Buffalo Sabres & NHL 2018-19: Sabres picking 7th overall (6/21/19). Ralph Krueger hire as new head coach!

[bbb]

 

1 hour ago, shrader said:

 

Berglund's still not playing anywhere in the world, right?  I think that's more telling about his situation to where very little of it was about Buffalo.

 

God, Buffalo really ruined him!

 

1 hour ago, plenzmd1 said:

well, the only positive is this

 

On December 16th, the Sabres had a 92% chance of MAKING the playoffs...so , maybe this is wrong too.

 

I mean think about that, in a little over two months they have completed reversed this graph...that is really freaking hard to do!

 

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Atlantic/Buffalo_ChanceWillMakePlayoffs.html

 

I'm pretty sure we had a 100% chance of making the playoffs at Halloween, too. 

[shrader]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

Perhaps, but that doesn’t explain past players who didn’t like getting traded here.

 

Most of us are only familiar with the stories within our own market.  I'd be curious to see how often it happens with other teams.  I feel like we have plenty of stories of the exact opposite as well.  My guess is our rate isn't any different than what is typical around the league.

[K-9]

13 minutes ago, shrader said:

 

Most of us are only familiar with the stories within our own market.  I'd be curious to see how often it happens with other teams.  I feel like we have plenty of stories of the exact opposite as well.  My guess is our rate isn't any different than what is typical around the league.

I agree. 

 

It’s funny how NHL players, most of whom are from Podunk, Whatever would complain about playing in any city. 

[plenzmd1]

Boos tonight?

 

Just for the record, I am not a booer..but i would not think lesser of folks who do if the Sabres are not in this game either.

 

Good thing is its Friday night, and I have zero intention of watching this game. It will auto record, and if it interesting maybe will watch 3rd on a recorded basis...but stress free night!

[shrader]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

I agree. 

 

It’s funny how NHL players, most of whom are from Podunk, Whatever would complain about playing in any city. 

 

That was pretty much my exact thought when I was typing my post.  The demographics of NHL players is so vastly different than the other leagues.  Those three are pretty much completely american while the NHL is going to be what, 20%?

 

edit: I should walk back the "completely American" part a bit, particularly for baseball.

Edited March 1, 2019 by shrader

[BringBackFergy]

***** blind leading the blind. I can script these games: play hard, get lead, play cute, lose brain, press, lose game. 

[Q-baby!]

1 hour ago, BringBackFergy said:

***** blind leading the blind. I can script these games: play hard, get lead, play cute, lose brain, press, lose game. 

Apparently you can’t. 

[shrader]

I turned it on at the start of overtime. That last music was some fun hockey. And then the ref slightly trolling the crowd with the call on the replay was pretty funny. 

[K-9]

I’ll take it. We are not a good team and we are still Crosby’s b—ch, but we showed some heart in the third. 

[suorangefan4]

Of course the Sabres are going to win games now that I want them to lose for a higher draft pick. There's almost no shot at making up 8 points on Carolina and 7 points on Pittsburgh (we have to pass them both) not to mention they both own the tiebreaker over us. 

 

I want one of those centers projected to go from 6 to 10 but we'll win ourselves out of getting one of them.

[JohnC]

A win is a win. I'll take it. The Penguins obviously have more firepower but the Sabres competed. The Sabres are far from being a complete team but I expect them to be at least twenty points better than last year. Maybe not to many but to me that's progress. I expect Dahlin and Mitts to be much better next year. I'm aware that I'm in the minority in this room but I'm upbeat about the near future. 

 

The takeaway from this game is that Montour can skate and he is feisty. He was a terrific pickup. I thought Sheary and Ullmark played well. 

 

Crosby's quickdraw scoring shot was magnificent. 

 

The overtime was exciting. The fans got their money's worth in the extended play. 

[Turk71]

10 hours ago, shrader said:

 

That was pretty much my exact thought when I was typing my post.  The demographics of NHL players is so vastly different than the other leagues.  Those three are pretty much completely american while the NHL is going to be what, 20%?

 

edit: I should walk back the "completely American" part a bit, particularly for baseball.

The NBA is over 20% foreigners. Baseball over 25%. NFL only 2.5%. Last season 45% of NHL from Canada, 29% from USA. Closer than I thought.

[BillsPride12]

8 hours ago, JohnC said:

A win is a win. I'll take it. The Penguins obviously have more firepower but the Sabres competed. The Sabres are far from being a complete team but I expect them to be at least twenty points better than last year. Maybe not to many but to me that's progress. I expect Dahlin and Mitts to be much better next year. I'm aware that I'm in the minority in this room but I'm upbeat about the near future. 

 

The takeaway from this game is that Montour can skate and he is feisty. He was a terrific pickup. I thought Sheary and Ullmark played well. 

 

Crosby's quickdraw scoring shot was magnificent. 

 

The overtime was exciting. The fans got their money's worth in the extended play. 

Even though it's not showing up on the scoresheet I have seen Mittelstadt make alot of progess as the season has went on, and there's still a ton of room for growth in his game.  I believe he is a legit NHL player.  Dahlin will start cleaning up his mistakes as time goes on.  Montour is a beast, I didn't know much about him when we made the trade but now I am absolutely loving it. 

[JohnC]

56 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Even though it's not showing up on the scoresheet I have seen Mittelstadt make alot of progess as the season has went on, and there's still a ton of room for growth in his game.  I believe he is a legit NHL player.  Dahlin will start cleaning up his mistakes as time goes on.  Montour is a beast, I didn't know much about him when we made the trade but now I am absolutely loving it. 

I am a Mittelstadt fan. As you noted he has steadily gotten better. Although from a stat standpoint his production has not been impressive I have rarely felt that he was out of his depth as a NHL player. It has to be remembered that two years ago he was playing HS hockey, and last year college hockey. And it has to be considered that for the most part he has been a second-line center facing skilled second-line players. Usually, young and developing players are gradually eased in by playing against lesser players on the third and fourth line. 

 

And as you noted Montour was a terrific pickup for a reasonable price. The Sabres gave up one of their three first round  picks, one of which came from the ROR deal. And, although Guhle was a good prospect his spot was replaced by Pilut who was an even better prospect. So when the cost is calculated for that deal we got a legitimate second pairing defenseman whose skill set fits in with what the coach is trying to establish for little cost. If you add up what was given up for Skinner and Montour it is fair to say that our GM did an outstanding job.  

[K-9]

Agree with everybody about Mitts and his NHL potential. He’s going to be a star eventually. I see his biggest issue, at both ends of the ice, as one of patience. He rushes too much. When he slows it down a half tick and lets the play develop and come to him more, he’s going to be a force. Like Eichel when he first came in, he needs a competent winger to open up some ice and who is able to finish. He made a few nice plays in the O zone last night that could have been converted. 

 

Will be interesting to see what’s left in their tank tonight. Would rather have an infusion of speed with Smith and O’Regan vs. the Leafs than seeing a tired Pommers and Okposo. 

[snafu]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

Agree with everybody about Mitts and his NHL potential. He’s going to be a star eventually. I see his biggest issue, at both ends of the ice, as one of patience. He rushes too much. When he slows it down a half tick and lets the play develop and come to him more, he’s going to be a force. Like Eichel when he first came in, he needs a competent winger to open up some ice and who is able to finish. He made a few nice plays in the O zone last night that could have been converted. 

 

Will be interesting to see what’s left in their tank tonight. Would rather have an infusion of speed with Smith and O’Regan vs. the Leafs than seeing a tired Pommers and Okposo. 

 

The team needs two wingers (emphasis on “able to finish”) and a goaltending upgrade and they’d be good to go.  Stock up Rochester to get ready replacements for the future and they won’t have too many more Pomminstein, Okposo, Sobotka, Scandella headaches. 

 

[Dr. Who]

7 minutes ago, snafu said:

 

The team needs two wingers (emphasis on “able to finish”) and a goaltending upgrade and they’d be good to go.  Stock up Rochester to get ready replacements for the future and they won’t have too many more Pomminstein, Okposo, Sobotka, Scandella headaches. 

 

Are those wingers among the youth that is maturing, free agent targets, or via trade over the summer? Can Ullmark improve to the point where he's an "upgrade." If not, who is likely available to fill that role? 

[Lurker]

52 minutes ago, snafu said:

a goaltending upgrade and they’d be good to go. 

 

 

The goaltending is fine, especially with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen coming along nicely in juniors and with the Amerks next year.    Ullmark is only 25 and this is his first full year in the NHL.   He's a good developing prospect who needs time to hone his game.   He's slowly taking the starter role from Hutton and will continue to emerge as he gains confidence and consistency...

[K-9]

59 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

Are those wingers among the youth that is maturing, free agent targets, or via trade over the summer? Can Ullmark improve to the point where he's an "upgrade." If not, who is likely available to fill that role? 

We better hope that winger is in the pipeline already because it’s not realistic to think we are gonna get one in the draft to help right away, or that one will become available in FAgency, or that a trade for another Skinner will be in the offing. And that doesn’t consider the help we need on the back end on D. 

 

As for for the goalies, it’s gotta be Ullmark and Hutton until 6K is ready to take the reins in a few years. 

Edited March 2, 2019 by K-9

[BillsPride12]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

I am a Mittelstadt fan. As you noted he has steadily gotten better. Although from a stat standpoint his production has not been impressive I have rarely felt that he was out of his depth as a NHL player. It has to be remembered that two years ago he was playing HS hockey, and last year college hockey. And it has to be considered that for the most part he has been a second-line center facing skilled second-line players. Usually, young and developing players are gradually eased in by playing against lesser players on the third and fourth line. 

 

And as you noted Montour was a terrific pickup for a reasonable price. The Sabres gave up one of their three first round  picks, one of which came from the ROR deal. And, although Guhle was a good prospect his spot was replaced by Pilut who was an even better prospect. So when the cost is calculated for that deal we got a legitimate second pairing defenseman whose skill set fits in with what the coach is trying to establish for little cost. If you add up what was given up for Skinner and Montour it is fair to say that our GM did an outstanding job.  

I'm a Mittelstadt fan too.  He was absolutely thrown into a very tough situation for his true rookie season in the NHL.  The things I love hearing about Mitts is how high his compete level is, how bad he wants to be good in the NHL, how hard he works and practices off the ice.  You can see flashes of his skill level here and there and over time once the speed of playing NHL level hockey "slows" down for him and his body grows from that of a kid into a man you will see his production take off.  It helps he has a Center as talented as Jack to show him the ropes and mentor him.  We just need to find him a competent winger to play alongside.  I am hoping Tage can fill that role but I am not as convinced he will be a legit top 6 forward as I am with Casey yet.