Thorny

And they work closely with dev in Rochester too, right? Indications are they have focused on moving Östlund’s game in this direction as well, when playmaking has generally been seen as his stand out attribute

They should attack the roster on the grounds of needing to upgrade this: Benson - McLeod - Thompson Peterka - Kulich - Tuch Zucker - Krebs - Quinn Greenway - Malenstyn - Lafferty Samuelsson - Dahlin Byram - Clifton Byyson - Bernard-Docker .. to a playoff team I think an obvious need presents in a multitude of spots

Comparing Norris to Eichel doesn’t serve your argument both ability wise (obviously) or healthy wise (even with Jack’s history Norris’s was/is significantly worse). People undersell the fact Norris has played like under 60% of games. And again, Eichel was the superstar piece that makes the difference between good and great. The sabres counting on Norris to achieve “passable” at the risk of 15 years is a farce I’m not opposed to Thompson back at C, tbh, he’s our best C. If he’s not: Benson - McLeod - Thompson Peterka - Norris - Tuch

Shut him down from what? Not playing? Right lol Like, f*ckin: F*CK

So he’s able to go but they are holding back to sell him as the offseason addition

Thank you The whole thing has jumped the shark, to the extent fielding logical arguments feels both misplaced and a waste of time. The conflict of interest is too extreme Like, that’s our pencilled in 1C. “Eh, just see what happens. Hope for the best, maybe he’ll play, just mark him down for a write off though him and his 8 million when we don’t spend”. Plot lost.

I don’t like those two together because both have truly awful primary assist rates i guess if you stick Benson on the other wing. But asking a lot of a single distributor Also, I like how we are supposedly at “just take your chances” on the injury front heck of a strategy lol - - - Chychrun and Byram weren’t pencilled in as the team’s 1c either haha, nor have close to the injury history Oh, whatever

Kevyn Adams is almost assuredly punting next season It’s over man, Adams will punt

Ya, it’s probably a pipe dream

I’ll hold out hope due to his proximity to the area. If not, I still like the look of what adding a playmaking top 6 winger would do. I think that’s what we need, our Cs tend to be more shoot first so we’d have the flexibility to move the 3 guys (McLeod, Kulich, Norris) around if all 3 lines have the passing component provided on the wings There’s a chasm at RW. Add a good forward, or send a prayer up for Quinn or Greenway in the top 6 or 9, and likely a lack of star/impact power

That’s why I’m more Marner and Marner-esque focused. It’s always way easier to add wingers, as hard as even that may prove to be re: a true impact guy. But that’s what we need. There’s a massive difference between Benson and McLeod lining up beside Quinn or Benson and McLeod lining up next to Marner. He may not be a centre but he’s still the best player on the line by far and carries it. Peterka - Norris - Thompson Benson - McLeod - Marner Zucker - Kulich - Tuch ..top 9 Cs look fine to me (cause look at the insulation!), may even get away with Kulich there holding down a spot

Some of the yoots

Far less brash than me, but somehow cutting far more deep lol No he’s the Ben Reilly of owners

They need a lot. im not sure I’m comfortable betting on Kulich as a top 6 C NOR Norris’s availability to consistently play such OR McLeod’s ability to necessarily replicate his 50+ points (at a bare minimum) - never mind betting on all 3 at the same time - never mind at the risk of a 15th straight miss need significant help on D need help in net but that has to come internally or not at all It will take a skilled navigator or a lot of luck

A below .500 season in a year playoffs were the mandate

Good news is that even with today’s likely loss, if the Sabres manage to win out from here, Adams will still finish his first 5 year block as GM with a 79 point per 82 average, if we round up

50 assists for Dahlin, second time in his career

New career high for Krebs, assists and points

McLeod? lol

If the sabres don’t push this to OT, Adams will have committed 3 sub .500 seasons to record in 5 years

Sabres did well when playoff teams took their deep breath before the plunge the last few games they’ll ramp up for the playoffs

I have a rock that keeps away tigers you may be interested in