nfreeman

Also worth noting IMHO: Allen, despite struggling for 2/3 of the game, looked better than Darnold.

I think it’s useful to boil this down to open roster spots and guys competing for them (assuming 13 F and 7 D). Forward locks: Eichel, Skinner, Reino, Jojo, Mittsie, Erod, Vesey. Forward near-locks: KO, Olofsson Forwards competing for last 4 spots: Sheary, Larsson, Zemgus, Wilson, TT, Sobotka, Asplund, Cozens, Ruotsie, CJ D Locks: Dahlin, Montour, Risto, McCabe, Miller D competing for last 2 spots: Bogo, Pilut, Joker, Scandy, Borgen So, that would be 10 forwards competing for 4 spots, and 5 D competing for 2 spots. (NB that a Risto trade will likely result in significant changes to the above.)

Negative. The ball was at Beasley's knees, not in the dirt. It was a bit low, but that pass, into that defense, is supposed to be low. Those photos are indecipherable, but the TV replay from the QB's perspective showed that it was absolutely catchable.

I don't necessarily think he's done -- I just think he had a down year last season, he's not cheap and he's covered in Sabres stink, and therefore no one is going to give up anything of value for him.

I don't think anyone will give the Sabres anything better than a low draft pick (i.e. 5th round or lower) for Sheary or Scandy.

Well, presumably if Laine is traded, a contract will be part of the deal, and that contract will establish some parameters for the other RFAs.

Well I guess it is deniable! Good fact. I stand corrected.

Well, perhaps I overreacted to the 1st half suckitude, but I did watch the whole thing. Totally agree with both of these points. That INT was on Beasley, and he dropped a long one late that JA lofted over the defender beautifully and dropped right into his hands. Otherwise: - That was Allen's best game by far IMHO, even though he was pretty shaky for most of the 1st half, and reason for hope for the season. - The O-line looked greatly improved. - John Brown might be the best FA that McD/BB have brought in. I think Hyde is the only one close. - The D is very tough. - Pretty undeniable that Singletary didn't get loose until Mosely went out. Still, he delivered, which is great. - They were pretty lucky that the Jets' kicker pooped the bed.

Debacle.

Awesome. Another $250 or however much Sunday Ticket is down the drain.

@Thorny-- are you using vpn? Or are there no blackout restrictions in the GWN?

Is the stream from sabres.com working for anyone? I keep getting the circle but it doesn't load.

Sabres roster: Forwards 25 Arttu Ruotsalainen 42 Dylan Cozens 52 Andrew Oglevie 57 Brett Murray 59 Stephen Harper 65 Shaw Boomhower 68 Victor Olofsson 73 Matej Pekar 74 Rasmus Asplund 75 Bobby MacIntyre 76 Pascal Aquin 80 John Wiitala 82 Kyle Olson 84 Sebastian Vidmar 93 Lukas Rousek Defense 3 William Borgen 10 Henri Jokiharju 44 Brandon Hickey 45 Casey Fitzgerald 56 Kurt Gosselin 61 Devante Stephens 70 Tobie Bisson 78 Jacob Bryson 83 Justin Baudry Goaltenders 34 Jonas Johansson 60 Matthew Welsh Bruins roster: Forwards: Samuel Asselin, Anders Bjork, Scott Conway, Trent Frederic, Jacob Gaucher*, Dante Hannoun*, Cameron Hughes, Joona Koppanen, Robert Lantosi, Jakub Lauko, Tom Marchin, Pavel Shen, Oskar Steen, Jack Studnicka, Alex-Olivier Voyer* Defensemen: Axel Andersson, Max Martin*, Riley McCourt*, Andrew Perrott*, Jordan Sambrook*, Wiley Sherman, Alexey Solovyev, Urho Vaakanainen, Cooper Zech Goaltenders: Taylor Gauthier*, Kyle Keyser, Dan Vladar *Player attending on an invite basis Bruin prospect to watch: Urho Vaakanainen, D (Round 1, 2017) A concussion limited Vaakanainen to 32 games - two with Boston and 30 with AHL Providence - during his first North American season, but the 20-year-old defenseman impressed on the world stage. He skated a team-high 25:08 in Finland's World Junior victory over Team USA, where he won gold alongside Sabres prospects Jokiharju, Oskari Laaksonen, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. More names to watch: Jack Studnicka, F (Round 2, 2017); Jakub Lauko, F (Round 3, 2018); Kyle Keyser, G (undrafted)

It’s probably my #2 show of all time after Mad Men.

Pretty much everyone was PO'd about that ending at the time.

Well, it's kinda hard to be sure about this kind of thing, but I do think Vanek is the floor and not the ceiling -- although there are certainly plenty of similarities that indicate that Laine's career could be as big a disappointment as Vanek's was. I guess I just think that it's pretty unusual for a guy as talented as Vanek to ultimately amount to as little as Vanek did, so I think the likelihood is that Laine surpasses Vanek.

IMHO it's pretty clear that Risto wants out and everyone in the organ-eye-zation knows it.

Sabres roster: Forwards 25 Arttu Ruotsalainen 52 Andrew Oglevie 57 Brett Murray 59 Stephen Harper 65 Shaw Boomhower 68 Victor Olofsson 73 Matej Pekar 74 Rasmus Asplund 75 Bobby MacIntyre 76 Pascal Aquin 80 John Wiitala 82 Kyle Olson 84 Sebastian Vidmar 93 Lukas Rousek Defense 3 William Borgen 10 Henri Jokiharju 44 Brandon Hickey 45 Casey Fitzgerald 56 Kurt Gosselin 61 Devante Stephens 70 Tobie Bisson 78 Jacob Bryson 83 Justin Baudry Goaltenders 34 Jonas Johansson 60 Matthew Welsh

And do you think Chevy says yes? If he says no, why? If Laine is traded, do you think the return will be greater or lesser than Risto, Joker and a 2020 #1? The Laine situation looks to me like an opportunity to pick up a young potential superstar whose floor is Thomas Vanek at a discounted price due to his having a down season and his team making a foolish decision due to salary cap and other pressures. But you're not getting him for ERod and a #2 or other Roy-for-Malkin proposal

The fact that literally every Sabres fan who ever lived would do this in a heartbeat kinda says something about how realistic it is.

@Ogre — I completely agree with @Doohickie and @dudacek on this. Make it friendly, thank them for their time and let them know they can call you anytime.

It is beginning.

Risto, Joker and their 2020 #1 for Laine. Who says no — JB, Chevy or neither?

I say again: at least 20, and probably 26, NHL GMs would trade Reino to get Laine.

I don't want to give up Reino, but I would probably trade him straight up for Laine. If the Sabres are giving up Risto too, then I also need Ehlers or someone like that. Laine's ceiling is probably higher than Skinner's, but Skinner is a proven borderline-great player. I wouldn't trade Skinner for Laine.