Eleven

To the extent that you're addressing me (which I don't think is all of your post): They don't have to keep him next year. They can trade him. Whether he's a capable backup, or even starter, is what they need to learn. The sample size isn't big enough right now. I'm not on the "deserves" thing so I'll move by that. Anderson isn't young enough to play more than once a week, correct. So the Sabres need to figure out a plan for if/when UPL goes down. Is that Comrie? Is he good enough? Things they need to learn. Something that isn't broken? The Sabres' goaltending situation is better with UPL, but it is far from ideal, and very far from franchise standards. The team identity is goaltending. Some teams' identities are bullying (Boston, Filly); some are finesse (Montreal, Edmonton); and this franchise's identity is goaltending.

***** the Bruins.

This is exactly the problem. They need to start him to see what he's capable of. Not Anderson--and I appreciated his play last night.

Can't believe I didn't think of this last night...

I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but you really do look like your avatar aged 30 or so years.

Well put.

That was beautiful. Tip to other teams: Don't let the Sabs win the draw in OT.

The ice melted

That's IT. As soon as it turns nice in Winnipeg, like in July 2042, I'm coming up there...

Thanks for 'splaining EDIT I WAS BEING SINCERE, DAMMIT @Thorny

I don't mind testing UPL at all. That's not the point. The point is that when he is NOT playing, I'd prefer to see what Comrie can do than to see what I already know about Anderson. And I gave up on the playoffs when Adyms did. In November. Unfortunately, he IS running the Sabres.

No, we don't, and we also don't know whether he can be a starter. As you say, Anderson isn't coming back. There is no reason to start Andy tonight unless you think the Sabres can make a run. And if you do, I think that's awesome, and I hope you're right. But I think you're wrong.

Yes. I have no idea what that meme is, but yes.

It could be Levi/UPL (or reversed); it could be Anderson/Comrie again if the GM doesn't fix hymself, it could be a lot of things. Evaluating Comrie is important, and this team is not making the playoffs. It just isn't. It's nice to think about; it's nicer to watch them develop and think about next season.

Evaluation is the right word, I think. And I'm not happy that they're not using this time to evaluate him. At least we can agree on the vocabulary?

Comrie isn't developing. He's an unknown. And the Sabres aren't making the playoffs this year. If the November losing streak didn't make that clear, the last couple of weeks should have.

If only there were a way to short or sell sports bets. My favorite orphanage would be in a mansion on Delaware Ave.

I'd like to see Comrie spelling UPL too. He's the one we need to learn about. We know Anderson.

I don't see myself staying up for the third in this one, so better be 6-0 Sabs by the end of two.

Count on it being 10+ if you know anything about bookmakers.

Aren't they near top of the league with a lead after 2?

***** Boston.

Singletary and Shakir are replacement-level if not below. And I LIKE Singletary. So are the rest of the RBs and WRs not named Diggs. Cook is better at catching passes than Singletary, if you need the check down guy. They do need a slot receiver, since Beasley is old and batshit crazy. Keep Hines for KR. McKenzie's 2-yard end-around to greatness yesterday is about as good as it'll get with him. Now, here's where everyone will hate me: I'm kind of glad that they're out. This team wasn't going to win it; at best, it was going to lose to the only NFC East team it hadn't lost a SB to. I like Bills games because they are social events where I'm cheering for the same thing that other people are cheering for. It's the same reason I like craps if I'm in a casino (that is a rare event); everyone is rooting together. I don't love NFL football, I would greatly prefer the Sabres winning a Cup to the Bills winning a SB. I very rarely watch the NFL if the Bills aren't playing--and that includes the last few SBs. It's boring. I doubt I'll watch next weekend, and I might turn part of the SB on. So I've got my Sunday afternoons back, I had enough fun cheering along other Bills fans this year, and GO SABRES!!!!!

I don't think McDermott is the problem, but I do have to blame him somewhat for the timidity in the playoffs that we've seen. A "go for it" in Week 5 should also be a "go for it" in the divisional round. Mostly, I put this on Frazier; as above, I think he chickens out and plays it safe in the playoffs when his normally aggressive defense would succeed. But some of it comes from the higher layer on the org chart. I saw some timidity on offense yesterday (and last week), too, and that is on a rookie OC, but also on McD. I'd like to see improvement there. I think most of you know that I am loath to fire good head coaches, and so I'd keep McD. But the coordinators? One should go and the other had better learn fast. Solid theology.

Well, the nice thing is that the Cowboys' absurd final play has most of the country talking about them, not Buffalo.