Pulling for the Sabres to make some noise this season and I believe this is the year that they will. Tough sledding for the S-words on Feb 6/8, March 18/20, and April 22/23 though.
Being top 4 in the division is going to be a huge challenge. We have to hope that a rookie steps in and really contributes like Olofsson did last year. Let’s hope the PK is drastically better than last year’s disaster. I really haven’t got a clear answer to the question: was the abysmal PK due to personnel or scheme? I think it was probably a combination. I know that they brought in FA’s that are supposed to help: Eakin, Rieder, and Irwin. Let’s hope Ralph has been wracking his brain box trying to solve this. The Sabres are a year older, and stronger at key positions on the top six. Dylan Cozens is expected to step in; can Tage Thompson and Casey Mittlestadt contribute? If EVERYTHING falls in place the Sabres can fall into the top four. The last two seasons they’ve started hot just to falter down the stretch. 56 games instead of 82 may be the key to their playoff aspirations.
I see the successful runs the Sabres have been on as an indicator of what they could be if everything is going well. it's in the room, to a degree, to get the job done. i still dont like your goaltending though. Im a big believer that PK success/failure at the NHL level is heavily influenced by scheme more than skill. Moreover, the group of players all have to buy in to the right scheme and pull in the same direction.
Will..........we are hearing that there will be a Delay to the Jan. 13th/21 start date ??? It's the North Division and it's the British Columbia Government.
Agreed on the PK failure most likely an indictment of RK’s scheme. But since he’s been studying the game - or at that’s his reputation - it’s surprising that he could mess it up THAT badly. Ullmark’s EV SV% and GA was top ten (or so) in the league. His man down stats pile drove his overall stats to looking bad. I don’t think he’s the answer, but with a stronger D and a decent PK he might “surprise”. (I do not believe that Kevyn Adams is done - he has too many RHD, and I think he’d like to upgrade G.) In the end, while I remain skeptical of the goalies, they’re not the most pressing team need. On D, Montour has not responded well to the shift to the left side - it was just a necessity. C. Miller seems to be misused. And Will Borgen deserves a chance to show he’s an NHL’er. Moving Montour, Miller, or Ristolainen seems important since they all possess some degree of trade value, and they’re actually hurting the team by creating a huge imbalance on the blueline. I’d prefer to see one move 1-for-1 for a LHD. Otherwise, one of them plus a sweetener for a G from the Yotes or BJ’s.
Yeah, I would not hold my breath on a Jan. 13 puck drop. The word is that the North division could be moved en mass south of the border. If they do that, there’d be a complete realignment and, therefore, a revised schedule. The logistics would be mind-bogglingly difficult. If the Canadian teams play in the USA I think a 48 game schedule starting Feb. 1 start date would be the best we could hope for. I believe there’s a lot of Canadian arms being twisted to resolve this, and that Vancouver may relocate for the season to someplace like Edmonton or even Quebec City.
But according to reports, BC has expressed the most concern of any of the provinces because of high case counts across the country during the second wave of the pandemic. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug stated on Saturday that the BC government was “unwilling” to allow teams to travel into the province for games. Will and Dan........in a Nut Shell we are waiting on Doctor Bonnie Henry.......Training Camp would start Jan 3rd if she allows play @ Rodgers Arena. Probably know by Monday ???
