Taro T

Oh, there's reasons. We're just not allowed to tell you what they are. 😉 Suprised you didn't make the trip to do the doubleheader.

Good to see <_< the refs still have whatever resentment they had for Benson last year. (If we weren't EVER good enough to play in the NHL, why should YOU at all of 5'9" and 165# get to do so as a mere teenager. Well, we'll show you. Off to the box with you.)

The team's energy level seems to be lower when Tuch isn't in the lineup. (Doesn't help that Dahlin isn't in there either.)

Nah, had both the goals been BJ goals, then it could've been the worst 20 minutes. ;)

And now we know what the deal was with the audio. When Dunleavy is on a break, so is the Sound Engineer. And then some.

Disappointing that there's no sound yet. It looks like a nice tribute to the Gaudreau brothers on the video. They seem to be taking this moment of silence thing a bit too seriously. RIP Johnny and Matt.

Yupper. Was just looking to post the same comment. No sound yet.

Sabres website.

About 2,000 more people than would've been in the barn had they kept it a 7PM start. (And, it should actually be a fun game to be at. The Sabres will have essentially their NJ lineup minus the 2 captains & Levi starting over UPL and the BJ's will have an AHL heavy squad.)

If Rodrigues with his limited skill set could become a passable C, wouldn't be shocked if Quinn could also do so. And, giving Cozens some help at C in his own zone could be a part of why Benson remains on that line and Peterka on Thompson's line. Thompson is better in his own zone than Dylan is, so only having Tuch helping carry the C responsibilities in zone is typically enough assistance; whereas Cozens gets 2 very savvy W's to help him make it work. Playing C by committee isn't the worst thing to have happen. Plus, in Cozen's behalf, he entered the league under Krueger and has spent the bulk of his career under Granato. He hasn't even been on the ice for a full week with Ruff teaching him some actual systems to be playing. 4 years worth of bad habits won't necessarily be overcome in the 1st 4-6 days. But am kind of interested in how the board is starting to see Cozens as a W (shoutout to @mjd1001 for putting in the work to move that needle); when he came into the league that he'd ever move to W was a very unpopular opinion.

Very good question. Wondering if keeping Tuch out is to make sure he doesn't get an injury like in camp last year or if it's to see what Benson can do on the top line (maybe both)? If Krebs fits into that slot, it's simply a case of making sure Tuch stays healthy and seeing how Krebs does in a 'you slide into any slot that there's an opening' role. If not, would expect they'll see how Benson does in the forecheck role on that top line. It also could be their opportunity to see what Zucker can do on the 2nd line rather than putting him out there with McLeod and Greenway like most of us expected. Either way, expecting we won't see Tuch until they face Joisey. He'd made it sound like his line wouldn't be playing that game against Munich. (Didn't say that exactly, but what he said gave that impression IMHO.) (So much for the thought they'd keep the lines together all preseason. Of course, with that top line getting 3 goals, and them having been together the last ~ 2 months of the season, expecting Ruff knows what he's getting from the Peterka - Thompson - Tuch line so that one doesn't need to be together all 3 games.)

Makes sense.

No, but the logos and numbers are glued on and the material of the shirt itself has a very weird feel to it. It almost feels "greasy."

With so little time to get ready for the season, and with Benson looking so good in the game last night and apparently in the scrimmages too, would be surprised if Ruff did swap them anytime soon.

The prices are ~55-60% of RS prices. (Still WAY too much. Should be ~25% of RS prices.)

Wonder why Berube would do that? Ruff at least has the excuse of only having 2 PS games before leaving for Europe.

Considering they are literally made at the same factory the Adidas Authentics and Pro unis were made, should hope they aren't crud. Will be interesting to see if they continue to not be crud when they start making them themselves in a year or 2. Still just don't like Fanatics on general principle. (And their Breakaway unis really truly do feel cheap.)

Apparently yes, at least for tomorrow's PS game. Then they head over to Germany for the "real" team's final PS game against Munich. And they'll be putting AHLers and ECHLers in the other 4 games. (And it explains why they have 7 goalies in camp; 3 are going to Europe and the other 4 will allow them to have 2 fresh goalies for each of the 4 remaining PS games.)

Speaking of Perreault and greatest athlete discussions, in the early-mid 70's, Buffalo fans could watch in person arguably the best player in 3 different sports - Perreault, Simpson, and McAdoo.

Would actually expect Zucker where Cozens is, Cozens where Byram is, and Byram where Kulich is. But maybe for some reason Ruff would want Zucker along the boards rather than by the net. Agree on the motion and rotation. They won't be as stupidly sedentary as they were last year, nor will they fear having players not named Benson within 12' of the goalmouth when the puck is on Dahlin's stick. Not sure how apparent that was on TV, but that was REALLY apparent watching in the barn. On the PP and not one single Sabre lower than the face off dots w/ the puck at the blue line. So, truly dislike what Ellis was doing last year.

Yes. Exactly. The Authentic Pro is what you used to get from CCM & Reebok - the authentic sweater the players wore on the ice. Never understood why Adidas added a different retail layer but guessing it has to do with ensuring "game worn" sweaters were easier to authenticate.

Can't see Reimer getting traded, though technically anything is possible. Not sure what the plan will be for Reimer possibly getting claimed. Does anybody know WHEN the Sabres officially have to send players 24-27 down to the AHL / juniors? If they don't have to waive them until after the team comes back from Europe they should already have a good idea of what teams could possibly make a claim on him. If they have to waive them early because they play before everybody else (other than Joisey) plays, then they'd have an opportunity to reclaim him should he get waived a couple days later or they'd have the option to grab somebody else that gets waived at the waiver wire for everybody else. And if they have to cut down to 23 players on Monday October 7 like everybody else, guess they wait for somebody to get waived a little later in the season and see if they feel he's better than Sandstrom. Guessing they have their full cutdown on the same day the rest of the league cuts down. And if some team has a major injury or they are afraid Boston could claim him due to fun with Swayman, guess either Levi starts the year in Ra-cha-cha or the 3 headed goalie monster lives another day. (It's almost like the hydra, just one head doesn't grow back into 2 new heads; it only grows back into 1 new head.)

Interesting but not unexpected that Ruff has a non-PP D-man subbing in for Dahlin rather than bumping Power or Byram into his spot. He spoke over the summer of keeping the PP units together to get them going. And with no Zucker in the lineup tonight, he's giving Kulich a chance to earn a spot on the roster. But still would be kind of surprised if Kulich is on the roster come the Kings game. (No way he doesn't make the trip to Europe.) Defintely pulling for UPL to look good tonight. He should. But if he doesn't am mildly concerned he might get into his own head. (Wonder how much that played into the decision to give him all the healthy NHL D-men against an nearly fully AHL squad vs a decision to put in say Johnson and Clague or Gilbert sitting 1 pair like he's sitting the "3rd line" tonight.) Also, wondering if Levi will have his hands full in the next one getting primarily an AHL squad or if they'll give him this roster but with McLeod's line in for one of the other ones.

Don't plan on buying any Fanatics jerseys at least for a while if not for the entirety of their run as official uni supplier. Really don't like the feel of their "breakaway" unis. The material truly feels cheap. Don't really want to pay the higher prices for the real (nor even the old retail version of real) ones either. Sabres need to go back to letting STHers bank their Sabrebucks for multiple seasons if they want this kid to buy another sweater any time soon. (And even then will probably try to get a close out Adidas one.)

Byram had been good in every stop except Buffalo. And he was good here for about a week before he got a chance to get a few practices under his belt. Expecting him to have a much better season than he had after that 1st week in town.