JohnC

I didn't watch the game because of availability. So I won't comment on the game. I saw the goal on NHL Network. It was, without question, a good goal. The reversal of the call was proper. Even the commentators on the show said that it was clear that the reversal was the right call. Reviews are part of the game. It worked as it was intended to do.

Don Granto made two moves that proved transformative for two players. First, and foremost, was moving Tage to center. And to a lesser degree he moved Mitts from the center position (as you long ago suggested) to the wing. As it turned out he went from spinning his wheels to becoming a productive winger. And it should also be noted that he is one of our best players along the wall.

Within this WGR link there are three hockey segments. One was with Granato for a 16 min segment. He talks about Greenway and his style of play. And the coach emphasized how he continues to adhere to handling his players as the season winds down. He's committed to the young players and their development and the importance of playing in meaningful games. There is a second segment with Andrew Filipponi who works in the media in Pittsburgh. (He used to work at WGR.) He is highly critical of how the Penguin management is handling the operation. The guest focuses on the up and down cycles of the Penguins and how they have recently handled the end cycle. The third 15 segment is with Paul Hamilton. (It's not a 25 min segment.) What I found interesting is that much of what he said about the game matched what was said here. In general, he thought the Sabres played well but the difference in this game was the play of the opposition's goalie. When Paul H was asked which forward was going to sit this game he responded similarly to what others here are advocating for. Overall, good hockey talk. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

There always seems to be a need of a target. As you astutely point out that when playing with better players his production unsurprisingly goes up. What I can say from my observation of him this season is that his effort level all season long has been consistently good. Even when he was being unfairly scorned by the reflexive critics what no one could deny was that he was one of our best battlers on the boards. He is a good example that when elevating the surrounding talent you also elevate the individual players. And that shouldn't be a surprise.

I'm not going to comment on the game because I was shut out from it. Instead, what I did do is listen to the game. I have listened to Dunleavy and Ray broadcast the TV games. Last night's game was enjoyable to listen to. I was able to follow the flow of the game and visualize the action on the ice. The timing between the two broadcasters were seamless. Ray knew when to interject his brief comments allowing Dunleavy to quickly get back to the action on the ice. Both of these fellows who seem to have a good rapport (fun poking relationship) had one of their best broadcasts. In my view Dunleavy is steadily getting better and smoother in his broadcast. As others have frequently noted broadcasting a good team helps elevates the performances of the employees behind the mikes. I was impressed by their broadcast.

I'll be succinct in my response. I simply don't know if the Sabres will make the playoffs. My sensation about this season, as it seems to like yours, is that regardless of the results it has been a fun and entertaining ride.

The commentator made the same point that you just made. It was time for him to move on. The situation was getting stale for him, and he needed a change of scenery to get a fresh start. What makes the trade to turn out to be a positive for us is our coach who is familiar with this player. Time will tell. This trade could work out well for both teams.

Within this WGR link is a segment where Judd Zulgad, who has a hockey podcast, discusses the trade. This is an 8 min segment. He is familiar with the player and his specific attributes. He points out when playing up to his talents, he is a major asset. However, when he slides and gets away from his game he is not as effective. The key in this trade is our coach. He knows the player and knows what needs to be done to get him to get him back to form. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

Just because of your display of lack of confidence in the player he is going to score a goal. Would you mind if I politely and non-sneeringly say I told you so? I'm predicting he will score a goal in this game. Trust me, have I ever been wrong? 🏒

If you had the same record with a soccer team the pre-game drunken hooligan fans would beat-you up before you got inside the stadium. Assaulting for the purpose of displaying loyalty to the team.

Why don't you change your plans and instead go to the lacrosse game?

Olofsson is going to score. And the haranguing crowd will be silenced for a short duration. This game will not be available to me. The freaking basturds! This is unadulterated stinky Bull Shitttt! I am upset and sad.

The Sabres have some games on hand with the Islanders but it seems that they have stabilized and are going to make a run. Ottawa is another team that I am wary of. They are getting better and more confident. And you are right that when you are at a bank it is important to make a deposit to later draw from.

My instincts tell me that this race is going to the finish line. Being in a playoff position after this week doesn't mean that we will end up there. And not being in a playoff position doesn't mean that we won't get in. The emotional roller coaster will be going on for the rest of the season where people will be in a state of despair one day, and then in in another day be in a state of exultation. And then that sequence will be flipped. This has been both an exasperating and fun team to follow this year.

Has he been to a Buffalo game?

Does he live in the Vegas area or just made a gambling excursion?

If one used the 15,000 season ticket as a baseline number for a team to qualify as a NHL worthy franchise, Buffalo wouldn't qualify.

Ray does not have a habit of criticizing calls. But the officiating was so terrible/erratic in the Tampa game that he would derelict as a commentator if he didn't call it out after the replays demonstrated how egregiously bad many calls were. My sense of Ray as a commentator is that he enters the game with little preparation and quickly scoots out after the game to beat the traffic. Ray is Ray. I prefer a minimalist broadcast to a verbose broadcast. I prefer watching more than listening to a game. I'm fine with the pair who call the games.

Owners are more interested in the TV market and TV revenue than they are in the fanbase. Houston is a big market that can become a rival to another Texas city that is already in the NHL i.e. Dallas.

The Sabres have a number of quality prospects in the pipeline. So when the time comes when a tough cap decision has to be made, the Sabres will have cheaper young players to replace some of the more expensive roll players. Like you, the cap issue is something I'm not overly worried about. The Sabres are close to the point where this team is ready up to the next rung. Making smart moves in the near term to push the process forward is my major concern.

As you know very well the NHL season is such a grind and punishing endeavor. Especially on the blue line having plenty of depth is not a luxury as it is a necessity. Including Johnson to the Lyubushkin and Stillman additions gives the Sabres not only depth but flexibility when putting together the lower pairings. I'm more of a Joki supporter than most here. If an upgrade is brought in, I'm not going to complain if he drops to a lower line. The positive result of additions is that the playing minutes would be a little more balanced and less depleting for the top two pairings. From the little I have seen of Stillman I thought he looked good. He added an element of ruggedness and mobility. We don't need him to fight. (I'm against fighting in general!) He provides an element of toughness and he is mobile.

Skinner is a more likeable chirper and irritant than Barnaby every was.

You and I are riding the same bus and going to the same destination on this issue. Give me a version of Lyubushkin and I would be happy. Where I slightly vary from your position is that I don't see the Sabres making a trade for an authentic top two pairing player because I don't see our GM willing to include in a trade one of his top tier prospects. It is very likely that the trade partner would want that type of asset coming their way. (Consider what KA was not willing to give up to acquire Chycrun.) Another consideration is that Don G thinks more highly of Joki than many here. As you well know I talk him up more than most here.

Let me add to my original post that if there are quality blue liner prospects whose rating are equal or in the same range as forward prospects in this draft, there is a need to add defensemen to our prospect pool which is very small, if not existent.

The GM saw an opportunity to acquire a second pairing caliber player who still had term and a very reasonable contract. So he seriously pursued a deal. He had a quality offer, if not better offer, but the dealer went somewhere else. I don't think that it is likely that a second pairing type of defenseman will be on the market who has that term and salary reasonableness. And if there is a trade possibility at the draft and offseason, I believe that a high-end prospect will be required to consummate such a deal. Based on his history I don't see our GM willing to include that type of prospect in a proposed deal. You have made the same observation that I have on Lyubushkin's recent play. Recently, it has been solid or better. If the Sabres added another blueliner who is similar in performance, it would thicken up the lower half of our blue line unit. Limiting minutes to players such as Bryson and Clague is addition by subtraction. And it would give the unit more depth with players who are merely depth players.