dudacek

Schoolyard BS that too many hockey people think is more than OK, but even somehow required.

Tkachuk this year 10/24/34 Reinhart this year 25/15/40 Tkachuk average per 82 25/39/64 Reinhart average per 82 24/30/54 Tkachuk has bonus points for being nasty. I wonder if Sam gets the centre bonus yet? Reinhart is an RFA this summer, but Tkachuk has a poison pill contract requiring a $9 million QO next summer.

Sam Reinhart has the game winner in each of the Sabres past three wins, and five of our 14 overall. He's tied for 20th in ES goals in the NHL and is 8th in goals overall. Jack Eichel was 8th in goals overall last year. Jeff Skinner was 12th when he got his $9 million contract. The last time a Sabre finished top 10 in goals for a season prior to last year was when Thomas Vanek finished 8th with 40 goals in 2008/09. Vanek wasn't that good at faceoffs either.

This ^^^ was the game story. Well said. Other randoms: Anders Bjork got a bump to first line as Jeff Skinner continued to be Jeff Skinner. This isn't another rant against Skinner (you either see it or you dont), but Anders ain't got it folks. He's got Girgensons speed, hustle and offensive IQ, but without the physicality and with a sprinkle of Skinner's ability to make you think he's going to dazzle before turning it over. Adams would be foolish to protect Bjork over Tage Thompson. Tage was a beast tonight, showing what he can be capable of if he's focused and purposeful. Yes, it happens too infrequently. Yes, it's frustrating. But when you lack forwards with the physical gifts to create offence the way we do, you gotta take the upside over the JAG. I continue to appreciate Mattias Samuelsson; he's on my team next year. He's like a dad out there. I love Dylan Cozens to death for his smarts and his hustle. And I know he's got lots of skill. But goddamn has he hit a wall the past week or two. He just can't execute. Smart move to take Bjork off his line and probably a smart move to shift to wing for a bit. he was noticeably better in the third after that happened. Risto had one of his good games. His decision-making deserves the criticism, but I don't think he gets enough praise for his one-on-one defending of a puck carrier. He can be very good at removing the puck from the man and stopping him from getting it back. If Asplund is just a guy, he's the best of our bunch. They sometimes overpass, but ATM line works when it's on because all three guys bring a go-to-the-net mentality that was (and at times can still be) completely lacking from the rest of the roster. Sam Reinhart has three of the Sabres past 8 game winners, and five of our 14 overall. He's tied for 20th in ES goals in the NHL and is 8th in goals overall. Jack Eichel was 8th in goals overall last year. Jeff Skinner was 12th when he got his $9 million contract. The last time a Sabre finished top 10 in goals for a season prior to last year was when Thomas Vanek finished 8th with 40 goals in 2008/09. Vanek wasn't that good at faceoffs either.

This is a much more interesting discussion. Does he want to be here? What are his contract demands? What is the trade market? Separately, I liked the way he treated Housser tonight. Looked like leadership. For a team I frequently see accused here of not caring enough, or having enough heart, he certainly doesn't lack either.

Two goalies (one can be Ullmark), McCabe or a similar replacement, Jack healthy and happy, a top six winger with an edge, and a player who can be what Ralph thought Cody Eakin was. Plus Dahlin, Casey and the other kids not being the myth @PASabreFan thinks they are.

In all seriousness, it's pretty hard to find a guy who has demolished every single negative rap against his game in such meticulous fashion. 60% in the faceoff circle tonight — continuing a trend — including winning a draw to set up his own game-winner. 19 points in his past 19 games, coinciding roughly with the move to centre. I'm going to miss this guy. But don't worry, I'm writing down names for when he goes all post-Buffalo ROR on our *****.

Moot. Either way, they are more effective and it can be tied to coaching. Not sure I agree with the Dahlin take either. All players make mistakes. All players (except maybe Cody Eakin) make plays. Dahlin is making far more plays, but he is also making fewer mistakes.

Can anyone remember a time when any NHL team had its top four goalies all out with injury simultaneously?

You aren’t legitimately criticizing the Sabres for this are you?

Shouldn’t be too hard to find those links, eh?

Has a weak goal celly and keeps making me watch it!

Muffin shot! Rides tandem bikes! Not as good as Leon Draisaitl! Only plays good four out every five games!

Doesnt smile enough! Can’t score (30) without Eichel! Dirty areas! Mean to reporters!

Faceoffs! Falls down! Couldn’t catch Dylan Larkin from behind on a breakaway after an 80-second shift!

They could have signed him in January for $7 million when he was sitting on 30 goals in 44 games? But the price went up to $9 million after he closed with 10 goals in his next 38? Until I see a source on that, colour me skeptical.

I thought we were talking about the players. I think Dahlin and Mittelstadt look unmistakenly better under Granato. I read your initial response as "they do, but that doesn't matter because other teams are being easier on them."

Sorry did a quick search on here because I'm sure a couple of us commented on it when it happened and I couldn't come up with it. Must have during one or more of Adams Zoom pressers though: trade deadline, Krueger firing, Karmanos, or the one just prior to the Kruger firing.

2 things: The vibe I got from Adams' most recent comments about Eichel swung me from the camp of "the only way they will trade him is if he wants out" to "it feels like they are willing to trade him if they get a good enough offer." Many fans have turned their blame fingers to Eichel as they struggle to process our continued ineptitude. I wonder if the Pegulas have done the same.

Not sure where you are going here...? And this is different from February and March how?

So Adams essentially told this guy he doesn't like Eichel's attitude? As far as the bolded goes, of course.

I don't think there is any way to dismiss the clear improvements in the games of Mittelstadt and Dahlin, at minimum — both statistically and to the eye test.

So his "good" stats are misleading because of his usage, but his fancy stats are not? Is there a player in the NHL who plays more time in harder situations with worse teammates against better opponents?

Do you have comparables for the Dahlin contract? Strikes me as ridiculously low. I'd pick nits with many others, but that's the only one on there that struck me as a total "ain't no way in hell that's gonna happen."

Have you tasted the potato salad?