nfreeman

I agree with all of this, but improved coaching and goaltending are both necessary as well.

Good. How about some meaningful hockey late in the season for him to get excited about?

I don't think @GASabresIUFANwas claiming that JB shouldn't be held accountable for the ROR trade -- only that JB thought he was getting players consistent with the "moneypuck" approach. The first bolded is ridiculous on its face. "At least the Chicago fire helped clear some real estate plots." "At least Black Sunday helped the Sabres stay under the cap." "At least my hand doesn't itch any longer since that car accident in which I lost my arm." As to the 2nd bolded -- here is how @GASabresIUFANconcluded his post: So it seems pretty clear that GA was describing what he sees as JB's overall philosophy/plan, but also stating that the plan needs to start delivering results -- not just apologizing for him and ignoring bad moves.

The decision to tank was, by orders of magnitude, much more consequential than the ROR trade. And your description of @GASabresIUFAN's post omits his critical point regarding what JB thought he was getting before Bergy and Vlad fell off the table.

I agree with all of this, except that I kinda think TP is inclined to be pretty patient as long as he sees improvement. We might be ready to break out the torches and pitchforks if they finish, say, 9-10 points out of the playoffs, but I think if they get to 88-89 points (a 12-13 point improvement), don't look like they are running for the bus in March, the players aren't in open revolt/demanding to be traded and the organization overall looks well constructed, then TP will lean towards stability and away from putting JB on the hot seat. This is the tack he seems to be taking with the Bills and I think it's the image he wants to project.

Is anyone disagreeing with you on this? Or on the assertion that the return for ROR was lousy?

And this element is? Analytics ice-tilting, perhaps?

Apples and oranges, innit? I would prefer option 2, in part because a really good #2C can usually flex to #1 winger. As for odds -- I won't pretend to know.

Vogl had IMHO an excellent piece in the Athletic today regarding FA RWs: https://theathletic.com/1048146/2019/06/26/the-sabres-desperately-lack-right-wing-depth-these-seven-free-agents-could-fill-that-need/ His bottom line: Pavelski is by far the best option, but unrealistic. After him, Zuccarello and Nyqvist. Donskoi and Connolly have good analytics cases but each would be taking a major step into a top-6 role, and it's unclear whether either is suited for it (making those 2, btw, interesting test cases for analytics).

Maybe he's broken up with the psycho girlfriend?

I'm kinda skeptical that Florida will bring in Bobrovsky having just drafted a top goalie. As for Hoffman -- that sounds good. I think JB has guys like Hoffman in mind -- i.e. Skinner-type moves where he can swoop in and pick up a quality veteran whose current team needs to make a move for contract reasons.

No qualifying offer for Nathan Beaulieu either.

There are a number of possibilities for my next car -- depending on how long my current one lasts, what the budget and needs are, etc. -- but there is one must-have: apple carplay. I just had it in a rental car a couple of weeks ago and it is a fantastic feature.

There's one major factor that could sway Pavelski, and it rhymes with "Shmenjamins." Pavelski turns 35 in a couple of weeks. How long a deal is going to get from Dallas or TB? And by how much should the Sabres beat that offer? Would Pavelski come here for $5MM x 3 years? Would that be a terrible move by the Sabres or merely a bad one?

Pysyk isn't super-fast in terms of chasing guys down, but he's very quick and agile on his skates and can move fast in tight spaces in the D-zone. He just doesn't have much game beyond that quality.

That was awesome. I freaking love this kid. He knows we need him desperately and is going to come down from the fortress of solitude in the far North like Superman and raise everyone up. I think the hockey gods may finally let us out of our richly deserved Black Sunday/tanking 13 years in the hole sentence. Separately: the Dom-era Sabres had a winger named Geoff Sanderson, who was from Hay River, NW Territories (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hay+River,+NT,+Canada/@60.8479943,-124.8979038,5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x53c58eb5ea20b66d:0x496a27b76b46d0ea!8m2!3d60.816218!4d-115.7853653?hl=en). He was one of the fastest guys the Sabres have ever had -- legend has it that he developed his speed to keep safe from the polar bears. To my knowledge, Sanderson was, until Cozens, the Sabre from the most remote hometown. (BTW, I find it a bit interesting that the NW Territories are East of the Yukon.) The clouds are lifting. It's going to get better now. Carry on.

From the Athletic:

Welcome @FrenchConnection44! Another Eric Staal would be freaking awesome.

Yet another area in which the NBA is much smarter than the NHL.

One comparable that occurs to me based on the descriptions and highlights is Ryan Smyth.

C'mon homie. We need your commentary tomorrow.

I assume it's like Hardhome and the Fist of the First Men.

He's ranked #20 overall here: https://www.hockeyprospect.com/2019-nhl-draft-rankings/ ...although I have no idea how good/terrible that site is.

Kris Baker wanted the Sabres to take Brink if available at 31.

Kaliyev had 51 goals this year!