WTF with Buffalo?

[pekka55]

Dahlin. Is. Not. A. Problem.

In any way, shape or form.

He is part of the problem. He's part of the team that sucks and is the captain of the team that sucks.

 

[DickSmehlik]

I wouldn't expect this strong finish to last the rest of the season.

We have murder's row coming up with Tampa x2, Florida and Carolina, not to mention the Leafs.

 

[BFLO]

I wouldn't expect this strong finish to last the rest of the season.

We have murder's row coming up with Tampa x2, Florida and Carolina, not to mention the Leafs.

We just beat WPG, WSH, VGK, EDM.

 

[Lt Dan]

First they were destroyed by the Flyers with 1/4 of the roster filled by career AHLers. And then they destroyed Washington, who are one of the best NHL teams this season, in a back-to-back game.

At this time of year teams filled with AHLers are the most dangerous

 

[KeyserSoze81]

He is part of the problem. He's part of the team that sucks and is the captain of the team that sucks.

I love the duality and incomprehensible cognitive dissonance required for this argument, as I've seen it countless times with Buffalo players. Jack Eichel sucks, Sam Reinhart sucks - then they leave and are top 20 players. Hahaha, Buffalo sucks and gave their best players away.

Environment and context matter in team sports. Bad coaching, bad development, bad roster construction, and bad ownership all contribute to performance. But then if a Buffalo fan tells you that a player is remarkably good and is performing incredibly well despite all of those factors, that player is somehow part of the problem??? He most certainly is not. No amount of bravado, leadership, or unshakeable raison d'etre of any one individual could save this franchise from itself.

 

[pekka55]

I love the duality and incomprehensible cognitive dissonance required for this argument, as I've seen it countless times with Buffalo players. Jack Eichel sucks, Sam Reinhart sucks - then they leave and are top 20 players. Hahaha, Buffalo sucks and gave their best players away.

Environment and context matter in team sports. Bad coaching, bad development, bad roster construction, and bad ownership all contribute to performance. But then if a Buffalo fan tells you that a player is remarkably good and is performing incredibly well despite all of those factors, that player is somehow part of the problem??? He most certainly is not. No amount of bravado, leadership, or unshakeable raison d'etre of any one individual could save this franchise from itself.

Didn't say any of that. Just pointed out that he's part of the team that has sucked every single season since he was drafted. He's not walking on water and is not above criticism.

 

[Seras]

They wait to trade players until they have no leverage or the player has been bad for a really long time and they get scraps in return that they have to hope and get lucky with

 

[ccman68]

Buffalo has a good enough roster to make the playoffs. They are all just mentally weak and can’t play well until the pressure is off.

 

[truthbluth]

Buffalo has a good enough roster to make the playoffs. They are all just mentally weak and can’t play well until the pressure is off.

Alternate theory: they’ve had an unsustainable run of incredible puck luck, but are getting outchanced at the same rate they have been all season because 5 out of 6 D and 9 out of 12 forwards are absolute dogshit in their own zone playing with little structure and even less toughness.

Don’t disagree that they are mentally weak, but this roster is also horribly constructed and that is a worse sin than something that could be fixed with a good sports psychologist and good coaches.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

It's not just scores. Philadelphia is one of the worst NHL teams on paper (and on the ice), and Washington leads East, is the second best team of the league overall and already has more than 100 points.

Record setting Bruins in 2023 lost back to back games to Chicago and Detroit giving up 6 and 5 goals. Shit happens.

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

Poor draft pick lol, longshot chance they could even get to frisky all year Anaheim.

 

[5 Minute Major]

You can’t stop these Sabres, you can only hope to contain them.

 

[Ace]

They replaced Dylan Cozens with literally nothing and they’ll never lose again.

 

[GoldenSeal]

Buffalo's brilliant strategy is to lure everyone into a false sense of security that they're possible a 'for real' team before shocking us all with their true plan: To tank for as long as it takes to build a solid team. Brilliant in theory but their ownership does it with a level of incompetence that should get them statues outside of the stadium for all the wrong reasons.

I'm not a Bufalo fan and just how the team is ran makes me angry.

 

[Djp]

They replaced Dylan Cozens with literally nothing and they’ll never lose again.

9-5-0 since TDL so a 105pt pace.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Buffalo is better at home than Tampa is on the road. The records show that. Not surprised by this result.

 

[Ace]

9-5-0 since TDL so a 105pt pace.

Those wins are over

Edmonton
Vegas
Winnipeg
Washington
Ottawa
Ottawa
Tampa
Pitt
Boston

The losses were all games where a completely shot UPL gave them zero chance to win

 

[MOGlLNY]

Poor draft pick lol, longshot chance they could even get to frisky all year Anaheim.

None of us care about where we draft. It’s irrelevant to us at this point, we don’t need another talented 18 year old. Entertain us.

 

[DapperCam]

There is a very real possibility that the Sabres finish with more RW, a better point differential and 10 points behind the Habs in the standings. Very weird season.

 

[sr edler]

Unless Power can evolve somewhat defensively, or they ship him out, big chance/risk is that they'll keep spinning the same type of wheels next season.

They have a big Russian D who is doing well in the American league, perhaps they should just replace above mentioned player with aforementioned player.

They're also way too reliant on Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch. That's a thin core.

They'll need guys like Benson, Kulich, Östlund taking big steps next season.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Free Dahlin please

and free entitled, pretentious Habs fans from thinking it's the glory years again suddenly.

saying that "maybe" we will let you have Levi for the right price.

Unless Power can evolve somewhat defensively, or they ship him out, big chance/risk is that they'll keep spinning the same type of wheels next season.

They have a big Russian D who is doing well in the American league, perhaps they should just replace above mentioned player with aforementioned player.

They're also way too reliant on Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch. That's a thin core.

They'll need guys like Benson, Kulich, Östlund taking big steps next season.

Benson is taking a pretty big step right now driving L1 with Tage. But hopefully there is continued upside including goals.

Getting/keeping Norris Healthy, another Center, fixing UPL, and finding Dmen who can play D next steps

They wait to trade players until they have no leverage or the player has been bad for a really long time and they get scraps in return that they have to hope and get lucky with

Peterka drama this summer (bridge, trade, or offer sheet) is going to be the next one

 

[Djp]

Unless Power can evolve somewhat defensively, or they ship him out, big chance/risk is that they'll keep spinning the same type of wheels next season.

Start of 25/26...Power will be just 22.

They have a big Russian D who is doing well in the American league, perhaps they should just replace above mentioned player with aforementioned player.

Who?

They're also way too reliant on Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch. That's a thin core.

They'll need guys like Benson, Kulich, Östlund taking big steps next season.

Kulich- rookie year at 20
Ostlund- first yr in NA hockey, also 30.
Benson- thud is his 19yr old sesson
Quinn and Peterka both end ELC this summer and are 23 to start next season

They just acwuure Norris, resigned Greenway snd Zucker

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Caps and Jets (who the Sabres also recently beat) are on cruise control, mystery solved.

Although the Jets are within striking distance of Dallas, so maybe they shouldn’t be.

I believe you have the Jets and Stars backwards here. Jets have always been in front of Dallas.

 

[DickSmehlik]

Unless Power can evolve somewhat defensively, or they ship him out, big chance/risk is that they'll keep spinning the same type of wheels next season.

I hate to pin things on a single player however I am steadfast in my belief that if Power doesn't improve next season, they will find themselves in the same boat. That's why I am open to trading him, even if the return isn't spectacular (similar to the Cozen's deal).

He does things well on the offensive side however he is the epitome of what has ailed this team forever, poor defensive play and softness.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Unless Power can evolve somewhat defensively, or they ship him out, big chance/risk is that they'll keep spinning the same type of wheels next season.

They have a big Russian D who is doing well in the American league, perhaps they should just replace above mentioned player with aforementioned player.

They're also way too reliant on Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch. That's a thin core.

They'll need guys like Benson, Kulich, Östlund taking big steps next season.

Thompson, Tuch and Sahlin have been consistent producers. I have no fear of one of them tailing off at their ages. But, yes….they need others.