Buffalo Sabres and NHL 2023-2024

[Gregg]

The Sabres will open their 2024-25 season in Prague. Two games vs the Devils. 

 

 

David Pagnotta on X: "Breaking News: #LetsGoBuffalo will visit Munich for exhibition play then take on #NJDevils in Prague for 2 games to kick off the 2024-25 season. Then in Nov, #TexasHockey play #TimeToHunt in Tampere, Finland for 2 games. Also, there WILL be an All-Star Game in 2026 & 2027. ⤵️ https://t.co/FSKyUc3Bak" / X (twitter.com)

[Jauronimo]

16 hours ago, ComradeKayAdams said:

 

They are 4-16-4 following a win (1-9-1 at home, 3-7-3 away) and 20-10 following a loss (11-6 at home, 9-4 away).

 

This consistent inconsistency, to me, is further evidence of a coaching staff and a veteran leadership core (namely: Okposo and Girgensons) that need to be replaced this offseason.

 

However…I’m not nearly as depressed as most Sabres fans are regarding the future. Levi, UPL, Dahlin, Power, Thompson, Cozens, Mitts, Quinn, Peterka, Tuch, and Benson are still a promising young core. Samuelsson, Jokiharju, Ryan Johnson, Krebs, and Greenway are still intriguing complementary pieces. Savoie, Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen, Wahlberg, Poltapov, Strbak, and Novikov are still quality prospects. I just named…24 people!

 

So yeah…I refuse to wallow in misery. 13 straight seasons without playoffs is horrible, but it can end at 13 with the right head coach and a few gritty vets who know how much hard work it takes to succeed in the NHL.

In all the Benson excitement, Ryan Johnson's play has not gotten a lot of talk.  Hes been great since game 1.  I am very impressed with his game.

[Fleezoid]

16 minutes ago, muppy said:

But what will you do with your sabres fan time though.  It's a legitimate question.  I am not trying to shade you finding better ways to spend your time. I'm just curious as to your thoughts on what that might be? Im nosey 🙂   

 

lol you don't have to answer that question.  

 

I am going to watch and if nothing else learn what we don't want moving forward if they do end up folding like cheap suits even further

 

Hope  springs eternal! 

 

I don't know what I'll do. That's the tough part. I just can't stomach watching right now. I was so hopeful at the start of the season after the way they finished last year. Now they're looking a little like the Krueger team. It's like a bunch of hockey players put on the ice for the first time together and saying 'go play hockey'. They can play the positions, just no identity. Frustrating. Watching the offense turn stale when the goaltending improved and the D playing better at times. 

[Beast]

I still watch every game. I love hockey and the Sabres are my team. They just suck so bad it’s not even funny.

[BillsFan4]

43 minutes ago, muppy said:

But what will you do with your sabres fan time though.  It's a legitimate question.  I am not trying to shade you finding better ways to spend your time. I'm just curious as to your thoughts on what that might be? Im nosey 🙂   

 

lol you don't have to answer that question.  

 

I am going to watch and if nothing else learn what we don't want moving forward if they do end up folding like cheap suits even further

 

Hope  springs eternal! 

not OP, but I’ve been watching the Sabres since the 1980’s and followed them very closely for many years, including during the tank/rebuild years in the 2010’s. I was very invested in the rebuild. I bought it hook, line and sinker that you needed a couple top 2-3 draft picks to win a Stanley Cup. I watched every game thru the tank years. Every player and coach interview.

 

now I’m just burned out by the losing and the same failures over and over. I can’t do it anymore for my own sanity.

They’ve had the #1 prospect pool numerous times over the last 10 years. Collecting young talent hasn’t been the issue. The issue has been surrounding that talent with the proper veterans and taking the next step.

 

if you just recently started watching more frequently, I can see how you wouldn’t be burnt out by the losing yet. Talk to me after 10 more years… lol

 

17 hours ago, ComradeKayAdams said:

 

They are 4-16-4 following a win (1-9-1 at home, 3-7-3 away) and 20-10 following a loss (11-6 at home, 9-4 away).

 

This consistent inconsistency, to me, is further evidence of a coaching staff and a veteran leadership core (namely: Okposo and Girgensons) that need to be replaced this offseason.

 

However…I’m not nearly as depressed as most Sabres fans are regarding the future. Levi, UPL, Dahlin, Power, Thompson, Cozens, Mitts, Quinn, Peterka, Tuch, and Benson are still a promising young core. Samuelsson, Jokiharju, Ryan Johnson, Krebs, and Greenway are still intriguing complementary pieces. Savoie, Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen, Wahlberg, Poltapov, Strbak, and Novikov are still quality prospects. I just named…24 people!

 

So yeah…I refuse to wallow in misery. 13 straight seasons without playoffs is horrible, but it can end at 13 with the right head coach and a few gritty vets who know how much hard work it takes to succeed in the NHL.

 

I'm not depressed about the prospect pool or the young talent already on the team. They have probably the best prospect pool in the NHL. They’re overflowing with young talent.

 

what I’m depressed about are the people who own and/or run the Sabres.

 

I have little faith that the people in charge can make the necessary changes to get this team over the hump. It’s hard to have faith in people with no experience, and people who have so far shown no ability or willingness to correct any of the issues facing this team/roster.

 

and even if Adams and/or Granato were fired, I have little faith they would be replaced with people who have actual experience.

 

I would love nothing more than to be wrong though. I just want a good team again.

Edited February 21 by BillsFan4

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

Gawd I miss playoff hockey.  Got a bit of an unexpected run with the Amerks last year, so that was nice.

Edited February 21 by JÂy RÛßeÒ

[BillsPride12]

18 minutes ago, JÂy RÛßeÒ said:

Gawd I miss playoff hockey.  Got a bit of an unexpected run with the Amerks last year, so that was nice.

Buffalo is STARVING for some playoff hockey at this point...it's mindblowing the Sabres are suddenly approaching Bills playoff drought territory 

[The Jokeman]

9 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Buffalo is STARVING for some playoff hockey at this point...it's mindblowing the Sabres are suddenly approaching Bills playoff drought territory 

An above average starting goalie is as important if not more than a QB. 

[coloradobillsfan]

That whole "sole reason for existence" garbage is just so infuriating now.  It made me cry at the time - I go back to the 70s and transistor radios with this team.   Now it makes me feel like that "sucker" image from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. 

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

7 minutes ago, coloradobillsfan said:

That whole "sole reason for existence" garbage is just so infuriating now.  It made me cry at the time - I go back to the 70s and transistor radios with this team.   Now it makes me feel like that "sucker" image from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. 

 

[muppy]

8 minutes to go Sabres lead 3-2 and they are giving Montreal too many offensive chances to score.  It's a nail biter

 

LETS GO SABRES

a few chances I was Sure they had scored. Holy Cow

OMG we almost scored right there DANGIT

 

Go Clock GO

[muppy]

Winner in Montreal Im happy 🙂 Lets stack more a few and see where they can go

 

Hope springs eternal 🙂

[davefan66]

6 hours ago, muppy said:

Winner in Montreal Im happy 🙂 Lets stack more a few and see where they can go

 

Hope springs eternal 🙂

 

“Hope springs eternal”.  
 

It’s a Buffalo thing!  😂

[billsfanmiamioh]

I’ll be at the game here in Cbus on Friday. Hope I’m not leaving for the bar mid second period 🤦🏻‍♂️. Man this team is a tough follow. 

[BillsFan4]

22 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

An above average starting goalie is as important if not more than a QB. 

That’s the crazy thing though…

 

UPL is top 10 in saves above expected. He’s having the best season a Sabres goalie has had since Ullmark left.

 

The Sabres also have a better 5v5 scoring rate than last year.

 

If you told me Buffalo would improve goaltending and 5v5 scoring (over last season), I would have said they are a playoff team. Yet here they sit near the bottom of the standings 🤷‍♂️

[Beast]

4 hours ago, billsfanmiamioh said:

I’ll be at the game here in Cbus on Friday. Hope I’m not leaving for the bar mid second period 🤦🏻‍♂️. Man this team is a tough follow. 

They play better on the road so you might be good.

Edited February 22 by Beast

[The Jokeman]

31 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

That’s the crazy thing though…

 

UPL is top 10 in saves above expected. He’s having the best season a Sabres goalie has had since Ullmark left.

 

The Sabres also have a better 5v5 scoring rate than last year.

 

If you told me Buffalo would improve goaltending and 5v5 scoring (over last season), I would have said they are a playoff team. Yet here they sit near the bottom of the standings 🤷‍♂️

UPL took some time to settle in and toss in he was splitting time with Levi who isn't ready (and I didn't want playing in Buffalo to begin with). Not only that but Granato's system isn't the best when comes to defense. I don't know what the answer is but the more and more I watch Granato the less and less impressed I am by him. 

[BillsFan4]

 

[BillsPride12]

43 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

That's the Sabres hockey I miss watching 😢

[4merper4mer]