Taro T

The Bolts are bringing the Christmas weather we had when they were supposed to be here with them. Only got about 4" of snow but it is a very heavy snow. We missed winter this year, so we're getting it in March it seems.

For whatever reason, the networks like making unlikeable football players and coaches into color commentators/ halftime desk guys. There's a long list: Harrison, Bruschi, Rex Ryan, Collinsworth, etc. Just to name a few. Is there any other player less likeable than Brady? He was a shoo in.

Absolutely believe that all things being equal, he'd rather the Sabres make the playoffs than don't. The kicker is, he was never going to sacrifice a chunk of where this team will be at down the road to attempt to insure the team gets into the playoffs this year, especially considering how precarious their position is - they are 1 of 7 teams battling for the rights to face either the Bruins or the Canes. And then should a minor miracle happen, the winner of either the Bolts Loafs or the Rags Devils. Even if he gave up all 3 of last year's picks this team would be a Dahlin and a goalie injury away from not being good enough to be 1 of the 2 sacrificial lambs. Adams improved the team today and for next year too in all likelihood, and all at the cost of their likely worst 2nd round pick, a 5th next year, and a F that is 4 years out if he can even break through the logjam at F.

Great question. Would guess: Skinner - Thompson - Tuch Mittelstadt - Cozens - Quinn Greenway - Krebs - Olofsson/Peterka Girgensons - Jost - Okposo w/ Vinnie and JJ/Vic as the spares. Though depending upon opponent could see Vinnie getting in instead of the other 2. Personally would have Vinnie in the top 12, but doubt Granato agrees.

In the mid-80's Potsdam State had a very good basketball team - they won the Div III national championship once or twice. Pretty sure one of those years Clarkson didin't win a game. When they played it was literally the best and worst teams in the nation playing each other. Was usually way too busy drinking to watch the hockey team on weekends, no way was this kid going to a bouncyball game but did wath a bit of one on TV. It was pretty bad.

Let's put it this way, when you said you'd gone to SLU was going to say (jokingly) that you'd never come across as a spoiled rich girl. ;)

Colorado?

And most of them go to Potsdam State. ;)

To the bolded, if it were strictly about merit for just next season and not part of a plan for moving forward for the next dozen or so years, expect they would. But last year, Quinn and Peterka were tearing up the AHL and both only got a cup of coffee in the NHL last year in their D+2 year. Still believe that was to get their ELC's to slide a 2nd year. Until Savoie &/or Kulich play a 10th game in the NHL next year will not expect them to do so. (And again, based upon what Adams says about them moving forward, might change that expectation, but am not ready to do so now.)

Won't be surprised if Olofsson is moved. Considering Mittelstadt is 5th in the pecking order this year amongst F's and only Quinn of the guys that are here now has a chance of supplanting him next year, minus making a big trade for a F would be very surprised if he's not a Sabre next year. (Now, might he get moved in the 2 seasons after that, very possibly. But don't see it happening before next off-season at the earliest.)

Don't expect he's done. Expect he moves back home based upon the ages of his kids and that his new house should be completed.

If Savoie is clearly one of the top 9, no way he goes back to Juniors. If he's borderline 12/13, expect the extra year of having him under control and also the extra year of him on a cheap deal will win out on the +/- pros and cons evaluation of where to have him playing turns the tide to sending him back. Could very well be wrong about that and hearing Adams speak later this month could very well turn that evaluation/expectation.

Durn it, we never get good duels around here anymore.

My guess is that Hinostroza is gone next year as is Okposo. Expect they bring in a Hinostroza type to add some extra competition. Expect Savoie will get his 9 game look, but that for LT cap management, that they're planning on sending him back. Could see Rousek getting a legit shot but expect Kulich is pencilled in the following year like Savoie is. So, they'll have about 15 guys with legit shots at making the top 13 and probably 3 or so more that will be in the mix. Expect they bring in another 4/5 D-man and let the 8 guys they currently have, the new guy, and Johnson duke it out for the 8 roster spots. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see them bring in another G to share the net with UPL next year as it sure seems they don't trust Comrie. And with Levi being available as the emergency guy, they will finally not only have an entire roster of NHLers, but they will have guys that won't be out of place in the NHL down in Ra-cha-cha too at pretty much every position. Might have to go back even longer than the drought to get to a point they could say that.

Yeah, it seems that Olofsson's time here is growing short. IMHO he seemed to be worse than normal the past 2 games with a lot of pucks skipping over his stick. Wondering if he was expecting to get called into Adams or Granato's office and that was weighing on him. (Yeah, he hasn't scored in 12 games now, but he could at least control an uncontested puck for most of that stretch.) Until Tuch is back, the guess is that JJ Peterka sits a couple of games and then they see how the team is doning. If things aren't clicking still then either either Hinostroza or Olofsson get their chance to sit in JJ's stead.

Yeah, could see a fair amount of interchangability between the lines depending upon the opponent. Expect he's typically a 4th liner. But the thought of him forechecking for & with Krebs and Peterka is enticing.

Don't know. He's 29 now and has played a hard game his entire career. Could see him hanging them up in his early 30's. Of course, this is the healthiest he's ever been, so who knows. But could easily see him hanging them up 3 years from now. We shall see.

Greenway's under contract for 2 more years. Said upthread that IMHO his LT place in the lineup is where Okposo slots. Have a feeling that Okposo is going to go back home to Minny to end his career and the further we get into this season the more that seems to be happening this coming off-season. Expect Girgensons will be that rare NHLer who only plays for 1 team in his career and that he'll be back 2 more years or possibly even 3 more.

The Yotes 2nd pick of the 1st round was 2 picks after the Sabres took Savoie and their 3rd pick was right after the Sabres took Kulich. Could see where they really coveted 1 or both players and thought Chychrun would be able to deliver 1 or both to them.

B- : Greenway and Stillman will likely be better in Buffalo than they were earlier this year. They got a reasonable pick for a player that wasn't going to sign. Could've been much better, but they did improve the team and didn't sacrifice any of the future for it.

No, but she does have to wear it backwards.

And one more really big player. Makes Adams penchant to draft highly skilled small players less problematic than it would've been on oh say the Derek Roy era Sabres squad.

Apparently even though he's pretty much a punching bag Stillman will drop the mitts too.

Really expect this move was just trying to do right by the player and also to keep from having him become a distraction. He's the 1 player on the roster than had 2 players brought in to move in front of him as both Jost and Greenway will be expected to do what Asplund was originally expected to do.

Kind of the yin to Murray's acquisition of Olofsson's yang.