mjd1001

I don't have a major problem with the trades or what they got in return. The issue isn't 'did it make us better' right now. To me its more 'did it make us better for where we want to go WHEN we want to get there.'

Its tough to project those things. Overall I agree with you that I would not pay as much for him as some are saying. The worse you posted, they could apply almost exactly to Dylan Cozens so far in his career also. His shooting percentages by year include numbers of 9%, 8.1%, and 6.5%. Oh, he had ONE year at 14.7% (More than 70% higher than all of his other years combined), and he got paid a pretty good contract off of that ONE good year. Was it the correct decision, I guess we still don't know.

I don't think it makes a difference. Most guys after round 4 hardly make an impact on the teams they are drafted by. And as far as the guys who are late picks who DO make an impact? The draft or lack of it will have little to do with it. If you weren't drafted by round 4, that means that NO-ONE (not even the teams that players 'gravitate' to) thought you were good enough to be a top 120+ pick in the draft. If you are one of those guys and DO turn out to be good, its just as likely it will be with a team that signs you as a free agent that isn't a 'desirable' or 'big market' team as any other team....each team can only have a certain number of contracts anyway. If there is a guy that you might think is going to be very good, then just draft him in the first 4 rounds. Its a lotter after that anyway.

I view it as just the opposite. Do I agree with every political decision made here (or anywhere for that matter)? No. But the 'politics', the laws passed, don't really have a major negative impact on my life day to day here in WNY. Florida (among other areas we visit) on the other had...to me is much worse. I lived there 2 times in my life for quite a few years. Most of my in-laws still live there. We own a house there we still rent. We go there a couple times a year and I'll take the 'political climate' in WNY any day of the week, and it has little to do with what 'side' I am on (I truly am a centrist on most issues, which means right now I hate both of our potential candidates for president as a choice)...and this is what I mean: When we visit florida, Politics are all over the place (much more than WNY). More political signs on people's lawn. More bumper stickers. More cars and trucks decorated with the name of your 'chosen candidate' (for the life of me I have no idea what you want to literally paint someone else's name on your vehicle.) Go to a McDonalds or a Panera in the morning for coffee and you see a group of people sitting in the corner just talking politics..and making SURE they talk loud enough so everyone hears their opinion. Same at the supermarket. My in-laws neighbors, they like to come over when we show up, say hello, and then IMMEDIATLY start talking about politics. Yeah, people I hardly know that see us 2 times a year. And this is my favorite one. People LOVE to tell you their side of politics (without you caring or asking), go in depth about it, and then they ask you if you agree with them. I could be 'kinda' on the same side of the issues as they are, but if they bring up 4 points and I agree with 3 of them, then they get mad, call you names and walk away because obviously i'm an 'idiot' for not agreeing with all 4 of their points. Yes, you get that all over, even here in WNY, but I get a LOT less of it here compared to when I have to go to Florida and other areas to visit 2-3 times per year. I think its just the opposite of politics ruining WNY, Politics have NOT ruined my lifestyle here compared to what I need to put up with in other places. I would much, MUCH rather have to deal with some political laws that I don't agree with but also don't really impact my day to day life in a major way that much....than live in a place where I simply cannot get away from confrontational people that are very public with you and in-your-face about politics.

I think its more likely than not that Tage approaches (or exceeds) 50 goals this coming year, without an injury. I posted about this back in March or April, here is a shortened version: Tage had an arm or a wrist injury. Sometimes that injury can heal enough that you can play, but it can impact production big time from scorers. Who else had a wrist injury that he played through? Look 1.5 hours north to Austin Matthews. 2 seasons before Matthews wrist injury: 41 goals in 52 games (65 goal pace per 82) 1 season before his wrist injury: 60 goals in 73 games (67 goal per 82 pace). Year he played through the wrist injury: 40 goals in 74 games (44 goal per 82 pace) Year after his wrist injury: 53 goals in 58 games (75 goal pace) So, a guy (Matthews) who is a big time scorer averaged 66 goals per 82 games without a wrist injury....the season he plays through a wrist injury his goal production drops 33% the season he has the injury....then when he gets a full year off his production goes back up to (and beyond) what it was before the injury. Now Tage... 2 seasons before his wrist injury: 38 goals in 78 games (40 goal pace) 1 season before his wrist injury: 47 goals in 78 games (almost a 50 goal pace) year of his wrist injury (this year) 18 goals in 50 games (30 goal pace) With Tage, a guy who is a big time scorer averaged 45 goals per 82 games without a wrist injury...the season he plays through it his goal production drops 33% the season he has the injury...With a full season off to heal his wrist, AND in his prime at 27 years of age, is there a chance he exceeds is prior production? Maybe. The naysayers will say no...but I like to bring this up as a possible positive. Tage isn't Matthews, but the similarities in their injury, in how it impacts production at the same time and the same point...very similar. Something to think about. I looked into one other things....Matthews shooting percentage those 2 seasons before his wrist injury was 17.7. It went down to 12.2 the year of his injury (5.5 points lower). He took about the same number of shots per game (4.4 vs 4.6), just his percentage was down. Tage's shooting percentage the 2 years before his wrist injury this year was 15.5. It is down to 10.0 this year....(5.5 points lower). He has taken about the same number of shots per game (3.5 vs 3.6) but his percentage is just down.

Short answer, No. Something to think about...Twice in their 3 previous series this entire playoffs, they won 3 in a row at one point. They were done 2 games to 1 to Dallas and won 3 in a row to close it out. They were tied 1-1 with L.A. and won 3 in a row to close it out. They did have an 8 game win streak in late November/early December. They also had that 16 game win streak (16 in a row!) in January. Now, there were some lesser teams in those streaks of course. In my opinion they outplayed Florida for much of the last game. So again, do I think they will do it? Nope I don't. But mathematically the odds of any NHL team beating another 4 in a row are 1-in-16. I'd give Edmonton better odds than that (maybe 1 in 10 or 1 in 8?)

I'm not talking about cutting him, I was talking about the decision to bring him back last year in the first place. You could tell he was 'fading' 2 years ago. He finished the season with 2 goals in his last 18 games then, and several games he had his ice time cut to the 12 minute range (or less). I don't think the issue was you cut him, I think the issue was bringing him back. Zemgus still is one of the fastest skaters on this team and the skills he does have (whatever your view of them is), well, they aren't really fading yet. Okposo, it was an issue that many thought they could already see. The team might have been better if they parted ways with him before last season began.

Been to many of them, not all of them. For me I favor Ontario and Chautaqua, but for sentimental reasons. Growing up, my grandparents had a cottage on Lake Ontario...and a great uncle had a house/cottage on Chautaqua. Spent a lot of time at both places and have fond (albeit very old) memories of both.

With that being the case, he was drafted when Ruff was here, so Ruff certainly had input into the decision to draft him,

I'm halfway there with you. Cozens when you take into account his whole game hasn't shown to me to be a worthy center for a top 2 line (yet). Maybe he will get there? but I don't see it yet. I still think his style of play is better suited for wing. Thompson on the other hand I hope/think will get back to 50 goals or more this coming season (barring injury). I believe he was playing through a nagging injury and his shooting percentage will go back up to 15% which will get him near the 50 goal mark.

As far as the captain goes, I think Dahlin. The A's? Tuch, Cozens, and I think you need to add Thompson to that list. I could see it being any 2 of those 3. Reading a few quotes over the last year or so by the players and Adams, I think Thompson might have more respect in the room than many think, and I could see it being him over Cozens (or based on his long term signing, a slight chance Thompson could be the ACTUAL captain, but based on other things posted above, I still think Dahlin)

I just want to know what is going to replace it. Someone is going to make a new sight with the same info and a similar layout, right? RIGHT??

I don't think the issue was Girgs being retained last year. I think the issue was him AND Jost AND Okposo being retained. Girgs is a very good 4th liner. You don't need him gone to upgrade the 4th line, you need him here with the other 2 spots being upgraded.

I love hockey and of course the Sabres all the time, can't think of how connected to the team I will be when they are good. Maybe I'm just at the point/age in my life though...when I look at those numbers...think of driving/parking/concessions...wow. I really can't imagine going to many games (more than 3-5) per season at those prices. NOT because I don't like the team, its just that I think I get 80%+ watching it on TV (sometimes more)....so the 'cost' of those games to me vs. what else I can do with the money...I no longer can (personally) justify it at all.

As far as the young guys go, I'm at the point, like many others have said, that I want this team to have 1 or 2 of them break into the lineup each year going forward. A young D-man breaking into the lineup gets 15 minutes per game, a young forward likely gets 12-14 minutes per game. I WANT that yearly infusion of young talent, but this team has gotten to the point where they can't rely on it. 95% of the heavy lifting (and ice time) needs to be done by guys with NHL experience.

If Salary information isn't available when it is so much part of factor in building your team, that is a big minus to me. I used to be a "just watch the game" and "just buy the merchandise" person...up until the time I was about 14 years old. Most sports for me now...what brings me back is large part the discussion..the talk with other fans about the structure of teams....the thinking not only of what each trade/signing will mean on the ice right now, but how it will impact the team going forward. Take that away, and I'm still a fan I guess, I'll still watch the games, but I'll be much less of a fan. Oh, and if the NHL eventually launches a part of their website that has this information but at a cost (only available with a paid subscription), that is a big "No" for me.

I tend to say "why" when people don't want him here. You have to realize he is a 4th liner. Once you get that, then he is a very very good 4th liner. He is a capable, if not exceptional penalty killer (average to above average). He's one of the best/fastest skating guys on the team. There are times when as a 4th liner, he is pivotal in terms of hemming the other team in their zone. I have watched replays of most goals this team has allowed and he rarely is the guy who is out of position or makes a glaring mistake when a goal is scored against the team. And finally scoring. Compared to most 4th liners around the league, he scores just as much or more, and his scoring per 60 minutes even strength (the best way to evaluate guys who don't get top minutes) is way ahead of average 4th liners (he is 6th on the entire team this year among everyone, and over the past 5 years he is 7th on the team). He's not a superstar, but he skates hard, plays hard, doesn't make glaring mistakes, and scores more than most 4th liners, he's not losing a step yet either... I'm not sure why the rush to get rid of him? If you were counting on him to fill in even on the 3rd line I can see an argument for improvement...but as a single member of the 4th line, I WANT him back. As far as him wearing a C or an A....No need for it. The younger guys need to step into that role. I an confident Girgs can be a 'veteran presense' as much as a 4th liner can be without needing to have a letter at all. With all that said, if he does move on, I won't put much thought to him not being here the minute the season starts.

I'm not saying paying guys early works all the time, but I think if you want to be 'great' and not just 'good', you have to take the chance to do that. Again, you won't always hit on them, but when you do lock up guys early, you get McKinnon on a team friendly deal that helped you win the cup, Makar making $9m (most think that is a bargain), Drasaitl making $8.5 through most of his prime, Hughes in New Jersey who is probably already a top 10 player making $8m long term for the next part of a decade as he gets better...etc. If you wait to pay your guys until they 'prove it', you have Toronto. You don't have any 'busts', but you end up paying the top 4 of your 23 guys over 50% of your cap. Sure, they 'proved it' to you first, but you end up paying more...that is the recipe for having a very good team but also the recipe for not having a great team.

I'm a fan of this weather. For me, perfect weather is partly sunny/mostly cloudy (30-70% cloud cover) with morning temps in the 50's and afternoon highs near 70. Light jacket weather for most of the day. I lived in Florida for 4 years (and in south Carolina for a few months) and I hated it. My wife and I could both lose our jobs here, have our property taxes double, and I still would find a way to NOT have to move to a southern/hotter state ever again.

I am seeing something about Florida that I started to play attention to a few years ago on various teams (and have brought this up a few times in the past on this board) that gives me a lot of hope for the Sabres. They have what quite a few (most, NOT all, but MOST) of the top teams have had in the past decade or so that is under-rated by many. A very talented D-corp that is almost ALL in their 'peak' age. (late 20's, very early 30's). Many of the top teams in the past few years had this in common. Guys on the back end (MOST of them) who have at least 6-7 years of experience, but haven't hit that 'over the hill/too old to keep up with the game' wall yet. There seems to be something about defensemen more than forwards, you really need that 500-800 games of experience for many to truly become great in your own end. Its like repetition after rep, hundreds and hundreds of times finally makes your decisions back there automatic. Florida truly looks like that when you watch all 3 of their pairings back there. Buffalo, on paper, may have the most talented D-men that we have seen in a while across the entire league, but they are still lacking in age/experience. If they don't blow the back end up and keep that talent together, it might be the glue for a great team once these guys (as a group) get 2-3 more years of experience.

I think he is fine for the job. Is he amazing? does he have any calls that are great/legendary? No, not at all, but I don't have any problem with his day to day calls of the game.

Barrasso was only here for 5 years, but he was really good and had a bit impact. Goalie stats were a bit....worse...in that era so its hard to go by them, but don't even consider his time and cups in Pittsburgh. Just in Buffalo: 5th overall pick in the first round. 18 year old makes the team, wins the Calder AND the Vezina his rookie year. In his 5 years here, he finished in the top 10 in voting for the Hart 3 times, 1 Vezina win, 2 Vezina runner ups in total....Led the league in Goals against average his 2nd year. He was very important to this team.

I agree with most of what you said. When Krebs arrived here I was down on him more than most on this board, but now I think many have swung WAY too far the other direction, basically saying he is borderline useless and a bust. He MAY be, but its still too early in my opinion to judge that. He may turn into a pretty good player but it could happen this year, or it could happen in 2-3 years from now. But, as you said, I want to give him a chance here, but don't want to COUNT on him. If you bring someone else in for that role, that other person plays there. IF Krebs takes a huge leap forward, then sure you can slot Krebs into that slot, but I don't want that to be THE plan.

I agree, Tampa is good for now. Most of their key players are still in that 'peak age' before they hit a bit of a slide. Hedman? The number of minutes have to be adding up for him over his career, but this team is in or near their prime in most areas, and they do have some 'decent' youth mixed in. Now, they will not have either a first round pick or a 2nd rounder until 2026. That will potentially hurt them 4-5 years down the road. Their prospect pool is empty of any talent that you could even consider anything but a potential fringe player. They have like NOTHING (Howard, a former 31st overall pick has a chance, but he seems more a small-ish tweener right now). Other than Howard, they have had a total of ONE top 50 pick in the past 6 drafts and that one they traded away. But with the picks they traded away, they still have managed to keep the roster from being not 'too old'. Pittsburgh is rapidly aging out (Crosby will be 37 at the start of next season, Malkin 38, Letang 37, Karlsson 33, Rust 32, Smith 33). Tampa's key guys (Kucherov 30, Point 28, Hagel 25, Cirelli 26, Hedman 33, Sergachev 25), well, Tampa is in a lot better shape for the next year or two at least.

I think reality might be a bit close to this, minus Pesce. The top 4 here that are going to get the majority of the minutes will be Dahlin, Power, Bryam and Samuelsson. Clifton will be on the third pair with 'whoever'. And, I'm OK with that. In the 2nd half of the season when the forwards 'started' to play better in their own end, the D looked a LOT better. Plus they are still young, they should still be getting better. I'm not all that upset with status quo on the D, as long as some changes are made to lines 2/3 up front.