dudacek

The idea that developing players have not been rewarded with callups is ridiculous. Team started off by giving R2 a 17-game shot Then Murray got called up after 9 games in Rochester Luukkonen after 12 Krebs after 16 Fitzgerald after 22 Peterka after 25 Quinn after 20 and overcoming mono Samuelsson after 20 and overcoming COVID It hasn't taken 1/3 of a season down there before every single productive prospect has been rewarded.

Riffing off this: what do people think of the idea of a 'managing partner'? I don't mean exactly like Larry Quinn, who was essentially a team president rewarded with an ownership stake, I mean someone who brings in a real pile of new cash in exchange for some control over how the business is run? It would mostly be about business: the new guy gets the automatic return on investment that seems to come from pro sports ownership and an opportunity to run an NHL team. I could see people recognizing the Sabres as a mismanaged business, with an untapped market of alienated fans ready to relive 2006 and spend "if only...". Terry still gets final say on most major decisions and the hoped-for benefits of increased revenue streams and franchise valuation, along with the ability to fade into the background and no longer put up with the bashing he's received for running the Sabres into the ground.

Possible. But it always seemed to me like Terry spends as much of his time “managing” the Sabres as anyone on here does. You don’t do that unless you’ve got more than money invested. Maybe more like one of those posters who comes in with the answers for everything for a few months, then gets bored and disappears, off to the next distraction?

Aren’t we all? 🙄 He lists a dozen UFA defencemen who might be moved and most are better than Miller. To our benefit, Miller is cheaper than most and right-handed. I still say 3rd.

I’ve come to hold this opinion because of the way the business of the team has been managed for the past 2 years, with a clear austerity program in place, gutting of staff and little to no investment into facilities or marketing or long-term player contracts. They’ve taken the steps that a business would take when trying to make itself attractive to investors. I’m no expert on the world of high finance, but I don’t think it is at all difficult to speculate that even someone as rich as Terry could use some cash to help fund an upgrade of the arena, or the new stadium project for the Bills. Hell, I’m sure he could use some to cover the losses of the past 2 seasons, which have to be considerable. I suppose it is also possible that he has tired of the Sabres, or of the flak he has taken as owner of the Sabres, and wants to step away from being the face of ownership. Personally, I agree with you that he loves the Sabres and would be surprised if no longer wants to be owner.

Which is why it won’t be announced before a stadium deal

What pick does Savoie start to make sense for Buffalo?

Noticed his stats line has been starting to bump up.

Given how Cozens and Tuch looked vs Nashville and how VO and Tage looked early, the combos are obvious to me. For the 1st time in the Granato era we are seeing a player play himself out of favour. Olofsson was under 15 minutes last night and was dropped to PP2. His line was the 4th to see the ice in each of the past 2 games.

As if that had anything to do with Josh’s performance.

Against a top defence in frigid temperatures. I wonder how will it be remembered outside of Buffalo, and how it will affect the national image of Josh Allen.

First QB in NFL history to run 50+ yards pass 300+ yards complete +80% of his throws Toss 5 TDs in the same game in the Super Bowl era.

Apologies. I gave thank yous to those who said nice things. Not really sure what else there is to say? I obviously spend way too much time around here? 😋

I’ve been saying for a long time now that the Sabres are behaving like a franchise up for sale. Selling a stake fits as well. The equity news and the stadium deal timing rumours would seem to open the door soon. I suspect this could be a tentative deal that could be announced shortly after the stadium. Related, Adams, Karmanos and Granato aren’t presenting like people preparing to move on.

My interpretation: He views players through a lens of how much he perceives them to play the game “the right way” which to me loosely means “like the Bruins.” It’s as valid a viewpoint as any.

Weird thing is that we’re projecting to have only one flat-out bad player in the bunch: Franchise centre: Eichel Top pairing defenceman: Dahlin, Power* Top six forward: Reinhart, Mitts*, Cozens*, Quinn* Top 4 defenceman: Risto Bust: Nylander Tells me two things: takes more time than we think for these kids to find themselves; we’ve done an abysmal job of finding talent to support them. Look at Florida. Their fans must have been saying the same things a few years ago. Time and a better supporting cast and nobody is pointing fingers at Huberdeau, Barkov and Ekblad any more.

Nemec and Cooley slowly moving toward the middle of my targeting screen.

Lots of potential victims remain: Not had COVID yet (I think): VO, Asplund, and all the D and goalies except Bryson and Toker. Eakin and Hayden will never get it. Dahlin will get it at the all-star game. Because Buffalo.

I think so too. They thought he might be ready for that this year, and what they’ve seen in 8 games has probably reinforced that. Im looking to see what they do as a running mate. UFAs include: Fleury, Koskinen, Kuemper, Griess, Korpisalo, Jones, Holtby, Francouz, Halak, Campbell, Rittich, Rask, Elliot, Forsberg. Might be tough to find a combination of “short-term deal” “wants to come to Buffalo” and “good” in there. Another possibility is a low-cost trade for a vet with one year left: Andersen, Varlamov, Khudobin, Allen, Raantta… Whoever we get should be at least Marty Biron level good

Right shot, playoff experience and can play the PP. All things GMs are usually trying to add at the deadline. He should get a 3rd.

I’ve made that same mistake. In Tuch’s prorated NHL seasons: 15/23/38 22/35/57 16/18/34 27/25/52 In the last full NHL season 57 points ranked 15th among right wings and 34 points ranked 44th. 27 goals ranked 12th and 16 goals ranked 41st. On stats alone, Tuch is a clear top 6 winger. And stats certainly aren’t all he brings.

If he was an emergency recall, which I'm pretty sure he was, he will have to be sent down since the team will be healthy. The other option is waiving someone.

It's also reasonable for fans to appreciate talented, good kids for what they are instead of suspicion and scorn. The Sabres franchise is your cheating ex-wife, not Dahlin. But hey, everyone is free to enjoy their fandom in their own way.

Absolutely. Not even close, IMO. @PromoTheRobot unless, things have seriously changed in the past month or so, does not even think Dahlin is good, let alone best.

Playing defence means different things to different people I think. The coach says the best defensive defenceman on the team is Dahlin because he has an elite combination of separating man from puck and transitioning it out of zone. In that context, I’d agree no one on the team can touch him. Bryson and Pysyk, early in the year, and Joki, now, are also pretty good in this combination of skills. Butcher is not. Hagg is OK at the former, poor at the latter. Miller is all over the map.