The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[littletonhockeycoach]

Something I can't figure out: everyone knows this team's shooting percentage is comically awful. What puzzles me is that while it often leads to a breakout the other way it also often leads to getting a dangerous opportunity with everyone scrambling if you get a good bounce yet that never happens for us. It can't just be puck luck, it has to be something we are (or aren't) doing right?

It's a fine line........ If anyone on this board lined up against these guys, they would get smoked. None of us is a NHL-level talent.

But they are (supposedly) NHL talent.

But apparently, not the top of the totem pole (bad reference, I know. Sorry...)

They regularly get out performed in terms of passing precision and accuracy, puck handling skills, close in puck recovery along the boards and in front of the net.

Just compare anyone on today's squad with the skill level of a Sam Reinhart when seeking deflections, redirects, rebounds, possession in close in scrums.

Some of that is physical. A lot more of it is simply better stick and positioning talent (and smarts).

Of all the personnel decisions made the last 2 years, moving Sam (not sure of whether that was what brought Levi here), is one of the worst.

Turned out to be (to me) just another case of wack-a-gopher....

 

[MarkusKetterer]

It's a fine line........ If anyone on this board lined up against these guys, they would get smoked. None of us is a NHL-level talent.

But they are (supposedly) NHL talent.

But apparently, not the top of the totem pole (bad reference, I know. Sorry...)

They regularly get out performed in terms of passing precision and accuracy, puck handling skills, close in puck recovery along the boards and in front of the net.

Just compare anyone on today's squad with the skill level of a Sam Reinhart when seeking deflections, redirects, rebounds, possession in close in scrums.

Some of that is physical. A lot more of it is simply better stick and positioning talent (and smarts).

Of all the personnel decisions made the last 2 years, moving Sam (not sure of whether that was what brought Levi here), is one of the worst.

Turned out to be (to me) just another case of wack-a-gopher....

It is a bad reference. Because the bottom of the totem pole is actually the strongest, even though that’s not as impressive.

 

[sabremike]

It's a fine line........ If anyone on this board lined up against these guys, they would get smoked. None of us is a NHL-level talent.

But they are (supposedly) NHL talent.

But apparently, not the top of the totem pole (bad reference, I know. Sorry...)

They regularly get out performed in terms of passing precision and accuracy, puck handling skills, close in puck recovery along the boards and in front of the net.

Just compare anyone on today's squad with the skill level of a Sam Reinhart when seeking deflections, redirects, rebounds, possession in close in scrums.

Some of that is physical. A lot more of it is simply better stick and positioning talent (and smarts).

Of all the personnel decisions made the last 2 years, moving Sam (not sure of whether that was what brought Levi here), is one of the worst.

Turned out to be (to me) just another case of wack-a-gopher....

They had to trade Sam because he was going to walk as an UFA (I believe he outright told this to KA as he wasn't willing to waste more of his career on another rebuild).

 

[BFLO]

They had to trade Sam because he was going to walk as an UFA (I believe he outright told this to KA as he wasn't willing to waste more of his career on another rebuild).

...because Adams only extended Sam for 1 year the season before, when at the time Reinhart wanted to extend long term.

 

[stealth1]

...because Adams only extended Sam for 1 year the season before, when at the time Reinhart wanted to extend long term.

I don't think it would have made a difference even if they signed him long term. Once they decided on a rebuild he most likely would have asked for a trade. Once Eichel wanted out a rebuild had to happen

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

They had to trade Sam because he was going to walk as an UFA (I believe he outright told this to KA as he wasn't willing to waste more of his career on another rebuild).

Sam wanted to be here. He said so several times. I believe that once again, it was all about the contract and the financial perspective as Adams perceived Pegula would accept.

It is a bad reference. Because the bottom of the totem pole is actually the strongest, even though that’s not as impressive.

Just should have said most of the Sabres are not the creamed la creme across multiple skill sets.

 

[Fjordy]

They do have to spend to get to the cap floor so they have to spend some money. If you have noticed they haven't been close to a cap team since COVID. There is a reason for that.

As far as trading a top 6 C for a LD, I don't think that's who they necessarily targeted but more so that was the best deal available for budget reasons.

Like I said IMO they traded Mitts not necessarily for Byram but to use that money to upgrade the bottom 6. My view was it was either keep Mitts or upgrade the bottom 6.

As far as Reimer goes, Reimer wasn't cut for budget reasons but they wanted Levi up with the big club to start the season. Reimer was the odd one out and they hoped he would pass waivers and could play in Rochester to start.

I do agree Adams isn't doing the best job but at the same time I don't fault him for everything, especially when you are told how to run the team.

I feel all this could have been much better had Pegula not bought the Bills. Since then the Sabres are an afterthought to Pegula.

Well I just don't agree with that, Adams is a bad GM. Terry has done a lot of bad things, but that doesn't absolve Adams of any wrongdoing.

Reimer was never going to clear waivers for me. Keep Levi in Buffalo makes no sense. He just isn't playing, isn't developing, and is failing.

Trading for Byram made no sense, especially trading Mitts.

Adams screwed up with goalies, screwed up with defense, screwed up with attack. Yeah, he improved the bottom 6, but he screwed up the top 6.

We need another GM.