The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[sabremike]

Who could've possibly predicted the youngest roster in the league getting the living shit kicked out of them and once again being the undisputed laughingstock of the sport? Here is the complete list of coaches in history who won with kids:

Sir Alex Ferguson.

That's it, that's the list.

 

[Irie]

If we go by your definition of new then it's 7 Sabres to 5 Devils right? That's a 33% difference, not 40%.

I said 40% more.

If 5 is 100%, then each 1 player is equal to 20%. 7 players is 140% of 5 players, which, 140 subtracted by 100, is 40% more.

You can't even strawman correctly today, you are off your game

 

[TehDoak]

Byram and Power were very good in both games.

Honestly all of Adams’ “new” acquisitions were good. If only he had made a couple more in valuable positions maybe we wouldn’t have looked like a pile of dogshit.

It was everybody else around them that were f***ing brutal.

I think very few people have problems with the additions Adams made.

My biggest qualm is overpaying for Zucker

The issue is what he didn't add. He didn't address the defense at all. He didn't upgrade the top 6 forward group.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think very few people have problems with the additions Adams made.

My biggest qualm is overpaying for Zucker

The issue is what he didn't add. He didn't address the defense at all. He didn't upgrade the top 6 forward group.

What does “upgrade” even mean to a guy who isn’t able to tell which players are good until he’s seen them closely for several years? And even then, he’s fearful and indecisive, just like the team he built.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

If UPL and Levi were both a touch older and established as equal tenders, it would make total sense to run with them in a tandem set up. Right now each is better off getting around 50-55 starts, so regardless of what happens with Reimer and whether KA is bumbling yet another goalie signing, I simply don't understand why KA would want to limit either UPL or Levi to 40 or less starts this season.

KA actually seems like a dunderhead about managing the goalie position.

 

[Fezzy126]

I'm guessing from the fire and brimstone flying around here that I should NOT go back and watch the games to see how they did

 

[joshjull]

I didn't follow the Sabres during the first Ruff-years (I've only watched them regularly during the draught) but a demanding system with this roster seems naive at best. Especially considering the circumstances.

My guess is that a complex system with this team might lead to rebuild 4.0, our top six is the dumbest in the league even with Skinner gone.

Unrelared to hockey but research regarding business development shows that simple plans are the best since execution is the hardest part of any plan. Fancy and complex strategies often just leads to inaction.

A system that has our players in their heads all the time is probably a recipe for disaster.

There is nothing complicated about what Ruff is asking them to do. It’s pretty straightforward two way team play. It will take time to ingrain those new habits with this group. As we saw at the start of last season, they are stubbornly resistant to this change.

The bigger problem we have is a lot of our better players can’t handle the pressure of expectations. You saw that at the start last year and you’re seeing it now. These are the only two seasons this group has had playoff expectations. Tuch in the first two games is a prime example of this. He’s been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Trying to do everything and accomplishing nothing.

Ruff is going to have to be coach, mentor and counselor to get them through this. If he can’t pull it off, then it will be time to move on from some of the core group.

 

[HaNotsri]

There is nothing complicated about what Ruff is asking them to do. It’s pretty straightforward two way team play. It will take time to ingrain those new habits with this group. As we saw at the start of last season, they are stubbornly resistant to this change.

The bigger problem we have is a lot of our better players can’t handle the pressure of expectations. You saw that at the start last year and you’re seeing it now. These are the only two seasons this group has had playoff expectations. Tuch in the first two games is a prime example of this. He’s been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Trying to do everything and accomplishing nothing.

Ruff is going to have to be coach, mentor and counselor to get them through this. If he can’t pull it off, then it will be time to move on from some of the core group.

I think it's a talent issue rather than psychological. Time will tell.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think it's a talent issue rather than psychological. Time will tell.

Tuch has been too nervous to string a few good games together for over a year now. Get him off that top f***ing line ASAP.

 

[joshjull]

I think it's a talent issue rather than psychological. Time will tell.

It won’t because either could be plausibly argued as the issue if they fail by the end of the season.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Imagine Lindy getting booed his first game back in Buffalo. Very real possibility of that if they look anything like they did over the weekend.

 

[HaNotsri]

It won’t because either could be plausibly argued as the issue if they fail by the end of the season.

It will because we always trade our leading players and then we see them sink or thrive without the Buffalo pressure!
The true pleasure of being a Sabres fan.

My own belief is that Granato got the max effort from the team the "good" season and that last year was what we are capable of a normal year.

The only ones I think can surprise when it comes to talent and become truly elite are Dahlin, Benson and the goalies.

 

[Royal Thunder]

I live in Calgary. Listening to the morning show on the sports radio station here on the drive in to work, and the guys were just absolutely shocked by how bad the Sabres looked to start the season. Their minds were totally blown by how we came out and looked like an AHL team against an NHL team in what is supposed to be a showcase event for the league.

Hiring Lindy Ruff to be the answer here instead of a younger sharp mind, is going to be the demise of this core of players.

 

[joshjull]

It will because we always trade our leading players and then we see them sink or thrive without the Buffalo pressure!
The true pleasure of being a Sabres fan.

My own belief is that Granato got the max effort from the team the "good" season and that last year was what we are capable of a normal year.

The only ones I think can surprise when it comes to talent and become truly elite are Dahlin, Benson and the goalies.

Those two season are my point.

The “good” season had zero playoff expectations. They were expected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL. No one saw that season coming. The following season they had expectations of playoffs and struggled badly trying to handle them. And by “they”, I mean our top guys.

EDIT: The idea that Tage isn’t an elite talent doesn’t jive with what he’s done since becoming a center

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I live in Calgary. Listening to the morning show on the sports radio station here on the drive in to work, and the guys were just absolutely shocked by how bad the Sabres looked to start the season. Their minds were totally blown by how we came out and looked like an AHL team against an NHL team in what is supposed to be a showcase event for the league.

Hiring Lindy Ruff to be the answer here instead of a younger sharp mind, is going to be the demise of this core of players.

Granato was supposed to be the sharp young mind and he was run out of town.

Coaches don't affect hockey like they do football, this is just the team that Adams assembled. They are exactly the same every year, just like every other team. Changing a team identify in the NHL takes like 5 years and a ton of roster changes.

 

[HaNotsri]

Those two season are my point.

The “good” season had zero playoff expectations. They were expected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL. No one saw that season coming. The following season they had expectations of playoffs and struggled badly trying to handle them. And by “they”, I mean our top guys.

EDIT: The idea that Tage isn’t an elite talent doesn’t jive with what he’s done since becoming a center

38th in points among forwards over the last three seasons (30th in the last two). He's a good goalscorer but guys like Tavares, Huberdeau and Fiala are in front of him when it comes to production and his defense isn't super impressive. I guess it depends on your definition of elite, he's a leading player at least but when you compare him to Nylander, Marner or Matthews he falls short.
There's probably around 20 forwards I'd trade him for. I don't see him winning any hardware.

I don't think Benson will be better than Tage but there's some sort of possibility. Probably me being a fan though.

Dahlin is 7th among defense over those three years while playing a complete game. Has a chance to become the best swedish defenseman ever but that might be more generational than elite.

 

[Zman5778]

I live in Calgary. Listening to the morning show on the sports radio station here on the drive in to work, and the guys were just absolutely shocked by how bad the Sabres looked to start the season. Their minds were totally blown by how we came out and looked like an AHL team against an NHL team in what is supposed to be a showcase event for the league.

Remember: In 2022/23, the Devils finished with 112 points -- one behind Carolina for the division -- with the 2nd best goal differential in the East. They won a playoff round and then got housed by a very good, veteran Carolina team.

Last year, the Devils were absolutely done in by injury and goaltending that was truly awful and crippling.

I think a LOT of people around here are forgetting just how good this Devil squad was and can be.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Remember: In 2022/23, the Devils finished with 112 points -- one behind Carolina for the division -- with the 2nd best goal differential in the East. They won a playoff round and then got housed by a very good, veteran Carolina team.

Last year, the Devils were absolutely done in by injury and goaltending that was truly awful and crippling.

I think a LOT of people around here are forgetting just how good this Devil squad was and can be.

With all the parity that the cap created in this league, no team should look that bad two games in a row against another team. That was inexcusable.

 

[TageGod]

Disjointed, hesitant, poor timing of plays. That will sink you. That is all fixable though. Shot decision and placement on a PP is a huge issue (as is entries). The "shots to the net" are never in good positions to be tipped and are always high and wide. New roster new coach, lets check in on Thursday see if they can clean up issues.

 

[Sabre the Win]

How long until Levi takes the reigns and becomes a starter. UPL had me worried, he didn't look like second half UPL from last year.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Remember: In 2022/23, the Devils finished with 112 points -- one behind Carolina for the division -- with the 2nd best goal differential in the East. They won a playoff round and then got housed by a very good, veteran Carolina team.

Last year, the Devils were absolutely done in by injury and goaltending that was truly awful and crippling.

I think a LOT of people around here are forgetting just how good this Devil squad was and can be.

That's no excuse to look like an AHL team against them. If this team wants to compete then these are the teams they need to be competitive against.

I read these excuses as you and others basically saying that this team is not it and they wont ever be competitive with this core and I might have to agree with you in a round-about way. I will come out and say it, you and others will make excuses that ONLY apply to the Sabres.

 

[joshjull]

38th in points among forwards over the last three seasons (30th in the last two). He's a good goalscorer but guys like Tavares, Huberdeau and Fiala are in front of him when it comes to production and his defense isn't super impressive. I guess it depends on your definition of elite, he's a leading player at least but when you compare him to Nylander, Marner or Matthews he falls short.
There's probably around 20 forwards I'd trade him for. I don't see him winning any hardware.

You should be comparing Tage to his peers, other centers. Wingers don’t belong in that discussion. Center is the more difficult position and as such the production any player has there is impacted by that.

Against his follow centers those 3 seasons Tage ranks,

5v5
9th in points
7th in goals

Overall
16th in points
7th in goals

Thats with playing through a broken hand last season. He may have squeaked up a few spots had he been healthy and our PP wasn’t so bad.

I agree with you that he’s not great in our end. He actually drives me nuts at times with his play there. But it’s pretty hard to argue he’s not one of the best goal scoring centers in the game and best goal scorers period.

I don't think Benson will be better than Tage but there's some sort of possibility. Probably me being a fan though.

I love Benson, excited to see what he can become.

Dahlin is 7th among defense over those three years while playing a complete game. Has a chance to become the best swedish defenseman ever but that might be more generational than elite.

He is amazing. Though like the others, he struggled under the pressure at the start of last season and has been a non factor in the two games this season.

 

[Zman5778]

I read these excuses as you and others basically saying that this team is not it and they wont ever be competitive with this core and I might have to agree with you in a round-about way. I will come out and say it, you and others will make excuses that ONLY apply to the Sabres.

It's absolutely possible/plausible that this team isn't it.

I'm absolutely not willing to say that after 2 games this year.

 

[zenthusiast]

After all the discussion in the offseason regarding relative spending one may note that the Sabres did indeed narrowly escape being in the bottom five spenders for this year

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He is amazing. Though like the others, he struggled under the pressure at the start of last season and has been a non factor in the two games this season.

I'd be interested to see a list of other winning captains who start slow every year, and regularly still buckles under pressure in their 7th season. Probably a short list.