BFHS 1/9/26: Finding a way

Kris Baker and The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn discuss everything Buffalo Sabres. Hit those like and subscribe buttons and be sure to read Matthew’s latest at The Athletic:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6956685/2026/01/09/sabres-rangers-mattias-samuelsson-goal/

30 comments

  4. How much does the pipeline factor in bridge vs long term deals? They’ve got Mrtka that I’d imagine they see as a top 4 RHD in 2-3 years? Ideally out of the gate he’s 3rd pair?

  11. The Sabres took advantage of the Rangers misfortune last night, like so many teams have taken advantage of the Sabres throughout the drought. Anaheim is coming in on a skid, and the Flyers will be without Drysdale and brink, and potentially Konecny. Take the points, even if they don't have their 'A-game.' say thanks, and keep it moving.

    As far as Doan being an atypical top-liner, I don't know about that. Those lines often have a possession-driver kind of guy, who's value is found as much in the advanced stats as the counting ones, churning up pucks for the playmaker and finisher. That's why I wouldn't put Doan & Benson together on the same line. They're the same kind of guy in that respect. They're better used to compliment other types of linemates than they would be stacking what they bring on top of one another. There's even a RUff precendet for having a guy like Krebs on the top line. His Scary Good Sabres had Mike Grier on Drury's wing at 5-on-5.

    As far as getting help via trade, Kekalainen is in a tough spot, and most of his colleagues are as well. They shortened the season by 2-1/2 weeks, without reducing the number of games. Everybody has a bunch of guys hurt. The Sabres currently have 28 guys counting against their cap, instead of the typical 22 or 23, and have pretty much all year. It's kept them from accruing cap space, of which they currently have less than $1.5M to play with. You'd like to think that they'd get about $5M back "when everyone gets healthy," but I question whether any team is going to "get healthy" with this schedule the way it is. Guys trying to play through a nagging injury they'd normally be able to survive just don't have the recovery time to treat it, and are making it worse and miss more time by trying.

    Byram and Samuelsson's occasionaly Paul COffey impressions are helping hide the fact that they Sabres only have four guys in double-digits in goals 42 games into the season, and are 14th in GF/GP in the league. They're sort of gotten away with "Everybody Eats" while a lot of their firepower has been in the nurse's office, but those guys need to kick it into gear now that they're back. Samuelsson has as many goals and points as Jack Quinn, in two fewer games played, which is a prop bet I'm sure everyone bet their mortgage on before the season. Quinn was drafted for his shot, hoping he'd develop the physical attributes (strength/speed) to get to the scoring areas to use it. He's getting chances but not burying them, and they've got to figure out that disconnect. He's not a net-plus as a 15-goal guy.

    They've got to do Tuch's extension before Doan, Benson, Malenstyn, Krebs, Kesselring, etc. It's the old aphorism about the rocks and the jar, If you put the big rock in first, you can shake the grave, sand, and water in around it. If you don't put the big rock in the jar first, it won't fit later.

  12. Rangers prob would have won if Samuelsson didn't score SH. Sabres were being outshot a million to one early in the third, then Krebs took that double minor.

  13. Doan has the same points total as Peterka and is a far better multi tool player than JJ. Quinn still doesn't seem fully engaged to me. I love the story behind Metsa, basically an overlooked defenseman that has worked hard to make himself valuable for the organization.

  14. We have 3 games against Montreal coming up in January. We MUST win 2 out of the 3. Montreal is not as good as we are IF we play up to our level of talent. I watched Slafkovský a couple years ago at PC and our prospects smoked his ass so we'll see what happens. Of course he's a few years matured. My point is if we play up to our talent we can beat Montreal.

  17. This team has three forwards who can't score in Krebs, Quinn and Benson. I'm not sure how long they can keep this up with a quarter of your lineup being almost zero threat to put the puck in the net

  20. Kris, get on Blue Sky instead of (or in addition to) X. Blue Sky is better with constructive engagement, has a fast-growing sports audience, and doesn't come with Elon's oversight and other bull*hit (specifically political). And those of us trying to escape evil algorithms that create mental health problems have long quit X (let alone those of us who have a political reason to avoid X). I mean, at least consider mirroring your X account on BS so we can see what you have to say, too. We'd really appreciate it. I know I'd follow you.

  21. If Thompson and Doan keep scoring with Krebs on the first line, I can't see the problem. If it helps create the balance in scoring, I am okay with that. It's not about one line. I also realize it looks weird having an offensive black hole on the top line…but still.

  23. Should talk about that Owen Power contract at 8.35m for a guy who has no physicality or toughness at all. Move him for a big, tough, defenseman with less offensive ability but more ability to clear the front of the net, block shots, and crush people. You'd save 2.5m a year at least.

  26. Krebs, Quinn, Greenway. Need upgrades. Will settle for Kozak, Rosen and trade acquisition (top 6 winger). Shopping Power or Byram. May have to wait till the offseason to do it, however.

    I think in classic Sabres fashion, Ellis may actually be hurting them. If they didn't have Ellis, Levi would have gotten the call. Who knows, maybe he would have be ready this time. Maybe, it would have helped him mentally. He's gotta be thinking he's not part of their plans when they go to the extent they've gone to, to keep Ellis. Levi has been down on the farm now, for close to 2 years. NOW is when he should have seen his FIRST opportunity. Not throwing him to the wolves, giving him an ego prize as a raw rookie. I don't care how much potential Ellis has, he has to go when Lyon is healthy. We need the roster spot and we've got Levi. Unless, you're going to tell me that they've made the assessment that he isn't going to be a NHL goaltender. Which is possible.

  27. I think the Krebs role and skill set is different than anyone. He's like a smaller Beck Malenstyn who gets more points. These two guys have by far the most hits and are two of the highest top speeds skaters this year on the team. The hitting is good to get Doan and Thompson going and being physical too. Maybe a fast hitter works better for them?
    I agree with the other comment about splitting up Benson and Doan to help out Two top three lines.

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