dudacek

I disagree. There is a huge gap between Mittelstadt and Eakin, Tuch and Murray, Jokiharju and Fitzgerald and Anderson and Dell. Also, when you have 10 'real' NHLers, losing 4 or 5 of them affects you more than when you have 16 or 18.

What teams have been without 3 of their projected 1st-liners virtually the entire year, a 4th for half the year, and has had a 5th obviously limited for most of the year by injury?

Did I mention COVID? I'd be surprised if there are 5 teams that have a group of players coming as good as the 6 I cited. We don't have any idea on the impact of the rookies. Craig Anderson has a .922 SV%. We spent 6 weeks after he went down with Tokarksi's .903, Subban's .876 and Dell's .872. Is that enough context? Was Casey Mittelstadt projected to be the team's #1 centre this year, or not? Do you not think upgrading 10 players is significant talent boost? Mitts > Eakin Tuch > Murray Jokiharju > Fitzgerald Anderson > Subban Luukkonen > Dell Power > Butcher Samuelsson > Prow Krebs > Jankowski Quinn > Hayden Peterka > Bjork We both agree the Sabres aren't good now, we should agree there are better players coming. What exactly are you arguing?

I'm not making excuses or suggesting the following players are lifesavers, but we haven't seen anything close to next year's roster together in Buffalo this year: The Sabres have played 34 games Luukkonen 8 Anderson 6 Jokiharju 18 Tuch 3 Mittelstadt 4 Power 0 Samuelsson 0 Krebs 3 Quinn 0 Peterka 2 We've been missing our projected 1G, 1C, 1RW, and 1RD for most of the year, as well as watching our 1LW struggle with an injury that has robbed him of his shot. And we've got 5 prospects who are tearing it up at lower levels and look very close. We have more talent than we've seen.

Prow may have had the worst 4 shifts to start a game by a Sabre D since MA Gragnani, and Donnie was not happy. No surprise there. Murray is interesting. Is this just to help the Amerks out over the weekend, or is it more permanent with a many as 5 fresh forwards (Krebs, Tuch, Bjork, Okposo, Caggiula) available for Tuesday's game? Murray wasn't good last night and seemed to be a prime example of the hesitancy Donnie was so upset with.

Who do you want, Schuldt? As of yesterday, Samuelsson and Davidson were still out.

Kaese (with a K) is my age and is from my part of the world. Next high school over. I remember thinking it was a such a huge deal when I was teen and he got drafted by the Sabres. Ended up building and operating a golf course not 10 minutes from where I grew up.

A fantastic effort tonight, squandered in a mediocre Sabre performance, and virtually unnoticed by a jaded fan base. Donnie at least appreciated what he brought, and has been bringing. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-san-jose-sharks-recap-highlights-rasmus-dahling/c-329539882

I don’t think the perception many have that Dahlin is soft, stupid and lacking passion is anything close to being correct.

Nick Ritchie is slow, lazy and not that smart. Not a player I have any interest in.

Yes, I saw that. I am sure that Morreale's report is exactly what Michigan told him. It is entirely possible that none of these reports are contradictory. A) A source from Power's camp told Friedman that Power will go if they want him B) A source from Hockey Canada told Friedman that they want him. C) Power and Michigan have talked about whether or not he can go D) Hockey Canada has not asked Power to go yet, but intends to and expects to, and that he will say yes. It is also possible that Friedman's information is more up-to-date on the situation than Morreale's or that Friedman is making things up. We will find out soon.

No, Dreger and Wheeler did. And they specified that it was the long list of players Team Canada was considering as opposed to players who were going. Not aimed at you specifically, and not forgiving shoddy reporting, but I think part of the issue people have with media is the telephone game that occurs after something gets reported. Friedman’s exact quote for reference check when the future announcement comes down. ”After the Channel One Cup in Russia last month, Canadians Jason Demers and Eric Fehr signed KHL contracts. So assume they will be part of the Olympic team if they wish. Include those on AHL-only contracts like Devan Dubnyk, Cody Franson and Josh Ho-Sang. There is some question about whether or not players on two-way deals will be allowed to go. Others to watch: I’m betting a request goes out for Mason McTavish to gauge his interest. Same for Eric Staal and Cole Perfetti. I wondered about Patrick Marleau, but have heard he is not on the long list as a possibility. Owen Power is going.” https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/32-thoughts-nhl-faces-tight-scheduling-finish-season-time/ And the Athletic: Owen Power will join Team Canada's Olympic men's hockey team for the upcoming games in Beijing, China, The Athletic's Corey Pronman has confirmed. Power is the first name announced to Team Canada's roster since the NHL said it would be pulling out of the Olympics on Dec. 22 https://theathletic.com/news/owen-power-to-join-canadas-olympic-team-cole-perfetti-eric-staal-among-those-on-long-list-source/dNZEmWE0Buvw/

I thought the Amerks looked bad and Quinn was worse. Frustrating game. The fight was the product of Quinn targeted all game. Whacked and pushed and scraped from every faceoff even before the puck was dropped. Glad he didn’t back down from it. Disappointed no one made the Crunch back off 2 periods earlier.

Bryson was apparently “back in the building” today but not expected to play tomorrow, according to Marty and Duffer on the radio today. They also said Samuelsson and Malone in the minors are not yet cleared to return. Once a a player has been released from COVID protocol he won’t be returned for a minimum of 90 days. Tokarski, Cozens, Skinner, Jankowski, Girgensons and Hinostroza have all cleared, although Tokarski isn’t officially cleared to play.

Bryson went on Dec. 29 Fitzgerald and Okposo on Monday Tuch, Bjork and Krebs Yesterday Minimum of 5 day stay

Friedman and Pronman both reported he is going, no caveat.

I would say Nylander is the antithesis of a Brian Burke type player. And that sarcasm on the internet is generally a bad idea.

Brian Burke going after a Brian Burke type player.

I'm leaning towards Nemec at this early date, but Cooley is his competition.

Power and Samuelsson will join Bryson, Jokiharju and Dahlin on next year's team, leaving two jobs. One of those should go to a defensively responsible, preferably physical veteran RHD. I'm OK with Pysyk getting the other spot. Market value is about 1-year $1 million. I'd consider 2 years for less, or 1 year for slightly more

Except with much better hands. Murray is good (in the AHL at least) at getting to and burying rebounds, and taking pass in tight and spitting the puck back out to a perimeter shooter.

When I watched Murray in Rochester, his standout skill was net-front PP. I'd like to see him get more time in that role in Buffalo.

Power is a Sabre the day after Michigan’s season is over.

But says he still has to convince Brett of that fact. Still very much enjoying Donnie’s media sessions. Positive, straightforward and informative.

Personally, I love the concept of 9 top 6 forwards and 2 #1 D. Basically, it allows you to spend 50 minutes a game doing more than holding on. The only issue is there remain questions about the 4 top 6ths we have (Skinner, Tuch, VO and Tage) while Cozens Krebs Peterka Quinn Mittelstadt Power and Dahlin still have to prove they can join the party.