JohnC

The Sabres finished last season with a record of 39-37-6 for 84 points. Is it unreasonable to believe that this team can win four more games and increase their loser points from 6 to 10? That would give us 96 points. That is not out of the realm of possibility. As @dudacek notes Craig Rivet's analysis of this roster it is a very reasonable prediction of this team's prospects.

If you are looking for precision in internet postings, you are looking in the wrong places. It's like going to the butcher shop looking for a surgeon. A lot of blood in the shop that makes you want to look away.

Just do the opposite!

Thanks for your response. I thought that Hamilton periodically substitutes calling games???

Doesn't Paul Hamilton periodically do Rochester games?

For this particular team, the revamping of the lower lines is going to have a consequential impact not only on its effectiveness in its role but also will have a positive effect on the top two lines. Over the past few years, there's no question that the young players were going to be given an outsized role compared to most teams. Those inexperienced players now have enough experience to be more effective and still have more potential to tap into. Due to the players that the GM brought in this offseason (with the influence of Ruff) this roster is demonstrably better balanced. The critical issue that you note is whether our goaltending will consistently be at a level that regularly give us a chance to win every night. UPL showed in the second half of last season that he can play well enough for extended periods of time. (In fact, his league ranking was in the upper echelon.) In general, I'm optimistic about our playoff prospects. That's really not a high bar for many teams but for us it is reasonable hope. It's really important that this team starts off well and remains in the playoff picture throughout the season. A slow start will be a crushing blow, especially for the exhausted fans.

You are right that we haven't seen this new line against NHL players and in real game situations. However, what is apparent (even as an early judgment) is that this line is fast and tenacious. I won't be surprised that this so-called lower line will have a positive cascading effect on the other three lines. In general, the GM did a good job in subtracting players and adding players to better balance out this roster.

Levi may be better than UPL or UPL may be better than Levi. If we can get quality tandem goaltending for a full season, regardless how the workload is distributed, this team will be demonstrable better than last year's team. If you add in the fact that our fourth line is better constructed, and there is expectation that our scorers should be better compared to last year, then there is realistic expectation that this team will be a playoff team. And if you include the fact that the improved roster will be better coached, then the elevated expectations should be attainable.

A month or so ago I took the subway to go for my annual eye checkup. I was amused by the fact that I was the only person on the train who was reading a newspaper. Everyone else was immersed in their devices. I do use my computer and iphone for news, but my preference is still to read the paper. I'm a dinosaur who has no problem being outdated. Get he helll off my lawn!

Reconstructing the lower line has better balanced out the lineup. One beneficiary of that new line will be the top line because it will be less burdened by defending against the other team's top line, especially at home when they make the last line change.

What did you want him to say in that setting? Dahlin is more of an understated and mellow person. That doesn't mean that he isn't an intense competitor. What you want from your leaders is authenticity, not phony showmanship. As Lindy stated in that same clip what is most important in exhibiting leadership is leading by example. If Dahlin or any of the other assistant captains act out of character, their teammates will instantly recognize that. It's not about talking---it's about setting the example and exhibiting leadership through one's play. At least for me, Dahlin's short and simple comment after the designation was the right response at that particular moment.

Lindy is the right coach at the right time. Granato specialized is developing young players while Lindy is more capable of coaching a team to compete in the NHL.

I'm confused by your post. What are you talking about and suggesting? Some grand media conspiracy? The Sabres didn't bring in their broadcasters on this European trip. You can reasonably agree or disagree with that lack of hometown coverage, but too much is being made of it. My position is that the local broadcasters should have been included in the trip.

I have a different perspective on the line composition that includes Quinn and Benson and centered by Cozens that you are hesitant about. I don't want to get ahead of myself in judging young players but my expectation is that Quinn is going to have a successful season that is worthy of a good second line player. Just as JJP made a leap last year on the top line, I see the same leap forward with a healthy Quinn. I still maintain the view that if I had a choice of keeping either JJP or Quinn, I would take Quinn. That expectation is not a knock on JJP as it is my high expectation for Quinn this season. In addition, I also expect Benson to be a worthy second line player who has the vision and grit to round out that line.

What's NAK?

Yes. The roster and line combos are most likely almost set. The first, second and fourth line will probably be the same as the first preseason game. The players on the blueline are set, while the combos still have to be determined. Ruff appears determined to establish player cohesion as soon as possible. And it is a priority that this team starts off well when the season starts. It's about the now. He's wise in taking this approach. Are preseason games discounted in price or are the tickets priced at regular season rates?

I simply can't see Clifton in a second pairing role. (Aware you conditioned your projection.) I see him slotted as either a third or fourth pairing player.

The Sabres played their roster players while the Penquins mostly played their AHL players. So it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from this game. Taking that into consideration, I thought that there was more offensive net presence than usual. That's a major plus. I thought our newly formed fourth line played very well. This line is fast and tenacious. This is a big upgrade from last year. I also like the fact that our blueline players were more willing to shoot the puck. I thought Joki was most noticeable on this aspect of the game. And as others have noted, Benson's tenacious style of play stood out. He's going to be fan favorite. In general, you can see the Ruff influence of emphasizing getting the puck quickly out of the zone and pushing the play. This was a good start that hopefully indicates better things to come. TBD.

As you noted, it shouldn't be a surprise how the lines most likely will be constituted. Once JJP seemed to solidify his spot on the first line, the rest of the lines appear (tentatively) to have fallen into place. The first line group entered camp as penciled in, and so does the fourth line that was reconstituted via trades. There may be some competition between Benson and Zucker for a second line wing, but as it stands Benson starting off on the second line shouldn't be a surprise. A few of the players I will focus on are Benson, Quinn, Power, Byram and JJP. If the young guys can continue on with their progression, I'll be optimistic about this season. The player I'm looking for to make a big leap is Quinn.

The franchise is starting to accumulate a reservoir of young talent in the system that are close to being ready. It's taken time for this group within the farm system to develop enough so when the inevitable injuries happen, the replacements will be ready to fill in. Right now, I believe that Kulich and Levi are ready to be roster players with at least a few more, including Ryan Johnson, not far away. That's quite a change from a few years ago when the system was depleted. Replenishing the system has been a priority for the GM since he took over the operation. It's now to a great extent come to fruition. It's certainly been an excruciating process to go through. It takes a lot of fortitude to stay the course in this excruciating process.

I'm not saying you are wrong in your assessment of Ryan Johnson, but I have a different view on him. His even-keel style of play will never fall in the eye-popping category where you will ever consider him to be a dominant (your adjective) player. But he is the type of player who could be the B partner in any of the pairings. He's simply a smooth and efficient defenseman whose contributions are not always appreciated because of the understated way he plays. Needless to say, I think a lot more highly of him than you do.

You listed some of our best prospects. The issue is more when tha will they be ready to move up to the next level. Players/prospects such as Kulich and Ryan Johnson seem to be ready to move up when called up to do so. The big issue for Kulich is whether he makes a case for himself in camp to make the big roster, or would it be better for him to start off in Rochester and then move up to the big league when an opening presents itself. I don't want to get carried away from a prospect game, but Kulich was by far the best player on the ice yesterday. Very encouraging.

I'm sure there were a number of teams eyeballing him in proposed trade scenarios. Were the Rangers or Islanders the teams keenly interested in Kulich? I can understand why for reasons of confidentiality you wouldn't be interested in saying. How about a clue? Gotham City area?

A line of Kulich/Cozens/Quinn is intriguing. They can all skate and have some grit to their game. If Quinn makes the big club roster, I can see him on starting off on a third line with the potential to move up to the second line. As you and others point out, the GM and the new HC were determined to remake the lower lines this offseason for the purpose of better balancing out this roster. Hopefully, their efforts will accomplish that.

Is there a link to watch the game?