DarthEbriate

You want the next Foligno, not the one whose 4x$4M extension kicks in next season at age 33. Plus, he has a NMC and would likely only waive it to be traded to a contender and not a perpetual rebuild. Besides, you know Marcus. He got lost once in his own museum.

I think this is mostly attributable to the health of the roster. Last season, the top line was healthy and effective (this year it's been a crash-and-burn 2nd line at best), Quinn was healthy all season, and through 3/4 of the year, Olofsson was scoring. Okposo was skating with Girgs to help Krebs learn the all-around game, and then his extra shifts came with leads in the third period when scoring wasn't needed (and JJP/Quinn sat). This season, the entire team has gotten better at team defense. Still maddening for 20 minutes each game (usually the 1st period), but collectively better. But health-wise, Okposo's been playing with the top 6 a bunch more and has contributed on the scoresheet. Quinn and Olofsson have been non-factors and Tuch has been shuffling around the lineup. It's like his season 2 years ago. Okposo was forced into top-6 minutes and PP time and netted 8 PPG on the season -- which was a positive blip on his stats as a Sabre. He's a vet who can still move up the lineup for short stretches.

I like the old Hawaiian punch, but never got into Ecto-Cooler.

Is it playing heavy or showing up when it mattered? Because I think Amerks fans would say that up until Kulich came back from this year's WJC and was possibly just exhausted from the sheer number of games/travel he'd done the last year, he was the guy who played big. Whenever they needed a goal between 1/1/22 and 1/1/24, playoffs included, he was the guy scoring the game-tying/game-winning goal. But he's not a physical hitting type.

I still think the Sabres end up buying out Skinner after next season. And like Carolina, they don't really take off until he's replaced. But this really feels like Roenick is looking at career stats paces and... if Skinner stays healthy another 6-7 seasons (no reason he shouldn't, he avoids contact), he'll quite possibly pass Roenick's career goals total. Quit your bellyaching, Roenick. Go play NHL94 or whatever it was on an emulator.

If he were consistently chirpier and getting on the refs, they'd have shrugged it off. Since it was his first vociferous outburst in forever, they took notice. (Torts, Ruff, etc. it wouldn't have been a penalty).

He's their next Radko Gudas. He's a LHD, but ideal for a 3rd pair and paid accordingly. The Sabres' matching move was Connor Clifton (admittedly a need at RHD). Brind'Amour will re-sign with the Canes. An experienced hockey-minded POHO is the key. Vancouver brought in Rutherford in 2020-21 when they were floundering (after getting into the covid-playoff lottery and winning a round thanks to Demko). He's been slowly remaking the team and taking all the talent and turning it into a real roster. The last 365 days since the 2023 trade deadline and offseason have been the focal point, but it's been ongoing since he took over. Darth Pegulas (edit: the Wise) will not be following the same path. He prefers the Cap Side of the Force, not the Cup Side. Torts is a very good coach. Sadly, his hockey isn't fun to watch unless he's got a great roster that can make it fun. But you've got to balance that with the fun of winning. Detroit didn't get anywhere last season (Copp, etc.), but a second season of filling their notable gaps with playoff-savvy vets (Compher, etc.) and it's starting to come together. As a single-year attempt it backfired. Layered, it's worked. It's EEE! Cut out the middle-bowl and all its associated costs while still getting your Pebbles.

UPL has to just ignore the coach and go to the bench.

I blame us. Silly sense of entitlement thinking we (as fans) deserve anything. Show some accountability, Sabres fans!

HCDG, that's the one you blow up about?

Hey, a legit penalty on Benson!

Power with the sneaky-slow offspeed shots.

There goes another one.

A positive thing about the interwebs... watching opponent broadcasts.

Really got to get better on d-zone draws. The Panthers turned 3 seconds into a great shot opportunity.

Kulikov, Reinhart, Rodrigues, Montour on the ice. Fitzgerald and Asplund on their AHL squad.

The Panthers just move fast. They think/process quickly, they skate hard, they pass and shoot with conviction. If they make a mistake, they make it at full speed and then try to make up for it at full speed, too.

The Sabres got the lead too early and went into full Death Star Mode ever since.

Good movement on their power play, racing to loose pucks. And if they do shoot short side, they have someone on the opposite point so the puck doesn't go around the boards and out. Coaching. Of course, the Sabres just collapse and then collapse further.

The Panthers have a gear (maybe two) that this year's Sabres cannot achieve. When they want to, the Panthers can just take over with their aggressive defense. They're also going to have to go all-in at the deadline this season because they have a bunch of very good contributing UFAs who are underpaid (Reinhart, Forsling, Montour, Cousins).

The intermission was a naptime.

Need the power play to carry the game tonight.

These goalie mask straps are ridiculous. Start wearing cages again.

Need Benson to get stronger so he holds that puck behind the Panthers net. Once he had the puck, the Panthers pounced and turned it into an easy turnover and transition goal. (Nice interference run by Montour, too.) Good rush by them.

Did Benson's family carnival host a referee convention and swindle them on all the ring toss games? Seriously, the kid has had a wild referee target on his back all season.