Mustache of God

If the Sabres somehow luck into a lottery pick or draft top 3, would you rather GMTM trade that pick for a more established young D stud/top 6 speedy winger or would you rather draft the pick and wait for it to develop?

Beginning to play hockey at an older age is tough because the concept of organized practices pretty much does not exist. For me, I'd wake up super early so I could be out on the ice at a rink in long island city at 7am where I'd be the only one on the ice. I then was able to get onto a team in a league where I was woefully outclassed and felt like an embarrassment every time i stepped on the ice. If I had a chance to get on the ice I'd jump at it because that's the only way to get better. The more I played the more I was able to start thinking about the little things (keep you legs moving, stick on the ice, lift your head and look to make a pass before throwing the puck away, keep your knees bent, be vocal on the ice, positioning, etc). There's so many simple little things you can do to make yourself a better player. When you're starting out though it feels like things are moving so fast and you're lucky to do any of the above much less not fall over when trying to turn. These days I'm decent, but not good. I love the sport so much and now that I've moved into my 30's hockey has replaced my social life (I can't deal with hangovers from staying out drinking all the time). Best decision of my adult life.

I live in Brooklyn and play at Chelsea Piers in Manhatton, Aviator at Floyd Bennet Park and also Prospect Park's open hockey & stick and puck sessions when the rink is open which is my favorite because I live so close. Started playing ice hockey two years ago (the tank team drove me to take the ice myself, i'd probably hate hockey if i didn't start playing).

What's the adult hockey scene like in Buffalo? Do all the rinks offer stick & puck sessions and also open hockey? Where do you guys get practice time in? I have a friend back home that is interested in getting started and I'd like to give him some advice of where to go get ice time. What about lower division leagues, which rinks offer those?

This was truly the performance of a motivated bubble team tonight.

Is this us being outcoached?

WHOOOO! Suck it, Anderson.

Is it interference if he's out of the crease? I feel like this is coming back.

Haha wow.

I'm just looking at the standings of the league saying "oh look, the Sabres are 4th from the bottom. This makes them a basement dweller, opposed to those bubble teams sitting on the cusp of a playoff spot." I know full well I'm being pedantic about the basement/bubble scenario but this is an internet forum, ! There's no other way. I watch because the dreamer inside of me still has hope, any given Tuesday this team can win. Maybe they put a streak together and claw up towards a playoff spot. Go Sabres.

I'll be optimistic and say 94 points since we're hopefully going to be healthier for the 2nd half. We finish higher than NYI, NJ, DET and CAR.

This is the anthem of Buffalo Sports. This team is not on a playoff bubble. We are basement dwellers.

The Sabres are the 2nd worse team in the conference and 27th place in the entire league. Like it or not we are a basement team. We're a 5 game win streak away from being a bubble team and the catch is that basement teams are incapable of stringing together winning streaks like that.

It means you draft someone who can step up for Aaron when he inevitably gets injured and calls it a career.

going back to 2014 we're 3-11 vs. Tampa Bay. They seem to have our number. Here's hoping the new Sabres pick up the damn phone and do nothing but breath heavily.

Confirmed by DDB: Jack's new linemates are Mr. Ed and Shadowfax

Right, but the Winnipeg game galvanized this team. Things will be different now. Call me Mulder because I WANT TO BELIEVE!

A little off topic to the game thread but how to waiver claims work? If a team claims Grant can they send him straight to the AHL or would have have to remain in the NHL in order for them to claim him?

I think with Ennis on the cusp of returning the Sabres had to make a choice between Grant or Bailey. I think it's obvious Grant has maxed out his NHL potential while Bailey hopefullly can continue to grow.

He really over committed to thinking Laine was shooting. It was a terrible pass and there was enough to for hime to get over.

A true solider of Buffalo sportsdom.

I'm holding out for the time when Derek Grant centers a line between ROR & COR. The Legion of Who?

Per P.Ham's twitter "Nillson in net. Lehner could play but has some minor bumps and bruises from his last few starts"

Jack Eichel is Scott Norwoods illegitimate son.