dudacek

Radio is saying it will be exactly the same player pool — if you were eligible in December, you are eligible in August

I guess this explains why we’re actually 5/4/1 in the past 10.

Toffoli, Arvidsson, Beauvillier, Iafallo, Kubalik… You might be able to find a sweet spot with a 3-4 years at $4+ considering his numbers this year don’t justify that, but his career #s and age might. He would have to want the security and to stay in Buffalo. The Sabres would have to believe he will continue to score 20 goals, which both justifies the cap hit and makes him movable if Quinn or others push him out due to a pain crunch.

Guys, you’re arguing with air. I didn’t say and I don’t think the tank was Tim Murray’s idea. 🤷

Not really trying to make a point about who initiated the tank. More about how Murray executed it with no seeming thought or concern about the human elements; the messages sent to his golden boys and to those who weren’t afforded that status.

I want to emphasize that Power, Peterka, Quinn, Levi, Johnson, Krebs, Cozens, Dahlin, and Samuelsson will all turn 24 within 2 years of each other, starting about 2 years from now. That is when the Sabres will be fully in their window. Mittelstadt, Thompson, Tuch and UPL will all still be in their primes. Rosen, Poltapov and the 22 and 23 drafts will be knocking on the door. Any decisions on Olofsson needs to be based on how he is going to fit into the roster and the cap at that time.

This may be the fundamental difference between the current reset and the previous. To a man, the Sabres Blinding Light Brigade speaks with conviction about being part of a “group of young players that together will grow to do great things.” Which is markedly different approach to “we are going to squander two entire seasons in order to get Conner McDavid, or at least Jack Eichel, because he will lead us to the promised land.” This is not pointed at Jack. It is pointed at Tim Murray and the culture and expectation that his tank created.

Just thinking about last night: Thompson's goal was absolutely a play where he forced his will on the other team: that was 1st-line play by any measure. Tuch's goal game with 0.6 seconds left and was pure clutch Olofsson's goal was a game winner in the last few minutes buried off fantastic set-up, with the added bonus of being a slump-buster and seeing the joy of his teammates. 3 great Sabres plays from 3 separate scorers in the same game? Have not seen very much of that over the past 10 years, have we? Hockey can be fun.

I think Nick Ritchie sucks, but I do this deal.

/end thread

I’m expecting Power, and quite possibly Johnson and Levi. I also think it’s entirely possible Biro and Laaksonen get looks after some UFAs get dumped at the deadline. And, to your question, I am hoping that Adams will take advantage of our cap space to help the cap-strapped, which could mean a few more bodies.

38 different players used this year and we haven’t even hit the trade deadline yet.

Why not punt all 4? Asplund Mitts Okposo Hinostroza Girgensons Caggiula

Mitts with Aspy and Okie has potential to my eyes. He's got the hands to feast on any havoc they cause.

It is inconceivable that Devon Levi could look worse than Eddie Pasquale and Matt Tomkins in any situation.

Julien had a chance to script an historic story with Devon Levi. He chose instead to tick off a grocery list of safe and boring. Personally, I'm going to hold it against him forever.

It is almost unheard of for 6th round CHL pick to decline a contract offer. By that, I mean I've never heard of it happening. It's rare enough with college guys. And the ones that do we hear about forever.

This has been under discussed IMO. There are more talented duos and faster duos. There are very few duos that big. There is not a combination in the NHL that combines size, skill and skating like those two. I can’t think of one even close. Not so fast. He’s still 6 points shy of that level and only has 35 games left to hit it. 😜

Islanders are one of the strongest, most physical groups in the league. Wasn’t an issue in the slightest. Nice when they play the game the way Donnie wants them to play and all of the players who are coming back next year give you glimpses of how good they can be. Cozens was a ***** warrior and Krebs just making plays both ways. Special props to Jokiharju who showed so much confidence with the puck.

Olofsson might have been the teams best forward in October; he was doing more than being the lethal perimeter shooter he was initially. Since he got hurt his shot has utterly disappeared, whether through injury, confidence or both. And he’s brought little to nothing else. I think he’ll bounce back, but I’m not sure if he fits what we’re building and I’m open to offers. Players like Asplund are always going to go through droughts, but he needs to do more without the puck. Hope he’s back, still like him in the role he played with Mitts last year and Tuch/VO early on. Wish he’d kill more penalties. Counting down the days until Eakin is gone. He was better to start the year, but is fully back to his space-filling ways. Bjork has a contract that might mean he’s back, but he shouldn’t be. Hustle without purpose. He is where plays go to die. Hayden has hands of stone. I like his strength on the puck and respect his effort, but we deserve better. Butcher is another filler who should not be back.

You haven’t. Probably the main reason I asked. 😁

So a post about the mindset of fanbase more than the mindset of the team. Speaking only for myself, I think this year is a convergence of a hockey rebuild philosophy with the financial needs of the larger Pegula empire. But I certainly don’t buy into the idea that progress (measured, amongst other factors, by wins) is irrelevant. A hockey rebuild would benefit from more wins next year, but a business rebuild is desperate for it. So I expect a better team next year and action taken toward that goal. Which leads me to the other part of my post: what are some real world examples of the kinds of moves do you think the Sabres can and should be making?

Really? I was sure we declined to offer him a contract.

I’m curious what kind of moves the Sabres could be making that they won’t be making that you think they should be making? Would you be interested in a move like the Tyler Toffoli trade? Dvorak? Nate Schmidt? Should Adams be in the Jeff Chychrun market? Why do you think the Sabres don’t care if they are better or not next year? Please don’t take this as a “there’s no goalies worth playing the price for” post. I’m genuinely interested.

If no one wants him for a bag of pucks, please bench him. Id rather watch anyone else.