

Then this year starts, and they were giving shit efforts night in and night out. It's left a sour taste in my mouth to the point I feel no attachment to any player other than a select few. Certainly not any of the core players who mailed it in. I could careless if they're traded, though I know that probably isn't the best use ofnthose assets. A coaching change could do them well rather than tearing it down.

I'm just....'I'm tired, boss'

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Sabres all struggled out of the gate, their injuries are not valued high because their current performance was low. You are just stat watching. Why would you ever expect this current lineup to make the playoffs with Thompson, Cozens, Skinner, Tuch, and Quinn missing games/playing hurt. This team needed a healthy roster all year to even compete. There is not depth to overcome injuries. Middle of the pack on a bubble team might as well be a tank year.

Absolutely not true. At 5 on 5 hockey, Buffalo is 11th best in the league in goal differential. The Sabres are a special teams disaster and mostly on the PP. They are the absolute worst team in goal differential when at 5 on 4 -- a meagre plus 12. It's almost funny. The league average is 26. That is 14 more goals.

They are -9 in overall goal differential. Take the 14 goals just to BE AVERAGE on PP and they are a plus 5 goal differential team. Plus five puts them in the middle of the league.

But this is a team that forever reason stayed loyal to Matt Ellis and whatever you call that PP, which includes Okposo averaging over a minute a night on PP and destroying their season. (To be fair, the are only 20th or so in PP opportunities)

This was a not great team but not fixing the PP destroyed the season. The talent is there for a better PP.

And just to be clear, they are not that great killing penalties either.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I highly doubt we are shopping him; especially in the division. I can certainly see other teams calling on him however.

You can choose to not believe it but it probably doesn't matter since no one will pay the price Adams is looking for anyway. Just seems like an offseason trade, if it happens at all.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He is RFA, not being shopped, but taking calls. He even said he wants to resign here so doubt it.

He's being shopped -- not because he doesn't want to be here, it's because Adams doesn't want to re-sign him. Adams didn't seem interested in signing him when asked either. Tell yourself whatever you want.

 

[Chainshot]

That is my point, the whole cast is good around those centers. They have margin for injuries. If KA signs/trades for 3 of Top 6 C, top 4 D, solid winger that goes to the net, solid depth D; is he still a bad GM or was he just more patient than you wanted?

When your response about stats being misleading and vary based on situations is more stats, yeah.

We know Adams does identify needs and try to make trades, he just has a value and wont overpay so that is likely your answer to the replacing Quinn part.

What is misleading? We actually agree that the team is not robust enough to even survive a couple of mild hiccups this season. If they want to point to injury, it's a lame excuse for their own inaction. They had a hole in the lineup going into the season that was only given the option of being filled by someone internally. We also know a number of teams were shopping players over the summer who could have potentially filled that hole. Some of them went nowhere. Some went for almost nothing. A recent one went as a cap dump in a larger trade.

Sure, Adams has said he identifies needs. No, he has not done nearly enough to fill those needs. Yes, they have enough prospects and picks to actually trade prospects and picks in a deal to help the team in the near-term. They had a need to push guys out guys like Olofsson completely and yet they retained him as an option to replace Quinn. That clearly has failed with nary a whimper from him. Great that Adams is in love with his own prospects and high on his supply of draft picks - those guys aren't close to helping this team win right now. And they could have done things last year or this to push the lineup but chose not to.

 

[sabremike]

Absolutely not true. At 5 on 5 hockey, Buffalo is 11th best in the league in goal differential. The Sabres are a special teams disaster and mostly on the PP. They are the absolute worst team in goal differential when at 5 on 4 -- a meagre plus 12. It's almost funny. The league average is 26. That is 14 more goals.

They are -9 in overall goal differential. Take the 14 goals just to BE AVERAGE on PP and they are a plus 5 goal differential team. Plus five puts them in the middle of the league.

But this is a team that forever reason stayed loyal to Matt Ellis and whatever you call that PP, which includes Okposo averaging over a minute a night on PP and destroying their season. (To be fair, the are only 20th or so in PP opportunities)

This was a not great team but not fixing the PP destroyed the season. The talent is there for a better PP.

And just to be clear, they are not that great killing penalties either.

So I have a question: if the power play is single handedly killing this team why does the guy whose job it is to oversee this aspect still have a job?