Why wouldn’t you want a smaller, softer but more talented player to take his spot?
- SoCalPucks

I think Rousek would give you the defensive side, he's a dog on the puck. While giving you more Offensive upside than Girgensons.

9 of the bottom 11 teams in hits this year made the playoffs (Buffalo would have made 10)

2 of the top 10 teams in hits thrown this year made the playoffs (one of them being the Isles).

Score goals, save goals.

Life is as hard as you make it
- Swedish_Jesus

There's very little difference between #10 and #20 in hits.

The oddity here is just how far behind Buffalo is. Just saying bottom 10 leaves out the fact that they are 50% behind.

Why wouldn’t you want a smaller, softer but more talented player to take his spot?
- SoCalPucks

Zemgus is talented- his defensive metrics are off the charts.

The Sabres issue was their third line was a black hole and they needed to play the Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo like a third line (sometimes second line usage)

Mittelstadt emerged a little bit too late, Olofsson was scratched too late, and the Sabres got the worst goaltending in the league from January 1st on until Levi showed up.

So if by establishing a third line with more talent, and having a goalie that can stop a beach ball is what equates to being “tougher”, then sure I agree.

Talent wins hockey games.

Sometimes talent gets beat by puck luck and a hot goalie like in New Jersey last week.

It’s really that simple.

A few more saves from UPL/Comrie in the first quarter of the season or a little bit of puck luck in Florida and New Jersey and the Sabres are still playing hockey.

The last thing I think of is toughness when thinking of the Colorado Avalanche last year and those Penguins cup teams.
- Swedish_Jesus

Yet most can’t wait for the day Zemgus Girgensons never wears a Sabres jersey again.

Doesn’t hit much, wish he had more offensive touch, but is literally the ideal bottom 6 forward.

These two do not go together.

Zemgus is talented- his defensive metrics are off the charts.

The Sabres issue was their third line was a black hole and they needed to play the Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo like a third line (sometimes second line usage)

Mittelstadt emerged a little bit too late, Olofsson was scratched too late, and the Sabres got the worst goaltending in the league from January 1st on until Levi showed up.

So if by establishing a third line with more talent, and having a goalie that can stop a beach ball is what equates to being “tougher”, then sure I agree.
- Swedish_Jesus

Great argument, so what you’re saying is that things like size and grit are talents that might be useful.

These two do not go together.
- IonSabres

Yea, he starts with a wrong premise, then contradicted himself immediately. He just likes arguing, lol.

kane makes us a top 5 pp team
- homiedclown

We ended up 9th overall I think, and were one of the top teams for a while without him. Not sure he's worth whatever money he's looking for. Just don't think he's needed.

Yea, he starts with a wrong premise, then contradicted himself immediately. He just likes arguing, lol.
- SoCalPucks

Zinger

Great argument, so what you’re saying is that things like size and grit are talents that might be useful.
- SoCalPucks

Size and grit have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not a player can drive offensive or defensive results.

At this point we all have to think Ryan Johnson is not signing with ⚔️

Size and grit have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not a player can drive offensive or defensive results.
- Swedish_Jesus

When people say grit, what do you think they mean?

I’m letting you drag me into a tangent anyways. The salient point us that talent and toughness aren’t opposites. You think we want a team of Andrew Peters clones, which is your false premise. What we want is for the Sabres to address a deficiency. You’re the one making this painful and difficult.

When people say grit, what do you think they mean?
- SoCalPucks

Like 180 or 400.

Like 180 or 400.
- IndianaSabresFan

There’s a lot of talent in that 2,000

There’s a lot of talent in that 2,000
- SoCalPucks

😆

I really don't see how the Sabres can bring both Girgensons and Okposo back. They are going against there own Mantra of not blocking younger players. They could take away there ability to even get better. Sabres can roll out a decent top 12 without either of them. Be a even Faster Team to.
- Buff36

I know you dont like either zem or kyle but they played an important role with this franchise.

Zem laces up the skates , blocks shots and plays defensive minutes. Age and hockey maturity held us back , not him. IMO.

Too banged up to captain his country says a lot. Didnt miss a game for the Sabres

When people say grit, what do you think they mean?

I’m letting you drag me into a tangent anyways. The salient point us that talent and toughness aren’t opposites. You think we want a team of Andrew Peters clones, which is your false premise. What we want is for the Sabres to address a deficiency. You’re the one making this painful and difficult.
- SoCalPucks

The problem is that guys that are skilled and tough are extremely rare and are incredibly expensive to acquire. That's why teams like the Rangers draft Dylan McIlrath or the Panthers take Lawson Crouse 10th or 11th OA respectively, at least Crouse has turned into a decent player and was dealt by the team that drafted him before he ever played a game for them, certainly not worthy of where he was drafted and McIlrath has 6 points in 72 games over 7 seasons with 4 teams.

The problem is that guys that are skilled and tough are extremely rare and are incredibly expensive to acquire. That's why teams like the Rangers draft Dylan McIlrath or the Panthers take Lawson Crouse 10th or 11th OA respectively, at least Crouse has turned into a decent player and was dealt by the team that drafted him before he ever played a game for them, certainly not worthy of where he was drafted and McIlrath has 6 points in 72 games over 7 seasons with 4 teams.
- Wetbandit1

Accurate.

I know you dont like either zem or kyle but they played an important role with this franchise.

Zem laces up the skates , blocks shots and plays defensive minutes. Age and hockey maturity held us back , not him. IMO.

Too banged up to captain his country says a lot. Didnt miss a game for the Sabres
- Boss34

I respect the hell out of both of them for what they’ve done for this franchise but I think Okposo in particular is a liability on the ice. He’s just too slow now. If you need his leadership around the kids, make him an assistant coach

I know you dont like either zem or kyle but they played an important role with this franchise.

Zem laces up the skates , blocks shots and plays defensive minutes. Age and hockey maturity held us back , not him. IMO.

Too banged up to captain his country says a lot. Didnt miss a game for the Sabres
- Boss34

See Boss you are wrong there, they did play a roll in this team developing. I don't dislike either player, just think there time with this team is over or nearing a end. There is No need for both players, 1 I could see but both No. People on this Board have been crying about not going after players because it could affect or block younger players. Well bringing back both Girgensons or Okposo does that.

I respect the hell out of both of them for what they’ve done for this franchise but I think Okposo in particular is a liability on the ice. He’s just too slow now. If you need his leadership around the kids, make him an assistant coach
- SoCalPucks

If the kids need Okposo around for leadership I'd say he paid them to say that.

I respect the hell out of both of them for what they’ve done for this franchise but I think Okposo in particular is a liability on the ice. He’s just too slow now. If you need his leadership around the kids, make him an assistant coach
- SoCalPucks

Absolutely agree.

I really think Kyle is finished in buffalo. Although, looks like greenway is olofsson's replacement.....

See Boss you are wrong there, they did play a roll in this team developing. I don't dislike either player, just think there time with this team is over or nearing a end. There is No need for both players, 1 I could see but both No. People on this Board have been crying about not going after players because it could affect or block younger players. Well bringing back both Girgensons or Okposo does that.
- Buff36

I think you have a valid point.

I will.say, youngest team in the league, let's management push a captain choice another year.

Youngest with Anderson.

These kids follow their peirs and teammates. You cant have enough straight up professionals. On and off the ice.

Were gonna be even younger without Anderson and with rousek , savoie and kulich.

Let at least 1 of these guys tie the kids skates IMO

When people say grit, what do you think they mean?

I’m letting you drag me into a tangent anyways. The salient point us that talent and toughness aren’t opposites. You think we want a team of Andrew Peters clones, which is your false premise. What we want is for the Sabres to address a deficiency. You’re the one making this painful and difficult.
- SoCalPucks

Sure, and they can address a talent deficiency by adding a Jason Zucker in free agency.

Does he have size or grit ? No.

Is he good at hockey and can provide you with a third scoring line ? Absolutely.

A coach who could scheme a PK if his life depended on it would be nice too. If our PK was top half of the league instead of dreadful that even puts us in a playoff spot.

Zemgus is talented- his defensive metrics are off the charts.

The Sabres issue was their third line was a black hole and they needed to play the Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo like a third line (sometimes second line usage)

Mittelstadt emerged a little bit too late, Olofsson was scratched too late, and the Sabres got the worst goaltending in the league from January 1st on until Levi showed up.

So if by establishing a third line with more talent, and having a goalie that can stop a beach ball is what equates to being “tougher”, then sure I agree.
- Swedish_Jesus

Levi hasn't proven Richard so far. He could be good or he could be a dud. Way too early for the hype on him to be so high.

I think you have a valid point.

I will.say, youngest team in the league, let's management push a captain choice another year.

Youngest with Anderson.

These kids follow their peirs and teammates. You cant have enough straight up professionals. On and off the ice.

Were gonna be even younger without Anderson and with rousek , savoie and kulich.

Let at least 1 of these guys tie the kids skates IMO
- Boss34

Yeah I could see 1, and would rather it be Girgensons if it does happen. It also doesn't mean that FA D doesn't have a little playoff leadership either. Dumba Mayfield Clifton