Broken Ankles

You have had 5 posts since you promised not to return. Do yourself a favor. Hide in your fear bunker for a few days. Enjoy the New Year festivities and come out when either your proven right, and Dalton is sent down after two games at a minus 5. Then gloat. Or, if the Sabres can string together a few W's and certain players actually elevate their game, not at the expense of goals scored, come back with your proverbial tail between your legs with a mea culpa. Either way, Happy New Year.

And Maybe, just maybe your completely wrong about this and one player, who is just another guy, that goes out hits everything, sets an example on the ice, that playing soft is unacceptable can add value. The point made before is that while our third line of GLO has added excellent defense, good possession stats, and chips in occasionally on Offense, it's the fourth line that has been abysmal. And removing one player (Sheary, Erod, or Vesey) and replacing them with an energy guy is not going to affect the scoring sheet. It could however have an impact in some other capacity. And as an FYI, Scoring isn't the Sabres biggest problem this year. They are 17th overall in 5v5 goals for, and ahead of their pace for goals scored the last 6 years. And significantly above the pace from 2015/16 when a certain center and forward were on the roster. This includes a slump in goal scoring the last 4 games. Maybe, just maybe RK and JB know more than you and think that rather than let the team spiral downward, adding an accelerant can have a positive affect. Accelerants are substances that can bond, mix or disturb another substance and cause an increase in the speed of a natural, or artificial chemical process. This is what I hope he does. And if others don't want to play with passion, they can sit and watch the game from above.

Average age of an NFL draft selection is 21.7, which strengthens your original point. I’m going to respect @Wyldnwoody44 and not rehash the past. Suffice to say the trades for our surplus D’men need to be acceptable.

for the season yes. Last two games, E-rod has been better than Vesey.

The mere fact Dalton Smith is in the line up is a good sign. I hope Cernak has the balls to answer the bell, and he gets lit up light a Christmas tree. The NHL did not deliver the proper punishment for the hit on Dahlin, so we need to extract our own. Looking forward to the game. Agree on both points. I think they have to do this for this game, but would like to see Sam back on FL#2 in Jan.

I felt bad about laughing. But funny.

What can I say, the Patriots loss and subsequent drop to #3 overall in the AFC and having to play next week has inspired positivity. Olafssons 5v5 play continues to improve. He is winning battles on the boards and contributing to keeping pucks deep. The Sabres outplayed this team tonight for most of the game. Considering how strong their PP is, having only one brief lapse leaving DeBrusk open in front, the Sabres PK was good. Refs had some questionable calls again but that’s life. The double minor penalty was absurdity. Risto was a plus player, pitched in on the O-fence, and was responsible in the D zone. Jack stayed out with the second PP unit and they actually had shots on goal. Question- Pasternak was double shifted multiple times tonight. Why doesn’t Jack take a few shifts (5v5) with MaJo and Sam, or Sheary/Vesey? The Sabres almost equaled the Bruins in Faceoffs won (25 v 26). Not bad for a team DFL (and it’s not even close) in Face Off %.

Before his last start in Philly, Hutton sat 12 days between starts. I can’t see him getting the start at home against TB on NYE, so could be two weeks or more between games. He might not see any games until a back to back in mid Jan. And that’s a good thing.

Agree that the hype catapulted him to think he could play pro after one mediocre year of collegiate hockey. I’m not a scout so have no clue how you could use high school or one year of USHL to rank him 8 overall.

He didn’t play on the 2017 Junior team. He played on the 2018 team after the Sabres already drafted him in June of 2017. Tage was on the 2017 team.

What is Eight?

I was thinking about this the other day looking a CapFriendly and our UFA/RFA’s. Victor is the only must sign in July. Montour and Reinhart have fallen off the map for me. Larsson/Grigs - nice to have but would not miss them. E-rod, nice knowin’ ya. Sheary and Vesey, low cost experiments. Next. If they can move Jake or Miller I could live with Marco.

Doesn’t but if you were able to extricate from the Sheary and Bogosian contracts it could.

Probably another round of compliance buyouts in the next CBA. Biding time I suppose.

What has this guy done to deserve tonight's game? We play the Kings at home on Saturday. Someone please defend RK's logic here.

Like this one, and really any on this album by "The Chairman".

More than 70% of his TOI is with Eichel or MoJo. This also factors that Marcus was injured, and decisions were made at 2C. RK has put him in a position to succeed.

This. Remember what Ralph said....'The past is not the present. It's the past. We will work with the present, and what you're doing today and what you're giving the team today will decide where your role is, what your minutes are, and how much you are playing a part in our process'. I agree wholeheartedly. Jeff earned his extension. Now he needs to keep earning his paycheck. He makes $9M/AAV. He needs be better.

When I read these names I’m reminded of Brewster’s Millions, Monty Brewster.

@Let's Go B-Lo u owe me $1.00.

Agree. And the bold is why I can take something positive out of a tie. Dahlin had a great game. Physical early. Moved the puck great when working 5v5 with Jacks line, and had two great saves at the blue line to keep the puck inside on the PP that tied the game. If I can have that Rasmus every game signed me up. Oh and the future of the Islanders organization took a stupid penalty with under 4 to play while the future of the Buffalo Sabers tied the game in the final minute, and outside one poor pass had another solid game. How many times was a brilliant game followed up by something less than acceptable? Now he brings it every night (or day).

It’s not absurd at all. And I’m not “bitching” about it. I like what RK has done with what is clearly a bad contract. Some of the best Lemonade I’ve tasted. What I stated was due to a bad contract, decisions must be made to mitigate the cap hit taken by one player. Giving long term contracts to both Larsson and Girgs and spending over $9m on a fourth line is foolish. Show me a Stanley Cup team that employs this logic. And one by choice, not circumstance. Both contracts are due in July and they were one year deals for a reason. If Larsson is extended it’s because he is versatile, could play third line if needed, and RK prefers centers. Aspland and Lazar could easily fill in on the fourth line in 2020 for about 1/3 of the cost and not miss a beat.

But Kyle (and his Albatross contract) is relevant to the conversation. The Sabres priority in the off-season is another top 6 player, preferably a Center. Whether a UFA or Trade, this position will demand a high AAV. Resigning Sam, and managing for futures. There was comments above about these are the type of players that Boston has. And while that may be true, Boston also sheds players like this when offered better deals. They have players like Wagner or Kurali. And players like Schaller, or Moore or Nash. But their contracts are for league mins, or $1.5M at the high end, and when they are offered deals from other teams in the $3.5+, they move on. We live in a salary cap era where decision are made based on priorities. For me I'm much rather substitute a Lazar and TBD on my fourth line to pay a higher end Center $7.5-8.5M and play top 6 minutes.

GLO AAV = $9.1M. This is way above a fourth line cost. I like them all, but if you have a $6M 4th (3rd?) line player, you need to make concessions elsewhere. You cannot have both come back on $2.25-2.5M AAV, or we an $11M 4th line for 2021 & 2022. If KO goes to LTIR, then it's a different story.