Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[OkimLom]

I’d argue Granato deserves to be safe too. He should be fired because Adams trotted out the same roster as last year with no goalie?

Unless the team falls apart, bottoms out and Dahlin and Tage are fist fighting in the locker room, I’d like to see what Donny can do when they actually try to improve the roster.

There is a point where Granato should NOT be safe. I’m not saying he needs to be fired, but there should be internal discussions if he’s the coach going forward when you have a core group of guys locked up together long term already, and one can say your window hasn’t even opened yet.

If this season looks anything like the 2021-2022 season more than the 2022-2023 season where it’s inconsistent play throughout with very little/low production, then Donny’s job needs to be reviewed. He doesn’t deserve to be fired based on Adams inaction, but that doesn’t give him carte blanche in skirting by accountability with his lineup decisions.

Donny has plenty of talent to get stuff done with this team. You’re probably looking at 2-3 spots within the forwards ranks that could/should be looked at, that needs to be upgraded, and 2 defense spots that should be upgraded. Goaltending is more of a safety net on the coaching staff’s shortcomings quite honestly when it comes down to it. Otherwise, Adams should be fired today if you don’t think Donny should be responsible if he can’t get anything done with the roster he has.

The players should be the past the point of getting their headspace right. The importance of building a foundation of sound defensive structure should already be happening.

This is, IMO, the first season where Donny’s job and its results, should be under any sort of magnifying glass and really looked over and analyzed. This season has expectations for the first time. I’m not saying if he misses the playoffs it’s an automatic firing, but I’m saying if he does miss, that the results should have some weight to it.

 

[sabremike]

There is a point where Granato should NOT be safe. I’m not saying he needs to be fired, but there should be internal discussions if he’s the coach going forward when you have a core group of guys locked up together long term already, and one can say your window hasn’t even opened yet.

If this season looks anything like the 2021-2022 season more than the 2022-2023 season where it’s inconsistent play throughout with very little/low production, then Donny’s job needs to be reviewed. He doesn’t deserve to be fired based on Adams inaction, but that doesn’t give him carte blanche in skirting by accountability with his lineup decisions.

Donny has plenty of talent to get stuff done with this team. You’re probably looking at 2-3 spots within the forwards ranks that could/should be looked at, that needs to be upgraded, and 2 defense spots that should be upgraded. Goaltending is more of a safety net on the coaching staff’s shortcomings quite honestly when it comes down to it. Otherwise, Adams should be fired today if you don’t think Donny should be responsible if he can’t get anything done with the roster he has.

The players should be the past the point of getting their headspace right. The importance of building a foundation of sound defensive structure should already be happening.

This is, IMO, the first season where Donny’s job and its results, should be under any sort of magnifying glass and really looked over and analyzed. This season has expectations for the first time. I’m not saying if he misses the playoffs it’s an automatic firing, but I’m saying if he does miss, that the results should have some weight to it.

I'd be fine with firing all his useless assistants who seem to be quite bad at their jobs.

 

[debaser66]

He was arguably our best player last year. This year he has been a ghost so far. Him along with many others.

I would say it was Dahlin, Thompson needa to still learn to play a 200ft game.

 

[Chainshot]

I'd be fine with firing all his useless assistants who seem to be quite bad at their jobs.

I'm on that wagon and have been since part way through last year. The design and execution of their specialty teams and their defensive details? Faceoffs? The little things? I didn't see a lot of improvement.

That the PK has improved thus far seems personnel related, though some of them seem to have better stick detail and pressure. And then they don't - inconsistency is the constant. We'll have to see how that goes.

In their zone though... and how the forwards do not play in what I view as a sustainably winning fashion? Not on the right side of the puck SO OFTEN? That has to shake out on someone. And I look at Don's group of friends from his days with the Chill as candidates to upgrade.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Better idea:

REBUILD THE AUD AND MAKE THE LEAFS PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m down with that!

 

[Dubi Doo]

I'm on that wagon and have been since part way through last year. The design and execution of their specialty teams and their defensive details? Faceoffs? The little things? I didn't see a lot of improvement.

That the PK has improved thus far seems personnel related, though some of them seem to have better stick detail and pressure. And then they don't - inconsistency is the constant. We'll have to see how that goes.

In their zone though... and how the forwards do not play in what I view as a sustainably winning fashion? Not on the right side of the puck SO OFTEN? That has to shake out on someone. And I look at Don's group of friends from his days with the Chill as candidates to upgrade.

Yeah. That was one of my bigger criticisms of the offseason. That, and bringing a lot of similar faces back (Jost contract is an overpay, Joki still with Power, I also wanted to revamp the bottom 6 a bit and move on from Okoposo).

One thing I appreciated about McD and Beane in their first few years here is they had no problem firing coaches who underperformed, and also moved on from guys who didn't fill a role on the team. I worry Adams and co. are loyal to a fault.

But, as I usually say, time will tell.

 

[VaporTrail]

I'd be fine with firing all his useless assistants who seem to be quite bad at their jobs.

How about bringing in a coach who can teach them how to win face offs?

 

[elchud]

It's early

 

[Chainshot]

It's early

Teams in playoff positions as of US Thanksgiving make the post-season something like 85% of the time. It's never too early.

 

[Deevo]

Teams in playoff positions as of US Thanksgiving make the post-season something like 85% of the time. It's never too early.

Yup. And on the flip side, an equally large % of teams under .500 into November miss the playoffs

 

[elchud]

We started 4-1/7-3 last season and missed the playoffs. 5-2 the season before that. 8-2 two seasons before that. That's the context for me saying it's early. Nobody likes a slow start, but if it's a slow start and we make the playoffs, it would be 7 seed instead of 6 seed or something like that.

 

[vcv]

Casey Middlestadt is a DAWG

 

[elchud]

Last year we lost 8 in a row once, 4 in a row 3 times (actually more than 3 times, that doesn't include the 8 in row which would be *5 times* losing 4 in a row which would make 8 times losing 4 in a row. Yeah.).

Missed the playoffs by a wee bit last year. It's early.

 

[sabresEH]

Teams in playoff positions as of US Thanksgiving make the post-season something like 85% of the time. It's never too early.

Haven’t we been a part of the 15% that didn’t make it one season? I remember being pumped about that stat cause we were in a spot… only to not make it.

 

[Chainshot]

Haven’t we been a part of the 15% that didn’t make it one season? I remember being pumped about that stat cause we were in a spot… only to not make it.

I believe they are - the Housley year where they rode a hot Skinner and a hot goalie to the winning streak.

 

[PatLaFontaineASMR]

Haven’t we been a part of the 15% that didn’t make it one season? I remember being pumped about that stat cause we were in a spot… only to not make it.

Yea that Thanksgiving stat more has to do with the teams that are steadily ahead of everyone like Devils/Bruins last year. Pretty irrelevant for teams that are fighting for wildcard or 3rd in division spots.

I remember last year Wings fans were spamming that stat like they already made the playoffs.

 

[Djp]

Yea that Thanksgiving stat more has to do with the teams that are steadily ahead of everyone like Devils/Bruins last year. Pretty irrelevant for teams that are fighting for wildcard or 3rd in division spots.

I remember last year Wings fans were spamming that stat like they already made the playoffs.

the other piece is schedule imbalance

last year Boston who the year before was the bottom WC team had something like 15 out of the first 23 at home which likely raised the teams confidence which drove their season

if a team has a heavy road or heavy home streak. Early in the season serms to have a difficult start in how many prior year playoff teams/ playoff favorites they play. a team plays about 18 games against the leagues top 8 so in thr first 20 games you figure you would play 4-5 games against them. You play 9+ gets into the statistical outlier

 

[Dubi Doo]

Part of the reason I wanted to break up Greenway-Mitts-Benson is because each of them can play a role on any line. We pretty much stack our two best defensive players on one line while two of the 4 other lines were struggling defensively. I was hoping Granato would spread the wealth, and he did.

I didnt think we needed to break up the top line, but it's evident Mitts defensive strength and vision on the ice helps that line out tremendously. It was nice to see Tage's new line dominate, too.

 

[HaNotsri]

Haven’t we been a part of the 15% that didn’t make it one season? I remember being pumped about that stat cause we were in a spot… only to not make it.

Hutton took us out on his own if I renember correctly. We had a decent record with Ullmark but pretty much lost all games with Hutton from december onward.

 

[BFLO]

Haven’t we been a part of the 15% that didn’t make it one season? I remember being pumped about that stat cause we were in a spot… only to not make it.

Not only were we in a playoff spot, but we were 1st place in the entire league.

It would have taken a collapse of epic proportions where we were the worst team in the league for the remaining games, in order to not make the playoffs… and that’s exactly what we did.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Yea that Thanksgiving stat more has to do with the teams that are steadily ahead of everyone like Devils/Bruins last year. Pretty irrelevant for teams that are fighting for wildcard or 3rd in division spots.

I remember last year Wings fans were spamming that stat like they already made the playoffs.

Even if you only count the wildcard teams and the 3rd place division that’s 4 teams in each conference. Literally 50% of the league…

85% of the league is steadily ahead of everybody else?

 

[Team Cozens]

Random thoughts:

The Sabres PP would improve drastically with P. Kane on the right side.
Tage on the left and Dahlin up top.... Love Skinner but he does nothing for the PP.
Peterka is looking super fast this year and looks like a little water bug out there.
Cozens looks like he has a nagging injury.
Erik Johnson was a fantastic add to the D.
I am concerned about Krebs, I don't see a long term fit.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Jokiharju has been… dare I say…. actually good?

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I'm going to take an L on Greenway. I wondered why they bothered taking on a reclamation project like him but now he's found his game again and man, what a necessary add he is to the Sabres FW group. Physical and defensively responsible, makes room for his linemates.

I'm also going to take a victory lap on Mittelstadt. He's probably not the 3rd best C on the team, he's one of the top two. I don't care exactly what line he plays on, he's a big improvement for the FW group as a whole. Dogged on the puck in every zone, making small area moves and passes to linemates in space that he created for them.

I hope Granato gets more starts for both Comrie and UPL. Somebody needs to go somewhere and we may as well find out who the weak link is. The way the team is playing better defensively (not so much against Calgary) it might be harder to figure out...this includes the potential of sending Levi down.

Jokiharju has been… dare I say…. actually good?

I know what most thought in the summer, and especially after adding CC and EJ, but Jokiharju has room to improve. I wish we had a good enough D-corps to make him a 3rd pair, but he's not trash. I just don't know if he can improve enough to be a #4 guy.

 

[joshjull]

I'm going to take an L on Greenway. I wondered why they bothered taking on a reclamation project like him but now he's found his game again and man, what a necessary add he is to the Sabres FW group. Physical and defensively responsible, makes room for his linemates.

I'm also going to take a victory lap on Mittelstadt. He's probably not the 3rd best C on the team, he's one of the top two. I don't care exactly what line he plays on, he's a big improvement for the FW group as a whole. Dogged on the puck in every zone, making small area moves and passes to linemates in space that he created for them.

I hope Granato gets more starts for both Comrie and UPL. Somebody needs to go somewhere and we may as well find out who the weak link is. The way the team is playing better defensively (not so much against Calgary) it might be harder to figure out...this includes the potential of sending Levi down.

In fairness to yourself with respect to Greenway, it’s always hard to fully gauge the impact of injuries on a player’s performance.

I thought he could be better with a proper camp and healing up but never to this level. I also didn’t fully appreciate how much his injuries were hampering his game and his confidence.