Taro T

AND 1. it is ENTIRELY self induced by ownership and management; and, 2. It won't go away until at a minimum they've either won a playoff series or made the playoffs 2 years in a row. That'll be necessary to not be viewed as being an afterhought, though it won't necessarily be sufficient.

True, but aren't even those still seeing them in only the low 90's? If that's where they are they're still putting a huge portion of their destiny on others failing rather than them succeeding. (And yes, in the East, it's been that way for at least 3 years, so it makes sense for it to happen again. But it's just so frustrating to see them once again not step up in the off-season and put themselves in a position where it would take some serious bad luck for them to miss rather than needing some serious good luck to make it.)

Technically it kicks in next year. There have been credible reports the league and PA are looking into implementing some provisions of the new MOU (due to take effect in September '26) as early as during this season. No data on exactly what will get implemented and what will slide to September.

Uh, define "lose seats." One of the proposals they seemed VERY interested in back a few years was replacing a lot of the seats down along center ice in the 100's with tables that 3 or 4 could sit and and watch the game getting a full concierge experience. Think the seats over by the bar on the 200 level behind / near the goal line that the Sabres defend twice. Hoping they don't decide to do that, because that would result in a full reshuffling of where everybody that's put up with this team for the past 15 or so years (with many being there for much longer than that) ends up having their tix.

That "big and opaque bug" is actually the ribbon board below the jumbotron (or whatever the monstrously big TV is officially called) that has the stats shown in rink. Would have money on it that isn't the MSG "score bug" we'll see when they start broadcasting the RS games.

He was recalled when Jones was sent down. D'oh! Meant to type Komorov.

And that's 8 healthy/available D for practice with Novikov. Komorov. 🍺

Yes, he's still waiver exempt. So, they aren't "sneaking" him down or up.

Kind of surprisng that Komorov is getting brought back up. There was no need to waive him the other day if they were considering keeping him up. Is there another injury to the D that we don't know about? Because with Samuelsson injured, that would give them 9 healthy D on the big roster.

Could definitely see FLA missing the playoffs if they get just 1 or 2 more LT injuries to KEY players. Until the Loafs miss the playoffs, won't expect it. Though they MAY take a step back to upper 90s, very low 100's with their latest moves and Tavares being even 1 more year older. But BOTH of them dropping all the way to sub-90? NFW.

Umm, Buffalo with 91 and BOTH FLA and TO with 89? Probably wouldn't be betting the farm on this model's output.

Reinhart. Ullmark. Give them both LT deals instead of 1 year deals and the whole trajectory of this team changes significantly.

Good GMs get out of bad contracts all the time. (So, yeah, it likely isn't expendable. 😉 )

Not convinced they "know" teams will give him that. But it does seem the PA is telling them somebody will and wants him to hold off from signing for anything less.

Could see him wanting to keep him around, but depending upon who's injured/ close to ready, he might not have the luxury of doing that. He's got 3 players out that might not be someone he wants to put on IR (Luukkonnen, Samuelsson, and Kulich) and if at least 2 of them are day to day but not ready 10 or so days from now, then he might not have the luxury of keeping Geertsen up. Do expect he'll see some action this year; and again, do believe Ruff would like to keep hm as a spare from day 1; but not convinced that makes sense as he'll likely keep Johnson and Bryson up (presuming Samuelsson doesn't go IR) leaving only 1 healthy spot in the press box. If Kulich's injury drags or if UPL is close but not quite ready; there's no room for Geertsen. (And am expecting Greenway to start on IR.)

Spencer Brown was clearly missed. Both of the 1st 1/2 sacks were likely due to him being out - the 1st one Jordan simply abused Van de Mark and the other one, Torrance got caught cheating too much to his right expecting to need to help Ryan and the stunt left him in no man's land. The good news is that apparently they were close to having Brown play today so he should be in against the Cheats next week. And, getting 31 points in a game where you were awful for an entire 1/4 without getting any particularly short fields until the very end, even against a bad team, is pretty impressive. As for the D stinking against the run, hopefully getting Hoecht into the lineup will help with keeping RBs to get the outside. Bosa's a great pass rusher, but he wasn't quite there on at least a couple of long Kamara runs. And the other guy hopefully will help too.

With Samuelsson injured, real good chance for Johnson to start the year in the top 6. Actually prefer that to Jones taking that slot all things equal as Johnson's still on the upswing and Jones is what he is.

Johnson - Mrtka Novikov - Komarov Metsa - ??? He'll gain more playing 20 minutes per game vs men than he would playing 27 vs kids. MHO. YMMV. Plus he's getting used to a potential future partner as a Sabre.

Cool. Did not realize that. Then he should be Ra-cha-cha bound. Sorry @DarthEbriate. 🍺

Figured they were down 2-1, gave up the empty netter and then scored very late in garbage time. So, other than the not scoring in true garbage time, nailed it. 🙄

Sending him back to Seattle does him little good and yes, Ra-cha-cha would be better for his development. But, until the NHL & CHL rework their transfer agreement then 18 yo's like Mrtka & 19 yo's too will have 2 options - stay in the NHL or play in the CHL. The AHL isn't an option, though with the most recent MOU to the CBA, the league and players agreed that it's in both their best interests to have the NHL try to get it modified for 19 yo's at least. EDIT: The general concept holds, but Mrtka apparently isn't caught up by the NHL-CHL agreement.

Personally, expect he'll pass him on the depth chart (if he hasn't already) but that unless they have 2 injuries on D they'd rather have him in Ra-cha-cha playing so expect he'll go down rather than Bryson if they keep 8 up on the big roster. He is still waiver exempt to be sent down. So, unless they're on an extended road trip doubt he's up if he isn't in the top 6. But interestingly Puckpedia has him listed as being an Amerk right now. Pretty sure that's incorrect as they're also showing Östlund and Georgiev as Amerks already too.

Kulich has an injury that was supposed to just be a day or 2 thing IIHC.

Lescyshyn and Kozak still up with the big boys. Figured Geersen would still be up. Didn't expect the other 2. 3 goalies still up too. (That not surprising considering Luukkonnen hasn't played yet.) Also Östlund and Dunne still up. Figured Dunne would still be there. Didn't expect Östlund.

Norris seals it. 5-2