dudacek

Right, another one. And now Poolman makes 8

Ross Colton as a trade target perhaps with Colorado in a cap squeeze? Boone Jenner with Columbus adding Monahan? Just spitballing.

So Reimer is the lead item on the Amerks web page this morning, which is…interesting. I guess I’m fine with them pencilling him in as the 3 to start because it doesn’t change his availability as a fallback. I don’t really care if Levi gets 30 starts in Buffalo instead of 50 in Roch if it means the Sabres are getting a better chance of winning those 30 games.

Their roster looks pretty full now. I mean, there are a literally 9 legitimate prospect forwards under contract that I’d expect to be in Rochester next year and they’re talking like Helenius might join them. They added Murray and Dunne yesterday, Slaggert, Warren and Jobst today. I’m not sure the status of Mersch, but that’s 14-16 up front, plus Rousek if he doesn’t stick with the Sabres. add Prow and Laaouan to Johnson, Komorov and Novikov, plus likely one or 2 of Clague, Bryson, Gilbert and the D is close too.

Another Cup contender

History is also replete with teams who don't match expectations writ on paper. None of the past 4 editions of the Sabres matched my expectations — 2 were better, 2 were worse. Teams are complex creatures and chemistry an unpredictable beast.

Thing is, he still gotta close. Until then, he's the GM of an 84-point team whose biggest adds were a backup goalie, a veteran middle-six winger and a new 4th line. Those are the moves of a GM tweaking a contender. Trying is not good enough. Especially when you cut a 30-goal scorer for no tangible benefit other than saving money.

I think there is some heavy-duty stare downs happening where he is gone well down the road on a bigger deal or deals, but hasn’t been able to close them yet. We know he wants to make a move and we hear he’s been trying hard to make a move. None of the players that have moved have the profile of the type of reverse-Reinhart trade he wants to make. He still has his bucket full of assets, using pick 11 doesn’t change that. He’s a stubborn guy and his “we like our team” is an attempt to reinforce that to whoever he’s talking to. Meanwhile, whoever he’s talking to knows the pressure he’s under and is trying to squeeze an extra pick or better player out of the deal.

It’s also on a Canadian long weekend, during the middle of free agent frenzy, which is going to take the full attention of the hockey media, just before they book out for the summer. From a PR perspective it’s about as easy a window as they are going to find.

I’m more shocked than common sense says I should be. It's just Adams has been so stubborn in net, you’d think he’s just continue to double down. It’s who he is, and the two kids are finally at a point where it can be justified. And given those factors, I wasn’t sure they’d even be able to find a goalie who fit the bill. Craig Anderson played well when he wasn’t overused, but let’s face it: he was basically retired when we brought him in. Sad to say, but this is the most established outside goalie this team has acquired since…Neuvirth/Halak? I mean Comrie, Tokarski, Hutton, Nilsson, Johnson…it’s been a real scrap heap of veteran pickups since Miller got traded.

He’s kinda the perfect backup for a young guy like UPL at this point. This is the kind of play a real NHL team would make given the other 2 goalies in the organization. Fills in while Luukkonen carries the load up here and they play the ***** out of Levi in Rochester. Watch them bring back the three-headed monster.

Just when you thought you knew this team they go and do this.

I was little surprised to see that Tage has averaged 40 per 82 over the past 3 years.

Not really. I think regardless of the talent level up front we needed to change the makeup of the forward group. We’ve done that, and seemingly with the right types of players. I’d rather this than status quo. I just don’t know if they are right players, or what’s been done is enough.

To the thread question, we’re definitely better than before the draft, but it’s hard to say we’re a playoff team as constituted. I think we’re less talented than last year, but maybe better prepared for the rigours of an 82-game schedule and the grind of expectation? Part of that is the coach, part of that is the roster changes aimed at giving the coach what he needs to implement his game plan, and part of it is what last season taught a very young team. I think our defence corps is possibly the most talented this franchise has ever assembled. I know there are eyes rolling at that post, but a healthy Samuelsson, an older, stronger Power, and a highly motivated, comfortable Byram along with an elite Dahlin has a chance to be special. UPL looked real good last year and Levi is a talent. I think the back-end has questions to answer, but I believe it is playoff worthy. The forwards have questions from top to bottom. I think Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn and Peterka have a chance to be dangerous, but I’m not confident of that. I think the rest has a chance to be fast and hard to play against, but I’m not confident of that either. And I really want another centre.

This is kinda rose-tinted I think. Aube-kubel has never played a full season in the NHL and spent time in the minors last year. Malenstyn is a career minor-leaguer who needs to prove he can repeat. Even Lafferty has had healthy scratches.

You’ve been around for a while, you know how the Sabreverse works.

I would not be surprised if he just finally said to himself “it’s time to see what else this game has to offer” while he still had a chance.

Girgs doing his best to match Skinner. And I just posted in another thread about the minor league call-up Tampa needed for their 12th forward. 😂 But hey, maybe this is the final break from the tank era this team needed.

From what Kevyn said, it might be their plan A. His performance in Liiga has them thinking he might be ready.

And the absolute greasiest timing imaginable.

Bet the house on Skinner. It’s now the most inevitable thing in the universe.

That seemed inevitable. Ride shotgun with McDavid for a big year, finally make the playoffs, and make up the money you just lost with a big free agent contract. And probably win another cup in the process. Regardless of whether the move works out for the Sabres or not, you know much we’re going to get roasted for this one.

It’s become hard to read the off-season on paper over the years. Take Carolina: i see them losing 2 really good defencemen in Pesce and Skjei, Teravainen and Guentzel from their top 6, and another useful piece in Noesen. In comes a good defenceman in Walker and lesser pieces Gostisbehere and Carrier. That looks like a pretty significant downgrade, but does anyone really think they’re vulnerable? Tampa added Guentzel and McDonough, but lost Stamkos and Sergachev. They’ve got Perbix, Raddysh and Moser as their 4-6 on D and their bottom 6 up front right now is Sheary, Eyssimont, Glendening, Chaffee, Ylonen and a minor league call-up. Who thinks they’re going to miss the playoffs? You’d think the salary cap would create parity, but the same teams keep making it year after year: Tampa: 7 years straight Boston: 8 straight Florida: 5 straight Toronto: 8 straight Rangers: 4 of the past 5 Carolina: 6 straight Pittsburgh: 16 of the past 18 Washington: 9 of the last 10 Islanders: 5 of the last 6 That’s 5 teams in every year and the other 4 sharing the last 3 spots. It’s sickening. Can we please flip the ice this year?

I think your 3D is more important than your 3C, but the discussion is worth having. And where should your 3C rank compared to your wings? I had Casey as the Sabres 5F at the start of last season.