DarthEbriate

In general, lots of threads/comments hoping to see the kids: Kulich, Savoie, Benson, Rosen, etc. And yes, I'm glad to see all those top picks in the pipeline, too. They're young scorers and will be exciting players (and lead to exciting goals against, too). I just want to take a minute to show some love for the old guys and a low-event hockey line. Zemgus and Okposo were both -2 in the NYR game opening night. They're both currently even. Don't like +/-? Too bad. They're not scoring goals, but they don't get scored on, either. They get 60% D-zone starts and are counted on against any line the opposition has for 10 minutes of at 5-on-5 every night. They're a big reason the Sabres are 32-0-4 when leading after 2 periods since the beginning of last season (and are in position to take 200' EN shots at the end). And they're on one-year deals so you can always move on if they lose a step (or in Okposo's, another step). Krebs, Jost, Cozens, (maybe soon Savoie), it doesn't matter who is center. The center learns an all-around game that will translate very well to a long career and to the playoffs when they make it. To sum up: Lindy Ruff would love to have a pair of guys like this at his disposal, too.

I just figured Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was a deeper cut.

Something tells me Kane is going to want a little bit more money than Ryan Reaves got from Toronto, especially with the term.

I think so Brain, but what does the Stop Tomato Project have to do with the 2023-24 power play?

If Tage becomes a 40G+ and PK stalwart and finishes top-10 in Selke voting, then all those questions of "is he a top-10 center" are moot.

The Canes are a pretty good team getting pretty poor goaltending to start the season. If the Sabres commit to defense, then they could win this one going away.

Wistfulness ensues. I don't know of any photos or recordings remaining of my band. Phone cameras were around, but sizable storage and clouds were not.

For what he's providing them, Giordano should be making Klingberg's money, and vice versa.

GM Sheevyn already traded away Boushh as a 6/7 veteran defensive defenseman. He's not going to trade for a new defensive defenseman until the deadline, or if Muel were to be out all season. I think Johnson (the Ryan one) has a bright future, but thus far it's been one beautiful pass and 8 minutes on the ice. Remember, Pilut looked great his first couple games... then opponents started forechecking him back into the AHL/SHL.

Well good on them. Then everything in Toronto will be just fine with an additional AHL-level d-man in the lineup.

And he's slower the Okposo at this point and is signed for 2 more seasons after this one. He also didn't do anything to address Marchand's trip of Liljegren into the boards. He was signed to make them less soft and still had no response.

Johnson hasn't really earned a specific Star Wars name yet, but if you're going astromech, I'd go R3-J3. Or Arthree if you were reading the books. R3 units aren't as common as R2, R4, or R5s in the films, but they do exist.

I like the Biro and Rousek callups (though not necessarily with half the Amerks forwards out injured), but I haven't heard the cause for the callup. Are Jost and VO injured? And if not, why not waive VO already? Do we have to start tracking the team's Muel Record again this season?

Trying to give away all his +/- surplus in a single game... Unlimited Powerlessness!

I guess they thought the goatheads would do the work for them. But do or do not, you still have to try to do.

Inverted. Red-hot irons applied to feet.

Douglas is a very solid corner and willing tackler who immediately makes the Bills a better team. (He will occasionally get burned going after an INT, but he's instinctual in the best way. With veteran safeties and not the detritus the Packers are rolling at safety, he will be able to nab some timely interceptions.) You will like him. You will like him even more because he's also under contract for next season. Alexander is an even better corner than Douglas, but is no longer as willing a tackler because of extended shoulder and now back injuries (watching him this season is especially bad because a little guy with a back injury is not going to be able to tackle anyone - particularly when the DC has only 2 DL on the field on 2nd and 3...inviting the run... again). Punk or no, he is very good, and when healthy backs it up quite well. The Packers current DC love-love-loves to play shells and corners well off the line, match that with the injuries, and you don't get to see Alexander making consistent plays like this anymore:

I'm not in the bury UPL category. I don't trust him, either! He is my friend. But my response to that is Sabres' Goals For in which Luukkonen was the goalie of record. Last season: 2,6,5,4,6,9,1,4,3,6,4,5,6,2,5,1,3,6,5,2,1,2,4,3,7,1,2,1,4,0,5,6 This season: 6,4,4 Anytime you get 4+ goals of support you should win. That's 21 should wins right there.

So... you have a twin sister sabre. Your helmet has now betrayed it, too.

While they can definitely clean it up a bit, their PK is making it worthwhile to stay aggressive. For some fun number comparison: Last season the PK was abysmal at 73.01%. Only 226 penalties taken, but an astounding 61 PPG allowed. We're 1/9 of the way into the year, so just enough to begin the initial extrapolation. They're at a silly 89.19% PK. On pace for 337 penalties taken... but if they maintain the silly PK pace, they'll only give up 37 PPG. Tone down the penalties a touch, maybe finish at 85+% PK, and they'll reduce that season overall GA by 20-25 just on the PK.

It’s three sets of double K. 3(K^2).

Grumblegrumblegrumble. So Bergeron, Krejci, Hall, and Orlov were just holding the Bruins back.

UPL started both games against the Avalanche last season. He gave up 5 in a 6-4 loss. He also gave up 2 in a 4-2, 40-save, victory. Now, witness the power of this fully armed and operational goathead sweater.

I like to think it’s just slang for the sake of brevity. 1st clone: Yo, let’s go get some beer! 2nd clone: (You) bet(cha). Or alternately, (You) bet (your sweet bippy).

In comparison to last season, I was pleased with UPL’s rebound control and covering up in the 1st couple periods. Still slow, but a big controlled slow. The ol’ Bure Elbow would stop him. You’d have to be willing to take a suspension, but it would stop him at least as long as concussion protocols lasted.