GDT: Sabres @ Columbus 7 PM ET TV:MSG Radio:WGR550

[joshjull]

The gave big deals and now letters to some mentally weak players. They fold under the pressure of expectations.

We also have a top 6 made up of a bunch of kids, a vet playing over his head

 

[DapperCam]

Every single one of those guys could easily be traded so the idea of a buyout is batshit crazy.

If Cozens becomes a career 45 point guy (his stats last year), he really isn't worth that contract. If he has trade value in that scenario, it's only because his contract is so easy to buyout.

 

[joshjull]

If Cozens becomes a career 45 point guy (his stats last year), he really isn't worth that contract. If he has trade value in that scenario, it's only because his contract is so easy to buyout.

A young player like Cozens will have several GMs who feel they’d have the team to bring the best out of them. Its not as if there isn’t a history of that with previous departures around the league.

I think you’re also way too fixated on buyouts. It’s not something teams generally like to do. It’s kind of nuts you think if we got a new GM he would even be looking to buyout all those players. Nor do most of them warrant it either.

 

[BB79]

At least we have 2 starting goalies

It'll only help if they can play at the same time

 

[DapperCam]

A young player like Cozens will have several GMs who feel they’d have the team to bring the best out of them. Its not as if there isn’t a history of that with previous departures.

I think you’re also way too fixated on buyouts. It’s not something teams generally like to do. It’s kind of nuts you think if we got a new GM he would even be looking to buyout all those players. Nor do most of them warrant it either.

I don't think anybody is getting bought out, but it does help make a player more tradable. Through 5 games Cozens has 1 assist which was him shooting the puck wide of the net. That is a 13 point season pace. Let's say this is a disaster season and he has 30 points. Any acquiring GM would absolutely value that option exists when making the deal. It lowers their risk.

 

[sabremike]

I wish fans could organize a targeted boycott of a game with the idea of publicly embarrassing the organization by having a game played with a few hundred people in the building.

 

[sabremike]

sadly there has a been a lot of games much worse than this and this isn't even the worst game played against Columbus recently.

Go listen to the post-game comments and get back to me.

 

[joshjull]

I don't think anybody is getting bought out, but it does help make a player more tradable. Through 5 games Cozens has 1 assist which was him shooting the puck wide of the net. That is a 13 point season pace. Let's say this is a disaster season and he has 30 points. Any acquiring GM would absolutely value that option exists when making the deal. It lowers their risk.

I don’t see any GM, or least any good one, caring about the buyout situation if they are looking to acquire any of Cozens, Sammy, Power, etc.

Acquiring young players with that many years left on deals will only appeal to them if they feel they can get the player back on track. If that GMs feels they were just in crap situation here and coming to their new team would get them back to what their initial pedigree was. Then they would have a talented young player playing to their capabilities on a good deal.

You’re effectively saying they would view them as not very good players anymore. But what the hell, let’s take a shot on them since we can always buy them out at 1/3. I can’t imagine any good GM thinking like that.

I’d also point out Sammy only has next offseason left to be bought out at 1/3. Cozens just the next 2 offseasons.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

The real question is...

Will the Sabres have more Wins than the Bills before December?

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Is the conclusion then that the principle problem is not the coach....

It's actually the players that the GM put in place.....?

End result: another roster build goes down the tubes......!

 

[K8fool]

You want dahlin to sit but want players to hit...and want power to replace him? Power couldn't hit the 30 second button on the microwave to undercook popcorn....those 2 aren't comparable of youre gonna throw any form of physicality into the mix...

Gilbert has a simple good game. If dahlin is hurt he’s not helping us.

Nobody thinks power will hit but he’ll need a partner to clear the net and he’s proven he can log 25 min to allow dahlin to heal if he’s avoiding contact.

We have three guys that can clear the net and intimidate. 75, Gilbert and muel. more at forward dominating LA and Fla.

I love dahlins heart but watching Thompson last year try to play thru injury took a spot sway from someone that wasn’t a team millstone w great intentions.

This will get worked out . It’s also amplified by cozens and Quinn producing nothing, maybe just need time as many skill teams start slow over complicating thinking.

I’m not suggesting answers just don’t know what I’m seeing. and I trust Lindy to make these hard decisions that won’t be solved til ten to twenty games out

Last two nights were tough even brutal to watch. I’m sure you’d agree. Whatever about refs but we’ve earned all four losses. It’s early and the burn it down people are ptsd nuts but truly understandable as I won’t watch for all sanity if we don’t prove ourselves identity wise in Chicago.

 

[K8fool]

If Cozens becomes a career 45 point guy (his stats last year), he really isn't worth that contract. If he has trade value in that scenario, it's only because his contract is so easy to buyout.

It’s early and he’s a child. Unfortunately playing like stick gripping individual effort bullsht right now. I’ll trust ruff but again watching if rough

 

[Fjordy]

I just don't understand what the hell is going on.

 

[Ehran]

Cozens has nearly 300 NHL games played.

Thompson has nearly 400 and Dahlin well over 400 games.

Cozens is the youngest and he's going to be 24 soon. Thompson is 27. Dahlin is 24.

They're not young or inexperienced anymore. Not really. Using those excuses is a crutch at this point.

 

[debaser66]

Being the youngest team in the NHL isn't it. One or two veterans aren't going to be able to change this team. You got too many kids trying to learn how to win and it just doesn't work.

The idiot GM made the team less experienced with trading Mitts for bryam.
He is a good addition in a vacuum but not for this team.

 

[BB79]

Cozens has nearly 300 NHL games played.

Thompson has nearly 400 and Dahlin well over 400 games.

Cozens is the youngest and he's going to be 24 soon. Thompson is 27. Dahlin is 24.

They're not young or inexperienced anymore. Not really. Using those excuses is a crutch at this point.

The stunted development of the youth is a symptom of a bigger problem...there's a talented team of ex-Sabres that won cups just after leaving the team. Something is wrong with the management of this team. The culture sucks? Owner doesn't know what he's doing? GM is clueless? All of the above?

 

[debaser66]

This is what should've been done. Levi should've been in the AHL right after Europe trip

But its youth!

 

[ValJamesDuex]

They have a few really low IQ players

more than we might think, Lindy said he can not understand why the d keep making the same mistakes and not learn from them

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I just don't understand what the hell is going on.

Of anyone If you can't, I'm lost ? A try...

Seeing it's the same thing over and over it's the players and the culture imo and there just to thick to learn from it. When there is a little bit of pressure they just melt.

Whomever here caught on that they didn't have a good feeling about 26 becoming captain looks right. He seems to be really struggling with the added pressure.

Not having a full training camp hurt and whomever made the call to go to Europe should be fired immediately.

 

[Fjordy]

Of anyone If you can't, I'm lost ? A try...

Seeing it's the same thing over and over it's the players and the culture imo and there just to thick to learn from it. When there is a little bit of pressure they just melt.

Whomever here caught on that they didn't have a good feeling about 26 becoming captain looks right. He seems to be really struggling with the added pressure.

Not having a full training camp hurt and whomever made the call to go to Europe should be fired immediately.

And I'm not sure that the problem is only with the players. Dahlin doesn't play aggressively, doesn't play a physical game, avoids contact and looks rusty because of the captain's pressure? I doubt it.

PP is on the coaches.

The game is on the coaches.

You can trade all the best players on this team and nothing will change, we've already seen it. ROR, Eichel, Reinhart, Ullmark, Mitts are gone.

The GM should be fired and replaced with a competent person. The coaching staff should be replenished with new competent people.

New GM could make a few trades, but Adams won't do a damn thing, we already know that.

 

[May Day 10]

Is the conclusion then that the principle problem is not the coach....

It's actually the players that the GM put in place.....?

End result: another roster build goes down the tubes......!

The problem imo is an organizational culture that is set by the owner and passed down through the players.

The standard here is not winning or success. The standard is sticking to the plan with "authentic" people who are "good communicators". As long as they stick to their guns, whether it's adams, keeping matt Ellis through his 3rd failed coaching staff, forton, nightingale, housley for 1 season too many, granato for 3/4 of a season too many, etc. Botterill's "we are in a position to be in games" is an example, or how he rolled off stats of how many games the sabres were within a goal going into the 3rd period.

Failures get excused by the sabres and most of the local media, who pegula has his thumb on. The sabres aren't relevant enough for the national media to bother with.

Players play with a malaise and it's noticeable. Players don't want to come here because they all know how it is. In the event a player is traded here, he always looks great for 2 or 3 games, and becomes "sabreized". Players leave and suddenly they look like the full version of themselves. This is not accident or coincidence.


The Sabres need to install someone at the top who plants a flag of a standard of excellence. Losing is not tolerated, shrugged off, or excused away.

 

[TageGod]

Every game since the Devils has been special teams decided. They CANT stay this bad forever at it.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Sorry for anyone who watched this mess. They're in one of their mental funks that will last 10 games, and then they'll have a couple of game where they look competent. They'll have their inspired playoff race in Jan- only to draft top 10 by year's end.

 

[SabresFan26]

Let’s not forget one of KA big signings this summer hasn’t played since the first game (NAK).

 

[Dubi Doo]

And I'm not sure that the problem is only with the players. Dahlin doesn't play aggressively, doesn't play a physical game, avoids contact and looks rusty because of the captain's pressure? I doubt it.

PP is on the coaches.

The game is on the coaches.

You can trade all the best players on this team and nothing will change, we've already seen it. ROR, Eichel, Reinhart, Ullmark, Mitts are gone.

The GM should be fired and replaced with a competent person. The coaching staff should be replenished with new competent people.

New GM could make a few trades, but Adams won't do a damn thing, we already know that.

The GM and coach need to be canned (Sorry, Lindy, I'm not blaming you for this crap) + their needs to be big time roster turnover. There are a few guys to keep, but it's clear this core doesn't have it. So glad I never bought a Cozens GOAThead jersey. Get his ass off this team please. Tuch, too. I loathe watching those two play. That's a good start. On defense, I wouldn't care if they traded Dahlin- he's been around this shit stain of a franchise for too long, and it's creeped into his DNA.

I fully admit it'll probably lead to another failed attempt to build a contender or even a playoff contender, but that unknown is better than the known at this point.