mjd1001

It is REALLY early in the NHL season to be making strong opinions about teams, but for now..I think we can settle down on the 'Leafs are the clear favorite for the cup" stuff that I have been hearing out of Toronto for the last 2-4 weeks. They are good. Are they great? I'm not sure. They went to OT to beat the Habs and Black hawks...and they won pretty convincingly against a bad Kings team. They had a good come from behind win against the caps...and beat what looks like an average Stars team. Lost to a good Pittsburgh team and what looks like a Blues team still trying to find itself. So right now..the Leafs look to me like they are just the same as they were last year. Fun to watch, high scoring...good but not great. Their next 8 games in the next 3 weeks look like a GREAT test to see how they come out of it. By then, we should have a great idea for sure if they are good or great.

I know the season is still early, but this team is losing already. I am not into the deep strategy stuff of hockey...I watch for pure entertainment...so there are really only 2 things I care about 1.) Wins for the Sabres. 2.) Goals for the Sabres. (BTW, the same thing applies to the Bills..wins and Points) I'll admit I am not a die-hard fan. I'm slightly more than casual. I WILL devote time to watching this team, but wow...how many years has it been since this team had a winning record and/or top 10 offense? It is getting really hard to keep watching. 3.6 goals per game right now would give you the 10th best offense in the league. The Sabres are about half of that. 3.3 goals gives you an 'average' offense this year. The Sabres would have to score 17 goals in the next 2 games just to get to 'average' this year. It is way too early in the season for numbers like that.

I not a huge suit guy, but I have bought 4 of them in the past 10 years or so. I wanted something very "light weight" for a wedding last summer, and of all the places I went to (including some you asked about) the most comfortable one I tried on was from a place at the Outlet mall in Niagara Falls called "Sarar" They don't do custom tayloring on site, but they can give you a list of some local places they would suggest. If you really can't find anything else you like, its just another thought.

Feel the same for Mittlestadt and Nylander. Honestly, of the 3, I thought Nylander was the one that deserved the start with the big club.

Our family was 'cord cutters' for the past few years. Both my wife and myself work 50-60+ hours a week and don't watch TV much...we got most of our entertainment from Hulu and Netflix. This year, we decided to subscribe back to cable JUST so I could watch the Sabres games. I said I don't care if they miss the playoff, i just want to see some GOALS and some good chances everygame. I'm going to give them a few more games, but things don't look good right now as far as us keeping the cable package for long.

I'm picturing Reinhart, a short 5-6 foot shot flipped into the net, a chip or a backhand.

I agree. "Vintage" RJ from a decade ago or longer is/was great. Sometimes on the game now though, there is a definite difference. At first I didn't like Dunleavy at all, but now, I wish Dunleavy would actually be doing a few more games.

Based on what we have seen of him so far in training camp and preseason, I don't understand why he isn't in Rochester. Now, if he comes out and gets 7-10 points in the first 10 games, then I'll have been wrong. But, it looks like he is going to be on the 4th or 3rd line here. As a kid as young as he is, why is he NOT in Rochester getting 16-18 minutes per game there and on the power play? I just don't see, right now...how hes not a better player in a year from now getting big minutes in Rochester instead of lesser minutes in Buffalo. Unless the whole idea is just to give him a few games in Buffalo to get a taste of the NHL..then to Rochester?

I'd hope it is the opposite. From what we have seen in the preseason games and reports from camp, Nylander looks a LOT better than Casey and Thompson. I think Nylander should be closer to a lock with Casey and Thompson showing they really need more seasoning.

The more I watch the more I think Middlestadt isn't ready for the NHL yet and should spend some time in Rochester, where he will get more minutes against competition that is better than he has faced in college. Trust me, I WANT him to be on the Sabres and WANT him to be good now, but I just don't see it. He looks lost in the D-zone and he hasn't shown much in the offensive zone all camp or in preseason. I think Thompson has looked a lot better, but he also has his ups and downs. I'd almost like to see him in Rochester for a few weeks...with him pissed that he got sent down...and being the first callup after he lights up the AHL for a few weeks.

I agree 100%. He just hasn't stood out to me at all. I'm not saying he is bad, but I think he might be a LOT farther away from being an impact player on this team than we think. Is he eligible to go down to Rochester? I think he and the Sabres might be better off with him on Rochester soaking up minutes there, while Bergund/Sobotka or one of the other eligible players takes up Centering lines with the big club.

I'll be interested to watch a game in an arena that only seats about 2,000 people. I guess not too much different than Harborcenter?

I haven't seen a ton out of Mittlestadt in training camp/preseason that makes me think he is anywhere ready for a #2 line spot. Maybe it'll change, but I see him getting 3rd line minutes at best and HOPEFULLY putting up 10-15 goals. A little time in Rochester might not even hurt him now. We all WANT him to look better, and eventually expectations are he will be that #2 center, but I don't see him even being close to that right now. Sure, you can give him 3rd or 4th line minutes...but if it is possible, I'd rather see him running the show (1st or 2nd line and 1st line PP) in Rochester, at least for part of a season.

First of all, I'll say I like Reinhart. But, I agree with a lot of what you say. I can see this contract as a 'trial' to see if he had any further development, but more so as one that is very tradeable. While i like Reinhart, he is not a good skater, and for his entire career his production is below average for 5-on-5, and he hasn't proven to be an asset penalty killing. I think JBots would probably rather have a few other guys with speed and even strength scoring as part of his top 5 or 6 salaries long term on this team, and then fill the rest of the roster with other speedy guys. Unless Reinhart shows he can score close to 20 even strength goals in a season....then I'm not sure he is here long term.

I watched the game and thought about it, and the things that stood out to me: 1. Eichel and Skinner didn't mesh well, if they are going to play together, they need more time together to get to know each others tendencies 2. It will be bordering on a Crime if Erod goes to Rochester. Need to find him a spot on the Sabres 3. McCabe and Risto just want to throw hip checks all day (and its good) 4. Pilut looks good enough to make the Sabres 5. The dark navy jerseys are so bad. Why can't they just go to a lighter royal blue?

I hope not. I really don't want to think the Sabres will give in to demands (maybe for a multi-year deal) that they otherwise would not have because of one early preseason injury.

If I had to choose between your 2 choices, I'd say Skinner. I just like watching him more.

This may be something that is recurring with Reinhart..if he signs a one year deal...this may happen again next year. If he signs a 2 year deal, it will happen again in 2 years.... Thats not to say that Sam is they type of guy who is always going to hold out. Instead it is the type of player he is on the ice. JBot values speed, we see that and he says that. Thats NOT to say he doesn't value Reinhart. He probably thinks he is a good player and might want him on the Sabres. BUT, because he values speed SO MUCH, he is always going to value Sam a bit less than other teams might. Eventually, there may be enough friction that develops there that both sides think a 'change of scenery' may be best long term. I don't think we are there yet though.

I feel better/more excited about this season for the Sabres than for a lot of others, even Jacks first year: -Dahlin, of course. I don't expect him to be great right away, but I want to see flashes of greatness. -Speed. This might be one of the fastest skating teams we have seen in....at least recent memory -A lot of change to the roster..and not in a way that looks like it was meant for change's sake..or as a 'quick fix' -Skinner. A speedy winger that is a pure finisher. He's like Evander Kane with less physicality but even more 'finish' -I don't really care if they make the playoffs this year..just I want to see a few things that MAKE me think they are on their way to making it soon. Also, I'm hoping for/excited to see a team that, for the first time in a while, has the chance to control play and out-shoot/out-possess the other team somewhat frequently.

Berglund can play center, he has for a lot of his career. I think if need be, he can fill in there if Casey is not ready.

We saw it a few years ago when it was in the theater, and I agree it was really good. My wife agreed to see it with me. She really knows NOTHING about auto racing (she knows who Jeff Gordon is and 'heard' the name Earnhardt before..but thats about it) and even she liked the movie a lot.

They are getting better with experience as owners. However, so far if you take everything together, they haven't done well. But, it looks as if things are getting better

This is the first year in a LONG time that not many people are predicting the Bruins to fade...so to me that means this is the year they actually do. They will struggle to make the playoffs, if then even do make it. Dallas and Florida are both going to be a lot better than people think. Both are playoff teams barring any major injuries. L.A. is going to disappoint, they will have a season this year like Chicago had last year. Buffalo? I feel the same way about the Sabres that I do about the Bills. I do not think they are a playoff team, but I have as little of a grasp on EXACTLY what I think they will be as I have in years. To me this is just a 'sit back with no expectations and watch' kind of year.

I have been thinking about this topic for a long time recently. How do you define a 'better season'? I guess your overall place in the league is a good metric. I still think the Sabres. I think the Bills are likely to be in the bottom 10 in the league, maybe the bottom 5. I think (and am hoping) the Sabres are someplace mid-pack in the NHL. Neither is likely to make the playoffs...I hope I'm wrong on that through, but the Sabres should be closer.

Anyone here interested in or watch Formula one? I have been a casual F1 fan for a few years, getting slightly more interested in the past 2-3 years (but still not an expert) I got up early today and watched the Italian Grand Prix. Maybe Sebastian Vettal is the most talented driver in racing (maybe he is not) but he doesn't seem to be the BEST driver...it seems to me he often makes major mistakes on the track that are caused by his emotions or mood. This morning he was very short and almost rude with the Sky sports reporter, and I read yesterday on some internet articles he was upset with his teammate or upset with SOMEONE but it was hard to tell just what he was upset with. So on the first lap of the race from the 2nd postion, he gets overly aggressive trying to pass the other Ferrari on the first lap, and ends up causing an accident that does more damage to himself than anyone else. It seems he tends to win races when everything goes his way during the week, but even something minor that happen in the days before the race cause him to make some major mistake on the track? This seems to be a pattern with that guy...anyone here watch the race...or follow F1 and have any opinion on the topic?