Just Some Buffalo Banter
As we slug through yet another disappointing Sabres season, just some random thoughts to discuss in this edition.
Get it, slug? Get it? Never mind. Feel free to wholeheartedly agree with everything I say. (yay!) Or shoot pucks at me at will. (boo!)
Ryan McLeod
I like what we have with this 25 year old player but I don’t like his current usage. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has him centering the 4th line since around the time Greenway went down. Those two played well together, probably the best two defensive forwards on the team. I get what Ruff is doing, putting the 3 young players of Benny, Kulich and Krebs together. He is looking for more scoring from his talented young players. But he had good scoring already with McLeod centering that third line. And more speed as well. McLeod has 6 goals and 18 points as I write this. He is currently Buffalo’s 6th leading scorer among the forward group. Yet he is wallowing on the 4th line now not getting the minutes he needs to help this team more. He also has underwhelming offensive line mates to work with down there. (sorry fellas) Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel especially. McLeod is still on pace for a career high in points but I imagine that will slow down if he stays there. While Greenway remains out, I rather see McLeod centering the 3rd line with Kulich and Benson as his wingers. With Krebs back on 4th line duty.
As T McGee mentioned in his recent article, I hope the Sabres ink him to a new 3 year deal. Somewhere in that 3.2 to 3.5 million range. I foresee him as a solid option at 3C for Buffalo. He is sound defensively, a good penalty killer and easily our fastest player. His current pace shows he is fully capable of at least 40 points a year. (if his 4th line time ever comes to an end) He could even blossom into a 50 point player with the right players. McLeod is about to enter that window of post 25 year old success that most players have.
Goat Heads Galore
I think after this season I would like the Sabres to shelve the Goats for a while. They are beautiful uniforms, don’t get me wrong. And I’m open to bringing them back again in small doses. But Buffalo to me will always be blue and gold. Wearing the black and reds 15 times a year is too much.
I would like to see a new design for a 3rd jersey, done in the traditional royal blue and golds. Keep a classic look to it but maybe with a design a little bolder, with variations of current aspects. Change up the striping a little, maybe a little modification to the main or secondary logos. Have it look like the idea sprung from the original uniforms but a little more bold and fun. Either way, I think it is time for a change in alternate 3rd jerseys for Buffalo.
Tage Not All the Rage?
For a few months now, some of the general talk around here has included this question. Is Tage Thompson a number one center? Well, yes and no, depending on who you ask. As of right now he is on pace for more than 40 goals this year. Some people see that and say, “Well damn, of course he is a top center.” Then you see his projected point total, which is in the 65-70 point range. Pretty good but not great. From my perspective, the trouble with Tage is twofold.
1 When he is on, he in ON. Scoring in bunches and racking up some goals. When he is not on, he looks completely ineffective on many nights. Not even generating chances for himself or others. Top centers generally don’t look like that beyond a handful of games a year. That happens with Tage 20 or 30 times a season. When his offense isn’t going, he is frustrating to watch. And that leads to noticing many other things lacking in his game.
2 Tage is not the strongest player on the forecheck nor the backcheck either. But he is better than a few years ago. For someone his size, he does not win enough battles though. He is also a lowly 41 percent in the face off circle this season, with about the same percentage for his career. The rest of Thompson’s game beyond his goal scoring and general offense is average at best. The other important aspects of being an impact NHL player don’t shine too often for him.
The big man has a hell of a shot and some sweet dangles. But until he routinely puts up 80 points seasons and rounds out his game more, opinions will vary on his worth. Personally, I think of Thompson as a lower third of the league 1C.
Which Matters Most?
With 2025 now here, which potential change matters most to the Buffalo Sabres at this point? I’m not including ownership because Pegula is not selling the team. And I’m not counting the players because if GM is your pick, then the new one will be handling the roster. Here are your options:
Which potential change matters most to the Buffalo Sabres at this point? Either give your top choice or rank them in importance.
1 Pegula steps aside and hires a real hockey man for Team President. (Ruff is an option)
2 Ruff is fired or moved to the President position and the assistants are canned. All new coaching staff.
3 GM Kevyn Adams is fired and replaced with an experienced General Manager.
HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
May the first real steps for playoff hockey in Buffalo again be taken this year.