The Instigator Podcast 11.11 – Searching for Answers for the Sabres Skid

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The Sabres losing streak hit eight games after Saturday’s loss in Toronto. Buffalo’s issues seem to have run deeper as this skid has continued with frustrations mounting and obvious solutions at a minimum. We talk about the problems the Sabres have faced in preventing goals, getting contributions from their depth and even in goal.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.10 – Taking Listener Questions Before Twitter Dies

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We were overdue for a listener Q&A so we opened up the replies maybe one last time) to gather some talking points for this week’s show. Topics include when Kevyn Adams will be moved to make a trade, who might be the first player dealt, some thoughts on Peyton Krebs and which goalie number is the best one. Thanks to everyone who turned in a question for this week’s show.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.9 – Sabres Unveil the New Goathead Jerseys

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The Goathead jerseys have finally been unveiled by the Sabres ahead of their debut on November 23. We go deep on the new jerseys and our thoughts on the sharp new look. We even toss in a bit on the Reverse Retro uniform to go along with a bit of general jersey buying advice for those of you in the market.

We also discuss the Mitchell Miller fiasco and just how poor of a decision the Bruins made from the decision to sign him right on through to their decision to release him from his contract.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.8 – Tage Against the Machine

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Tage Thompson is on fire, racking up nine points over two games this past week and helping the Sabres further their winning record. We talk about Thompson’s breakout and another Sabres center who has been terrific this season: Dylan Cozens. After we discuss the team’s top two centers we serve up a few treats at the end of the show in discussing the Arizona Coyotes arena and the new Adidas Might Ducks sneaker and jersey line.

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Who’s Up Next as the NHL’s Uniform Supplier?

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For a league that tends to prefer the conservative approach, the NHL’s jersey partnership with Adidas has brought about a host of boundary-pushing initiatives.

Now, the league will need to pivot as Adidas will not be renewing their contract with the league following the 2023-24 season. This isn’t new territory for the league – or the sport as a whole – as the current agreement came about as Reebok was taking on an even greater focus on CrossFit and training. Similarly, Nike’s relationship with Bauer hockey ebbed and flowed before Nike’s involvement in hockey all but ended in the mid-aughts.

The Adidas era of jerseys should be looked upon fondly by NHL fans. They did admirable work with the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, hitting a couple of home runs with the uniforms for the tournament.  

Redesigns over these last seven years have been somewhat minimal, with many teams returning to former designs as opposed taking on new looks. But Adidas has left their mark on the league’s alternate jerseys. Pushing boundaries with the designs in Dallas and Edmonton and finding the right mix of heritage and contemporary design with Winnipeg’s (sadly) short-lived Jets script alternate.

Arguably the biggest impact we’ve seen from Adidas is the Reverse Retro program. The new take on alternate jerseys has brought about a raft of excellent and nostalgic uniforms and is a fairly sharp derivation from the typically conservative NHL. Whether the program continues after Adidas departs is a pretty big question from both an aesthetic and revenue perspective.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.7 – Dahlin Soaring to Start the Season

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Rasmus Dahlin was named first star of the week in the NHL after setting a new record for consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman to start the season. We discuss Dahlin’s impressive start and the other bright spots for the 4-1 Sabres. We touch on the challenges facing Don Granato with recent injuries and other roster needs and look ahead to the final four games of October.

The Instigator Podcast 11.6 – Gear Up for Sabres After Dark

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It’s only been two games but we are on the verge of Sabres After Dark with Buffalo set to embark on a west coast swing through Canada. We talk about what went well and what went wrong in the first two games and how Don Granato’s line shuffling may shift how the Sabres attack this upcoming trip.

The Instigator Podcast 11.5 – It’s Time for a Sabres Season Preview

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The Sabres are set to kick off their 2022-23 campaign and we dig into their lineup ahead of the season opener and how we see them faring this season. We look into each position group, determining where the team’s strengths and weaknesses lie. We also offer up a few thoughts on the rest of the league as the NHL regular season gets rolling.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.4 – The Growing Crisis Surrounding Hockey Canada

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The spotlight on Hockey Canada has only gotten brighter in recent days as the investigation into how the organization has handled sexual assault claims continues to reveal deeper and darker issues with their operations. We discuss the nature of the claims against Hockey Canada and how recent revelations and announcements have raised new questions about what’s next for Hockey Canada and whether or not they’re capable of the introspection needed to enact tangible change.

We wrap up the show by digging into the lines the Sabres look set to enter the season with. We touch on the strengths of the lineup and some of the areas where issues may arise. We look at how the roster make up could affect the long and short term roster management through recalls and changes with line combinations.

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The Instigator Podcast 11.3 – Preseason Kicks Off plus Listener Q&A

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With preseason underway, we reflect on the Sabres first few games of the preseason and what positives can be gleaned from the early action. We kick things off with a conversation about Jason Robertson and how the Sabres could go about acquiring him should the rumors of the connection between the Sabres and Stars bear fruit. We close this week’s episode with some listener questions covering a number of topics including line predictions, Matt Savoie and our favorite Sabres of all time.

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