nfreeman

What do we know about that site?

These are the kind of gems that no one misses when you are on leave. Do better or keep quiet.

He's a good, solid player, but not a major difference-maker IMHO. He doesn't get to the QB or create turnovers much.

Boys, please. We all have our semi-irrational likes and dislikes. For example, Derek Roy is one of my all-time least favorite Sabres. It occurred to me last night that Mitts could develop into a similar player -- skilled, productive and a very nice piece to center a 3rd scoring line as Roy did with Max and Vanek. You don't want to count on him as one of your top 2 centers, or count on him in the playoffs, but to be able to ice a high-scoring line like that, as a 3rd line, against lesser defenders is a real advantage. FWIW, I agree with @Thorny that I'd like to see Skinner reunited with a healthy Eichel next year and wouldn't be a-tall surprised if doing so helped Skinner find his mojo again. But I also agree with @dudacek that Skinner's poor production over the last couple of seasons is primarily Skinner's fault.

He seems very much like a McD character guy.

This would be great, but I don't think anyone has ever voluntarily moved from Southern California to WNY.

I too am quite taken with R2 (heh). He has multiple skills, good hockey sense and a stout frame. Skinner is a conundrum. He seems to be creating chances and usually in the right place but seems to have lost 80% of his finishing ability -- and we're now at 2 (abbreviated and weird) seasons worth of that unfortunate and expensive state of affairs. The jury's very much out on Bjork and TT. I'd like to see a no-BS top-6 winger brought in this summer.

I watched the entire game and was entertained throughout. The Sabres played hard and made quite a few nice plays. They were beaten by a better team. One thing I've noticed, which jibes with what I've heard from Granato in interviews, is that the players are trying many more risky plays to keep possession or create chances than they did previously. The approach has produced many more scoring chances for the Sabres, but also more chances the other way -- e.g. Boston's 1st goal resulted from a turnover in the neutral zone when Dahlin attempted a nifty move, and their 3rd goal came on a similar play when Reino turned it over in the neutral zone and Kreijci dusted both Dahlin and Joki. It's more enjoyable to watch, and the players seem to enjoy it more, but I'm not sure it can deliver a winning record.

Good to see ya! Don't be a stranger.

For the record, the Bills lost to KC because KC had better QB play and better coaching, and I say that as a big fan of both McD and JA. Having said that, I would be happy with Etienne if he indeed is a major playmaker. Would also be happy with a DE or OL in the first round and BPA after that.

Well, certainly there's a fair amount of projecting for Cozens. But I also think he puts more pressure on the opponent with his speed and his force, and is more effective 5-on-5, than Mitts, who is more of an opportunist and scores more on the PP. And while I'm happy to see Mitts showing that he isn't a washout, it's worth remembering that he has 11 ES pts in 35 games this year. His scoring has improved over the past month, to be sure, but it's still 7 ES pts in 15 games -- i.e. solid scoring in a small sample size, but nothing that makes me think he's a lock to be a productive 2C or 3C next year. I'd guess 30ish pts from each of them next year, topping out in the mid-40s, without much spread between them, and with Mitts getting more PP pts than Cozens.

Definitely an all-time great Sabre, as well as one of my favorites. Thanks for the memories Ryan.

@Thorny's point about Reino helping Eichel is not to be ignored, but I think a healthy Eichel on a well-coached team will nevertheless be able to thrive with other wingers. I also agree with @dudacek that I'd like to see Reino at 2C and let Cozens and Mitts fight it out for 3C. I think Cozens will win that competition, but if Mitts improves as much year-over-year as he did from last year to this year, anything is possible.

I'm still not sold on Mittlestadt, although he certainly has improved, and I expect Cozens to be substantially better than Mittlestadt next season.

This seems a bit of a strong reaction, innit? What exactly has you flummoxed?

But do you think Seattle would take Asplund over Borgen? It's not a slam dunk, but I think they would take Borgen.

Good man.

Also a good one.

Good question. I was going to say Geoff Sanderson, based on my memories of him as a Sabre -- ie a 30ish-pt winger who can score goals, isn't much of a playmaker and puts pressure on the opposing D with his speed, plus a better 2-way game than Sandy, but then I checked Sanderson's stats. I didn't realize he had SIX 30-goal seasons, including 2 40-goal seasons, plus another season with 25 goals, over a 17-year career. In any case I'll stick with Sanderson as a comp based on his Sabre years. I agree that Bjork seems sometimes to carry it into congestion and that he generally doesn't seem like much of a playmaker. However, I think he has a good shot and good goal-scoring instincts and that he can hang with Cozens and R2 on that line, be a good 2-way contributor and gradually improve his awareness and decision-making in the offensive zone.

And?

I'd guess that Asplund will be exposed and Bjork and TT will be protected (as well as Skinner, who will not waive his NMC), and that Borgen and Miller will be exposed, and that Seattle will unfortunately take Borgen unless KA pays them to take someone else. FWIW, I think protecting Bjork over Asplund is the right call as I think Bjork has more upside. OTOH, I'd rather lose Bjork than lose Borgen, and Seattle might be more inclined to take Bjork than to take Asplund, so it might make strategic sense to expose Bjork instead of Asplund.

God bless you and your mom. Hang in there.

Let's chill out a bit please.

But didn't goalies (and other waiver-eligible players) have to clear waivers in order to be assigned to the taxi squad?

Interesting, and I think you're right.