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Do you mean offseason or years??

It always kind of amuses me how in pro sports especially there are teams that just have another team's number. It almost doesn't matter how good or bad they are, 1 team just seems to own another.

I don't want to sound antagonistic but lets review the end of last season, the exit interview and the beginning of this year. Do you really think the Captain of the team was not throwing total negativity with and to the team by not showing up to if not all the vast majority of the games the last couple of months?? That as Captain he should have been there to show respect and kinship to his teammates and that didn't have at the very least a negative impact on the team atmosphere?? When he addressed the media in the exit interview, he didn't show any positivity to Granato the new coach but made a point to say how great a man and coach Kreuger was and that didn't resonate in the locker room and team?? When KA and the team made reference to guys who want to be here, that wasn't directed at JE and other vets?? That the team culture and camaraderie hasn't been exponentially improved since he left?? That the team is suddenly hanging out together and showing everybody support as opposed to last year isn't indirectly pointing at JE and his attitude and nobody in the locker room noticed before?? How Granato speaks highly of the leadership of Girgs and Okposo at every chance he gets and that isn't directed at JE?? As for Ullmark, do you really think KA had not been speaking indirectly to his agent during the season and was convinced he was wanting to come back and what the parameters of a deal they were looking at?? That he wasn't surprised not by the agent passing around the contract but the NO MOVE CLAUSE had nothing to do with not accepting it?? Maybe my recollection shouldn't be in question here.

Well as my 1st girlfriend once said, once you get it in the zone, that's when the fun begins.

Loaf nation has been shaken to their core, no doubt.

My thoughts on the game: Holy Toledo Batman, we have a top 4 D of a 19, 22, 22 and 22 year olds that should be outstanding for 10+ years. Those 4 average 6'4 and 211 lbs. and as time goes by they'll get bigger and stronger, uh-oh NHL you're in trouble Add in 6'4 Tuch, 6'7 Thompson and 6'3 Cozens and this team has become big and fast I'm not sure if I was more impressed by HCDG moving Thompson to Center or Dahlin to RHD, they were nothing short of wow yesterday If that's Power's 1st game, I'm thinking this is our best D grouping ever I thought every line was good again, not only speedy but skilled and played fast If you take Bisonette with a grain of salt, he's actually hilarious. I'm in on this new rivalry we just restarted. You know the hate is brewing up there. I not only was entertained, I was giddy with excitement over the play of this team Now as for some poster comments, You may want to find a proper cleaner for your tv screen, you are not watching the same game the rest of us are, such as... Mitts and Roy are gutless, OMG you're not on Twitter trying to get clicker points, just stop Power's footing was bad?? He got turned around too much?? A 19 year old playing his 1st game against a top 5 NHL scoring team with the best goal scoring forward since Ovi, on the road in a revenge game and this is the best you have to offer?? Bryson and Fitzgerald are good, no they're not. It seemed like every time the Sabres were pinned in their zone, those 2 were on the ice, Instead of 2 RHD vets we need to upgrade, we just have to find a 3rd pairing now. Yes I know bigger isn't necessarily better Mr. GM wannabe but even you have to admit this team has some good big guys Side notes, that was Hayden's best game, he still is a JAG but he was noticeable in a good way. When Olofsson gets hot, he gets hot. When Quinn and JJP are ready we're about to have a pretty formidable forward group. Did anyone notice how much Cozens-Girgensons and Okposo played together in the 3rd period??

Vegas scores with 41 seconds left to tie it and Hughes wins it in OT for the Canucks. Very good day today for Sabres fortune.

I’m not sure you hate Roy or Mitts more, yikes, what a comment out of nowhere.

Hopefully an oak and not a weeping willow.

That's not Superman, that's Clark Kent!! Superman has a Blue and Red uniform, a cross between the new and the Goathead.

Yes because he had nothing else to worry about except a player and agent who apparently went back on his word and played the game of who'll give me the best offer sheet. Such as the Captain of the team starting a mutiny on the team, a majority of the veterans all wanting out, a coach that had no idea what he was doing or able to recognize the young talent he had on the team, a fanbase stopped buying season tickets and an epidemic that was changing the league and the way everyone was doing things/business. So although he changed things for the better in all of these matters except getting blindsided by a JAG GK and having to go to plan C on that, he has poor foresight and judgement?? Thank goodness I won't have you to judge me at the pearly gates.

I agree with you and his stats have become worse since the Ducks have been playing around the Sabres level. What I don't think is true is Anaheim trading the guy away. They're not that far from us in their own rebuild, why would they give up on Gibson without a large haul back from us. And why after finally getting close to the point where we have some depth in our system do we give it all back up for 1 guy?? I don't see this happening or giving anyone 10M to come here at the end of his career. Be patient grasshoppers, our time is coming.

I don't remember the last time that I've anticipated Sabres games in March & April as much as I have this year. Top teams, surprise outcomes, exciting play and now Owen Power's debut. MUST WATCH LETS GO BUFFALO

Ullmark was not worth 20M over 4 years with a No Move Clause to the Sabres Boston on the other hand is in complete win now mode. They have 8 forwards currently 30 years of age or older Bergeron's contract ends this year at the age of 36. The Bruins currently have 78M in salary set for next year. He's going to have to take a home town discount to remain with the team. Plus Pasternak's contract ends at the end of next year and he's not going to give the Bruins a Marchand or Bergeron discount. McAvoy's contract starts next year plus Swayman's contract will be due after next year. Boston needs to win now because their SC time is just about dried up. Ullmark isn't terrible but he's no savior either. He played 4 years with the Sabres and averaged about 32 games a year mainly because he couldn't stay healthy. He wasn't worth that contract to KA and the Sabres brass. 5M AAV for a guy who plays 32 games a year, really??

Gee whiz, send Fitzgerald to Cincinnati for some development time

By the way, just asking for a friend but who forgot about JJP??

Anyone who forgot JJP should bring flowers and sing I'm Sorry

Ooooh boy, a rookie is the last one on the ice?? There goes the team culture shot to hell in a hand bucket. 😀 LETS GO BUFFALO

I'm not sure how this thread went from a reason to be optimistic about the team and then became the Caggiula thread but here goes. According to CapFriendly we are committed to 41.9M in salary so far for the 22/23 season. This includes Skinner, Okposo, Tuch, Mitts, Girgensons, Bjork, Thompson, Cozens, Krebs, Asplund, Dahlin, Jokiharju, Samuelsson, Power, Fitzgerald and the last year of Cody Hodgson's buyout. That's 10 forwards and 5 defensemen. We have Bryson and Olofsson to be added as RFAs. We have Eeeeking, Hinostroza, Hayden, Miller, Pysyk, Anderson, Tokarski, Caggiula and Subban as UFAs. Olofsson being the only one that can be expected to get around 4M+, take your pick on who else might be back and at what price and you get possibly 10M out of that to be generous with Bryson, Hinostroza and Anderson with raises. You add just under 2-3M for Quinn, UPL and JJP. You are still around 7-8M under the Cap floor for next year and if you add the 2 RFAs, 3 at most UFAs and 3 rookies, you're at 23 players under contract. A trade for salary plus an UFA is a must just to get to the salary floor. I just don't see Caggiula in the mix unless you're sure you can pass him thru waivers to get to Rochester (which is probable after this injury plagued season) is a sure thing no one will pick him up, but will he go for it or try somewhere else and is he really worth it??

My opinions and facts: They have played nearly a quarter of a season in that span to be able to make a valid opinion. The Sabres are 10-6-3 in that time span, a pace of 99 points in 82 games They have played 16 games against playoff teams and 3 against teams, Vancouver, Chicago and Winnipeg that likely won't (Vegas still a maybe) Their play has improved not only because of improved if not great GK but also because of improved health of the team as a whole They now have 4 lines that don't get caved in on a regular basis and can put up points Skinner has 10 goals & 17 points, Olofsson has 11 goals & 15 points, Thompson has 10 goals & 18 points, Casey M. has 13 points, Okposo has 11 points, Tuch has 11 points to lead the team and the 3 guys above pacing for 40 goals in that stretch The emergence of Samuelsson to give the team a legitimate 3rd D man The emergence of Dahlin as a legitimate 1st pairing D What appears to be a real culture shift in a positive direction The confidence level of the young guys, Krebs, Cozens, Samuelsson and Mittelstadt all appearing to be going thru the roof Hinostroza, Asplund and Girgensons all adding depth to the forward ranks in speed and defensive awareness Other things to be positive of: Power and Quinn's arrival on the team next year and possibly JJP & UPL. A ton of Cap Space to be able to make some veteran additions to the team as deemed necessary such as at RHD and GK plus maybe a scoring winger. 4 picks in the top 40 in the upcoming draft with the possibility of having a top 8 and #16. Granato's system being ingrained in the team to start next year. Throw away the chemically induced hopium because real hope is here and on the horizon for this team.

Oh no please don't tell me someone took The Man With the Chicken Head seriously. I'm going to go all pirate here "Arrrrrrrrrrgh".

So did Johnson and Portillo announce they're going back to school or is this just speculation because Levi is going back?? Listening to KA on After the Whistle it sounded to me that he was ok with whatever they decide. (Please don't make me go thru all these posts again 🙏)

I watched the game last night, Demko was on fire and Pettersson had one of his best games. We need Detroit, San Jose and Anaheim to get off tank mode although Detroit did get a couple of wins against the Bruins and Jets.

I think I've just entered the Twilight Zone, Bryson is good and Tuch sucks. 😀😀

My observations on the game: Carolina is probably the best defensive team in the league. Leads the league in GA. What stood out to me unlike the LA Kings game was after the 1st period they figured out how to play against the Hurricanes defensive structure. They improved as the game went on and they weren't stifled getting into the zone. VO and Mitts have found their games again. Hopefully they keep it up. I'm optimistic they will but we'll see. Mitts now plays a completely different game than what I expected out of him 2 years ago. Please find replacements for Bryson, Fitzgerald and Butcher. Power will replace 1 but on the left side. The right side gets caved in to often. It was interesting how a couple of the Carolina players commented on the Sabres speed during interviews. When was the last time we've heard that?? Okposo and Girgensons are just plain and simply warriors To me for Cozens to take the next step he needs to cut back on his turnovers. Otherwise he's slowly but surely becoming a player. Dahlin is just special. No more needs to be said. He seems like a good locker room guy and he leads while on the ice. What may be scary is there is still a lot of room to improve in his game. Vegas currently out of wild card, Detroit won, as much as I'd like to see us continue to win, I still want a top 8 and top 16 draft pick On this current 17 game streak if this was a year long trend we'd be 13th in GF and 20th in GA. Both are trending up.