2022-2023 Sabres Thread

[Novacane]

Ugh. Just Ugh.

Last Monday 4-0 vs Flyers. (home loss)
This Monday 4-1 vs Panthers. (home loss)

What gives?

Why does it seem UPL gives up 4 goals every single game he plays?

Because he's not very good. He makes great saves to fool you into thinking he's improving but he's really not. Still good for at least one soft goal a game.

[swiper]

Because he's not very good. He makes great saves to fool you into thinking he's improving but he's really not. Still good for at least one soft goal a game.

Well Granato just deemed him the #1 goalie moving forward...

Head coach Don Granato says Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is now the team's No. 1 goalie

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports...ng-to-panthers


It's hard to see the Sabres making the play-offs while accepting this as good goaltending.

[Novacane]

That's basically admitting playoffs aren't a goal. We're gonna give this kid the season and see if he can improve. I guess I'm ok with it. They're to inconsistent to make it anyway. See if he can get better.

[OpIv37]

That's basically admitting playoffs aren't a goal. We're gonna give this kid the season and see if he can improve. I guess I'm ok with it. They're to inconsistent to make it anyway. See if he can get better.

It seems like they're giving UPL every chance they possibly can, because if he can somehow become an NHL goaltender, it's one less problem in the offseason.

Or, to say it the more cynical way: the FO is trying to pretend we don't have a goaltending problem for as long as they possibly can.

At this point, it just seems highly unlikely that UPL will be good enough to be the starting goalie for a playoff-level team. Who knows- maybe I'm wrong- I thought Tage would never be a top 6 forward. It just seems like they keep giving UPL chances and he keeps hitting his ceiling.

[JATMtheJATM]

Garbage loss

[Novacane]

Cant even hold a 3rd period lead against one of the worst teams in the league. This is bull **** that they can't figure that crap out.

[Novacane]

I'm tired of the they're young excuse. Keep this **** up and the stands will be empty again. Bull ****.

[Dmoney]

Goaltending!?!?

[swiper]

Goaltending!?!?

The Sabres are in the middle of another funk. They are 1-5 in the last 6. UPL lost 2, Anderson 2, Comrie 1 of those games. So maybe the 5 guys in front of the goaltenders have to also be a little bit better defensively.

The Sabres go as Thompson goes. He was in a 5 game funk until scoring last night. When Thompson isn't scoring, the Sabres aren't winning.

[OpIv37]

The Sabres are in the middle of another funk. They are 1-5 in the last 6. UPL lost 2, Anderson 2, Comrie 1 of those games. So maybe the 5 guys in front of the goaltenders have to also be a little bit better defensively.

The Sabres go as Thompson goes. He was in a 5 game funk until scoring last night. When Thompson isn't scoring, the Sabres aren't winning.

They're just a streaky team. At some point, they'll get hot again and win 6 of 8 or something like that. But, with all the bad streaks, they've pretty much worked their way out of a playoff spot already.

[JATMtheJATM]

They're just a streaky team. At some point, they'll get hot again and win 6 of 8 or something like that. But, with all the bad streaks, they've pretty much worked their way out of a playoff spot already.

This team is good, but sloppy. And youth can only be used for so long.

They need vets this next off-season. Guys who can show these youngsters how to win.

[Night Train]

Another egg against a team they have to beat if they are serious contenders this season.

They're not. Improved but still a ways to go.

Needing improvement

1. Goaltending - UPL had some good games but still has much to work on.
5 hole beats him quite often and has a tendency to go down a lot when he just needs to keep upright and not let goals beat him high. Too much flopping for a big guy.
Comrie came back early for 1 game and is AWOL again. Anderson is at the end. Need to get Levy signed for next season, which will probably be Rochester for experience.

2. Faceoffs - I saw Cozens had a 6 for 6 stat at one point the other night and was pleased. It does seem they lose key draws in their own end all the time, resulting in goals.

3. Fighting for pucks in the corner - Needs a lot of work. Physical shortcomings. Need a few bigger guys. Bangers who don't get pushed around.

4. Pinching in deep and getting caught - Other teams have a high number of 2 on 1 breaks. Pick your spots and make sure others are cycling back to cover.

5. Line combo's - will be a work for the next year until they show consistency. Lately the 4th line has been the best. Not good.

[swiper]

They took Tuch off of the Thompson/Skinner line and put him with Okposo/Jost in Monday's loss:

Alex Tuch didn’t like the way he and his linemates - Thompson and Jeff Skinner - played in Monday's game. Tuch scored the team’s only goal in the third period, but by then, he was on a line with Okposo and Tyson Jost.

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports...ng-to-panthers

[swiper]

They gave up the first goal doing what they do way too much, being 100% oblivious to defensemen coming through the slot free to score. Again, five Sabres players were facing their goalie with no clue that Connor Murphy had activated.

This needs to be addressed in practice, because this happens way too much.

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports...hls-worst-team

[swiper]

Potential defensemen the Buffalo Sabres could look at

Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic: Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may look to reward his team by making some additions by the trade deadline. He won’t make a move that would alter their long-term plans.

A look at some defensemen the Sabres could look at that could fit into their plans.

Jakob Chychrun – It might take Matt Savoie or a similar prospect plus a first-round pick and that may be too much for the Sabres.

John Klingberg – The price would need to come down from a first-round pick for the Sabres to be interested.

Ivan Provorov – Not sure what the ask would be. Owen Power will need a new contract soon, so would too much money be locked up in Power, Provorov and Rasmus Dahlin?

Vladislav Gavrikov – The Blue Jackets want a first, and if the Sabres were to meet that price, they would likely want to re-sign him.

Matt Dumba – Would be a nice partner for Power. He’s a pending UFA.

Dmitry Kulikov – He comes in a $2.2 million and could be a nice stay-at-home option.

Joel Edmundson – Has a year left at $3.5 million and has Stanley Cup Final experience.

Shayne Gostisbehere – More offense than defense but could be a cheaper acquisition price than some of the others.

Jack Johnson – Would bring experience to their third pairing.

Luke Schenn – Stanley Cup experience playing a physical game, and is right-handed.

I doubt the Sabres would take Provorov on after what he did the other day: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov boycotts Pride Night event

[JATMtheJATM]

Provorov is just another Risto

[OpIv37]

I doubt the Sabres would take Provorov on after what he did the other day: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov boycotts Pride Night event

I have a lot of thoughts on this but I don't want to turn this thread into a Spin Zone pissing match so I'll just leave it at this: what a ****ing moron.

[Novacane]

Provorov is just another Risto

That's a good reason to pass on him.

[Night Train]

Ryan Miller gets his jersey put in the rafters tonight.

[swiper]

Provorov is just another Risto

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...even-rcna66296