DarthEbriate

Yes, we're probably the end of Tuch's contract away from another full "core is rotten" rebuild. If they trade Tuch or let him get to UFA, then Dahlin has to pull the plug for his career. And if Dahlin is out, it's at least another 5 years of rebuild because every top-4/top-6/1B-caliber goalie will be abandoning ship.

Additionally, Adams was unwilling to include Savoie in a trade for Chychrun. But a season and a draft later, Benson, Helenius, and Östlund's arrival made him tradeable.

Pegula still hasn't publicly stated that EEE is over. Adams will be the GM for as long as the owner is happy with the communication. In the Pegula era, the on-ice product has never been the cause of removing the GM. Maybe Regier could be argued, but they're purposefully tanking, so getting a new GM is simply part of tearing things down and setting a new beginning.

Dilfer wasn't borderline bad. He was bad. Even by 1990s standards. If he hadn't had the late '90s Buccaneers defenses propping him up, he might not even be in the league long enough to make it to Baltimore for his one Super Bowl season, even as a top-10 draft pick. He made one career Pro Bowl, basically as an alternate to an alternate. In the NFC he finished behind Young, Brad Johnson, Favre, Chandler, Kramer, Mitchell, and Aikman in yards and completion %. He did have several short TD passes that season to help him finish with 21 TDs, which was good for 6th in the League, but way off the pace of the leaders -- and 2 or fewer ahead of Brad Johnson, Chandler, Young, Mitchell, and Aikman. And this was far and away his best season. Total scrub QB with a Super Bowl ring.

Nyqvist nets a 2nd round pick from the Wild, but it requires 50% retention to get it done ($3.185M cap hit & base salary). Guerin sets the market this week. Will Pegula be willing to retain salary in any moves?

I'd hope for more, but Adams' recent track record is a 4th for Lyubushkin and a 4th for Erik Johnson. Jokiharju is a non-rugged player with no playoff experience. And the Sabres are unlikely to retain any salary because of EEE. Fellow GMs can play hardball.

I think they should re-sign Zucker and Greenway, but my guess is that at least one gets moved. Brock Nelson is the top available rental? If I'm a GM watching hockey this season, I'd much rather have Zucker than Nelson (even if Nelson is a good faceoff guy). Veteran rental who can play in the top 6 - that can get a 2nd. Jokiharju for a 4th. Of note, Edmonton needs more ex-Sabres to increase their odds of a Cup.

He's going to arrive age 24 and ready to roll as a 3rd/4th liner, with 2nd line potential depending on linemates. Ideally an Ivan Barbashev. where we saw the potential through age 25 with St. Louis and then had a big 60-point season at age 26, and has been versatile and solid for his entire career.

9 shots on goal through 39 minutes of hockey.

Rantanen-Aho-Svechnikov out vs. JJP-Cozens-Quinn Samuelsson-Power. Just like Carolina drew it up.

Off a very nice secondary assist attempt from Samuelsson

Nope. He’s out of his own crease.

Goalie interference?

So what I'm learning is that Zucker is worth about $8M/year. If I'm Zucker or Greenway I’m testing UFA if not traded. If I’m Byram or McLeod or JJP or Quinn I’m telling my agent to hunt for offer sheets (if eligible).

Have the Sabres made a successful pass from inside their own zone yet? Or won a battle for a single loose puck?

So you can trip someone without them actually, you know, tripping. If you’re Benson.

Well if you can’t complete any passes whatsoever, Carolina doesn’t have to respect your zone breakouts at all.

Minnesota is an odd case. Yes, the Parise/Suter buyouts destroyed the cap, but they're still a veteran team and all their kids are hitting this season. Boldy is finally playing consistent and looks like a 1W (his contract kicked in this season). It'd be like if Cozens' breakout season had been the start of an upward trend instead of any regression. Rossi has reached his potential as a top-6 center while on his ELC (for comparison, this would be like Kulich playing his best hockey and in the top 6 from day one this season). And Faber... Faber was on the top pairing for Team USA by ice-time with Slavin in both games against Canada (his contract doesn't kick in until next season when he'll make slightly more than Power). And that ice-time was warranted and mirrors his play on the Wild all season. Beyond Faber, their defense is very mature and don't forget Spurgeon's return to the lineup this season.

If the Sabres win 13 in a row, they'll be right there with the wild card teams (provided they all play at about 6-4 or 5-4-1 pace) with just over 10 games remaining.

I'd be curious to see how the top 10 first lines compare in PP%. One-line teams can make it to the playoffs regularly, but that top line is probably also dangerous with the man advantage.

What the…. —Well look at you… LGR 4 GENERAL? ++Someone must have told them about my little maneuver at the Battle of the 4 Nations Face-Off thread.

They'll win the McKenna sweepstakes next season.

Would've liked to have seen one of those go in the empty net, but the entertainment was there if only for a single period.

JOKER! What a shot. The kid learned to snipe at the 4 Nations.

Tuch with the reacharound. Ducks playing the third like the Sabres have this season.