Thorner

Always felt Briere brought it even more so. Left every bit of his soul out there Biggest thing is that powerplays go down and the importance of even strength play goes up. At least it used to be that way not as in touch with current playoff product - - - As for “clutch” I do think it mostly comes down to being by able to play your usual game when the game gets tighter “do your job” You see the grittier guys shine more because the rules aren’t adhered to as stringently by the officials

Do you just hate the rangers or have you co-opted Florida as a second team?

That was a really nice pass by Bennett on the goal

Very much agree, feeding into.. The swap as you point out made a ton of sense in theory: evaluation is in limbo because of the execution - issue with Byram was *specifically* the type of dman he seems to be - which you’ve pointed to before, as a stance others have: “I wanted a D man just not THAT one.” His offensive production is definitely reasonable but at least some portion of those still skeptical of the trade already knew this to be the case: issue is how poor his actual defence was. He produced offensively at ES but also gave it right back at ES. Whether or not Byram improves us more than losing Mittelstadt hurts us is indeed as you point out the only way to evaluate the deal and imo the answer to that will be determined by how well Byram finds balance

Hagel was a special case because it was a brow-furrowing decision from the word go. Not only did Hagel look like the more promising prospect, considering a system depth comparison signing Hagel was always a no-brainer and it was a clear, focused instance of Botterill declining to sign him because he got much too literal/Sith with his “absolutely no Canadian Junior players” bias. Precisely when his bias became a farce

“Winning” trades is the province of teams less concerned with winning games

Matteo Costantini - 4 years since being drafted. Do his rights expire this June 1 or does he have another college season ahead of him?

And doing nothing all summer except trading Tage for a 4th would be fine if Levi ends up playing like Hellebuyck next season and Cozens pots 100 points. From the perspective of the moment an offseason yielding a 30 point player at best as the crown jewel would be negligent

You weren’t really wrong about Benson. Benson being the best option can be true and also a really sad commentary on the state of the roster Adding a Benson level player as our biggest F addition this summer wouldn’t be positive He has great potential but he’s not “very good” right now. He also doesn’t have a U in his name. So, 0/2 your pro analysis seems swapped, here, Mittelstadt is the guy who’s currently “very good”, bonafide top 6, Byram is the one performing at a depth level

Making the playoffs and Adams moved out of the GM role seems reasonable to me..

Should only be 1 year Realize you mention that possibility in the next paragraph

He does To a significant extent. He’d be an all star regardless but he’s completely elevated to a different stratosphere due to McDavid. Bouchard is the far and away third leading scoring in these playoffs. McDavid effect hasn’t stopped Leon from refusing to where his mouth guard at any point. Pure chew toy accessory - - - when I see the oilers ahead it bugs me, when I see the stars ahead it bugs me. Can’t believe I’m rooting for the Rangers lol

I would manage the 3C position as if the prospects are a non-entity. If they break down the door, good problem

Best game I’ve seen live. First time I ever saw the Sabres win live. Sammy hat-trick, finished off with an EN goal off an unselfish play from Kane

9 shots so far total. Hope I didn’t go Nostradamus on this one

This is how you find out who’s blocked you

Don’t really like Dahlin and Power on the same pair personally

Same ownership situation

The fact things can look, sound, and be THAT depressing, a story filled with potholes along the way, yet result in a team that was a solitary point out is a positive thing imagine if we loved everything KA had done and we were still missing. That would be really stinky. There’s a ton of failure there, actually, which presents opportunity, which means potential for improvement. When the gap you need to bridge with that improvement is minor, things can be exceptionally frustrating yet not shrouded in darkness

I torpedo Kevyn Adams all the time (ask a board member! They’ll tells ya! I swears it!”) and while I wouldn’t call it faith or hope, I rely on something better: fact. Which, beyond “faith”, let’s me KNOW it’s possible Adams can do it: you don’t need to be very good to make the playoffs. You need to be average. Yes, Adams has the ability to field an average team. We were one point out a year ago for jeepers sakes. Human beings don’t have the ability to change or shift their stance even one iota? Of course they do. Adams can adjust his strategy in perhaps even an indistinguishable way so as to make up that gap. It would be absurd to think Adams can’t “fix” it when the fix is so minor. Can Adams field a cup team? Probably not. Most GMs can’t. But I just do not care you might even say I could care less. But that’s a little extreme. Extreme because it’s a butchered turn of phrase

Agree. Our best hope could legitimately be Levi Canada is also on the Levi timeline apparently All the rage

Maybe a FA or something but we have what, 3 first overall picks or something on D? Lol if these guys can’t buoy the D unit I’d assume team building is an impossible pursuit. Trading our best F for a 2nd pair D is enough for me now, I’d spend more significant assets elsewhere on the roster. At F, even a competent vet backup goalie Samuelsson - Dahlin Byram - Power Clifton - Jokiharju ..the handedness situation is brutal but clearly their aim was stacking talent and there’s a ton of talent there The strength of the roster is Dahlin / Power. If we become good, dollars to donuts it flows through them and Levi. If these 2 first overall picks aren’t creating two lockdown, possession dominant pairs we are up the creek anyways. Having a 3rd overall pick there on pair two failsafes even further unless the Byram we’ve seen is Bowen in perpetuity

Under the assumption we continue to employ personnel who refuse to build a winning hockey team, sure, I just don’t think that ever HAD to be the case

I can’t believe I watched that whole game without falling asleep

Well, he also hadn’t failed to make the playoffs 4 consecutive years before this season so maybe that willingness changes