The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Sabre the Win]

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

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

The team is largely the same, they removed Skinner and added a 4th line. If there is a correlation of those players making everyone better then I get the optimism to not right them off so early but to me this is game 84 under this team. I guess you can give Lindy Ruff some credit in the optimism department in hoping he changes the way they play but what I see currently is a team that cant play under any kind of pressure and hockey is all pressure comes playoffs and the push for playoffs. I don't think Lindy can teach that.

 

[TehDoak]

Literally the Sabres fan experience with Adams as a GM:

View attachment 911302

Adams does one smart thing this summer, signs a veteran goalie so Levi can collect starts in Rochester....and he can't even just do the logical thing.

It's beyond madness at this point. Just setting up rakes for himself to step on.

 

[Royal Thunder]

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.

They got absolutely taken to the woodshed both games. Come on lol

 

[Beerz]

They got absolutely taken to the woodshed both games. Come on lol

I don't think he said otherwise

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Sign a goalie so you can not play him and get him claimed off waivers. Go through that trouble so you can platoon two guys that should be starters in their respective leagues. Leave Rochester barren. There's nothing logical about this. There's no hidden answers, KA really is just dumb.

 

[Zman5778]

They got absolutely taken to the woodshed both games. Come on lol

Ummmm.....yes?

Kind of supports my point?

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843368320936050771

Kulich gets to stick around for a while with NAK going on IR.

 

[Irie]

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

Tage is a human highlight reel. His individual skill is unquestioned and he can absolutely change the tide of a game with his individual effort. I love that he wants to be a Sabre and that he puts forth the effort every game.

That said, I don't want Tage as my top line center if I am trying to compete. He is not a guy that makes his wingers better. His hockey sense is no where near elite and he just doesn't control the flow of the game when he is on the ice like the top ten centers in the league do.

I don't want to pin all the Sabres issues on just Thompson, because it is just one a several key issues I think that is holding back the team, but his game relies on him making individual plays a lot more than propping up his linemates, which makes the Sabres top line much easier to defend. With Tage as the number one center, this team will need to rely on their second and third line to produce more consistently if they are going to be successful. If this team is going to take the next step with this core, I think they do it with two interchangeable 1A/1B top lines, where both have to take advantage of defensive mismatches when they draw lesser defenders.

 

[Royal Thunder]

Ummmm.....yes?

Kind of supports my point?

The point is that this team is in “win now” mode by their own admission. A playoff-contender caliber team shouldn’t get absolutely dominated beyond belief in back to back games against ANY team. Making excuses that they only looked bad because the Devils are good is silly and lets them off the hook for horrendous performance

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

The point is that this team is in “win now” mode by their own admission. A playoff-contender caliber team shouldn’t get absolutely dominated beyond belief in back to back games against ANY team. Making excuses that they only looked bad because the Devils are good is silly and lets them off the hook for horrendous performance

They said that last year too. If this management team learns how to win, it'll be by accident.

 

[TehDoak]

The point is that this team is in “win now” mode by their own admission. A playoff-contender caliber team shouldn’t get absolutely dominated beyond belief in back to back games against ANY team. Making excuses that they only looked bad because the Devils are good is silly and lets them off the hook for horrendous performance

Over an 82 game season, teams are going to have ups and downs.

As much as I'm on the pessimistic side of things for my expectations, burying a team for losing 2 straight in an 82 game season when the games are played in Europe is silly.

It's not OK they played poorly.

I'll be much more concerned if we don't see any urgency in the next few games as well.

 

[Zman5778]

Over an 82 game season, teams are going to have ups and downs.

As much as I'm on the pessimistic side of things for my expectations, burying a team for losing 2 straight in an 82 game season when the games are played in Europe is silly.

It's not OK they played poorly.

I'll be much more concerned if we don't see any urgency in the next few games as well.

I'm even giving them a SLIGHT break for this upcoming weekend too, while they return to a sense of normalcy.

That said -- if they look like ass against Pittsburgh next week...and in general for next week's 3-in-4......then I'll be burying them.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I got beat up for saying you keep Levi on the squad over Reimer. UPL had his first good season last year. Don’t be surprised if Levi is the man by mid November and it’s UPL getting 35 games.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I got beat up for saying you keep Levi on the squad over Reimer. UPL had his first good season last year. Don’t be surprised if Levi is the man by mid November and it’s UPL getting 35 games.

If Levi wins the starter role in year-one of UPL’s 5-year contract, that’s even worse than Adams’ handling of Reimer.

That means he handed out a fresh new long term contract to someone for them to be the starter, and they couldn’t even do the job for one f***ing season. It would make Adams look much worse than he already looks and is grounds for firing right there.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

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.

I agree with that.

But if the Sabres want playoffs, they need to win most of the games that they should and split with playoff teams. Don’t have two game losing streaks.

The carryover of the slow starts, power play woes and disappearing scoring is extremely disappointing

At least against the devils, they did not look improved. They get a week off and hopefully the humble pie gets them back to basics and winning

 

[Zman5778]

Don’t have two game losing streaks.

When was the last team ANY NHL playoff team didn't have a two game losing streak?

Last year's SC Winners, the Panthers....lost their first 2. They had NINE 2-game losing streaks.

Vegas the year before? They had TEN 2-game losing streaks.

Asking a team to "not have two game losing streaks" is absurd.

 

[Willgamesh]

When was the last team ANY NHL playoff team didn't have a two game losing streak?

Last year's SC Winners, the Panthers....lost their first 2. They had NINE 2-game losing streaks.

Vegas the year before? They had TEN 2-game losing streaks.

Asking a team to "not have two game losing streaks" is absurd.

Oilers lost their first 2 as well.

 

[Sabre the Win]

When was the last team ANY NHL playoff team didn't have a two game losing streak?

Last year's SC Winners, the Panthers....lost their first 2. They had NINE 2-game losing streaks.

Vegas the year before? They had TEN 2-game losing streaks.

Asking a team to "not have two game losing streaks" is absurd.

Oilers lost their first 2 as well.

Oilers were being written off for the first and a half months until they went on a 14 or 16 game win streak (I forget what it was) but we don't have a McDavid or Drai. We don't have a team like Florida or Vegas. We have "kids" in their 5th and 6th year's acting like rookies who can't handle adversity or pressure. When are they considered veterans? When they learn to play like it? Take control?

 

[jc17]

If Levi wins the starter role in year-one of UPL’s 5-year contract, that’s even worse than Adams’ handling of Reimer.

That means he handed out a fresh new long term contract to someone for them to be the starter, and they couldn’t even do the job for one f***ing season. It would make Adams look much worse than he already looks and is grounds for firing right there.

Come on. If Levi plays lights out and earns more games that's not a knock on adams. God forbid he secures 2 solid goaltenders.

If Kevyn didn't give UPL a contract, and Levi underperformed this fanbase would be absolutely livid that in "win now" years, Kevyn put his faith in a 21 year old goalie with a handful of NHL experience, or livid that he bridged another player like the organization did to Reinhart.

 

[Matt Ress]

Come on. If Levi plays lights out and earns more games that's not a knock on adams. God forbid he secures 2 solid goaltenders.

If Kevyn didn't give UPL a contract, and Levi underperformed this fanbase would be absolutely livid that in "win now" years, Kevyn put his faith in a 21 year old goalie with a handful of NHL experience, or livid that he bridged another player like the organization did to Reinhart.

I mean, both of you are right which makes the Reimer move to Rochester all that more baffling.

 

[michaelsaas]

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.

Don't forget horrible coaching! Whatever happened to that guy?






JK I Don't think Ruff was the problem, I just couldn't resist.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Come on. If Levi plays lights out and earns more games that's not a knock on adams. God forbid he secures 2 solid goaltenders.

If Kevyn didn't give UPL a contract, and Levi underperformed this fanbase would be absolutely livid that in "win now" years, Kevyn put his faith in a 21 year old goalie with a handful of NHL experience, or livid that he bridged another player like the organization did to Reinhart.

Fun fact: did you realize that GMs are allowed to give shorter contracts than 5 years? That’s the part I’m talking about.

Adams knows UPL much better than we do. If he sucks this season, Adams shouldn’t have given him a 5-yr contract.

GMs are fired for giving out bad goalie contracts all the time and Adams should rightfully be fired if UPL isn’t good enough to be a starter for even one full season. His contract is WAY too expensive for a backup and I refuse to believe he wasn’t able to sign him on a shorter deal.

 

[Mattilaus]

Fun fact: did you realize that GMs are allowed to give shorter contracts than 5 years? That’s the part I’m talking about.

Adams knows UPL much better than we do. If he sucks this season, Adams shouldn’t have given him a 5-yr contract.

GMs are fired for giving out bad goalie contracts all the time and Adams should rightfully be fired if UPL isn’t good enough to be a starter for even one full season. His contract is WAY too expensive for a backup and I refuse to believe he wasn’t able to sign him on a shorter deal.

Fun Fact: did you realize that players aren't obligated to sign whatever contract is offered by the GM?

Everyone continues to act like KA can just make whatever contract he wants and the player has to sign it. We weren't in the negotiating room. Maybe UPL wanted 8 and KA wanted 2 and they settled at 5. In a year where making the playoffs is a necessity, you just tell UPL to go eff himself and run with Levi and Reimer? How badly do you think KA would get roasted on here if he failed to sign UPL and he demanded a trade? Or how about if we did get the magical 2 year contract and Levi ends up sucking then UPL leaves in 2 years.

I have zero problem with this team investing in goaltending. If UPL is good the contract will easily be tradable should we need and we are still spending far less than other teams. The cap isn't a concern right now.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

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

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

If you ain't first you're last - Ricky Bobby

-Michael Scott

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Fun Fact: did you realize that players aren't obligated to sign whatever contract is offered by the GM?

Everyone continues to act like KA can just make whatever contract he wants and the player has to sign it. We weren't in the negotiating room. Maybe UPL wanted 8 and KA wanted 2 and they settled at 5. In a year where making the playoffs is a necessity, you just tell UPL to go eff himself and run with Levi and Reimer? How badly do you think KA would get roasted on here if he failed to sign UPL and he demanded a trade? Or how about if we did get the magical 2 year contract and Levi ends up sucking then UPL leaves in 2 years.

I have zero problem with this team investing in goaltending. If UPL is good the contract will easily be tradable should we need and we are still spending far less than other teams. The cap isn't a concern right now.

He was RFA so yeah, he would have signed a 2-yr deal.