DarthEbriate

Be careful. That path leads to the dark side Concept of Kassian. We've come full circle!

If the Sabres organization had a guy like this in the system (late 20s AHL/NHL tweener) who has some wheels, kills penalties, and throws 1.5+ hits/game, he would have been the ideal call-up when Girgs got hurt. Then this move would have been logical and... fine. And when you waive him back to the Amerks he passes through no problem, just like Robinson did for the Jackets a month ago. But it's a move that's 2-3 weeks too late and the organization doesn't have anyone like this to call up in a bottom 6 role in the first place.

20-21 squad. Tage was on that team. But Granato was already a Sabres assistant by that time.

That's why we call it The Jost. Jost has 2 career fights in 8 seasons. It's the "I've got my new teammates' back" move.

This is a classic case of, "remember that guy who was great against us? super tough to play against?". Last season, the Sabres blew the stuffing out of the Jackets in the TNT 6-goal game. The Blue Jackets won the revenge-game rematch, mainly because of this guy (and a hot goalie). 3 goals (1 ENG) and 3 hits; he was buzzing all game. Of course, he did it against an inconsistent, super-soft Sabres squad. So... great, he's automatically one of the toughest guys in the league by GM Sheevyn's standards. On the positive-spin side, Robinson did have 10+ goals in back-to-back seasons in a bottom 6 role with Columbus, so maybe... just maybe... he helps the 4th line to do something (anything) for a few months. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. I also nominate him for the "join the team, get in a fight the first game to show you're the new sheriff in town; we're not soft anymore!" fight next game. I call it The Jost.

Alright. Off to a friend's birthday dinner. Hope the Sabres come back and win and it turns the season around. Have an entertaining thread, 'Spacers!

Almost. Dahlin opted to send it to 4-on-4 instead.

Can't buy a bounce. Seemingly all season.

Cozens' "harsh words" didn't need to be bleeped. His filter is too good.

Pominvillesque?

Edmonton fired their coach. 7-3 in their last 10. (they had very good metrics but crap goaltending) Wild fired Evason. Won 3 in a row. Likely more of a temporary blip. But this team could use any blip.

I can see why Kane chose to sign with the Wings vs. the Sabres.

Benson with a great chance in the opening minute+. But the ice isn't just slanted, it's a sheer cliff.

I liked Bucci in the '90s with the whole espn2 vibe. But... now that I'm mumblemumble years old... he's not a good announcer.

Net didn't move that I can see on the replay. Good goal. Bad defense.

Is that reviewable? Because Thompson definitely quit on it.

No response from the Wings on the EJ hit. Softies!

I think he simply was frustrated by yet another wheel-spinning bad season and was emotional during a locker cleanout session. [I don't know if he ever officially or unofficially requested a trade, as we've learned Eichel had.] I think if you give him a summer to cool off, he comes back refreshed and ready to go in the fall and is a great 2C, 1C when you need a faceoff or are trailing, to Eichel's up-and-coming stardom. You can still add Skinner that offseason with ROR's contract. Research, research, research. Not sure if it's enough to.... what year, what year, what year... to save Housley's job, though. Damn. This team went through coaches/GMs so fast these past 10 years. I can't keep up.

I think this is advertised as such. Or vice versa. I got them as a Disney bundle a couple years ago so I'm not really sure. But I typically watch my ESPN games via Hulu.

Given Benson's arrival and barring any trades, I hold out hope that we'll see this lineup for at least 1 game in January. Not gritty, but proven pair combos (Quinn-Cozens, Skinner-TNT, Mitts-anyone) while Quinn gets back up to speed (and maybe jumpstarts Cozens). Skinner - TNT - Tuch Peterka - Mitts - Greenway Benson - Cozens - Quinn Girgensons - Krebs - Rousek

Beat me to it.

I still believe that if GMTM had been capable of human interaction, the team he was assembling would have made the playoffs. Sure, the coach probably needs to be able to tell him to move on from a couple knuckleheads, but the team's construction looks decent in hindsight with another couple decent drafts (particularly if you negate that McNabb for D-Lo/Fasching trade because you already have Foligno and Carrier). But then Botts came in and went completely anti-grit, rather than filling out the remaining roster holes. I won't listen to it (I've heard a few ATWs and don't really need too much more of their time), so thank you @Pimlach for the recap. I do want to speak to these two items above. Yes. Power needs a Tallinder, and preferably a Tallinder with some snarl. Honestly, this could be EJ, but it means you need to be willing to play Power fewer minutes. Like 18 minutes (including his PP time). And with a D-corp as young as they have, it means your one of your other pairs needs to be the rock... which means Muel/Dahlin and Muel needs to also be a rock-solid veteran which he isn't this year. Skinner. I said it a couple years ago now, but I still believe that Skinner is going to be gone when this team is good. Possibly in order for this team to be good. It's like when Carolina drafted Svechnikov and said... yup, Skinner's a 2-3W and now we've got Svech. Adios, Jeff! Not only is Svechnikov better, but he also is willing to get physical to provide himself space. If Skinner was Angry/Pest Skinner every game, he'd be amazing. But he only plays that way once every couple weeks. And not great on the PP or defensively, as been covered exhaustively. I think you buyout the final 2 years of his contract because Quinn/Benson/other will be taking his playing time. This doesn't address the bottom 6 issues though.

Defensively sound. And add in the willingness to step into any scrum and protect any and all of your teammates. Maybe throw a tone-setting check once in awhile.

The issues is, nearly all the league is still in contention, or loves their guys who actually do those things. No one who can make the playoffs is going to give up their soul players this early in season unless you significantly overpay.