Broken Ankles

Girgensons - Jost- Okposo - your option # 3 looks like what Donnie is using tonight With KO drawing in tonight, and Krebs to the box is this line #3 with more minutes? And does the Mitts line becomes the defacto #4? And if Asplund is back soon (day to day), can I live with 74- 37-71? sure.

Agree with most of your post except except …. This threesome had 5 shifts in the second period. Twice they played with 23/26. In their first shift Mitts won a FO early and the Cozens line scored immediately after in transition. The fifth shift of the period was their best with a Def zone face-off win and a HD chance with Mitts feeding Vinnie. Two other shifts had zero pressure or zone entry with ‘one and done’. Another had no shots or attempts. Zero sustained pressure. In the third, their first shift was following the PK. A classic “dump and lose” strategy followed by a rush with a bad pass in the slot picked off. The second shift was an offensive zone face-off which they lost followed by the blues scoring but call back on an offsides challenge. Their third shift was a highlight where Mitts had a good stick check on Leddy which led to a high danger chance and a pass to Vinnie in front. The fourth shift was a FO win followed by a loss of possession with a Kyrou HD chance against. The fifth shift started with a FO loss. And Barbashiv hit the crossbar and the Blues missed another opportunity on the rebounds. That possession was followed by a Quinn goal. Their 6th of the period Vinnie stalled at the blue line. Their seventh shift highlight was a weak Mitts backhand stolen. Zero pressure. This line has played together for 23 minutes and has a 42% corsi, with 2 GA and zero for. Enough already. Poorly conceived and needs to be changed ASAP. They lose every puck battle and have no physicality in either zone. Mitts needs to be moved to 4C, Vinnie to the presbox (when 74 and 21 are healthy) and Krebs to Rochester. Maybe the new 3rd line is 28-17-71. Or KO replacing Z when he’s back. Something. Anything.

Horrible line. Does anyone on that forward line ever win a puck battle? Ever? Their expected goals against is 5 times worse than Cozens line, and on the ice for both goals against. Ice time slashed that period. Play Zemgus line more this period.

Mitts/Vinnie/Olofsson line continues to underwhelm. How are they getting more ice time than Quinn/Cozens/ Peterka? Dahlin abused Gallagher on the PK. Love it. Boosh gets a big hit in the second. The legal kind.

I can see it now….. Fade In: Kev’s Office at Habor Center. (Kevyn Adams on the phone with Toronto - we hear them confirm their waiver claim was successful) “We got ‘em”.

No ‘hate’ from me, just not the player I expected at age 23 and drafted 8OA. I also look at the pipeline and can see younger players like Savoie easily filling his role as a 3C next year. And guys like Quinn/JJP are preferred over Mitts in a middle six role on the wing. Younger, cost controlled, and higher ceilings. Just because he plays the PK doesn't mean he is good at it. I mean the Sabres are dead last in PK for November, and bottom 4 for the year. His 5v5 stat line is bad. Two points? Kinda sad if 4th in ice time wouldn’t you say? Projected for 50 points? Are you assuming he can play 82? Because that’s doubtful based on history. Durability is another question mark. And as noted in this thread and others, the Sabres lack grit. Hence the debate on picking up a guy like Horvat. The Sabres need more guys like him than Mitts. If we can sell his stock before it falls and get any help on the right side of the defense, I’m all in. Krebs can fill in as 4C short term, and Asplund can move into a 3C.

Definitely watching the HNIC broadcast. For all the obvious reasons. Getting off the Schneid against the Leafs on National TV wouldn’t suck. Mapleleaf Whiteout

Same……

Corey Pronman of the Athletic just ranked the Sabres with the absolute best prospect pool in all the NHL. Under 22 years. So while our team may be struggling, there is unanimous sentiment that the prospects are well above average.

LGR4GM

I have to agree with Liger - lopsided beyond belief. Horvat is a UFA in 2023. Use the Giroux trade as a comparable. Leader, Center and traded at the deadline last year to Florida. Slightly older. What did the Flyers get in return? Owen Tippet (High draft pick, 23, hasn't played a full season with 21 points as career high), a 2024 first round pick (two years away) and a 2023 3rd rounder. So if I knew I could sign Horvat to an extension and thought it was the right move, would I give them Mitts, 2024 3rd round + 2025 1st and Mitts, sure.

The bench is shortenin’ and deservedly so

Agree, in fact the last 5. Where is the guy we saw before the injury?

Again!

That’s his second amazing save. Respond boys.

Et tu, Brute? Musti Vincere

Bills are 4th in the NFL in total yards against allowing ~300 yds /game. The Vikings have 227 through 3rd quarter. Giving up 10 points to a 7-1 team is exceeding expectations.

And Mitts had a chance to hit Nosek but instead chose a weak, stick check that missed. Their 4th line, which is physical was matched against our 3rd, which just isn’t. That line struggled at the end of the second as well. Quinn had a decent game so I do not want to take away from his offensive effort.

Boosh is struggling tonight.

I won’t be watching live tonight. My son is playing basketball in a new Unified Sports League which pairs high school kids with and without intellectual disabilities on the court together. So proud of our school district for their efforts on social inclusion. Doubtful this one lives up to the last meeting, with Eakins classic trolling of Jack in the faceoff circle, but one can hope. Melodramatic Whodunnit.

You are on record for them viewing the Vegas game as an “event game”. A quote from the GDT below….. so if true, why are they tweaking the lines, again? When it was clearly a factor in the loss yesterday. Then add to that sitting Quinn, and giving Vincenzo (whom I like in a top 12 role) time on the first line? How do you reconcile the two? Seems like they are treating this game like the last few. Perhaps a few players are more motivated and come out flying, or playing in front of a bigger crowd gives some added juice but not sure how these changes “help” with a W. “Event games, these vibes games, they are a different story. The team approaches them differently imo and I think the statistics from last year clearly bear that out. Maybe they get shellacked tomorrow but I don't think so. I think they win.”

They. Pronoun's. 😉

So I’m guessing Porous Five Hole is a double entendre?

Watched late last night, but some observations. All three goals for Chicago were greasy. The lack of size and strength in front is costly. Missing mule. Victor has 6 goals in 8 games. If he weren’t scoring I could see the concern. No criticism here. And he needs to be on the first PP. Chicago had only one line working last night, and Kaner still has something in the tank. If he keeps this up he will generate a lot of interest in the off-season. Love Z but wish he had softer hands. Quinn trending up; Krebs trending down. Asplund needs to be back.