The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Tijuana Donkey Show]

3 of those guys are extremely high-end prospects, so you really can't judge at this point.

What 3 are “extremely high end prospects”?

Maybe 2….MAAAAYYBBEEEE. But definitely not 3 “extremely high end prospects” lol.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Fabbro looks f***ing good.

He’s always had that ability but didn’t get a consistent opportunity in Nashville.

 

[MagnumForce2]

The Sabres need to see if Josh Allen can skate.

 

[Krieger Bot]

He’s always had that ability but didn’t get a consistent opportunity in Nashville.

Sucks to be a budget team in moments like this. No other reason to not take a flier on him for a late round pick.

 

[Fjordy]

So aside from the constant top 4rhd and top 6 forward conversation that owns this thread....

Anyone wonder what would happen if beck gets more than 6-7mins a night? Ill admit i stat sheet watch more than actually watch lately so maybe others can comment more on that. It seems to me we paid a high price for a guy who barely plays...

Well Ruff doesn't trust him very much, the guy sometimes plays 7-9 minutes per game, and Ruff clearly won't care that Adams paid for him, that's just Adams' problem.

He’s always had that ability but didn’t get a consistent opportunity in Nashville.

Adams could have easily made this pickup, the experienced and smart GM did just that.

 

[DJN21]

Sucks to be a budget team in moments like this. No other reason to not take a flier on him for a late round pick.

has nothing to do with it, we just dont scout well. If you decide not taking a waiver claim on Fabbro as your

Well Ruff doesn't trust him very much, the guy sometimes plays 7-9 minutes per game, and Ruff clearly won't care that Adams paid for him, that's just Adams' problem.


Adams could have easily made this pickup, the experienced and smart GM did just that.

so its adams or ruff's fault?

 

[Krieger Bot]

Softness is not the issue, skill is. McLeod is soft or not physical, but that doesn't mean he's bad. Cozens hits, but he's a bit dumb and not a playmaker. Zegras is probably one of the few potential 2Cs that could be available and he's a good playmaker. Kreider is just a type of player, there are others.

Expecting players who don't go to hard areas to start going to hard areas due to someone who can make nifty passes is foolish. Find people who get to the net to do their scoring and put them with the collection of contact averse forwards already trying to make nifty passes.

Seeing the Islanders absolutely plant people who got around their crease was refreshing since most of the time we Sabre fans are subjected to panicked, chaotic stick reaching and general watching.

I still don't understand how Wilford is still here.

I think it's just our roster. Even if some players may look sluggish due to injuries or other reasons. And the coaching staff, which is basically the same, only Appert came in and Christie left (if I'm not mistaken). This is not Ruff's staff.

I’m all for changing the defensive coach. But a new coach can’t make this group bigger and physical. Thats a roster construction issue.

The thing is, I don't think it's one of these things or the other that's the problem. It's all this stuff.

They need more creativity amongst the forwards. There's not a single forward on this team that I would consider a high end playmaker in the NHL.

They also need more guys who go to the net with regularity. Particularly amongst their skill players. Again, not a single forward on this team both: (1) goes to the net regularly; and (2) has the skill to actually turn loose pucks into goals.

They don't defend well enough, or physically enough, around their own goaltender either. Only Sammy is a top 4 D who I would characterize as a good defensive defenseman who plays with an edge. And he's been out hurt (again).

Nor are they well coached enough. Wilford in particular stands out as an obvious minor league coach who's still employed by the Sabres because he's less expensive than someone who would be better.

While there's a ton of high picks on this team, they all largely do the same stuff. And they aren't well coached enough. The end result is a team that underperforms its skill level.

Now, they could start making some bigger moves to right the ship -- e.g., Cozens out for Zegras in a change of scenery type deal; Byram for Crouse; Rosen for...Risto (flame me all you want, but I think he'd be fine here in a well defined role as a defensive complement to someone like Power); fire Wilford and hire McKee.

But that would require Adams to tell Pegula the team he's spent 5 years building is still fundamentally flawed, and needs a bunch of significant moves. And I sincerely doubt he has the leash to do that. He'd be signing his own death warrant by advocating for such a shakeup.