Darryl Shannon's +/-

I guess he used his words in a way that made Lucic uncomfortable? In fairness to the refs, they probably wanted zero part of this game turning into a bloodbath.

Keep this in mind when thinking about the Thornton/Orpik incident earlier in the year too. The story coming out of Boston was that it would have never happened had Orpik stepped up and fought his battle. This is no different....but the story now will be that Lucic shouldn't waste his time fighting fourth liners. (Oddly enough, trying to start trouble with almost anybody on this Sabres team is starting trouble with a fourth liner....)

Hacket covered the puck, Dagostini hit Krejci to get him away from the goalie and Lucic took some liberties. Nothing big....a poke in the face and a push from behind to put him to the ice. Lucic got 2, and when he stepped out of the box Scott was asking him to go. Lucic pushed him away w/ the stick but kept his gloves on. Scott dropped his and Chara skated in to tie him up with the gloves still on.

I didn't either....but Rick said it. Then again, he was calling Risto "Rasmussen" earlier this game.

So Lucic got nothing, and Chara didn't get 3rd man in? Comical..... As for Lucic, anybody can look really tough if they pick their spots and hide when a real challenge comes. Haha....they gave Scott a game. What a joke.

After watching the Bills flounder for so many years at 7-9, I appreciate an organizational stance to blow it up and start from scratch, regardless of the immediate consequences. Next year may be very, very lean in terms of revenue for Pegula. Will they lose the bulk of their season ticket holders and waiting list and take a hit on the bottom line next year? To me, this strategy of bottoming out and acquiring a huge amount of draft picks is an attempt to give the organization the best chance to develop what we've been promised all along. A team that can contend for multiple Cups. Don't discount the money that Pegula has taken back on deals either - that has probably earned us 2-3 2nd round picks so far.

I think Boston's success is all rooted in Chara, and to do that they paid a huge price early in his contract. There were lean years until his long term contract became less of an albatross. That said, there hasn't been a free agent on the market with his skill level since the last lockout as teams have gotten smarter and extended their best players before free agency becomes an issue. This makes drafting well (and early in my opinion) even more important. And calling the entire Regier occupation high level mediocrity isn't fair either. Current state of this team, sure. But there was a lot of really good hockey in the 99-07 timeframe that should be recognized and appreciated.

Aren't you more likely to be mired in mediocrity though?

I'd argue that most great players are selected at the very top end of the draft. Which sadly makes the tank the right thing to do, and if we throw big money at people next year that raise our draft position up to 10th or higher, we've lost a great opportunity. I ran the numbers during the tail end of the game since I was on the edge of my seat watching the action. Since 1995, the top 3 picks have combined for 20,521 points. The remainder of the first round in the same timeframe has only 53,044. Top line talent matters.

Totally agree with this.....but to pile on about the top 3 overall picks - looking over the past 15-20 years, it's difficult to find a top 3 pick who was a disappointment. The odds tell us that we will be getting two high impact players over the next two years, which is added to the stable we've already assembled. We have even more lines in the water with the wealth of 2nd round picks as well.

With the Leino buyout talk, if the goal next year is to be top 2 in the draft, isn't he considered an asset? Absolutely horrible and chews up some salary cap space....

It could also be a conscious decision of Nolan to try and distance himself from what he once was. Much like the rest of this team, this is his last chance to prove that he really belongs. Slapshot type play is probably not something that Nolan wants to regress to, warranted or not. Look at John Scott as an example.....I think Nolan has taken great pains to try and make every player on the roster make an attempt to try and be a hockey player.

I personally believe Darcy was a magician in regards to trades, but given the price of some other big pieces at the deadline (Vanek), Murray seems to have acquitted himself quite well. My only gripe is packaging Miller/Ott, part of me believes that Ott alone as an asset may have led to a better return. In all honesty though, we have enough future draft picks in the next two years where there is some margin for error. This team is a GM's dream at the moment.....

I know I may be killed for saying this, but Leino looks like an NHL player tonight.

Being that he worked with the Sabres when the Rigas' were being put away, then the NHL, then Golisano and lastly Pegula, I don't know if the Islanders situation would scare him. The upside of that job is that they already have Tavares, and either this year or next they should have a top 5 selection as well. And as much criticism as he receives here, he does have trading Gaustad for a first on his resume, along with the fleecing of Garth Snow. I know that trade track record doesn't address building a team, but those two wins alone should be enough to get an interview. From the start of his tenure, he lost 3 conference finals, lost the Cup once, winning the Presidents trophy as well. For teams that haven't had a sniff of playoff success like that, that resume is appealing.

Packers and Celts too.....funny how the brain shuts these things off. And JP Losman's Green Wave.

In the NHL, used to be the Whalers. Eagles in the NFL.

Buyout was $3.2M total over four years. In the time he was with the Flyers, he gave them 5 playoff years with greater than a PPG in the playoffs. Given how risky UFA pickups are, this may have been one of the best pickups with the newer CBA's?

Missing ten games (for getting in a shot lane and breaking a wrist/thumb) and if you project based on the missing games he's at 45 points assuming he closes out the season. That's still factoring in on about 25% of this teams scoring for the full year. Not too shabby for a 24 year old that most are slotting as a 2nd line center at best. Looking at his future, you have to assume that after two top 3 draft picks, he'll probably be shifted to wing. Given his production today with this team, that's right on pace for what I think we want. Briere earned every single penny in the postseason.

Current scoring pace is above 50 points assuming 82 games. On one of the most offensively challenged teams since 1967.

I went back and looked at it.....and the Vanek first round picks were not top 3, except for the last year. And if they had Vanek, it may have been even worse.....

If they are hellbent on tanking next year as well, it may make sense to throw big money at Tallinder and Scott. Personally, I wish the league allowed for you to go the youth route and forced you to modify the contracts on the team for the year to make up the minimum. So everyone on the team would get a bump up for the one year that you want to be at the floor.

I keep saying to myself for being as big as he is, he seems to be moving quite well. But don't discount the call up from the AHL factor here. I remember Mancari looking like a solid pro as well in the same type of situation.

Harsh precedent may make teams think twice when they find the loopholes in the latest CBA?

Nice Al Bundy shoutout