JustOneParade

Again, to you guys who follow this stuff closely: Would you rather have 16 this year or a pick in the bottom third of the '23 draft? I ask because I've read here and elsewhere how strong next year's crop of prospects will be. Obviously will be determined by the ping pong balls. Which begs another question. If Las Vegas 'wins' and moves up to 10 (however unlikely) does the traded pick automatically defer to '23 or does Las Vegas have the option to defer in that scenario?

As we speculate on TT's future performance he will be dealing with the headwind of no longer surprising anyone. Two things to feel good about? He's still developing as a NHL center. And he'll have Tuch on his line for an entire season (if DG leaves the line that way).

I think this is the glorious culmination of almost 2 full seasons of a complete sh*tshow saga. And the board is rightfully reveling in it because Eichel did himself no favors throughout (and to some degree prior). I also think we will mostly move on now. Hoping for a productive offseason to build upon the last two months of this year. We'll be focused on the Sabres continued resurgence and not give a crap about what's going on out West - other than when the Sabres play Las Vegas. I think it will be more like 'Eichel is dead to me now' and rarely discussed. But evidence suggests I may be totally off base here. How many years ago did the Sabres trade Ryan O'Reilly?

Only if its a one-way ticket.

I would imagine the barn will be pretty full Friday night with an amped up crowd. It would be great if the Sabres could get Portillo, Levi, Johnson and Huglen to the game. A recruiting trip of sorts. But I'm sure that would violate some NCAA rule, potentially costing them their remaining eligibility.

Thanks @inkman. It appears I overlooked a bit of earlier conversation on the subject. Ralph Krueger: The gift that keeps on giving.

Who's decision was it to replace Taylor? And what was the given reason? Happened around the time of the great purge, didn't it?

Ralph 'Leg Shakels' Krueger.

I was in high school when the Sabres came into being. (Thereby revealing that I am older than most of you). Grew up watching HNIC as a kid every Saturday evening. Sabres fan from the beginning but lost track periodically as I moved around the country for work and before the internet. (in case you didn't get my age reference the first time 😁). Watched the Fog Game while away at college.

Joker partnering with the new young guy Power is good practice for when Joker does the same on the third line with Ryan Johnson.

This. I think it is vitally important that the players see that the plan is viable and beginning to show results. Unlike the malaise created by the rudderless plan of the past however many years.

Players are more relaxed and certainly more affable during the practice rounds. Especially on Tuesday. On Wednesday you can see them starting to get more serious and focus on 'work'. Been to the practice rounds at the Masters several times (and one final round, too). If you like golf and have never been to Augusta National, put it on your bucket list. Television does not do it justice for just how beautiful that place is.

Went to the '03 tournament at Oak Hill. Was planning to hit golf in the AM then an afternoon Bills training camp practice in Pittsford. (The PGA was played in mid-August back then). Had sponsors tickets for the PGA. Hospitality Tent. ☺️ The Bills had to make due without me that day.

I wonder if this optimism that most of us feel about the team is shared by the players themselves. Surely it must. (Insert 'Airplane!' bit here). And assuming so, might it result in the players pushing themselves, and each other where possible, a little harder than they otherwise might during the offseason? Anyone have any first-hand experience with this type of situation?

It feels like once the Sabres get set up in the offensive zone they can be reasonably (above average?) productive. VO being at full strength helps. But .... getting the puck into the zone and set up with the man advantage seems to be quite problematic more often than not. (As opposed to teams easily gaining the zone regularly against the Sabres when on their PP). The data may prove this all to be a mirage.

I am of the opinion that the Sabres are better off right now, and with a brighter future, than they had with Eichel in spite of his obvious talents. It may turn out to be that the neck injury and the subsequent scuffling about its remedy will be the best thing that's happened to the Sabres. Because in the absence of the injury I'm not sure when, or even if, a trade ever would have been made. Trying to build around a $10M/year disenchanted and immature foundational piece was only going to prolong the Sabres misery. Again, JMO.

Lost in this analysis is the question of alternatives for the two goalies. Where are the other NHL opportunities with (1) relatively unfettered path to a starting job or at least significant playing time, and (2) an organization on the upswing? And I'm asking because I don't have a feel for that. Further, if they wait and become FA's, does the CBA keep the pay range for college kids entering the league pretty narrow so that $$$ offered isn't a deciding factor?

Another question for you guys. Based on past statistics, then factoring in the strength of this draft class and the Sabres present scouting/development abilities, is it reasonable to expect 3 of the Sabres' upcoming first four picks to eventually be contributing NHL players? The last of the four would be @ #40 +/- overall I assume? Anyway, too optimistic? Expectations too low?

Not familiar with the rules, but does being $16.5M below the cap put them above the floor?

Fitzy v. Konecney. Please.

If Portillo and the other two college prospects are where they are right now and the Sabres were the team of one year ago I would be seriously concerned. Actually resigned to the fact they would wait it out for FA or be included in a trade. Thankfully, the Sabres are a much different team. Certainly not a lock they'll join the team at some point. But if they don't, its because they had other goals, not because they wanted to avoid the Sabres.

Thank you @GASabresIUFAN and I agree with you about the needs at GT and RHD. I don't feel this is a playoff team without those being addressed. (And FTR, I think a sneaky third thing is a vast improvement in the effectiveness of managing/passing the puck). Playoffs is the next milestone. For the Sabres to become elite, i.e. Presidents Trophy contenders, at the least the present 'young core' likely needs another three years of experience.

Given the number of games and the quality of opponents, is that a sufficient sample size for folks to feel comfortable that the Sabres have turned the corner in a sustainable way? (As opposed to those mirage-like streaks of recent past). I certainly believe it to be so.

Watched the EDM/VGK game. Vegas did not look near as bad as the final score would indicate. LA will need to finish quite strong to hold off Vegas for that third spot, I believe.

My goodness is DG going to have a lot of options available to him to construct lines next year.