The Instigator Podcast

The 4 Nations Face Off has been a massive success for the NHL, headlined by an excellent USA vs. Canada matchup on Saturday night. We run through the preliminary round results, not just breaking down the fight-filled game between the US and Canada but the results for the Finns and Swedes as well. In addition to our discussion on the hugely positive reaction to the preliminary games, we also offer...

The second episode of Sabres Showdown is here. Once again the Straight Up Sabres team joins us for the conversation over two of the most memorable teams in Sabres history. This time we break down the 2005-06 and 2006-07 Sabres teams, attempting to determine which of the two deserve the honor of moving on in our bracket to face the 1998-99 Cup Finalists. We also give some love to the 2000-01 Sabres...

The 4 Nations Face Off has arrived and we devote this episode to a breakdown of the four teams and how they may fare in the tournament. We offer up thoughts on how each team has looked in their early practices and how we expect the tournament to go once it gets rolling on Wednesday.

The Sabres were at the center of hockey discourse after failing to step up and respond to the hit taken by Tage Thompson on Sunday. We discuss the lack of response from the Sabres and how the lack thereof has shaped the discourse in the following days. We also run through the trades that came down over the weekend, including the JT Miller deal between the Canucks and Rangers. Our discussion covers...

The Canes and Avalanche swung a blockbuster this weeknd as Mikko Rantanen was shipped to Carolina in the biggest trade since the Jack Eichel deal. We run through Saturday's blockbuster before wading into the latest developments on Elias Pettersson and the Canucks. We wrap up this week's episode with a discussion of Jiri Kulich's impressive stretch of hockey and the impact he's had as a rookie.

Would you rather see the Sabres finish with a lottery pick or make a heroic run to 9th place? That's one of our topics on this week's episode. We chat about the potentail outcomes if the Sabres were to finish with a top 3 draft pick vs. a run to 9th or 10th in the East. Prior to that, we talk about reports of a future NHL salary cap at $100 million in addition to the latest on JT Miller's trade sa...

Yet another horrible loss from the Sabres led to damning comments from Lindy Ruff. With the team firmly in the Eastern Confernce basement, all the talk of accountability feels like ancient history now. We talk about the shortcomings behind the bench, in the locker room and the front office. We also touch on how other teams that have struggled this year haven't been shy about improving, while Kevyn...

Rumors are swirling around Vancouver as the reported animosity between JT Miller and Elias Pettersson won't go away. As the Canucks are said to be listening on both, many are wondering whether or not the Sabres can, or should make a play for the former 100-point scorer. We break down Pettersson's credentials, what sort of package the Sabres would need to fork over and where he would fit if the Sab...

The rumors of the Sabres and Wings scouting each other have sparked rumors that a deal between the two clubs could be coming. We spend some time talking about what the two teams could be working on and which players could be involved. From big ticket trades to lower stakes swaps, we try and work out what could be on the horizon. Beforee getting to the trade discussion, we open the show with a chat...

Terry Pegula trekked to Montreal for a meeting with the Sabres on Monday. The takeaway from the meeting was that Pegula believes in the group and the team trusts that the solution to their struggles is in the room. They responded to that meeting with a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. We discuss what the fallout of Monday's meeting could be, especially given the unbelievably fl...

Kevyn Adams set Sabres Nation ablaze with his press conference replies on Friday and while we hoped the space between his press availability and our recording may be long enough to discuss something else about the local hockey club. But the Sabres lost two more games, carrying their skid to seven-straight and putting his comments into sharper focus. Thus, our conversation is centered around Adams...

Buffalo's losing skid hit four games after a dreadful loss to the Colorado Avalanche, erasing the club's playoff advantage and leaving many questions about the current state of the team. We devote the first portion of this episode to breaking down the root causes of their issues, landing on roster construction as the primary issue with what could be another stalled season. We close the episode wit...

Sabres Showdown, a limited series presented by The Instigator Podcast and Straight Up Sabres, will break down and debate the best teams in Sabres franchise history. In the first episode of Sabres Showdown, we debate the merits of the first matchup of our bracket, the 1979-80 vs. 1992-93 Buffalo Sabres. This episode breaks down the pros and cons of both the 79-80 and 92-93 Sabres teams and we make...

On Thanksgiving Eve we fired up the mailbag to field a few questions from our listeners and run through some hot topics in Sabres nation. We hit on Jiri Kulich, Kevyn Adams trade activity, playoff positioning and more in this holiday special. 

It's time for Sabres After Dark but Devon Levi will have to participate like the rest of us as the goaltender was sent to Rochester. James Reimer will be taking over backup duties while Levi gets to take over as the starter for the Amerks. We talk about how this move is the best option for Levi's development while also reflecting on how his play led the Sabres to this decision.  We also touch on t...

The Sabres exited their disappointing loss against the Canadiens with some concerning injury potential but they enter the end of the week with a bit of good news on that front. Both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Tage Thompson couldn't finish the game but are considered day-to-day, a huge victory as the pair are among the players the Sabres can't afford to lose. News wasn't as strong for Mattias Samuels...

Elliotte Friedman reported last week that Kevyn Adams is among the busiest GMs in this young season as he likely shops around for a forward who can supplement Buffalo's offensive attack. We talk about the many challenges Adams will be facing in trying to make a deal at this stage of the season and the (very) short list of players available to him to acquire given how few teams would be willing to...

The Sabres are getting scary play from their second line and it isn't scary good either. We talk about the struggles of Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn and Buffalo's limited options to solve the issue. We also talk about the performance of Buffalo's goaltenders and how a bit more consistency from the pair could pay dividends through a friendly upcoming schedule.  The show kicks off with a conversation...

The Sabres sluggish start has overshadowed some positive play from the roster. It's also been driven by a few notable, questionable performances from players who many were counting on driving the bus for the Sabres this season. We talk about Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn underperforming and how a resurgence from that pair could push the Sabres into contention in the East. We also discuss how Buffalo...

The Sabres enjoyed two strong performances upon their return from Europe, though they only came away with one win. One reason is the team's power play has yet to score this season. We devote this episode to discussing what has and hasn't worked for Buffalo's power play and what areas we think could serve to improve the unit's potential for success.  Along the way we touch on the rumors that the Bi...

The Sabres fell flat in their opening games against the Devils in Prague, with many key areas of their game serving to derail the pair of losses. We discuss the disappointing opening games and what will need to be fixed if the Sabres hope to get back on track. Along the way we touch on James Reimer moving on to Anaheim after being claimed on waivers, the injuries the Sabres are working through and...

The Sabres desperately need to snap their playoff drought and if they're to do it, there are several key factors that will get the job done. In a different type of season preview, we discuss which players will serve as the key drivers for Sabres if they're to get back into the playoffs. We also touch on other factors that will be at play, such as the power play, and if all of the things the Sabres...

The Sabres roster has officially split as the team's 27-man traveling group departed for Europe on Tuesday. The players remaining in camp are made up of the bulk of the Rochester Americans roster. We discuss the final choices to round out that traveling party and how Lindy Ruff may have a tough choice to make in terms of how he handles his goaltenders once the team arrives in Europe. We also offer...

The Sabres hit training camp with 59 players but very few questions about what the final 23-man roster will look like. Kevyn Adams' offseason yielded a number of new additions and has left very few openings for a training camp surprise like Zach Benson last season. We run through Peyton Krebs' new contract, the new roof and scoreboard along with Buffalo's roster as they prepare to open camp on Sep...

Hockey will be played by players wearing Buffalo Sabres uniforms this week as the Prospects Challenge kicks off on Friday. The Sabres are bringing a few star prospects along for the ride. This episode highlights some of the key players to watch for this weekend at The Prospects Challenge along with others who will have an opportunity to make an impact over Buffalo's trio of games. Each position gr...