nfreeman

Yes indeedly.

Absolutely. It would have to be Reino plus some combination of Mitts, Quinn, next year's #1 and a defenseman other than Dahlin. CBJ might not accept, but that would still be a strong offer, and I'm skeptical that they'll end up getting a better established player than Reino in any trade.

I don't think the Sabres could make this trade without sending out one of their expensive guys. They aren't trading Eichel and CBJ isn't taking KO or Skinner. That leaves Reino.

I agree that the bottom 6 will be needed -- I am fairly optimistic though that Eakin, Cozens and TT will represent a significant upgrade over last year, and I am holding out hope that they'll get additional contributions from one of R2 or Mitts.

He's only a fringe 4th liner, but I thought this was kinda interesting too. He was already really fast and he lost 18 pounds. Hockey teams are "iced," sir, not "fielded." More importantly, you are too pessimistic about the forward lines. The top 2 lines are going to be devastating, and I think that Cozens will force his way onto Eakin's line no later than game 5. TT will also be in the bottom 6, and there is a reasonable chance that either R2 or Mittlestadt pushes his way in as well. Between Cozens and 1 or 2 of the FNGs, the bottom 6 will be much improved.

And, just like that, PLD signs -- 2 yrs, $10MM. Not far from what Reino signed for (1 year, $5.2MM).

(Cross-quoting from the Around the NHL thread.) PLD would be a fantastic addition. Going forward with Eichel and him as the top 2 centers would be amazing. I don't doubt that they'd ask for Cozens. Logically the Sabres should give him up for PLD, but I'm not sure I can get there emotionally. I'd give them Reino, Mittlestadt and either Quinn or next year's #1 in a heartbeat for him though.

A bit of Islanders news: Josh Ho-Sang, a talented but bad-attitude type, was not invited to camp.

It's also worth noting that the Sabres start with 3 games against the Caps and 2 against the Flyers. Let's hope AO has been living the Moscow party life for the past few months and shows up hung over and out of shape.

I agree that RK leans towards vets, but given his effusive and consistent praise of Cozens, I think he is pretty close to a lock to be in the opening night lineup.

OK -- I misinterpreted your "top 9" statement. Even so, in light of your clarification, I'd say there are 9 forwards less likely to be scratched for opening night -- the 5 you mentioned as sure things, plus the 3 you mentioned as in his cohort, plus Cozens. I also think it's pretty likely that Reider and TT are in the lineup on opening night, and that as the season progresses, the guys who will be fighting it out for the last couple of spots will be KO, Reider, TT, Lazar, Mitts and perhaps R2.

I agree with most of this, but there is no question that the Bills dumped guys like Dareus and Watkins because they wanted to change the locker room — and they’ve been proven right. You’re a kind man, but this is nuts.

Now this I can understand.

This seems kinda harsh. Nelson hasn't been a particularly good player for the Sabres, but he's still a human being and to my knowledge hasn't done anything to justify a "good riddance."

@GASabresIUFAN -- it looks like you only have 20 on your roster, and I think the roster limit is 23 plus the taxi squad. I think Reider is a lock to be on the roster and will probably dress most nights. He would need to clear waivers to go back and forth from the taxi squad, and they want him to kill penalties. Irwin is also likely to be on the roster. I also think that they will keep the maximum number of guys at least until the AHL and CHL seasons start, and that the guys they keep will include R2 and Mitts until the AHL season starts, and Quinn until they burn up his 9 games (or until the CHL season starts if it doesn't burn a year of his contract). I agree that Toker will be on the taxi squad. I think Borgen will be on it at least until the AHL season starts. So, the taxi squad to start the season could include: Toker, Borgen, R2, Mitts and Quinn. If they don't bother to keep Mitts on the roster or the taxi squad, and just have him wait until the AHL season starts -- that will be an ominous sign.

I don’t think this is correct — ie I think it’s possible for #s 7 and 8 to do so poorly that the Sabres could split with everyone and finish in 6th. But I’d be interested in seeing the calculations if anyone is so inclined.

If Crosby stays healthy I think Pittsburgh will make the playoffs.

So I just tried to stream the WJC games and it looks like even though I get the NHL Network on my cable package, if I'm not at home and I want to stream the WJC, I need to sign up to Fubo. JFC.

@JohnC -- your optimism as always is commendable. I share much of it, but I think it's undeniable that goaltending needs to be substantially better than it was last year for the Sabres to have a chance in what @GASabresIUFAN's breakdown makes clear is a killer division. However I do think it's reasonably possible that Ullmark improves enough to get the job done and/or that @tom webster's nuggets about a trade for a goalie prove out, and I am certainly psyched to see Taylor Freaking Hall, healthy and in a contract year, on the wing of Eichel in his prime, plus Cozens and the other new forwards, plus Dahlin with another year of growth and the rest of the D in their 2nd year under RK. It could happen.

This is an interesting point. I think though GMs generally think a move like an offer sheet is more likely to shorten their careers than to lengthen them.

So last year, Pitt, which would've been in 4th place in our division, finished 11 games over DeLuca .500, and the Sabres finished 9 under -- so that means an improvement of TWENTY wins in an 82-game season would've been required to make the playoffs. Holy mackerel that is a steep hill to climb.

Serious question: who will have a better NHL career: Mitts or Ruotsalainen?

I think this is exactly right and would just add that this protection is part of what MSG is paying the Sabres for.

Both of these are accurate, especially the WFH point. Many of those who fled NYC in the spring have returned, mostly due to schools being (somewhat) back in session. But many have stayed gone, at least for a substantial percentage of each week.

No. 0.8 is 60% higher than 0.5. (Conversely, 0.5 is 37.5% lower than 0.8.) I'm using continental because isolated/island locales like AK and HI seem like they are qualitatively different from the continental states. But I don't think that is a big deal either way. As for the NYS/NYC numbers -- do the NY numbers in that link exclude NYC? I didn't see that noted on that web page, but it's possible. As for whether NY is cooking the books -- everyone is of course free to trust, or distrust, whomever they choose. I think you and Aud are kidding yourselves if you think that NYS, which has suffered under a highly corrupt state government for decades (regardless of which party has been in power) is more honorable than any other state in this regard, but YMMV.