DarthEbriate

Whether you want them to be or not, if you have four top-2 picks those are your franchise players. They might not be hall of famers or the best players in the league, but they're your current franchise cornerstones.

They didn't need luck. They purposefully drafted 2nd overall twice (and poor luck had them finish 2nd instead of first one time), and then drafted 1st overall twice as well. They had and in some cases still have their franchise players.

He's tied for about 100th in salary in the league. He's not paid like an elite player. But... he does need a top-flight winger because JJP is still way too inconsistent for a 1st liner (or even better, to have an elite center playing in front of him or on his line, you know, like an Eichel).

The Isles just did a drop pass on their PP, but it started at the red line and the Sabres were all drifting back into their own zone anyway. It turned into a cakewalk easy entry.

And while he was out injured they won their games. Everyone else didn't rely on him and just went after it. Now they wait for him to stickhandle which his reach inhibits once he's in tight one-on-one. Great effort by Krebs to keep it in the zone.

He's still under team control for quite some time... but once Zucker walks in the offseason (or... let's face it, quite possibly at the trade deadline this season)... how long until Benson realizes he's alone and "doesn't want to be here"?

It really goes back to what you have to do to make the playoffs --- because they're not a juggernaut, they've got to have a cumulative winning record against the primary competition and any bottom feeders (MTL) for those wildcard spots. They cannot no-show these games. OTT, DET, MTL, NYI, PIT, PHI So far this season: 2-5-1 and losing by two tonight. Edit: My list forgot to include CBJ, but the record did include them.

Much more dangerous PK from the Isles than PP from the Sabres.

Just completely flat right now. Desperately need a PPG.

Flubbed shot flutters in anyway.

Power just kind of standing there on that one.

Yikes, BB-4 needs some repairs. Never seen a visor split.

Just tuned in the last couple minutes. Tiny sample size, but the Isles are just crushing them with speed, outworking everything, and also being gifted horrid turnovers. Good shift by the top line and top D pairing though.

Though Teppo in his prime was much more the offensive rushing D than this team needs currently. I don’t know who this year’s modern equivalent is of Teppo. Letang? Edit: no. Letang has way better offensive numbers. Though Teppo’s prime is dead puck era.

I would’ve done that for Jiricek. The trouble is he fancies himself an offensive d-man as well and on the Sabres he’s not getting any PP time. Jiricek and Faber in a couple years? Nice.

This is the right move. It’s the reason to have NAK. Now, if Cozens doesn’t pick up the goal and assist yesterday and simply has the double minor and needs to sit for blowing open a big loss….

I don’t think the NHL is too big for Levi, either, but he’s not ready to be consistent without a starter’s workload. And as a goalie he needs to get to 100 professional games before worrying about anything else. It was the whole reason to get Reimer in the first place. Meanwhile, Benson can play every night.

With Aube-Kubel still healthy, I'm not sure they dress Kozak, but I do hope he gets into the game anyway. He's a 4th liner, but he already knows he's a 4th liner -- somehow, he's always known -- and plays that way and has since juniors. That's a very useful trait. I still call out the same highlight I saw live in juniors -- Kozak decleated a kid on a perfectly legal hit. Seattle enforcer and NYR pick Rempe came over to address it and Kozak reverse-checked him. Straightened up and stunned Rempe instantly while Kozak skated away with the play. (I wouldn't recommend that now, as Rempe has probably put on 30 pounds since then and Kozak has likely not, and Rempe has embraced pure heel-pugilist role.)

I pronounce MW as an acronym just to mess with people's heads.

They're fortunate to be all in one piece point. Now get two.

Almost got a Noronen repeat.

JJP is way overdue for a PPG.

Canucks have woken up.

Did they call it? Or only the high stick to Tuch? Nevermind.

Kulich staying in the lineup…