MattPie

Re Jost and Mittelstadt: by draft pedigree, they're pretty similar players (24 and 25, 10th and 8th picks). Casey doesn't have as good numbers, but has played far fewer games due to injury. Do I think Casey will become a 1-2 C? Probably not. Do I think he could be Jost-like? Yes. Would anyone really complain if he became a serviceable middle/bottom-6 winger at this point? I wouldn't, given what else the team has brewing for the top-6. Better question: if Jost was originally a Sabres draft pick and had played the same up to now, how would the fans rank him? My guess is there'd be two guys in the doghouse right now.

If I were going to worry, all this "we're a family stuff" will get in the way of finding better players and coaches. I could easily see keeping a rookie OC for another year on the theory that they're learning. I'm not saying be ruthless, but they may not make the hard decisions. Also if I were going to worry, it sounds like both Knox and Beasley are on the team at least in part because Allen likes them. I hope the staff doesn't weigh that too heavily.

I think you mean 3-of-3, really.

I hope you find the snow, we were looking at Old Forge NY this weekend and there's not enough snow there to do anything. Heinous deckery most foul.

I remember wearing a polo shirt with the goat-head at work in Philly the day after one of those 8-2 or 8-0 drubbings in the playoffs. We had some construction guys in the datacenter that gave me a little good-natured crap about it, lol. I used to wear my navy retro 3rd to the games in Philly when I went too.

Sounds like it was a hockey or maybe careless play, and at least one person involved is a DB.

Have to think this was an ask by Vinnie instead of being in the press box most games. Or the NHL quietly put pressure on the Sabres for skirting the rules with all the loans (I have no proof of that, of course).

I'm not expert, so I don't think it works that way. I think the team would have to fit Bishop's contract under their cap, and they get pro-rated credit for the same amount to bring in a player while he's on LITR. But in this situation, they could just bring in a player with that same space. (I'm not explaining this well, I think) The teams that have exploited this have already had a player on LITR, used up that credit during the season, and then have both players for the playoffs. I think Bishop only helps teams that need to hit the cap floor since he's never going to play again.

I can't see the Sabres realistically being a strong buyer unless things turn around right now. After yesterday, they can only lose 12.5 games for the rest of the season and hit 98 points. I get all the feels of not selling this deadline and making a run at the playoffs, but it's getting so unlikely that not making moves for next year and beyond is foolhardy. I don't disagree with any of your points above, other than I'm not sure what the concept is for #6. It's not like a team is going to magically get a bunch of cap space by trading for Bishop's contract and it's done this year so it won't hinder the Sabres in the furture.

I expected more of this kind of content based on the thread title.

Sounds like a "they'll never expect this!" play call. They won't expect it because it's a lower-chance of success idea.

Probably did the math wrong, lol. I just posted this over in the GDT: the Sabres have 13 losses left for the season to get to 98, 27 wins. Those move around a little for OTLs. So 4 losses per month, give or take.

Every game at this point kinda is at this point. The Sabres only have around 13 losses[0] left this season if they want to be a solid place for the playoffs. [0] 40 games remaining, at 44 points, need 54 more points to be "safe", 27 wins, 13 losses. I'm not counting OTL/SO here.

For better or worse, the Bills are the team to watch, and everyone wants to see Allen hurdle someone. This is pretty fair. It helps that putting Buffalo and Rochester together gets you around 30th in metro area population, with KC, indy, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati. Small market, but not desperately so.

NHL All-star John Scott.

I can't see the article any more, but I think it went something like, play happens, defender starts chasing the injured player around to fight[0], including to the locker room, and the building management threw him out before the police showed up. Then charges were pressed. [0] Hard to find a good reason for this, other than "beer-league all-star tough guy" scenario. I assume there were words regarding the defender's lack of stick control and/or coming in late, or something. Which, you know, totally means you have to fight the guy after knocking his teeth out. I can't imagine playing physical sports as an adult, too many sad tough-guys out there.

0.524 * 82 * 2 == 85 point pace now.

Sounds like my FIL, he owns a company and puts in a solid 8 hours a week before knocking off for the weekend. (He's earned it and treats his people really well, not begrudging the guy at all)

I was starting to write something similar. Without seeing the video, it could very well be a hockey, careless, or malicious play. I do wonder if police would have been called if the accused had not been a complete knob.

If I were going to pick, I'd say Barnaby.

Same, although 23 years and one company. To be fair, we don't get any of the birthday holidays or Veterans' Day off. We do get floating holiday for the hours so we can take them off, but few people do unless they have child care to manage.

Yes, a chance. But it won't be as easy as it seems. There are three teams ahead of the Sabres in the Wildcard race. If the Islanders stay on their current pace, they'll end up around 92 points. But I wouldn't bet on that. After the trade deadline, the hungry teams will be playing hard and there will be more sellers just playing out the season. Even if the Islanders falter or maintain, Pittsburgh is right behind them. The Sabres are currently on pace for 88 points even with the magical run they were on the last month or two. They have to play at least that well for the rest of the season. They've shown it's possible, had they even gone 2-2-1 in the last 5 I'd believe it, but those 3 losses almost have to be the last falter for the rest of the season. The Sabres need to win the remaining games in hand and get back to those 7-3-1 10-game segments.

Must win, did win.

Those three losses will make it really hard, again. I only watch the 10-minute highlights, and it's noticeable in the last week or two that not every play showin is the Sabres scoring. , It seemed like that for those few weeks where they were shelling everyone; the Sabres were burying their chances.

To be fair, I think Bjork made it through waivers in November, so we're on the cusp, lol.