LGR4GM

Sounded like yesterday after practice that Ruff was probably keeping Zucker out until this weekend.

The Calgary Flames are not good and they played last night in Chicago. Questions then are simple... If UPL plays, will the NHL allow them to use xl pucks just for funsies? Can Tage Thompson continue to think the other team kicked his puppy? Will Isak Rosen or Noah Östlund score... on the ice, idk about their personal lives. Will Lindy Ruff eat a 2ft chicken parm on the bench? What if Jack Quinn eats a 2ft chicken parm, will he suddenly remember how to hockey better? Find out tonight as your 7-8-4 Sabres take on the red hot 5-13-3 Flames... red hot because they are literally a fire, dumpster fire.

We play Calgary tomorrow and they have added a player

Savoie was -1 with no goals or assists in 15:59TOI Edit: he had 2 shots but I honestly don't remember them so can't comment on that

Ruff says that Benson might start joining morning skates starting tomorrow.

Sounds like Norris is slated for 2nd line C duty as long as Thompson continues his play. I would put Benson with Norris but might put Zucker with TNT and move Doan to that Norris line as well. Zucker - Tage - Tuch Benson - Norris - Doan

Ellis is not at practice today. Speculate away. (it is most likely a rest day after last night since they have 3 goalies around)

JJ Peterka: 6g, 7a, 13pts, +1 in 19games Josh Doan: 5g, 7a, 12pts, -4 in 19games

According to this it was not mutual but I am unclear on what that means. Makes it sound like the Sabres didnt have interest but the player expected to get an offer. https://sabrenoise.com/3-prospects-the-sabres-no-longer-have-rights-to-01jwvtenp7pw "This one was a confusing one for the Sabres as they have a 22-year-old center, with almost three years of professional hockey experience, who they didn’t want to bring over to the AHL or ECHL, as this was not a mutual parting of ways."

Rosen would have to be, fairly certain he loses waiver protection next year.

Konsta Helenius is on pace for 9 more goals and 20 more points than his rookie AHL campaign.

I don't. I am very very very glad that Lyon is signed for 2 years because it means we don't have to keep UPL because Lyon will be gone soon or count on Levi to be the 1b next year. Also we have a very small sample for Ellis, what if he regresses?

Isak Rosen: 2023: 7games, 0g, 0a, -3 2024: 8games, 0g, 1a, -3 2025: 8games, 3g, 3a, -1 Noah Östlund: 2024: 8games, 0g, 0a, -6 2025: 11games, 3g, 2a, +2 (quick note, all of these points have come in the last 7 games)

Wahlberg is not a center IMPO and he is 2+ years away at this rate. Helenius is and should be a middle 6 C at some point.

Would be nice to know before the draft if this team actually has center depth because the draft is wing and defense heavy.

Ruff on wgr talked about how good Thompson has played the last few games and that if he keeps that up, when Norris comes back, they will play Norris at 2c and Thompson as 1c. He also said Zucker may play tomorrow, Norris and then Benson will be the next back but aren't ready yet.

Winning is fun

Only thing I'll say, NHL teams don't have a full book on Ellis and they'll get that sometime soon. Can he adjust when teams figure him out or not?

Rosen and Östlund contributing is huge.

They aren't good but they have talent.

In this economy?

I really like Kozak.