Thorny

Should I watch it? What was particularly disheartening about it

Eichel was a treat. People can probably see now just how good his playmaking truly was, the way he could enter the zone almost effortlessly and then set up shop, qb like, find the open man. I think Tuch can pass but yes he doesn’t command the ice with poise and vision and feather to the open man like Eichel does (honestly my favourite hockey skill to watch) but not many do I used to be so surprised his playmaking wasn’t more of a talking point and would mention it. It was always more so about his shot. His shot was good and he took a lot of shots but even his shooting was often as an avenue to playmaking. Shooting for rebounds. We can see now that’s he’s fully rounded out just how exceptional that aspect of his game is

I agree with this mostly, though Tuch is a good passer of the puck and honestly last I looked throughly Peterka seemed to be, too: but frankly I haven’t watched a full 60 this year so that could be dated. Pretty confident on Tuch, though. But yes Marner would drastically outstrip them. Marner and a partner for Power would be the two big adds. Then take another shot at 4C and add a defensive D for the bottom pair and I think we might be ok. The key aspect is the big swing upfront. It’s not just the player; it’s the message it would send to *all the other* players and perhaps goes somewhat of the way to shrinking the inconsistencies that arise from the constant doubt they must feel regarding the team’s commitment to winning

Quinn’s results this year have been quite shocking to me. Seems miles from figuring it out from all accounts, yet this is a player I was projecting to maybe be our best F in several years in the mould of Mark Stone. So those are now at wildly opposite ends. I don’t think I’d be selling low. I still think he’s got a reasonable shot of figuring it out - not that I wouldn’t include him in a deal that makes us better now

I do too but I think i want to shelter/work Benson with Tage even more and I really think Tage needs to get back to C to stabilize the spine there’s a few different ways to do it. Tuch and Peterka can pass, Benson might pass best but he’s unproven. But that’s a reasonable playmaking start on the wings t6 IF they make one more sizeable wing add there. im starting to get tunnel vision on Mitch because of how perfect I think he’d be. Not that it’s going to happen But he’s the exact playmaking from wing player that would fit in well imo

Marner would be the elixir that stirs the drink up top. I’ll hold out hope I guess

Was looking at the video pack of Norris’ 35 goals from 21-22 and he really does have an accurate, deceptive shot with a fun release. Key was Batherson getting him the puck on almost every play - but Norris was very adept at finding the soft spots to make himself available. Good hockey sense. So a huge key will be pairing him with a strong playmaking winger like Tuch. I’d imagine Norris would be a focal point of a revamped PP as well. Edit - looking at the stats Tuch seems to have taken a bit of a step back on the playmaking front this year but I’d argue the track record is there - at least relative to our other players

Was corrected on twitter about this, it probably IS easier / more likely we add a top 6 RW this summer than a c, as they are harder to come by. We know Thompson works at C so the bare minimum side of things could easily read: Benson - Thompson - ??? Peterka - Norris - Tuch Zucker - McLeod - Kulich Greenway - ??? - Malenstyn/Quinn To my eye it’s a Marner sized hole (we won’t get Marner). But for me same logic applies: whether it’s top 6 C or W the need is there we have the means we have the drought

I’ve always felt that Han tried a little bit harder to make sure he shot that last TIE fighter after luke shot 2 in a row, his first time in the chair “Hey kid don’t get too comfortable..”

As much as I try to hold their toes to the fire, my glasses are nevertheless hopelessly rose tinted in that, as much as Benson is still finding his footing, and as little proven as Norris is as a mainstay top 6 C, nm a 1C, it’s a mark of how good Thompson is as a legitimate 1st line threat that I can *see* that line working out for a playoff-bound Sabres team next season. It comes with a few huge caveats though - Benson probably *is* our best playmaking F right now and I’m already counting on another add later in this post and I doubt we get two big ones, so he’ll have to take a sizeable jump in actual production and find those assists. That’s the hope portion id be willing to stomach if: - Kulich isn’t the 2C. It’s way too big of a question mark to latch on to an already question top line. Imagine a competent vet legitimate 2C add (is this even possible for Adams) paired with Peterka and Tuch, and things are looking salvageable. If we are hoping on a fledgling Kulich, at the risk of 15 years, we are playing with dynamite. I’d argue insulting so, and the fuse is short. Yes, there’s McLeod, but the ceiling is too low there. The floor lowers even a little and a borderline, low level 2C if you squint is no 2C at all. Benson - Norris - Thompson Peterka - ??? - Tuch Zucker - McLeod - Kulich Greenway - ??? - Malenstyn/Quinn At a bare minimum, the ??? spaces need legit adds.

The team with 4 hall of famers? To your point, Messier (hall of fame) is an all time leader. And he was even second in points for his team that year: between two defenceman - Sergei Zubov (89 points) and Brian Leetch (Hall of Fame) 79 points). 4th was Adams Graves (Hall of Fame) In net, in his prime, maybe the greatest American goalie of all time Mike Richter (hall of fame) (.910, 2.57, 5 SO) Leech led the playoffs in scoring (34 points), on the way to winning the Conn Smythe for most valuable player in the playoffs In the regular season, the Rangers gave up the 3rd fewest goals against. They scored the 4th most goals as a team But other than that, Mess carried them

That’s right Adams I pay your salary!

Rightly squarely in their primes… 😔

I’m stealing this for my twitter

Honestly, ya, the letter sort of seals it. But then again maybe not, did Cozens have one?

If we get good, it’ll have to be our D. We have two first overall picks and a 3. You can’t invest that sort of capital in a unit and it not be your strength. Our highest drafted forward is Jack Quinn and I believe he’s our only top 10 Realized today Power is making 9 mil which is quite wild, but if the unit doesn’t figure it out we are screwed anyways, like I said

Something around 20th in even strength differential. Ya they are good when you break it down FURTHER to just 5 V 5 AND just goals for but that’s sort of the rub, innit we can call it breaking it down but what it actually is is bias

Sabres may be in 30th, but goal differential they are in a cool 25th

I been here, yes welcome “No stone unturned”, you say?

Misa or bust

I mean…

The goaltending during this regime has been stunk

It took Kevyn Adams 5 years to put this product together