dudacek

I need to look a little closer at how this pool works. Not sure I understand these fan points

I agree with the bold 100 per cent, and disagree with the rest 100 per cent. Skinner is responsible for his own play.

Not seeing a lot of anticipation on here about: Bulked up Rasmus Dahlin Bulked up Tage Thompson Eric Staal's first game as a Sabre Dylan Cozens first game in the NHL Taylor Freaking Hall Let's go!

It will mark a profound shift in the universe if he doesn't

I am interesting to see how hard Skinner works out there. Who is going to blame Ralph if he coasts?

My post was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but Ralph hinted pretty strongly the goalies would split the first two starts. And yes, that's my recollection regarding your Bales question.

I think Ray hints at it in the Instigators segment. Supporting evidence: when was the last time you saw Skinner find the open man?

Cozens is in the lineup because Okposo is hurt. Let's hope he plays so well he never comes out of the lineup again.

I look at it as the desire for balance LGR keeps talking about. Cozens and Skinner are each the token O guys on their lines, with Cozens getting the more skilled pair because Skinner is better able to make it happen himself. Ralph is planning to ride Hutton's season-starting hot streak for as long as he can. I expect lots of goals.

I thought it was a good conversation. I'll repeat what I thought was implied from the other thread: the guys in the Sabres top 6 generally don't like playing with Jeff Sinner.

Flyers are winning the division. Sabres good chance to be 2nd.

Sure looked like it. Hope that’s true for most but not true for us. If Casey had been handled properly, he’d be entering his first full season, centring The 3rd line and we’d be hoping he’d look like Nick Suzuki.

It may be different come playoff time, but the Leafs are notably slower than the Habs. It will be interesting to see how all those old and slow character veterans work out.

You overlook the goalie question, but other than that I think you’ve captured very well what Ralph and Kevyn believe and are trying to implement.

The good news is you don’t have to listen to Anthony Stewart and Kevin Bieksa say Wayne Simmonds sparked a big Leaf comeback by fighting. Because that’s what it was, not the two-man advantage for the puck being shot over the glass, or the ridiculous snipe by Nylander. Havent missed the Leaf Friendly narratives at all.

The contract is clearly bad. That aside, he was a pretty useful hockey player last year, good on the boards, diligent, hardworking and pretty good offence for a guy that rarely saw the PP and spent the entire year with Johan Larsson. Ideal world, the Sabres were hoping he, Eakin and Zemgus would combine for 40 (prorated) goals and respectable defence. I have no problem with Kyle on my 3rd line.

Those jerseys are so beautiful. I was already planning a Dahlin white, but I think a royal is also in order. Maybe give it a few weeks to pick a number.

This can’t be real.

That said, the summer before Krueger, Larsson was still largely a whipping boy who many wanted gone. Pretty sure you spent a lot of time correctly defending him. It’s hard for most to get their heads around a 14-point scorer as a key piece.

There is part of me that believes Ullmark can give us 40 top-15 games and Hutton 20 top-40 games. There is another part that says Ulmmark can give us 35 top-25 games and Hutton 25 top-60. That said I really have a good feeling about Linus this year. He, Montour, and Rieder are the three players I think who might give more than people are expecting.

His numbers are going make the Sabres look bad for sure. And he'd fit our roster nicely if Cozens isn't ready. Still think the Sabres made the right choice if the arbitration demand was what was rumoured.

No, you can't have it both ways. It is as much Ralph's choice to stock the top six the way he has as it is to stock the bottom the way he has. And for all the intensity of your argument it basically comes down to Ralph choosing to play two plumbers with Skinner instead of one — something we have yet to see happen at all, let alone be sustained over an extended period of failure.

I think that Rieder, Eakin, Lazar and Sheahan are probably capable bottom-six NHLers. I agree that their ability to put up more than 20 points is questionable and that I'd rather have two of them in the lineup than four. I think it is important to point out that last year the Sabres put out three lines that couldn't score, and that the guys you are bashing are more likely to help us win hockey games than ERod, Sheary or Frolik would. Finally, I really, really want to see the Eichel and Staal lines put up eight on the Capitals this weekend in 6-4 and 4-3 OT victories and immediately prove the bolded wrong. And I know that's what you want too.

Yes. If you don't think there's an element of trial to this season, why were they given one-year deals?