dudacek

Pretty clearly the right call based on that. Dumb rule. Wonder why it’s there?

They’ve won 51 times over the past 4 years. That’s mine. Im not going to do the math, but we both know that’s far better than most NFL front offices - employed or unemployed. I have no problem with people defining winning solely by Super Bowls if they want to set themselves up for regular disappointment. I have a problem with people doing that and thinking the odds are good that there are people out there who are clearly better qualified to bring you success than Beane and McDermott. I mean there might be, but your chances of hiring them aren’t great.

Has anyone seen the rule explained by a pro in the aftermath? Krebs nudged the puck with a hand that was tightly gripped around his stick. To my way of thinking that's not really playing the puck with your hand. But I can't say I've ever really seen that exact play before.

Winning— you know, the way you measure success in sports. Yes, they've made mistakes and they need to get better. That's not the same as they are terrible and the need to be fired.

This right here is what's wrong with sports fans in general. There is no magic formula, but people keep convincing themselves there is while constantly looking for someone to blame. Objectively, the Bills are one of the best-run franchises in football over the past few years. Objectively they weren't good enough. Who is a better bet to make the right moves to get them over the top? McDermott and Beane or the guy in the magic box (Rex Ryan, Doug Marrone, Chan Gailey, Perry Fewell, Dick Jauron, Mike Mularkey, Gregg Williams, Wade Phillips, Marv Levy, Hank Bullogh, Kay Stephenson, Chuck Knox...)

And that's fair. Meier is just 26 and one of the league's best power forwards. The qualifying offer doesn't mean he's getting that much on term, but no one is trading the likes of Quinn for him without knowing what his demands are and whether they fit in your cap. The Sabres have set themselves up as one of the few franchises to be in a position to acquire a player of Meier's calibre and circumstances this summer. He could be our Hossa. I'm not interested in breaking the bank, but I would hope Adams is taking a hard look.

Rather than excoriating or firing what has been one of the most successful braintrusts in franchise history, wouldn't it make more sense to charge them with identifying what went wrong, then exercise that plan? Isn't that what works best in real life?

First time in 12 years on Sabrespace I ever changed somebody’s mind. 😁

Is this your takeaway on the 5-3 win last night, the 4 game winning streak the team is on, or the 18-8-2 run that has lifted them mathematically into a playoff spot?

As far as the game goes, when almost everyone else was hanging on by their fingernails, Henri Jokiharju was continue to skate miles and break up rushes. Another very solid effort from #10.

Joker is better than Jake and I like Jake.

Some interesting UPL numbers: 35 NHL goalies have played 9 or more games since he found his groove in mid-December. During the stretch he’s: #14 in SV% at .915 #20 in GAA at 2.97 #2 in wins with 10 #10 in % starts above .900 at 67% #5 in shots against per 60 at 34.8 Yes, he’s getting good goal support, but he’s also performing like a legitimate #1 goalie.

I generally agree with this, except I think that if Kyle isn’t back his spot will be taken by a veteran acquisition. Salary cap almost demands it.

Due diligence? Two Alex Tuchs are better than 1?

Definitely. It’s crazy how healthy we’ve been up front. Weve really only used 14 forwards this year, plus 2 games for Sheahan and 1 for Bjork. Last year it was 22 and 18 of them had at least 18 games.

If you’re arguing Comrie needs to be starting once every 3 or 4 games instead of Anderson, I understand the argument. I think Comrie’s contract and track record mean he is almost guaranteed to start next season as the backup whether he plays a dozen games down the stretch or 3, so I don’t think it matters much, but I get where you are coming from. It’s anyone arguing that he needs to get starts ahead of UPL right now that I don’t understand. UPL is auditioning for the starter’s job next year right now and until he drops the ball, it is much more important to see whether he can continue to carry it than see what the other guy can do.

Still don’t know why they have to “see what they have” in Comrie. Why? They already know he’s coming back next year. Also it’s disengenuous to say Comrie “deserves” a couple starts. Every goalie accepts you keep the crease by winning. After a shakey start, UPL is on an 11 and 3 run. After a good start, Comrie has lost 5 in a row, and allowed at least 4 goals in every game he finished. Anderson has the best numbers of the 3 and isn’t young enough to play more than once a week. The Sabres are winning at nearly a 70% clip since Comrie got hurt. Why is everyone trying to fix something that isn’t broken?

It’s an interesting thing to watch play out. The underlying principle is “go-for-it” so I doubt we will ever see a Granato team adopt a “shut-em-down” no-risk New Jersey Devils philosophy. If they succeed it will be like Tampa and PIttsburgh - they didn’t change their style, they just got smarter and more diligent within it.

He’s answered it. Many times, actually. It is his opinion that it is much easier to teach defence than offence and more important that these young players learn how to break down structure offensively and feel confident that they can create against anyone. His supporting argument is look how much better Dahlin/Tage/Skinner etcetera are than they were following the safety-first principles of Ralph Krueger.

Generally agree with your overarching point. But I remain confident that Krebs is part of the long-term core. He will be a valuable 3C as soon as next year and has upside beyond that. I am surprised how quickly the shine came off him given the Granato/Adams track record of developing young talent. He’s 21. Think of where Cozens was 90-odd games into his career and how far he’s come since.

Remember when our 4th line was Bjork/Eakin/Hayden, Mark Jankowski and Drake Caggiula were regular options and Hinostroza and Asplund were usually in our top nine? And now none of them can crack the roster? That was last year.

I felt that a lot of the Sabre issues early were more due to their incompetence than the Stars' forecheck. The passing was way off and they just weren't executing the plays they usually execute routinely. Donnie was worried pre-game that the fact they had the day off was going to hurt their start but he thought that overall they needed the rest more than the warm-up. Fortunately, Anderson weathered the early issues and it ultimately proved to be the right call.

I guess it has to be "vote against the Penguins" until it's not. No OT, please and thank you.

Play. I have fully bought in to the learn by doing mantra — because it's working.

How are you defining "when it counts"? If it's "when the game is on the line in the 3rd this season", they are 16-0-2. If it's "during the last game that means something" no Buffalo team ever has.