The Ditch part deux

Who is Joakim Nygard? 2 pts so far.

 

The Sabres discussed this before, and during, the game in Edmonton: "let's win one for the gipper". Krueger was unceremoniously booted without having been given a real chance in Oilville; they knew it has a big deal for him to return. (Of course he was silent on his feelings.)

Good way to gut out 2 points. Word is beginning to filter out about the VAST difference Krueger is having in the lockerroom. Last year's tailspin contrasts similarly to November's swoon. Last year the lockerroom has been described as the "pit of misery". This year it has remained upbeat despite injuries and challenges. He's an example of how a HC can have a huge impact on an org.

There remains a lot of work to do. Botterill needs to add at least two top-9 F's. (They have an abundance of D, especially the coveted RHD to facilitate trades this season.) They are playing the cap dance this year (like about two thirds of the league), but they have some of what contenders want.

Next off season is going to be huge. The Sabres have a ton of salary coming off the books. This represents risk and opportunity. I believe that the focus for this season remains on building a winning culture; one that does not accept losing and one that makes them attractive to outside players. So far indications are encouraging.

I believe that Buffalo will be fortunate to get to 90 points this year. That points to the draft lottery again. But if they can resemble a consistently competitive team (through attitude and addition) then they'll be well positioned to take that BIG step forward in June & July

 

This was good news to read/hear, ive been wondering myself. I agree also that winning the locker room is key and in my opinion where it all must start.

Im glad the Sabres have someone at the helm that can be appreciated by the players as well as a coach. Sometimes chemistry gets overlooked even at the top, not just among the players, but in relationships with coach's and GM's and such.

I was thinking the offensive stats wernt to shabby, but they were letting in a bit too many. Is this a goalie thing or a lack of back-checking and over-all defensive scheme? Is the goaltending where you would like it, or should they look to either develope or spend some investments there to shore up the GPG that they currently have? Sabres are almost giving up as many as their scoring.

 

I will go watch one game this year, last minute.

 

To Will's question about the Sabres netminders: the two goalies are not the problem, IMO. It's also not a system or coach's scheme problem - that was the problem last year. Rather, there have been 20-60 min. lapses that have cost the team a point or two. This was anticipated (by Krueger) when he attested to the challenges of avoiding ingrained bad habits over the course of a gruelling season. In other words, in the heat of the moment, the team falls back on "what they know", and it's going to take a long time to flush that from their collective memories.

When the Sabres are on their game, they have the ability to beat any team. Staying on their game with consistency is the coach's challenge. It'll take a minimum of half a season, and more likely the full season.

While the goalies are not the problem, there's also nothing to adore about Hutton or Ullmark. They're average, but with the potential to be slightly better than average. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but not a condemnation either. There are a lot of teams that would like to have their combined skills on their club. Looking forward, the Sabres have one of the most highly regarded G prospects, Ukka Pekka Luukkanan ( "6K") in the system. He's playing his first pro season - currently crushing it for ECHL Cincinatti. He had off season surgury, and there appears no rush to promote him to Rochester. The Amerks are winning without him, and I think they'll wait for sometime next year, Jan. or Feb., or injury, to move him to the next level. G is notoriously difficult to project and to develop, so the slow-go is good strategy.

The Sabres recently drafted a big Swede, Portillo, but he's at a least a year away from being more than an org. footnote.

Carter Hutton is signed through '21-22; if not sooner, that's likely to be the end of his tenure. Ullmark is younger, but we'll have to see how he, and 6K, progress before making further comments. In the end, the Sabres goaltenders are adequate - for an average team - and therefore not a huge priority for Botterill.

 

Thanks, Dan... very informative.

 

Cbj under pressure to win one for Torts, up 1-0 and 8-1 in shots.

 

20-6 for cbj in shots after one, Torts in survival mode, lookout.

 

2-1 Islanders... 2nd

2-0 BJ's... 2nd

 

Korpisalo pitching a shutout after two.

 

Heyyy 4-1, they coming through for the fonz.

 

The Brock has more goals than Stamkos

 

5-2 cbj, as korpisalo outplays holtby.

 

Stars fire Head Coach Jim Montgomery for "unprofessional conduct". I wonder if he this was in response to Bettman's no tolerance policy for teams harbouring offensive coaches.

 

Everybody is being really low key, nothing has been revealed

 

after the Babs uncovering of misdeeds, the league isn't taking any shit from the coaches anymore. 1 violation and see ya - done. abuse with players has been going back decades. i still recall the vivid story of abuse Theo Fleury told. Some of these stories are heartbreaking what players went through from the mental and physical abuse aspect.

 

Less Babs, more what is going on with the guy in Calgary, but Babs isn't helping.