Fix Buffalo, 3 steps.

[PatrikBerglund]

* Trade Ristolainen for a defensive stallion like (for instance) Adam Larsson. Buffalo lacks a defensive minute-eating monster, especially as a mentor next to Dahlin.

None of Buffalo's current defencemen have a defensive skill-level that is needed to be a competitive team.

There is enough skill in the organisation to create the offence. Not that I write in the organisation, not on Buffalo' current roster.

* Separate Eichel and Reinhart, to center the two top lines.

Berglund is a great defensive forward with a high-end possession game, but lacks the offensive instincts to center a #2 scoring line.

Also put Skinner on the third line. He has always produced more with nobodies than with star centers.


* Fire Housley. Seriously, fire him immediately. He could probably do a decent job as a coach for the power play, since that was the only area he excelled in during his active career.

Click to read more...

 

[TheMistyStranger]

My 3 steps:

1 - Acquire a defender who stands up at the line. This doesn't have to be a big hitter, though bonus if so. Too many times the defense just coasts into their own zone with no challenge at the line. Play the damn body.

2 - Move Skinner to Berglund's wing. He and Eichel play too similar a game. Berglund plays a strong, simple two-way game. Fling the puck to the LW and let Skinner dance around on the ice.

3 - Wait. This one sucks, but this team is relying on a metric ****ton of under 22s to carry the load. That's an unbelievable amount of pressure. I have no doubt that this team gets better with time, but there's no way to rush the process without ruining the players.

 

[Jim Bob]

1- Wait until Quennville is fired and hire him immediately to replace Housley.

2- Actually a acquire a leader that can be the Messier to Eichel's Gretzky. Botts has had two offseasons and none of the players he has acquired was deemed worthy of wearing a letter this season. Botts, Housley, and everyone else felt that Bogosian was a better leader than any player that Botts has acquired. Let that sink in.

3- Keep the kids like Guhle, Pilut, Asplund, and Nylander away from Housley for as long as possible.

 

[zuikan]

In a couple of months, or tomorrow...

Nylander-Eichel-Reinhardt
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Thompson
Skinner-Asplund-Girgensons
Rodrigues-Berglund-Okposo/Pominville

Pilut-Dahlin
Scandella-Ristolainen
McCabe-Bogosian/best of Amerks

Swap around 2nd & 3rd line wingers for best fits.

 

[Der Jaeger]

1. Team needs a veteran coach with a real possession system. There are too many talented players on the team to play the way they do.

2. Bring up some of the kids.

3. Wait until the dead weight players are off the team.

 

[Dreakon13]

My 3 steps:

1 - Acquire a defender who stands up at the line. This doesn't have to be a big hitter, though bonus if so. Too many times the defense just coasts into their own zone with no challenge at the line. Play the damn body.

2 - Move Skinner to Berglund's wing. He and Eichel play too similar a game. Berglund plays a strong, simple two-way game. Fling the puck to the LW and let Skinner dance around on the ice.

3 - Wait. This one sucks, but this team is relying on a metric ****ton of under 22s to carry the load. That's an unbelievable amount of pressure. I have no doubt that this team gets better with time, but there's no way to rush the process without ruining the players.

I agree wholeheartedly with 1 and 3 here.

For point 1... Dahlin was a breath of fresh air last night as he made it really hard for players to get around him... not that he wasn't without gaffe's, but overall. He's going to be a huge boost for point 1 in a year or two. If we can get a solid tough-to-play-against defensive defenseman, that'd be great. Shame that couldn't have been Bogosian. Maybe it's Borgen down the road.

For point 3... you can see the potential in this group, which is why I'm not overly concerned with how they played in the opener. But it's going to take just the right amount of personal development, coaching and supporting personnel to make it all work. All of which will take time more than anything else.

If I had to add my own point 2, it's to work on their passing. Whether that's acquiring guys who can make tape to tape passes, or just practicing it non-stop with this group. Probably both. Players need to be in the right places on the ice, ready to receive those passes... and players need to read the ice better and actually pass it to eachother and not just in the "general vicinity" of where players might be.

 

[HaNotsri]

1. Send Mittelstadt, Thompson and Dahlin to AHL.
2. Swap arena with Rochester Americans.
3. Enjoy winning games in AHL

 

[DON VITO]

1. Fire Housley
2. Fire Housley
3. Fire Housley

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

3. Wait until the dead weight players are off the team.

Except we can’t, because that’s how you lose Skinner and most of your value contracts.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

If I had to add my own point 2, it's to work on their passing. Whether that's acquiring guys who can make tape to tape passes, or just practicing it non-stop with this group. Probably both. Players need to be in the right places on the ice, ready to receive those passes... and players need to read the ice better and actually pass it to eachother and not just in the "general vicinity" of where players might be.

It's startling how bad their passing is. In the first period, Dahlin connect on a tape to tape pass from his right-side blueline diagonally to the left winger on the attacking line. There was an audible gasp from the crowd. Yeah, it was a nice pass, but that shouldn't be so out of the ordinary that the crowd reacts to it like that.

 

[Gabrielor]

It's startling how bad their passing is. In the first period, Dahlin connect on a tape to tape pass from his right-side blueline diagonally to the left winger on the attacking line. There was an audible gasp from the crowd. Yeah, it was a nice pass, but that shouldn't be so out of the ordinary that the crowd reacts to it like that.

It didn’t use to be. Tallinder Lydman and Campbell made those passes all the time. It’s just been a while since we had even average passing d.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Except we can’t, because that’s how you lose Skinner and most of your value contracts.

I don't consider Skinner dead weight. I consider him a TDL asset.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I don't consider Skinner dead weight. I consider him a TDL asset.

Neither do I. I’m saying we can’t wait because we’re literally auditioning to keep our second best forward this season.

And I have pretty low expectations for his TDL return given his willingness to flex the NTC.

 

[Fezzy126]

Except we can’t, because that’s how you lose Skinner and most of your value contracts.

Agreed, if their shitty play continues we'll either lose assets like Skinner at the TDL for pennies on the dollar or in the offseason for nothing...

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

Trade Eichel for Ekman Larsson

 

[Der Jaeger]

Neither do I. I’m saying we can’t wait because we’re literally auditioning to keep our second best forward this season.

And I have pretty low expectations for his TDL return given his willingness to flex the NTC.

I've never viewed Skinner as a long term player for the Sabres. I think he's here for this season and that's it. I think Skinner would waive his NTC to go to a contender for a few months, wherever that may be.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

All great teams have at least one strong and dependable defensive defenceman, who can go up against, and play +/- 0 against the other team's top player(s).

This is the case for all teams except for Pittsburgh. They somehow manage to win cups with a highly ordinary D corpse.

Then again, almost all their forwards are hard-working and defensively responsible/intelligent.

Backchecking, positioning and relentlessness are the keys to a great team defence.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

All great teams have at least one strong and dependable defensive defenceman, who can go up against, and play +/- 0 against the other team's top player(s).

This is the case for all teams except for Pittsburgh. They somehow manage to win cups with a highly ordinary D corpse.

Then again, almost all their forwards are hard-working and defensively responsible/intelligent.

Backchecking, positioning and relentlessness are the keys to a great team defence.

Brian Dumoulin says hi.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I've never viewed Skinner as a long term player for the Sabres. I think he's here for this season and that's it. I think Skinner would waive his NTC to go to a contender for a few months, wherever that may be.

Then why even acquire a player who can’t play with your other talent, and who gets in the way of developmental roles because he needs sheltering?

The chance to turn Pu and a 2nd into another protected first? Blah.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

My team.

Sheary-Eichel-Nylander

Mittelstadt-Reinhart-Okposo

Skinner-Berglund-Thompson

Rodrigues-Asplund-Pominville


Dahlin-A.Larsson

Scandella-Pilut

McCabe-Anyone who has a last name that doesn't start with a "B".



This team would without a doubt be more competitive than the one we're icing now.

Thoughts?

 

[Member 308457]

1. Get a world-beater goaltender.
2. Acquire fast, hard-nosed players who can fight, pass and score.
3. Make good hockey trades and not acquire other teams' overpaid, concussion-prone players.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I'm not sure how to fix the Sabres with only three steps. More steps and more time...very boring I know...

 

[Man of Principles]

* Trade Ristolainen for a defensive stallion like (for instance) Adam Larsson. Buffalo lacks a defensive minute-eating monster, especially as a mentor next to Dahlin.

None of Buffalo's current defencemen have a defensive skill-level that is needed to be a competitive team.

There is enough skill in the organisation to create the offence. Not that I write in the organisation, not on Buffalo' current roster.

* Separate Eichel and Reinhart, to center the two top lines.

Berglund is a great defensive forward with a high-end possession game, but lacks the offensive instincts to center a #2 scoring line.

Also put Skinner on the third line. He has always produced more with nobodies than with star centers.


* Fire Housley. Seriously, fire him immediately. He could probably do a decent job as a coach for the power play, since that was the only area he excelled in during his active career.

No to your second point. Sam doesn't like playing center, doesn't want to play center, and has expressed his displeasure with past experiments. Separate them? Sure. Not that way.

 

[5 Minute Major]

When does ownership start taking some well deserved heat?

The Sabres have been nothing short of embarrassing during the entire Pegula era.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Then why even acquire a player who can’t play with your other talent, and who gets in the way of developmental roles because he needs sheltering?

The chance to turn Pu and a 2nd into another protected first? Blah.

Asset management. Pu and a 2nd wouldn't get a first. But Skinner might as a TDL acquisition for a contender.