Maintenance Day

It's the All-Star Break and the Sabres have been off for a bit, but that's OK! Lance and Joe take a look back at the surprises and disappointments of the first half of the season (8:35) as well as:

- what's the deal with Rasmus Dahlin and should there be worry (29:45)
- Henri Jokiharju's role and what it should and could be (38:00)
- Dylan Cozens is going to break out eventually, right? (46:30)
- Things in Rochester have been honestly impressive (53:00)
- The guys wrap it up (1:05:00)


Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

While Joe holds it down in Buffalo, Lance is on the road covering the Sabres and he tells us all about the road trip from hell for the team. From COVID Testing silliness to more injuries, the Sabres once again proved they are never dull.  

Here's the rundown for this week's episode:
0:00 - The nightmare road trip from hell - or how to juggle an NHL lineup. It's a movie title in the making for this tragedy of a season.

20:00 - Hey, you all hear about the goalie madness? From Dell's shoulder shots to Anderson and Tokarski magically returning to action... it's been a soap opera.

31:45 - Casey Fitzgerald is back up and looks good again... so, will they let him stay or what?

44:30 - Alex Tuch is showing he's a really good player and very much worth the hype. Meanwhile, the Jeff Skinner Redemption Tour rolls on and you'll never guess which former coach gets mentioned!
 
59:30 - Johan Larsson appreciation time

1:02:20 - Let's wrap it up fellas

Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

If you missed our previous episode, you missed out on when we called for Mattias Samuelsson and Jack Quinn to be called up to stay a while and that's just what the Sabres did! With... some unfortunate luck, of course.

Here's the rundown for this week's episode for you hunt-and-peck listeners:

0:00 - Let's relive Risto Day and remember his glorious (???) Sabres era.
8:00 - Peyton Krebs busted out big time against Philly and that's pretty meaningful even if it's just against the Flyers.
26:10 - The highs and lows of Jack Quinn showing out against Dallas and his injury. Why, yes, we did talk about how the Sabres play on haunted ground because how else do you wind up with 12 players on the injured list!?
37:45 - The return of Craig Anderson is nigh and this is a really good time for him to showcase his talents for trade deadline day.
45:00 - Speaking of the trade deadline, let's get the hot stove warmed up and discuss: if the Sabres are crazy if they think they're getting a first round pick for Colin Miller, not weaponizing their cap space, and would you rather get picks or prospects in future deals.
55:50 - Mattias Samuelsson looks pretty, pretty good! See also: Jack Quinn and Ryan Johnson. Maybe rushing to judgment immediately on draft day isn't a great way to spend time. I know, we're ruining everyone's fun -- deal with it.
1:10:55 - Can you think of a Sabres prospect who's taken a step back this year? Might be pretty difficult to do that. Plus some words on Aaron Huglen at Minnesota.
1:14:10 - Let's wrap 'er up fellas.


Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

So... things might feel a little bit down in the dumps when it comes to the Sabres because, you know, they're not the Bills? Also they've got some issues. So! That's why Lance and Joe decided to find some more pleasant Sabres topics like future guys and what a life with proper goaltending might be like and... oh no, there's more peril.

0:00 -- Welcome back friends, the guys give a mild recap of the Sabres antics in Nashville and Detroit

4:00 -- It's time for Jack Quinn to come on up and stay a while.
 
16:20 -- Know who else should get recalled and stay? Mattias Samuelsson and that's because some guys on defense are making it seem like an easy decision.

24:00 -- Have you noticed how good Dylan Cozens has been? If you haven't we understand so let us tell you how good he is.

32:30 -- Peyton Krebs is back in action and... he probably doesn't need to go back to Rochester again.

50:00 -- It's time to have a long discussion about goalies. Everyone from Aaron Dell, to UPL, to the possible time crunch to signing Erik Portillo and how quick to bring in Devon Levi.


Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

Since the Sabres are playing once every 10 days these days (thanks COVID!) you'd think we'd be lacking in stuff to talk about. You'd be WRONG!

Here's the rundown if you wanted to skip around, but it'd be cool if you just listened all the way through. You'd be the coolest person on the internet, in fact.

0:00 -- Welcome again -- so about that game against the Sharks...
5:00 -- Old friend Alex Nylander was traded again so of course we had to talk about it
9:30 -- Joe shares a story about Nylander's time in Rochester and how being a top prospect means tough love (even though it shouldn't)
17:35 -- Don Granato sticks up for Rasmus Dahlin while he and Henri Jokiharju put in THE WORK
28:50 -- Would you want Owen Power go to the Olympics? Would you like it if he did?
37:20 -- How about Ryan Johnson?
41:00 -- Jacob Bryson will be back and does he have a lot to prove with Johnson and Power on the horizon?
47:55 -- Tage Thompson as Sabres MVP for a LOT of good reasons.
57:00 -- They need to win some games, don't they?
104:05 -- Being upbeat despite losing (wrap-up time)


Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

Let's lay out what the fellas hit on this week:

0:00 Happy New Year -- let's talk some new faces.
3:00 Assessing JJ Peterka's brief appearance in Buffalo
7:30 Congrats to the Sabres for not burying the noobs deep in the lineup. Let's remember some guys!
10:10 Let's talk about Mr. Krebs and how he should probably stick around.
20:20 UPL and being under fire -- the shots are a bit out of kilter.
22:48 POP QUIZ! It's about the defense and time on-ice and oh no...
31:10 Hey, Evan Rodrigues is doing well. Remember him?
33:10 Good for Marcus Foligno. Yes, we're still remembering guys.
35:55 Alex Tuch and his impressiveness all-around.
42:05 The worries about Victor Olofsson are real.
46:35 Brett Murray is a guy and he's getting some dap from us for it.
51:00 Anders Bjork, however, is on the struggle bus.
1:01:10 The Sabres schedule is just a tad bit light coming up.
1:02:10 Hey, here are some theme show ideas. Know what rhymes with theme? MEME.
1:04:45 Got questions? Hit us up we'll talk about it. Fare thee well until next week!



Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

We start off talking about the latest Sabres COVID cases and lament that there may be more (0:20); but at least the World Junior Championships are underway and Owen Power is the main attraction for Canada (3:00); there are some other Sabres prospects like Jakub Konecny, Isak Rosen, and Nikita Novikov (8:50).

J-J Peterka is not playing for Germany so would you let him and other Sabres prospects play for their countries in the Olympics? (13:55)

Development has been stressed in handling the young guys in Rochester and we get into discussing what Amerks coach Seth Appert has provided the organization in his role there (21:04)

The fans want Krebs! So when are they gonna get Krebs?! That and more about doing things the right way in the AHL.(28:53)

The taxi squad is back and are the Sabres even going to have one? If they do, who the heck do they put on it? (42:16)

Know who should be up in Buffalo? Mattias Samuelsson, that's who. Reward your younger dudes who are ready. (49:01)

The guys promise to stay consistent and will really try not to talk like football coaches (53:25)

Hey, remember Ralph Krueger? He could be our ticket to content! (56:21)

Please help us make a meme (57:55)

Let's wrap 'er up (60:00)


Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

Lance and Joe figured out the TBD part of what was the Unnamed Buffalo Hockey Podcast and discuss what led them down the path to choose "Maintenance Day." (0:00)

The excitement of a great road trip for the Sabres got people talking playoffs. PLAYOFFS!? Fine, we'll be grinches about it -- but realistic grinches! Also there's the peril of thinking big while rebuilding, too. It's a lot. (3:32)

The guys also talk about how Kevyn Adams picked Don Granato and how he's managed what's already been a beyond eventful season. (20:30)

Alex Tuch will make his Sabres debut ASAP and what he brings to the Sabres lineup is very needed (27:10)

Hey, have you noticed the power play stinks? Yeah, so did the guys. (30:40)

Casey Fitzgerald made his debut on Saturday and he's a good example of what Buffalo is trying to do development-wise and he's a good example for other younger guys trying to crack the NHL roster (33:25)

Is Colin Miller long for the Sabres? (37:55)

Will the COVID situation in the NHL hinder the Sabres potential trade plans? (39:40)

So is the defense or the goaltending that's hurting the Sabres more? ¿Porque no los dos? (44:23)

They're NOT nitpicking, we swear! Things are better! (52:43)

There's lots of COVID talk going on in the NHL and here's why they steered clear of it (54:55)

Follow Lance and Joe on Twitter!
Read Lance's work at The Buffalo News
Read Joe's work at Noted Hockey

Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp 

Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News and Joe Yerdon from Noted Hockey discuss what's up with the Sabres goaltending, the plan for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the ugly play of Aaron Dell,  the pain for Casey Mittelstadt, and how the organization should/could handle where to go with their very promising youth among other topics.

Hit us with your comments, complaints, and compliments -- we're all ears.



Big thanks to our musician friends --
Intro: MerlinBerlin -- "Orbit" - Find them on Bandcamp
Outro: Chips 'N Cellos -- Boss Fight (Sabre Dance, Khachaturian) - Find them on Bandcamp